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Energy source system having multiple energy storage devices

  • US 9,300,018 B2
  • Filed: 03/16/2012
  • Issued: 03/29/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2011
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An energy source system, comprising:

  • a battery comprising one or more electrochemical cells coupled in series with one another;

    an ultracapacitor;

    a first switching device coupled to the battery and configured to selectively connect and disconnect the battery to a load;

    a second switching device coupled to the ultracapacitor and configured to selectively connect and disconnect the ultracapacitor to the load;

    a direct current to direct current (DC-DC) converter configured to electrically couple the battery to the ultracapacitor;

    a sensing system configured to sense an operational parameter of the battery, an operational parameter of the ultracapacitor, and a load parameter; and

    a controller coupled to the first switching device, the second switching device, and the DC-DC converter and configured to;

    detect a first engine start signal;

    determine, upon detecting the first engine start signal and based on the sensed operational and load parameters, whether energy stored in the battery is sufficient to start an internal combustion engine associated with an electromechanical vehicle;

    determine, based on the sensed operational and load parameters, a desired energy flow between the battery, the ultracapacitor, the DC-DC converter, and the load when the energy stored in the battery is not sufficient to start the internal combustion engine;

    and control the first switching device, the second switching device, and the DC-DC converter to achieve the determined energy flow, such that the ultracapacitor is charged to a state sufficient to start the internal combustion engine during a time lapse between receiving the first engine start signal and receiving a second engine start signal, and wherein the ultracapcitor is coupled to the load in place of the battery via the second switching device.

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