Variable output current battery charger and method of operating same

• US 8,872,471 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2011
• Issued: 10/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Gale, Allan Roy, Momcilovich, Paul Theodore
• Primary Examiner(s): DIAO, M BAYE
• Application Number:
  US13/272,669
• Publication Number:
  US 20130093391A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• Field of Search: 320/104, 320/109, 307/31, 701/22
• US Class Current: 320/104
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/20 having different nominal voltages
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/48 for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007 Regulation of charging or discharging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00714 in response to battery charging or discharging current
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 Regulation of charging current or voltage
• 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 90/14 Plug-in 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 30/12 Remote or cooperative charging

Abstract

A vehicle includes a battery charger system arranged to charge a traction battery. The battery charger system receives current from a power distribution system remote from the vehicle and outputs the current to the traction battery at a series of magnitudes to characterize a charge efficiency profile of the battery charger and power distribution systems. The battery charger system then charges the traction battery according to the charge efficiency profile.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a traction battery; and

a battery charger system configured to receive current from a power distribution system remote from the vehicle, output the current to the traction battery at a series of magnitudes to characterize a charge efficiency profile of the battery charger and power distribution systems, and output current at one of the series of magnitudes that yields maximum efficiency according to the charge efficiency profile to charge the traction battery.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein characterizing the charge efficiency profile of the battery charger and power distribution systems includes measuring electrical system parameters associated with the power distribution system.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 wherein the parameters are indicative of a resistance of the power distribution system.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising an electric machine configured to transform electrical energy from the traction battery to mechanical energy to move the vehicle.

5. A battery charger system comprising:

a controller arrangement configured to receive energy from a power distribution circuit defined by wiring connecting a power source remote from a vehicle and the controller arrangement, to output a current at a series of magnitudes, to measure electrical system parameters associated with the power distribution circuit indicative of the resistance of the wiring at each of the series of magnitudes, to generate a charge efficiency profile based on the parameters, and to output a charge current at a magnitude that depends on a resistance of the wiring.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the magnitude that depends on the resistance of the wiring corresponds to a maximum of the charge efficiency profile.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the magnitude further depends on an available charge time.

8. A method of operating a battery charger system of a vehicle comprising:

receiving current from a power distribution system remote from the vehicle;

outputting the current to a traction battery at a series of magnitudes to characterize a charge efficiency profile of the battery charger and power distribution systems; and

outputting current at one of the series of magnitudes that yields maximum efficiency according to the charge efficiency profile to charge the traction battery.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein characterizing the charge efficiency profile of the battery charger and power distribution systems includes measuring electrical system parameters associated with the power distribution system.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the parameters are indicative of a resistance associated with power distribution system.