Systems and methods for battery usage regulation for battery life protection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017101027-A1
Application number	US-201514881781-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 13, 2015
Priority date	Oct 13, 2015
Publication date	Apr 13, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus of managing the lifespan of a battery are disclosed herein. A method comprises interpreting age data indicative of a current age of a battery, interpreting usage data indicative of a current usage of the battery, comparing the age data to the usage data, and allocating a propelling power from the battery in a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) responsive to the comparison.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
an age data module structured to interpret age data indicative of a current age of a battery; a usage data module structured to interpret usage data indicative of a current usage of the battery; a comparison module structured to compare the age data to the usage data; and an allocation module structured to allocate a propelling power from the battery in a vehicle responsive to the comparison.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the age data includes a period of time since the battery began use in the vehicle, or a distance that the battery has travelled with the vehicle, or both.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the usage data includes a current cumulative throughput of the battery.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the usage data includes a current state of health (SOH) of the battery.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the comparison module is further structured to determine a first percentage of the current age in a target life expectancy of the battery, to determine a second percentage of the current usage in a target end-of-life total usage of the battery, and to compare the first percentage to the second percentage.

6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the allocation module is further structured to derate a power limit of the battery available to propel the vehicle responsive to a determination that the second percentage exceeds the first percentage beyond a threshold.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the allocation module is further structured to stop use of the battery in operations that consume battery life quickly responsive to a determination that the second percentage exceeds the first percentage beyond a threshold.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a collection module structured to collect the age data and the usage data for a period of time, wherein during the period of time, operation of the vehicle is free of regulation of usage of the battery.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV).

10 . A system, comprising:
a battery; a battery monitor coupled to the battery; and a controller communicably coupled to the battery and the battery monitor, the controller structured to:
interpret age data indicative of a current age of the battery received from the battery monitor;
interpret usage data indicative of a current usage of the battery received from the battery monitor;
compare the age data to the usage data; and
allocate a propelling power from the battery in a vehicle responsive to the comparison.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the controller is further structured to:
determine a first percentage of the current age in a target life expectancy of the battery; determine a second percentage of the current usage in a target end-of-life total usage of the battery; and compare the first percentage to the second percentage.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the controller is further structured to:
derate a power limit of the battery available to propel the vehicle responsive to a determination that the second percentage exceeds the first percentage beyond a threshold.

13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the controller is further structured to:
stop use of the battery in operations that consume battery life quickly responsive to a determination that the second percentage exceeds the first percentage beyond a threshold.

14 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the controller is further structured to:
collect the age data and the usage data for a period of time, wherein during the period of time, operation of the vehicle is free of regulation of usage of the battery.

15 . A method comprising:
interpreting age data indicative of a current age of a battery; interpreting usage data indicative of a current usage of the battery; comparing the age data to the usage data; and allocating a propelling power from the battery in a vehicle responsive to the comparison.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein comparing the first data to the second data includes:
determining a first percentage of the current age in a target life expectancy of the battery; determining a second percentage of the current usage in a target end-of-life total usage of the battery; and comparing the first percentage to the second percentage.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein said allocating the propelling power from the battery in the vehicle responsive to the comparison includes:
re-allocating the propelling power if the second percentage exceeds the first percentage beyond a threshold; and maintaining a current allocation of the propelling power if the second percentage does not exceeds the first percentage beyond the threshold.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein said allocating the propelling power includes:
derating a power limit of the battery available to propel the vehicle responsive to a determination that the second percentage exceeds the first percentage beyond a threshold.

19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein said allocating the propelling power includes:
stopping use of the battery in operations that consume battery life quickly responsive to a determination that the second percentage exceeds the first percentage beyond a threshold.

20 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
collecting the age data and the usage data for a period of time, wherein during the period of time, operation of the vehicle is free of regulation of usage of the battery.

Assignees

• Cummins Inc

Inventors

• Zhou Lining
• Books Martin T

Classifications

• G01R31/3647

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

• G01R31/374

  with means for correcting the measurement for temperature or ageing · CPC title

• B60L2240/549

  Current · CPC title

• B60L2240/80

  Time limits · CPC title

• B60L2240/547

  Voltage · CPC title