Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Visteon Global Technolgoies, Inc.

Robert Bolduc

Benjamin A Tabatowski-Bush

Wesley Burkman

Arnold Kweku Mensah-Brown

Elaine Y Chen

Deborah E Callicoat

Ken Jon Cunningham

Hari Krishna Addanki

Debbi Callicoat

Mark Leonard Hopper

Masahiro Kimoto

Kevin A Montgomery

Ben A Tabatowski-Bush

Jeffrey Matthew Haag

Massahiro Kimoto

Dirk E Swanson

Matthew T LaDuke

A vehicle system includes a high voltage battery and at least one control module configured to monitor the high voltage battery and command a visual warning in response to a disconnect event of the high voltage battery. The visual warning may be produced by a hazard light.

Vehicle system and method for activating hazard lights during battery disconnect events

A battery pack includes a battery assembly including a grouping of battery cells and an integrated module attached to the grouping of battery cells. The integrated module includes an upper section housing at least one electronics component and a lower section establishing a vent chamber.

Integrated modules for battery packs

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 high-voltage interlock system includes a first module including a contactor and a shunt connection, and a second module, having first and second circuits, coupled with the first module via first and second wires. The second module, in response to impedance of the shunt connection exceeding a threshold, inhibits a signal to engage the contactor. The impedance is measured across the first and second wires while the first wire is multiplexed with low-voltage power to energize a coil of the contactor, and the second circuit is multiplexed with the signal to engage the contactor.

Vehicle high voltage interlock

A method, apparatus, and system are disclosed for analyzing a vehicle battery system of a hybrid or electric vehicle that includes a battery pack and a battery controller. More specifically, a battery controller is disclosed for determining battery identification information of the battery pack based on a configuration of active and non-active pins in a connection module between the battery pack and the battery controller. It follows that the battery controller may identify the battery pack type in an efficient manner that does not require any additional components. The battery controller may further reference the battery identification to implement a battery operational strategy that may better realize an efficiency or durability of the identified battery.

Method and apparatus for identifying battery pack types

A voltage sensing system for a vehicle traction battery having a plurality of cells includes: a battery controller, a plurality of electrical circuits, each being respectively connected to at least one of the cells and including an electrical component for limiting current therethrough, and a plurality of wires, each being respectively connected to one of the electrical circuits in series with a respective one of the electrical components for limiting current and the controller.

Voltage sensing system and method

A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, activating hazard lights of an electrified vehicle in response to a high voltage battery disconnect event.

Contactor switches between a multi-cell battery pack and an electric vehicle load are monitored. A main microcontroller having a chassis ground is digitally isolated from positive and negative busses of the battery pack. A battery monitoring IC having a plurality of auxiliary/thermistor A/D inputs measures respective voltages of battery cells. An evaluation switch is connected to a junction between a first contactor switch and the load. The evaluation switch is activated in response to a command received from the main microprocessor. A voltage divider is coupled between the output of the evaluation switch and the negative bus to provide a divided voltage output to one of the auxiliary/thermistor A/D inputs. The battery monitoring IC transmits a digital value representative of the divided voltage output to the main microprocessor via a serial data link, and the main microprocessor determines a state of the contactor in response to the digital value.

Electric vehicle battery contactor switch monitoring

Total voltage output by a multi-cell battery pack in an electric vehicle is monitored. A main microcontroller having a chassis ground is digitally isolated from positive and negative busses of the battery pack. A battery monitoring IC having a plurality of auxiliary/thermistor A/D inputs measures respective voltages of the battery cells. A voltage divider is selectably coupled to the positive bus by an evaluation switch under control of the main microprocessor with an auxiliary output terminal of the IC. A divided voltage is coupled to one of the auxiliary/thermistor A/D inputs. The battery monitoring IC transmits a digital value representative of the divided voltage output to the main microprocessor via the serial data link, and the main microprocessor determines the main battery voltage in response to the digital value.

Electric vehicle battery pack voltage monitoring

In satisfying the above need, as well as overcoming the enumerated drawbacks and other limitations of the related art, the present invention provides an improved switched driver circuit. As disclosed above, there is a need to compensate for the high impedance load characteristics in certain implementations of hysteretic switching constant current drivers. The switching waveform of switching constant current driver circuits may be modified in such a way that retains the important dither characteristics and improves system level performance.

Growing community of inventors

Allen Park, MI, United States of America

Robert Bolduc