Condensation-induced corrosion resistant cell mounting well
Granted: March 20, 2012
Patent Number:
8137833
A battery mounting structure for use within a battery pack housing is provided that prevents condensation-induced corrosion from occurring between the terminals of a battery.
Method of controlled cell-level fusing within a battery pack
Granted: March 13, 2012
Patent Number:
8133287
A method is provided that achieves improved battery pack performance, system reliability and system safety while impacting only a small region of the battery pack/battery module, and thus having only a minor impact on battery pack cost, complexity, weight and size. The battery pack/battery module is designed such that the fusible interconnects associated with a single battery, or a specific fusible interconnect associated with a single battery, will be the last interconnect(s) to fuse…
Battery pack with cell-level fusing
Granted: March 13, 2012
Patent Number:
8133608
A battery pack, or battery pack module, is provided that achieves improved battery pack performance, system reliability and system safety while impacting only a small region of the battery pack/battery module, and thus having only a minor impact on battery pack cost, complexity, weight and size. The battery pack/battery module is designed such that the fusible interconnects associated with a single battery, or a specific fusible interconnect associated with a single battery, will be the…
Manufacturing methods for a triple layer winding pattern
Granted: February 28, 2012
Patent Number:
8122590
A method of manufacturing a triple-winding layer arrangement for a three-phase, four pole motor is provided.
Corrosion resistant cell mounting well
Granted: February 28, 2012
Patent Number:
8124263
A battery mounting structure, preferably for use within a battery pack housing, is provided that prevents condensation-induced corrosion from occurring between the terminals of a battery.
Charge state indicator for an electric vehicle
Granted: February 28, 2012
Patent Number:
8125324
One embodiment of the present subject matter includes a battery mounted to a vehicle, with a charge state circuit located in the electric vehicle and coupled to the battery, the charge state circuit configured to provide a charge state signal indicative of the charge state of the battery. The embodiment includes a charging coupler port located proximate to a user accessible exterior of the electrical vehicle and coupled to the battery, the charging coupler port to conduct charging energy…
Intelligent temperature control system for extending battery pack life
Granted: February 21, 2012
Patent Number:
8117857
A method and apparatus for actively cooling the battery pack of an electric vehicle after the vehicle has been turned off, thereby limiting the adverse effects of temperature on battery life, are provided. Different battery pack cooling techniques are provided, thus allowing the cooling technique used in a particular instance to be selected not only based on the thermal needs of the battery pack, but also on the thermal capacity and energy requirements of the selected approach.
Battery thermal event detection system using an optical fiber
Granted: January 10, 2012
Patent Number:
8092081
A method and apparatus is provided for determining when a battery, or one or more batteries within a battery pack, undergoes an undesired thermal event such as thermal runaway. The system uses an optical fiber mounted in close proximity to, or in contact with, an external surface of the battery or batteries to be monitored. A source of light is optically coupled to the input facet of the optical fiber and a detector optically coupled to the output facet of the optical fiber. Battery…
Interface for vehicle function control via a touch screen
Granted: January 10, 2012
Patent Number:
8095278
A method and apparatus for controlling a particular vehicle function, for example the adjustment of a vehicle seat, using a graphical user interface (GUI) is provided. The GUI is activating by toggling a control, switch intuitively linked to the particular vehicle function. The control switch is separate from, and not proximate to, the GUI. When the GUI is activated by toggling the control switch, a control screen specific to the particular vehicle function is displayed on the GUI.
Cell cap assembly with recessed terminal and enlarged insulating gasket
Granted: January 3, 2012
Patent Number:
8088511
A simplified cell design is provided for a battery utilizing the 18650 form-factor in which the CID and PTC elements are eliminated, thereby reducing manufacturing cost and battery weight. To reduce the risk of shorting between the battery case and the battery terminal, the battery terminal is recessed relative to the top of the cell case and the insulating gasket positioned between the cell case and the cap assembly is designed to cover a large portion of the outer surface of the…
Battery pack temperature optimization control system
Granted: December 27, 2011
Patent Number:
8082743
A method and apparatus for limiting the adverse effects of temperature on the electrical energy storage system (ESS) of an electric vehicle after the vehicle has been turned off are provided. In general, whether or not coolant is circulated through a coolant loop coupled to the ESS depends on the difference between the ambient temperature and a preset temperature, the preset temperature typically corresponding to the temperature of the ESS.
Common mode voltage enumeration in a battery pack
Granted: December 13, 2011
Patent Number:
8076016
An apparatus and method for these embodiments of the present invention, useful in manufacturing for example, includes a plurality of battery modules serially intercoupled together, each module including a housing with an anode connector and a cathode connector, each housing including a memory for storing a module identifier and wherein an anode connector of a first module is coupled to a cathode connector of a second module; and a processing system, coupled to each the module, for…
User configurable vehicle user interface
Granted: December 13, 2011
Patent Number:
8078359
A method for configuring and personalizing a vehicle user interface is provided, the user interface utilizing a touch screen display mounted within the vehicle. User configurable aspects of the user interface include the number of zones within the touch screen display, the size of each zone, the subsystem interface assigned to each zone, the style and information contained within each subsystem interface, display brightness levels for the overall display or per zone, and the assignment…
Manufacturing method utilizing a dual layer winding pattern
Granted: December 6, 2011
Patent Number:
8069555
A method of manufacturing a three-phase, four pole motor is provided utilizing a dual-layer winding insertion technique. The first and second winding layers are each comprised of the coil groups for six individual poles, two per phase. Within each layer, the two poles per phase are members of a pole pair. In one configuration, each winding layer is comprised of six concentric coil groups in which there is no coil overlap; alternately, each coil group may be comprised of five coils with…
Charge state indicator for an electric vehicle
Granted: November 22, 2011
Patent Number:
8063757
One embodiment of the present subject matter includes a battery mounted to a vehicle, with a charge state circuit located in the electric vehicle and coupled to the battery, the charge state circuit configured to provide a charge state signal indicative of the charge state of the battery. The embodiment includes a charging coupler port located proximate to a user accessible exterior of the electrical vehicle and coupled to the battery, the charging coupler port to conduct charging energy…
Selective cure of adhesive in modular assemblies
Granted: November 15, 2011
Patent Number:
8057630
Methods and systems for decreasing costs (expense, mass, and/or cure time) associated with use of adhesives when assembling modularized components, particularly for assemblies having many elements such as for example battery modules used in electric vehicles. The methods and systems enable use of high-wettability adhesives (defined generally in this application as low viscosity and/or low surface tension adhesives) for assembling such modularized components. A first method including (a)…
Cell cap assembly with recessed terminal and enlarged insulating gasket
Granted: November 15, 2011
Patent Number:
8057928
A simplified cell design is provided for a battery utilizing the 18650 form-factor, the simplified cell design reducing manufacturing cost, battery weight and the risk of shorting between the battery case and the battery terminal. In the cap assembly of the disclosed battery, the safety vent element, which is recessed relative to the top of the cell case, also serves as the battery terminal. Additionally, the insulating gasket positioned between the cell case and the cap assembly is…
Battery thermal event detection system using a thermally interruptible electrical conductor
Granted: November 15, 2011
Patent Number:
8059007
A method and apparatus is provided for determining when a battery, or one or more batteries within a battery pack, undergoes an undesired thermal event such as thermal runaway. The system uses a conductive member mounted in close proximity to, or in contact with, an external surface of the battery or batteries to be monitored. A resistance measuring system such as a continuity-tester or an ohmmeter is coupled to the conductive member, the resistance measuring system outputting a first…
System for optimizing battery pack cut-off voltage
Granted: November 8, 2011
Patent Number:
8054038
A method and apparatus for optimizing the level of battery charging required by an electric vehicle is provided. The system includes an interface for the user to input various travel parameters, such as a travel itinerary, which is then used by the battery charging system during charge optimization. In addition to a travel itinerary, the system may be configured to take into account departure times, road conditions, traffic conditions and weather conditions in determining miles to be…
Voltage dividing vehicle heater system and method
Granted: November 1, 2011
Patent Number:
8049460
An apparatus comprising a rechargeable battery pack installed in an electric vehicle, a power supply coupled to the rechargeable battery pack, the power supply operable to provide a charge voltage to perform charging operations on the rechargeable battery pack, a heater to heat a fluid to be circulated through the rechargeable battery pack, the fluid thermally coupled to a plurality of battery cells within the rechargeable battery pack, a switching circuit, the switching circuit coupled…
