Auxiliary power output for battery management systems

Abstract

To provide a battery management system with ability for providing auxiliary power source output in addition to a mode for supplying motor power from a rechargeable battery pack with respect to a utility cart having a high-voltage rechargeable battery.SOLUTION: A utility vehicle 12 comprises an energy storage device in the form of a lithium-ion battery pack. The battery pack comprises main power source output useful for driving a high-voltage component such as an electric motor as motive power, and further, one comprises one or more auxiliary power source output useful for supplying electric power to various other components. The auxiliary power source output can be so made as to be low voltage and / or high voltage output, and output of an auxiliary DC / DC converter gradually decreases high voltage of the lithium-ion battery pack to low voltage and is used as auxiliary power source output for supplying some electric power to a motor controller.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention generally relates to a utility cart with a rechargeable battery. and more specifically, but not exclusively, with respect to high voltage rechargeable batteries. This invention relates to a utility cart with a battery. [Background technology]

[0002] Auxiliary plus a mode that allows motor power to be supplied from a rechargeable battery pack The ability to provide power in mains mode is an area of ​​interest. Some existing systems Therefore, there is a need for further contributions in this field. do. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0003] One embodiment of the present invention is a unique battery system for a utility cart. Other embodiments include a device for providing auxiliary power to a utility cart, a system In yet other embodiments, the present invention includes systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations thereof. Forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages will become apparent from the description and drawings presented herein. It will be. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0004] The description herein is made in the several views, where like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout. This is done with reference to the attached drawings, which are [Figure 1] 1 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary vehicle system according to an illustrative embodiment of the present application; [Figure 2]FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of example subsystems of a vehicle control system according to an illustrative embodiment of the present application. [Figure 3] 1 shows an illustration of an example architecture for a subsystem of a vehicle control system having an electronic battery control module connected to a lithium-ion battery pack. [Figure 4] 1 shows an illustration of an example architecture for a subsystem of a vehicle control system having an electronic battery control module connected to a lithium-ion battery pack. [Figure 5] 1 shows an illustration of an exemplary lithium / AC vehicle control system architecture having an electronic battery control module connected to a lithium-ion battery pack, in which the vehicle control module outputs signals to multiple DC-powered loads. [Figure 6] 1 shows an illustration of an exemplary lithium / AC vehicle control system architecture having an electronic battery control module connected to a lithium-ion battery pack, in which the user display receives power via an auxiliary DC / DC converter. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of example subsystems of a vehicle control system according to an illustrative embodiment of the present application. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an example architecture for a subsystem of a vehicle control system having an electronic battery control module connected to a lithium-ion battery pack. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an example architecture for a subsystem of a vehicle control system having an electronic battery control module connected to a lithium-ion battery pack. [Figure 10] 1 shows an illustration of an exemplary lithium / AC vehicle control system architecture having an electronic battery control module connected to a lithium-ion battery pack, in which the vehicle control module outputs signals to multiple DC-powered loads. [Figure 11]1 shows an illustration of an exemplary Lithium / AC vehicle control system architecture having an electronic battery control module connected to a Lithium-ion battery pack, in which the user display receives power via an auxiliary DC / DC converter.

[0005] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of certain embodiments according to the present invention, is based on the accompanying drawings. For purposes of illustrating the invention, the drawings will be better understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that this is not possible. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Certain terms are used in the above description for convenience but are not intended to be limiting. ”, “lower”, “top”, “bottom”, “first”, and words such as "second" indicate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The term includes the words specifically mentioned above, derivatives thereof and words of similar import. The words "a" and "one" refer to one or more references unless otherwise stated. A phrase followed by a list of two or more items, e.g., "A, B, or C" "At least one of" means any individual one of A, B, or C; and any combination thereof.

[0007] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary vehicle system 10 according to an illustrative embodiment of the present application. The exemplary vehicle system 10 as shown includes an associated vehicle control system 14. A utility vehicle 12 may be provided. A variety of different types of vehicles may be used in this The utility vehicle 12 can also be used as a It can be an electrified vehicle, in addition to other powering modalities, e.g., electric power, battery, internal Electrical or powered by the use of combustion engines, renewable energy sources, and / or combinations thereof In one particular embodiment, the utility vehicle 12 may be a vehicle Power is supplied to the motor of the utility vehicle 12, which generates the driving force to move the utility vehicle 12. and / or one or more power sources of the utility vehicle 12. and a lithium-ion battery pack configured to power the electrical device. In particular, the utility vehicle 12 is adapted for a variety of different types of uses and / or applications. For example, according to some embodiments, the utility vehicle 12 may be Alternatively or additionally, according to other embodiments, a utility The T-Vehicle 12 is a range of vehicles including fully autonomous vehicles, smaller all-terrain utility vehicles, and local area vehicles. or any other similarly classified light utility vehicle. Descriptions found herein that describe a "utility vehicle" should not be construed as limiting and may have broader application than that described herein. Cut.

[0008] A vehicle control system that may be positioned within and / or around the utility vehicle 12 System 14 may utilize a variety of different types of hardware and / or software. Additionally, the vehicle control system 14 may include, for example, at least one of the following: A variety of different computer-based applications, including those illustrated in Figures 2-6 Additionally, according to some embodiments, the vehicle control system may be configured to perform Stem 14 provides various computer software applications, components, programs, objects, modules and / or data structures that execute or depend on them Furthermore, various applications, components, programs, The objects and / or modules may be implemented in one or more processes in the vehicle control system 14. processor, or other device or web server connected to the vehicle control system 14 It can be run over a network.

[0009] According to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1 , vehicle control system 14 includes a processing device 16, input / output devices 18, memory 20, and arithmetic logic 22. Additionally, as shown, vehicle control system 14 can communicate with one or more external devices 24, as described in more detail below. Input / output devices 18 can be any type of device that enables vehicle control system 14 to communicate with and / or receive / exchange commands and / or information from external devices. For example, according to some embodiments, input / output devices 18 can be a network adapter, a network card, or a port (e.g., a USB port, a serial port, a parallel port, VGA, VDI, HDMI, etc.). (registered trademark) , FireWire (registered trademark), CAT5, or any other port type). Input / output device(s) 18 may be comprised of hardware, software, and / or firmware. It is contemplated that input / output device(s) 18 may include more than one of these adapters, cards, or ports. Additionally, according to some embodiments, vehicle control system 14 may include or be connected to one or more transceivers configured to communicate with external device(s) 24, for example, by using one or more wireless protocols or data streams, among other communication protocols.

[0010] The external device 24 allows data to be input or output from the vehicle control system 14. The device can be any type of device. A few non-limiting examples are given below. The external device 24 can then be a mobile device, another computer, a server, a printer, Displays, alarms, light indicators, keyboards, mice, mouse buttons, or It may also be a touch screen display. For example, it is contemplated that the external device 24 may be integrated into the vehicle control system 14. For example, The vehicle control system 14 may be a smartphone, laptop computer, or tablet. Additionally, in some embodiments, the display of the external device 24 may be The play, if any, is integrated into the vehicle control system 14 as a single unit or For example, smartphones, laptop computers, or to match the general design of some external devices 24 such as tablet computers, etc. Additionally, more than one external device may be in communication with the vehicle control system 14. It is conceivable that it may exist.

[0011] The processing device 16 is a programmable type, dedicated hard-wired state machine, or a combination thereof, and furthermore, may be multi-processors, arithmetic logic units, may comprise ALUs, central processing units (CPUs) or the like. Regarding the form of the processing device 16 having multiple processing units, it is possible to use a distributed, pipelined Multiple and / or parallel processing may be utilized as appropriate. 6 may be dedicated to performing the operations described herein itself, or It may be available for one or more additional uses. In dedicated forms, the processing device The device 16 includes programming instructions (software or firmware) stored in a memory 20. Executes algorithms according to the arithmetic logic defined by the Alternatively or additionally, the processing device 16 may be programmable to process the data. The operational logic 22 is implemented at least in part by hard-wired logic or other hardware. The processing device 16 may be connected to an input / output device 18, an external device 24, or is one or more components of any type suitable for processing signals received from elsewhere Such components may be used to provide the desired output signal. The circuitry can be digital, analog, or a combination of both.

[0012] The memory 20 may be one or more memory types, such as solid state, electromagnetic, optical, or a combination of these types. According to some embodiments, the memory 20 may be of the random access type. RAM devices, secondary levels of memory (e.g., cache memory, nonvolatile Delayed or backup memory (e.g., programmable memory or flash memory) memory), read-only memory, or a combination thereof. The memory 20 can be volatile, non-volatile, or a hybrid of these types. Some or all of the 20 are portable, e.g., disk, tape, memory stick , cartridge, or the like. The data manipulated by the arithmetic logic 22 of the device 16, for example, as specified in one embodiment In addition to or instead of storing programming instructions defining the operational logic 22, 1. Record data representing signals received and / or transmitted to the input / output device 18. As shown in FIG. 1, in some embodiments, this memory 20 may include: The memory 20 may be included in and / or connected to the processing device 16. For example, at least one set of data for one or more utility vehicles 12 may be collected, among other data. The memory 20 can store various data, including data related to timing control. In addition, the vehicle system 10 may also include other memories located anywhere on the vehicle system 10. For example, a cache memory in the CPU of the external device 24, and any storage capacity used as virtual memory (e.g., on a storage device or in a vehicle system) The system may include a computer system (e.g., a personal computer) connected to system 10.

[0013] The external device 24 may have one or more similar characteristics to the vehicle control system 14 described above. It is not intended to limit external device 24 to any particular type of device. Data from the external device 24 may be transmitted to the vehicle control system 1 using any of a variety of techniques. 4. For example, the data may be transmitted over a wired or wireless link. and / or a memory module (e.g. a USB stick) from an external device 24 and can be connected to the vehicle control system 14. A combination of two or more of the above techniques to convey information to the vehicle control system 14 It is also possible.

[0014] According to some embodiments, the utility vehicle 12 includes one or more networks. It can be configured to communicate information externally via an external device 24. Each of the networks is configured to transmit and / or receive data. In particular, for example, wireless LAN (i.e., Wi-Fi), wide area networks Wide Area Network (WAN), cellular networks (e.g., 3G, 4G Long Term Evolution, Local area networks, including mobile (LTE, 5G, etc.) and / or internet have one or more computer networks, such as a local area network (LAN), or It can be in operable communication with this.

[0015] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the utility vehicle 12 includes a telematics system. Navigation systems, which may also be referred to as systems and / or individual telematics systems and may be equipped with or connected to a National Positioning System (NPS). According to this embodiment, the NPS is a global positioning system mounted externally to the utility vehicle 12. Positioning system (GPS), and / or electronic leveling device connected to utility vehicle 12 According to such an embodiment, the NPS may collect, for example, among other data: electronically connects the vehicle control system 14 to provide and / or receive information, including geographic location data; Additionally, in some embodiments, other additional information can be connected to the NPS and It can be transmitted to / from the vehicle control system 14 .

[0016] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle control system 14 further includes a a display 26 positioned for viewing by a user or operator of the utility vehicle 12; In some embodiments, the display 26 may be connected to a touchscreen. Visual display devices, such as clean interactive displays (e.g. For example, monitors, liquid crystal display (LCD) panels, and organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays. The display may be a display panel (spray panel) that displays the current state of the utility vehicle 12. Real-time updated information on the location of vehicles, as well as other utility vehicles A variety of information can be displayed, including information related to:

[0017] The vehicle 12 may have an energy storage device that is used as a motive power source to drive the wheels. This energy storage device is a lithium-ion battery. and in one form is a lithium ion battery pack. Various figures in the figures show embodiments of the energy storage system. The energy storage device is adapted to provide a main power output, as well as one or more auxiliary power outputs. The auxiliary power output can be configured to provide a power supply that can be connected to the main power supply to conserve power. Puts the output into an off condition but allows power to be provided through one or more power outputs. The ability to provide in-line or auxiliary power to a vehicle eliminates the need for a separate battery (e.g., 12V Eliminates the need for batteries.

[0018] FIG. 2 illustrates various types of devices that can be interconnected via network communications in a utility vehicle 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the various components are connected to the CAN network. can be interconnected via a network, but other network configurations / protocols / The illustrated embodiment includes three separate networks (e.g., CAN1, CAN2, CAN3, CAN4, CAN5, CAN6, CAN7, CAN8, CAN9, CAN10, CAN11, CAN12, CAN13, CAN14, CAN15, CAN16, CAN17, CAN18, CAN19, CAN20, CAN21, CAN22, CAN23, CAN24, CAN2 CAN2, and CAN3), but other numbers of networks are contemplated. As used, BMS stands for Battery Management System and MCU stands for Motor Controller. VDU refers to the Visage display unit (television This visage is a symbol of Georgia. Club Car, an Augusta, WA, manufacturer of golf and other utility carts, As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the Visage is available from the Automotive Tractor Company. Tracking (real-time location, driving history, messaging, etc.), vehicle control ( Zone speed control, fleet lockdown, geofencing, maximum speed, etc.), power ( Battery status, fault code notification, odometer, charging failure / interruption, etc. and communications (food and beverage ordering, mobile applications, Other features such as wireless connectivity, etc. may also be provided. In some embodiments, the VDU may include a wireless connection module. Such modules may also serve as, but are not limited to, various As used herein, "over-the-air communications" refers to communications over the air, such as software updates for various devices. The term "telematics" used in this document refers to the remote transmission of information from telecommunications devices. It includes the integrated use of communication and information technologies to store and receive information on a computer object. In this case, telematics includes navigation and positioning information provision, navigation and positioning information communication, information exchange between a central location and vehicles, and management of vehicle operations. and any one or more of monitoring, fleet management, geofencing, etc. Communication can take place over cellular networks, but other types of data Sending and receiving are also possible.

[0019] 3 and 4 show schematic diagrams of various components in vehicle 12. The dashed lines in the lithium-ion battery pack in this drawing (as shown in other drawings of the lithium-ion battery pack) The components included in the BMS are shown as dashed lines in the figure. One or more of the components may be provided within an external enclosure in the energy storage system. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the energy storage system supplies power to the main power supply of the MCU. The mains power supply is a relatively high voltage and The main power supply is provided to the main DC / DC charger. The mains power output can be connected to an energy storage device. The in-line DC / DC is composed of various components as shown in Figure 5 (see the bottom left corner of Figure 5). It can be used to power other components (including the main DC / DC converter). The elimination of the inverter also reduces the number of devices that are configured to be driven by the inverter. This is accomplished by (see Figure 6, which does not have many components).

[0020] The main power output in these diagrams is connected between the Li-ion cell (battery) and the motor controller. In the illustrated embodiment, the contactor may include at least one indicates contactors A, B, and main. Some embodiments eliminate the main contactor. Additionally and / or alternatively, some embodiments may include a battery pack The vehicle 12 may have only a single contactor. When power is required, contactors A, B and main are closed. This requires an amount of power that can be eliminated if the contactor remains open. Figure 4 shows the various voltages (Vcap, Vout, Vm, Vp) in the vicinity of the various contactors. The importance of pressure is discussed in more detail below.

[0021] The battery pack is configured to provide at least one auxiliary output. In this configuration, the pack has an auxiliary 12V DC / DC output (Au xiliary 12V DC / DC output) and any other low voltage devices (e.g., the reverse alarm in Figure 6) system), the main DC / DC enable line, as well as the power required to provide power to the electric motor. Can be used to provide control signals and / or pre-charge the capacitor bank of a suitable MCU Main Power is supplied from the Motor Controller Supply. When disconnected, provides VDU supply output power useful for providing telematics capabilities Motor Controller Supply Auxiliary Output ary output) is used to power the MCU while the main power output is disconnected. This can also be used to power the battery while the main power is OFF. Allows communication between the pack and / or BMS. Includes only a single output if desired. It is contemplated that any number of auxiliary power outputs may be provided, including The battery pack must at least power the VCM when mains power is not provided. An auxiliary 12V DC / DC supply is available that can be used to The VCM provides supervisory control functions for various vehicle components. However, other uses are also envisaged.

[0022] 5 and 6 illustrate different architectures in which various embodiments of the vehicle 12 may be deployed. FIG. 5 shows some of the VCM-controlled signals shown in the lower left corner, which are not present in FIG. The components in Figure 5 that are driven by the output of the VCM are: The main DC / DC converter can supply power to the inverter. Since the converter is eliminated, the component is also eliminated. The term "HV" as used in the specification generally refers to the motor controller and the power supply to the electric motor. It refers to a high voltage intended to be a voltage above 12V suitable for use in some applications. In some embodiments, HV denotes 24V, and in other embodiments, HV denotes 48V. Other voltages are also contemplated.

[0023] The auxiliary outputs of the illustrated embodiment enable the following functionality: - 12V power supply when main pack output is disconnected (Supply 12V power with main pack output disconnected) - Power supply for various HV accessories when main pack output is disconnected (Supply power to various HV accessories with main pack output disconnected) DC / DC converter control HV Bus Pre-Charge Walkaway Braking Contactor Weld Check This makes it possible.

[0024] Each of these capabilities provided by the auxiliary outputs is described in more detail below. The auxiliary output can be used, for example, to step down the voltage before it is supplied. Energy storage devices, unless otherwise indicated, such as DC / DC converters The power supply may be supplied at the same or similar voltage as the mains pack power output.

[0025] Supplying 12V power when main pack output is disconnected The 12V auxiliary output provides 12V power without the need for a 12V battery in the vehicle .

[0026] Power supply for various HV accessories when main pack output is disconnected The vehicle may have HV accessories that draw low voltage. The auxiliary battery output is The vehicle control system determines the need for switchable power for the accessories. In the current system, the HV that is fed is Visage. (Visage) system. Power is supplied to Visage independently of the pack contactor. This means reporting telematics information about the vehicle continuously or at predefined intervals. Additionally, the Visage system can be used to over-the-air Over the Air (OTA) updates can be performed. B has internal software rules that prevent updates when an input output is connected You can update your MS.

[0027] DC / DC converter control The vehicle may have a DC / DC converter that generates 12V from the pack voltage. Auxiliary Battery Output #4 (labeled Output #3 in Figure 3) is the pack's main power output. When the power supply is disconnected or a welding check operation occurs, the control system This allows the data to be disabled (for example, by using a contactor). Additionally, the control system (e.g., BMS or VCM) must ensure that the pack main power output is disconnected. After the power is turned on, the DC / DC converter is turned on to be used as a load to discharge the HV bus. It is possible.

[0028] Pre-charging of HV buses It is understood that the high voltage bus is part of the motor drive and / or MCU. The controller (e.g., MCU) provides a pre-load to charge the internal capacitor bank to the pack voltage. The auxiliary output that powers the controller logic is used for the pre-charge circuit. This means that the motor controller provides the power to the battery pack via a pre-charge circuit. This allows for precharging of the HV bus in the vehicle without using a battery.

[0029] Braking while abandoned Abandonment braking is when a vehicle is left "abandoned" without someone applying the brakes. The process of slowing the vehicle down to a slower speed until the vehicle stops when "walked away" is selected. The auxiliary output that feeds the motor controller logic supply is turned off when the pack main power output is switched off. When the motor controller is disconnected (for example, by using one or more contactors), It allows the detection of vehicle movement. When movement is detected, the vehicle control system (e.g. The MCU (e.g., MCU) detects when the brakes (e.g., brake pedal and / or parking brake) are applied. If not enabled, the vehicle traction system is enabled to slow vehicle movement. For example, if the vehicle is stopped and no accelerator pedal command is detected, If the control system senses motor movement, the vehicle traction system will stop this movement. Examples of vehicle traction systems operating in this manner include: That is, an electric motor that normally operates as a motor is configured to operate as a generator. If the contactor is open when this occurs, the vehicle control system may Sends a signal to the data bus to close the associated contactor. Sends a CAN bus message to the BMS for the BMS to close any contactors under its control. As shown in the illustrated embodiment, contactor A and contactor B are in a series relationship. Inverter B is within the control of the BMS and therefore closes to constitute regenerative braking. do.

[0030] Check for welding of drive contactors The vehicle control system receives various data reported over CAN from the BMS and motor controller. The voltage is monitored based on the motor controller input cap voltage (Vcap), Pack output voltage (at the external battery terminals, or Vout), pack internal voltage (Vp), The voltage (Vm) between the two series-connected pack contactors. Using this path, the vehicle control system can detect when any contactor has welded. The check consists of one or both of the following: Vcap-Vout>threshold If the voltages do not track each other, it can be determined that the contactor is not welded. If Vcap-Vm>threshold (which can be the same as or different from the previous threshold), If this occurs, the voltages do not track each other and it can be assessed that the contactor is not welded. If either or both of these conditions are not met, an error will be generated for subsequent diagnostics. This check is performed to determine if the condition is met or to disable the system. The data may be determined by a predetermined period of time that must be met. Since the data is transmitted on the bus, the drive contactor weld check can be performed on any number of components. This can be done within the component.

[0031] Check for welding of charging contactor The vehicle control system is connected to the BMS, motor controller, and vehicle charger via CAN. The various voltages reported above are monitored. The voltages are measured at the motor controller input capacitors. Pack voltage (Vcap), Charger output voltage (Vcharger_output), Pack output voltage (external at the battery terminals (or Vout), the pack internal voltage (Vp), two series-connected packs The motor controller pre-charge circuit is used to The control system can detect if any contactor is welded. If the inductor is not welded, the vehicle control system will detect an open or short circuit in the charging circuit. The charger output is turned on at low voltage or current to detect when the The test checks for the following: open or short circuit conditions. If either or both conditions are met, set an error for subsequent diagnostics or Then, (Vcharger_output-Vout<threshold) ) and (Vout > other threshold), this means that the contactor is welded. This check indicates that the condition must be met for a given period of time. The data is transmitted over the bus, so the drive The contactor weld check can be performed in any number of components.

[0032] Of course, any auxiliary power available from the battery pack mentioned above can be used. Any feature can be combined with any other feature.

[0033] As used herein, "vehicle control system" refers to a VCM, B Any of the various components detailed, such as MS, MCU, VDU, etc. As will be understood from the description herein, a vehicle control system may include one or more controls various components in the utility cart described herein. For example, the BMS can control the contactors associated with the battery, e.g., contactor A. and B. In some embodiments, the BMS controls the operation of the above modes. Considering the operation (e.g., contactor welding check), either contactor A or B It can receive commands from the VCM to open or close one or both. Additionally, it can issue commands to the MCU to open or close the main contactor. In yet another embodiment, the VCM enables the main DC / DC converter to the BCM. Used to request power on the auxiliary power output to enable / disable the cable. In some configurations, the VCM can monitor the status or The code can be broadcast on the network, and the MCU, BMS, etc. Any one of them can control the individual components. In other forms, the VCM You can broadcast commands to individual components, which allows Any of the MCU, BMS, etc. checks and controls these individual components. A response can be made by issuing a command.

[0034] The above explanation is particularly about Figures 2 to 6, but the auxiliary power output of the battery Any of the embodiments detailed herein may be combined with any of the embodiments shown in FIGS. The RTC shown in Figures 7 to 11 can be used in any embodiment. Real-time clocks useful for providing times for scheduling actions in a real-time clock. Regarding rock.

[0035] The high voltage bus referred to herein can take many forms, one of which is These include the MCU, the main DC / DC converter, and / or the charger.

[0036] The BMS can be used to control the contactors in the battery pack. In one aspect of the present application, an energy storage device in selective power communication with an electric motor is provided. 10. An apparatus comprising: a utility cart having a chair, the electric motor comprising: at least The energy storage device is coupled to one driven wheel and is connected to an electric drivetrain. configured to supply power to move the utility cart; The device is connected to a management system and generates a first current sufficient to energize the electric motor. It can provide a main power output at voltage levels and also an auxiliary power output. There is a device that can do this.

[0037] In a feature of the present application, the utility cart is a golf cart.

[0038] In another feature of the present application, the energy storage device is a lithium ion battery.

[0039] According to yet another aspect of the present application, the lithium ion battery is a lithium ion battery pack. is.

[0040] In yet another feature of the present application, the auxiliary power output comprises a plurality of auxiliary power outputs.

[0041] According to yet another aspect of the present application, the auxiliary power output has a second voltage lower than the first voltage. The power supply is configured to supply power via voltage.

[0042] According to yet another aspect of the present application, the lithium ion battery pack comprises a lithium ion a DC / DC converter configured to step down the voltage of the battery pack; An auxiliary power output provides output power from the DC / DC converter.

[0043] In another aspect of the present application, the lithium ion battery pack has an outer housing and a front It has a record management system.

[0044] As a further feature of the present application, the device further comprises a power supply configured to receive power from the auxiliary power output. The vehicle control module is configured as follows:

[0045] As a further feature of the present application, further comprising: receiving power from at least one of the auxiliary power outputs; The motor controller is configured to receive the

[0046] According to a further feature of the present application, the motor controller is adapted to: When disconnected from the motor controller, the motor is adapted to receive power from the auxiliary power output. It is composed.

[0047] As a further feature of the present application, the present invention further comprises: receiving power from at least one of the auxiliary power outputs; The device is configured to receive a telematics signal.

[0048] In yet another aspect of the present application, a power supply is provided, the power supply being configured to receive power from the mains power outlet. Equipped with a main DC / DC converter.

[0049] In yet another aspect of the present application, the lithium ion battery pack is connected to the main power output. a contactor connected thereto and selectively supplying power to said main power output; It is configured to open and close accordingly.

[0050] According to yet another feature of the present application, the motor controller is The robot is in a state of uncommanded movement of at least one wheel. and a traction system in the vehicle that slows down the movement of the one wheel. The vehicle has an abandoned braking mode that is configured to be enabled.

[0051] According to a further feature of the present application, the abandoned braking mode is is disabled when the contactor of the energy storage device is in an off condition. It will be transformed.

[0052] According to another aspect of the present application, the main DC / DC converter is and further configured to receive power from the motor controller to discharge the motor. do.

[0053] In yet another aspect of the present application, the auxiliary power output is a motor controller supply output ( motor controller supply output, the motor controller a pre-charge circuit configured to pre-charge the bus in preparation, the pre-charge circuit comprising: remote from the mains power supply and adapted to receive power from said motor controller supply output. The motor controller supplies an output.

[0054] According to a further feature of the present application, the motor controller supply output is connected to the main power supply. It is configured to supply power when the output is in the OFF state.

[0055] In yet another aspect of the present application, the energy storage device is configured to: The first contactor is selectively commanded by

[0056] According to yet another feature of the present application, the energy storage device is connected to the first contactor and The second contactor is in a real communication state.

[0057] According to yet another feature of the present application, the main contactor is a main contactor of the energy storage device. Used for IN power output.

[0058] Yet another feature of the present application includes a contactor fusion check for the drive.

[0059] Yet another feature of the present application includes a charging contactor fusion check.

[0060] As a further feature of the present application, the charging contactor welding check is performed by: (1) checking whether the charging contactor is welded; The absolute value of the output voltage of the energy storage device exceeds the threshold. and (2) based on a condition where the output voltage of the energy storage device exceeds another threshold.

[0061] According to a further feature of the present application, the drive contactor welding check is performed by Voltage of the inverter - (negative) When the output voltage of the energy storage system is greater than the threshold Based on.

[0062] As a further feature of the present application, the drive contactor welding check is performed by Voltage of the battery (Vcap in the diagram) - (minus) Output voltage of the energy storage system This is based on the condition that the voltage (Vout in the figure) is greater than the threshold.

[0063] Another aspect of the present application is an energy storage device in selective power communication with an electric motor. and a utility cart having at least one electric motor. the energy storage device is coupled to a non-driven wheel of the utility vehicle. the energy storage device is configured to provide power to a powered drive train that moves the The device is connected to a management system and has a mains power supply sufficient to power the electric motor. a main power output at a voltage level, a first auxiliary power output at a voltage level lower than the main voltage level; a first auxiliary power output at a first auxiliary voltage level and a second auxiliary power output at a second auxiliary voltage level; The device can do the following.

[0064] In a feature of the present application, the energy storage device is a lithium ion battery pack. Thus, a DC / DC converter configured to step down the voltage of the lithium-ion battery pack. the lithium ion battery pack having a power supply, and the auxiliary power output is The output power is generated from a C / DC converter, and the lithium-ion battery pack has an external housing. and the utility cart is configured to control the lithium ion battery pack. It is equipped with a battery management system.

[0065] Another feature of the present application further includes a vehicle control module and a motor controller. The motor controller is configured to adjust power to the electric motor, and the vehicle Both control modules are configured to receive power from the first auxiliary power output and The motor controller is configured to receive power from the second auxiliary power output. The motor controller is configured to receive a main power output from the lithium-ion battery pack. When disconnected from the motor controller, power is drawn from the second auxiliary power output. It is configured to receive.

[0066] According to another feature of the present application, the motor controller is configured to: Detects when at least one wheel is moving uncommanded and enabling a traction system that slows the movement of the at least one wheel; an abandoned braking mode configured to activate the abandoned braking mode, Braking mode is when the contactor of the energy storage device disconnects the main power output. It is enabled when the OFF condition is met.

[0067] In yet another aspect of the present application, the second auxiliary power output is a motor controller supply output. and the motor controller is configured to precharge the bus in preparation for motor engagement. a pre-charging circuit connected to the main power supply, the pre-charging circuit being separate from the main power supply and configured to receive power from the motor controller power supply via the auxiliary power output; The motor controller supply output provides power when the main power output is turned off. and further having a third auxiliary power output at the same voltage as the main power output. a third auxiliary power output for supplying power to a display unit; It is configured to supply

[0068] According to yet another feature of the present application, the first auxiliary power output is connected to the energy storage device. and further provided by an auxiliary DC / DC converter at a distance from the energy storage device. a main DC / DC converter including a main power supply for the energy storage device; the main DC / DC converter configured to receive power from a source output; The lithium ion battery pack includes a contactor connected to the main power output. configured to open and close to selectively supply power to the main power output, It has a contactor.

[0069] According to another aspect of the present application, the main DC / DC converter is Discharging the motor controller when the output is selectively placed in an OFF condition The motor controller is configured to receive additional power from the motor controller.

[0070] According to yet another feature of the present application, the energy storage device may include a second contactor and a second contactor. a first contactor in a real electrical connection state, Each of the actuators is selectively commanded between an ON condition and an OFF condition, and the user The utility cart is in electrical communication with the main power output of the energy storage device. It has a main contactor.

[0071] In yet another aspect of the present application, the utility cart further comprises: at least one of the first contactor, the second contactor, and the second contactor; a vehicle control module configured to perform at least one contactor fusion check; and the vehicle control module performs the at least one contactor fusion check. and configured to receive voltage information from a communication bus of the utility cart for purposes of The communication bus includes the following used for checking contactor welding: Electric motor controller capacitor bus voltage, energy storage output voltage, energy storage The internal voltage, the voltage between the first contactor and the second contactor, and the charge The capacitor is configured to transmit any of the following voltages:

[0072] According to a further feature of the present application, the second auxiliary voltage output is and configured to communicate with the main DC / DC converter during the contactor welding check. The converter is turned off (OFF) and the main power output is selectively turned off (O When the power supply is turned on, the main DC / DC converter is turned on. The main DC / DC converter enable output is also connected to the motor controller. The detector is configured to discharge from the DC / DC converter.

[0073] Yet another aspect of the present application is a method for transporting a utility cart between locations. 1. An apparatus comprising a utility cart having rolling wheels, said utility cart an electric drive wheel coupled and configured to provide motive power to a drive wheel of the plurality of wheels; an electric motor; and an on-board energy storage device configured to power the electric motor. the energy storage device is connected to the electric motor and Mains voltage level mains output configured to supply power at the the energy storage device is further configured to provide power at a plurality of DC voltages. a plurality of auxiliary power outputs connected to the power supply, the plurality of power outputs being less than the main power level; It is configured to supply power.

[0074] As a feature of the present application, the utility cart further comprises a motor controller; At least one of the plurality of auxiliary power outputs is a power supply that supplies main power to the motor controller. configured to supply logic power to the motor controller when the power is not supplied to the motor controller; The motor controller is configured to: configured to operate based on the logic power, the logic power being at least partially determined by the The main power is consumed by the motor controller, and the main power is supplied to the motor controller. a plurality of wheels, each of which is adapted to detect the movement of at least one of the wheels when the plurality of wheels is not energized; An encoder is powered and a signal from the encoder is used by the motor controller to Regenerative braking is applied to resist motion of at least one of the plurality of wheels.

[0075] In another feature of the present application, the logic power is supplied at the main power supply voltage level.

[0076] In another aspect of the present application, the motor controller has a capacitive bus and the motor The controller further comprises a power supply connected to at least one of the plurality of auxiliary power outputs. The logic power is configured to precharge the capacitive bus.

[0077] According to another feature of the present application, the utility cart further comprises: - A cart DC configured to receive power from the mains power output of the storage device a DC / DC converter, and the on-board energy storage device is The internal DC / DC converter is configured to provide DC power via at least one of the following inputs: Has a barter.

[0078] According to yet another feature of the present application, at least one of the plurality of auxiliary power outputs comprises: a power supply connected to the DC / DC converter; The inverter is configured to selectively switch between an ON state and an OFF state. Enable / disable power output.

[0079] According to yet another aspect of the present application, the main power output of the on-board energy storage device is , configured to switch between an ON state and an OFF state, and When the main power output from the device is ON, the cart DC / DC converter: At least one DC-powered component in the utility cart must have a primary power supply. Supply power.

[0080] In another aspect of the present application, the utility cart includes: Cart contactor accommodating switchable power connection between chair and motor controller the energy storage device is connected to the cart contactor for switchable power The utility cart has a device contactor in a connected state, and the device contactor is welded. A check mode is provided, and the enable / disable The DC / DC converter of the cart can be turned off (OFF) via the power supply output. do.

[0081] In yet another aspect of the present application, the utility cart further comprises: and another device contactor in a switchable power connection state with said device contactor. The utility contactor and the other device contactor are in a series relationship, The battery management system and the motor controller measure a communication network transmitting a voltage, said communication network comprising: , the capacitor bank voltage of the motor controller, the external of the on-board energy storage device Pack output voltage at the battery terminals, internal pack voltage, The voltage between the other device contactor and the on-board energy storage device is Chargers configured to deliver two or more of the charger output voltages It is structured as follows.

[0082] According to another aspect of the present application, the contactor welding check is performed by Any of the following contactors: contactors, device contactors, and contactors including other device contactors determining if the contactor is welded, Welding check, i.e. (1) Checking for drive contactor welding under the following conditions: , i.e., (a) the difference between the capacitor bank voltage and the pack output voltage is greater than a first threshold; and (b) a capacitor bank voltage and the voltages of the device contactor and the other device contactor. and the difference in voltage between the two components is greater than a second threshold. determining that the contactor is not welded when the drive contactor is (2) Charging contactor welding check, which meets the following conditions: (a) the absolute value of the difference between the charger output voltage and the pack output voltage is less than a third threshold; and (b) the pack voltage is greater than a fourth threshold. At least one of the charging contactor welding checks determines that the charging contactor is not welded. One has one.

[0083] The present invention is described in what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. Although it has been stated above, the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments, but is intended to be within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. It is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements that fall within the scope of the present invention. Adhere to the broadest interpretation to encompass all modifications and equivalent structures permitted under the law. Furthermore, in the above description, it is preferable to or the use of the term preferred means that the feature so described may be more desirable. indicates that it may be necessary, but may nevertheless not be required, and Any embodiment lacking it may be considered within the scope of the invention, and It should be understood that the scope of the claims is defined by the claims. "a," ​​"an," "at least one," "at least When the term "at least a portion" is used, the term "at least a portion" is used in the claims. Unless expressly stated, no claim is intended to be limited to any single recited item. Furthermore, the terms "at least a portion" and / or "a portion" can be used interchangeably. When the phrase "(a)" is used, the referenced item is the subject matter of the It may contain parts and / or the whole of the target item.

Claims

1. 1. An apparatus comprising: a utility cart having an energy storage device in selective power communication with an electric motor, the electric motor coupled to at least one driven wheel, the energy storage device configured to power an electric drive train to move the utility cart, the energy storage device coupled to a management system and capable of providing a main power output at a main voltage level sufficient to energize the electric motor, a first auxiliary power output at a first auxiliary voltage level, the first auxiliary voltage level being a voltage level lower than the main voltage level, and a second auxiliary power output at a second auxiliary voltage level. The energy storage device is A lithium-ion battery pack, a DC / DC converter configured to provide the first auxiliary power output by stepping down the voltage of the lithium ion battery pack; a battery management system configured to control the lithium-ion battery pack; The apparatus further comprises: a vehicle control module configured to receive power from the first auxiliary power output of the DC / DC converter; and a motor controller configured to regulate the main power output to the electric motor and configured to receive power from the second auxiliary power output; the vehicle control module and the motor controller are configured to receive power from the first auxiliary power output and the second auxiliary power output, respectively, when the main power output from the lithium ion battery pack is disconnected from the motor controller; the motor controller having a pre-charge circuit configured to pre-charge a bus in preparation for motor engagement, the pre-charge circuit being separate from the main power output and configured to receive power from the second auxiliary power output, the apparatus further comprising a third auxiliary power output having a third auxiliary power output at the same voltage level as the second auxiliary power output, the third auxiliary power output being configured to power a display unit.

2. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the motor controller has an abandoned braking mode configured to detect when the utility cart is in a state of uncommanded movement of at least one wheel and to activate a traction system on the utility cart to slow the movement of the one wheel, the abandoned braking mode being activated when a contactor of the energy storage device is in an OFF condition such that the main power output is disabled.

3. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first auxiliary power output is provided from the DC / DC converter of the energy storage device, the apparatus further comprising a second DC / DC converter remote from the energy storage device and configured to receive power from the main power output of the energy storage device, the energy storage device having a contactor connected to the main power output and configured to open and close to selectively provide power to the main power output.

4. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the second DC / DC converter is configured to receive additional power from the motor controller to discharge the motor controller when the main power output is selectively placed in an OFF condition.

5. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the energy storage device has a first contactor in serial electrical communication with a second contactor, each of the first and second contactors selectively commanded between an ON condition and an OFF condition, the apparatus further comprising a main contactor in electrical communication with a main power output of the energy storage device.

6. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the vehicle control module is further configured to perform at least one contactor fusion check on any of the main contactor, the first contactor, and the second contactor, the vehicle control module is configured to receive voltage information from a communication bus of the utility cart for purposes of performing the at least one contactor fusion check, the communication bus being configured to communicate any of the following used in the contactor fusion check: electric motor controller capacitor bus voltage, energy storage output voltage, energy storage internal voltage, voltage between the first contactor and the second contactor, and charger voltage.

7. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a third auxiliary voltage output which is a DC / DC converter enable output configured to communicate with the second DC / DC converter, to turn the second DC / DC converter OFF during the contactor fusion check, and to turn the second DC / DC converter ON when the main power output is selectively turned OFF, and wherein the motor controller is configured to discharge from the second DC / DC converter.

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