IP Library Granted Patent US 12,330,623
Granted Patent B2
US 12,330,623 · App. 17/736,316 · Granted Jun 17, 2025

Vehicle battery element management

Inventors: Norman Lu (Fairview, TX); Maximilian Parness (Takoma Park, MD)
Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
B60W20/13B60S5/06B60W10/26B60W60/0025
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,330,623
App. No.
17/736,316
Granted
Jun 17, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An example operation includes one or more of providing electricity to a vehicle by a plurality of elements in a battery, determining an element of the plurality of elements is operating below a threshold, disabling the element, and providing the electricity by remaining elements of the plurality of elements.

Claims (82)

1. A method, comprising:

by a vehicle, receiving electricity from a plurality of elements in a battery of the vehicle;

by the vehicle, determining that an element of the plurality of elements is operating below a threshold;

by the vehicle, disabling the element in response to the element operating below the threshold; and

by the vehicle, receiving the electricity from remaining elements of the plurality of elements.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

determining that the remaining elements are operating below the threshold; and

in response to the remaining elements operating below the threshold, reenabling the disabled element.

3. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

toggling between energy sources of the vehicle when the electricity provided is below the threshold, wherein the energy sources are the battery and an internal combustion engine.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the disabling of the element further comprises:

disconnecting the element from the plurality of elements; and

preventing electricity use from the element, and

wherein the reenabling of the element further comprises:

charging the element according to a plurality of charging methods of the vehicle;

connecting the element to the remaining elements; and

allowing electricity use from the element.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining that the element operates below the threshold further comprises:

identifying a difference between a current charge level of the battery and a threshold charge level; and

identifying a next use of the battery based on the difference.

6. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

identifying a replacement battery to replace the battery;

navigating the vehicle to a location of the replacement battery;

replacing the battery with the replacement battery; and

determining whether the replacement battery operates at or above the threshold.

7. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

determining a new threshold based on the remaining elements, wherein the new threshold corresponds to a reduced operating range of the vehicle; and

operating the vehicle based on the new threshold.

8. A transport, comprising:

a processor that, when executing instructions stored in a memory, is configured to:

receive electricity from a plurality of elements in a battery of the transport;

determine that an element of the plurality of elements is operating below a threshold;

disable the element in response to the element operating below the threshold; and

receive the electricity from remaining elements of the plurality of elements.

9. The transport of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to:

determine that the remaining elements are operating below the threshold; and

in response to the remaining elements operating below the threshold, reenable the disabled element.

10. The transport of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to:

toggle between energy sources of the vehicle when the electricity provided is below the threshold, wherein the energy sources are the battery and an internal combustion engine.

11. The transport of claim 9 , wherein the disabling the element comprises the processor is configured to:

disconnect the element from the plurality of elements; and

prevent electricity use from the element, and

wherein when the processor reenables the element, the processor is further configured to:

charge the element according to a plurality of charge methods of the vehicle;

connect the element to the plurality of elements; and

allow electricity use from the element.

12. The transport of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to:

identify a difference between a current charge level of the battery and a threshold charge level; and

identify a next use of the battery based on the difference.

13. The transport of claim 8 , wherein when the processor determines that the element operates below the threshold, the processor is further configured to:

identify a replacement battery to replace the battery;

navigate the vehicle to a location of the replacement battery;

replace the battery with the replacement battery; and

determine whether the replacement battery operates at or above the threshold.

14. The transport of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to:

determine a new threshold based on the elements that remain, wherein the new threshold corresponds to a range of reduced operation of the transport; and

operate the transport based on the new threshold.

15. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor of a transport, cause the processor to perform:

by the vehicle, receiving electricity from plurality of elements in a battery of the vehicle;

by the vehicle, determining that an element of the plurality of elements is operating below a threshold;

by the vehicle, disabling the element in response to the element operating below the threshold; and

by the vehicle, receiving the electricity from remaining elements of the plurality of elements.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions cause the processor to perform:

determining that the remaining elements are operating below the threshold; and

in response to the remaining elements operating below the threshold, reenabling the disabled element.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions cause the processor to perform:

toggling between energy sources of the vehicle when the electricity provided is below the threshold, wherein the energy sources are the battery and an internal combustion engine.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the disabling of the element further comprises:

disconnecting the element from the plurality of elements; and

preventing electricity use from the element, and

wherein the reenabling of the element further comprises:

charging the element according to a plurality of charging methods of the vehicle;

connecting the element to the remaining elements; and

allowing electricity use from the element.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the determining that the element operates below the threshold further comprises:

identifying a difference between a current charge level of the battery and a threshold charge level; and

identifying a next use of the battery based on the difference.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions cause the processor to perform:

identifying a replacement battery to replace the battery;

navigating the vehicle to a location of the replacement battery;

replacing the battery with the replacement battery; and

determining whether the replacement battery operates at or above the threshold.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 11, 2025
From: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
To: TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 072863/0342 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 4, 2022
From: LU, NORMAN; PARNESS, MAXIMILIAN
To: TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA INC.; TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 059810/0712 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230356706A1 · Nov 9, 2023
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