Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Brendan M Conlon

Alan G Holmes

Michael Roland Schmidt

Donald Klemen

Goro Tamai

Khwaja M Rahman

Edward Dean Tate, Jr

Madhusudan Raghavan

Silva Hiti

Jy-Jen F Sah

Shawn Harold Swales

Constantin C Stancu

James D Hendrickson

Peter James Savagian

Shifang Li

Min-Joong Kim

Eric M Rask

Steven A Tarnowsky

Norman K Bucknor

Brian A Welchko

William R Cawthorne

David Yuang Tang

Aniket P Kothari

Joseph R Littlefield

Anthony James Corsetti

Yue Fan

William T Ivan

Konking Wang

Jonathan B Huse

Andrew W Phillips

Anthony H Heap

Joel M Maguire

Anthony L Smith

Gregory A Hubbard

Larry T Nitz

Kevin S Kidston

Norman Schoenek

Sinisa Jurkovic

Hong Yang

Paul F Turnbull

Russell K Steele

Alexander M Bilinski

Donald L Dusenberry

Harry J Bauer

Leo Francis Schwab

Anthony P Tata

Mark A Theobald

Poh Fong Chin

Kris Sevel

Karl Andrew Sime

Shawn Scott Hawkins

Grantland I Kingman

Jeremy Wise

Shaun C Bowman

Kyle Kenneth Kinsey

Michael Woon

Klaus Kersting

Stephen G Heien

Michael O Harpster, Jr

Michael C Muir

Robert D Burns

Daniel R Brouns

Donald P Pfaff

Michael Andrew Miller

Cotrina C Connolly

Edward A Rapa, Jr

Martin M Freedman

Constantine Nick Raptis

Trevor John Blohm

Jy Jen F Sah

Mark A Damico

A multi-pack battery system having at least first and second battery packs each with positive and negative terminals, and each with upper and lower switches respectively connected to the positive and negative terminals. The battery packs have a first voltage level, and are connectable in either series or parallel. A controller controls an ON/OFF state of the switches in response to input signals to select between two series charging modes, three parallel charging modes, and one or more propulsion modes. Some embodiments have a series propulsion mode. An electric powertrain system includes first and second power inverter modules ('PIMs'), an electrical load, front and rear electric machines connected to a respective one of the first and second PIMs, and the battery system. The powertrain system may selectively provide all-wheel, front-wheel, or rear-wheel drive capabilities in each of the various propulsion modes.

Electric powertrain with multi-pack battery system

An electric propulsion system for a mobile platform includes a battery system connected to positive and negative bus rails, an accessory load having a rotary electric machine, a traction power inverter module ('TPIM'), and an accessory load, switches configured to transition the battery modules to a series-connected ('S-connected') configuration during a direct current fast-charging (&#x201c;DCFC&#x201d;) operation of the battery system, and a controller. When battery modules of the battery system are connected in series during a direct current fast-charging (&#x201c;DCFC&#x201d;) operation, the controller executes a diagnostic method to determine bus rail voltages on the positive and negative bus rails and a mid-bus voltage, identifies a diagnosed electrical condition of the electric propulsion system by comparing the voltages to expected values or ranges, and executes a control action in response to the diagnosed electrical condition.

Diagnostic method for electric propulsion system with reconfigurable battery system

A differential drive system includes an electric motor for generating an electric motor torque and an input planetary gear-set operatively connected to the electric motor to receive the electric motor torque. The input planetary gear-set has first, second, and third members. The first member receives the electric motor torque, the second member provides a first input torque in a first rotational direction in response to the electric motor torque, and the third member provides a second input torque in a second rotational direction, opposite the first direction, in response to the electric motor torque. The system also includes a first output gear-set operatively connected to the input planetary gear-set, and providing a first output torque in response to the first input torque. The system additionally includes a second output gear-set operatively connected to the input planetary gear-set and providing a second output torque in response to the second input torque.

Planetary differential drive system

An electric drive-unit encased in a housing includes an electric motor, a first output member, and a second output member. The drive-unit also includes first, second, and third planetary gear-sets, each having first, second, and third nodes. The first gear-set has one node connected to the electric motor. The second gear-set has one node connected to the first planetary gear-set, another node connected to the first output member, and the remaining node fixed to the housing. The third gear-set has one node connected to the first gear-set and another node connected to the second output member. The drive-unit additionally includes a first torque-transmitting device configured to selectively connect one third gear-set node to the housing to thereby affect a first speed-ratio. Furthermore, the drive-unit includes a second torque-transmitting device configured to selectively connect one first gear-set node to one of the third gear-set nodes to thereby affect a second speed-ratio.

Two-speed electric drive-unit

An electrical system includes cables, a DC charge connector, first and second battery modules, a splice device, and a controller. Each battery module has first, second, third, and fourth electrical connectors receiving a respective one of the cables. The battery modules are connected to each other via the cables, and further have first, second, third, and fourth switches that connect battery cell strings to one or more connectors. The charge connector is connected to one of the cables between the first electrical connectors. The splice device connects the charge connector to the first connector of the first battery module and to a pair of the cables. A charging current may be split between the battery modules. The controller selectively establishes parallel charging, parallel drive, and separate drive and charging modes for each battery module. The system may have an independent drive mode.

Vehicle and electrical system with dual battery modules

A modular battery pack system includes a battery pack and controller. The battery pack has first and second battery modules interconnected via electrical cables, with each module having a battery cell string. The pack has first, second, and third electrical connectors and four switches that selectively connect the strings to one or more of the electrical connectors. A DC charging connector is electrically connected to one of the cables between the first electrical connectors of the battery modules, and electrically connects the pack to an off-board DC fast-charging station. In response to input signals corresponding to a requested mode, the controller commands an open/closed state of each of the switches, via switching control signals, to establish a series charge mode, a parallel charge mode, and one or more of a series and/or parallel drive mode of the battery pack. A motor vehicle includes the system.

Modular battery pack system with series and parallel charging and propulsion modes

A DC charging circuit has a pair of switches and a battery pack with a maximum voltage capacity, and a power inverter module (PIM). The pair of switches connects/disconnects the battery pack to/from the PIM. An electric machine has phase windings sharing a motor neutral terminal. The phase windings are electrically connected to respective switching pair of the PIM. A switching module has one or two additional switches selectively connecting the PIM to the station, and a center switch selectively connecting the station to the motor neutral terminal. A controller executes a method that establishes a boost mode of the PIM when the maximum voltage capacity exceeds the maximum charging voltage. The boost mode is established by closing the pair of switches of the RESS, closing the center switch of the switching module and one of the additional switches, and opening the other additional switch if present.

Onboard DC charging circuit using traction drive components

An electric vehicle drive system includes an electric motor, first and second planetary gear sets, including sun gear, carrier and ring gear members, first and second output shafts, and a housing. The members of the first planetary gear set are connected with the electric motor, the first output shaft, and a member of the second planetary gear set. The members of the second planetary gear set are connected with the first planetary gear set, the housing, and the second output shaft. The first planetary gear set provides differential reduction and the second planetary gear set provides reversal and reduction. Optional clutches can provide the function of a limited slip differential and distribute torque preferentially to one output shaft or the other.

Electric vehicle drive using combined differential and reduction gearing

A transmission includes an input member, an output member, a first electric device, and a second electric device. A first planetary gear set is coupled to the first electric device. A second planetary gear set is coupled to the second electric device. The output is coupled to both the first planetary gear set and the second planetary gear set. The input is connected to the first planetary gear set. A fixed ratio gear reduction system couples the input and the second planetary gear set. The fixed ratio gear reduction system is operable to transmit rotation from the input to the second planetary gear set at a reduced rotational speed and at an increased torque.

Wide range compound split transmission with a fixed input gear reduction ratio

A system includes a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) having an enclosure, battery cells, contactors, a first pair of high-voltage interlock (HVIL) ports, and female blind-mate electrical sockets selectively connected to the battery cells via the contactors. The battery cells and contactors are within the RESS enclosure. The system includes a high-power distribution module (HPDM) having another enclosure, male blind-mate electrical pins, a second pair of HVIL ports engagable with the first pair, ring-terminal connections connected to the blind-mate electrical pins and connectable to high-current components, and HV280 electrical connectors electrically connected to one or more of the male blind-mate electrical pins. The male blind-mate electrical pins insert directly into and engage with the female blind-mate electrical sockets of the RESS enclosure. A vehicle includes the system, a transmission, and an electric machine.

Powertrain with high-power distribution module and high-current ring terminal connection for the same

An inverter power module: selectively applies power from a battery to a permanent magnet (PM) electric motor; and selectively provides power output by the PM electric motor for the battery. A switch, when open, prevents power flow the inverter power module from the battery, and, when closed, enables power flow between the inverter power module and the battery. An adjustment module determines an SOC adjustment based on at least one of a vehicle speed and a temperature of the battery. A maximum module receives a first maximum SOC of the battery and that determines a second maximum SOC of the battery based on the first maximum SOC and the SOC adjustment. A clutch control module disengages a clutch, decoupling the PM electric motor from a transmission, when the switch is stuck closed and an SOC of the battery is greater than the second maximum SOC.

Systems and methods for managing battery state of charge

A method of prioritizing power output of first and second power-sources in a vehicle includes identifying, via a controller communicating with a satellite, the vehicle's position on a specific road course. The method also includes receiving a request for total amount of power from both power-sources and determining first power-source power and available second power-source target maximum power based on the vehicle position. The method also includes determining, based on the vehicle position, a minimum energy reserve of a source configured to energize the second power-source and available second power-source power based on the determined reserve. The method also includes subtracting the first power-source power from the requested total amount of power to determine a requested second power-source power. Furthermore, the method includes comparing the available and the requested second power-source power and generating the smaller power value to minimize the time for the vehicle to traverse the road course.

Power prioritization in a vehicle using multiple power-sources

A powertrain system includes an internal combustion engine having a crankshaft that fixedly couples to an input member of a multi-mode transmission including first and second torque machines. The transmission operates in one of a plurality of fixed-gear modes and variable modes through selective activation of first and second clutches. A control method includes, in response to a command to operate the multi-mode transmission in a fixed-gear mode, activating only the first clutch and commanding the engine to an OFF state. The first torque machine is controlled to generate a first torque output responsive to a drag torque that is offset by an engine reactive torque with the engine in the OFF state. The transmission operates in the fixed-gear mode by controlling the second torque machine to generate a second torque output responsive to an operator torque request and the first torque output of the first torque machine.

Method and apparatus for controlling a powertrain system including multiple torque-generative devices

A hybrid powertrain for propelling a vehicle includes an engine and an energy storage system operatively connected to the engine. Both the engine and the energy storage system are operable for providing power to propel the vehicle. A control system is operatively connected to the engine and the energy storage system and is configured to execute a stored algorithm that determines required energy reserve, remaining energy, and power capability of the energy storage system. The control system commands operation in one of a first operating mode, a second operating mode, and a third operating mode based on the required energy reserve, the remaining energy, and the power capability of the energy storage system.

Hybrid powertrain with three-mode depletion strategy and method of operating a hybrid powertrain

An electrically variable transmission for a hybrid vehicle includes a pair of drive wheels each driven by a final drive gear/differential mechanism. A planetary differential gear set including a plurality of components provides drive torque to the final drive gear/differential mechanism. A first motor generator is drivingly connected to a first component of the plurality of components of the planetary differential gear set. A second motor generator is drivingly connected to a second component of the plurality of components of the planetary differential gear set. A flywheel is drivingly connected to the planetary differential gear set by a reduction gear. A first brake is connected to one of the plurality of components of the planetary differential gear set.

Electrically variable transmission for a hybrid vehicle using flywheel kinetic energy recovery

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Rochester Hills, MI, United States of America

Brendan M Conlon