Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Robert S Conell

Brian James Koch

Mark William Verbrugge

Gregory P Meisner

Chandra S Namuduri

Madhusudan Raghavan

Alan G Holmes

Thomas W Nehl

Venkata Prasad Atluri

Michael G Reynolds

Bob R Powell

Ashley McAllister

Bob Ross Powell

Scott Willis Jorgensen

Mahmoud H Abd Elhamid

Gayatri Vyas Dadheech

Tao Xie

Damon R Frisch

Kevin B Rober

Jing Gao

Tao Wang

Alfred Zhang

Ramona Y Ying

A method of manufacturing a component for a reference electrode assembly according to various aspects of the present disclosure includes providing a separator having first and second opposing surfaces. The method further includes sputtering a first current collector layer to the first surface via magnetron or ion beam sputtering deposition. A porosity of the separator is substantially unchanged by the sputtering. In one aspect, the method further includes sputtering a second current collector layer to the second surface via magnetron or ion beam sputtering deposition. In one aspect, the first current collector layer includes nickel and defines a first thickness of greater than or equal to about 200 nm to less than or equal to about 300 nm and the second current collector layer includes gold and defines a second thickness of greater than or equal to about 25 nm to less than or equal to about 100 nm.

Reference electrode assemblies including thin, porous current collectors and methods of manufacturing thin, porous current collectors

A device for performing electrochemical analysis of electrochemical cells includes a housing, upper and lower stack holders, and first, second, and third current collectors. The housing includes an inner chamber that can be hermetically sealed and a central axis extending through the inner chamber. The upper and lower stack holders are disposed within the inner chamber and cooperate to define an electrode stack chamber for housing a negative electrode, a positive electrode, and a center-mounted reference electrode. The first, second, and third current collectors are at least partially disposed in the inner chamber. The first current collector can be electrically connected to a first side of the negative electrode and an external circuit. The second current collector can be in electrical contact with the positive electrode and the external circuit. The third cylindrical body can be in electrical contact with the center-mounted reference electrode and the external circuit.

Three-electrode device for performing electrochemical analysis on lithium ion batteries

A battery cell system and an associated monitoring system is provided which includes at least an anode, a cathode, a separator formed from a base layer, first and second contacts and a reference component. The anode and cathode are disposed in a lithium ion non-aqueous solution within a housing. The base layer of the separator includes a first side and a second side. The base layer is operatively configured to separate the anode and the cathode within the housing. The first contact of the separator is affixed to the first side of the base layer between the base layer and an anode. The second contact is affixed to the second side of the base layer with the reference component disposed on the second contact.

Vehicle battery and monitoring system

A reference structure and a separator assembly is provided. The separator assembly provides a base layer, a first contact, an optional second contact and a reference component which may be implemented in various applications. The base layer includes a first side and a second side. The first contact is affixed on the first side of the base layer between the base layer and an anode. The second contact is affixed on the second side of the base layer. A reference component is affixed to the second side of the base layer and the optional second contact, if implemented. The reference structure includes a semi-permeable reference component affixed or coupled to a base element.

Reference electrode

A battery assembly includes a battery having first and second electrodes and an electrolyte. A controller is operatively connected to the battery. The controller includes a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which is recorded instructions for executing a method for estimating a charge acceptance capability of the battery. Interaction of the electrolyte and at least one of the first and second electrodes produces a discharge product. The controller is programmed to quantize and track both accumulation and removal of the discharge product when at least one enabling condition is met. The controller is programmed to initialize a timer when the enabling condition is met and increment the timer by a calculation time interval (&#x394;t).

Estimation of charge acceptance capability in a battery assembly

A battery cell testing fixture is provided which includes a user interface, a separator assembly and an optional stand. The user interface includes a module for receiving input voltage data from at least one circuit to provide a variety of battery cell conditions. The separator assembly includes an integrated reference electrode or reference component. The separator assembly is operatively configured to be used with a plurality of test batteries in succession. The separator assembly may be operatively configured to communicate with a current collector, a meter and the user interface.

Battery cell testing fixture

In a vehicle, a first energy storage device has a first direct current (DC) operating voltage; and a second energy storage device has a second DC operating voltage. The second DC operating voltage is greater than or less than the first DC operating voltage the first DC operating voltage. A switch is connected between the first and second energy storage devices. A fault diagnostic module, while an internal combustion engine of the vehicle is shut down, diagnoses that a fault is present when a voltage of the first energy storage device is less than a predetermined DC voltage. The predetermined DC voltage is less than the first DC operating voltage. A switch control module closes the switch when the fault is diagnosed. A starter control module, when the fault is diagnosed, applies power to a starter from the second energy storage device via the switch.

Power control systems and methods for mixed voltage systems

A method for fault-tolerant coasting control of a powertrain system having an engine and a first energy storage system (ESS) includes receiving a real impedance value of the first ESS from a frequency analyzer device at a calibrated frequency while the engine is running, and comparing the real impedance value to a calibrated impedance. A coasting maneuver is enabled allowing the engine to turn off above a threshold speed when the real impedance value is less than the calibrated impedance. The method may include starting the engine using a second ESS in parallel with the first ESS to exit the coasting maneuver when the real impedance value exceeds the calibrated impedance. Subsequent execution of the coasting maneuver may be prevented as long as the real impedance value exceeds the calibrated impedance. A powertrain system includes the engine, starter motor, rechargeable ESS, frequency analyzer, and controller.

Powertrain system with fault-tolerant coasting control logic

An electrical system includes an engine, a motor-generator and a starter mechanism, and engine systems also include the engine. The electrical system includes a first energy storage device having a first voltage level and a second energy storage device having a second voltage level less than the first voltage level. The electrical system further includes a controller configured to control the motor-generator, the starter mechanism and first and second switching devices. Current from at least one of the first and second energy storage devices is delivered to the motor-generator when at least one of the first switching device is in a first closed state and the second switching device is in a second closed state such that the motor-generator transfers torque to the starter mechanism and the starter mechanism uses the torque to start the engine.

Powertrain for a vehicle

Methods and systems are provided for determining a state of charge of a battery. A magnetic force between the battery and a magnet is detected. The state of charge of the battery is determined based on the detected magnetic force.

Method and system for determining a state of charge of a battery

A powertrain includes a motor-generator and an auxiliary electric system. The powertrain also includes a first energy storage device disposed in a parallel electrical relationship with a motor-generator and an auxiliary electric system. Additionally, the powertrain includes a first switching device selectively transitionable between a first open state to electrically disconnect the first energy storage device from at least one of the motor-generator and the auxiliary electric system, and a first closed state to electrically connect the first energy storage device to at least one of the motor-generator and the auxiliary electric system. The motor-generator and the auxiliary electric system are operable regardless of the first switching device being in the first open and closed states.

A powertrain for a vehicle is disclosed. The powertrain includes an engine, a motor-generator and a starter mechanism. The powertrain also includes a first energy storage device disposed in a parallel electrical relationship with a motor-generator and an auxiliary electric system. Additionally, the powertrain includes a first switching device selectively transitionable between a first open state to electrically disconnect the first energy storage device from at least one of the motor-generator and the auxiliary electric system, and a first closed state to electrically connect the first energy storage device to at least one of the motor-generator and the auxiliary electric system. Electrical communication between the motor-generator and the auxiliary electric system is independent of the first switching device being in the first open and closed states.

Methods and systems for depowering a rechargeable battery in a rapid, yet controlled, manner. The methods comprise (i) providing a depowering medium comprising expanded graphite (and optionally, one or more dispersible non-ionic electric conductors) dispersed in a substantially non-ionic aqueous medium; (ii) contacting terminals of the battery with the depowering medium; and (iii) maintaining contact between the depowering medium and terminals for a period of time sufficient to depower the battery. The systems comprise (i) the depowering medium; and (ii) a container configured to receive a battery and the depowering medium such that the battery body is contacted with the depowering medium prior to the terminals.

Cost-effective reliable method to depower rechargeable electric batteries

Methods and systems are provided for determining a state of charge of a battery. The battery is subjected to a predetermined magnetic field such that the battery and the predetermined magnetic field jointly create a resultant magnetic field. The resultant magnetic field is sensed. The state of charge of the battery is determined based on the resultant magnetic field.

Growing community of inventors

Sterling Heights, MI, United States of America

Robert S Conell