Discharge circuit for discharging a battery

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016285296-A1
Application number	US-201615181048-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 13, 2016
Priority date	Jul 10, 2012
Publication date	Sep 29, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system and method for discharging a high voltage vehicle battery. The system includes a discharge circuit having a reference voltage source providing a reference voltage and a load for discharging the battery. A negative terminal of the voltage source is electrically coupled to a negative terminal of the battery so that upon initiation of the discharging sequence, the battery is discharged through the load to the reference voltage. The discharge circuit can be electrically configured so that the battery, the voltage source and the load are electrically coupled in series or the battery, the voltage source and the load are electrically coupled in parallel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A discharge circuit for discharging a battery, said battery including a positive terminal and a negative terminal, said circuit comprising:
a reference voltage source providing a reference voltage, said voltage source including a negative terminal and a positive terminal, said voltage source being electrically coupled in parallel with the battery where the negative terminal of the voltage source is electrically coupled to the negative terminal of the battery; and a load electrically coupled in parallel with the battery and the voltage source, wherein a current flow through the load generated by the battery discharges the battery to the reference voltage.

2 . The circuit according to claim 1 wherein the voltage source is a variable voltage source so that the reference voltage can be changed.

3 . The circuit according to claim 1 wherein the voltage source and the load are part of a portable unit that can be selectively coupled to the battery.

4 . The circuit according to claim 1 further comprising a switch, said switch being closed to begin the discharging of the battery.

5 . The circuit according to claim 1 wherein the load is one or more resistors.

6 . The circuit according to claim 1 further comprising a diode electrically coupled between the voltage source and the battery and preventing current flow from the battery from entering the voltage source.

7 . The circuit according to claim 1 wherein the battery is a high voltage battery having a voltage of 400 volts or more.

8 . The circuit according to claim 1 where the battery is a vehicle battery.

9 . A discharge circuit for discharging a battery on a vehicle, said battery including a positive terminal and a negative terminal, said circuit comprising:
a reference voltage source providing a reference voltage, said voltage source including a negative terminal and a positive terminal, said voltage source being electrically coupled in parallel with the battery where the negative terminal of the voltage source is electrically coupled to the negative terminal of the battery, wherein the voltage source is a variable voltage source so that the reference voltage can be changed; and a load electrically coupled in parallel with the battery and the voltage source, wherein a current flow through the load generated by the battery discharges the battery to the reference voltage.

10 . The circuit according to claim 9 wherein the voltage source and the load are part of a portable unit that can be selectively coupled to the battery.

11 . The circuit according to claim 9 further comprising a switch, said switch being closed to begin the discharging of the battery.

12 . The circuit according to claim 9 wherein the load is one or more resistors.

13 . The circuit according to claim 9 further comprising a diode electrically coupled between the voltage source and the battery and preventing current flow from the battery from entering the voltage source.

14 . The circuit according to claim 9 wherein the battery is a high voltage battery having a voltage of 400 volts or more.

15 . A discharge circuit for discharging a battery on a vehicle, said battery including a positive terminal and a negative terminal, said circuit comprising:
a reference voltage source providing a reference voltage, said voltage source including a negative terminal and a positive terminal, said voltage source being electrically coupled in parallel with the battery where the negative terminal of the voltage source is electrically coupled to the negative terminal of the battery; and a load electrically coupled in parallel with the battery and the voltage source, wherein a current flow through the load generated by the battery discharges the battery to the reference voltage, wherein the voltage source and the load are part of a portable unit that can be selectively coupled to the battery.

16 . The circuit according to claim 15 wherein the voltage source is a variable voltage source so that the reference voltage can be changed.

17 . The circuit according to claim 15 wherein the voltage source and the load are part of a portable unit that can be selectively coupled to the battery.

18 . The circuit according to claim 15 further comprising a switch, said switch being closed to begin the discharging of the battery.

19 . The circuit according to claim 15 wherein the load is one or more resistors.

20 . The circuit according to claim 15 further comprising a diode electrically coupled between the voltage source and the battery and preventing current flow from the battery from entering the voltage source.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Namou Andrew J
• Mackintosh Todd F

Classifications

• B60L58/10

  for monitoring or controlling batteries · CPC title

• H02J2105/37

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

• H02J7/865

  Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply (H02J7/50 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60L2270/00

  Problem solutions or means not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• H01M2220/20

  Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane · CPC title