Controlling batteries for electric bus
First Claim
1. A method, performed by a charge controller of a passenger bus, of charging a plurality of energy storage devices of the passenger bus, comprising:
- on engagement of a charge control system of the passenger bus with a charge station, executing a pre-charge sequence to confirm that at least one of the passenger bus and an energy storage system of the passenger bus is in a ready state for charging to occur;
supplying a charging current to a first grouping of energy storage devices of the energy storage system;
conditioned upon determining that a voltage of at least one energy storage device of a second grouping of energy storage devices of the energy storage system is less than a specified maximum difference greater than a group voltage of one or more energy storage devices of the first grouping, supplying a charging current to the at least one energy storage device of the second grouping; and
upon receipt of a signal representing at least one of a charge termination command generated by an operator of the passenger bus, a fault indication, and a charge-complete condition associated with one or more of the energy storage devices, terminating supply of a charge current to at least one energy storage device of the energy storage system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An onboard charging system for an electric vehicle is configured to communicate with a power supply through exchange of control signals on a power supply line by modulating a charging current being supplied to the charging system. The charging system is capable of communicating fault and battery parameter data to the power supply, as well as a requested charging current used to regulate the power supply output. The power supply may convert high voltage AC power into a controllable DC output supplied directly to the electric vehicle, thereby providing a convenient means for the vehicle to initiate charging during operations. Connection between the electric vehicle and the power supply may be effected using an extendible and retractable electrical connection, such as a mechanical pantograph.
52 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method, performed by a charge controller of a passenger bus, of charging a plurality of energy storage devices of the passenger bus, comprising:
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on engagement of a charge control system of the passenger bus with a charge station, executing a pre-charge sequence to confirm that at least one of the passenger bus and an energy storage system of the passenger bus is in a ready state for charging to occur; supplying a charging current to a first grouping of energy storage devices of the energy storage system; conditioned upon determining that a voltage of at least one energy storage device of a second grouping of energy storage devices of the energy storage system is less than a specified maximum difference greater than a group voltage of one or more energy storage devices of the first grouping, supplying a charging current to the at least one energy storage device of the second grouping; and upon receipt of a signal representing at least one of a charge termination command generated by an operator of the passenger bus, a fault indication, and a charge-complete condition associated with one or more of the energy storage devices, terminating supply of a charge current to at least one energy storage device of the energy storage system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 12, 13, 14, 24, 25)
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7. A method, performed by a charge controller of a passenger bus, of charging a plurality of energy storage devices of the passenger bus, comprising:
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on engagement of a charge control system of the passenger bus with a charge station, connecting an initial grouping of the energy storage devices to a power supply line, the initial grouping comprising one or more energy storage devices determined to have respective voltages within a specified maximum difference of each other; supplying the initial grouping of energy storage devices with a charging current on the power supply line; connecting a remainder of the energy storage devices not included in the initial grouping to the power supply line by monitoring a group voltage of the one or more energy storage devices currently connected to the power supply line while the charging current is supplied to the power supply line and, for each respective energy storage device in the remainder, connecting the respective energy storage device to the power supply line when it is determined that the monitored group voltage of the one or more energy storage devices currently connected to the power supply line and the voltage of the respective energy storage device in the remainder are within a specified maximum difference of each other; and upon receipt of a signal representing at least one of a charge termination command generated by an operator of the passenger bus, a faint indication, and a charge-complete condition associated with one or more of the energy storage devices, terminating supply of a charge current to at least one energy storage device of the energy storage system. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A passenger bus having a charge control system comprising a plurality of energy storage devices and a charge controller, the charge controller configured to:
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connect an initial grouping of the plurality of energy storage devices to a power supply line, the initial grouping comprising a plurality of energy storage devices determined to have respective voltages within a specified maximum difference of each other; supply the initial grouping of energy storage devices with a charging current on the power supply line; connect a plurality the energy storage devices not included in the initial grouping to the power supply line by monitoring a group voltage of the one or more energy storage devices currently connected to the power supply line while the charging current is supplied to the power supply line and, for each respective energy storage device in the remainder, connecting the respective energy storage device to the power supply line when it is determined that the monitored group voltage of the one or more energy storage devices currently connected to the power supply line and the voltage of the respective energy storage device in the remainder are within a specified maximum difference of each other; and upon receipt of a signal representing at least one of a charge termination command generated by an operator of the passenger bus, a fault indication, and a charge-complete condition associated with one or more of the energy storage devices, terminating supply of a charge current to at least one energy storage device of the energy storage system. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification