Architectures for batteries having two different chemistries

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10439192-B2
Application number	US-201816113623-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 27, 2018
Priority date	Jul 31, 2013
Publication date	Oct 8, 2019
Grant date	Oct 8, 2019

Abstract

A 12 volt automotive battery system includes a first battery coupled to an electrical system, in which the first battery include a first battery chemistry, and a second battery coupled in parallel with the first battery and selectively coupled to the electrical system via a first switch, in which the second battery includes a second battery chemistry that has a higher coulombic efficiency than the first battery chemistry. The first switch couples the second battery to the electrical system during regenerative braking to enable the second battery to capture a majority of the power generated during regenerative braking. The 12 volt automotive battery system further includes a variable voltage alternator that outputs a first voltage during regenerative braking to charge the second battery and a second voltage otherwise, in which the first voltage is higher than the second voltage.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An automotive battery module comprising:
a housing;
a first terminal and a second terminal coupled to the housing of the automotive battery module;
a first battery that utilizes a first battery chemistry, wherein the first battery is disposed in the housing and electrically coupled to the second terminal of the automotive battery module;
a second battery that utilizes a second battery chemistry different from the first battery chemistry, wherein the second battery is disposed in the housing and electrically coupled to the second terminal of the automotive battery module;
one or more switching devices disposed in the housing and electrically coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal of the automotive battery module; and
a battery control unit disposed in the housing of the automotive battery module, wherein the battery control unit is communicatively coupled to each of the one or more switching devices to enable the battery control unit to selectively control a first electrical connection between the first battery and the first terminal of the automotive battery module, a second electrical connection between the second battery and the first terminal of the automotive battery module, or both.

2. The automotive battery module of claim 1 , wherein:
the one or more switching devices comprise a first switching device electrically between the first battery and the first terminal of the automotive battery module; and
the battery control unit is configured to selectively control the first electrical connection between the first battery and the first terminal by controlling switching of the first switching device.

3. The automotive battery module of claim 2 , wherein:
the one or more switching devices comprise a second switching device electrically between the second battery and the first terminal of the automotive battery module; and
the battery control unit is configured to selectively control the second electrical connection between the second battery and the first terminal by controlling switching of the second switching device.

4. The automotive battery module of claim 2 , wherein the battery control unit is configured to control switching of the first switching device by:
instructing the first switching device to switch from an open position to a closed position, to maintain the closed position, or both to enable the first electrical connection between the first battery and the first terminal of the automotive battery module; and
instructing the first switching device to switching from the open position to the closed position, to maintain the open position, or both to disable the first electrical connection between the first battery and the first terminal of the automotive battery module.

5. The automotive battery module of claim 2 , wherein:
the second battery is electrically coupled to the first terminal of the automotive battery module;
the second battery chemistry provides a higher charging efficiency compared to the first battery chemistry; and
the battery control unit is configured to control switching of the first switching device by instructing the first switching device to switch from an open position to a closed position, to maintain the closed position, or both when electrical energy is being supplied to the automotive battery module from a regenerative braking system.

6. The automotive battery module of claim 1 , wherein:
the first battery chemistry is a lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide battery chemistry, a lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide battery chemistry, a lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide-lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide battery chemistry, a lithium-titanate/lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide batter chemistry, a nickel-metal hydride battery chemistry, or a lithium iron phosphate battery chemistry; and
the first battery chemistry is a lead-acid battery chemistry.

7. The automotive battery module of claim 1 , wherein:
the first battery comprises a first one or more battery cells each configured to store electrical energy using a first electrochemical reaction; and
the second battery comprises a second one or more battery cells each configured to store electrical energy using a second electrochemical reaction different from the first electrochemical reaction.

8. The automotive battery module of claim 1 , wherein the housing is a single continuous housing.

9. The automotive battery module of claim 1 , wherein the automotive battery module is a twelve volt battery module.

10. A method for implementing an automotive battery module, comprising:
disposing a first battery implemented using a first battery chemistry in a housing of the automotive battery module;
electrically coupling the first battery to a first terminal of the automotive battery module;
disposing a second battery implemented using a second battery chemistry different from the first battery chemistry in the housing of the automotive battery module;
electrically coupling the second battery to the first terminal of the automotive battery module;
electrically coupling one or more switching devices between the first terminal and a second terminal of the automotive battery module;
coupling a battery control unit to the housing of the automotive battery module; and
communicatively coupling the battery control unit to each of the one or more switching devices to enable the battery control unit to selectively control a first electrical connection between the first battery and the second terminal of the automotive battery module, a second electrical connection between the second battery and the second terminal of the automotive battery module, or both.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein:
electrically coupling the one or more switching devices between the first terminal and the second terminal comprises electrically coupling a first switching device between the first battery and the second terminal of the automotive battery module; and
communicatively coupling the battery control unit to each of the one or more switching devices comprises communicatively coupling the battery control unit to the first switching device to enable the battery control unit to selectively control the first electrical connection between the first battery and the second terminal by controlling switching of the first switching device.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein:
electrically coupling the one or more switching devices between the first terminal and the second terminal comprises electrically coupling a second switching device between the second battery and the second terminal of the automotive battery module; and
communicatively coupling the battery control unit to each of the one or more switching devices comprises communicatively coupling the battery control unit to the second switching device to enable the battery control unit to selectively control the second electrical connection between the second battery and the second terminal by controlling switching of the second switching device.

13. The method of claim 10 , comprising electrically coupling the second battery to the second terminal of the automotive battery module, wherein:
electrically coupling the one or more switching devices between the first terminal and the second terminal comprises electrically coupling a switching device between the first battery and the second terminal of the automotive battery module; and
communicatively coupling the battery control unit to each of the one or more switching devices comprises communicatively coupling the battery control unit to the switching device to enable the battery control unit to instruct the switching de

Assignees

• Cps Tech Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Wyatt Perry M
• Le Daniel B
• Mascarenhas Ryan S
• Sisk Brian C

Classifications

• H01M10/06 Primary

  Lead-acid accumulators (semi-lead accumulators H01M10/20) · CPC title

• H01M50/505

  comprising a single busbar · CPC title

• B60L7/16 Primary

  for vehicles comprising converters between the power source and the motor · CPC title

• B60L58/20

  having different nominal voltages · CPC title

• H01M10/0525

  Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries · CPC title