Multi-battery charging station which selectively connects battery sub-modules to a common power bus for charging

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10110033-B1
Application number	US-201815885303-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jan 31, 2018
Priority date	Jan 31, 2018
Publication date	Oct 23, 2018
Grant date	Oct 23, 2018

Abstract

A metric is received for each battery sub-module in a plurality of battery sub-modules in order to obtain a plurality of metrics associated with the plurality of battery sub-modules. One or more battery sub-modules are selected from the plurality of battery sub-modules to electrically connect to a common power bus. The selected battery sub-modules are configured so that the selected battery sub-modules are electrically connected to the common power bus. The selected battery sub-modules that are electrically connected to the common power bus are charged.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a processor; and
a memory coupled with the processor, wherein the memory is configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to:
receive, for each battery sub-module in a plurality of battery sub-modules, a metric in order to obtain a plurality of metrics associated with the plurality of battery sub-modules;
select, from the plurality of battery sub-modules, one or more battery sub-modules to electrically connect to a common power bus;
configure the selected battery sub-modules so that the selected battery sub-modules are electrically connected to the common power bus; and
charge the selected battery sub-modules that are electrically connected to the common power bus, including by:
obtaining a minimum sub-module current, wherein the minimum sub-module current is determined by selecting a minimum from a plurality of sub-module currents in the plurality of metrics;
setting a charging current based at least in part on the minimum sub-module current, wherein the charging current is used to charge the selected battery sub-modules;
obtaining a global maximum cell voltage, wherein the global maximum cell voltage is determined by selecting a maximum from a plurality of maximum cell voltages in the plurality of metrics;
determining whether the global maximum cell voltage exceeds a voltage threshold; and
in the event it is determined that the global maximum cell voltage exceeds the voltage threshold, setting the charging current based at least in part on the global maximum cell voltage.

2. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein the instructions for selecting include instructions for:
determining whether a temperature, associated with a battery sub-module being evaluated, is within a temperature range;
in the event it is determined that the temperature is not within the temperature range, excluding the battery sub-module being evaluated from the selected battery sub-modules such that the battery sub-module being evaluated is electrically disconnected from the common power bus;
determining whether a state of charge, associated with the battery sub-module being evaluated, exceeds a state of charge threshold; and
in the event it is determined that the state of charge does exceed the state of charge threshold, excluding the battery sub-module being evaluated from the selected battery sub-modules such that the battery sub-module being evaluated is electrically disconnected from the common power bus.

3. A system, comprising:
a processor; and
a memory coupled with the processor, wherein the memory is configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to:
receive, for each battery sub-module in a plurality of battery sub-modules, a metric in order to obtain a plurality of metrics associated with the plurality of battery sub-modules;
select, from the plurality of battery sub-modules, one or more battery sub-modules to electrically connect to a common power bus, including by:
determining whether a temperature, associated with a battery sub-module being evaluated, is within a temperature range;
in the event it is determined that the temperature is not within the temperature range:
determining whether the temperature is below the temperature range;
in the event it is determined that the temperature is below the temperature range, turning on an internal heating element that corresponds to the battery sub-module being evaluated; and
excluding the battery sub-module being evaluated from the selected battery sub-modules such that the battery sub-module being evaluated is electrically disconnected from the common power bus;

determining whether a state of charge, associated with the battery sub-module being evaluated, exceeds a state of charge threshold; and
in the event it is determined that the state of charge does exceed the state of charge threshold, excluding the battery sub-module being evaluated from the selected battery sub-modules such that the battery sub-module being evaluated is electrically disconnected from the common power bus;

configure the selected battery sub-modules so that the selected battery sub-modules are electrically connected to the common power bus; and
charge the selected battery sub-modules that are electrically connected to the common power bus.

4. A system, comprising:
a processor; and
a memory coupled with the processor, wherein the memory is configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to:
receive, for each battery sub-module in a plurality of battery sub-modules, a metric in order to obtain a plurality of metrics associated with the plurality of battery sub-modules;
select, from the plurality of battery sub-modules, one or more battery sub-modules to electrically connect to a common power bus, including by:
determining whether a temperature, associated with a battery sub-module being evaluated, is within a temperature range;
in the event it is determined that the temperature is not within the temperature range:
blowing air over the battery sub-module being evaluated, wherein the blown air is heated or cooled depending upon the temperature and is heated or cooled using an external heating or cooling source; and
excluding the battery sub-module being evaluated from the selected battery sub-modules such that the battery sub-module being evaluated is electrically disconnected from the common power bus;

determining whether a state of charge, associated with the battery sub-module being evaluated, exceeds a state of charge threshold; and
in the event it is determined that the state of charge does exceed the state of charge threshold, excluding the battery sub-module being evaluated from the selected battery sub-modules such that the battery sub-module being evaluated is electrically disconnected from the common power bus;

configure the selected battery sub-modules so that the selected battery sub-modules are electrically connected to the common power bus; and
charge the selected battery sub-modules that are electrically connected to the common power bus.

5. A system, comprising:
a processor; and
a memory coupled with the processor, wherein the memory is configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to:
receive, for each battery sub-module in a plurality of battery sub-modules, a metric in order to obtain a plurality of metrics associated with the plurality of battery sub-modules;
select, from the plurality of battery sub-modules, one or more battery sub-modules to electrically connect to a common power bus;
configure the selected battery sub-modules so that the selected battery sub-modules are electrically connected to the common power bus; and
charge the selected battery sub-modules that are electrically connected to the common power bus, including by:
determining whether to perform a charge-only process or a charge-and-update process; and
in the event it is determined to perform the charge-only process, charging the selected battery sub-modules without exercising the selected battery sub-modules in a manner associated with updating a health metric; and
in the event it is determined to perform the charge-and-update process, exercising the selected battery sub-modules in a manner associated with updating a health metric and charging the selected battery sub-modules.

6. The system recited in claim 5 , wherein the health metric includes a cell charge capacity.

7. The system recited in claim 5 ,
wherein the charge-and-update process is periodically performed and determining whether to perform the charge-only process or the charge-and-update process includes determining if a curre

Assignees

• Kitty Hawk Corp

Inventors

• Hom Lewis Romeo
• Viele Brian Robert
• Furman Scott

Classifications

• H02J7/977

  of the battery · CPC title

• H02J7/975

  in response to temperature · CPC title

• H02J7/875

  Charging or discharging for charge maintenance, battery initiation or rejuvenation · CPC title

• H02J7/96

  in response to battery voltage · CPC title

• H02J7/94

  in response to battery current · CPC title