Method and apparatus for supplying auxiliary electrical power to an electric or hybrid vehicle

• US 9,457,666 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2012
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Caldeira, Kenneth G., Chan, Alistair K., Cook, Daniel B., Duncan, William David, Hyde, Roderick A., Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Kare, Jordin T., Latham, John, Salter, Stephen H., Tegreene, Clarence T., Tuckerman, David B., Weaver, Thomas A., Whitmer, Charles, Wood, Victoria Y. H., Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): Perez Borroto, Alfonso
• Application Number:
  US13/436,316
• Publication Number:
  US 20130257145A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,649 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/64 Couplings or joints therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/18 Buses
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/28 Trailers
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/40 Working vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/622 by satellite navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/40 related to technical updates when adding new parts or software
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/62 charged by low-power generators primarily intended to support the batteries, e.g. range extenders
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/00 Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/54 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/16 responding to battery ageing, e.g. to the number of charging cycles or the state of health [SoH]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/20 having different nominal voltages
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/21 having the same nominal voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/22 : Balancing the charge of battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/18 : Controlling the braking effect B60L7/12, B60L7/14, B60L7/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/91 : Electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/92 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 : The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/60 : Electric or hybrid propulsion means for production processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 : having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor

Abstract

The present invention may include a towable trailer being mechanically couplable to a vehicle, the towable trailer including an auxiliary battery housing unit, a wheel being rotatably connected to the towable trailer, an auxiliary battery disposed within the auxiliary battery housing unit of the towable trailer, the vehicle including a storage battery, the auxiliary battery of the towable trailer being electrically couplable with the storage battery of the vehicle via a bidirectional pathway, and a control system configured to control a transfer of electrical energy between the auxiliary battery of the towable trailer and the storage battery of the vehicle along the bidirectional pathway.

Claims

1. An auxiliary power system for supplying auxiliary electrical power to an electric or hybrid vehicle, comprising:

a towable trailer being mechanically couplable to a vehicle including a drivetrain, the drivetrain of the vehicle including one or more storage batteries and an energy conversion portion electrically couplable with the one or more storage batteries via a third pathway, the towable trailer including an auxiliary battery housing unit;

at least one wheel being rotatably connected to the towable trailer;

one or more auxiliary batteries disposed within the auxiliary battery housing unit of the towable trailer,

a bidirectional electrical pathway electronically coupling the towable trailer and the vehicle, the bidirectional electrical pathway comprising;

a first pathway electrically coupling the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer to the one or more storage batteries via a first coupling control circuitry; and

a second pathway electrically coupling the energy conversion portion to the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer via a second coupling control circuitry; and

a control system configured to control a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer and the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain via the first pathway, a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer and the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain via the second pathway, or a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain and the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain via the third pathway.

2. The auxiliary power system claim 1, wherein the energy conversion portion of the drive train comprises:

an electric machine.

3. The auxiliary power system claim 1, wherein the energy conversion portion of the drive train comprises:

power conversion circuitry.

4. The auxiliary power system claim 1, wherein at least one of the first pathway, the second pathway or the third pathway comprises:

a unidirectional pathway.

5. The auxiliary power system claim 1, wherein at least one of the first pathway, the second pathway or the third pathway comprises:

a bidirectional pathway.

6. The auxiliary power system of claim 1, wherein the control system configured to control at least one of a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer and the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain via the first pathway, a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer and the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain via the second pathway, or a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain and the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain via the third pathway comprises:

a control system configured to at least one of selectively electrically couple the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer with the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain, selectively electrically couple the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer and the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain, or selectively electrically couple the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain and the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain.

7. The auxiliary power system of claim 6, wherein the control system configured to at least one of selectively electrically couple the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer with the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain, selectively electrically couple the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer and the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain, or selectively electrically couple the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain and the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain comprises:

a control system configured to at least one of selectively electrically couple the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer with the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain utilizing a first coupling circuitry communicatively coupled with the control system, selectively electrically couple the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer and the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain utilizing a second coupling circuitry communicatively coupled with the control system, or selectively electrically couple the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain and the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain utilizing a third coupling circuitry communicatively coupled with the control system.

8. The auxiliary power system claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to maintain a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle above a preselected charge level.

9. The auxiliary power system claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to maintain a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer above a preselected charge level.

10. The auxiliary power system claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to establish at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are determined by one or more parameters.

11. The auxiliary power system claim 10, wherein the control system is configured to establish at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are determined by one or more external parameters.

12. The auxiliary power system claim 10, wherein the control system is configured to establish at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are determined by one or more internal parameters.

13. The auxiliary power system claim 10, wherein the control system is configured to establish at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are determined by a difference between a first parameter and a second parameter.

14. The auxiliary power system claim 13, wherein the control system is configured to establish at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are determined by a difference between a cost of electricity associated with charging the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle and a cost of electricity associated with charging the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer.

15. The auxiliary power system claim 13, wherein the control system is configured to establish at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are determined by a difference between an expected lifetime of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle and an expected lifetime of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer.

16. The auxiliary power system claim 13, wherein the control system is configured to establish at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are determined by a difference between a charging efficiency associated with the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle and a charging efficiency associated with the one or more rechargeable auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer.

17. The auxiliary power system claim 13, wherein the control system is configured to establish at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are determined by a difference between a discharging efficiency associated with the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle and a discharging efficiency associated with the one or more rechargeable auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer.

18. The auxiliary power system claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to establish at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are selectable via user input.

19. The auxiliary power system claim 1, further comprising:

a user interface device, the user interface device being communicatively coupled to the control system.

20. The auxiliary power system claim 1, wherein the towable trailer includes at least one wheel being rotatably connected to the towable trailer.

21. The auxiliary power system claim 20, wherein the at least one wheel being rotatably connected to the towable trailer comprises at least one wheel being rotatably connected to the towable trailer, wherein the at least one wheel is configured to translate the towable trailer utilizing a pulling force from the vehicle.

22. The auxiliary power system claim 20, the at least one wheel being rotatably connected to the towable trailer comprises:

at least one wheel being rotatably connected to the towable trailer and operatively connected to a trailer drivetrain, the trailer drivetrain configured to supply propulsive energy to the towable trailer.

23. The auxiliary power system claim 1, wherein the one or more auxiliary batteries comprise:

a plurality of auxiliary batteries.

24. The auxiliary power system of claim 1, further comprising:

an auxiliary output operatively connected to the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer, the auxiliary output configured to supply electrical energy from the one or more auxiliary batteries to an additional device selectively electrically couplable to the auxiliary output.

25. The auxiliary power system of claim 1, further comprising:

a generator disposed within the towable trailer.

26. The auxiliary power system of claim 25, wherein the generator is configured to supply electrical energy to at least one of a portion of the drivetrain of the vehicle or the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer.

27. The auxiliary power system of claim 25, wherein the generator comprises at least one of an internal combustion generator or a fuel cell generator.

28. The auxiliary power system of claim 1, further comprising:

a battery monitoring system configured to monitor one or more characteristics of at least one of the one or more auxiliary batteries or the one or more storage batteries.

29. A method for supplying auxiliary electrical power to an electrical or hybrid vehicle, comprising:

providing one or more auxiliary batteries disposed within an auxiliary battery housing unit of a towable trailer, the towable trailer including at least one wheel being rotatably connected to the towable trailer;

mechanically coupling the towable trailer to a vehicle, the vehicle including a drivetrain, the drivetrain of the vehicle including one or more storage batteries and an energy conversion portion;

electrically coupling the towable trailer to the vehicle using a bidirectional electrical pathway, the electrically coupling comprising;

establishing a first pathway between the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer and the one or more storage batteries via a first coupling control circuitry and a second pathway between the energy conversion portion and the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer via a second coupling control circuitry;

establishing a third pathway between the energy conversion portion and the one or more storage batteries; and

controlling a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer and the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain via the first pathway, a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer and the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain via the second pathway, or a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain and the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain via the third pathway.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the controlling at least one of a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer and the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain via the first pathway, a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer and the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain via the second pathway, or a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain and the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain via the third pathway comprises:

at least one of selectively electrically coupling the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer with the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain, selectively electrically coupling the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer with the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain, or selectively electrically coupling the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain with the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the at least one of selectively electrically coupling the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer with the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain, selectively electrically coupling the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer with the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain, or selectively electrically coupling the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain with the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain comprises:

at least one of selectively electrically coupling the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer with the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain utilizing a first coupling circuitry, selectively electrically coupling the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer with the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain utilizing a second coupling circuitry, or selectively electrically coupling the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain with the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain utilizing a third coupling circuitry.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the at least one of selectively electrically coupling the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer with the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain utilizing a first coupling circuitry, selectively electrically coupling the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer with the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain utilizing a second coupling circuitry, or selectively electrically coupling the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain with the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain utilizing a third coupling circuitry comprises:

determining an electrical energy transfer configuration for the one or more auxiliary batteries, the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain, and the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain; and

controlling at least one of the first coupling circuitry, the second coupling circuitry, or the third coupling circuitry in response to the electrical energy transfer determination.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the controlling at least one of a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer and the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain via the first pathway, a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer and the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain via the second pathway, or a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain and the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain via the third pathway comprises:

maintaining a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle above a preselected charge level.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the maintaining a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle above a preselected charge level comprises:

maintaining a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle above a preselected charge level, wherein the preselected charge level is larger than a damage-causing charge level of the one or more storage batteries.

35. The method of claim 29, wherein the controlling at least one of a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer and the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain via the first pathway, a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer and the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain via the second pathway, or a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain and the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain via the third pathway comprises:

establishing a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle above a preselected charge level upon disconnection of the one or more storage batteries from the one or more auxiliary batteries.

36. The method of claim 29, wherein the controlling at least one of a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer and the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain via the first pathway, a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer and the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain via the second pathway, or a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain and the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain via the third pathway comprises:

maintaining a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer above a preselected charge level.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the maintaining a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer above a preselected charge level comprises:

maintaining a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer above a preselected charge level, wherein the preselected charge level is larger than a damage-causing charge level of the one or more auxiliary batteries.

38. The method of claim 29, wherein the controlling at least one of a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer and the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain via the first pathway, a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer and the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain via the second pathway, or a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain and the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain via the third pathway comprises:

establishing a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer above a preselected charge level upon disconnection of a portion of the drivetrain from the one or more auxiliary batteries.

39. The method of claim 29, wherein the controlling at least one of a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer and the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain via the first pathway, a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer and the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain via the second pathway, or a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain and the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain via the third pathway comprises:

establishing at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are determined by one or more parameters.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the establishing at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are determined by one or more parameters comprises:

establishing at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are determined by one or more external parameters.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the establishing at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are determined by one or more parameters comprises:

establishing at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are determined by one or more internal parameters.

42. The method of claim 39, wherein the establishing at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are determined by one or more parameters comprises:

establishing at least one of a charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or a charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries, wherein at least one of the charge state of the one or more storage batteries of the vehicle or the charge state of the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer are determined by a difference between a first parameter and a second parameter.

43. The method of claim 29, wherein the controlling at least one of a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer and the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain via the first pathway, a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more auxiliary batteries of the towable trailer and the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain via the second pathway, or a transfer of electrical energy between the one or more storage batteries of the drivetrain and the energy conversion portion of the drivetrain via the third pathway comprises:

controlling a rate of transfer of electrical energy between the one or more auxiliary batteries and a portion of the drivetrain.

44. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

supplying electrical energy from the one or more auxiliary batteries to an additional device via an auxiliary output of the towable trailer, the additional device being selectively electrically couplable to the auxiliary output.