SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR HIGH VOLTAGE CHARGING AND VERTIPORT OPERATIONS
Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to systems and methods for the configuration and control of charging and cooling systems for aircrafts driven by electric propulsion systems and in other types of vehicles. In some embodiments, a method of charging an aircraft is disclosed comprising: receiving a mode of operation indicating whether battery packs of the aircraft are connected in parallel prior to joining a charging bus, receiving charging protocol information, and controlling charging operations of the battery packs based on the mode of operation and the charging protocol information.
1 - 28 . (canceled)
29 . A charging system for an aircraft, comprising:
a communication connection to a ground charging station;
a first user input device disposed on a fuselage of the aircraft;
a second user input device disposed in a pilot cockpit of the aircraft; and
a control unit mounted in the aircraft and in communication with a battery management system within the aircraft, the ground charging station, the first user input device, and the second user input device,
wherein the control unit is configured to control charging commands to the ground charging station based on information received from the battery management system, the ground charging station, the first user input device, and the second user input device.
30 . The charging system of claim 29 , wherein the communication connection to the ground charging station is a wired connection.
31 . The charging system of claim 29 , wherein the communication connection to the ground charging station is a wireless connection.
32 . The charging system of claim 29 ,
further comprising the ground charging station, wherein the ground charging station comprises a connection to an electric grid charger or a dispenser; and
wherein controlling the charging commands to the ground charging station comprises controlling a charge provided by the ground charging station from the electric grid charger or the dispenser.
33 . The charging system of claim 29 ,
further comprising the ground charging station, wherein the ground charging station comprises a communication connection to receive second information on an operation of another aircraft; and
wherein controlling the charging commands to the ground charging station comprises controlling a charge provided by the ground charging station based on the second information.
34 . The charging system of claim 29 ,
wherein the first user input device comprises at least one of: a display screen, a button, a knob, a switch, or a lever; and
wherein the second user input device comprises at least one of: a display screen, a button, a knob, a switch, or a lever.
35 . The charging system of claim 29 , wherein the information received from the first user input device and the second user input device each comprise charging protocol information.
36 . The charging system of claim 29 , wherein the information received from at least one of the first user input device or the second user input device comprises a preset charging protocol option selected from a list of preset charging protocol options.
37 . The charging system of claim 29 , wherein the information received from the ground charging station comprises at least one of: a charging availability of the ground charging station or a cooling ability of the ground charging station.
38 . The charging system of claim 29 , wherein controlling charging commands to the ground charging station comprises controlling at least one of: a voltage, a current, a power, a coolant flow, a coolant pressure, or a coolant temperature.
39 - 72 . (canceled)
73 . The charging system of claim 29 , wherein the first user input device is installed on the fuselage in proximity to a charge port.
74 . The charging system of claim 73 , wherein the charge port comprises at least one of a high voltage connection, a coolant connection, or the communication connection.
75 . The charging system of claim 29 , wherein the control unit is further configured to communicate third information on the charging commands at least one of: the first user input device, the second user input device, or the ground charging station.
76 . The charging system of claim 29 , further comprising the battery management system, wherein the battery management system is associated with one or more battery packs of the aircraft.
77 . The charging system of claim 76 , wherein the battery management system is associated with each battery pack of the aircraft.
78 . The charging system of claim 76 , wherein the battery management system is associated with one battery pack of the aircraft.
79 . The charging system of claim 29 , wherein the information received from the battery management system comprises at least one of, for at least one battery pack: a state of a battery pack connection, a state of charge, a state of health, a battery pack voltage, a charging current, a failure condition, a state of power, a state of energy, a state of temperature, a minimum voltage, a maximum voltage, a contactor limit, a temperature limit, and a heat generation.
80 . The charging system of claim 29 , wherein the control unit is further configured to determine one or more battery contactor commands based on the information received from the battery management system.
81 . The charging system of claim 29 , wherein the first user input device is configured to transmit the information when the aircraft is powered off.
82 . The charging system of claim 29 , wherein the control unit is further configured to signal a problem by turning on or changing a color of an illumination line.