Charging Control in an Electric Vehicle

• US 20090079384A1
• Filed: 09/24/2007
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harris Technology LLC
• Original Assignee: Harris Technology LLC
• Inventors: Harris, Scott C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,692,404 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/102
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/34 of parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 characterised by AC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/19 Switching between serial connection and parallel connection of battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/21 having the same nominal voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/14 for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/003 Converting light into electric energy, e.g. by using photo-voltaic systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/441 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/465 with solar battery as charging system
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0024 Parallel/serial switching of connection of batteries to charge or load circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• 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

Abstract

A charging system for a vehicle rearranges the bank of battery cells between a series connection for delivering voltage to a load, e.g. a motor; and a parallel connection for being charged. The battery bank can thus be charged by a 12 volt battery charger. The charger can be a plug in charger, or can be a solar cell. For example, the solar cell can be moved to cover a windshield or other surface of the vehicle whenever the vehicle is shut down.

Claims

1. A battery bank for a vehicle, comprising:

at least three battery cells, each said battery cell having a positive battery terminal and a negative battery terminal;

a battery terminal reconfiguration device, including a first connection part that connects said terminals of said battery cells into a series connection in a first mode which provides an additive connection of voltages of said battery cells, and connects said cells of said battery into a parallel connection in a second mode which provides a connection of said voltages of said battery cells that is substantially the same as at least one of said battery cells; and

a control for said reconfiguration device.

2. A device as in claim 1, wherein said controller detects that the vehicle is operating in a way that can draw power from said battery cells, and responsive to detecting that said vehicle is operating to draw power from said battery cells, causes said battery cells to reconfigure into said series connection, and to produce an output voltage equivalent to a sum of all of the battery voltages summed together, and detects a second mode, where the vehicle is not operating in a way that draws power from said battery cells, and responsive to detecting said second mode where power is not being drawn, reconfigures the battery connections so that the batteries are connected in parallel.

3. A device as in claim 2, further comprising a charging mechanism, producing an output voltage that is substantially the same as the a voltage of a single one of said battery cells, said charging mechanism connected to said batteries when configured into said parallel connection.

4. A device as in claim 3, wherein said charging mechanism is a solar cell.

5. The device as in claim 3, further comprising a second battery bank, in the vehicle, wherein said first battery bank and said second battery bank are connected to one another at specified times of operations of the vehicle, and are disconnected from one another during other times of operations of the vehicle.

6. A device as in claim 1, wherein said battery bank includes at least 10 battery cells.

7. The device as in claim 1, further comprising at least one switch and at least one resistance, said switch selectively actuated to dissipate at least one transient voltage at a node between said battery cells when changing between said first mode and said second mode.

8. A method comprising:

in an automobile, operating in a first mode where a plurality of batteries, including a battery bank with at least three batteries, are connected in series, and the series connected batteries produces a voltage substantially equivalent to an arithmetical sum of the battery voltages, and said arithmetical sum of battery voltages is connected to power an electrically-drivable part on the vehicle;

during a second, charging mode, reconfiguring the batteries into a parallel connection, where all of said plurality of batteries are connected in parallel, and charging the batteries using a charger that has an output voltage that is substantially equal to an output voltage of any of said batteries, to charge said parallel connection of said batteries.

9. A method as in claim 8, further comprising connecting a second battery bank with said first battery bank during a specified time of operation of the vehicle.

10. A method as in claim 8, wherein said battery voltage is substantially 12V.

11. A method as in claim 9, further comprising connecting a soft start circuit between said first battery bank and said second battery bank.

12. A method as in claim 8, further comprising dissipating a voltage on a terminal of the battery during a switching operation between said first mode and said second mode.

13. A method as in claim 8, wherein said charging is charging via a solar cell.

14. A method as in claim 8, wherein said charging is charging via a plug-in charger device.

15. A method comprising:

first arranging an array of battery cells in an electric driven automobile, to a first electrical connection between the cells during operating of the vehicle, in which power is drawn from said cells; and

second arranging said battery cells in a second different electrical connection between the cells during charging mode of the vehicle in which power is not being drawn from said cells.

16. A method as in claim 15, wherein said first electrical connection is a series connection and said second connection is a parallel connection.

17. A system, comprising:

an automobile housing;

a connection to a plurality of batteries housed within the automobile housing; and

a charging system for said batteries, wherein said charging system includes at least one solar cell; and

a moving part for said solar cell, which moves the solar cell into a different position depending on a condition of the vehicle.

18. A system as in claim 17, wherein said moving part for said solar cell is moved into a charging position when the vehicle is stopped, and moves the solar cell into a non-charging position when the vehicle is moved.

19. A system as in claim 17, wherein said moving part for a solar cell operates moving said solar cell over a front window of the vehicle in a condition when the vehicle is stopped.

20. A system as in claim 17, wherein said solar cell comprises a flexible solar cell, which is stored in a first location and is moved to cover at least one surface of the vehicle.

21. An electrically operated vehicle comprising:

at least one movable solar cell; and

an actuator, which moves said solar cell between a first stowed position where it is not in use, and a second position where said solar cell covers at least one window of the vehicle when in use.