Battery System

What is this patent about?

’677 is related to the field of electric vehicle battery systems , specifically addressing challenges related to battery pack size, modularity, and safety. The background highlights the increasing demand for efficient and compact battery solutions in electric vehicles, where space is often limited. Existing battery pack designs, particularly those using fixed-size modules, can be bulky and inflexible, leading to design constraints. The patent aims to overcome these limitations by providing a more adaptable and space-efficient battery system.

The underlying idea behind ’677 is to create a modular battery system that allows for flexible configuration and improved space utilization within an electric vehicle. This is achieved through a combination of battery packs, each containing multiple battery modules, and a centralized battery management device. The key insight is to distribute the battery packs throughout the vehicle, rather than concentrating them in a single large unit, and to manage their operation through a central controller.

The claims of ’677 focus on a battery system architecture featuring multiple battery packs, each with its own cells and overcurrent protection, connected to a central battery management device. Claim 1 emphasizes a primary contactor within the battery management device that protects all battery packs by opening when the system current exceeds a threshold. Claim 11 builds on this by specifying that each battery pack has only one automatic disconnect device, and that the overcurrent protection and primary disconnect actuate together during an overcurrent event. Claim 14 is directed to a method of controlling the electrical output of the battery packs, including the step of protecting the packs using the primary contactor when a current threshold is exceeded.

In practice, the invention involves arranging multiple battery packs, each containing several battery modules, within an electric vehicle. Each battery module incorporates a cooling plate to manage thermal performance. The battery packs are connected in parallel to a battery management device, which monitors and controls their operation. The battery management device includes a primary contactor that can disconnect all battery packs in the event of an overcurrent condition, ensuring system safety. This modular approach allows for flexible placement of battery packs within the vehicle, optimizing space utilization.

The differentiation from prior approaches lies in the integrated safety mechanisms and the modular design. Unlike traditional systems that might rely on individual protection circuits within each battery pack, ’677 uses a centralized battery management device with a primary contactor to protect all packs simultaneously. This reduces redundancy and complexity. The modular design allows for easy scaling and adaptation to different vehicle configurations, addressing the limitations of fixed-size battery modules. The use of active fuses and contactors ensures rapid response to overcurrent events, enhancing overall system safety and reliability.