The Boeing Company

James Leo Peck, Jr

Jimmy Manansala Quiambao

Michael A Carralero

Randy Lance Brandt

Patrick Joseph McCormick

A battery management system (BMS) described herein determines the internal resistance for a cell that may have an internal short circuit. In one aspect, the BMS monitors the voltage across each of a plurality cells that are coupled in series. If the voltage across one of the cells differs from the voltages across the other cells, the BMS can flag the cell as potentially having an internal short circuit. Once flagged, the BMS can use a simulator that stores a model cell that has similar characteristics as the cells monitored by the BMS to determine the internal resistance of the flagged cell. In one aspect, the simulator changes the value of a surrogate resistor that is parallel with the model cell until the voltage across the model cell matches the voltage of the flagged cell. The value of the surrogate resistor indicates the internal resistance of the flagged cell.

Detecting internal short circuits in batteries

A electromagnetic device may include a core in which a magnetic flux is generable and an opening through the core. A primary conductor winding may be received in the opening and extend through the core. A primary electrical current signal flowing through the primary conductor winding generates a magnetic field about the primary conductor winding and a first magnetic flux flow in the core. A secondary conductor winding may be received in the opening and extend through the core. A first modular conductor winding may extend through the opening and encircle a first outer core portion of the core. A first modulation signal flowing through the first modular conductor winding modulates the primary electrical current signal to provide a modulated output current signal at an output of the secondary conductor winding.

Magnetic core signal modulation

A system and method for controlling one or more flaps of a wing of an aircraft include a first flap moveably secured to a first wing of the aircraft. The first flap is moveable between an extended position and a retracted position. First and second actuators are coupled to the first flap. A flap control unit is in communication with the first and second actuators. The flap control unit is configured to operate the first and second actuators to move the first flap between retracted and extended positions, monitor a first electrical signal provided to the first actuator, monitor a second electrical signal provided to the second actuator, and determine that the first and second actuators are synchronized by monitoring the first and second electrical signals.

System and method for controlling aircraft wing flap motion

Increased DC-to-AC power conversion efficiency in a scalable, flexible, resilient, cascading inverter driver topology. Plural power cells, which include a rectifier and an inverter, are arranged in a series/parallel topology. Use of plural power cells increases efficiency by reducing voltage transition losses and by increasing duty cycle. Also, the power cells output AC to an electric motor using a forward-looking controller that responds to varying power demand while maintaining motor speed at a maximum efficiency level. Power output is varied by varying the width of rectifier output pulses to the inverters while maintaining pulse voltage. Transitions between power levels are smoothed by pulse density modulation. Pulse density, determined automatically in the inverter, begins high and gradually becomes less dense so voltage changes rapidly then slowing gradually. The topology and power cell components allow faulty power cells 10 to be isolated and bypassed.

Adaptable high efficiency power inverter system

A magnetic core flux sensor assembly may include a flux sensor core portion and an elongated opening for receiving a conductor winding through the flux sensor core portion. The flux sensor core portion may include a width from a perimeter edge of the flux sensor core portion to the elongated opening that is constant. An electrical current flowing through the conductor winding generates a magnetic field about the conductor winding and a magnetic flux flow in the flux sensor core portion. One or more sensor holes may be positioned relative to the elongated opening for sensing the magnetic flux flow at different distances from the elongated opening. A sensor conductor winding may extend through each pair of sensor holes. The magnetic flux flow generates an electrical signal in each sensor conductor winding. The electrical signal corresponds to the magnetic flux flow at a location of the particular sensor conductor winding.

Magnetic core flux sensor

An electromagnetic device includes a variable magnetic flux core having a plurality of core sections stacked on one another. At least one core section of the plurality of core sections may include a different selected geometry and/or a different chosen material. The at least one core section is configured to provide a predetermined inductance performance. An opening is provided through the stacked plurality of core sections for receiving a conductor winding. An electrical current flowing through the conductor winding generates a magnetic field about the conductor winding and a magnetic flux flow in each of the plurality of core sections. The magnetic flux flow in the at least one core section is different from the other core sections in response to the different selected geometry and/or the different chosen material of the at least one core section to provide the predetermined inductance performance.

Variable core electromagnetic device

A magnetic core flux sensor assembly may include a flux sensor core portion and at least one elongated opening for receiving a conductor winding through the flux sensor core portion. An electrical current flowing through the conductor winding generates a magnetic field about the conductor winding and a magnetic flux flow about the elongated opening. A plurality of pairs of sensor holes are positioned relative to the elongated opening for preventing significant disruption of the magnetic flux flow and for sensing the magnetic flux flow at different distances from an edge of the elongated opening. A sensor conductor winding passes through each pair of sensor holes. The magnetic flux flow generates an electrical signal in each sensor conductor winding. The electrical signal in a particular sensor conductor winding corresponds to the magnetic flux flow at a location of the particular sensor conductor winding.

An electrical power distribution network may include a plurality of transformers and a local manager associated with a transformer. Each local manager may be configured to monitor and control a magnetic flux level in a magnetic flux core of the associated transformer. The electrical power distribution network may also include a central manager configured to receive magnetic flux level data from each local manager and control operation of each local manager in response to the magnetic flux level data.

Electrical power distribution network monitoring and control

An electromagnetic device may include a magnetic flux core and an opening through the magnetic flux core. A conductor winding may be received in the opening and extend through the magnetic flux core. An electrical current flowing through the conductor winding generates a magnetic field about the conductor winding and a magnetic flux flow about the opening in the magnetic flux core. The electromagnetic device may also include a core flux sensor arrangement to detect a magnetic flux level in the magnetic flux core. The electromagnetic device may additionally include a core flux control system configured to adjust the electrical current flowing through the conductor winding to control the magnetic flux level in the magnetic flux core.

Transformer core flux control for power management

A linear electromagnetic device, such as an inductor, transformer or the similar device, may include a core in which a magnetic flux is generable. The device may also include an opening through the core. The device may additionally include a primary conductor received in the opening and extending through the core. The primary conductor may include a substantially square or rectangular cross-section. An electrical current flowing through the primary conductor generates a magnetic field about the primary conductor, wherein substantially the entire magnetic field is absorbed by the core to generate the magnetic flux in the core.

Linear electromagnetic device

A switch comprising a plurality of transformers and a path comprising a number of wires. Each of the plurality of transformers comprises a core and a control winding. The path is configured to connect the plurality of transformers to each other. Non-direct current flows through the path. Direct current is sent into the control winding for each of a portion of the plurality of transformers to saturate the core for the each of the portion of the plurality of transformers such that a transfer of energy between the core for the each of the portion of the plurality of transformers and the path is substantially absent.

Growing community of inventors

Huntington Beach, CA, United States of America

James Leo Peck, Jr