Zoox, Inc.

Kyle Matthew Foley

Timothy David Kentley-Klay

Moritz Boecker

Robert Alan Ng

Andrew John Piper

Bryan Emrys Booth

Adriano Di Pietro

Timo Birnschein

Da Liu

Jason Jaspreet Singh Haer

David Sands

Derek Redfern

Chong Zhang Tao

Vincent Richard Tannahill

Efren Alonzo Cabebe

An electrical system can include a power supply configured to provide electrical power to components at a time at which the electrical system experiences an electrical fault. The electrical system can include a first battery electrically coupled in parallel to a second battery via an electrical bus, whereby the first and second batteries can provide electrical power to a first electrical load and a second electrical load. Upon experiencing a fault, a first circuit element can electrically decouple the first battery and the second battery by opening a circuit provided by the electrical bus, thereby isolating the first battery from the second battery. Next, the battery experiencing the fault can include a second circuit element that can electrically decouple the battery experiencing the fault from a respective electrical load, while the battery isolated from the fault can continue to provide electrical power to components.

Fail operational vehicle power supply

A battery pack for a vehicle electrical system includes a casing for receiving one or more battery modules. The battery modules are insertable into a casing of the battery pack by sliding couplers along pairs of rails and are securable to the ends of the rails. After insertion, the rails thermally insulate one battery module from other battery modules coupled to the casing. In some examples, a first stiffness or a first mechanical frequency of the casing with the one or more battery modules inserted may differ from a second stiffness or a second mechanical frequency associated with a body of a vehicle or another component associated therewith by a threshold amount. Additionally, the casing may be configured with vents for venting the hot gases, such as those generated by a battery module in a thermal runaway event.

Electrical system with thermal protection

Vehicles may be composed of a relatively few number of 'modules' that are assembled together during a final assembly process. An example vehicle may include a body module, a first drive module coupled to a first end of the body module, and a second drive module coupled to a second end of the body module. One or both of the drive modules may include a pair of wheels, a battery, an electric drive motor, and/or a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. One or both of the drive modules may also include a crash structure to absorb impacts. If a component of a drive module fails or is damaged, the drive module can be quickly and easily replaced with a new drive module, minimizing vehicle down time.

Vehicle operation with interchangeable drive modules

A system for charging one or more batteries of a vehicle may include a charging box mounted to a vehicle to facilitate connection to a charge coupler from under the vehicle. The charge coupler may be configured to provide an electrical connection between an electrical power source and the charging box. A vehicle including the charging box may maneuver to a position above the charge coupler, after which electrical contacts of the charging box and the charge coupler may be brought into contact with one another. The charge coupler and/or the charging box may be configured to provide electrical communication between the electrical power source and the one or more batteries, so that the electrical power source may charge one or more of the batteries. Thereafter, the electrical contacts may be separated from one another, and the vehicle may maneuver away from the charge coupler.

Underbody charging of vehicle batteries

A vehicle can include a battery architecture configured to provide electrical power to motors, accessories, and other components of the vehicle. The architecture can include a controller coupled to multiple battery units. Each battery unit can include a battery and a battery management system. Additionally, each battery unit can be coupled to a controller and to other battery units. Through the use of redundant coupling and redundant data transmitted to and from the controller, battery units, and other components, the architecture can detect a fault and continue to operate while providing an indication of the fault.

Redundant battery management system architecture

Vehicle with interchangeable drive modules

A battery pack for a vehicle electrical system includes a casing for receiving one or more battery modules. The battery modules are insertable into a casing of the battery pack by sliding couplers along pairs of rails and are securable to the ends of the rails. After insertion, the rails thermally insulate one battery module from other battery modules in the battery pack. Additionally, the battery modules may include a top cover with an insulating material to further thermally insulate one battery module from another battery module. The battery pack may additionally be configured with vents for venting the hot gases, such as those generated by a battery module in a thermal runaway event. Additionally, the battery modules may include a second insulating material disposed between cells and configured to thermally insulate the cells from one another.

A battery pack for a vehicle electrical system configured with high-voltage bus bars. A positive bus bar and a negative bus bar may provide power generated by the battery pack to a drive module of the vehicle, to power one or more components of the vehicle. The drive module may additionally couple to high-voltage positive and negative bus bars. The high-voltage bus bars may be configured to provide additional power to the drive module from another battery pack, such as via a battery balance box. Additionally, the high-voltage bus bars may be configured to carry excess power from the drive module to another drive module associated with the vehicle via the battery balance box. The high-voltage bus bars may be configured to de-energize in the event of a thermal runaway or other failure of a battery module of the associated battery pack.

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Half Moon Bay, CA, United States of America

Kyle Matthew Foley