Motiv Power Systems, Inc.

Venkatesh Prasad Hanglur Narasimha

James Michael Castelaz

Justin Tomlin

Joshua Sealand

Sowmya Akella

A vehicle includes a wakeup circuit and a connector. When the connector is connected to a charging station, the wakeup circuit receives a charging control signal from the charging station. The wakeup circuit generates a wakeup pulse using a filtered version of the charging control signal (CPFS) and a reset signal. The reset signal transitions state when the filtered version of the charging control signal crosses a threshold. In one embodiment, the wakeup circuit comprises a reset circuit, a wakeup pulse generator, and an opto-coupler. The reset circuit generates the reset signal that inhibits the wakeup circuit so that only one wakeup pulse is generated until removal of the CPFS. In another embodiment, the wakeup circuit includes a filter that generates the CPFS, a wakeup comparator circuit that generates the reset signal based on the CPFS, and a reset circuit that generates the wakeup pulse based on the reset signal.

Generating vehicle wakeup signal

A smart battery balancer is provided that monitors the voltage output levels of two battery packs and switches current into a selected one of the batteries to maintain balanced voltage output levels. In one embodiment, first and second batteries are connected in series to generate a high voltage output. Current from the batteries is stored in an inductor that is connected to first and second switches. A switch control circuit is configured to generate drive signals to control the first and second switches. The drive signals close the first switch and open the second switch when an output voltage of the first battery is greater than an output voltage of the second battery. The drive signals open the first switch and close the second switch when the output voltage of the second battery is greater than the output voltage of the first battery.

Smart battery balancer for balancing voltage output levels of multiple batteries

Methods and apparatus to monitor the precharging of high voltage circuits are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a switch that selectively enables or disables precharge current to a high voltage circuit based on a switch control signal. The apparatus also includes a comparison circuit that compares a scaled version of a circuit voltage to a reference voltage to generate the switch control signal. In one embodiment, the switch control signal is generated to enable the precharge current when the scaled version of the circuit voltage is greater than the reference voltage.

Methods and apparatus for precharge monitoring of high voltage circuits

An eFuse for use in high voltage applications is disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a solid-state switch having source and drain terminals connected to switch a load current from a high voltage source through a high voltage load. The apparatus also includes a sense circuit that senses a voltage between the switch source and drain terminals and turns off the switch when the voltage exceeds a selected voltage level.

EFuse for use in high voltage applications

A system comprises an EVSE and an electric vehicle having a precharge mode. To charge a battery, the vehicle is connected to the EVSE. In some cases, the battery is unable to energize power buses. For example, if the battery is too cold and has insufficient charge, then the battery will not energize the power buses. If the battery cannot energize the power buses, then a precharge mode is enabled. During the precharge mode, charge is pumped onto two power buses until a setpoint voltage is reached. For example, a precharge circuit pumps charge onto one power bus and a power converter pumps charge from that bus onto a second bus. Once the setpoint voltage is reached, a current source charger is enabled, and energy stored on both buses is used to facilitate the turn-on of the charger, the precharge mode is disabled, and the EVSE charges the battery.

Growing community of inventors

San Mateo, CA, United States of America

Venkatesh Prasad Hanglur Narasimha