Battery thermal event detection system utilizing battery pack isolation monitoring
Granted: June 2, 2015
Patent Number:
9046580
A system for detecting cell failure within a battery pack based on variations in the measured electrical isolation resistance of the battery pack is provided. The system includes an electrical isolation resistance monitoring subsystem for monitoring the electrical isolation resistance of the battery pack; a system controller coupled to the isolation resistance monitoring subsystem that detects when the electrical isolation resistance falls below a preset value; and a cell failure…
System for absorbing and distributing side impact energy utilizing an integrated battery pack
Granted: June 2, 2015
Patent Number:
9045030
An energy absorbing and distributing side impact system for use with a vehicle is provided, the system utilizing a battery pack enclosure that includes a plurality of cross-members that transverse the battery pack enclosure and absorb and distribute at least a portion of the load received when either the first or second side of the vehicle receives a side impact. The battery pack enclosure is positioned between the front and rear vehicle suspension assemblies and mounted between, and…
Host initiated state control of remote client in communications system
Granted: May 26, 2015
Patent Number:
9043623
A system and method for low-cost, fault tolerant, EMI robust data communications, particularly for an EV environment. A data communications method, including a) enabling a transmission of a wake signal from a host to a remote client through an isolator disposed at the remote client when the wake signal is asserted from the host at a host-portion of the isolator concurrent with a periodic enablement of a client-portion of the isolator by the remote client; and thereafter b) transmitting…
Battery pack dehumidifier with active reactivation system
Granted: May 26, 2015
Patent Number:
9040184
A battery pack dehumidifier system for controlling the relative humidity within a battery pack enclosure is provided, the dehumidifier system including a desiccant that absorbs/adsorbs water vapor from the battery pack enclosure. The system heats and reactivates the desiccant at predetermined time intervals or when the humidity within the system reaches a preset level, thereby allowing the desiccant to regain its potential for absorbing/adsorbing water vapor.
Electrical interface interlock system
Granted: May 19, 2015
Patent Number:
9035203
A high voltage (HV) interface housing is provided that includes an assembly of levers within the housing that detect whether or not the HV lines are coupled to the interface housing. If the HV lines are not in place, the lever assembly prevents the interface cover from being fully installed onto the interface housing, thereby preventing the HV interlock loop switch from being closed. As a result, when the HV cables are not in place, the HV interlock loop switch prevents power from being…
Thermal management system for use with an integrated motor assembly
Granted: May 12, 2015
Patent Number:
9030063
An integrated drive system assembly is provided that combines an electric motor, a power inverter assembly and a gearbox into a single, multi-piece enclosure. Combining these components into a single enclosure reduces weight, reduces drive system complexity, reduces system volume, simplifies assembly integration into an electric vehicle, reduces manufacturing cost, allows the flexible and lengthy electrical cables between the power inverter and the electric motor to be replaced with…
Folding and stowing rear-facing vehicle seat
Granted: March 10, 2015
Patent Number:
8973965
A rear-facing seat for a vehicle comprises: a seat portion connected to the vehicle by a hinge so that the rear-facing seat assumes at least a stowed position and an unstowed position; and a back portion connected to the seat portion, wherein in the unstowed position the back portion assumes at least an up position and a down position, wherein in the up position (i) a hook on the back portion engages a first striker on a vehicle wall, and (ii) a latch on the back portion engages a second…
Vehicle charge inlet
Granted: March 10, 2015
Patent Number:
D724031
Fast charging of battery using adjustable voltage control
Granted: March 3, 2015
Patent Number:
8970182
A battery cell charger for rapidly charging a lithium ion battery cell (or string of series-parallel connected cells) having a maximum battery cell voltage the battery cell charging system including: a circuit for charging the battery cell using an adjustable voltage charging-profile to apply a charging voltage and a charging current to the battery cell wherein the adjustable voltage charging-profile includes: a first charging stage with a constant first stage charging current and an…
Wire break detection in redundant communications
Granted: March 3, 2015
Patent Number:
8970237
A system and method for low-cost, fault tolerant, EMI robust data communications, particularly for an EV environment.
Electric vehicle battery lifetime optimization operational mode
Granted: March 3, 2015
Patent Number:
8970173
A method of setting the operational mode of an electric vehicle is provided, where the operational mode is selected from a plurality of operational modes that include at least a Battery Life mode and a Standard mode, wherein the Battery Life mode is configured to select operating and charging parameters that emphasize battery health and battery life over vehicle range and/or vehicle performance. The system includes a thermal management system for maintaining the vehicle's battery pack to…
Traction motor controller with dissipation mode
Granted: March 3, 2015
Patent Number:
8970147
An apparatus in an electric vehicle including a propulsion electric motor powered by energy from an energy storage system, including a field oriented motor controller generating motor control signals for the electric motor, the motor control signals responsive to a flux command signal and a torque command signal; a torque command calculator, coupled to the motor controller, generating the torque command signal to command a desired torque; an optimal efficiency controller, coupled to the…
Method of withdrawing heat from a battery pack
Granted: March 3, 2015
Patent Number:
8968949
A method for withdrawing heat from a battery pack is provided, wherein the heat is transferred from at least one electrode of each cell comprising the battery pack, via an electrically and thermally conductive tab, through a current collector plate and through a thermal interface layer to a temperature control panel that is coupled to an external temperature control system.
Determining battery DC impedance
Granted: February 24, 2015
Patent Number:
8965721
A method and apparatus for measuring battery cell DC impedance by controlling charging of the battery cell. The method includes real-time characterization of a battery, (a) measuring periodically a DC impedance of the battery to determine a measured DC impedance; (b) ratioing the measured DC impedance to a reference DC impedance for the battery to establish an impedance degradation factor; (c) obtaining, during use of the battery and responsive to a set of attributes of the battery, an…
Charge rate optimization
Granted: February 24, 2015
Patent Number:
8963494
A charging system for a battery pack, including a charging station transferring energy to the battery pack at a maximum fast charge rate in a first operational mode and transferring energy to the battery pack at a slower charge rate in a second operational mode; a data collection system acquiring data indicating a state of charge of the battery pack and one or more desired charge optimization parameters; and a station control, responsive to the data and to the desired charge optimization…
Single piece vehicle rocker panel
Granted: February 24, 2015
Patent Number:
8960781
A vehicle rocker panel is provided that is extruded as a single piece. As extruded, the rocker panel may include one or more interior reinforcing walls as well as interior and exterior design features.
Battery pack configuration to reduce hazards associated with internal short circuits
Granted: January 13, 2015
Patent Number:
8932739
A battery pack, or battery pack module, is provided that is configured to respond to a short circuit of moderate current in a manner that minimizes the risk of an initial thermal runaway event propagating throughout the battery pack/battery pack module. In general, the battery pack/battery module allows pre-selection of which cell of the cells comprising the battery pack/battery pack module will be the last cell to respond to the short circuit. As a result, a thermal isolation barrier…
Power release hood latch method and system
Granted: January 13, 2015
Patent Number:
8935053
Aspects of the disclosure provide for controlling a hood latch using an electrically actuated primary hood latch and an electrically actuated secondary hood latch. To open the hood of the vehicle, a person presses a hood release button. Before attempting to release either the primary hood latch or secondary hood latch, a determination is made whether a vehicle speed of the vehicle is below a minimum vehicle speed threshold. If the vehicle speed is below this threshold, both the primary…
Robotic processing system and method
Granted: January 13, 2015
Patent Number:
8934999
A robotic processing system includes a microprocessor-controlled workpiece processor having a mobile processing element to be positioned independently in three orthogonal dimensions with respect to each of a plurality of target locations on a workpiece, with each particular target location of the plurality of target locations including an element to be processed, the mobile processing element processing the element at each particular target location by first moving to an initial location…
Integrated inductive and conductive electrical charging system
Granted: January 13, 2015
Patent Number:
8933661
An apparatus and method efficiently integrating inductive and conductive charging systems, including embodiments directed towards enabling user selection of either, or both, of conductive and inductive charging. Conductive charging and inductive charging both have, in certain contexts or when judged by different criteria, advantages over the other. Systems and methods relying on one or the other would not have as wide-spread value to a user with opportunities to access both types of…
