Scalable intelligent power supply system and method

• US 8,860,377 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2007
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karl F. Scheucher
• Original Assignee: Karl F. Scheucher
• Inventors: Scheucher, Karl F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIGGUSH, AARON C
• Application Number:
  US11/672,957
• Publication Number:
  US 20070188137A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,805 Days
• Field of Search: 320/104, 320/150, 320/152, 320/162, 324/427
• US Class Current: 320/162
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/20 for control of the vehicle or its driving motor to achieve a desired performance, e.g. speed, torque, programmed variation of speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/40 Working vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/549 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/145 Structure borne vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/22 Balancing the charge of battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/27 by heating
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/001 Hot plugging or unplugging of load or power modules to or from power distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/10 Parallel operation of dc sources
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/48 for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0029 with safety or protection devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0031 using battery or load disconnect circuits H02J9/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 : concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0063 : with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 : Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007182 : in response to battery voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007194 : of the battery
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A scalable intelligent power-supply system and method capable of powering a defined load for a specified period of time is disclosed and claimed. Multiple external AC and DC inputs supply power to the system if available and required. An internal DC input from a back-up energy source is on board. The back-up energy source is scalable by adding additional energy cartridges such as batteries in racks mounted within frames of the system. The AC and DC inputs (including the internal DC input) are controlled, measured, sensed, and converted by circuitry controlled by the microprocessor into multiple AC and/or DC outputs. A microprocessor manages power input to, within, and output from the system. The performance of a Lithium-ion batteries used to power an automobile can be determined on the basis individual battery packs or individual battery cells within the packs. This enables the clusters or groups of Lithium ion batteries to be used in a vehicle such that these clusters operate and function as a “gas” tank or more appropriately as an “energy” tank.

Claims

1. A process for operating a power supply, having a plurality of battery packs, comprising:

a step for selecting a battery pack for examination;

a step for connecting said selected pack to a first combination of loads and charging current;

a step for measuring said selected pack first output voltage while connected to said first combination of loads and charging current;

a step for connecting said selected pack to a second combination of loads and charging current, different from said first combination of loads and charging current;

a step for measuring said selected pack second output voltage while connected to said second combination of loads and charging current;

a step for comparing said first output voltage to said second output voltage; and

,

a step for connecting said selected pack to a third combination of loads and charging current based upon the result of comparing said first output voltage to said second output voltage.

2. A process for operating a power supply having a plurality of battery packs as claimed in claim 1, comprising:

a step for deciding the interconnection state of said selected battery based on at least one system parameter.

3. A process for operating a power supply having a plurality of battery packs as claimed in claim 2 wherein said system parameter is voltage.

4. A process for operating a power supply having a plurality of battery packs as claimed in claim 2 wherein said system parameter is temperature.

5. A process for operating a power supply having a plurality of battery packs as claimed in claim 2 wherein said system parameter is current.

6. A process for operating a power supply having a plurality of battery packs as claimed in claim 2 wherein said system parameter is battery capacity.

7. A process for operating a power supply having a plurality of battery packs, comprising:

a step for interconnecting each of said plurality of battery packs with a combination of loads and a charging current.

8. A process for operating a power supply having a plurality of battery packs as claimed in claim 7 comprising:

a step for deciding the interconnection state of each of said plurality of battery packs based on at least one system parameter.

9. A process for operating a power supply having a plurality of battery packs as claimed in claim 8 wherein said system parameter is voltage.

10. A process for operating a power supply having a plurality of battery packs as claimed in claim 8 wherein said system parameter is temperature.

11. A process for operating a power supply having a plurality of battery packs as claimed in claim 8 wherein said system parameter is current.

12. A process for operating a power supply having a plurality of battery packs as claimed in claim 8 wherein said system parameter is battery capacity.

13. A process for operating a power supply having a plurality of battery packs as claimed in claim 8 wherein said system parameter is battery state of charge.

14. A process for operating a power supply, having a plurality of battery packs, comprising:

utilizing a controller and interface circuit to select a battery pack for examination;

utilizing a controller and interface circuit to connect said selected battery pack to a first combination of loads and charging current;

utilizing a controller and interface circuit to measure a first output voltage of said selected battery pack while said selected battery pack is connected to said first combination of loads and charging current;

utilizing a controller and interface circuit to connect said selected pack to a second combination of loads and charging current, different from said first combination of loads and charging current;

utilizing a controller and interface circuit to measure a second output voltage of said selected battery pack while said selected battery pack is connected to said second combination of loads and charging current;

utilizing a controller and interface circuit to compare said first output voltage to said second output voltage; and

,

utilizing a controller and interface circuit to connect said selected battery pack to a third combination of loads and charging current, based upon the result of comparing said first output voltage to said second output voltage.

15. A process for operating a power supply having a plurality of battery packs as claimed in claim 14 comprising the further step of:

deciding the interconnection state of each of said plurality of battery packs based on at least one system parameter.

16. A process for operating a power supply having a plurality of battery packs as claimed in claim 15 wherein said system parameter is voltage.

17. A process for operating a power supply having a plurality of battery packs as claimed in claim 15 wherein said system parameter is temperature.

18. A process for operating a power supply having a plurality of battery packs as claimed in claim 15 wherein said system parameter is current.

19. A process for operating a power supply having a plurality of battery packs as claimed in claim 15 wherein said system parameter is battery capacity.