Diversion of energy from regenerative braking
First Claim
1. A regenerative braking system for a vehicle comprising:
- a generator coupled with the vehicle for generating energy during a deceleration of the vehicle;
a battery having a state of charge and switchably coupled with the generator for receiving at least a portion of the energy from the generator;
a first device switchably coupled with the generator for receiving at least a portion of the energy from the generator;
a second device switchably coupled with the generator for receiving at least a portion of the energy from the generator; and
a processor configured to control the switchable coupling of the battery, the first device and the second device with the generator based on the state of charge of the battery or an instantaneous temperature of air in an interior of the vehicle and, when the state of charge of the battery is greater than a predetermined threshold and the instantaneous temperature of air in the interior of the vehicle is equal to a desired temperature of air in the interior of the vehicle, to couple the first device to the generator for a first predetermined amount of time and then couple the second device to the generator for a second predetermined amount of time or to couple the first device and the second device to the generator such that an effect of the first device cancels out an effect of the second device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A regenerative braking system for a vehicle utilizing diversion of energy for efficient use or maintaining consistent vehicle performance. The regenerative braking system includes a generator for producing regenerative energy during slowing and includes switches connected to a battery and a plurality of devices. A processor is connected with the battery and the switches for controlling the configuration of the switches based on a characteristic of the battery. If the battery has a state of charge exceeding a predetermined threshold, the processor controls the switches to route the regenerative energy to the other devices. The processor also controls the switches to provide regenerative energy to specific devices where it may most desirably be utilized. Heating and cooling units of the vehicle may be alternatively or simultaneously connected to receive the regenerative energy for providing consistent vehicle slowing performance when the battery state of charge exceeds the predetermined threshold.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A regenerative braking system for a vehicle comprising:
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a generator coupled with the vehicle for generating energy during a deceleration of the vehicle; a battery having a state of charge and switchably coupled with the generator for receiving at least a portion of the energy from the generator; a first device switchably coupled with the generator for receiving at least a portion of the energy from the generator; a second device switchably coupled with the generator for receiving at least a portion of the energy from the generator; and a processor configured to control the switchable coupling of the battery, the first device and the second device with the generator based on the state of charge of the battery or an instantaneous temperature of air in an interior of the vehicle and, when the state of charge of the battery is greater than a predetermined threshold and the instantaneous temperature of air in the interior of the vehicle is equal to a desired temperature of air in the interior of the vehicle, to couple the first device to the generator for a first predetermined amount of time and then couple the second device to the generator for a second predetermined amount of time or to couple the first device and the second device to the generator such that an effect of the first device cancels out an effect of the second device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for diverting regenerative energy from a generator of an electric vehicle comprising:
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a battery having a state of charge, coupled with the generator through a first switch having a closed configuration and an open configuration and configured to receive regenerative energy from the generator when the first switch is in the closed configuration; a heater coupled with the generator through a second switch having a closed configuration and an open configuration and configured to receive regenerative energy from the generator when the second switch is in the closed configuration; an air conditioning unit coupled with the generator through a third switch having a closed configuration and an open configuration and configured to receive regenerative energy from the generator when the third switch is in the closed configuration; and a processor coupled with the battery, the first switch, the second switch and the third switch and configured to control the first switch, the second switch and the third switch such that when the state of charge of the battery is greater than a predetermined threshold and an instantaneous temperature of the air in the interior of the vehicle is equal to a desired temperature the interior of the vehicle, the processor controls the first switch to be in the open configuration, the second switch to be in the closed configuration and the third switch to be in the open configuration for a first predetermined amount of time and controls the first switch to be in the open configuration, the second switch to be in the open configuration, and the third switch to be in the closed configuration for a second predetermined amount of time or the processor controls the first switch to he in the open configuration, the second s itch to be in the closed configuration and the third switch to be in the closed configuration such that an effect of the heater cancels out an effect of the air conditioning unit. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of diverting energy in a regenerative braking system for an electric vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a battery, a generator, a heater and an air conditioning unit coupled with the electric vehicle; determining if the battery has a state of charge greater than a predetermined threshold; determining a desired temperature within a cabin of the electric vehicle; determining an instantaneous temperature within the cabin of the electric vehicle; and
coupling the heater to the generator for a first predetermined amount of time and then coupling the air conditioning unit to the generator for a second predetermined amount of time or coupling the heater and the air conditioning unit to the generator such that an effect of the heater cancels out an effect of the air conditioning unit when the state of charge of the battery is greater than the predetermined threshold and when the instantaneous temperature is equal to the desired temperature. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification