Semi-active architectures for batteries having two different chemistries
First Claim
1. A 12 volt automotive battery system, comprising:
- a first battery configured to be coupled to an electrical system and to be charged with a relatively constant first voltage, wherein an alternator outputs the first voltage, and the first battery comprises a first battery chemistry;
a second battery comprising a second battery chemistry that has a higher coulombic efficiency than the first battery chemistry;
a DC/DC converter coupled in series with the second battery, wherein the DC/DC converter and the second battery are coupled in parallel with the first battery, and the DC/DC converter is configured to;
selectively couple the second battery to the electrical system; and
boost the first voltage to a second voltage to charge the second battery during regenerative braking, wherein the second voltage is higher than a maximum charging voltage of the first battery; and
a housing that houses the first battery, the second battery, and the DC/DC converter, wherein the housing comprises a positive terminal and a ground terminal coupled to the first battery and selectively coupled to the second battery via the DC/DC converter, wherein the positive terminal and the ground terminal are configured to couple to the electrical system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A 12 volt automotive battery system includes a first battery coupled to an electrical system, in which the first battery includes a first battery chemistry. The first battery is charged with a relatively constant first voltage, in which an alternator outputs the relatively constant first voltage. The 12 volt automotive battery system further includes a second battery coupled in parallel with the first battery and selectively coupled to the electrical system via a DC/DC converter, in which the second battery includes a second battery chemistry that has a higher coulombic efficiency than the first battery chemistry. The DC/DC converter boosts the first voltage to a second voltage to charge the second battery during regenerative braking, in which the second voltage is higher than a maximum charging voltage of the first battery.
49 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A 12 volt automotive battery system, comprising:
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a first battery configured to be coupled to an electrical system and to be charged with a relatively constant first voltage, wherein an alternator outputs the first voltage, and the first battery comprises a first battery chemistry; a second battery comprising a second battery chemistry that has a higher coulombic efficiency than the first battery chemistry; a DC/DC converter coupled in series with the second battery, wherein the DC/DC converter and the second battery are coupled in parallel with the first battery, and the DC/DC converter is configured to; selectively couple the second battery to the electrical system; and boost the first voltage to a second voltage to charge the second battery during regenerative braking, wherein the second voltage is higher than a maximum charging voltage of the first battery; and a housing that houses the first battery, the second battery, and the DC/DC converter, wherein the housing comprises a positive terminal and a ground terminal coupled to the first battery and selectively coupled to the second battery via the DC/DC converter, wherein the positive terminal and the ground terminal are configured to couple to the electrical system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for operating a 12 volt automotive battery system, comprising:
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charging, using an alternator, a first battery by outputting a relatively constant first voltage, wherein the first battery comprises a first battery chemistry; and boosting, using a DC/DC converter, the first voltage to a second voltage during regenerative braking to charge a second battery using the second voltage, wherein; the second voltage is higher than a maximum charging voltage of the first battery; the second battery comprises a second battery chemistry that has a higher coulombic efficiency than the first battery chemistry; the DC/DC converter is coupled in series with the second battery; the DC/DC converter and the second battery are coupled in parallel with the first battery during regenerative braking; and charging the first battery comprises maintaining the first battery generally at a full state of charge before regenerative braking to enable the first battery to steer power generated during regenerative braking to the second battery using internal resistance of the first battery. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A 12 volt automotive battery system, comprising:
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a first battery configured to be charged with a relatively constant first voltage, wherein the relatively constant first voltage is output by an alternator during regenerative braking, and the first battery comprises a first battery chemistry; and a DC/DC converter configured to be coupled in series with a second battery comprising a second battery chemistry, wherein the DC/DC converter comprises; a converter path configured to; connect the DC/DC converter and the second battery in parallel with the first battery; and charge the second battery during regenerative braking by boosting the first voltage to a second voltage; a bypass path configured to; connect the second battery in parallel with the first battery; and enable the second battery to supply power when voltage of the second battery is higher than the first voltage and the second battery has a positive state of charge; and a DC/DC converter switch configured to selectively switch between the converter path and the bypass path. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A 12 volt automotive battery system, comprising:
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a first battery configured to be charged with a relatively constant first voltage, wherein an alternator outputs the relatively constant first voltage, and the first battery comprises a first battery chemistry; and a DC/DC converter configured to be coupled in series with a second battery comprising a second battery chemistry, wherein the DC/DC converter comprises; a converter path configured to; connect the DC/DC converter and the second battery in parallel with the first battery; and enable the second battery to supply power by boosting voltage of the second battery to the first voltage when the second battery has a positive state of charge; a bypass path configured to connect the second battery in parallel with the first battery; and enable the second battery to be charged during regenerative braking when the voltage of the second battery is lower than the first voltage; and a DC/DC converter switch configured to selectively switch between the converter path and the bypass path. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A 12 volt automotive battery system, comprising:
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a first battery configured to be coupled to an electrical system and to be charged with a relatively constant first voltage, wherein an alternator outputs the first voltage, and the first battery comprises a first battery chemistry; and a second battery comprising a second battery chemistry that has a higher coulombic efficiency than the first battery chemistry; and a DC/DC converter coupled in series with the second battery, wherein the DC/DC converter and the second battery are coupled in parallel with the first battery, and the DC/DC converter is configured to; selectively couple the second battery to the electrical system; and boost the first voltage to a second voltage to charge the second battery during regenerative braking, wherein the second voltage is higher than a maximum charging voltage of the first battery, wherein the first battery is configured to produce oxygen gas or hydrogen gas when charged at a voltage above the maximum charging voltage.
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22. A 12 volt automotive battery system, comprising:
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a first battery configured to be coupled to an electrical system and to be charged with a relatively constant first voltage, wherein an alternator outputs the first voltage, and the first battery comprises a first battery chemistry; and a second battery comprising a second battery chemistry that has a higher coulombic efficiency than the first battery chemistry; and a DC/DC converter coupled in series with the second battery, wherein the DC/DC converter and the second battery are coupled in parallel with the first battery, and the DC/DC converter comprises; a converter path configured to boost the first voltage to a second voltage to charge the second battery during regenerative braking, wherein the second voltage is higher than a maximum charging voltage of the first battery; a bypass path configured to enable the second battery to supply power when voltage of the second battery is higher than the first voltage; and a DC/DC converter switch configured to selectively switch between the converter path and the bypass path.
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23. A 12 volt automotive battery system, comprising:
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a first battery configured to be coupled to an electrical system and to be charged with a relatively constant first voltage, wherein an alternator outputs the first voltage, and the first battery comprises a first battery chemistry; and a second battery comprising a second battery chemistry that has a higher coulombic efficiency than the first battery chemistry; and a DC/DC converter coupled in series with the second battery, wherein the DC/DC converter and the second battery are coupled in parallel with the first battery, and the DC/DC converter is configured to; selectively couple the second battery to the electrical system; and boost the first voltage to a second voltage to charge the second battery during regenerative braking, wherein the second voltage is higher than a maximum charging voltage of the first battery; wherein the first battery and the second battery are non-voltage matched such that a first voltage range of the second battery is higher than a second voltage range of the first battery and do not overlap, wherein; the first voltage range comprises open circuit voltage of the first battery from 0-100% state of charge; and the second voltage range comprises open circuit voltage of the second battery from 0-100% state of charge.
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24. A 12 volt automotive battery system, comprising:
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a first battery configured to be coupled to an electrical system and to be charged with a relatively constant first voltage, wherein an alternator outputs the first voltage, and the first battery comprises a first battery chemistry; and a second battery comprising a second battery chemistry that has a higher coulombic efficiency than the first battery chemistry; and a DC/DC converter coupled in series with the second battery, wherein the DC/DC converter and the second battery are coupled in parallel with the first battery, and the DC/DC converter is configured to; selectively couple the second battery to the electrical system; and boost the first voltage to a second voltage to charge the second battery during regenerative braking, wherein the second voltage is higher than a maximum charging voltage of the first battery; wherein the first battery chemistry is lead-acid and the second battery chemistry is lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide, lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide, or lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide-lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide.
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25. A 12 volt automotive battery system, comprising:
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a first battery configured to be coupled to an electrical system and to be charged with a relatively constant first voltage, wherein an alternator outputs the first voltage, and the first battery comprises a first battery chemistry; and a second battery comprising a second battery chemistry that has a higher coulombic efficiency than the first battery chemistry; and a DC/DC converter coupled in series with the second battery, wherein the DC/DC converter and the second battery are coupled in parallel with the first battery, and the DC/DC converter is configured to; selectively couple the second battery to the electrical system; and boost the first voltage to a second voltage to charge the second battery during regenerative braking, wherein the second voltage is higher than a maximum charging voltage of the first battery; wherein the first battery and the second battery are partial voltage matched such that a first voltage range of the first battery and a second voltage range of the second battery partially overlap, wherein; the first voltage range comprises open circuit voltage of the first battery from 0-100% state of charge; the second voltage range comprises open circuit voltage of the second battery from 0-100% state of charge; and a portion of the second voltage range that overlaps with the first range corresponds to open circuit voltage of the second battery from 1-74% state of charge.
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26. A 12 volt automotive battery system, comprising:
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a first battery configured to be coupled to an electrical system and to be charged with a relatively constant first voltage, wherein an alternator outputs the first voltage, and the first battery comprises a first battery chemistry; and a second battery comprising a second battery chemistry that has a higher coulombic efficiency than the first battery chemistry; and a DC/DC converter coupled in series with the second battery, wherein the DC/DC converter and the second battery are coupled in parallel with the first battery, and the DC/DC converter is configured to; selectively couple the second battery to the electrical system; and boost the first voltage to a second voltage to charge the second battery during regenerative braking, wherein the second voltage is higher than a maximum charging voltage of the first battery; wherein the first battery chemistry is lead-acid and the second battery chemistry is lithium-titanate/lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide, nickel-metal hydride, or lithium iron phosphate.
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27. A method for operating a 12 volt automotive battery system, comprising:
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charging, using an alternator, a first battery by outputting a relatively constant first voltage, wherein the first battery comprises a first battery chemistry; and boosting, using a DC/DC converter, the first voltage to a second voltage during regenerative braking to charge a second battery using the second voltage, wherein; the second voltage is higher than a maximum charging voltage of the first battery; the second battery comprises a second battery chemistry that has a higher coulombic efficiency than the first battery chemistry; the DC/DC converter is coupled in series with the second battery; the DC/DC converter and the second battery are coupled in parallel with the first battery during regenerative braking; and the first battery and the second battery are non-voltage matched such that a first voltage range of the second battery is higher than a second voltage range of the first battery and do not overlap, wherein; the first voltage range comprises open circuit voltage of the first battery from 0-100% state of charge; and the second voltage range comprises open circuit voltage of the second battery from 0-100% state of charge.
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28. A method for operating a 12 volt automotive battery system, comprising:
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charging, using an alternator, a first battery by outputting a relatively constant first voltage, wherein the first battery comprises a first battery chemistry; and boosting, using a DC/DC converter, the first voltage to a second voltage during regenerative braking to charge a second battery using the second voltage, wherein; the second voltage is higher than a maximum charging voltage of the first battery; the second battery comprises a second battery chemistry that has a higher coulombic efficiency than the first battery chemistry; the DC/DC converter is coupled in series with the second battery; the DC/DC converter and the second battery are coupled in parallel with the first battery during regenerative braking; and the first battery and the second battery are partial voltage matched such that a first voltage range of the first battery and a second voltage range of the second battery partially overlap, wherein; the first voltage range comprises open circuit voltage of the first battery from 0-100% state of charge; the second voltage range comprises open circuit voltage of the second battery from 0-100% state of charge; and a portion of the second voltage range that overlaps with the first range corresponds to open circuit voltage of the second battery from 1-74% state of charge.
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Specification