Charging station for mobile platform

Abstract

The application relates to a charging station for a mobile platform, and discloses a battery charging station comprising an electrical system comprising a charging interface, a communication system comprising a wireless interface, and a control system. The control system is configured to receive a charging request to initiate a battery charging operation on a battery system of the mobile platform, establish a wireless communication link with the mobile platform via the wireless interface, and receive state of health data of the battery system from the mobile platform over the wireless communication link via the wireless interface. The control system is further configured to enable charging of the battery system of the mobile platform via the charging interface in response to the state-of-health data satisfying a first condition, and disable charging of the battery system of the mobile platform via the charging interface in response to the state-of-health data satisfying a second condition indicative of a failure of the battery system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The disclosed invention generally relates to a charging station for charging the battery of a mobile platform. Background Technology

[0002] Charging stations can be used to charge batteries located on mobile platforms. For example, electric vehicles and some hybrid electric vehicles have onboard batteries that can be charged using electrical energy supplied from a charging station. In some examples, charging of the mobile platform's battery is achieved by connecting a charging cable between the mobile platform and the charging station. After connecting the charging cable, the charging station can supply electrical energy to the mobile platform. Summary of the Invention

[0003] According to a first example, a battery charging station includes: an electrical system including a charging interface; a communication system including a wireless interface; and a control system operatively coupled to the electrical system and the communication system. The control system of the charging station is configured to receive a charging request initiating a battery charging operation on a mobile platform's battery system, and to establish a wireless communication link with the mobile platform via the wireless interface. The control system is also configured to receive battery system health status data from the mobile platform via the wireless interface and the wireless communication link. In response to the health status data satisfying a first condition, the control system is configured to enable charging of the mobile platform's battery system via the charging interface. In response to the health status data satisfying a second condition indicating a battery system failure, the control system is configured to disable charging of the mobile platform's battery system via the charging interface. The control system may perform one or more additional remedial operations in response to the health status data satisfying the second condition indicating a battery system failure.

[0004] According to a second example, a method executed by a computing system integrated with a control system of a battery charging station includes receiving a charging request to the battery charging station to initiate battery charging operation on a mobile platform's battery system, and establishing a wireless communication link between the battery charging station and the mobile platform via a wireless interface of the battery charging station. The method also includes receiving health status data of the battery system from the mobile platform via the wireless communication link through the wireless interface of the battery charging station. The method further includes enabling charging of the mobile platform's battery system via the charging interface of the battery charging station in response to the health status data satisfying a first condition; and disabling charging of the mobile platform's battery system via the charging interface of the battery charging station in response to the health status data satisfying a second condition indicating a fault in the battery system.

[0005] According to a third example, a computing system for controlling the operation of a battery charging station includes: a logic machine; and a data storage machine storing instructions thereon. The instructions can be executed by the logic machine to: receive a charging request to initiate battery charging operation on a mobile platform's battery system; establish a wireless communication link with the mobile platform via a wireless interface of the battery charging station; receive health status data of the battery system from the mobile platform via the wireless communication link through the wireless interface of the battery charging station; enable charging of the mobile platform's battery system via the charging interface of the battery charging station in response to the health status data satisfying a first condition; and disable charging of the mobile platform's battery system via the charging interface of the battery charging station in response to the health status data satisfying a second condition indicating a battery system fault. Attached Figure Description

[0006] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram depicting a battery charging system that includes a battery charging station.

[0007] Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 It is a flowchart depicting the example method.

[0008] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram depicting an example battery management system used for testing a battery system comprising multiple battery modules.

[0009] Figure 6 It is a description Figure 5 A schematic diagram of additional aspects of the example module interface device.

[0010] Figure 7 and Figure 8 This is a flowchart depicting an example method for testing a battery system that includes multiple battery modules.

[0011] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram depicting an example computing system. Detailed Implementation

[0012] As briefly described above, a battery charging station, a method executed by a computing system integrated with the control system of the battery charging station, and a computing system for controlling the operation of the battery charging station are disclosed. The disclosed battery charging station, method, and computing system can receive health status data from a mobile platform via a wireless communication link. The health status data can indicate the health status of the mobile platform's battery system. Before and during charging operations, the health status data can be evaluated at the charging station or by the charging station to determine whether charging of the mobile platform's battery system by the charging station should be enabled or disabled. If the health status data indicates a failure in the mobile platform's battery system, the charging station can perform one or more remedial operations, including, for example, disabling charging, disconnecting from the mobile platform, alerting emergency services, alerting maintenance services, and activating fire suppression.

[0013] The battery charging station, method, and computing system disclosed herein offer the potential to address various challenges or problems related to charging batteries located on mobile platforms. For example, mobile platforms can take the form of electric or hybrid electric vehicles (such as cars, trucks, buses, aircraft, scooters, and motorcycles). Charging electric and hybrid electric vehicles can lead to overheating or fire / damage events if a fault or failure occurs in the battery system during charging operations. There is a global problem whereby an increasing number of rechargeable vehicles may endanger people and property when high-voltage battery systems short-circuit and progress to thermal runaway conditions. For example, the resulting arcing and fire conditions can be fatally hazardous and cause property damage. Currently, there is no known solution to connect a mobile platform to a charging station in a way that enables the charging station to respond to faults within the mobile platform. The battery charging station, method, and computing system disclosed herein enable the charging station to perform a series of remedial operations in response to a fault detected within the battery system of the mobile platform.

[0014] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram depicting a battery charging system 100 including a battery charging station 110. The battery charging system 100 also includes one or more mobile platforms containing onboard batteries that can be charged by the charging station 110. Figure 1 An example mobile platform 112 is depicted. For example, the mobile platform 112 may take the form of a vehicle. However, the mobile platform 112 may take the form of other machines or equipment.

[0015] The battery charging system 100 also includes Figure 1 The diagram schematically depicts one or more communication networks 114, power supply infrastructure 116, emergency service infrastructure 118, maintenance service infrastructure 120, network resources 122, fire suppression systems 124, and user equipment 126.

[0016] Charging station 110 includes an electrical system 130, a communication system 132, and a control system 134. In this example, the electrical system 130 and the communication system 132 are operatively coupled to the control system 134. As described herein, the control system 134 can control the operation of the electrical system 130 and the communication system 132.

[0017] Electrical system 130 includes charging interface 140 through which charging station 110 can supply power to mobile platforms (such as mobile platform 112). Figure 1 Electrical energy 144 is schematically depicted. For example, charging station 110 can supply electrical energy 144 to mobile platform 112 via multi-conductor charging cable 146. In some examples, charging cable 146 can form part of charging interface 140. In other examples, charging cable 146 can be connected to charging interface 140 via electrical outlet or other suitable connector.

[0018] Electrical system 130 can receive power from power supply infrastructure 116 Figure 1 Electrical energy 148 is schematically depicted. For example, electrical energy 148 can be supplied to charging station 110 by power supply infrastructure 116 via multi-conductor supply cable 149. In some examples, supply cable 149 can form part of electrical system 130. In other examples, supply cable 149 can be connected to charging interface 140 via power outlet or other suitable connector.

[0019] The electrical system 130 may also include an electrical processing component 142. In at least some examples, electrical energy 148 supplied by the power supply infrastructure 116 may be processed by the electrical processing component 142 to obtain electrical energy 144 in a form suitable for supplying to the mobile platform 112. For example, the electrical processing component 142 processing the electrical energy 148 to obtain electrical energy 144 may include one or more of the following: voltage processing (e.g., increasing, decreasing, buffering, filtering), current processing (e.g., increasing, decreasing, buffering, filtering), alternating current to direct current (AC / DC) conversion, and direct current to direct current (DC / DC) conversion.

[0020] Communication system 132 includes a wireless interface 150 that supports wireless communication with remote devices via a wireless communication link through one or more wireless communication protocols. Additionally or alternatively, communication system 132 includes a wired interface 152 that supports wired communication with remote devices via a physical wired communication link (e.g., copper wire, fiber optic cable, etc.) through one or more wired communication protocols. Charging station 110 can utilize wireless interface 150 and / or wired interface 152 to communicate with mobile platform 112, emergency service infrastructure 118, maintenance service infrastructure 120, network resources 122, fire suppression system 124, and user equipment 126 via communication network 114.

[0021] The control system 134 is operable to control various aspects of the charging station 110, including the electrical system 130 and the communication system 132. In some examples, the control system 134 may include one or more computing devices forming a computing system. Figure 1 The user interface 154 is schematically depicted. In some examples, the control system 134 may receive user input via the user interface 154. Furthermore, in some examples, the user interface 154 may take the form of a graphical user interface (GUI), which may be displayed via a display device integrated with or surrounding the charging station 110. For example, the control system 134 may provide the user interface 154 to a remote device (e.g., user equipment 126 or mobile platform 112) via a wireless interface 150 or a wired interface 152 through a communication network 114.

[0022] Mobile platform 112 includes a battery system 160 comprising one or more batteries. Mobile platform 112 also includes a charging interface 162 through which the mobile platform can receive electrical energy 144 supplied by charging station 110 to charge the batteries in battery system 160. Mobile platform 112 may also include a battery management system 164 that controls the operation of battery system 160 and charging interface 162. Mobile platform 112 may also include a communication system 168 that supports wireless communication with other devices via communication network 114. Mobile platform 112 may also include a platform management system 166 that controls the operation of the mobile platform and its various components (including components not controlled by battery management system 164). Battery management system 164 and platform management system 166 may together form control system 167 of mobile platform 112.

[0023] Emergency service infrastructure 118 may include equipment used by emergency services such as fire, ambulance, and police services to receive and respond to emergency service messages, including requests for emergency services. For example, charging station 110 may send emergency service messages to emergency service infrastructure 118 via communication system 132 through wireless and / or wireless communication links of communication network 114. In some examples, emergency service infrastructure 118 may be located off-site, away from charging station 110.

[0024] Maintenance service infrastructure 120 may include equipment utilized by maintenance services to receive and respond to maintenance service messages, including requests for maintenance services. For example, charging station 110 may send maintenance service messages to maintenance service infrastructure 120 via communication system 132 through wireless and / or wireless communication links of communication network 114. In some examples, maintenance service infrastructure 120 may be located off-site, away from charging station 110.

[0025] Network resource 122 may include one or more server systems, examples of which are shown in Figure 1 It is described as server system 170. Figure 1 In the example, server system 170 has one or more computer-executable programs 172 and other data 174 stored thereon. In some examples, network resources 122, including example server system 170, can facilitate communication between charging station 110 and mobile platforms and user equipment (including...). Figure 1 Communication between the charging station 110 and the mobile platform 112 and / or user equipment 126 is an example. For instance, the control system 134 of the charging station 110 may request and receive one or more programs stored in program 172 at the server system 170. In this example, the control system 134 may execute the program received from the server system 170 as part of communicating with and interpreting data from the mobile platform 112 and / or user equipment 126. Additionally or alternatively, in some examples, communication between the charging station 110 and the mobile platform 112 and / or user equipment 126 may traverse the server system 170. In some examples, network resources 122 including the server system 170 may be located off-site, away from the charging station 110.

[0026] Fire suppression system 124 may include one or more devices operable to provide a fire suppression response 176 to a target area. Fire suppression response 176 may include a dispensed extinguishing agent, such as water, other suitable liquids, or gases. The target area for the fire suppression response may include an area near charging station 110 occupied by mobile platform 112 during charging operation of battery system 160. Control system 134 may communicate with fire suppression system 124 via communication network 114 through wireless interface 150 or wired interface 152 to request fire suppression response 176.

[0027] User equipment 126 may take the form of a mobile computing device (e.g., a smartphone or handheld computer) that can be operated by a user associated with mobile platform 112. In some examples, user equipment 126 may be user-operable to communicate with some or all of the control system 134 of charging station 110, mobile platform 112, and network resources 122 (including server system 170). For example, a user may operate user equipment 126 to initiate and control various aspects of the charging operation provided by charging station 110 to mobile platform 112. Furthermore, in some examples, user equipment 126 may serve as a user interface for control system 134.

[0028] Communication network 114 may include one or more personal area networks (PANs), one or more local area networks (LANs), and one or more wide area networks (WANs) (e.g., cellular networks and / or the Internet), as well as associated network devices that facilitate network communication. Communication network 114 may include one or more wireless communication networks that support communication via one or more wireless communication links using one or more wireless communication protocols. Communication network 114 may include one or more wired communication networks that support communication via one or more wired communication links using one or more wired communication protocols.

[0029] As an example, charging station 110 may utilize wireless interface 150 to wirelessly communicate with mobile platform 112 (and similarly with user equipment 126) via wireless communication link 180 through a wireless personal area network utilizing the Bluetooth™ wireless communication protocol, a wireless local area network utilizing the Wi-Fi™ wireless communication protocol, or a wireless wide area network utilizing a cellular wireless communication protocol (e.g., 4G / LTE). As another example, charging station 110 may utilize communication system 132 to communicate with fire suppression system 124 via a wireless or wired communication link through communication network 114. As an additional example, charging station 110 may utilize communication system 132 to communicate with emergency service infrastructure 118, maintenance service infrastructure 120, and network resources 122 (including server system 170) via wireless and / or wired wide area networks through communication network 114.

[0030] Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 This is a flowchart depicting example method 200. For example, method 200 can be... Figure 1 It executes within the context of the battery charging system 100. (See reference...) Figure 2 The process flow 210 of method 200 is executed by the control system 134 of the charging station 110, as previously referred to Figure 1 As described in further detail herein, the control system 134 of the charging station 110 may include a computing system 220 configured to execute process flow 210 of method 200. In this example, the computing system 220 has one or more programs 230 and data 232 stored thereon. The one or more programs 230 may be executed by the computing system 220 of the charging station 110 to execute process flow 210.

[0031] Additionally, process flow 212 of method 200 is executed by the mobile platform, for example by the control system 167 of the mobile platform 112, which includes a battery management system 164 and a platform management system 166, as previously referenced. Figure 1 The control system 167 of the mobile platform 112 includes a computing system 222 on which one or more programs 234 and data 236 are stored. The one or more programs 234 can be executed by the computing system 222 to perform process flow 212.

[0032] At 240 in process flow 210, charging station 110 operates in an idle state. The idle state can correspond to an operating mode of charging station 110 implemented when the charging station is not interacting with a mobile platform (such as mobile platform 112). For example, the idle state can take the form of a power-saving operating mode. When operating in the idle state at 240, charging station 110 can put wireless interface 150 into a listening mode, in which the charging station monitors charging requests from the mobile platform.

[0033] In process flow 210 at 242, charging station 110 receives an operation to initiate battery charging of battery system 160 of mobile platform 112. Figure 3 The charging request 244 (331) is received via the user interface 154 of the charging station 110 (e.g., as user input) or via the communication network 114 of the charging station 110 communication system 132 (e.g., as a message initiated by the mobile platform 112 or user equipment 126). For example, the charging request 244 can be received wirelessly via the wireless interface 150 or wiredly via the wired interface 152. In some examples, the charging request may include or be accompanied by a mobile platform identifier identifying the mobile platform 112.

[0034] In process flow 210 at 246, charging station 110 transitions from an idle state to an active state in response to receiving charging request 244 at 242. The active state may correspond to the operating mode of charging station 110 implemented when the charging station interacts with a mobile platform (such as mobile platform 112). As part of the active state, charging station 110 may be established at process flow 210 at 248. Figure 1 The wireless communication link 180 between the mobile platform 112 and the mobile platform 112.

[0035] As established in 248 Figure 1 As part of the wireless communication link 180, charging station 110 and mobile platform 112 may negotiate the wireless communication link at 250 of process flow 210 and 252 of process flow 212, respectively. For example, negotiating the wireless communication link 180 may include charging station 110 and mobile platform 112 selecting and implementing each other's sets of technical features according to a wireless communication protocol (such as Bluetooth™ or Wi-Fi™). Negotiating the wireless communication link 180 may include charging station 110 exchanging wireless communications with mobile platform 112 via wireless interface 150 through a personal area network or local area network of communication network 114. Furthermore, in some examples, charging station 110 may select a wireless communication protocol from a set of wireless communication protocols supported by both charging station and mobile platform for subsequent wireless communication with mobile platform 112. Alternatively or additionally, mobile platform 112 may select a wireless communication protocol from a set of wireless communication protocols supported by both charging station and mobile platform for subsequent wireless communication with charging station 110.

[0036] At 254, charging station 110 was confirmed. Figure 1 Has the wireless communication link 180 with the mobile platform 112 been successfully established? If the wireless communication link has not been successfully established ( Figure 2 If the value is "No", then the charging station 110 can attempt to establish a wireless communication link with the mobile platform 112 a certain number of times in 256 steps. Figure 2 The threshold value represented by the term "X" can be any suitable value greater than or equal to 1. If the wireless communication link has not been successfully established after the threshold value has been reached, the charging station 110 can remind the maintenance service by sending a message to the maintenance service infrastructure 120 via the communication network 114 through the wireless interface 150 or wired interface 152 of the communication system 132 at 258.

[0037] Successfully established at charging station 110 Figure 1 After the wireless communication link 180 with the mobile platform 112 ( Figure 2In the context of the "Yes" sign, the charging station and the mobile platform can negotiate a health status report via a wireless communication link at 260 of process flow 210 and 262 of process flow 212, respectively. As part of negotiating the health status report at 260, the charging station 110 can determine one or more of the platform type 266 of the mobile platform 112 and the reporting protocol 268 used by the mobile platform to report the health status at 264. For example, the charging station 110 can send a request for platform type 266 and / or reporting protocol 268 to the mobile platform 112 via the wireless communication link, and the mobile platform can respond to the request by sending one or more messages to the charging station via the wireless communication link, indicating the platform type and / or reporting protocol. In the example where the mobile platform 112 provides platform type 266, the charging station 110 can refer to locally stored data 232 or data 236 remotely stored at network resource 122 via communication network 114 to identify the reporting protocol 268 based on platform type 266.

[0038] At 270, charging station 110 identifies a subject program for platform type 266 and / or reporting protocol 268 for mobile platform 112. If the subject program identified at 270 exists in program 230 stored locally at charging station 110, the charging station can execute the subject program at 272. If the subject program identified at 270 does not exist in program 230, the charging station can request and receive the subject program from one or more network resources 122 via wireless interface 150 or wired interface 152 in communication network 114 (e.g., Figure 2 (Program 271 in the network resource 122). The program received from the network resource 122 can be added to program 230 at computing system 220, and can be executed by computing system 220 at 272.

[0039] The subject program executed by computing system 220 at 272 can be used by charging station 110 to request, receive, and interpret health status data reported by mobile platform 112 according to reporting protocol 268. For example, at 274 of process flow 210, charging station 110 can request and receive initial health status data 276 from mobile platform 112 via wireless communication link 180. Initial health status data 276 can be formatted according to reporting protocol 268. In this example, initial health status data 276 can be provided by mobile platform 112 as part of the initial health status reporting process at 278 of process flow 212. As part of the initial health status report at 278, mobile platform 112 can obtain initial health status data 276 at least in part based on measurements from battery system 160 from onboard sensors, and can report the initial health status data to charging station 110 via wireless communication link 180 at 280.

[0040] Initial health status data 276 can indicate the operating conditions of the battery system 160 of the mobile platform 112. For example, the operating conditions of the battery system 160 may include one or more of the following: voltage, current, power, and / or temperature of the battery system or its battery modules (module-specific operating conditions). Reference Figures 5-8 Examples of operating conditions that the mobile platform 112 can measure and report are described in more detail. As another example, initial health status data 276 can indicate a fault in the battery system 160 detected by the mobile platform 112 (e.g., through initial health status data including a fault identifier).

[0041] refer to Figure 3 In process flow 210 at 310, charging station 110 may evaluate initial health status data 276 received from mobile platform 112 via wireless communication link 180. As part of evaluating initial health status data 276 at 310, charging station 110 may determine at 312 whether initial health status data 276 meets first conditions instructing satisfactory operation of battery system 160 of mobile platform 112.

[0042] For example, the computing system 220 of charging station 110 may at 312 compare initial health state data 276 with one or more thresholds to determine whether a first condition is met. In this example, the values ​​of voltage, current, power, and / or temperature of battery system 160 or battery modules of the battery system (specific to module operating conditions) identified by initial health state data 276 may be compared with one or more thresholds defined by program 271 or other programs executed by computing system 220 within program 230. Additionally or alternatively, at 312, charging station 110 may assess the absence of a fault or fault identifier in initial health state data 276 as meeting the first condition. The first condition assessed at 312 may include a combination of two or more thresholds applied to two or more of the following: voltage, current, power, and / or temperature of battery system 160 or battery modules of the battery system, and the assessment of the thresholds may be combined to consider the presence or absence of a fault indicated by initial health state data 276.

[0043] Additionally or alternatively, as part of the evaluation of the initial health status data 276 at 310, the charging station 110 may determine at 314 whether the initial health status data meets a second condition indicating unsatisfactory operation (e.g., malfunction) of the battery system 160 of the mobile platform 112.

[0044] For example, the computing system 220 of charging station 110 may at 314 compare the initial health state data 276 with one or more thresholds to determine whether a second condition is met. In this example, the values ​​of voltage, current, power, and / or temperature of the battery system 160 or its battery modules (specific to module operating conditions) identified by the initial health state data 276 may be compared with one or more thresholds defined by program 271 or other programs executed by computing system 220 within program 230. Additionally or alternatively, at 314, charging station 110 may assess the presence of a fault or fault identifier in the initial health state data 276 as meeting the second condition. The second condition assessed at 314 may include a combination of two or more thresholds applied to two or more of the following: the voltage, current, power, and / or temperature of the battery system 160 or its battery modules, and the thresholds may be combined to consider the presence or absence of a fault indicated by the initial health state data 276.

[0045] In some examples, operations 310, 312, and 314 can be performed by computing system 220 executing a program (e.g., program 271), as described with reference to operation 272. For example, the program executed by computing system 220 can define a first condition and a second condition to be evaluated at 310.

[0046] In process flow 210 at 316, in response to charging request 244, charging station 110 may determine whether to initiate charging of mobile platform 112 based on initial health state data 276. As part of operation 316, charging station 110 may initiate charging of battery system 160 of mobile platform 112 at 318 in response to a first condition being met at 312 and in response to charging request 244. For example, at 319, charging station 110 may establish a charging connection with mobile platform 112 after charging is initiated or as part of initiating charging at 318. As an example, a charging connection with mobile platform 112 may be established by charging station 110 controlling charging interface 140 to connect the electrical conductors of charging cable 146 to electrical system 130. In some examples, by assessing the initial health state of mobile platform 112 before establishing a charging connection, unsatisfactory operation of mobile platform (including unsatisfactory operation of battery system 160) can be limited and not exacerbated by electrical coupling with electrical system 130.

[0047] Furthermore, as part of operation 316, charging station 110 may disable charging of the battery system 160 of mobile platform 112 at 320 in response to the fulfillment of a second condition at 314 (e.g., in the event of a failure of battery system 160). By disabling charging at 320, charging station 110 rejects charging request 244. Since charging has not yet started at 320, disabling charging at 320 may include charging station 110 suppressing the supply of power to mobile platform 112. In some examples, disabling charging of battery system 160 before charging station 110 supplies power to mobile platform 112 can limit unsatisfactory operation of the mobile platform and its battery system without exacerbating problems that might otherwise arise due to the supply of power.

[0048] In at least some examples, in response to the fulfillment of the second condition, charging station 110 may perform one or more additional remedial actions at 322. For example, remedial actions performed at 322 may include charging station 110 alerting emergency services at 324 by sending a message to emergency services infrastructure 118 via communication network 114 through wireless interface 150 or wired interface 152. Additionally or alternatively, remedial actions performed at 322 may include charging station 110 alerting maintenance services at 326 by sending a message to maintenance services infrastructure 120 via communication network 114 through wireless interface 150 or wired interface 152. Additionally or alternatively, remedial actions performed at 322 may include charging station 110 activating fire suppression at 328 by sending a control message to fire suppression system 124 via communication network 114 through wireless interface 150 or wired interface 152.

[0049] When charging is enabled at 318, charging station 110 can perform charging of the battery system 160 of mobile platform 112 at 330 as part of charging operation 331. For example, charging station 110 can supply power to mobile platform 112 at 332. Figure 1 The electrical energy 144 is used to charge the battery system 160 as part of the charging operation 331 performed in 330. Figure 1 In the example, electrical energy 144 can be supplied from charging station 110 to mobile platform 112 via charging interface 140, charging cable 146, and charging interface 162.

[0050] Furthermore, as part of the charging process performed at 330, charging station 110 can monitor the state of charge (SOC) of battery system 160 of mobile platform 112 at 324. At 336 of process flow 212, mobile platform 112 can obtain SOC data 338 indicating the SOC of battery system 160 via wireless communication link 180 and report the SOC data 338 to charging station 110. As a first example, mobile platform 112 can periodically send SOC data 338 to charging station 110 via wireless communication link as part of reporting the SOC at 336. As a second example, as part of the monitoring performed at 334, charging station 110 can periodically request SOC data 338 from mobile platform 112 via wireless communication link, and mobile platform can send SOC data to charging station via wireless communication link in response to each request. As a third example, the mobile platform 112 may report state of charge data 338 to the charging station 110 via a wireless communication link in response to the battery system 160 reaching conditions such as full charge or threshold charge, which may be received by the charging station 110 as part of monitoring performed in 334.

[0051] At 340, charging station 110 can determine whether charging of battery system 160 is complete based on state-of-charge data 338 reported by mobile platform 112. If charging is not complete ( Figure 3 If the answer is "No" in step 334, then the state of charge monitoring can continue, and at step 332, the charging station 110 can continue to supply power to the mobile platform 332 to charge the battery system 160. If charging is complete ( Figure 3 If the "Yes" is selected in process flow 210, charging station 110 can disable charging of mobile platform 112 at 342. At 346 of process flow 210, charging station 110 can initiate the disconnection of electrical coupling with mobile platform 112. For example, charging interface 140 of charging station 110 can be controlled to disconnect the electrical conductors of charging cable 146 from electrical system 130. At 348 of process flow 210, charging station 110 can return to... Figure 2 Operation 240 transitions to an idle state.

[0052] Furthermore, as part of the charging of the mobile platform 112 performed at 330, the charging station 110 can monitor the operational health status of the mobile platform at 344 during the charging process. Figure 4 This includes aspects of method 200 related to the monitoring of the operational health status of the mobile platform 112 during charging by the charging station 110 (as part of operation 344).

[0053] As previously described, the program 271 executed by the computing system 220 of charging station 110 at 272 can be used by the charging station to request, receive, and interpret health status data reported by mobile platform 112. For example, at 410 of process flow 210, during charging at 330, charging station 110 can request and receive operational health status data 412 from mobile platform 112 via wireless communication link 180. Operational health status data 412 can be formatted according to reporting protocol 268.

[0054] Operational health status data 412 can indicate the operating conditions of the battery system 160 of the mobile platform 112. For example, the operating conditions of the battery system 160 may include one or more of the following: the voltage, current, power, and / or temperature of the battery system or its battery modules. (Reference) Figures 5-8 Examples of operating conditions that the mobile platform 112 can measure and report are described in more detail. As another example, operating health status data 412 can indicate a fault in the battery system 160 detected by the mobile platform 112 (e.g., through operating health status data including a fault identifier).

[0055] In this example, operational health status data 412 is provided by mobile platform 112 as part of the operational health status reporting process at 414 of process flow 212. For example, as part of the operational health status report at 414, mobile platform 112 at 416 may obtain operational health status data 412 at least in part based on measurements from the battery system 160 of onboard sensors, and may report the operational health status data to charging station 110 via wireless communication link 180.

[0056] As a first example, mobile platform 112 may periodically send operational health status data 412 to charging station 110 via a wireless communication link as part of operational health status report 414. Charging station 110 may receive and interpret the operational health status data 412 sent by mobile platform 112 via the wireless communication link at 410. As a second example, as part of monitoring performed at 344, charging station 110 may periodically request operational health status data 412 from mobile platform 112 via a wireless communication link during charging, and mobile platform may send operational health status data to charging station via the wireless communication link in response to each request. Charging station 110 may receive and interpret the operational health status data 412 sent by mobile platform 112 in response to the request as part of monitoring performed at 344. As a third example, mobile platform 112 may report operational health status data 412 in response to detecting that a condition is met during charging, which may be received by charging station 110 via the wireless communication link at 410.

[0057] At 418 of process flow 210, charging station 110 may evaluate operational health status data 412 received from mobile platform 112. As part of evaluating operational health status data 412 at 418, charging station 110 may determine at 420 whether the operational health status data meets a first condition indicating satisfactory operation of battery system 160 of mobile platform 112 during charging. The first condition evaluated by charging station 110 at 420 during charging may be the same as or different from the first condition evaluated by charging station 110 at 312 prior to charging mobile platform 112. For example, computing system 220 of charging station 110 may compare operational health status data 412 with one or more thresholds to determine at 420 whether the first condition is met. In this example, the values ​​of voltage, current, power, and / or temperature of battery system 160 or battery modules of battery system (module-specific operating conditions) identified by operational health status data 412 may be compared with one or more thresholds defined by program 271 or other programs executed by computing system 220 within program 230. Additionally or alternatively, at 420, charging station 110 may assess the absence of a fault or fault identifier in operational health status data 412 as meeting a first condition. The first condition assessed at 420 may include a combination of two or more thresholds applied to two or more of the following: voltage, current, power, and / or temperature of battery system 160 or battery modules of the battery system, and the assessment of the thresholds may be combined to consider the presence or absence of a fault indicated by operational health status data 412.

[0058] Additionally or alternatively, as part of evaluating the operational health status data 412 at 418, charging station 110 may determine at 422 whether the operational health status data meets a second condition indicating unsatisfactory operation (e.g., malfunction) of the battery system 160 of mobile platform 112 during charging. The second condition evaluated by charging station 110 at 422 during charging may be the same as or different from the second condition evaluated by charging station at 314 prior to charging mobile platform 112.

[0059] For example, the computing system 220 of charging station 110 can compare the operational health status data 412 with one or more thresholds to determine at 422 whether a second condition is met. In this example, the values ​​of voltage, current, power, and / or temperature of the battery system 160 or its battery modules (module-specific operating conditions) identified by the operational health status data 412 can be compared with one or more thresholds defined by program 271 or other programs executed by computing system 220 within program 230. Additionally or alternatively, at 422, charging station 110 can assess the presence of a fault or fault identifier in the operational health status data 412 as meeting the second condition. The second condition assessed at 422 may include a combination of two or more thresholds applied to two or more of the following: the voltage, current, power, and / or temperature of the battery system 160 or its battery modules, and the thresholds may be combined to consider the presence or absence of a fault indicated by the operational health status data 412.

[0060] In some examples, operations 418, 420, and 422 can be performed by executing program 271 through the computing system 220 of charging station 110, as described with reference to operation 272. For example, program 271 can define a first condition and a second condition evaluated in 418.

[0061] In process flow 210 at 424, charging station 110 determines whether to continue charging mobile platform 112 based on operational health status data 412. As part of operation 424, charging station 110 may, at 426, allow charging of mobile platform 112's battery system 160 to continue in response to a first condition being met at 420. Furthermore, as part of operation 424, charging station 110 may, at 428, disable charging of mobile platform 112's battery system 160 in response to a second condition being met at 422, thereby stopping charging of the mobile platform.

[0062] In some examples, in response to the second condition being met at 422, charging station 110 may perform one or more additional remedial operations at 430. For example, the remedial operation performed at 430 may include charging station 110 initiating a disconnection of its electrical coupling with mobile platform 112 at 432. For example, charging interface 140 of charging station 110 may be controlled to disconnect the electrical conductors of charging cable 146 from electrical system 130. After disconnection at 432, charging station 110 may transition to an idle state, as previously described in [previous examples]. Figure 3As described in 348. Additionally or alternatively, remedial operations performed at 430 may include the charging station 110 alerting emergency services at 434 by sending a message to emergency service infrastructure 118 via communication network 114 through wireless interface 150 or wired interface 152. Additionally or alternatively, remedial operations performed at 430 may include the charging station 110 alerting maintenance services at 436 by sending a message to maintenance service infrastructure 120 via communication network 114 through wireless interface 150 or wired interface 152. Additionally or alternatively, remedial operations performed at 430 may include the charging station 110 activating fire suppression at 438 by sending a control message to fire suppression system 124 via communication network 114 through wireless interface 150 or wired interface 152.

[0063] Charging station 110 can perform operations 410, 418, and 424 continuously or periodically, as... Figure 4 Part of the circuit 440 schematically depicted in the diagram. For example, as Figure 3 As part of operation 330, charging station 110 can monitor the operating status during charging at 344, and at the same time monitor the state of charge at 334.

[0064] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram depicting an example battery management system 500 used for testing a battery system comprising multiple battery modules. The battery management system 500 is... Figure 1 An example of the battery management system 164 of the mobile platform 112. Figure 5 In the example, the battery system 510 includes at least a first battery module 512-1 and a second battery module 512-2. The battery system 510 may also include one or more additional battery modules, which... Figure 5 Described as battery module 512-N, where "N" can be any suitable number of battery modules. Battery system 510 is... Figure 1 An example of the battery system 160 of the mobile platform 112. It should be understood that the battery system 160 and battery management system 164 of the mobile platform 112 may have the same characteristics as those in the reference... Figure 5 The examples described have different configurations.

[0065] Each battery module of the battery system 510 includes a set of battery cells 514, which includes one or more battery cells, an example of which is depicted as battery cell 516. In at least some examples, each battery module may include any suitable number of multiple battery cells (e.g., including dozens, hundreds or more battery cells).

[0066] Multiple battery modules of the battery system 510 can be arranged relative to the electrical load 530 in series, parallel, or a combination of series and parallel configurations. Figure 5In the depicted example, battery modules 512-1 and 512-2 through 512-N are arranged in series to form battery pack 518-1. Battery system 510 may include multiple battery packs arranged in parallel with respect to electrical load 530, wherein each battery pack includes one or more battery modules. For example, in Figure 5 The diagram depicts battery packs 518-2 to 518-M, where "M" can be any suitable number of battery packs. In another example, battery modules 512-2 to 512-N can be included in different battery packs arranged in parallel with battery pack 518-1, which includes at least battery module 512-2. For example, battery module 512-2 can form part of battery pack 518-2, and battery pack 512-N can form part of battery pack 518-M. Therefore, it should be understood that the multiple battery modules of battery system 510 can include any suitable arrangement of battery modules relative to electrical load 530.

[0067] The battery management system 500 includes a controller device 520 and a plurality of module interface devices 522-1 to 522-N, which are operatively coupled to the controller device via electrical connections 524-1 to 524-N, respectively. For example, the controller device 520 may form Figure 2 It is part of the computing system 222.

[0068] For each of the multiple battery modules in the battery system 510, a corresponding module interface device among the multiple module interface devices 522-1 to 512-N of the battery management system 500 is operatively coupled to or configured to be operatively coupled to the anode and cathode terminals of that battery module, as referenced. Figure 6 This is described in further detail. Therefore, the battery management system 500 may include a module interface device for each battery module of the battery system 510. Figure 5 In the example, the battery management system 500 includes a first module interface device 522-1 operably coupled to the anode and cathode terminals of battery module 512-1, and a second module interface device 522-2 operably coupled to the anode and cathode terminals of battery module 512-2. For each additional battery module of the battery system 510 represented by battery modules 512-N, the battery management system 510 includes an additional module interface device represented by module interface devices 522-N.

[0069] For reference Figure 6In further detail, each module interface device 522-1 to 522-N of the battery management system 500 includes measurement circuitry and switching circuitry. The measurement circuitry of each module interface device can be used by the controller device 520 to independently measure one or more operating conditions of the battery module operatively coupled to that module interface device. The operating conditions of the battery module are referred to herein as module-specific operating conditions, which can be measured as module-specific measurement results. Examples of module-specific operating conditions that can be measured by the measurement circuitry of the module interface device include the current between the anode and cathode of the battery module or the voltage across the anode and cathode of the battery module.

[0070] Each module interface device's switching circuit can be used by the controller device 520 to connect and disconnect the battery module relative to the electrical load 530. For example, the controller device 520 can independently disconnect the first battery module 512-1 from the electrical load 530 via the switching circuit of the module interface device 522-1, and can independently connect the first battery module 512-1 to the electrical load 530. The controller device 520 can also independently measure one or more operating conditions of the first battery module 512-1 via the measurement circuit of the module interface device 522-1. As another example, the controller device 520 can independently disconnect the second battery module 512-2 from the electrical load 530 via the switching circuit of the module interface device 522-2, and can also independently connect the second battery module 512-2 to the electrical load 530. The controller device 520 can also independently measure one or more operating conditions of the second battery module 512-2 via the measurement circuit of the module interface device 522-2.

[0071] In at least some examples, the electrical load 530 takes the form of a test electrical load that forms part of the battery management system 500. In these examples, the electrical load 530 as a test load can be used to perform a test process relative to the battery system 510 before interfacing the battery system with another system or device that will be powered by the battery system. In other examples, the electrical load 530 can form part of another system or device that will be powered by the battery system 510 during the operation phase or state of that system or device. The test process described herein can be performed as part of a test phase that is performed before, during, or after the operation phase or state of the system or device utilizing the battery system 510 as an electrical energy source.

[0072] The battery management system 500 may also include a load measurement circuit 532 and a relay device 534, which can be used by the controller device 520 to measure operating conditions of the electrical load 530 across the power delivery circuit 536. These operating conditions are referred to herein as load-specific operating conditions and can be measured as load-specific measurements. For example, one or more load-specific operating conditions may include the voltage and / or current between the high and low sides of the electrical load.

[0073] Figure 5 The schematically depicted power delivery circuit 536 includes various electrical paths that operatively couple an electrical load 530 to a plurality of module interface devices 522-1 to 522-N for delivering or transmitting power, which in turn are operatively coupled to a plurality of battery modules 512-1 to 512-N according to any suitable series and / or parallel configuration. The power delivery circuit 536 can be electrically coupled to... Figure 1 The charging interface 162 is used to distribute electrical energy 144 to the battery modules of the battery system 510 via a corresponding module interface device. The relay device 534 can be used by the controller device 520 in conjunction with the load measurement circuit 532 to measure operating conditions across the electrical load 530 (e.g., by controlling the relay device 534 to connect or disconnect the load measurement circuit 532 to the power delivery circuits 536 on the high and low sides of the electrical load 530). Figure 5 In this configuration, electrical pathways 542 and 544 operatively couple the controller device 520 to the load measurement circuit 532 and the relay device 534, respectively.

[0074] Figure 6 It is a description Figure 5 A schematic diagram of an additional aspect of the module interface device is described with reference to the module interface device 522-1 operatively coupled to the battery module 512-1. Although Figure 6 The module interface device 522-1 and battery module 512-1 are used to describe Figure 5 Additional aspects of the module interface devices, but each module interface device of the battery management system 500 (including module interface devices 522-2 to 522-N) can have the same as... Figure 6 The module interface device 522-1 has the same configuration and components. Similarly, it is operatively coupled to... Figure 5 Each battery module (including battery modules 512-2 to 512-N) of the battery management system 500 can have the same characteristics as... Figure 6The battery module 512-1 has the same or similar configuration and components. However, in at least some examples, the battery module may have different numbers and / or performance ratings (e.g., voltage and / or current) of battery cells in some or all of the battery modules 512-1 and 512-2 to 512-N.

[0075] exist Figure 6 In the battery module 512-1, there are a cathode terminal 610 and an anode terminal 612. Figure 5 Each battery module (including battery modules 512-2 to 512-N) of the battery system 510 similarly includes a cathode terminal and an anode terminal.

[0076] Module interface device 522-1 includes a module-side cathode interface 620, through which the module interface device is operatively coupled or configured to be operatively coupled to the cathode terminal 610 of battery module 512-1. Module interface device 522-1 also includes a module-side anode interface 622, through which the module interface device is operatively coupled or configured to be operatively coupled to the anode terminal 612 of battery module 512-1. Figure 5 Each of the module interface devices 522-2 to 522-N similarly includes an example of a module-side cathode interface 620 and an example of a module-side anode interface 622, through which the module interface device is operatively coupled to or configured to be operatively coupled to the respective cathode and anode terminals of the respective battery module.

[0077] Module interface device 522-1 also includes an electrical load-side cathode interface 630, through which the module interface device is operatively coupled to or configured to be operatively coupled to an electrical load (e.g., ...). Figure 5 The electrical load 530). During the charging operation of the battery system 510, the cathode interface 630 on the electrical load side can be operably coupled to the electrical load side. Figure 1 The module interface device 522-1 includes a charging interface 162 through which electrical energy can be received by the battery module. The module interface device 522-1 also includes an electrical load-side anode interface 632 through which the module interface device is operatively coupled to or configured to be operatively coupled to an electrical load (e.g., ...). Figure 5 The electrical load 530). During the charging operation of the battery system 510, the electrical load-side anode interface 632 can be operably coupled to the electrical load side. Figure 1 The charging interface 162 allows the battery module to receive electrical energy. Figure 5 Each of the module interface devices 522-2 to 522-N similarly includes an instance of a load-side cathode interface 630 and an instance of a load-side cathode interface 632, through which the module interface device is operatively coupled to or configured to be operatively coupled to an electrical load.

[0078] Module interface device 522-1 also includes measurement circuit 640 and switching circuit 650, examples of which are shown below. Figure 4 To describe in more detail. As described in more detail in this article, Figure 5 Each of the module interface devices 522-2 to 522-N similarly includes an instance of measurement circuit 640 and switching circuit 650.

[0079] The measurement circuit 640 of each module interface device can be derived from... Figure 5 The controller device 520 operates to independently measure one or more module-specific operating conditions of the battery module (to which the module interface device is operatively coupled) to obtain one or more module-specific measurement results. For example, the measurement circuit 640 of the module interface device 522-1 may be... Figure 5 The controller device 520 operates to independently measure one or more module-specific operating conditions of the battery module 512-1. Examples of module-specific operating conditions include the voltage between or across the cathode terminal 610 and anode terminal 612, in which case the module-specific measurement result can be in the form of a voltage value. Another example of module-specific operating conditions includes the current between or across the cathode terminal 610 and anode terminal 612, in which case the module-specific measurement result can be in the form of a current value. The controller device 520 can control the measurement circuit 640 and can be... Figure 5 One or more of the electrical connections 524-1 receive module-specific measurement results from the measurement circuit. An example of this electrical connection 524-1 is shown in... Figure 6 The diagram schematically depicts electrical connections 642 and 644. The controller device 520 can similarly be connected via... Figure 6 Electrical connections 524-2 to 524-N, or one or more of them, are used to control and receive module-specific measurement results from instances of measurement circuits 640 from other module interface devices 522-2 to 522-N.

[0080] In some examples, each module interface device may include a temperature sensor 624, such as Figure 6 The reference module interface device 522-1 is schematically depicted. The measurement circuit 640 can use the temperature sensor 624 to measure the temperature of the battery module (as a module-specific measurement result) or the battery system. The temperature measurement result obtained by the temperature sensor 624 can be transmitted by the controller device 520 via... Figure 5 Electrical connection 524-1 or one or more receivers, as referenced Figure 6The electrical connection 646 is shown in the diagram. The controller device 520 can similarly be connected via... Figure 6 One or more of the electrical connections 524-2 to 524-N receive module-specific temperature measurements from instances of measurement circuits 640 of other module interface devices 522-2 to 522-N. The temperature measured by temperature sensor 624 can be used to determine whether a fault exists at the battery module or within the battery system. For example, a temperature exceeding a temperature threshold can be identified as a fault.

[0081] The switching circuit 650 of each module interface device can be... Figure 5 The controller device 520 is operated to independently connect and disconnect the battery module relative to an electrical load. The module interface device is operatively coupled to the cathode and anode terminals of the battery module. For example, the switching circuit 650 of the module interface device 522-1 can be operated by the controller device 520 to independently connect and disconnect the battery module relative to an electrical load. Figure 5 The electrical load 530 independently connects the battery module 512-1 from an off state to a connected state. In this example, the switching circuit 650 can independently connect the battery module to the electrical load by establishing an electrical connection between the cathode terminal 610 of the battery module and the load-side cathode interface 630 of the module interface device, and by establishing an electrical connection between the anode terminal 612 of the battery module and the load-side anode interface 632 of the module interface device. As another example, the switching circuit 650 of the module interface device 522-1 can be operated by the controller device 520 to... Figure 5 The electrical load 530 independently disconnects the battery module 512-1 from a connected state to an disconnected state. In this example, the switching circuit 650 can independently disconnect the battery module from the electrical load by decoupling the electrical connection between the cathode terminal 610 of the battery module and the load-side cathode interface 630 of the module interface device, and by decoupling the electrical connection between the anode terminal 612 of the battery module and the load-side anode interface 632 of the module interface device. The controller device 520 can be connected via... Figure 5 One or more of the electrical connections 524-1 are used to control the switching circuit 650 of the module interface device 522-1. An example of the electrical connection 524-1 is shown in... Figure 6 The diagram schematically depicts electrical connections 652 and 654. The controller device 520 can similarly be connected via... Figure 6 An example of a switching circuit 650 for controlling one or more of the electrical connections 524-2 to 524-N to control other module interface devices 522-2 to 522-N.

[0082] Figure 7 and Figure 8 This is a flowchart depicting an example method 700 for testing a battery system comprising multiple battery modules. Figure 5 The battery system 510 is an example of a battery system that can be tested by performing method 700. For example, method 700 for testing the battery system can be performed via... Figure 5 The battery management system 500 is executed, including a controller device 520 and, for each of a plurality of battery modules, a corresponding module interface device operatively coupled to the anode and cathode terminals of that battery module. For example, various operations of method 700 and methods for testing the battery system can be performed by… Figure 5 The controller device 520 executes.

[0083] refer to Figure 7 In 710, the method includes receiving control input for initiating and executing a test process. For example, a user may provide control input via a user interface, which is received by the controller device of the battery management system. The test process may be initiated and executed by the controller device in response to the control input.

[0084] At 712, the method includes performing a test procedure 702 relative to the battery system. As previously described, the test procedure 702 can be performed at the controller device of the battery management system (e.g., Figure 5 (510) or executed by the controller device.

[0085] In 714, the method includes independently disconnecting each of a plurality of battery modules from a connected state to an disconnected state relative to an electrical load via a switching circuit of a module interface device, the switching circuit being operatively coupled to the cathode and anode terminals of the battery module. For example, the switching circuit may refer to... Figure 6 The switching circuit is 650.

[0086] In 716, the method includes, when multiple battery modules are in a disconnected state, independently measuring one or more module-specific operating conditions for each of the multiple battery modules via a measurement circuit of a module interface device, the measurement circuit being operatively coupled to the cathode and anode terminals of the battery module to obtain one or more module-specific measurement results for each module-specific operating condition. For example, the measurement circuit may refer to... Figure 6 Measurement circuit 640. Module-specific measurements obtained for a battery module in an open state can be referred to as open module-specific measurements. Examples of module-specific operating conditions include voltages and currents measured between or across the cathode and anode terminals of the battery module. In at least some examples, one or more module-specific measurements obtained at 716 for each battery module in a connected state may include multiple measurements obtained over a period of time for the operating conditions of one or more module-specific modules(s).

[0087] At 718, the method includes measuring one or more load-specific operating conditions across an electrical load while each (all) of the plurality of battery modules is in an off state, to obtain one or more load-specific measurements for each load-specific operating condition. The load-specific measurements obtained while the plurality of battery modules are in an off state may be referred to as off-load-specific measurements. Examples of load-specific operating conditions include voltage and current measured across an electrical load. In at least some examples, the one or more load-specific measurements obtained at 718 while the plurality of battery modules are in an off state may include multiple measurements obtained over a period of time for one or more load-specific operating conditions.

[0088] As part of operation 718, the method in 720 may also include a relay device for controlling the battery management system (e.g., Figure 5 (534), to measure load-specific operating conditions. For example, a relay device can be controlled by a controller device to operatively couple a load measurement circuit (e.g., Figure 5 532) and / or test load (e.g. Figure 5 (530), as part of the testing process.

[0089] At 722, the method includes performing module-specific tests on multiple battery modules of the battery system. As part of the module-specific tests performed at 722, each of the multiple battery modules can be connected independently for testing relative to an electrical load, while the remaining battery modules are disconnected. The battery module on which the module-specific tests are performed at 722 can be referred to as the subject battery module. As described later, operations 724-734 can be performed for each subject battery module as part of the module-specific tests performed at 722.

[0090] At 724, the method includes, for each of a plurality of battery modules, independently connecting the battery module from an off state to a connected state relative to an electrical load via a switching circuit of a module interface device, while the remaining battery modules of the plurality of battery modules are in an off state, the switching circuit being operatively coupled to the cathode and anode terminals of the battery module. For example, a controller device may command the switching circuit of the module interface of the main battery module to connect the battery module to the electrical load. The battery module connected at 724 while the remaining batteries are in an off state can be referred to as the main battery module.

[0091] At 726, the method includes, for each of a plurality of battery modules, independently measuring one or more module-specific operating conditions of the battery module in a connected state (the measurement circuit being operatively coupled to the cathode and anode terminals of the battery module) via a measurement circuit of a module interface device while the other battery modules are in a disconnected state, to obtain one or more module-specific measurement results. For example, a controller device may obtain one or more module-specific measurement results of each module-specific operating condition of the subject battery module via the measurement circuit. The module-specific measurement results obtained for the subject battery module in a connected state may be referred to as connected module-specific measurement results. As previously described, examples of module-specific operating conditions include current and voltage measured between or across the cathode and anode terminals of the battery module. In at least some examples, the one or more module-specific measurement results obtained at 726 for each battery module in a connected state may include multiple measurement results obtained for the module-specific operating conditions(s) over a period of time.

[0092] At 728, the method includes, for each of a plurality of battery modules in a battery system, measuring one or more load-specific operating conditions across an electrical load while that battery module is in a connected state and the remaining battery modules are in a disconnected state, to obtain one or more load-specific measurements. The load-specific measurements obtained when the battery module is in a connected state may be referred to as connected load-specific measurements. As previously described, examples of load-specific operating conditions include voltage and current measured across an electrical load. As part of operation 728, the method at 730 may include a control relay device (e.g., Figure 5 (534) to measure load-specific operating conditions. For example, a controller device can measure load conditions via a load measurement circuit associated with a relay device (e.g., Figure 5 532) Obtain load-specific measurements as previously described with reference to operation 720. In at least some examples, one or more load-specific measurements obtained at 728 for each battery module in a connected state may include multiple measurements obtained over a period of time for load-specific operating conditions.

[0093] At 732, the method includes disconnecting each of a plurality of battery modules from a connected state to an disconnected state relative to an electrical load. For example, a controller device may disconnect the subject battery module to which module-specific tests are performed at 722 via a switching circuit of a module interface device operably coupled to the subject battery module.

[0094] As schematically depicted in 734, module-specific tests can be performed on each of the multiple battery modules by repeating operations 724-732 on another battery module that is the subject battery module.

[0095] In 736, the method includes processing the measurement results obtained in operations 716, 718, 726, and 728 to determine a set of test results. This set of test results may form part of the data reported by the mobile platform 112 to the charging station 110, as referenced. Figures 2-4 The method described in method 200. For example, the set of test results can form part of the initial health status data 276 and the operational health status data 412.

[0096] At 750, the method may include, for each of a plurality of battery modules, calculating one or more test results based on disconnected, module-specific measurements obtained in operation 716. For example, where the disconnected, module-specific measurements include voltage and current measurements, the test results calculated at 750 may include the power of each battery module in the disconnected state, based on the voltage and current measurements. Additionally or alternatively, the test results calculated at 750 may include the rate of change of the measured voltage, current, or power over time.

[0097] At 752, the method may include, for each of the plurality of battery modules, calculating one or more test results based on connection-specific measurements obtained in operation 726. For example, where the connection-specific measurements include voltage and current measurements, the test results calculated in 752 may include the power of each battery module in the connected state, based on voltage and current measurements obtained when the remaining battery modules are disconnected. Additionally or alternatively, the test results calculated in 752 may include the rate of change of voltage, current, or power measured over time.

[0098] At 754, the method may include calculating one or more test results based on disconnection-specific measurements obtained during operation 718 when multiple battery modules are disconnected. For example, where the disconnection-specific measurements include voltage and current measurements, the test results calculated at 754 may include the power delivered to the load when the multiple battery modules are disconnected, based on the voltage and current measurements. Additionally or alternatively, the test results calculated at 754 may include the rate of change of the measured voltage, current, or power over time.

[0099] At 756, the method may include calculating one or more test results based on connection-specific measurements obtained during operation 728 for each battery module in the connected state while the plurality of battery modules are in the disconnected state. For example, where the connection-specific measurements include voltage and current measurements, the test results calculated at 756 may include the power delivered to the load when the subject battery module is in the connected state, based on the voltage and current measurements. Additionally or alternatively, the test results calculated at 756 may include the rate of change of the measured voltage, current, or power over time.

[0100] At 758, the method may include, for each of a plurality of battery modules, comparing one or more disconnected module-specific measurements obtained at 716 and / or one or more test results calculated at 750 with a module standard to obtain one or more test results. The module standard may define one or more thresholds and / or one or more target values ​​for each module-specific operating condition measured at 716 and / or for each test result calculated at 750. For example, the comparison performed at 758 may include applying one or more thresholds of the module standard at 760 and / or applying one or more target values ​​of the module standard at 762 to one or more disconnected module-specific measurements of each battery module measured at 716 and / or for each test result obtained at 750 to obtain one or more test results for that battery module. One or more thresholds and / or one or more target values ​​may indicate the boundary between acceptable operating ranges or values ​​and unacceptable operating ranges or values. The test results obtained at 758 may include indications of whether the one or more disconnected module-specific measurements obtained at 716 and / or for each battery module obtained at 750 meet the module standard—for example, whether one or more measurements are within or within an acceptable operating range or value.

[0101] At 764, the method may include, for each of a plurality of battery modules, comparing module-specific measurements of one or more connections obtained at 726 and / or one or more test results calculated at 752 with a module standard to obtain one or more test results. For example, the comparison performed at 764 may include applying one or more thresholds of the module standard at 766 and / or applying one or more target values ​​of the module standard at 768 to the module-specific measurements of one or more connections of each battery module measured at 726 and / or the test results obtained at 752 to obtain one or more test results for that battery module. As previously described, one or more thresholds and / or one or more target values ​​may indicate the boundary between acceptable operating ranges or values ​​and unacceptable operating ranges or values. The test results obtained at 764 may include indications of whether the module-specific measurements of one or more connections obtained at 726 and / or the test results obtained at 752 for each battery module meet the module standard—for example, whether one or more measurements are within or within an acceptable operating range or value.

[0102] At 770, the method may include comparing one or more disconnected load-specific measurements obtained at 718 and / or one or more test results calculated at 754 with a load criterion to obtain one or more test results. The load criterion may define one or more thresholds and / or one or more target values ​​for each load-specific operating condition measured at 718 and / or for each test result calculated at 754. For example, the comparison performed at 770 may include applying one or more thresholds of the load criterion at 772 and / or applying one or more target values ​​of the load criterion at 774 to the one or more disconnected load-specific measurements measured at 718 and / or for each test result calculated at 754 to obtain one or more test results. The one or more thresholds and / or one or more target values ​​may indicate the boundary between acceptable and unacceptable operating ranges or values, thereby indicating the presence of a fault. The test results obtained at 770 may include whether the one or more disconnected load-specific measurements obtained at 718 and / or the test results obtained at 754 meet the indications of the load criterion—for example, whether one or more measurements are within or outside an acceptable operating range or value (indicating the presence of a fault).

[0103] At 776, the method may include, for each battery module in a connected state, comparing one or more connection-specific load measurements obtained at 728 and / or one or more test results calculated at 756 with a load criterion while the remaining battery modules are in a disconnected state, to obtain one or more test results. As previously described, the load criterion may define one or more thresholds and / or one or more target values ​​for each load-specific operating condition measured at 728 and / or for each test result calculated at 756. For example, the comparison performed at 776 may include applying one or more thresholds of the load criterion at 778 and / or applying one or more target values ​​of the load criterion at 780 to the one or more connection-specific load measurements measured at 728 and / or for each test result calculated at 756 to obtain one or more test results. As previously described, one or more thresholds and / or one or more target values ​​may indicate the boundary between acceptable operating ranges or values ​​and unacceptable operating ranges or values, thereby indicating the presence of a fault. The test results obtained at 776 may include load-specific measurements of one or more connections obtained at 728 and / or an indication of whether the test results obtained at 756 meet load criteria—for example, whether one or more measurements are within or within an acceptable operating range or value (indicating the presence of a fault).

[0104] Refer again Figure 7At 738, the method includes outputting and / or storing the set of test results, which includes and / or is based on one or more of the measurement results obtained by method 700 (including some or all of the test results determined in operation 736). For example, the set of test results may include the measurement results obtained in methods 716, 718, 726, and 728 of method 700. Additionally or alternatively, for example, the set of test results output and / or stored in 738 may be based on one or more of the following: (1) module-specific measurements for each of the multiple battery modules obtained when the battery module is connected and the remaining battery modules are disconnected (connected module-specific measurements), (2) load-specific measurements for each of the multiple battery modules obtained when the battery module is connected and the remaining battery modules are disconnected (connected load-specific measurements), (3) load-specific measurements for each of the multiple battery modules obtained when each of the multiple battery modules is disconnected (disconnected load-specific measurements), and (4) module-specific measurements for each of the multiple battery modules obtained when each of the multiple battery modules is disconnected (disconnected module-specific measurements). In at least some examples, the set of test results output in 738 may be included in the initial health status data 276 and operational health status data 412 reported to the charging station or other remote equipment, as previously referenced. Figures 2-4 As stated above.

[0105] Therefore, in an example implementation of method 700, load-specific operating conditions include voltage or current, and load criteria compared to load-specific measurements when disconnected include a target value for zero voltage or zero current. As another example, module criteria include a target value for zero voltage or zero current when disconnected from the load, and the set of test results indicates whether module-specific measurements are zero voltage or zero current. As another example, the set of test results includes an indication, for each battery module in the set, whether a module-specific measurement obtained for that battery module matches a load-specific measurement obtained when that battery module is connected and the remaining battery modules are disconnected. For example, the set of test results includes an indication of whether the current or voltage of the battery module is within an acceptable operating range as defined by one or more thresholds. As another example, the set of test results includes an indication of whether the rate of change of the current or voltage of the battery module is within an acceptable operating range as defined by one or more thresholds.

[0106] In some examples, the methods, processes, and operations described herein may be associated with a computing system of one or more computing devices. In particular, such methods, processes, and operations may be implemented as computer programs, computer applications or services, application programming interfaces (APIs), libraries, and / or other computer program products.

[0107] Figure 9 An example of a computing system 900 that can implement the methods, processes, and operations described herein is illustrated. Figure 9 The computing system 900 is shown in a simplified form. The computing system 220 of the charging station 110 and the computing system 222 of the mobile platform 112 are each... Figure 9 An example of a computing system 900.

[0108] The computing system 900 includes a logic machine 910 and a memory machine 912. The computing system 900 may also include an input / output subsystem 914, through which the computing system can communicate with other devices.

[0109] The logic machine 910 includes one or more physical devices configured to execute instructions. For example, the logic machine can be configured to execute instructions as part of one or more applications, services, programs, routines, libraries, objects, components, data structures, or other logical constructs. Such instructions can be implemented to perform tasks, implement data types, transition the state of one or more components, achieve technical effects, or otherwise achieve desired results.

[0110] The logic machine may include one or more processors configured to execute software instructions, such as instructions 920 stored in memory 912. Additionally or alternatively, the logic machine may include one or more hardware or firmware logic machines configured to execute hardware or firmware instructions, such as instructions 920 stored in memory 912. The logic machine's processor may be single-core or multi-core, and the instructions executed thereon may be configured for sequential, parallel, and / or distributed processing. Individual components of the logic machine may optionally be distributed across two or more separate devices that may be remotely located and / or configured for coordinated processing. Aspects of the logic machine may be virtualized and executed by remotely accessible networked computing devices configured in a cloud computing configuration.

[0111] The storage device 912 includes one or more physical devices configured to store instructions, such as instruction 920 and other data 922, which can be executed by a logic machine to implement the methods, procedures, and operations described herein. When these methods, procedures, and operations are implemented, the state of the storage device 912 can be changed—for example, to store different data. Figure 2 Programs 230, 234, and 271 are Figure 9Example of instruction 920. Figure 2 Data 232 and 236 are Figure 9 Example of data 922.

[0112] Storage unit 912 may include removable and / or built-in devices. Storage unit 912 may include optical memory, semiconductor memory (e.g., RAM, EPROM, EEPROM, etc.) and / or magnetic memory (e.g., hard disk drive, floppy disk drive, tape drive, MRAM, etc.), etc. Storage unit 912 may include volatile, non-volatile, dynamic, static, read / write, read-only, random access, sequential access, location-addressable, file-addressable, and / or content-addressable devices.

[0113] It should be understood that the memory 912 includes one or more physical devices. However, aspects of the instructions described herein may alternatively be propagated via a communication medium (e.g., electromagnetic signals, optical signals, etc.) that is not stored by the physical device for a limited time.

[0114] Various aspects of the logic machine 910 and the memory machine 912 can be integrated together into one or more hardware logic components. For example, such hardware logic components may include field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), program-specific and application-specific integrated circuits (PASIC / ASIC), program-specific and application-specific standard products (PSSP / ASSP), system-on-a-chip (SOC), and complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs).

[0115] The terms "module," "program," and "engine" can be used to describe aspects of a computing system 900 implemented to perform specific functions. In some cases, a module, program, or engine can be instantiated by executing instructions stored in memory 912 via logic machine 910. It should be understood that different modules, programs, and / or engines can be instantiated from the same application, service, code block, object, library, routine, API, function, etc. Similarly, the same module, program, and / or engine can be instantiated by different applications, services, code blocks, objects, routines, APIs, functions, etc. The terms "module," "program," and "engine" can include individual or groups of executable files, data files, libraries, drivers, scripts, database records, etc.

[0116] In some examples, the input / output subsystem 914 may include a display subsystem. When included, the display subsystem can be used to present a visual representation of the instructions 920 and / or data 922 stored by the memory 912. This visual representation may take the form of a graphical user interface (GUI). As the methods and processes described herein change the data stored in the memory, and thus change the state of the memory, the state of the display subsystem can also be translated into a visual representation of the changes in the underlying data. The display subsystem may include one or more display devices utilizing virtually any type of technology. Such display devices may be combined with the logic machine 910 and / or the memory 912 in a shared enclosure, or such display devices may be peripheral display devices.

[0117] In addition, this disclosure includes configurations based on the following examples.

[0118] Example 1. A battery charging station includes: an electrical system including a charging interface; a communication system including a wireless interface; and a control system operatively coupled to the electrical system and the communication system; wherein the control system is configured to: receive a charging request initiating a battery charging operation on a battery system of a mobile platform; establish a wireless communication link with the mobile platform via the wireless interface; receive health status data of the battery system from the mobile platform via the wireless communication link through the wireless interface; enable charging of the battery system of the mobile platform via the charging interface in response to the health status data satisfying a first condition; and disable charging of the battery system of the mobile platform via the charging interface in response to the health status data satisfying a second condition indicating a fault in the battery system.

[0119] Example 2. The battery charging station according to Example 1, wherein the control system is further configured to perform additional remedial operations in response to the health status data satisfying the second condition indicating the failure of the battery system.

[0120] Example 3. The battery charging station according to Example 2, wherein the additional remedial action includes sending a message to emergency service infrastructure via a communication network.

[0121] Example 4. The battery charging station according to Example 2, wherein the additional remedial action includes sending a message to the maintenance service infrastructure via a communication network.

[0122] Example 5. The battery charging station according to Example 2, wherein the additional remedial action includes activating the fire suppression system.

[0123] Example 6. A battery charging station according to any one of Examples 1-5, wherein the health status data of the battery system includes initial health status data received before initiating charging of the battery system of the mobile platform via the charging interface; and wherein the control system is configured to enable charging of the battery system of the mobile platform via the charging interface by initiating charging of the battery system in response to the charging request in response to the initial health status data satisfying the first condition.

[0124] Example 7. A battery charging station according to Example 6, wherein the control system is configured to disable charging of the battery system of the mobile platform via the charging interface in response to the initial health state data satisfying the second condition.

[0125] Example 8. A battery charging station according to any one of Examples 1-7, wherein the health status data of the battery system includes operational health status data received when charging the battery system of the mobile platform via the charging interface; and wherein the control system is configured to enable charging of the battery system of the mobile platform via the charging interface by continuing to charge the battery system via the charging interface in response to the operational health status data satisfying the first condition.

[0126] Example 9. A battery charging station according to Example 8, wherein the control system is configured to disable charging of the battery system of the mobile platform via the charging interface by stopping charging of the battery system via the charging interface in response to the operational health status data satisfying the second condition.

[0127] Example 10. A battery charging station according to any one of Examples 1-9, wherein the health status data indicates the operating conditions of the battery system; wherein the operating conditions of the battery system include one or more of the following: the voltage, current, power and / or temperature of the battery system.

[0128] Example 11. A battery charging station according to any one of Examples 1-10, wherein the health status data indicates module-specific operating conditions of the subject battery module of the battery system comprising a plurality of battery modules; wherein the module-specific operating conditions of the battery system include one or more of the following: voltage, current, power and / or temperature of the subject battery module.

[0129] Example 12. A battery charging station according to Example 11, wherein the first condition is a first module-specific condition associated with the subject battery module; and wherein the second condition is a second module-specific condition associated with the subject battery module.

[0130] Example 13. A battery charging station according to any one of Examples 1-12, wherein the control system is further configured to: determine, based on communication data received from the mobile platform via the wireless communication link through the wireless interface, a platform type of the mobile platform and / or one or more protocols associated with the mobile platform's reporting of the health status data; and retrieve and execute a subject program from a plurality of available programs based on the platform type and / or the protocol; wherein the first condition and the second condition are defined by the subject program.

[0131] Example 14. A method executed by a computing system integrated with a control system of a battery charging station, the method comprising: receiving a charging request to the battery charging station initiating a battery charging operation to a battery system of a mobile platform; establishing a wireless communication link between the battery charging station and the mobile platform via a wireless interface of the battery charging station; receiving health status data of the battery system from the mobile platform via the wireless communication link through the wireless interface of the battery charging station; enabling charging of the battery system of the mobile platform via a charging interface of the battery charging station in response to the health status data satisfying a first condition; and disabling charging of the battery system of the mobile platform via the charging interface of the battery charging station in response to the health status data satisfying a second condition indicating a fault in the battery system.

[0132] Example 15. The method according to Example 14 further includes: in response to the health status data satisfying the second condition indicating the failure of the battery system, performing one or more additional remedial actions including: sending a message to an emergency service infrastructure via a communication network; sending a message to a maintenance service infrastructure via a communication network; and / or activating a fire suppression system.

[0133] Example 16. A method according to any one of Examples 14-15, wherein the health status data of the battery system includes initial health status data received before initiating charging of the battery system of the mobile platform via the charging interface; and wherein the method further comprises: enabling charging of the battery system of the mobile platform via the charging interface by initiating charging of the battery system in response to the health status data satisfying a first condition; and disabling charging of the battery system of the mobile platform via the charging interface by rejecting the charging request in response to the health status data satisfying a second condition.

[0134] Example 17. A method according to any one of Examples 14-16, wherein the health status data of the battery system includes operational health status data received when charging the battery system of the mobile platform via the charging interface; and wherein the method further comprises: enabling charging of the battery system of the mobile platform via the charging interface by continuing to charge the battery system via the charging interface in response to the health status data satisfying a first condition; and disabling charging of the battery system of the mobile platform via the charging interface by stopping charging the battery system via the charging interface in response to the health status data satisfying a second condition.

[0135] Example 18. The method according to any one of Examples 14-17, wherein the health status data indicates module-specific operating conditions of a subject battery module in a battery system comprising a plurality of battery modules; wherein the module-specific operating conditions of the battery system include one or more of the following: voltage, current, power, and / or temperature of the subject battery module; wherein the first condition is a first module-specific condition associated with the subject battery module; and wherein the second condition is a second module-specific condition associated with the subject battery module.

[0136] Example 19. The method according to any one of Examples 14-18 further includes: determining, based on communication data received from the mobile platform via the wireless communication link through the wireless interface, a platform type of the mobile platform and / or one or more protocols associated with the mobile platform's reporting of the health status data; and retrieving and executing a subject program from a plurality of available programs based on the platform type and / or the protocol; wherein the first condition and the second condition are defined by the subject program.

[0137] Example 20. A computing system for controlling the operation of a battery charging station, the computing system comprising: a logic machine; and a data storage machine storing instructions executable by the logic machine to: receive a charging request to initiate a battery charging operation on a battery system of a mobile platform; establish a wireless communication link with the mobile platform via a wireless interface of the battery charging station; receive health status data of the battery system from the mobile platform via the wireless communication link through the wireless interface of the battery charging station; enable charging of the battery system of the mobile platform via a charging interface of the battery charging station in response to the health status data satisfying a first condition; and disable charging of the battery system of the mobile platform via the charging interface of the battery charging station in response to the health status data satisfying a second condition indicating a fault in the battery system.

[0138] It should be understood that the configurations and / or methods described herein are exemplary in nature, and these specific embodiments or examples should not be considered in a limiting sense, as many variations are possible. The specific methods, processes, and operations described herein may represent one or more of any number of processing strategies. Therefore, the various actions shown and / or described may be performed in the shown and / or described order, in other orders, in parallel, or omitted. Similarly, the order of the aforementioned processing strategies may be changed.

[0139] The subject matter of this disclosure includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and sub-combinations of the various methods, processes, operations, systems, configurations and other features, functions, actions and properties disclosed herein, as well as any and all equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A battery charging station (110), comprising: An electrical system (130) includes a charging interface (140). A communication system (132) includes a wireless interface (150). as well as A control system (134) operably coupled to the electrical system (130) and the communication system (132); The control system (134) is configured to: Receive a charging request (244) to initiate a battery charging operation (331) on the battery system (160) of the mobile platform (112). A wireless communication link (180) with the mobile platform (112) is established via the wireless interface (150). The health status data (276, 412) of the battery system (160) is received from the mobile platform (112) via the wireless interface (150) and the wireless communication link (180). In response to the health status data (276, 412) satisfying the first condition (318, 426), charging of the battery system (160) of the mobile platform (112) via the charging interface (140) is enabled; and In response to the health status data (276, 412) satisfying a second condition (320, 428) indicating a fault in the battery system (160), charging of the battery system (160) of the mobile platform (112) via the charging interface (140) is disabled.

2. The battery charging station (110) according to claim 1, wherein the control system (134) is further configured to: In response to the health status data (276, 412) satisfying the second condition (320, 428) indicating the fault of the battery system (160), additional remedial operations (324, 326, 328) are performed.

3. The battery charging station (110) according to claim 2, wherein the additional remedial operations (324, 326, 328) include sending a message (324) to the emergency service infrastructure (118) via the communication network (114).

4. The battery charging station (110) according to claim 2, wherein the additional remedial operations (324, 326, 328) include sending a message (326) to the maintenance service infrastructure (120) via the communication network (114).

5. The battery charging station (110) according to claim 2, wherein the additional remedial operation (324, 326, 328) includes activating the fire suppression system (124).

6. The battery charging station (110) according to claim 1, wherein the health status data (276, 412) of the battery system (160) includes initial health status data (276) received before initiating charging of the battery system (160) of the mobile platform (112) via the charging interface (140); and The control system (134) is configured to initiate charging of the battery system (160) via the charging interface (140) in response to the initial health status data (276) satisfying the first conditions (318, 426).

7. The battery charging station (110) according to claim 6, wherein the control system (134) is configured to disable charging of the battery system (160) of the mobile platform (112) via the charging interface (140) in response to the initial health status data (276) satisfying the second condition (320, 428).

8. The battery charging station (110) according to claim 1, wherein the health status data (276, 412) of the battery system (160) includes operational health status data (412) received when the battery system (160) of the mobile platform (112) is charged via the charging interface (140); and The control system (134) is configured to enable charging of the battery system (160) of the mobile platform (112) via the electrical interface (140) in response to the operation health status data (412) satisfying the first condition (318, 426).

9. The battery charging station (110) according to claim 8, wherein the control system (134) is configured to disable charging of the battery system (160) of the mobile platform (112) via the charging interface (140) by stopping charging of the battery system (160) via the charging interface (140) in response to the operation health status data (412) satisfying the second condition (320, 428).

10. The battery charging station (110) according to claim 1, wherein the health status data (276, 412) indicates the operating conditions of the battery system (160); The operating conditions of the battery system (160) include one or more of the following: voltage, current, power and / or temperature of the battery system (160).

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