Vehicle power supply system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11999307-B2
Application number	US-202217982751-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 8, 2022
Priority date	May 20, 2020
Publication date	Jun 4, 2024
Grant date	Jun 4, 2024

Abstract

A vehicle power supply system provides redundant high-voltage and low-voltage power supply for an electric vehicle or a hybrid-electric vehicle. The power supply system includes first and second high-voltage battery units. A positive terminal of the first unit is connected to a positive power distribution arrangement and a positive terminal of the second unit is connected to a negative terminal of the first high-voltage battery unit via an intermediate power distribution arrangement, and a negative terminal of the second unit is connected to a negative power distribution arrangement. The system has a first bypass line connecting the positive power distribution arrangement with the intermediate power distribution arrangement, and a second bypass line connecting the negative power distribution arrangement with the intermediate power distribution arrangement.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle power supply system configured for providing redundant high-voltage and low-voltage power supply for an electric vehicle or hybrid-electric vehicle, the power supply system comprising:
a first high-voltage battery unit having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, wherein the positive terminal is connected to a positive power distribution arrangement,
a second high-voltage battery unit having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, wherein the positive terminal is connected to the negative terminal of the first high-voltage battery unit via an intermediate power distribution arrangement, and wherein the negative terminal is connected to a negative power distribution arrangement,
a first bypass line connecting the positive power distribution arrangement with the intermediate power distribution arrangement, wherein the first bypass line includes a first circuit breaker,
a second bypass line connecting the negative power distribution arrangement with the intermediate power distribution arrangement, wherein the second bypass line includes a second circuit breaker,
a first DC/DC converter connected to the positive and negative power distribution arrangements and configured for providing a first low-voltage DC output,
a second DC/DC converter connected to the positive and negative power distribution arrangements and configured for providing a second low-voltage DC output,
a first main contactor connected to the positive power distribution arrangement and a second main contactor connected to the negative power distribution arrangement, wherein the first and second main contactors in engaged state are configured for connecting the first and second high-voltage battery units with a first high-voltage DC output, and in disengaged state configured for disconnecting the first and second high-voltage battery unit from the first high-voltage DC output,
a third main contactor connected to the positive power distribution arrangement and a fourth main contactor connected to the negative power distribution arrangement, wherein the third and fourth main contactors in engaged state are configured for connecting the first and second high-voltage battery units with a second high-voltage DC output, and in disengaged state configured for disconnecting the first and second high-voltage battery units from the second high-voltage DC output.

2. The vehicle power supply system according to claim 1 , wherein each of the positive and negative power distribution arrangements include one, two, three, four, five or six individual power distribution units for connecting:
the positive terminal of the first high-voltage battery unit or the negative terminal of the second high-voltage battery unit,
one of the first and second bypass lines,
the first and second DC/DC converters,
one of the first and second main contactors, and
one of the third and fourth main contactors.

3. The vehicle power supply system according to claim 1 , wherein each of the positive and negative power distribution arrangements includes a first power distribution unit joining:
a high-voltage cable or conductor connected to or associated with the positive terminal of the first high-voltage battery unit or the negative terminal of the second high-voltage battery unit, and
a high-voltage cable or conductor connected to or associated with the first DC/DC converter, and/or a high-voltage cable or conductor connected to or associated with the first or second main contactors.

4. The vehicle power supply system according to claim 3 , wherein each of the positive and negative power distribution arrangements includes a second power distribution unit joining:
a high-voltage cable or conductor associated with the first or second bypass lines, and
a high-voltage cable or conductor connected to or associated with the second DC/DC converter, and/or a high-voltage cable or conductor connected to or associated with the third or fourth main contactors.

5. The vehicle power supply system according to claim 4 , wherein each of the positive and negative power distribution arrangements includes a third power distribution unit joining:
a high-voltage cable or conductor connected to or associated with the first power distribution unit, and
a high-voltage cable or conductor connected to or associated with the first or second main contactors or a high-voltage cable or conductor connected to or associated with the first DC/DC converter.

6. The vehicle power supply system according to claim 5 , wherein each of the positive and negative power distribution arrangements includes a fourth power distribution unit joining:
a high-voltage cable or conductor connected to or associated with the third power distribution unit,
a high-voltage cable or conductor connected to or associated with the second power distribution unit, and
a high-voltage cable or conductor connected to or associated with the third or fourth main contactors or a high-voltage cable or conductor connected to or associated with the second DC/DC converter.

7. The vehicle power supply system according to claim 1 , wherein each of the positive and negative power distribution arrangements includes:
a first power distribution unit joining a high-voltage cable or conductor connected to or associated with the first DC/DC converter and a high-voltage cable or conductor connected to or associated with the first or second main contactors, and
a second power distribution unit joining a high-voltage cable or conductor connected to or associated with the second DC/DC converter and a high-voltage cable or conductor connected to or associated with the third or fourth main contactors.

8. The vehicle power supply system according to claim 7 , wherein each of the positive and negative power distribution arrangements includes:
a third power distribution unit joining a high-voltage cable or conductor connected to or associated with the first power distribution unit and a high-voltage cable or conductor connected to or associated with the positive terminal of the first high-voltage battery unit or the negative terminal of the second high-voltage battery unit, and
a fourth power distribution unit joining a high-voltage cable or conductor connected to or associated with the third power distribution unit, a high-voltage cable or conductor connected to or associated with the second power distribution unit, and a high-voltage cable or conductor associated with the first or second bypass lines.

9. The vehicle power supply system according to claim 1 , wherein the vehicle power supply system further comprises a third circuit breaker connected in series with the first high-voltage battery unit and configured for enabling selective connection and disconnection of the first high-voltage battery unit from the vehicle power supply system, and a fourth circuit breaker connected in series with the second high-voltage battery unit and configured for enabling selective connection and disconnection of the second high-voltage battery unit from the vehicle power supply system.

10. The vehicle power supply system according to claim 1 , wherein the vehicle power supply system further comprises a first fuse connected in series with the first or second main contactors, a second fuse connected in series with the third or fourth main contactors, a third fuse connected in series with the first high-voltage battery unit, and a fourth fuse connected in series with the second high-voltage battery unit, wherein the first and second fuses have lower rated current value than the third and fourth fuses.

11. The vehicle power supply system according to claim 10 , wherein the first fuse has a rated current value di

Assignees

• Ningbo Geely Automobile Res & Development Co Ltd
• Geely Holding Group Co Ltd
• Ningbo Geely Automobile Res & Development Co

Inventors

• Hallberg Linus
• Rajarathinam Naveen Raja

Classifications

• B60R16/033 Primary

  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

• H02J9/061

  for DC powered loads · CPC title

• B60L50/50 Primary

  using propulsion power supplied by batteries or fuel cells · CPC title

• B60L50/60

  using power supplied by batteries (in combination with fuel cells B60L50/75) · CPC title

• B60L50/64

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