Redundant electrical power for autonomous vehicles
First Claim
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1. A system comprising:
- a first battery configured to power at least one vehicle subsystem;
a second battery configured to power an electric motor to propel a vehicle, the second battery having a plurality of predetermined partitions and a plurality of tabs, wherein each predetermined partition is associated with a particular voltage and wherein each of the plurality of tabs is electrically connected to at least one of the predetermined partitions; and
a processing device powered by both the first battery and the second battery and configured to detect an inadequate power level provided from the first battery to the at least one vehicle subsystem and selectively route power from one of the plurality of predetermined partitions of the second battery to power the electric motor and the at least one vehicle subsystem by selectively connecting at least one of the tabs to the at least one vehicle subsystem.
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Abstract
A system includes a first battery configured to power at least one vehicle subsystem and a second battery configured to power an electric motor to propel a vehicle. A processing device is configured to detect an inadequate power level provided from the first battery to the at least one vehicle subsystem and selectively partition the second battery to power the at least one vehicle subsystem.
25 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a first battery configured to power at least one vehicle subsystem; a second battery configured to power an electric motor to propel a vehicle, the second battery having a plurality of predetermined partitions and a plurality of tabs, wherein each predetermined partition is associated with a particular voltage and wherein each of the plurality of tabs is electrically connected to at least one of the predetermined partitions; and a processing device powered by both the first battery and the second battery and configured to detect an inadequate power level provided from the first battery to the at least one vehicle subsystem and selectively route power from one of the plurality of predetermined partitions of the second battery to power the electric motor and the at least one vehicle subsystem by selectively connecting at least one of the tabs to the at least one vehicle subsystem. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A vehicle comprising:
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a first battery configured to power at least one vehicle subsystem; a second battery having a plurality of predetermined partitions, each associated with a particular voltage, wherein the second battery is configured to power an electric motor to propel a vehicle; and a processing device powered by the first battery and the second battery and configured to detect an inadequate power level provided from the first battery to the at least one vehicle subsystem and selectively route power from one of the plurality of predetermined partitions of the second battery to power both the electric motor and the at least one vehicle subsystem, wherein the processing device is configured to command the second battery to continue to provide power to the electric motor and to provide a substitute voltage, in accordance with the particular voltage of at least one of the predetermined partitions, to the at least one vehicle subsystem. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method, comprising:
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monitoring power supplied to at least one vehicle subsystem from a first battery; detecting loss of the power to the subsystem below a predetermined threshold; determining, via a processing device, if a second battery can supply adequate power to the at least one vehicle subsystem, the second battery having a plurality of predetermined partitions, each associated with a particular voltage, wherein the processing device is powered by the first battery and the second battery; and selectively connecting at least one of the predetermined partitions of the second battery to the vehicle subsystem to supply adequate power to both an electric motor and the at least one vehicle subsystem systems. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification