Electric vehicle with instantaneous button battery switch

Abstract

The invention provides an electric vehicle with an instantaneous button battery switch. An electric vehicle has an electric motor, a high voltage primary battery pack configured to power the electric motor, a low voltage secondary battery configured to power one or more control modules, and a push button switch electrically coupled between the low voltage secondary battery and the one or more control modules. The secondary battery is controlled to reserve battery energy, and the push button switch is actuatable to allow the one or more control modules to be powered by the secondary battery.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to battery electric vehicles, and more particularly to electric vehicles having a high-voltage primary battery pack and a secondary low-voltage battery. Background Art

[0002] Battery-powered electric vehicles typically have a high-voltage primary battery pack to power one or more electric motors to drive the vehicle, and may include a low-voltage (e.g., 12-volt) secondary battery to power electronic modules and devices and other vehicle accessories. The high-voltage primary battery pack can also charge the 12-volt secondary battery. It is desirable to provide an electric vehicle that provides sufficient power to the power control module from the 12-volt secondary battery when the main high-voltage battery is depleted. Summary of the Invention

[0003] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, an electric vehicle includes an electric motor, a high-voltage primary battery pack configured to power the electric motor, a low-voltage secondary battery configured to power one or more control modules, and a push button switch electrically coupled between the low-voltage secondary battery and the one or more control modules, wherein the secondary battery is controlled to reserve battery energy, and the push button switch is actuatable to allow the one or more control modules to be powered by the secondary battery.

[0004] Embodiments of the first aspect of the present disclosure may include any one or a combination of the following features:

[0005] - a controller, the controller being configured to control the secondary battery to store a certain amount of battery energy;

[0006] - the stored battery energy of the secondary battery is less than approximately fifty percent (50%);

[0007] - a battery charging port for receiving a battery charging cable connector to recharge the high-voltage battery pack, wherein the push button switch is connected to the battery recharging port such that the push button switch is depressed when the battery charging cable connector of a charger is connected to the battery charging port;

[0008] - the low-voltage secondary battery comprises at least one battery of approximately 12 volts;

[0009] - the high voltage primary battery pack includes a primary battery pack of 400 volts or higher;

[0010] -The push button switch is a momentary push button switch;

[0011] - said one or more control modules controlling the electric contacts;

[0012] - the one or more control modules controlling the vehicle recharge latch; and

[0013] - The one or more control modules control one or more door latches.

[0014] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, an electric vehicle includes: an electric motor; a high-voltage primary battery pack configured to power the electric motor; a low-voltage secondary battery configured to power one or more control modules; a controller that controls the low-voltage secondary battery to reserve a certain amount of battery energy; a momentary push button switch electrically coupled between the low-voltage secondary battery and the one or more control modules, wherein the battery is controlled to reserve a certain amount of battery energy and the momentary push button switch allows the one or more control modules to be powered; and a battery charging port for receiving a battery charging cable connector to recharge the high-voltage battery pack, wherein the momentary push button switch is connected to the battery recharging charging port so that the momentary push button switch is pressed when the battery charging cable connector of the charger is connected to the battery charging port.

[0015] Embodiments of the second aspect of the present disclosure may include any one or a combination of the following features:

[0016] - said amount of reserve battery energy is less than fifty percent (50%);

[0017] - the low-voltage secondary battery comprises at least one battery of approximately 12 volts;

[0018] - the high voltage primary battery pack includes a primary battery pack of 400 volts or higher;

[0019] - said one or more control modules controlling the electric contacts;

[0020] - said one or more control module contacts for said charging port; and

[0021] - The one or more control modules control one or more door latches.

[0022] According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, a method for controlling an electric module in an electric vehicle is provided. The method includes supplying high-voltage power from a primary battery pack to power an electric motor, supplying low-voltage power from a secondary battery pack to power one or more control modules, detecting depletion of the high-voltage power, reserving a certain amount of power in the secondary battery pack when the primary battery pack is depleted, and reapplying the low-voltage power to the one or more control modules when a push button switch is activated.

[0023] Embodiments of the third aspect of the present disclosure may include any one or a combination of the following features:

[0024] - the push button switch is adapted to engage a battery charging port on the vehicle via a battery charging cable connector; and

[0025] - The push button switch is a momentary push button switch.

[0026] These and other features, advantages, and objectives of the present disclosure will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following description, claims, and drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] In the attached figure:

[0028] Figure 1 is a rear perspective view of a battery electric vehicle having a battery charging port according to one example;

[0029] Figure 2 is an enlarged schematic diagram of an electric charging port with the electric fuel door in an open position and a charger connector proximate to said electric charging port;

[0030] Figure 3 is a block diagram of a vehicle showing a battery, controls, and push button switches according to one embodiment; and

[0031] Figure 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method of controlling power supply using a push button switch. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. In the drawings, the depicted structural elements are not drawn to scale, and some parts are enlarged relative to other parts for the purpose of emphasis and understanding.

[0033] As required, detailed embodiments of the present disclosure are disclosed herein; however, it should be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples of the present disclosure, which may be implemented in various and alternative forms. The drawings are not necessarily detailed designs; some schematic diagrams may be exaggerated or minimized to illustrate functional overviews. Therefore, the specific structural and functional details disclosed herein should not be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching those skilled in the art to employ the present disclosure in various ways.

[0034] For the purpose of this description, the terms "upper", "lower", "right", "left", "rear", "front", "vertical", "horizontal" and their derivatives shall refer to Figure 1The present invention relates to concepts of orientation in the present invention. However, it should be understood that the concepts described can assume various alternative orientations unless expressly specified to the contrary. It should also be understood that the specific devices and processes shown in the drawings and described in the following specification are merely exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Therefore, unless the claims expressly state otherwise, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein should not be considered limiting.

[0035] The presently described embodiments primarily reside in a combination of method steps and apparatus components associated with an electric vehicle having a primary high-voltage battery and a secondary low-voltage battery, as well as push-button switches for controlling a power control module and apparatus. Accordingly, apparatus components and method steps have been represented, where appropriate, by conventional symbols in the drawings, with only those specific details relevant to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure being shown so as not to obscure the present disclosure with details that would readily be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. Furthermore, like reference numerals in the specification and drawings represent like elements.

[0036] As used herein, the term "and / or" when applied to a list of two or more items means that any one of the listed items can be employed individually, or any combination of two or more of the listed items can be employed. For example, if a composition is described as containing components A, B, and / or C, the composition can contain: A alone; B alone; C alone; a combination of A and B; a combination of A and C; a combination of B and C; or a combination of A, B, and C.

[0037] In this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, etc. are used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action and do not necessarily require or imply any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms "comprises," "comprising," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that includes a list of elements includes not only those elements but may also include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. In the absence of more constraints, an element preceded by "comprises . . . . " does not preclude the presence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes the element.

[0038] As used herein, the term "about" means that the amount, size, formula, parameter and other quantities and characteristics are not exact, nor do they need to be exact, but may be approximate and / or larger or smaller as needed to reflect tolerances, conversion factors, rounding, measurement errors, etc. and other factors known to those skilled in the art. When the term "about" is used to describe the endpoints of a value or range, the disclosure should be understood to include the specific value or endpoint mentioned. Regardless of whether the endpoints of a value or range in this specification are described as "about", the endpoints of the value or range are intended to include two embodiments: one modified by "about" and one not modified by "about". It should also be understood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are significant both in relation to the other endpoint and independently of the other endpoint.

[0039] As used herein, the terms "substantially," "substantially," and variations thereof are intended to indicate that the described feature is equal to or approximately equal to a value or description. For example, a "substantially planar" surface is intended to indicate a planar or approximately planar surface. Additionally, "substantially" is intended to mean that two values ​​are equal or approximately equal. In some embodiments, "substantially" can indicate that values ​​are within about 10% of each other, such as within about 5% of each other, or within about 2% of each other.

[0040] Unless expressly indicated to the contrary, as used herein, the terms "the," "a," or "an" mean "at least one" and should not be limited to "only one." Thus, for example, reference to "a component" includes embodiments having two or more such components unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0041] refer to Figure 1 , generally illustrates an electric motor vehicle 10 in the form of a battery electric vehicle (BEV) according to one example. Vehicle 10 generally includes a body 12 that generally defines a vehicle interior, also referred to as a passenger compartment. In the example shown, motor vehicle 10 is a wheeled motor vehicle having a plurality of tires and wheel assemblies 14. Motor vehicle 10 is equipped with a battery and one or more electric motors powered by the battery. It should be understood that electric motor vehicle 10 may include a fully electric vehicle, or may be in the form of a hybrid vehicle having an electric motor in combination with another non-electric motor.

[0042] The electric motor vehicle 10 is equipped with an electric motor. It should be understood that the motor vehicle 10 may include more than one electric motor, such as two or more electric motors, to power and accelerate the motor vehicle 10. For example, the electric motor is powered by electrical energy supplied from a high-voltage primary battery pack, such as a 400-volt primary battery pack. In addition, the electric motor 10 is also equipped with a low-voltage secondary battery, such as a battery of approximately 12 volts, which is configured to power one or more vehicle control modules and devices including vehicle accessories. The high-voltage battery pack and the low-voltage battery convert the chemical energy stored therein into electrical energy via an electrochemical reaction, and both batteries are rechargeable. In order to charge the high-voltage primary battery pack, the motor vehicle 10 is equipped with a charging port 16 that is accessible on the outside of the vehicle body 12, such as Figure 2 As shown. The charging port 16 may include a charging receptacle 20 having a plurality of electrical contacts 22. The electrical contacts 22 are configured to couple with charging contacts on a charger connector associated with a charger 24 to supply electrical energy to charge the high-voltage primary battery pack. It should be understood that the charger connector on the charger 24 can matingly engage the receptacle 20 of the charging port 16 to mechanically and electronically couple with the electrical contacts 22.

[0043] According to one example, the electric vehicle 10 is shown equipped with a momentary push button switch 30 located within the charging port 16. The momentary push button switch 30 is configured near the charger receptacle 20 in a position sufficiently close to the electrical contacts 22 so that, when engaged with the receptacle 20, the charger connection of the charger 24 depresses the momentary push button switch 30 to close the circuit. The momentary push button switch 30 closes the circuit when the switch is forcefully depressed and opens the circuit when the switch is not depressed. The momentary push button switch 30 is electrically coupled to a low-voltage secondary battery and a plurality of control modules and devices such that once the momentary push button switch 30 has been depressed to provide a closed circuit, electrical energy supplied by the low-voltage secondary battery is supplied to the control modules and devices.

[0044] The electric motor vehicle 10 is configured to supply high-voltage power to operate the electric motor to power the vehicle 10, and the high-voltage 400-volt battery pack also charges the low-voltage secondary battery. When the high-voltage primary battery pack is nearing depletion of stored energy, the vehicle controller can shut down the primary battery pack. This may occur when the high-voltage primary battery pack has depleted sufficient energy and the low-voltage secondary battery charge has reached a predetermined energy level (such as 50% of full energy). When this occurs, power to control modules and devices can be shut down to conserve energy for situations where energy may be needed. This typically occurs after the driver has been notified and consented to the power shutdown. To utilize the available energy stored in the low-voltage secondary battery, the user can press a momentary pushbutton switch 30 with their finger or with the charger connector of the charger 24. This causes the controller to restart and re-energize the control modules and devices (such as the door locks and charging contacts) to supply power to the control modules and devices, thereby enabling further operation of the vehicle 10 to allow passengers to unlock and open the doors and allow the charging contacts to move into position to charge the high-voltage primary battery pack.

[0045] refer to Figure 3 , also shown is an electric motor vehicle 10, wherein a high-voltage primary battery pack 32 provides a 400-volt potential output to a contactor 34. The contactor 34 isolates the 400-volt primary battery pack 32 from a plurality of electrical devices. The contactor 34 is in turn coupled to one or more electric motors and a controller 36, which can be used to power the motor vehicle 10. In addition, the 400-volt potential output is supplied to a main DC-to-DC (DCDC) converter 38 via the contactor 34, which converts the 400-volt potential to approximately 12 volts. When closed, the approximately 12-volt potential is available through a first switch S1 and a second switch S2 to recharge the 12-volt battery 44 and operate or power a controller 50, which is shown as having a microprocessor 52. The controller 50 having the microprocessor 52 controls various transistors 62A-62M, which in turn control various control modules and devices 60. For example, control module and devices 60 may include vehicle door locks 60A, windows 60B, radio 60C, and charging contacts 60N, among other powered devices and controls. The control module may include control circuitry and powered actuators for controlling and actuating the devices.

[0046] The 400-volt primary battery pack 32 is also coupled to a protected DCDC converter 46, which in turn supplies a voltage potential of approximately 12 volts to a microprocessor 52 in the controller 50 via a third switch S3. The low-voltage secondary battery 44 supplies a voltage potential of approximately 12 volts to the microprocessor 52 via a second switch S2. Under normal vehicle operation, when the low-voltage secondary battery 44 has sufficient electrical energy or battery charge, the low-voltage secondary battery 44 powers the controller 50, which in turn controls and powers various control modules and devices 60.

[0047] The momentary push button switch 30 is shown coupled in series between the low-voltage secondary battery 44 and the microprocessor 52 in the controller 50. Thus, when the momentary push button switch 30 is pressed, the contacts close to allow current generated by the energy stored in the low-voltage secondary battery 44 to be supplied to the controller 50 to power the various control modules and devices 60. It should be understood that the momentary push button switch 30 only needs to be pressed for a minimum period of time (such as a few seconds) to cause the microprocessor 52 to restart, and once powered on, closes the switch S2 to provide continuous power to power the control modules and devices 60, which may occur with the use of relays.

[0048] Thus, when the battery charge or energy detected in the high-voltage primary battery pack 32 is insufficient and the low-voltage secondary battery 44 is below a low charge level (e.g., such as 50% of a full battery charge), the motor vehicle 10 can query the driver of the motor vehicle 10 to determine whether the vehicle power can be shut off to conserve power. According to other examples, the low charge level can be 25% of a full charge, 10% of a full charge, or 5% of a full charge. If the driver of the motor vehicle 10 agrees to shut off power to the motor vehicle 10, switches S1 and S2 can be opened to cut off the power supply from both the high-voltage primary battery pack 32 and the low-voltage secondary battery 44. Once this occurs, the control modules and devices, as well as the motor vehicle motor, no longer receive power and become inoperable. The energy stored in the low-voltage secondary battery 44 remains available while the momentary pushbutton switch 30 is pressed, which can occur by the user pressing the pushbutton switch 30 or the charger being engaged and pressing the momentary pushbutton switch 30. Applying sufficient force to the momentary switch 30 for a short period of time (such as less than a few seconds) will cause the switch 30 to close the circuit and allow the microprocessor 52 to be powered for restarting, which in turn will cause the switch S2 to close the circuit to allow power from the 12-volt battery 44 to be supplied to the controller 50 and the control modules and devices 60. This can enable the user of the motor vehicle 10 to unlock and open the doors, open the windows, and position the charging contacts for charging the vehicle battery via the charger to the charging position. With the charging contacts in the charging position and the charger coupled to the charging port, the high-voltage primary battery pack can be recharged. Once the high-voltage primary battery pack is charged, the high-voltage primary battery pack 32 can then charge the low-voltage secondary battery 44.

[0049] refer to Figure 4 , shows a method for controlling power to the motor vehicle 10 using the push button switch 30. The method 100 begins at step 102 and proceeds to step 104 to determine whether the high voltage primary battery pack is low on energy or power, and if not, returns to step 102. If the high voltage primary battery pack is low on energy, the method 100 proceeds to step 106 to send an estimate of how long the vehicle is expected to remain active or operational on the low voltage secondary battery. Next, at step 108, the method 100 will send an immediate shutdown or delay time T S Next, at decision step 110, the method 100 will wait for the user's response for a time period T. WIf there is no response, the method 100 ends at step 112. If the user responds, decision step 114 determines whether the user responds to cut off the power, and if not, returns to step 104. If the user responds to cut off the power, the method 100 proceeds to step 116 to cut off the power supplied from the battery pack. Next, at decision step 118, the method 100 determines whether the push button switch has been pressed, and if so, the controller and control modules and devices are powered by the approximately 12 volt low voltage secondary battery.

[0050] Therefore, the electric motor vehicle 10 advantageously employs a push button switch 30 electrically coupled between the low-voltage secondary battery and one or more electrically powered modules and devices so that a reserve amount of power within the low-voltage secondary battery can be maintained and utilized when needed. This enables a user to operate certain control modules and devices on the motor vehicle 10 when the battery energy is low without completely depleting all power available from the battery.

[0051] It will be understood that changes and modifications can be made in the foregoing constructions without departing from the concepts of the present disclosure, and it will be further understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the appended claims unless the claims, by their language, expressly state otherwise.

[0052] According to the present invention, an electric vehicle is provided, comprising: an electric motor; a high-voltage primary battery pack configured to power the electric motor; a low-voltage secondary battery configured to power one or more control modules; and a push button switch electrically coupled between the low-voltage secondary battery and the one or more control modules, wherein the secondary battery is controlled to reserve battery energy, and the push button switch is actuatable to allow the one or more control modules to be powered by the secondary battery.

[0053] According to an embodiment, the present invention is further characterized by a controller for controlling the secondary battery to reserve a certain amount of battery energy.

[0054] According to an embodiment, the stored battery energy is less than approximately fifty percent (50%).

[0055] According to an embodiment, the present invention is also characterized by a battery charging port, which is used to receive a battery charging cable connector to recharge the high-voltage battery pack, wherein the push button switch is connected to the battery recharging port so that the push button switch is pressed when the battery charging cable connector of the charger is connected to the battery charging port.

[0056] According to an embodiment, the low-voltage secondary battery comprises at least one approximately 12 volt battery.

[0057] According to an embodiment, the high voltage primary battery pack comprises a primary battery pack of 400 volts or higher.

[0058] According to an embodiment, the push button switch is a momentary push button switch.

[0059] According to an embodiment, the one or more control modules control electric contacts.

[0060] According to an embodiment, the one or more control modules control a vehicle recharging latch.

[0061] According to an embodiment, the one or more control modules control one or more door latches.

[0062] According to the present invention, an electric vehicle is provided, comprising: an electric motor; a high-voltage primary battery pack configured to power the electric motor; a low-voltage secondary battery configured to power one or more control modules; a controller that controls the low-voltage secondary battery to reserve a certain amount of battery energy; a momentary push button switch electrically coupled between the low-voltage secondary battery and the one or more control modules, wherein the battery is controlled to reserve a certain amount of battery energy and the momentary push button switch allows the one or more control modules to be powered; and a battery charging port for receiving a battery charging cable connector to recharge the high-voltage battery pack, wherein the momentary push button switch is connected to the battery recharging charging port so that the momentary push button switch is pressed when the battery charging cable connector of a charger is connected to the battery charging port.

[0063] According to an embodiment, the amount of reserve battery energy is less than fifty percent (50%).

[0064] According to an embodiment, the low-voltage secondary battery comprises at least one approximately 12 volt battery.

[0065] According to an embodiment, the high voltage primary battery pack comprises a primary battery pack of 400 volts or higher.

[0066] According to an embodiment, the one or more control modules control electric contacts.

[0067] According to an embodiment, the one or more control module contacts are for the charging port.

[0068] According to an embodiment, the one or more control modules control one or more door latches.

[0069] According to the present invention, a method for controlling an electric module in an electric vehicle includes: supplying high-voltage power from a primary battery pack to power an electric motor; supplying low-voltage power from a secondary battery to power one or more control modules; detecting the consumption of the high-voltage power; reserving a certain amount of power in the secondary battery when the primary battery pack is exhausted; and reapplying the low-voltage power to the one or more control modules when a push button switch is activated.

[0070] In one aspect of the invention, the push button switch is accommodated by a battery charging cable connector engaging a battery charging port on the vehicle.

[0071] In one aspect of the invention, the push button switch is a momentary push button switch.

Claims

1. An electric vehicle comprising: electric motors; a high-voltage primary battery pack configured to power the electric motor; a low-voltage secondary battery configured to power one or more control modules; and A push button switch is electrically coupled between the low-voltage secondary battery and the one or more control modules, wherein the secondary battery is controlled to reserve battery energy and the push button switch is actuatable to allow the one or more control modules to be powered by the secondary battery. 2 . The electric vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to control the secondary battery to store a certain amount of battery energy.

3. The electric vehicle of claim 2, wherein the stored battery energy is less than approximately fifty percent (50%).

4. The electric vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a battery charging port for receiving a battery charging cable connector to recharge the high-voltage battery pack, wherein the push button switch is connected to the battery recharging port such that the push button switch is pressed when the battery charging cable connector of a charger is connected to the battery charging port.

5. The electric vehicle of claim 1, wherein the low voltage secondary battery comprises at least one approximately 12 volt battery.

6. The electric vehicle of claim 5, wherein the high voltage primary battery pack comprises a 400 volt or higher primary battery pack.

7. The electric vehicle of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the push button switch is a momentary push button switch.

8. The electric vehicle of claim 1, wherein the one or more control modules control electric contacts.

9. The electric vehicle of claim 8, wherein the one or more control modules control a vehicle recharge latch.

10. The electric vehicle of claim 1, wherein the one or more control modules control one or more door latches.

11. A method for controlling an electric module in an electric vehicle, the method comprising: supplying high voltage electricity from the primary battery pack to power the electric motor; supplying low voltage power from a secondary battery to power one or more control modules; detecting consumption of the high voltage power; When the primary battery pack is depleted, a certain amount of power is stored in the secondary battery; and When the push button switch is activated, the low voltage power is reapplied to the one or more control modules.

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