Battery temperature regulation system

1 . A system to heat and cool a battery for the battery to operate within a temperature range, the system comprising:

a thermoelectric device configured to attach to the battery and operate in a heating mode to elevate an operating temperature of the battery and in a cooling mode to reduce the operating temperature of the battery;

control circuitry comprising:

a power conditioner that regulates an input voltage supplied to the thermoelectric device and regulates a polarity of the input voltage to control an operational mode of the thermoelectric device, the power conditioner comprising:

a converter that regulates an output voltage per duty cycle;

switches to change an operational mode of the thermoelectric device;

a system controller configured to:

receive a user input of a temperature setting point;

determine when the battery is in one of the following modes:

a capacity control mode to maximize charging capacity;

a rate control mode for high speed charging; and

an auto mode that switches between the capacity control mode and the rate control mode based on a load on the battery;

a local controller that receives the temperature setting point for the thermoelectric device from the system controller, the local controller comprising:

a mode selector that outputs signals to operate the switches to change the operational mode of the thermoelectric device; and

a modulation generator that controls the power conditioner to regulate the output voltage per duty ratio;

wherein one or both of the power conditioner and the local controller are powered by the battery.

2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a thermally conductive wrap configured to extend between and contact against individual cells of the battery and conduct heat from the thermoelectric device to the individual cells when operating in the heating mode and conduct the heat from the individual cells to the thermoelectric device when operating in the cooling mode, wherein the wrap is spaced away from the thermoelectric device.

3 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor configured to sense the temperature of the battery and transmit a corresponding signal to the control circuitry.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the converter comprises a DC/DC converter; and

the switches comprise an H-bridge to adjust a polarity of the input voltage of the thermoelectric device.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric device is configured to act in the heating mode in a first polarity and to act in the cooling mode in a second polarity.

6 . A system to heat and cool a battery for the battery to operate within a temperature range, the system comprising:

a thermoelectric device that heats the battery when operated in a first polarity and that cools the battery when operated in a second polarity;

a system controller configured to receive a temperature setting point from a user through a user input, the system controller further configured to:

determine when the battery is in one of the following:

a capacity control mode to maximize charging capacity;

a rate control mode for high speed charging; and

an auto mode that switches between the capacity control mode and the rate control mode based on a load on the battery;

a control unit comprising control circuitry configured to:

monitor a temperature of the battery;

receive the temperature setting point for the battery;

control operation of the thermoelectric device between the first polarity and the second polarity and adjust a voltage supplied to the thermoelectric device to maintain the battery operating within a temperature tolerance;

wherein the control unit operates the thermoelectric device in a heating mode when the temperature is less than a difference between the temperature setting point and the temperature tolerance; and

wherein the control unit operates the thermoelectric device in a cooling mode when the temperature is greater than a sum of the temperature setting point and the temperature tolerance; and

wherein the temperature tolerance is calculated by one or both of the system controller and the local controller.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the control unit comprises:

a power conditioner comprising a DC/DC converter and an H-bridge; and

a local controller that receives signals from a sensor at the battery to monitor the temperature of the battery.

8 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the thermoelectric device comprises an array of n-type and p-type semiconductor materials that are electrically and thermally connected together and positioned between opposing plates.

9 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the control unit further comprises:

a DC/DC converter; and

an H-bridge to adjust a polarity of the thermoelectric device.

10 . The system of claim 6 , further comprising the system controller located remotely from the control unit, the system controller comprising system control circuitry configured to:

receive the user input; and

based on the user input, determine when the battery is in one of the capacity control mode, the rate control mode, and the auto mode.

11 . The system of claim 6 , further comprising a thermally conductive wrap configured to contact against individual cells of the battery and conduct heat from the thermoelectric device to heat the individual cells when operating in one of the first and second polarities and conduct the heat from the individual cells to the thermoelectric device when operating in a second one of the polarities wherein the wrap is spaced away from the thermoelectric device.

12 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a heat sink connected to thermoelectric device, the heat sink comprises an exposed surface area that faces away from the battery.

13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric device operates in a heating mode when the temperature is less than a difference between the temperature setting point and a temperature tolerance, and wherein the thermoelectric device operates in a cooling mode when the temperature is greater than a sum of the temperature setting point and the temperature tolerance.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the thermoelectric device operates in an idle mode when the temperature is greater than a difference between the temperature setting point and the temperature tolerance and less than a sum of the temperature setting point and the temperature tolerance.

15 . The system of claim 6 , further comprising a heat sink connected to thermoelectric device, the heat sink comprises an exposed surface area that faces away from the battery.

16 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the control unit operates the thermoelectric device is an idle mode when the temperature is greater than a difference between the temperature setting point and the temperature tolerance and less than a sum of the sensed temperature and the temperature tolerance.

17 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the wrap extends around and contacts one or more surfaces of cells of the battery.

18 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric device comprises an array of n-type and p-type semiconductor materials that are electrically and thermally connected together and positioned between opposing plates.

19 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the temperature setting point is a first user input and wherein control circuitry is configured to determine the mode of the battery based on a second user input.

20 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the mode of the battery is determined based on an amount of charge remaining in the battery.