Battery switch testing system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10838008-B2
Application number	US-201816034782-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 13, 2018
Priority date	Jul 13, 2018
Publication date	Nov 17, 2020
Grant date	Nov 17, 2020

Abstract

One general aspect includes a battery switch testing method, the method implemented in a system including first and second batteries and a controller, the method including: (a) monitoring, via the controller, electrical properties of the first battery; (b) when the electrical properties of the first battery falls below a threshold value, via the controller, opening a switch of the first battery; (c) closing, via the controller, the first battery switch; (d) monitoring, via the controller, electrical properties of the second battery; (e) when the electrical properties of the second battery falls below a threshold value, via the controller, opening a switch of the second battery; and (f) closing, via the controller, the second battery switch.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A battery contactor testing method, the method implemented in a system comprising first and second batteries and a controller, the method comprising:
(a) monitoring, via the controller, electrical properties of the first battery;
after step (a), (b) when the electrical properties of the first battery fall below a threshold value, via the controller, opening an internally integrated first battery contactor of the first battery;
after step (b), (c) closing, via the controller, the first battery contactor;
after step (c), (d) monitoring, via the controller, electrical properties of the second battery;
after step (d), (e) when the electrical properties of the second battery fall below a threshold value, via the controller, opening an internally integrated second battery contactor of the second battery; and
after step (e), (f) closing, via the controller, the second battery contactor.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, between steps (b) and (c):
(g) verifying, via the controller, the first battery contactor is open;
after step (g), (h) verifying, via the controller, the electrical properties of the first battery having an open first battery contactor; and
after step (h), (i) verifying, via the controller, the electrical properties of the first battery having an open first battery contactor makes sense.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising, between steps (e) and (f):
(j) verifying, via the controller, the second battery contactor is open; and
after (j), (k) verifying, via the controller, the electrical properties of the second battery having an open second battery contactor; and
after step (k), (l) verifying, via the controller, the electrical properties of the second battery having an open second battery contactor makes sense.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the system further comprising a memory and the method further comprising (m) storing to the memory as test results, via the controller, the results from steps (g), (h), (i), (j), (k), and (l).

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the system is located in a vehicle.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the method is implemented after the vehicle has entered a key-down cycle.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the method is implemented before one or more load components of the vehicle enter a quiescent state.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising, after step (m):
(n) determining, via the controller, whether the first battery contactor and second battery contactor can function properly during a subsequent vehicle ignition cycle based on the test results from step (m); and
after step (n), (o) limiting, via the controller, vehicle operations when it is determined that either the first battery contactor or second battery contactor cannot function properly during the subsequent vehicle ignition cycle.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the controller is a Fail Operational Control Module.

10. A battery contactor testing method, the method implemented in a vehicle comprising first and second batteries, a memory, and a Fail Operational Control Module (FOCM), the method being implemented after the vehicle has entered a key-down cycle and before one or more load components of the vehicle enter a quiescent state, the method comprising:
(a) monitoring, via the FOCM, current discharge from the first battery;
after step (a), (b) when the current discharge from the first battery falls below a threshold value, via the FOCM, opening an internally integrated first battery contactor of the first battery;
after step (b), (c) verifying, via the FOCM, the first battery contactor is open;
after step (c), (d) verifying, via the FOCM, the current discharge from the first battery having an open first battery contactor;
after step (d), (e) closing, via the FOCM, the first battery contactor;
after step (e), (f) monitoring, via the FOCM, current discharge from the second battery;
after step (f), (g) when the current discharge from the second battery falls below a threshold value, via the FOCM, opening an internally integrated second battery contactor of the second battery;
after step (g), (h) verifying, via the FOCM, the second battery contactor is open;
after step (h), (i) verifying, via the FOCM, the current discharge from the second battery having an open second battery contactor;
after step (i), (j) closing, via the FOCM, the second battery contactor; and
after step (j), (k) storing to the memory as test results, via the FOCM, the results from steps (c), (d), (h), and (i).

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising, after step (k) and before a subsequent vehicle ignition cycle:
(l) determining, via the FOCM, whether the first battery contactor and second battery contactor can function properly during the subsequent vehicle ignition cycle based on the test results from step (k); and
after step (l), (m) limiting, via the FOCM, vehicle operations when it is determined that either the first battery contactor or second battery contactor cannot function properly during the subsequent vehicle ignition cycle.

12. A battery contactor testing system comprising:
a memory configured to comprise one or more executable instructions and a controller configured to execute the executable instructions, wherein the executable instructions enable the controller to carry out multiple steps in the following order:
(a) monitor current discharge from a first battery;
after step (a), (b) when the current discharge from the first battery falls below a threshold value, open an internally integrated first battery contactor of the first battery;
after step (b), (c) close the first battery contactor;
after step (c), (d) monitor current discharge from a second battery;
after step (d), (e) when the current discharge from the second battery falls below a threshold value, open an internally integrated second battery contactor of the second battery; and
after step (e), (f) close the second battery contactor.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the executable instructions further enable the controller to carry out the following steps, between steps (b) and (c):
(g) verify the first battery contactor is open; and
after step (g), (h) verify the current discharge from the first battery having an open second battery contactor; and
after step (h), (i) verify the current discharge of the first battery having an open first battery contactor makes sense.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the executable instructions further enable the controller to carry out the following steps, between steps (e) and (f):
(j) verify the second battery contactor is open; and
after (j), (k) verify the current discharge from the second battery having an open second battery switch contactor; and
after step (k), (l) verify the current discharge of the second battery having an open second battery contactor makes sense.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the executable instructions further enable the controller to carry out the following step (m) store to the memory, as test results, the results from steps (g), (h), (i), (j), (k), and (l).

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the system is located in a vehicle.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the controller carries out the steps after the vehicle has entered a key-down cycle.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the controller carries out the steps before one or more load components of the vehicle enter a quiescent state.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the executable instructions further enable the cont

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Conell Jonathan O
• De Stefano Robert A
• Rich Dave G
• Wroblewski Benjamin G
• Hasan Saad

Classifications

• G01R31/3647 Primary

  for determining the ability of a battery to perform a critical function, e.g. cranking · CPC title

• B60R16/033

  characterised by the use of electrical cells or batteries (for propulsion puposes B60K1/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06; testing of charge state G01R31/36) · CPC title

• G01R31/396

  Acquisition or processing of data for testing or for monitoring individual cells or groups of cells within a battery · CPC title

• G01R31/364

  Battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements · CPC title

• G01R31/3277 Primary

  of low voltage devices, e.g. domestic or industrial devices, such as motor protections, relays, rotation switches · CPC title