Safety sensor module with vehicle communication to first responders

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018366792-A1
Application number	US-201715626692-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 19, 2017
Priority date	Jun 19, 2017
Publication date	Dec 20, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A battery pack safety system for a battery powered vehicle includes a vehicle battery pack having at least one battery cell positioned in a bay of a frame. Multiple sensors are each supported by the frame. A safety module in communication with each of the multiple sensors collects an output of each of the sensors for transmission to a vehicle computer unit. A safety module power supply provides backup power for operation of the multiple sensors and the safety module when an electrical charge of the battery pack is unavailable. A warning module is in communication with the safety module. The warning module when initiated by a signal from the safety module in response to an output signal generated by any of the multiple sensors energizes a signaling device providing external vehicle indication of a status of the battery pack.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A battery pack safety system for a battery powered vehicle, comprising:
a safety module in communication with a vehicle battery pack holding an electrical charge; at least one battery pack sensor in communication with the safety module; and a warning module in communication with the safety module, the warning module, when initiated by a signal from the safety module in response to an output signal from the at least one battery pack sensor, energizing a signaling device providing external vehicle indication of a status of the battery pack.

2 . The battery pack safety system for a battery powered vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the battery pack includes a frame mounted to the vehicle, the at least one battery pack sensor supported by the frame.

3 . The battery pack safety system for a battery powered vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the frame includes a low point for gravity collection of a fluid.

4 . The battery pack safety system for a battery powered vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the at least one battery pack sensor defines at least one of a moisture sensor and a battery fluid sensor located at the low point.

5 . The battery pack safety system for a battery powered vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the at least one battery pack sensor defines an impact sensor.

6 . The battery pack safety system for a battery powered vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the at least one battery pack sensor defines a smoke sensor.

7 . The battery pack safety system for a battery powered vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the at least one battery pack sensor defines at least one of a battery fluid sensor and a moisture sensor.

8 . The battery pack safety system for a battery powered vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the at least one battery pack sensor defines an accelerometer.

9 . The battery pack safety system for a battery powered vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the at least one battery pack sensor includes at least one of a moisture sensor, an impact sensor, and a smoke sensor, wherein an output from the safety module is in communication with a vehicle electronics control unit in direct communication with the warning module.

10 . The battery pack safety system for a battery powered vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the frame includes multiple bays each containing a battery cell, each of the bays having a low point for gravity collection of a fluid; and the at least one battery pack sensor defines multiple moisture sensors each located at the low point of one of the multiple bays.

11 . A battery pack safety system for a battery powered vehicle, comprising:
a safety module in communication with a battery pack holding an electrical charge; multiple battery pack sensors in communication with the safety module; a safety module power supply providing backup power for operation of the multiple battery pack sensors and the safety module when the electrical charge of the battery pack is unavailable; and a warning module in communication with the safety module, the warning module, when initiated by a signal from the safety module in response to an output signal being generated by any of the multiple battery pack sensors, energizing a signaling device providing external vehicle indication of a status of the battery pack.

12 . The battery pack safety system for a battery powered vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the battery pack includes a frame mounted to the vehicle, the frame having multiple sides, the multiple battery pack sensors including impact sensors individually mounted to one or more of the multiple sides of the frame.

13 . The battery pack safety system for a battery powered vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the battery pack includes multiple bays each having a battery cell, and wherein the frame includes a low point with one of the multiple battery pack sensors defining a fluid sensor positioned at the low point.

14 . The battery pack safety system for a battery powered vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the warning module is in communication with at least one of a headlight and a taillight of the vehicle.

15 . The battery pack safety system for a battery powered vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the warning module operates the at least one of the headlight and the taillight of the vehicle in an on-off pattern indicative of a condition of the battery pack.

16 . The battery pack safety system for a battery powered vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the warning module is in communication with a sound generating device of the vehicle.

17 . The battery pack safety system for a battery powered vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the warning module operates the sound generating device in a pattern indicative of a condition of the battery pack.

18 . A battery pack safety system for a battery powered vehicle, comprising:
a vehicle battery pack having at least one battery cell positioned in a bay of a frame; multiple battery pack sensors each connected to the frame; a safety module in communication with each of the multiple battery pack sensors to collect an output of each of the battery pack sensors for transmission to a vehicle central computer unit; a safety module power supply providing backup power for operation of the multiple battery pack sensors and the safety module when an electrical charge of the battery pack is unavailable; and a warning module in communication with the safety module, the warning module, when initiated by a signal from the safety module in response to an output signal being generated by any of the multiple battery pack sensors, energizing a signaling device providing external vehicle indication of a status of the battery pack.

19 . The battery pack safety system for a battery powered vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the at least one battery cell defines multiple battery cells each independently positioned in a bay of the frame.

20 . The battery pack safety system for a battery powered vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the multiple battery pack sensors include at least one of each of a moisture sensor or a battery fluid sensor determining a level of a fluid in the battery pack, an impact sensor determining a strain loading applied to the frame, and a smoke sensor determining if smoke is present within the battery pack.

Assignees

• Dura Operating Llc

Inventors

• Stachewicz Aaron Brion
• Ünveren Cumhur
• Page Indraneel Krishna

Classifications

• H01M10/488 Primary

  Cells or batteries combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light density · CPC title

• B60Q5/005

  automatically actuated · CPC title

• B60L2250/10

  by alarm · CPC title

• H01M2220/20

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

• B60K1/04 Primary

  of the electric storage means for propulsion · CPC title