METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BATTERY CONTROL

• US 20140253046A1
• Filed: 03/10/2014
• Published: 09/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: EnerDel, Inc. (Ener1, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: EnerDel, Inc. (Ener1, Inc.)
• Inventors: Poznar, Tomasz
• Application Number:
  US14/203,487
• Publication Number:
  US 20140253046A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/136
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0862 characterised by the electrical power supply means, e.g. battery
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/101 for preventing engine starter actuation or engagement
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/064 Battery temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/443 in response to temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/615 Heating or keeping warm
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/633 characterised by algorithms, flow charts, software details or the like
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Generally, a system and a method for controlling a battery to power a load determine a battery temperature and control current flow from the battery based on the battery temperature. If the battery temperature is less than a low temperature, load current is disabled and current is enabled through a resistive load to discharge the battery, at least until the battery temperature is about equal to or greater than the low temperature.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a battery to power a load, the method comprising:

determining a battery temperature;

disabling a load current if the battery temperature is less than a low temperature;

enabling a resistive load current through a resistive load to discharge the battery at least until the battery temperature is about equal to or greater than the low temperature; and

enabling the load current and disabling the resistive load current if the battery temperature is about equal to or greater than the low temperature.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein enabling the resistive load current also enables current through a heating device.

3. A method as in claim 2, further comprising positioning the heating device adjacent surfaces of battery cells of the battery to heat the battery cells.

4. A method as in claim 1, further comprising sizing the resistive load to raise the battery temperature from about −

20°

Celsius to at least about 0°

Celsius in less than about 3 seconds.

5. A method as in claim 1, further comprising sizing the resistive load to raise the battery temperature from about −

20°

Celsius to at least about 20°

Celsius in less than about 3 seconds.

6. A method as in claim 1, further comprising measuring a battery voltage and disabling the load current and the resistive load current if the battery voltage is less than a minimum voltage.

7. A method as in claim 6, wherein the load comprises an engine, and the minimum voltage is sufficient to start the engine after discharging the battery through the resistive load.

8. An apparatus for controlling a battery to power a load, the apparatus comprising:

a power circuit operable to selectively form a first current path to enable a first current therethrough and to selectively form a second current path to enable a second current therethrough, the first current and the second current being disabled when the first current path and the second current path, respectively, are not formed;

a resistive load coupled to the power circuit such that at least a portion of the first current flows through the resistive load when the first current path is selectively formed;

temperature control logic configured to receive a temperature signal corresponding to a battery temperature and to output a first control signal to cause the power circuit to form the first current path if the battery temperature is less than a low temperature and to cause the power circuit to form the second current path if the battery temperature is equal to or greater than the low temperature.

9. An apparatus as in claim 8, wherein the power circuit is configured to open the first current path before forming the second current path.

10. An apparatus as in claim 8, wherein the apparatus is part of the battery.

11. An apparatus as in claim 8, wherein the battery includes a battery frame, and the power circuit and the resistive load are positioned within the frame.

12. An apparatus as in claim 8, wherein the battery further comprises a temperature sensor, multiple battery cells and a battery management system (BMS) configured to manage the multiple battery cells, wherein the BMS includes the temperature control logic.

13. An apparatus as in claim 8, further comprising a housing supporting the power circuit and the resistive load.

14. An apparatus as in claim 13, wherein the housing also supports the temperature control logic.

15. An apparatus as in claim 8, wherein the resistive load is sized to raise the battery temperature from about −

20°

Celsius to at least about 0°

Celsius in less than about 3 seconds.

16. An apparatus as in claim 8, wherein the resistive load is sized to raise the battery temperature from about −

20°

Celsius to at least about 20°

Celsius in less than about 3 seconds.

17. An apparatus as in claim 8, further comprising voltage sensing logic configured to open the first current path and the second current path to disable battery current flow if the battery voltage is less than a minimum voltage.

18. An apparatus as in claim 8, wherein the apparatus is a vehicle comprising the engine.

19. An integrated circuit operable to control a battery to power a load, the integrated circuit comprising temperature logic configured for:

determining a battery temperature;

disabling a load current if the battery temperature is less than a low temperature;

enabling a resistive load current through a resistive load to discharge the battery at least until the battery temperature is about equal to or greater than the low temperature; and

enabling the load current and disabling the resistive load current if the battery temperature is about equal to or greater than the low temperature.

20. An integrated circuit as in claim 19, the integrated circuit further comprising voltage sensing logic configured to measure a battery voltage and disabling the load current and the resistive load current if the battery voltage is less than a low voltage.