IP Library Granted Patent US 10,081,257
Granted Patent B2
US 10,081,257 · App. 15/712,904 · Granted Sep 25, 2018

Method and apparatus for charging multiple energy storage devices

Inventors: Ruediger Soeren Kusch (Clifton Park, NY); Robert Dean King (Schenectady, NY); Robert Louis Steigerwald (Schenectady, NY)
Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
B60L11/1809B60L11/005B60L11/14B60L11/185B60L11/1812B60L11/1816B60L11/1861B60L11/1864B60L11/1868B60L11/1872B60L11/1874B60L15/007H02J7/007H02J7/0013B60L2210/10B60L2240/526B60L2240/527B60L2240/529B60L2240/545B60L2240/547B60L2240/549Y02T10/7005Y02T10/7066
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,081,257
App. No.
15/712,904
Granted
Sep 25, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electric vehicle includes a controller configured to receive sensor feedback from a high voltage storage device and from a low voltage storage device, compare the sensor feedback to operating limits of the respective high and low voltage storage device, determine, based on the comparison a total charging current to the high voltage storage device and to the low voltage storage device and a power split factor of the total charging current to the high voltage device and to the low voltage device, and regulate the total power to the low voltage storage device and the high voltage storage device based on the determination.

Claims (64)

1. An energy storage and management system (ESMS) for a vehicle propulsion system, the ESMS comprising:

an energy storage device;

a first DC/DC conversion device coupleable to an internal charging source for charging the energy storage device;

a second DC/DC conversion device coupleable to an external charging source for charging the energy storage device;

a plurality of energy ports for coupling the energy storage device to at least one of the first and second DC/DC conversion devices, the plurality of energy ports including:

a first energy port coupled to the energy storage device;

a second energy port coupled to the energy storage device;

a third energy port coupled to the first DC/DC conversion device; and

a fourth energy port coupled to the second DC/DC conversion device; and

a control system configured to:

selectively control operation of the first DC/DC conversion device when charging the energy storage device from the internal charging source; and

selectively control operation of the second DC/DC conversion device when charging the energy storage device from the external charging source.

2. The ESMS of claim 1 , wherein the energy storage device is a battery.

3. The ESMS of claim 1 , further comprising a second energy storage device.

4. The ESMS of claim 1 , wherein the first DC/DC conversion device comprises a bi-directional buck/boost converter.

5. The ESMS of claim 1 , wherein the second DC/DC conversion device comprises a boost converter.

6. The ESMS of claim 1 , wherein the internal charging source comprises at least one electric motor/generator.

7. The ESMS of claim 6 , further comprising an inverter coupled to the electric motor/generator.

8. The ESMS of claim 1 , wherein the external charging source is an external AC source.

9. The ESMS of claim 1 , wherein the control system is further configured to:

monitor a temperature of the energy storage device;

control operation of the first DC/DC conversion device based on the monitored temperature of the energy storage device when charging the energy storage device from the internal charging source; and

control operation of the second DC/DC conversion device based on the monitored temperature of the energy storage device when charging the energy storage device from the external charging source.

10. The ESMS of claim 1 , wherein the control system is further configured to:

monitor a current of the energy storage device;

control operation of the first DC/DC conversion device based on the monitored current of the energy storage device when charging the energy storage device from the internal charging source; and

control operation of the second DC/DC conversion device based on the monitored current of the energy storage device when charging the energy storage device from the external charging source.

11. The ESMS of claim 1 , wherein the control system is further configured to:

monitor a voltage of the first DC/DC conversion device;

monitor a voltage of the second DC/DC conversion device;

control operation of the first DC/DC conversion device based on the monitored voltage of the first DC/DC conversion device when charging the energy storage device from the internal charging source; and

control operation of the second DC/DC conversion device based on the monitored voltage of the second DC/DC conversion device when charging the energy storage device from the external charging source.

12. The ESMS of claim 1 , wherein the control system comprises one or more controllers.

13. A vehicle propulsion system, comprising:

a vehicle drivetrain;

an energy storage device coupled to the vehicle drivetrain;

a first DC/DC conversion device coupleable to an internal charging source for charging the energy storage device;

a second DC/DC conversion device coupleable to an external charging source for charging the energy storage device;

a plurality of energy ports for coupling the energy storage device to at least one of the first and second DC/DC conversion devices, the plurality of energy ports including:

a first energy port coupled to the energy storage device;

a second energy port coupled to the energy storage device;

a third energy port coupled to the first DC/DC conversion device; and

a fourth energy port coupled to the second DC/DC conversion device; and

a control system configured to:

selectively control operation of the first DC/DC conversion device when charging the energy storage device from the internal charging source; and

selectively control operation of the second DC/DC conversion device when charging the energy storage device from the external charging source.

14. The vehicle propulsion system of claim 13 , wherein the vehicle drivetrain comprises a transmission coupled to an internal combustion engine.

15. The vehicle propulsion system of claim 13 , wherein the energy storage device is a battery.

16. The vehicle propulsion system of claim 13 , wherein the first DC/DC conversion device comprises a bi-directional buck/boost converter.

17. The vehicle propulsion system of claim 13 , wherein the internal charging source comprises at least one electric motor/generator.

18. The vehicle propulsion system of claim 13 , wherein the second DC/DC conversion device comprises a boost converter.

19. The vehicle propulsion system of claim 13 , wherein the control system is further configured to:

monitor a temperature of the energy storage device;

control operation of the first DC/DC conversion device based on the monitored temperature of the energy storage device when charging the energy storage device from the internal charging source; and

control operation of the second DC/DC conversion device based on the monitored temperature of the energy storage device when charging the energy storage device from the external charging source.

20. The vehicle propulsion system of claim 13 , wherein the control system is further configured to:

monitor a current of the energy storage device;

control operation of the first DC/DC conversion device based on the monitored current of the energy storage device when charging the energy storage device from the internal charging source; and

control operation of the second DC/DC conversion device based on the monitored current of the energy storage device when charging the energy storage device from the external charging source.

21. The vehicle propulsion system of claim 13 , wherein the control system is further configured to:

monitor a voltage of the first DC/DC conversion device;

monitor a voltage of the second DC/DC conversion device;

control operation of the first DC/DC conversion device based on the monitored voltage of the first DC/DC conversion device when charging the energy storage device from the internal charging source; and

control operation of the second DC/DC conversion device based on the monitored voltage of the second DC/DC conversion device when charging the energy storage device from the external charging source.

Assignments (5)
QUITCLAIM ASSIGNMENT Recorded Apr 9, 2026
From: EDISON INNOVATIONS LLC
To: BUNKER HILL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 074326/0549 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 26, 2025
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
To: GE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LICENSING, LLC
Reel/Frame 070636/0815 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 26, 2025
From: GE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LICENSING, LLC
To: DOLBY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LICENSING, LLC
Reel/Frame 070643/0907 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 20, 2025
From: DOLBY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LICENSING, LLC
To: EDISON INNOVATIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 070293/0273 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 26, 2017
From: KUSCH, RUEDIGER SOEREN; KING, ROBERT DEAN; STEIGERWALD, ROBERT LOUIS
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Reel/Frame 043704/0073 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 14656782 · Mar 13, 2015
Continuation 13476165 · May 21, 2012
Related Publication 20180022221A1 · Jan 25, 2018