Battery module parallel switching device systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11945331-B2
Application number	US-202217891937-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 19, 2022
Priority date	Oct 25, 2016
Publication date	Apr 2, 2024
Grant date	Apr 2, 2024

Abstract

The present disclosure includes an automotive battery system that uses switching devices to increase operational performance and reliability. The battery system includes a battery cell, a primary switching device electrically coupled to a terminal of the battery cell, and a secondary switching device electrically coupled to the terminal of the battery cell and in parallel with the primary switching device. The primary switching device includes an electromechanical switching device that enables charging or discharging of the battery and generates a boosted voltage. A secondary switching device includes a solid-state switching device and a diode, electrically coupled in series, which detect short circuit conditions in a power-efficient manner and remove the short circuit condition by using the boosted voltage to actuate the armature. Furthermore, parallel switching devices work together to deliver appropriate amounts of power as required by an electrical device, increasing the performance, reliability, and life-span of a battery system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An automotive vehicle comprising:
a battery cell;
circuitry including a primary switching device electrically coupled to a terminal of the battery cell, the primary switching device comprising an electromechanical switching device configured to, when in a first closed position:
enable current in a first direction through the primary switching device to facilitate charging the battery cell; and
enable current in a second direction through the primary switching device to facilitate discharging the battery cell; and

the circuitry further including a secondary switching device electrically coupled to the terminal of the battery cell in parallel with the primary switching device, the secondary switching device comprising:
a solid-state switching device; and
a diode electrically coupled in series with the solid-state switching device, the diode being configured to enable current in only one of the first direction and the second direction through the secondary switching device when the solid-state switching device is in a second closed position; and

a battery control system operatively coupled to the secondary switching device to test operation of the circuitry, the battery control system being configured to
determine target current to be supplied from the battery cell to an electrical device electrically coupled to the primary switching device and the secondary switching device; and
when the target current is less than a first current threshold:
instruct the solid-state switching device to maintain the second closed position to facilitate supplying electrical power at the target current from the battery cell to the electrical device; and
instruct the electromechanical switching device to maintain a first open position to facilitate limiting supply of electrical power to the electrical device.

2. The automotive vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the electromechanical switching device comprises;
a first relay coil electrically coupled to a capacitor, wherein the first relay coil is configured to, when electrical power at a battery voltage is received:
generate a first magnetic field that facilitates transitioning the electromechanical switching device from a first open position to the first closed position; and
facilitate boosting the battery voltage to a boosted voltage to be stored in the capacitor.

3. The automotive vehicle of claim 2 , which includes a second relay coil configured to generate a second magnetic field that facilitates transitioning the electromechanical switching device from the first closed position to the first open position when electrical power at the boosted voltage is supplied from the capacitor to the second relay coil.

4. The automotive vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the secondary switching device comprises:
a current mirror branch electrically coupled between the solid-state switching device and the diode; and
short-circuit protection circuitry electrically coupled between the current mirror branch and a gate of the solid-state switching device, wherein the short-circuit protection circuitry is configured to:
determine when a short-circuit condition is expected to be present based at least in part on current through the current mirror branch; and
when the short-circuit condition is expected to be present:
instruct the solid-state switching device to transition from the second closed position to a second open position; and
output a clock signal to wake-up the battery control system to enable the battery control system to confirm whether the short-circuit condition is actually present.

5. The automotive vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the battery control system is configured to:
instruct the electromechanical switching device to maintain the first closed position when the target current is not less than the first current threshold;
instruct the solid-state switching device to maintain a second open position when the target current is less than a second current threshold greater than the first current threshold to facilitate limiting supply of electrical power to the electrical device; and
instruct the solid-state switching device to maintain the second closed position when the target current is not less than the second current threshold to facilitate supplying electrical power at the target current from the battery cell to the electrical device.

6. The automotive vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the battery cell is one of a plurality of battery cells comprising a battery module.

7. A method comprising:
operating an automotive vehicle including a battery cell and circuitry including an electromechanical switching device coupled to a terminal of the battery cell and a semiconductor switching device coupled to the terminal of the battery cell in parallel with the electromechanical switching device;
enabling current in a first direction through the electromechanical switching device to discharge the battery cell;
enabling current in a second direction through the electromechanical switching device to charge the battery cell;
limiting current through a solid-state switching device in one of the first direction and the second direction with a diode electrically coupled in series with the solid-state switching device when the solid-state switching device is in closed position;
testing operation of the circuitry with a battery control system operatively coupled to the solid-state switching device;
determining a target power output from the battery cell;
maintaining an open position of the electromechanical switching device when the target power is less than or equal to a power threshold; and
if the target power exceeds the power threshold, maintaining a closed position of the electromechanical switching device.

8. The method of claim 7 , which comprises storing electrical energy at a boosted voltage with a capacitor.

9. The method of claim 7 , which comprises providing electric power to a vehicle electrical system through the solid-state switching device while the electromechanical switching device is in an open state.

10. The method claim 9 , which includes deploying the battery cell and circuitry in an automotive vehicle.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the testing includes evaluating ability of the circuitry to detect a short-circuit condition.

12. The method of claim 7 , which further includes maintaining the closed position of the solid-state switching device.

13. An apparatus comprising:
a battery;
circuitry including a primary switching circuit electrically coupled to a terminal of the battery, the primary switching circuit comprising, an electromechanical switching device configured to, when in a first closed position, enable current in a first direction through the primary switching circuit to facilitate charging the battery, and enable current in a second direction through the primary switching circuit to facilitate discharging the battery; and
the circuitry further including a secondary switching circuit electrically coupled to the terminal of the battery in parallel with the primary switching circuit, the secondary switching circuit comprising solid-state switching devices being configured to enable current in only one of the first direction and the second direction through the secondary switching devices when the secondary switching circuit is in a closed configuration; and
a battery control system operatively coupled to the primary switching circuit and the secondary switching circuit to test, operation of the circuitry, the battery control system being configured to determine target current to be supplied from the battery to an electrical device electrically coupled to the p

Assignees

• Cps Tech Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Blemberg Michael R
• Dulle Ronald J
• Johnson Mark R
• Thieme Bryan L

Classifications

• H02J7/62

  against overcurrent · CPC title

• H02J7/60

  including safety or protection arrangements · CPC title

• H02J7/663

  using battery or load disconnect circuits (H02J9/002 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60L58/10 Primary

  for monitoring or controlling batteries · CPC title

• B60L50/64

  Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles · CPC title