System and Method for Discharging a Battery in a Vehicle after a Crash

• US 20130200855A1
• Filed: 02/01/2013
• Published: 08/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Christensen, John F., Albertus, Paul, Lohmann, Timm, Muenzel, Horst, Kojic, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US13/756,860
• Publication Number:
  US 20130200855A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/136
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0007 Measures or means for preventing or attenuating collisions
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/04 Cutting off the power supply under fault conditions protective devices and circuit arrangements in general H01H; H02H
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/25 by controlling the electric load
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/32 for controlling the temperature of fuel cells, e.g. by controlling the electric load
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from 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 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

In one embodiment, a discharge control system for a vehicle includes an energy storage device supported by the vehicle, a switch, a first load selectively connectable to the energy storage device by the switch, a memory in which program instructions are stored, and a controller operatively connected to the switch and the memory and configured to execute the program instructions to control the switch to a condition in which the energy storage device is operatively connected to the first load based upon a predetermined rate of heat generation of the energy storage device.

Claims

1. A discharge control system for a vehicle, comprising:

an energy storage device supported by the vehicle;

a switch;

a first load selectively connectable to the energy storage device by the switch;

a memory in which program instructions are stored; and

a controller operatively connected to the switch and the memory and configured to execute the program instructions to

control the switch to a condition in which the energy storage device is operatively connected to the first load based upon a predetermined rate of heat generation of the energy storage device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller and the memory are located within the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is located remotely from the vehicle.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor device configured to sense a collision between the vehicle and another mass, wherein the controller is further configured to execute the program instructions to

receive a signal indicative of a collision event from the sensor device, and

control the switch to a condition in which the energy storage device is operatively connected to the first load based upon the received signal.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising a temperature sensor, wherein the controller is further configured to execute the program instructions to:

obtain a signal from the temperature sensor indicative of a thermal condition in the vehicle; and

control a potentiostat to modify a resistance of the first load based upon the obtained signal from the temperature sensor.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising:

a second load selectively connectable to the energy storage device by the switch, wherein the controller is further configured to execute the program instructions to control the switch to a condition in which the energy storage device is operatively connected to the second load based upon the obtained signal from the temperature sensor.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the first load comprises a tesla coil.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the switch comprises a relay.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the switch comprises a solid-state switch.

10. A method of discharging an energy storage device supported by a vehicle, comprising:

determining a maximum rate of heat generation of the energy storage device;

selecting a first load based upon the determined maximum rate of heat generation;

storing program instructions in a memory; and

executing the stored program instructions with a controller to control a switch in the vehicle to a condition in which the energy storage device is operatively connected to the selected first load.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

generating a command signal from a location external to the vehicle; and

controlling the switch using the generated command signal.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

sensing a collision between the vehicle and another mass using a sensor device;

generating a signal indicative of the collision;

receiving the signal indicative of the collision with the controller; and

executing the stored program instructions with the controller based upon the received signal.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

obtaining a signal from a temperature sensor indicative of a thermal condition in the vehicle; and

controlling a potentiostat to modify a resistance of the first load based upon the obtained signal from the temperature sensor.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

controlling the switch to a condition in which the energy storage device is operatively connected to a second load based upon the obtained signal from the temperature sensor.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein selecting a first load comprises selecting a tesla coil.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein selecting a first load comprises selecting a relay.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein selecting a first load comprises selecting a solid-state switch.