Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Arnold Kweku Mensah-Brown

Bruce Carvell Blakemore

Hasdi R Hashim

Benjamin A Tabatowski-Bush

Allan Roy Gale

Richard Dyche Anderson

Wesley Burkman

Robert Bolduc

Mark Douglas Malone

Xinfan Lin

Chih-Lun Wang

A vehicle system includes a relay and coil of a contactor. The relay is configured to transfer current between a traction battery and an electrical load when closed. The system also includes a controller configured to operate a switch such that current flow from the traction battery through the coil and switch, and bypassing the relay, causes the relay to close to permit pre-charging of the load.

Controlled pre-charge circuit arrangement

A vehicle system includes a contactor including a coil and relay, a traction battery, a load, and a controller configured to transfer current from the traction battery through the coil to pre-charge the load without causing the relay to close such that a voltage drop across the relay falls below a threshold value, and subsequently cause the relay to close.

Pre-charging load using main contactor coil

A traction battery of a vehicle includes a temperature compensated passive wireless surface acoustic wave sensor within the traction battery and a controller. The temperature compensated passive wireless surface acoustic wave sensor is configured to receive a broadcast signal and transmit a reflected signal. The controller is programmed to transmit the broadcast signal and receive the reflected signal, and based on a difference in phase and amplitude between the broadcast and reflected signals indicative of an increase in pressure within the traction battery, stop charging the traction battery.

Wireless traction battery force sensor

Systems and methods for sensing internal states of vehicle batteries are described. From this internal state information, various physical characteristics of the battery can be measured, calculated or inferred. A vehicle can include an electric motor, a battery to store electrical energy for the electric motor, and a sensor connected to the battery to sense a battery state, to receive an input signal, and to wirelessly transmit an output signal indicating the battery state. The vehicle can also include control circuitry to receive the output signal and to control the electric motor and the battery. In examples, the battery may have a physical property that changes based on a state of the battery. This physical property may be measured by the sensor. The sensor may be passive and built into the structure of the battery. The sensor can be a magnetic field sensor or a surface wave acoustic sensor.

Sensor system for measuring battery internal state

Systems and methods for sensing internal states of vehicle batteries are described. From this internal state information, various physical characteristics of the battery can be measured, calculated or inferred. A vehicle can include an electric motor, a battery to store electrical energy for the electric motor, and a sensor connected to the battery to sense a battery state, to receive an input signal, and to wirelessly transmit an output signal indicating the battery state. The sensor may be passive and built into the structure of the battery. The sensor can be a surface wave acoustic sensor with a magnetic field sensor, which can be a magnetoimpedance sensing device and a temperature sensor.

A vehicle is disclosed having a traction battery and an electrical impedance connected by a contactor. A pre-charge circuit is disclosed that controls current flow from the traction battery through the pre-charge circuit to the electrical impedance to increase voltage at the electrical impedance such that as the voltage approaches a voltage of the traction battery, a duty cycle of the pre-charge circuit approaches a maximum value and a current through the pre-charge circuit approaches a minimum value. In response to current falling below a predetermined value, the contactor is closed. A current sensor is disclosed that is located in the pre-charge circuit. A method of operating the pre-charge circuit is disclosed.

Bus pre-charge control using a buck converter

A vehicle starter assembly includes a switching circuit configured to operate in a charging state and a discharging state, and a first energy storage device and a second energy storage device electrically connected to the switching circuit. The first energy storage device and the second energy storage device are connected in parallel to one another in the charging state and in series with one another in the discharging state. The processor is programmed to detect an engine start request and output a switch control signal that toggles the switching circuit between the charging state and the discharging state to start an internal combustion engine of a host vehicle.

Vehicle start-stop system

A vehicle includes an electric machine, a traction battery to power the electric machine, and a starting, lighting and ignition (SLI) battery. The vehicle also includes a galvanically isolated DC-DC converter connecting the batteries and having a bus capacitance in parallel therewith. The vehicle further includes a contactor to electrically connect the traction battery in parallel with the bus capacitance, and a controller. The controller, in response to a command to close the contactor, activates switches of the DC-DC converter to drive energy from the SLI battery to the bus capacitance before closing the contactor.

Bus pre-charge with vehicle power converter

A linear current regulator is provided for precharging a high voltage bus, such as within a hybrid electric vehicle, in a quick, efficient, and optimal manner. The linear current regulator can include a battery; a bus; a transistor having, a base, a collector coupled to the bus, and an emitter; a resistor coupled between a precharge switch and the base; the precharge switch coupled to the battery and the resistor; and a main contactor coupled to the battery, the emitter, and the bus. When the recharge switch is closed, the bus is connected to the battery through the resistor and the transistor so that the bus is charged. When the voltages of the bus and the battery are nearly equal, the transistor turns off, the precharge switch is opened, and the main contactor is closed for normal operation of the vehicle.

Linear current regulator for high voltage bus precharging

An electric drive system for an electric vehicle has a DC power source and a contactor with an output coupled to a main bus and an input adapted to be connected to the DC power source. The contactor is selectably switched between an open state and a closed state. A link capacitor is coupled to the main bus. A precharge circuit is coupled between the DC power source and the link capacitor comprised of a controlled current source. The controlled current source is selectably activated with the contactor in the open state to charge the link capacitor to a predetermined voltage to before switching the contactor to the closed state.

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Canton, MI, United States of America

Arnold Kweku Mensah-Brown