Modular extra low voltage electric vehicle power system
First Claim
1. An electric vehicle power system comprising:
- a plurality of electrically connected power modules connected to a system communication bus and configured to be activated to deliver electrical power to an electric motor, each power module comprising;
a rechargeable battery module electrically connected to a DC bus;
an inverter circuit electrically connected to the DC bus, wherein the inverter circuit is configured to convert a DC voltage of the DC bus into an AC power signal, and wherein the inverter circuit is configured to be connected to an electric motor;
at least one of;
a single-phase rectifier circuit electrically connected to the DC bus, the single-phase rectifier circuit configured to convert a single-phase AC power signal into the DC voltage of the DC bus;
ora multi-phase rectifier circuit electrically connected to the DC bus, the multi-phase rectifier circuit configured to convert a multi-phase AC power signal into the DC voltage of the DC bus; and
a local controller connected to the rechargeable battery module, the inverter circuit, and the at least one of the single-phase rectifier circuit or the multi-phase rectifier circuit, the local controller configured to generate one or more control signals and determine whether an output power of one of the plurality of electrically connected power modules exceeds a threshold power level;
wherein another power module of the plurality of electrically connected power modules is activated to deliver electrical power to the electric motor in response to determining that the output power of one of the plurality of electrically connected power modules exceeds the threshold power level; and
wherein the plurality of power modules are connected in parallel to at least one electric motor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In some aspects, an electric vehicle power system may comprise two or more electrically connected power modules connected to a system communication bus. Each power module may comprise a rechargeable battery electrically connected to a DC bus, an inverter circuit electrically connected to the DC bus, and at least one of a single-phase rectifier circuit electrically connected to the DC bus or a multi-phase rectifier circuit electrically connected to the DC bus. A local controller configured to send control signals may be connected to the rechargeable battery, the inverter circuit, and the at least one of the single-phase rectifier circuit or the multi-phase rectifier circuit. The single-phase rectifier circuit may be configured to convert a single-phase AC power signal into the DC voltage of the DC bus. The multi-phase rectifier circuit may be configured to convert a multi-phase AC power signal into the DC voltage of the DC bus.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electric vehicle power system comprising:
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a plurality of electrically connected power modules connected to a system communication bus and configured to be activated to deliver electrical power to an electric motor, each power module comprising; a rechargeable battery module electrically connected to a DC bus; an inverter circuit electrically connected to the DC bus, wherein the inverter circuit is configured to convert a DC voltage of the DC bus into an AC power signal, and wherein the inverter circuit is configured to be connected to an electric motor; at least one of; a single-phase rectifier circuit electrically connected to the DC bus, the single-phase rectifier circuit configured to convert a single-phase AC power signal into the DC voltage of the DC bus;
ora multi-phase rectifier circuit electrically connected to the DC bus, the multi-phase rectifier circuit configured to convert a multi-phase AC power signal into the DC voltage of the DC bus; and a local controller connected to the rechargeable battery module, the inverter circuit, and the at least one of the single-phase rectifier circuit or the multi-phase rectifier circuit, the local controller configured to generate one or more control signals and determine whether an output power of one of the plurality of electrically connected power modules exceeds a threshold power level; wherein another power module of the plurality of electrically connected power modules is activated to deliver electrical power to the electric motor in response to determining that the output power of one of the plurality of electrically connected power modules exceeds the threshold power level; and wherein the plurality of power modules are connected in parallel to at least one electric motor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for providing power for a vehicle, the method comprising:
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receiving, from a user at a master controller, a throttle input; generating, based on the throttle input, a throttle control signal; transmitting, using a system communication bus, the throttle control signal to a plurality of local controllers, each local controller located within one of a plurality of electrically connected power modules, each power module comprising; a rechargeable battery module electrically connected to a DC bus; an inverter circuit electrically connected to the DC bus, wherein the inverter circuit is configured to convert a DC voltage of the DC bus into an AC power signal, and wherein the inverter circuit is configured to be connected to an electric motor; activating a first power module of the plurality of power modules to deliver electrical power to the electric motor based on the throttle control signal; detecting whether an output power of the first power module exceeds a threshold power level; in response to detecting that the output power of the first power module exceeds the threshold power level, activating a second power module of the plurality of electrically connected power modules to deliver electrical power to the electric motor based on the throttle control signal. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification