IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,246,606
Granted Patent B2
US 12,246,606 · App. 17/550,004 · Granted Mar 11, 2025

Multi-function DC-DC converter for battery electric vehicles

Inventors: Lei Hao (Troy, MI); Chandra S. Namuduri (Troy, MI); Chengwu Duan (Shanghai, CN); Suresh Gopalakrishnan (Troy, MI); Neeraj S. Shidore (Novi, MI); Venkata Prasad Atluri (Novi, MI)
Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
B60L53/20B60L53/16H02J7/0013H02J7/0042H02M3/158B60L2210/10H02J2207/20H02J2207/40
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,246,606
App. No.
17/550,004
Granted
Mar 11, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A power control system for a vehicle includes a charge port and a contactor connected to the charge port and including a first plurality of switches. An energy storage system includes a second plurality of switches and one or more battery packs. A bi-directional DC-DC converter is connected between the energy storage system and a plurality of vehicle loads. A controller is configured to control states of the first and second plurality of switches to configure in a plurality of modes including a range improvement mode, a first charging mode to perform charging at a first voltage level, a second charging mode to perform charging at a second voltage level, a battery preconditioning mode; and an accessory load support mode.

Claims (153)

1. A power control system for a vehicle, comprising:

a charge port;

a contactor connected to the charge port and including a first plurality of switches;

an energy storage system including a second plurality of switches and one or more battery packs;

a bi-directional DC-DC converter connected between the energy storage system and a plurality of vehicle loads; and

a controller configured to control states of the first plurality of switches and the second plurality of switches to configure in a plurality of modes including:

a range improvement mode;

a first charging mode to perform charging at a first voltage level, wherein the one or more battery packs supply power at the first voltage level;

a vehicle to vehicle charging mode;

a second charging mode to perform charging at a second voltage level that is different than the first voltage level;

a battery preconditioning mode; and

an accessory load support mode that is operable:

during charging at a higher one of the first voltage level and the second voltage level; and

during operation at a higher one of the first voltage level and the second voltage level.

2. The power control system of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of switches of the contactor includes:

a first switch including a first terminal connected to a first terminal of the charge port, a second terminal connected to a first terminal of the energy storage system and a control terminal connected to the controller;

a second switch including a first terminal connected to a second terminal of the charge port, a second terminal connected to a second terminal of the energy storage system and a control terminal connected to the controller;

a third switch including a first terminal connected to the first terminal of the charge port, a second terminal connected to a first terminal of a first one of the plurality of vehicle loads and a control terminal connected to the controller; and

a fourth switch including a first terminal connected to the second terminal of the charge port, a second terminal connected to a second terminal of the first one of the plurality of vehicle loads and a control terminal connected to the controller.

3. The power control system of claim 2 , wherein the bi-directional DC-DC converter includes:

a first capacitor including a first terminal connected to the second terminal of the first switch and a second terminal connected to the second terminal of the second switch;

a first power switch including a first terminal connected to the second terminal of the first switch;

an inductor including a first terminal and a second terminal;

a second power switch including a first terminal connected to a second terminal of the first power switch and the first terminal of the inductor, and a second terminal connected to the second terminal of the second switch; and

a second capacitor including a first terminal connected to the second terminal of the inductor and the first one of the plurality of vehicle loads, and a second terminal connected to the second terminal of the second switch.

4. The power control system of claim 3 , further comprising:

a fifth switch including a first terminal connected to the second terminal of the inductor, the first terminal of the second capacitor, and the first one of the plurality of vehicle loads;

a fusible link including a first terminal connected to a second terminal of the fifth switch and a second terminal connected to a second one of the plurality of vehicle loads and the second terminal of the third switch; and

a sixth switch including a first terminal connected to the second terminal of the second capacitor and the first one of the plurality of vehicle loads and a second terminal connected to the second one of the plurality of vehicle loads and the second terminal of the fourth switch.

5. The power control system of claim 2 , wherein the energy storage system includes:

a fifth switch of the second plurality of switches including a first terminal connected to the second terminal of the first switch;

a sixth switch of the second plurality of switches including a first terminal connected to the second terminal of the first switch;

a first fusible link including a first terminal connected to a second terminal of the sixth switch;

a first battery pack of the one or more battery packs including a first terminal and a second terminal;

a second battery pack of the one or more battery packs including a first terminal and a second terminal;

a resistor including a first terminal connected to a second terminal of the fifth switch and a second terminal connected to a second terminal of the first fusible link and the first terminal of the first battery pack, wherein the first terminal of the second battery pack is connected to the second terminal of the first battery pack;

a seventh switch of the second plurality of switches including a first terminal connected to the second terminal of the second battery pack; and

a second fusible link including a first terminal connected to a second terminal of the seventh switch and a second terminal connected to the second terminal of the second switch.

6. The power control system of claim 2 , wherein the energy storage system includes:

a fifth switch of the second plurality of switches including a first terminal connected to the second terminal of the first switch;

a sixth switch of the second plurality of switches including a first terminal connected to the second terminal of the first switch;

a first battery pack of the one or more battery packs including a first terminal and a second terminal;

a resistor including a first terminal connected to a second terminal of the fifth switch and a second terminal connected to a second terminal of the sixth switch and the first terminal of the first battery pack;

a seventh switch of the second plurality of switches including a first terminal connected to the second terminal of the first switch;

an eighth switch of the second plurality of switches including a first terminal connected to a second terminal of the seventh switch and a second terminal connected to the second terminal of the first battery pack;

a second battery pack of the one or more battery packs including a first terminal and a second terminal;

a fusible link including a first terminal connected to the second terminal of the seventh switch and the first terminal of the eighth switch and a second terminal connected to the first terminal of the second battery pack;

a ninth switch of the second plurality of switches including a first terminal connected to the second terminal of the second battery pack and a second terminal connected to the second terminal of the second switch; and

a tenth switch of the second plurality of switches including a first terminal connected to the second terminal of the first battery pack and a second terminal connected to the second terminal of the second switch.

7. The power control system of claim 2 , wherein the bi-direction DC-DC converter includes:

a capacitor connected to the second terminal of the first switch and the second terminal of the second switch;

a first power switch, a second power switch, a third power switch and a fourth power switch each including a first terminal, a second terminal and a control terminal; and

an inductor,

wherein the first terminal of the first power switch is connected to the second terminal of the first switch,

wherein the second terminal of the first power switch is connected to the first terminal of the third power switch and a first terminal of the inductor,

wherein the first terminal of the second power switch is connected to a first node,

wherein the second terminal of the second power switch is connected to a second terminal of the inductor and a first terminal of the fourth power switch, and

wherein the second terminal of the fourth power switch is connected a second node.

8. The power control system of claim 7 , further comprising:

a fifth switch including a first terminal connected to the first node and a second terminal connected first terminals of the vehicle loads; and

a sixth switch including a first terminal connected to the second node and a second terminal connected to second terminals of the vehicle loads.

9. The power control system of claim 7 , further comprising a fifth switch, wherein:

the plurality of vehicles loads include a first vehicle load and a second vehicle load,

the first node is connected a first terminal of the first vehicle load and a first terminal of the fifth switch,

a second terminal of the fifth switch is connected to a first terminal of the second vehicle load; and

the second node is connected to a second terminal of the first vehicle load and the second vehicle load.

10. The power control system of claim 7 , further comprising:

a fusible link;

a fifth switch including a first terminal and a second terminal; and

a sixth switch including a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein:

the plurality of vehicles loads include a first vehicle load and a second vehicle load,

the first node is connected a first terminal of the first vehicle loads and a first terminal of the fusible link,

a second terminal of the fusible link is connected to a first terminal of the fifth switch,

a second terminal of the fifth switch is connected to a second terminal of the third switch and first terminals of the second vehicle load,

the second node is connected to a first terminal of the first vehicle load and a first terminal of the sixth switch, and

a second terminal of the second switch is connected to a second terminal of the second vehicle load and the second terminal of the fourth switch.

11. A power control system for a vehicle, comprising:

a charge port;

a contactor connected to the charge port and including a first plurality of switches;

an energy storage system including a second plurality of switches and one or more battery packs;

a bi-directional DC-DC converter connected between the energy storage system and a plurality of vehicle loads; and

a controller configured to control states of the first plurality of switches and the second plurality of switches to configure in a plurality of modes,

wherein the first plurality of switches comprises:

a first switch including a first terminal connected to a first terminal of the charge port, a second terminal connected to a first terminal of the energy storage system and a control terminal connected to the controller;

a second switch including a first terminal connected to a second terminal of the charge port, a second terminal connected to a second terminal of the energy storage system and a control terminal connected to the controller;

a third switch including a first terminal connected to the first terminal of the charge port, a second terminal connected to a first terminal of a first one of the plurality of vehicle loads and a control terminal connected to the controller; and

a fourth switch including a first terminal connected to the second terminal of the charge port, a second terminal connected to a second terminal of the first one of the plurality of vehicle loads and a control terminal connected to the controller.

12. The power control system of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of modes include:

a range improvement mode;

a first charging mode to perform charging at a first voltage level, wherein one or more battery packs supply power at the first voltage level;

a vehicle to vehicle charging mode;

a second charging mode to perform charging at a second voltage level that is less than the first voltage level;

a battery preconditioning mode; and

an accessory load support mode that is operable:

during charging at a higher one of the first voltage level and the second voltage level; and

when operating at a higher one of the first voltage level and the second voltage level.

13. The power control system of claim 11 , wherein the bi-directional DC-DC converter includes:

a first capacitor including a first terminal connected to the second terminal of the first switch and a second terminal connected to the second terminal of the second switch;

a first power switch including a first terminal connected to the second terminal of the first switch;

an inductor including a first terminal and a second terminal;

a second power switch including a first terminal connected to a second terminal of the first power switch and the first terminal of the inductor, and a second terminal connected to the second terminal of the second switch; and

a second capacitor including a first terminal connected to the second terminal of the inductor and a first one of the vehicle loads, and a second terminal connected to the second terminal of the second switch.

14. The power control system of claim 13 , further comprising:

a fifth switch including a first terminal connected to the second terminal of the inductor, the first terminal of the second capacitor, and the first one of the plurality of vehicle loads;

a fusible link including a first terminal connected to a second terminal of the fifth switch and a second terminal connected to a second one of the plurality of vehicle loads and the second terminal of the third switch; and

a sixth switch including a first terminal connected to the second terminal of the second capacitor and the first one of the plurality of vehicle loads and a second terminal connected to the second one of the plurality of vehicle loads and the second terminal of the fourth switch.

15. The power control system of claim 13 , wherein the energy storage system includes:

a fifth switch of the second plurality of switches including a first terminal connected to the second terminal of the first switch;

a sixth switch of the second plurality of switches including a first terminal connected to the second terminal of the first switch;

a first fusible link including a first terminal connected to a second terminal of the sixth switch;

a first battery pack of the one or more battery packs including a first terminal and a second terminal;

a second battery pack of the one or more battery packs including a first terminal and a second terminal;

a resistor including a first terminal connected to a second terminal of the fifth switch and a second terminal connected to a second terminal of the first fusible link and the first terminal of the first battery pack, wherein the first terminal of the second battery pack is connected to the second terminal of the first battery pack;

a seventh switch of the second plurality of switches including a first terminal connected to the second terminal of the second battery pack; and

a second fusible link including a first terminal connected to a second terminal of the seventh switch and a second terminal connected to the second terminal of the second switch.

16. The power control system of claim 13 , wherein the energy storage system includes:

a fifth switch of the second plurality of switches including a first terminal connected to the second terminal of the first switch;

a sixth switch of the second plurality of switches including a first terminal connected to the second terminal of the first switch;

a first battery pack of the one or more battery packs including a first terminal and a second terminal;

a resistor including a first terminal connected to a second terminal of the fifth switch and a second terminal connected to a second terminal of the sixth switch and the first terminal of the first battery pack;

a seventh switch of the second plurality of switches including a first terminal connected to the second terminal of the first switch;

an eighth switch of the second plurality of switches including a first terminal connected to a second terminal of the seventh switch and a second terminal connected to the second terminal of the first battery pack;

a second battery pack of the one or more battery packs including a first terminal and a second terminal;

a fusible link including a first terminal connected to the second terminal of the seventh switch and the first terminal of the eighth switch and a second terminal connected to the first terminal of the second battery pack;

a ninth switch of the second plurality of switches including a first terminal connected to the second terminal of the second battery pack and a second terminal connected to the second terminal of the second switch; and

a tenth switch of the second plurality of switches including a first terminal connected to the second terminal of the first battery pack and a second terminal connected to the second terminal of the second switch.

17. The power control system of claim 11 , wherein the bi-direction DC-DC converter includes:

a capacitor connected to the second terminal of the first switch and the second terminal of the second switch;

a first power switch, a second power switch, a third power switch and a fourth power switch each including a first terminal, a second terminal and a control terminal; and

an inductor,

wherein the first terminal of the first power switch is connected to the second terminal of the first switch,

wherein the second terminal of the first power switch is connected to the first terminal of the third power switch and a first terminal of the inductor,

wherein the first terminal of the second power switch is connected to a first node,

wherein the second terminal of the second power switch is connected to a second terminal of the inductor and a first terminal of the fourth power switch, and

wherein the second terminal of the fourth power switch is connected a second node.

18. The power control system of claim 17 , further comprising:

a fifth switch including a first terminal connected to the first node and a second terminal connected first terminals of the vehicle loads; and

a sixth switch including a first terminal connected to the second node and a second terminal connected to second terminals of the vehicle loads.

19. The power control system of claim 17 , further comprising a fifth switch, wherein:

the plurality of vehicles loads include a first vehicle load and a second vehicle load,

the first node is connected a first terminal of the first vehicle load and a first terminal of the fifth switch,

a second terminal of the fifth switch is connected to a first terminal of the second vehicle load; and

the second node is connected to a second terminal of the first vehicle load and the second vehicle load.

20. The power control system of claim 17 , further comprising:

a fusible link;

a fifth switch including a first terminal and a second terminal; and

a sixth switch including a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein:

the plurality of vehicle loads include a first vehicle load and a second vehicle load,

the first node is connected a first terminal of the first vehicle load and a first terminal of the fusible link,

a second terminal of the fusible link is connected to a first terminal of the fifth switch,

a second terminal of the fifth switch is connected to a second terminal of the third switch and first terminals of the second vehicle load,

the second node is connected to a first terminal of the first vehicle load and a first terminal of the sixth switch, and

a second terminal of the second switch is connected to a second terminal of the second vehicle load and the second terminal of the fourth switch.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 14, 2021
From: HAO, LEI; NAMUDURI, CHANDRA S.; DUAN, CHENGWU; GOPALAKRISHNAN, SURESH; SHIDORE, NEERAJ S.; ATLURI, VENKATA PRASAD
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 058380/0007 →
Priority Claims (1)
CN 202111338996.3 · Nov 12, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230150378A1 · May 18, 2023
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