Systems and methods for providing passthrough charging support during bidirectional energy transfers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12122256-B2
Application number	US-202117393579-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 4, 2021
Priority date	Aug 4, 2021
Publication date	Oct 22, 2024
Grant date	Oct 22, 2024

Abstract

Systems and methods are configured for coordinating and providing passthrough charging during bidirectional energy transfer events between two or more electrified vehicles. The ability to pass charging power from one vehicle to another allows for multiple vehicles to be concurrently charged from a single charge source. Various passthrough charging strategies may be achieved with the proposed systems, including but not limited to, a distributed charging strategy, a waterfall charging strategy, a targeted charging strategy, an automated charging strategy, a pay-for-use charging strategy, etc.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bidirectional energy transfer system, comprising:
a host vehicle including a first traction battery pack;
a surrogate vehicle including a second traction battery pack,
wherein the surrogate vehicle is operably connected to the host vehicle by a charging cable; and
a control module configured to command that a first amount of charge energy received from a charge source be delivered for charging the first traction battery pack and a second amount of the charge energy be delivered for charging the second traction battery pack during a bidirectional energy transfer event,
wherein the control module is an on-board component of the host vehicle.

2. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second amount of the charge energy provides passthrough charging support for charging the surrogate vehicle from the charge source without a direct connection of the surrogate vehicle to the charge source.

3. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the control module is configured to interface with a bidirectional power transfer system of at least one of the host vehicle or the surrogate vehicle for controlling a transfer of the first amount of the charge energy and the second amount of the charge energy, wherein the control module is further configured to communicate a passthrough charging signal for controlling the bidirectional power transfer system to provide the first amount and the second amount during the transfer.

4. The system as recited in claim 1 , comprising a human machine interface or a personal electronic device associated with the host vehicle, wherein the human machine interface, the personal electronic device, or both is configured through a cloud-based application to provide a user interface for selecting a passthrough charging configuration that defines the first amount and the second amount of the charge energy.

5. The system as recited in claim 4 , wherein the passthrough charging configuration includes a distributed passthrough charging configuration, a waterfall passthrough charging configuration, a targeted passthrough charging configuration, an automated passthrough charging configuration, or a pay-for-use passthrough charging configuration.

6. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first amount of the charge energy is zero and the second amount of the charge energy is an amount greater than zero.

7. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the host vehicle includes a first charge port assembly operably connected to the charge source and a second charge port assembly operably connected to the charging cable.

8. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the host vehicle includes a charging splitter adapter operably connected to both the charge source and the charging cable.

9. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the charge source is a wireless charger module that is configured to wirelessly transfer energy to the host vehicle.

10. The system as recited in claim 9 , wherein the control module is further configured to command that a third amount of charge energy received from the surrogate vehicle be delivered for charging the first traction battery pack during the bidirectional energy transfer event.

11. An electrified vehicle, comprising:
a traction battery pack;
a bidirectional power transfer system operably connected to the traction battery pack;
a control module programmed to control the bidirectional power transfer system to provide passthrough charging support for charging a device separate from the electrified vehicle during a bidirectional energy transfer event;
a first charge port assembly operably connected to the bidirectional power transfer system;
a second charge port assembly operably connected to the bidirectional power transfer system;
a first charging cord connected to the first charge port assembly; and
a second charging cord connected to the second charge port assembly,
wherein the second charge port assembly is a separate and distinct component from each of the first charge port assembly, the first charging cord, and the second charging cord.

12. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 11 , comprising a telecommunications module configured for establishing bidirectional communications between the electrified vehicle and a second electrified vehicle.

13. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 11 , comprising a human machine interface or a personal electronic device, wherein the human machine interface, the personal electronic device, or both is configured through a cloud-based application to provide a user interface for selecting a passthrough charging configuration for achieving the passthrough charging support.

14. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 13 , wherein the passthrough charging configuration includes a distributed passthrough charging configuration, a waterfall passthrough charging configuration, a targeted passthrough charging configuration, an automated passthrough charging configuration, or a pay-for-use passthrough charging configuration.

15. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 13 , wherein the user interface is configured to allow a user to enter a specific amount of charge energy or a desired passthrough charging schedule or target to be transferred during the bidirectional energy transfer event.

16. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 11 , wherein the control module is programmed to command that a first amount of charge energy received from a charge source be delivered for charging the traction battery pack and a second amount of the charge energy be delivered for charging the device during the bidirectional energy transfer event.

17. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 16 , wherein the device is a second traction battery pack of a second electrified vehicle, and the second amount provides the passthrough charging support.

18. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 17 , wherein the electrified vehicle and the second electrified vehicle are operably connected to one another by a charging cable.

19. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 11 , wherein the electrified vehicle is a pickup truck, and further wherein the second charge port assembly is located in a truck bed of the pickup truck.

20. An electrified vehicle, comprising:
a traction battery pack;
a bidirectional power transfer system operably connected to the traction battery pack;
a control module programmed to control the bidirectional power transfer system to provide passthrough charging support for charging a second electrified vehicle that is separate from the electrified vehicle during a bidirectional energy transfer event; and
a human machine interface or a personal electronic device, wherein the human machine interface, the personal electronic device, or both is configured through a cloud-based application to provide a user interface for selecting a passthrough charging configuration for achieving the passthrough charging support,
wherein the passthrough charging configuration includes an automated passthrough charging configuration that is based on at least a first planned trip of the electrified vehicle and a second planned trip of the second electrified vehicle.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Salter Stuart C
• Phung Peter
• O'Gorman Ryan
• Howard-Cone Katherine

Classifications

• H02J7/52

  for charge balancing, e.g. equalisation of charge between batteries · CPC title

• H02J7/933

  the cycle being controlled or terminated in response to electric parameters · CPC title

• H02J7/751

  concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries · CPC title

• H02J2105/37

  exchanging power with electric vehicles [EV] or with hybrid electric vehicles [HEV] · CPC title

• H02J13/1331

  using wireless data transmission · CPC title