BATTERY SIMULATOR WITH VARIABLE CURRENT CAPACITY

• US 20150268285A1
• Filed: 03/24/2014
• Published: 09/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: LOFTUS, Michael Edward, TABATOWSKI-BUSH, Benjamin A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,784,780 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/10 DC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/549 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/12 Recording operating variables ; Monitoring of operating variables
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/20 having different nominal voltages
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/22 Balancing the charge of battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/14 for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/007 using microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/367 : Software therefor, e.g. for battery testing using modelling or look-up tables
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 35/00 : Testing or calibrating of apparatus covered by the other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/167 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing

Abstract

A battery simulator can operate to provide different outputs. These outputs provide different characteristics related to how a device under test operates. In an example, a controller such as an electronic control module (ECM) or battery energy control module (BECM) can be tested. The battery simulator may provide different modes, e.g., a high current mode or a voltage change over time mode. A traction battery simulator may include a controller, analog output circuitry being controlled by the controller to output test current and test voltage, and switching circuitry connected to the analog output circuitry that has a first state and a second state. The first state is to provide an increased change in voltage over change in time relative to the second state. The second state is to provide an increased capacitance over the first state.

Claims

1. An electric vehicle battery simulator comprising:

a controller;

analog output circuitry configured to be controlled by the controller to output test current and test voltage; and

switching circuitry connected across the analog output circuitry, the circuitries collectively having a first state and a second state, and the second state having an increased capacitance that hinders rates of change in the test voltage relative to the first state.

2. The battery simulator of claim 1, wherein the controller controls whether the collective circuitries are in the first state or the second state based on current demand.

3. The battery simulator of claim 1, wherein the second state provides for a higher current state than the first state.

4. The battery simulator of claim 1, wherein the switching circuitry includes a switch and a capacitor electrically connected across an output of the analog output circuitry.

5. The battery simulator of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of power supplies connected to simulate a traction battery at the analog circuitry.

6. The battery simulator of claim 1, wherein the collective circuitries are connected to output the test current and test voltage to an electronic control module for a hybrid electric vehicle.

7. A method to simulate a hybrid vehicle battery comprising:

starting switch control at an output;

in response to a demand for current exceeding a threshold, using the switch control to close a switch and apply additional capacitance across the output; and

in response to a demand for current less than the threshold, using the switch control to open the switch to remove the additional capacitance from across the output.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising altering a rate of change of a voltage signal applied to the output and to an electronic control module connected to the output.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein using the switch control to close the switch damps the rate of change of the voltage signal applied to the output.

10. An electric vehicle battery simulation method comprising:

controlling analog output circuitry to output test current and test voltage; and

switching the circuitry between a first state and a second state based on current demand, the first state having a decreased capacitance that permits increased rates of change in voltage relative to the second state.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the switching includes closing a switch to connect a capacitor across the analog output circuitry to switch from the first state to the second state.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the switching includes opening the switch, further comprising altering a rate of change of the test voltage to test an engine control module connected with the analog output circuitry.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the controlling includes connecting a device under test to an output of the analog output circuitry.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the second state damps a rate of change in the test voltage.