Granted Patent B2

US 12,651,813 · App. 18/060,152 · Granted Jun 9, 2026

Inventors: Sunoj Cherian George (Irvine, CA); Baojin Wang (San Marcos, CA); Todd Adams Putnam (Mammoth Lakes, CA); Kyle Lobo (Westchester, CA); Charles John Scanlon (Culver City, CA); Brian Joseph Ciaverella (San Pedro, CA)

Assignee: Rivian IP Holdings, LLC

H01M50/581B60L3/0046B60L3/04H01M10/425H01M2200/103H01M2220/20

Abstract

Claims (66)

1 . A system, comprising:

a first fuse connected between a first battery cell and a second battery cell of a battery pack;

a second fuse connected between the second battery cell and a terminal of a charge port; and

a controller configured to:

detect an event based on at least one measurement; and

activate, responsive to the event, the first fuse to disconnect the first battery cell from the second battery cell.

2 . The system of claim 1 , the second fuse connected to a negative terminal of the battery pack between the second battery cell and a negative terminal of the charge port, the system comprising:

a switch connected to a positive terminal of the battery pack between the first battery cell and a positive terminal of the charge port; and

the controller communicably coupled to the switch, the first fuse, and the second fuse, wherein the controller is configured to selectively control the switch, the first fuse, and the second fuse.

3 . The system of claim 1 , the first fuse comprising a first pyrofuse and the second fuse comprising a second pyrofuse, wherein the controller is configured to trigger the first pyrofuse and the second pyrofuse to permanently open a circuit including the first pyrofuse and the second pyrofuse.

4 . The system of claim 1 , the first fuse connected in series between the first battery cell and the second battery cell.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:

detect a signal indicative of the event based on a temperature measurement; and

activate, responsive to the signal, the second fuse, to disconnect a negative terminal of the battery pack from a terminal of one or more capacitors.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:

detect a signal indicative of the event based on an acceleration measurement; and

activate, responsive to the signal, the first fuse and the second fuse, to disconnect the first battery cell from the second battery cell, and to disconnect a negative terminal of the battery pack from a terminal of one or more capacitors.

7 . The system of claim 1 , comprising:

a drive unit converter; and

the controller is configured to:

receive a signal indicative of the event;

cause, responsive to the signal, the first fuse and the second fuse to activate, to disconnect the first battery cell from the second battery cell, and to disconnect a negative terminal of the battery pack from a terminal of one or more capacitors; and

cause the drive unit converter to discharge a capacitor of the one or more capacitors.

8 . The system of claim 1 , comprising:

a manual service disconnect connected between the first fuse and one of the first battery cell or the second battery cell.

9 . A method, comprising:

providing a first fuse in connection between a first battery cell and a second battery cell of a battery pack;

providing a second fuse in connection between the second battery cell and a terminal of a charge port;

detecting, by a controller, an event based on at least one measurement; and

activating, by the controller, responsive to the event, the first fuse to disconnect the first battery cell from the second battery cell.

10 . The method of claim 9 , the first fuse comprising a first pyrofuse, and the second fuse comprising a second pyrofuse, wherein activating the first fuse further comprises, triggering by the controller, the first pyrofuse and the second pyrofuse to permanently open a circuit including the first pyrofuse and the second pyrofuse.

11 . The method of claim 9 , comprising:

detecting, by the controller, a signal indicative of a current measurement;

identifying, by the controller, the event based on the current measurement satisfying a threshold criteria; and

activating, by the controller responsive to identifying the event, at least one of the first fuse or the second fuse.

12 . The method of claim 9 , comprising:

detecting, by the controller, a signal indicative of an acceleration measurement;

identifying, by the controller, the event based on the acceleration measurement satisfying a threshold criteria; and

activating, by the controller responsive to identifying the event, at least one of the first fuse or the second fuse.

13 . The method of claim 9 , comprising:

detecting, by the controller, a signal indicative of a temperature measurement;

identifying, by the controller, the event based on the temperature measurement satisfying a threshold criteria; and

causing, by the controller responsive to identifying the event, at least one of the first fuse or the second fuse.

14 . The method of claim 9 , comprising:

sending, by the controller, a signal to a switch in connection with to a positive terminal of the battery pack, to open the switch;

identifying, by the controller, the event based on the switch remaining closed responsive to the signal; and

activating, by the controller responsive to identifying the event, the first fuse and the second fuse.

15 . The method of claim 9 , comprising:

detecting, by the controller, a signal indicative of a service event; and

opening, by the controller responsive to the service event, a switch in connection with to a positive terminal of the battery pack, to disconnect the positive terminal of the battery pack from one or more loads of a vehicle.

16 . The method of claim 9 , comprising:

detecting, by the controller, a signal indicative of the event;

opening, by the controller responsive to the signal, at least one of the first fuse, the second fuse, or a switch connected to a positive terminal of the battery pack; and

causing, by the controller, a drive unit converter to discharge one or more capacitors.

17 . The method of claim 9 , comprising:

providing a manual service disconnect in connection between the first fuse and one of the first battery cell or the second battery cell.

18 . A vehicle comprising:

a battery pack comprising a first battery cell and a second battery cell;

a first fuse connected between the first battery cell and the second battery cell;

a second fuse connected between the second battery cell and a terminal of a charge port; and

a controller configured to:

detect an event based on at least one measurement; and

activate, responsive to the event, the first fuse, to disconnect the first battery cell from the second battery cell.

19 . The vehicle of claim 18 , comprising:

a switch in connection with a positive terminal of the battery pack; and

the controller in communication with the switch, the first fuse, and the second fuse, wherein the controller is configured to selectively control the first fuse, the second fuse, and the switch.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (16)