Method and system for heating a vehicle battery
First Claim
1. A method of heating a vehicle battery used for vehicle propulsion, comprising the steps of:
- (a) sensing one or more battery conditions with battery sensors and one or more additional conditions with additional sensors, the battery conditions include a battery temperature and the additional conditions include a transmission state;
(b) comparing the battery temperature to a temperature threshold; and
(c) when the battery temperature is less than the temperature threshold and the transmission state is ‘
park’
, using both a charging operation and a discharging operation to rapidly cycle or oscillate a flow of electrical current into and out of the vehicle battery without regard to a torque request from a driver so as to quickly raise the battery temperature.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for heating a vehicle battery, such as the type used for vehicle propulsion in a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV). Depending on the battery chemistry involved, such batteries may not perform well in extremely cold environments. For instance, a lithium-ion battery can exhibit a high internal resistance when the battery is extremely cold, which in turn can negatively affect the available power or other capabilities of the battery. According to an exemplary embodiment, the method and system take advantage of the high internal resistance in a cold vehicle battery by purposely cycling electrical current in and/or out of the battery so that heat is created. This heat warms up the vehicle battery and thereby improves its overall performance and capabilities.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of heating a vehicle battery used for vehicle propulsion, comprising the steps of:
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(a) sensing one or more battery conditions with battery sensors and one or more additional conditions with additional sensors, the battery conditions include a battery temperature and the additional conditions include a transmission state; (b) comparing the battery temperature to a temperature threshold; and (c) when the battery temperature is less than the temperature threshold and the transmission state is ‘
park’
, using both a charging operation and a discharging operation to rapidly cycle or oscillate a flow of electrical current into and out of the vehicle battery without regard to a torque request from a driver so as to quickly raise the battery temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of heating a vehicle battery used for vehicle propulsion, comprising the steps of:
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(a) sensing one or more battery conditions with battery sensors and one or more additional conditions with additional sensors, the battery conditions include a battery temperature and the additional conditions include a transmission state; (b) comparing the battery temperature to a temperature threshold, the temperature threshold is a dynamic temperature threshold that changes during the life of the vehicle battery in order to address changes in battery performance; and (c) when the battery temperature is less than the temperature threshold and the transmission state is ‘
park’
, using both a charging operation and a discharging operation to cycle electrical current into and out of the vehicle battery without regard to a torque request from a driver such that the internal resistance of the vehicle battery causes the electrical current to raise the battery temperature. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification