Power conversion system for an electric vehicle

Abstract

A power conversion system and method for an electric vehicle includes a bidirectional power system including control circuitry that is electrically connected to interface circuitry and a power converter. The control circuitry is configured to: control, when the control circuitry detects an electrical connection between the interface circuitry and an external power network, a load to output a DC voltage from the load to the power converter; control, when the control circuitry determines that a mode command from a user control includes a traction mode instruction, the load to output the DC voltage from the load to the power converter; and control, when the load outputs the DC voltage, the power converter in a manner that causes the power converter to convert the DC voltage into an electric current.

Description

POWER CONVERSION SYSTEM FOR AN ELECTRIC VEHICLECROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 542,044, filed on October 2, 2023, titled “POWER CONVERSION SYSTEM FOR AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE,” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

[0002] N / ASUMMARY

[0003] In some examples, a power conversion system for an electric vehicle is provided. The power conversion system includes a bidirectional power system including control circuitry that is electrically connected to interface circuitry and a power converter. The control circuitry is configured to: control, when the control circuitry detects an electrical connection between the interface circuitry and an external power network, a load to output a DC voltage from the load to the power converter; control, when the control circuitry determines that a mode command from a user control includes a traction mode instruction, the load to output the DC voltage from the load to the power converter; and control, when the load outputs the DC voltage, the power converter in a manner that causes the power converter to convert the DC voltage into an electric current.

[0004] In some examples, a method for operating a bidirectional power system for a power conversion system is provided. The method includes controlling by control circuitry for the bidirectional power system, when the control circuitry detects an electrical connection between interface circuitry and an external power network, a load to output a DC voltage from the load to the power converter; controlling by the control circuitry, when the control circuitry determines that a mode command from a user control includes a traction mode instruction, the load to output the DC voltage from the load to a power converter; and controlling by the control circuitry, when the load outputs the DC voltage, the power converter in a manner that causes the power converter to convert the DC voltage into an electric current, wherein the control circuitry is electrically connected to the interface circuitry and the power converter.

[0005] In some examples, a non-transitory, computer readable medium encoded with machine- readable instructions executable by a processor is provide. The machine-readable storage medium includes instructions for controlling by control circuitry for the bidirectional power system, when the control circuitry detects an electrical connection between interface circuitry and an external power network, a load to output a DC voltage from the load to the power converter; instructions for controlling by the control circuitry, when the control circuitry determines that a mode command from a user control includes a traction mode instruction, the load to output the DC voltage from the load to a power converter; and instructions for controlling by the control circuitry, when the load outputs the DC voltage, the power converter in a manner that causes the power converter to convert the DC voltage into an electric current.

[0006] In some examples, a power converter system of an electric vehicle is provided. The power converter system includes direct current (DC) terminals to connect to a battery; alternating current (AC) terminals to connect to a motor and to an external power network; a plurality of N-phase power converters, each N-phase power converter including, for each of N phases of the N-phase power converter: power switching elements connected to the DC terminals, and an LC fdter connected to the power switching elements and to the AC terminals; a converter control system including at least one electronic processor, the converter control system configured to: control the N-phase power converters in a charging mode to convert AC power received via the AC terminals to DC power to output via the DC terminals; control the N-phase power converters in a traction mode to convert DC power received via the DC terminals to AC power to output via the AC terminals to drive the motor; and responsive to communication with an external power network, control the N-phase power converters in a power generator mode to convert DC power received via the DC terminals to AC power to output via the AC terminals to supply power to the external power network.

[0007] In some examples, a method of power conversion for a power converter system of an electric vehicle is provided. The method includes: controlling N-phase power converters of a power converter system in a charging mode to convert AC power received via AC terminals of the power converter system to DC power to output via DC terminals of the power converter system, wherein the DC terminals connect to a battery and the AC terminals connect to a motor and to an external power network, and wherein each N-phase power converter of the N-phase power converters includes, for each of N phases of the N-phase power converter: power switchingelements connected to the DC terminals, and an LC fdter connected to the power switching elements and to the AC terminals; controlling the N-phase power converters in a traction mode to convert DC power received via the DC terminals to AC power to output via the AC terminals to drive the motor; and responsive to communication with an external power network, controlling the N-phase power converters in a power generator mode to convert DC power received via the DC terminals to AC power to output via the AC terminals to supply power to the external power network.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate examples of the disclosure and, together with the description, explain principles of the examples.

[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates a system level block diagram for an example of a power conversion system according to some aspects.

[0010] FIG. 2 is a partially exploded isometric view of a vehicle drive unit showing a plurality of auto converter modules (ACMs).

[0011] FIG. 3 is a top view of the drive unit of FIG. 2.

[0012] FIG. 4 is an isometric view of an auto converter module, according to some aspects.

[0013] FIG. 5A illustrates a power conversion system including a controller connected to multiple three-phase ACMs, according to some aspects.

[0014] FIG. 5B illustrates a DC / DC converter according to some aspects.

[0015] FIG. 5C illustrates an on-board charger and grid-tied configuration according to some aspects.

[0016] FIG. 6 illustrates multiphase power conversion system according to some embodiments.

[0017] FIG. 7 illustrates a cascaded control system according to some embodiments.

[0018] FIGS. 8 A and 8B are flowcharts showing an example of a process for operating the power conversion system according to some examples.

[0019] FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate various configurations of the power conversion system during a charging mode.

[0020] FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate various configurations of the power conversion system during a power reception mode.

[0021] FIGS. 11 A and 1 IB illustrate various configurations of the power conversion system during a power generation mode.

[0022] FIG. 12 illustrates a configuration of the power conversion system during a regenerative braking mode.

[0023] FIG. 13 illustrates a configuration of the power conversion system during a traction mode.

[0024] FIG. 14 illustrates a power system for controlling a flow of power between a power distribution grid and a vehicle, according to some examples.

[0025] FIG. 15 illustrates a method for operation of the power system of FIG. 14, according to some examples.

[0026] FIG. 16 illustrates another method for operation of the power system of FIG. 14, according to some examples.

[0027] Like elements in the various figures are denoted by like reference numerals for consistency.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] Embodiments of the disclosure are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying figures. Unless otherwise indicated, like parts and method steps are referred to with like reference numerals.

[0029] Illustrated in FIG. 1 is multiphase power conversion system 1 that includes a bidirectional power system 12, a load 14, and a motor 10. The multiphase power conversion system l is a power conversion system for an electric vehicle. Although referred to as a multiphase power conversion system 1, in some examples, the system 1 generates or receives single phase power.

[0030] The bidirectional power system 12 is an on-board power system that includes control circuitry 110 and a power converter 120. Although generally referred to as a converter / charger herein, the bidirectional power system 12 may also be referred to as a charger-inverter, a bidirectional inverter, or bidirectional converter because, as described in further detail below, the bidirectional power system 12 is configured to both (i) receive incoming power from one or more various sources, convert the incoming power, and output the converted power to charge a battery and (ii) receive battery power from the battery, convert the received battery power, and provide the converted power as output to one or more various loads.

[0031] The control circuitry 110 includes an electronic processor 112 and memory 114. The power converter 120 includes a connector 122 and interface circuitry 124. The power converter 120further includes an array of modules 126(1) through 126(N), with “N” being an integer number greater than 1. In some examples, the control circuitry 110, the interface circuitry 124, and the power converter 120 are enclosed together in a housing. In some examples, the control circuitry 110, the interface circuitry 124, and the power converter 120 are enclosed in two or more housings. For example, each module of the power converter 120 may have a respective housing that supports and encloses the module. In some examples, housings for each of the modules 126 may be coupled to one another in a stacked arrangement. In some examples, the control circuitry 110 is incorporated into a housing to a module of the power converter 120. In other examples, the control circuitry 110 is in a separate housing from the modules 126 of the power converter 120. In some examples, the modules of the power converter may also be referred to as power converter modules, and, in some examples, each module of the power converter 120 may be a three-phase AC / DC converter (see, e.g., FIG. 6 and related discussion below). In other examples, the modules include or are, for example, DC / DC converters, single phase AC / DC converters, or an AC / DC converter of another number of phases.

[0032] The load 14 includes a battery 142, an aux device 144, and user control 146. The user control 146 may include actuators and sensors. The load 14 may be an electrical load on the bidirectional power system 12 during some time periods, and may be an electrical source for the bidirectional power system 12 in other time periods. Accordingly, the load 14 may also be referred to as a load-source 14 or source 14, but is generally referred to herein as the load 14 to simplify the discussion.

[0033] The motor 10 may include a stator, a rotor, motor windings, and a motor shaft. The rotor may include permanent magnets, wound field, or a combination (hybrid) of permanent magnets and wound fields. The rotor may be coupled to a motor shaft such that, when the rotor is rotatably driven, the motor shaft is rotatably driven (i.e., rotated). The stator may include a plurality of stator windings that may be driven with a current to generate a changing magnetic field to cause the rotor to rotate. The motor shaft may be supported by one or more motor bearings to enable the support and rotation of the motor shaft. For example, the motor shaft may include a first motor bearing at a driven end of the motor shaft (an end of the motor shaft coupled to the rotor) and a second motor bearing at a distal end of the motor shaft. In some examples, other motor bearing arrangements are used. The motor shaft may be further coupled to a transmission or gearing (a gear train) that drives mechanical load. For example, in the case of an electric vehicle, the transmission may ultimatelybe coupled to one or more wheels to cause the vehicle to be propelled. In other examples, the motor 10 is part of an industrial equipment and causes rotation of another mechanical load (e.g., cutting instruments, grinders, conveyer motors, etc.).

[0034] The control circuitry 110 is configured to communicate with the memory 114 to store data to the memory 114 and retrieve stored data from the memory 114. The memory 114 can include read-only memory (“ROM”), random access memory (“RAM”), other non-transitory computer- readable media, or a combination thereof. The memory 114 can include instructions for the electronic processor 112 to execute. The instructions can include software executable by the electronic processor 112 to enable the bidirectional power system 12 to, among other things, perform or control the functions of the bidirectional power system 12 described herein, including analyzing mode commands that the control circuitry 110 receives from the user control 146 and controlling the bidirectional power system 12 based on the analysis. The software can include, for example, firmware, one or more applications, program data, filters, rules, and other executable instructions. The control circuitry 110 may receive, wirelessly, over-the-air (OTA) updates to the software that is executable by the electronic processor 112.

[0035] The electronic processor 112 may receive instructions and data from the memory 114 and execute, among other things, the instructions. In particular, the electronic processor 112 executes instructions stored in the memory 114. One or more algorithms for performing processes described herein can be stored in instructions in memory 114, and executed by the electronic processor 112, for example. Thus, the electronic processor 112 can be configured to perform or control the functions of the bidirectional power system 12 described herein, including performing a process for operating the bidirectional power system 12 as is illustrated by the flowcharts of FIGS. 8A and 8B and / or performing a process 1600 for operation of a power system illustrated by the flowchart of FIG. 16.

[0036] The multiphase power conversion system 1 may perform vehi cl e-to-every thing (V2X) communication. V2X communication may include real-time wireless and / or wired communication between the multiphase power conversion system 1 and electrical equipment. The control circuitry 110 permits the multiphase power conversion system 1 to perform the V2X communication wirelessly and / or wired and in real-time. The V2X communication may include vehicle-to- infrastructure (V21) communication, vehicle-to-network (V2N) communication, and / or vehicle- to-vehicle (V2V). The multiphase power conversion system 1, when performing V2Icommunication, may communicate with electric infrastructure. The multiphase power conversion system 1, when performing V2N communication, may communicate with data networks. The multiphase power conversion system 1, when performing V2V communication, may communicate with other vehicles.

[0037] FIG. 2 is a partially exploded isometric view of a vehicle drive unit 200. The drive unit 200 includes a motor 202 (e.g., similar to or identical to motor 10 illustrated and described with respect to FIG. 1). The motor 202 can be a motor of an EV and can be mechanically coupled to a transmission assembly 204 including a plurality of gears configured to rotate about respective axes that are parallel to a rotational axis for a rotor of the motor 202.

[0038] As further shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the vehicle drive unit 200 includes a power conversion assembly 206 (e.g., similar to power converter 120 shown in FIG. 1) including a plurality of auto converter modules (ACMs) 208. The ACMs 208 are similar to or identical to the array of modules 126(1) - (N) that are illustrated and described with respect to FIG. 1.

[0039] As shown, the power conversion assembly 206 includes a first ACM 208a, a second ACM 208b, up to an nth ACM 208n. In the illustrated embodiment the power conversion assembly 206 includes seven ACMs 208. In other examples, a power conversion assembly can include fewer than seven ACMs, or more than seven ACMs. In some cases, a number of ACMs provided for a motor, or for non-traction loads, can correspond to system characteristics. For example, if more torque or power is needed for a motor, more ACMs can be provided. Correspondingly, if less power is required, fewer ACMs can be provided, which can reduce a total volume, weight, and cost of a vehicle drive unit, for example.

[0040] It can be advantageous to reduce a part count in production of ACMs for a vehicle drive unit, and therefore, ACMs can include identical geometries. For example, as further shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each of the ACMs 208 are relatively identically shaped, and include concave indented portions to accommodate corresponding convex portions of the motor 202 and the transmission assembly 204. As further shown, the ACMs 208 can be stacked in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotor, and additional ACMs 208 can be added to provide additional power. As described with respect to FIG. 1, each of the ACMs 208 can operate to invert a DC signal into an AC signal. Additionally, each of the ACMs 208 can operate to convert an AC signal to a DC signal, as further described below. ACMs of a vehicle drive unit can convert a DC inputinto a three phase AC voltage output. In some cases, ACMs can invert a DC signal into a singlephase AC signal, or an AC signal with more than three phases.

[0041] FIG. 4 is an isometric view of an ACM circuit board 400, according to some aspects. The ACM circuit board 400 can include electronic components to output multiple phases of AC power signal from a single DC input signal, and / or to provide a DC output signal from one or multiple phases of an AC input power signal. In some examples, the ACM circuit board 400 is an example of a module of the power converter 120 of FIG. 1. The ACM circuit board 400 may be housed in an ACM 208, as illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. In some examples, an ACM 208 houses two ACM circuit boards 400. As illustrated, the ACM circuit board 400 may have a curved perimeter that mirrors the perimeter of and fits within the ACM 208. For example, the ACM circuit board 400 may have a first cutaway 402a to follow a motor 202 shape and a second cutaway 402b to follow a driven shaft of the transmission assembly 204. In other examples, the ACM circuit board 400 has a different shape than illustrated.

[0042] As shown, the ACM circuit board 400 can include a first pair of field effect transistors (FETs) 402, 404, a second pair of FETs 406, 408, and a third pair of FETs 410, 412. In some examples, FETs provided for ACMs (e.g., pairs of FETs housed on an ACM circuit board) can be a junction FET (JFET), a metal oxide semiconductor FET (MOSFET), or any other type of FET. In some examples, FETs of an ACM perform switching to implements pulse width modulation (PWM) to convert a DC signal into an AC signal with a desired amplitude and frequency. For example, the FETs 404, 406 can implement PWM in response to a pulse-width modulated input control current to produce an output AC signal at a first phase, with a defined amplitude and frequency. For example, in some cases, the output signal of the first pair of FETs 404, 406 can be an AC signal with a voltage of root mean squared (RMS) 120 V (i.e., with amplitude (peak-to- peak) of 340 V) and a frequency of 60 hz. The output signal of the second pair of FETs 406, 408 can be similar to the output signal of the first pair of FETs 404, 406 (e.g., an output voltage of RMS 120 V and a frequency of 60 hz), but the signal can be shifted 120 degrees from the phase of the signal produced by the first pair of FETs 404, 406. Similarly, the output AC signal of the third pair of FETs 414, 416 can be shifted 120 degrees from the output signal of the second pair of FETs 410, 412. In some examples, other voltage levels and / or frequencies are of AC signals are generated by the FETs 404-414 and the ACM circuit board 400. In some examples, a power conversion module (e.g., an ACM) can use switching components other than FETs to invert a DCsignal to AC, including, for example, insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) or other transistor elements.

[0043] Further, each phase of AC current produced by an ACM can be filtered to produce the desired signal characteristics and filter out unwanted frequencies or amplitudes of AC current. In some examples, an AC signal from FETs of an ACM can be filtered by an LC filter before the signal is provided to power a downstream AC load (e.g., a motor). As shown in FIG. 4, the ACM circuit board 400 can include inductor coil 418, 420, 422 to provide inductance for the LC filters. As shown, a first inductor coil 418 can be electrically downstream of the first pair of FETs 404, 406 to produce the first phase of AC voltage. Similarly, a second inductor coil 420 can provide inductance for an LC filter along the second phase of AC voltage, and the third inductor coil 422 can provide inductance along the third phase of AC voltage.

[0044] In some examples, the ACM circuit board 400 may also be bidirectional in that the ACM circuit board 400 may convert received AC voltage (e.g., from a motor 10 or 202 or grid 108) to DC voltage (e.g., to charge a battery 142). For example, the FETs 404-414 of the ACM circuit board 400 implement PWM in response to a pulse-width modulated input control current to produce an output DC voltage at a defined amplitude based on AC voltage received at the FETs pairs 404-414 (e.g., each FET pair of FETs 404-414 receiving a phase of a three phase AC voltage).

[0045] In some examples, the ACM circuit board 400 further includes a portion of a control system that controls the components (e.g., the FETs) of the ACM circuit board 400. For example, the ACM circuit board 400 may include the control circuitry 110 or a portion thereof. For example, the ACM circuit board 400 may include a local controller for controlling the particular ACM circuit board 400 (see, e.g., discussion of local controllers 704 with respect to FIG. 7) and / or a central controller (see, e.g., discussion of central controller 702 of FIG. 7).

[0046] FIG. 5A illustrates a power conversion system 500 including a controller 502, a high- voltage DC (HVDC) power supply 504 (e.g., a battery, which can be similar or identical to the battery 142 described with respect to FIG. 1), a plurality of ACMs 506a-d, and motors 516a-b. The ACMs 506a-d may be generically referred to as an ACM 506 or the ACMs 506. The motors may be generically referred to as a motor 516 or the motors 516. The HVDC power supply 504 can provide a DC voltage input via DC bus 505 to each of the ACMs 506, to be rectified into a three- phase AC signal, as illustrated. The controller 502 can be in communication with each of the ACMs 506 to provide input signals (e.g., a control signal) to each ACM 506 to control switching elementsof the ACM (e.g., FETs of the ACM). A control signal from the controller 502 can further determine a state of a particular ACM (e.g., enabled or disabled), an operating mode of the plurality of ACMs (e.g., parallel or cascaded), or characteristics of an output signal produced by one or more ACMs (e.g., the controller-provided control signal(s) can include or ultimately indicate PWM control signal(s) for FETs of the ACMs 506 to produce output signals with desired characteristics). As shown, the controller 502 can be connected to the ACMs 506 via a communications interface 508. In the illustrated example, the communications interface 508 is a DC controller area network (CAN) bus. In some examples, the communications interface can include a wired ethemet (ETH) connection. In some examples, a communications interface for a power conversion system can be wireless (e.g., a controller can communicate with ACMs 506 via a Bluetooth, Wi-Fi connection, a cellular connection, or the like). The power conversion system 500 can be similar or identical to the multiphase power conversion system 1 described with respect to FIG. 1. For example, the ACMs 506 may be examples of the modules 126 of the power converter 120 of FIG. 1, the controller 502 may be an example of the control circuitry 110, the HVDC 504 may be an example of the battery 142, and / or the motor(s) 516 may be an example of the motor 10.

[0047] As further illustrated in FIG. 5A, each ACM 506 can output three phases of AC voltage. For example, a first phase of AC voltage from each of the ACMs 506a, 506b, 506c, 506d can be provided to a first phase output line 510, a second phase of AC voltage from each of the ACMs 506a, 506b, 506c, 506d can be proved to a second phase output line 512, and a third phase of AC voltage from each of the ACMs 506a, 506b, 506c, 506d can be provided to a third phase AC output line 514.

[0048] The ACMs 506a, 506b, 506c, 506d can each be uniform, providing similar or identical power outputs as each of the other ACMs 506a, 506b, 506c, 506d. For example, when two or more ACMs are uniform or substantially similar, the ACMs may have similar topologies comprised of components that are similarly sized and rated. For example, each corresponding FET, capacitor, inductor, etc. between uniform or substantially similar ACMs may be the same model type with similar power ratings, similar layout, similar size, similar construction materials, etc. Accordingly, uniform ACMs are expected to provide similar outputs for similar inputs, to wear at a similar rate, and generally behave similarly.

[0049] In contrast, in some examples, one or more of the ACMs 506 can be specialized to provide specific power characteristics adapted to a particular load. For example, ACM 506a can have a higher power rating than the other ACMs 506b-e and, accordingly, adapted to provide greater power to enable greater torque output by one or more of the motors 516a, 516b (e.g., by providing a higher current or greater ratio of voltage to frequency). For example, when an ACM is specialized, it may have a unique topology (compared to another ACM) and / or one or more components that are sized or rated to handle increased (or decreased) loads. Accordingly, an ACM 506 may be a high-power ACM 506 because it has one or more FETs, capacitors, inductors, or other circuit components that are sized or rated for higher output power than those components of another ACM. In another example, an ACM 506 may be a low-power ACM 506 because it has one or more FETs, capacitors, inductors, or other circuit components that are sized or rated for lower output power than those components of another ACM.

[0050] The controller 502 can enable the ACM 506a when higher torque is required for the motors 516a, 516b (e.g., for accelerating to increase speed) and disable the ACM 506a when higher torque is no longer required at one or more of motors 516a, 516b (e.g., for maintaining speed). In some examples, one or more of ACMs 506 can be optimized for charging the HVDC power supply 504, and the controller can enable those ACMs 506 when AC sources (e.g., motors 516a,b or an AC grid) are provided and the HVDC power supply 504 functions as a load in the system 500. In some examples, ACMs 506 can be provided for non-traction loads (e.g., for powering an AC grid, for residential applications, etc.) and power characteristics of individual ACMs can be adapted for specific workloads in a given application. Further, although the power conversion system 500 is illustrated with four ACMs 506a-d, in some examples, the power conversion systems 500 includes fewer or more ACMs 506. For example, as noted with the ACMs 208 in FIGS. 2-3, additional ACMs 506 may be included to increase the power available from the power conversion system 500 (e.g., to drive the motors 516), to provide an additional dedicated charging ACM 506 (to charge a battery of the power supply 504), or the like. Similarly, fewer ACMs 506 may be included in the power conversion system 500 to reduce the volume, weight, and cost of the power conversion system 500.

[0051] As illustrated in FIG. 5 A, the motors 516a, 516b can receive AC signals (e.g., the AC voltage and AC current output at output lines 510, 512, and 514). In the illustrated example, the power conversion system 500 includes two motors 516. In other examples, a power conversionsystem can include only one motor, or more than two motors. For example, in some cases, an EV can include individual motors for each wheel of the vehicle, and the power conversion system can provide power to drive each of the wheels. In some cases, an EV can include a single motor to drive a front or rear axle.

[0052] As shown, each of the motors 516a, 516b can include multiple coils to generate an electromagnetic field to drive rotation of a rotor of the motor. For example, coils 518, 520, and 522 are illustrated for motor 516a. Each coil can correspond to a given phase of AC current. For example, as shown, coil 518 is connected to output line 510 to receive a first phase of AC voltage, coil 520 is connected to output line 512 to receive a second phase of AC voltage, and coil 522 is connected to output line 514 to receive a third phase of AC voltage. In some examples, the motor 516a has more than three stator coils. For example, in some examples, each coil 518, 520, and 522 in the diagram represent multiple respective stator coils on the motor 516a. In some examples, the motor(s) 516a and / or 516b is a wound field synchronous motor including one or more rotor windings (not shown in the diagram) that may also be driven with current provided by the power supply 504 to generate a magnetic field for interaction with the stator coils of the motor(s) 516a and / or 516b (e.g., coils 518, 520, 522).

[0053] FIG. 5B illustrates a DC / DC converter 550. The DC / DC converter 550 is illustrated as a half-bridge converter. The DC / DC converter 550 may be included in the power converter 120 of FIG. 1 (e.g., as one of the modules 126 (l)-(N)). The DC / DC converter 550 may be configured as a bi-directional converter that can boost (increase) or buck (decrease) incoming DC voltage to generate output voltage at an increased or decreased level. The DC / DC converter 550 may be coupled at first end to one or more batteries (e.g., the battery 142 of FIG. 1 and / or HVDC power supply 504 of FIG. 5A) and at a second end to one or more AC / DC power converters described herein (e.g., another one of the modules 126 (l)-(N) of the power converter 120 in FIG. 1 or the ACM(s) 506). For example, with respect to FIG. 5A, the DC / DC converter 550 (positioned between HVDC 504 and the ACMs 506) can boost voltage from the HVDC 504 to a higher level for use by the ACMs 506 to convert to AC power (to drive a motor or output to the grid), and can buck (reduce) DC voltage received from the ACMs 506 to a lower level for use in charging the HVDC 504.

[0054] In some examples, the DC / DC converter 550 may be coupled at a first end to one or more batteries (e.g., the battery 142 of FIG. 1 and / or HVDC power supply 504 of FIG. 5A) and at asecond end to another electric vehicle for vehicle-to-vehicle DC power transfer or to another DC source or DC load. The DC / DC converter 550 can buck or boost the DC voltage being output or received by the vehicle having the DC / DC converter 550 to a desired level. When the DC / DC converter 550 is receiving DC power from another vehicle or other DC source coupled to the second end, the DC / DC converter 550 may, for example, convert and apply the received power to charge a battery of the vehicle having the DC / DC converter 550 or to drive a DC / AC converter of the vehicle having the DC / DC converter 550 to provide AC output (e.g., to a local grid or to a utility grid). Additionally, the DC / DC converter 550 may receive power from one or more batteries at the first end, and convert and output DC power to another vehicle or other DC load coupled to the second end. The other vehicle may similarly use the received power to charge a battery or convert the DC power to AC for output on a local grid or utility grid.

[0055] Turning more particularly to FIG. 5B, the DC / DC converter 550 includes DC terminals 552 (also referred to as DC nodes, DC links, DC rails, etc.) having a positive DC terminal 554 and a negative DC terminal 556. The converter 550 further includes interface terminals 560 (also referred to as interface nodes) having a positive interface terminal 562 and negative interface terminal 564. The converter 550 may be operated as a bidirectional converter or as a unidirectional converter (in either direction), depending on the configuration and control of the system in which it is implemented. Accordingly, the DC terminals 552 may be input terminals and the interface terminals 560 may be output terminals in some examples, and the DC terminals 552 may be output terminals and the interface terminals 560 may be input terminals in some examples. In some examples, the DC terminals 552 are coupled to positive and negative DC terminals of the HVDC 504 (or battery 142) and the interface terminals 560 are coupled to positive and negative DC terminals of the ACM(s) 506 (or module(s) (l)-(N) of power converter 120).

[0056] The converter 200 further includes a DC link capacitor (CDC) 570, a, a high side (upper) power switching element (Ml) 572 (also referred to as upper switch or upper FET 572), a low side (lower) power switching element (M2) 574 (also referred to as lower switch or lower FET 574), a midpoint node 576 connecting a drain terminal of upper switch 572 and a source terminal of lower switch 574, and an LC filter 578.

[0057] The power switching elements 572 and 574 may be field effect transistors (FETs), each having a respective gate, source, and drain terminal. The FETs may be, for example, a MOSFET, a silicon carbide (SiC) FET, a gallium nitride (GaN) FET, among other types of FETs.

[0058] The LC filter 578 includes a switch-side inductor Lsw 580, a lower capacitor CB 582, and an upper capacitor CA 584. The switch-side inductor Lsw 580 is coupled between the midpoint node 576 and a filter node 586. For example, a first end of the switch-side inductor Lsw 580 is coupled to the midpoint node 576, and a second end is coupled to the filter node 586. The lower capacitor CB 582 is coupled between the filter node 586 and the negative DC terminal 564. For example, a first end of the lower capacitor CB 582 is coupled to the filter node 586, and a second end is coupled to the negative DC terminal 564. The upper capacitor CA 584 is coupled between the filter node 586 and the positive DC terminal 554. For example, a first end of the lower capacitor CA 584 is coupled to the filter node 586, and a second end is coupled to the positive DC terminal 554.

[0059] In some examples, the LC filter 578 is an LCL filter (an LC filter with an additional inductor (L)), in which an additional (interface) inductor is coupled between the filter node 586 and the positive interface terminal 562.

[0060] The converter further includes drain-source capacitors CDS, each respectively coupled across one of the switches 572, 574. In some examples of the converter 550, one or both of the upper capacitor CA 584 and the drain-source capacitors CDS are not included in the converter 550. In some examples, multiple instances of the power converter 550 are paralleled to provide the DC / DC power conversion.

[0061] FIG. 5B illustrates one example of a DC / DC converter that may be present in the power converter 120 (see FIG. 1). In other examples of the power converter 120, a DC / DC converter of a different topology is used.

[0062] FIG. 5C illustrates an on-board charger and grid-tied configuration 588 of an electric vehicle, according to some examples. This configuration 588 is an example of the arrangement described above with respect to FIG. 5B with the DCZDC converter 550 and an AC / DC converter. More particularly, the configuration 588 may include the DC / DC converter 550 (described with respect to FIG. 5B) coupled to the high voltage battery 504 (described with respect to FIG. 5A), a power-factor correction (PFC) stage 590 coupled to the DCZDC converter 550 via a DC bus 591 and coupled to a terminal block 592. The DC / DC converter 550, the PFC stage 590, the DC bus 591, and the terminal block 592 may be incorporated into or integrated with an electric vehicle. The terminal block 592 may enable coupling to a grid interface 593 that is connected to a three- phase AC grid 594. The three-phase AC grid 594 may include LI, L2, and L3 conductors, eachcarrying a respective phase of the three-phase AC grid 594, as well as a neutral line (N) and an earth ground (PE). The terminal block 592 may similarly include corresponding LI, L2, L3, N, and PE terminals, where the LI, L2, L3, and N terminals connect to the PFC stage 590 and the PE terminal connects to a vehicle chassis 595.

[0063] The PFC stage 590 may be and function as a AC / DC converter circuit that also performs power factor correction. The PFC stage 590 may be implemented by one of the previously described AC / DC power converters described herein (e.g., one of the modules 126 (l)-(N) of the power converter 120 in FIG. 1 or the ACM(s) 506). Accordingly, for example, the PFC stage 690 may be implemented as an multiphase converter 600 described with respect to FIG. 6, and may be controlled, for example, as described with respect to FIG. 7, to rectify AC power received from the AC grid 594 and perform power correction to output DC power on the DC bus 591 (in a charging mode), and at other times, to invert DC power received from the DC bus 591 to output AC power to the AC grid 594. In some examples, during a charging mode, the PFC stage 590 implements a boost function and power factor correction to provide a boosted DC voltage to the DC bus 591, and then the DC / DC converter 550 may function as a DC-DC buck circuit to control and reduce the DC voltage provided to the battery 504 for charging. In some examples, during grid-tied mode, the DC / DC converter 550 may function as a DC-DC boost circuit to boost the DC voltage provided by the battery 504 for output on the DC bus 591, and the PFC stage 590 implements a DC / AC conversion. The PFC stage 590 and / or the DC / DC converter 550 may be isolated or non-isolated, in various embodiments.

[0064] FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of a multiphase converter 600 according to some examples. The multiphase converter 600 can be partially or fully included in an ACM (e.g., any or all of ACMs 208 illustrated in FIG. 2 and 3, ACM circuit board 400 illustrated in FIG. 4, or ACMs 506 of FIG. 5A). Thus, the multiphase converter 600 may be an example of converter circuitry of an ACM 208, an ACM 506, or an ACM circuit board 400. As shown, the multiphase converter 600 can be coupled to a battery 602 (e.g., a DC power source), illustrated as a battery 602, on a DC side and can output multi-phase AC signals on an AC side. The multiphase converter 600 may serve as the power converter 120 of the bidirectional power system 12 in FIG. 1, or as a module or ACM thereof. With reference to FIGS. 1 and 5, the battery 602 is an example of the battery 142 (e.g., the DC load / source) and the power supply 504, respectively. Returning to FIG. 6, in operation, themulti-phase converter 600 may function as a DC / AC inverter or an AC / DC rectifier, depending on the sources and switching of the power switching elements.

[0065] The multiphase converter 600, also referred to as a power converter stage, includes three instances of a power converter, one for each phase of a multi-phase AC signal output by the multiphase converter (e.g., the A phase, B phase, and C phase outputs as shown in FIG. 6). Each instance of the power converter includes an upper and a lower switch 604 and 606. The upper and lower switch 604, 606 can correspond to FETs of a pair of FETs, as illustrated in FIG. 4. For example, the FET 404 can correspond to one of the upper switches 604, and the other FET 406 of the first pair of FETs can correspond to the lower switch 606 immediately opposite the upper switch 604. Although not illustrated, each switch 604 and 606 may include a respective drainsource capacitor coupled thereacross. The multiphase converter 600 is further coupled, via the DC terminals 608, to the battery 602, and via interface terminals 610a, 610B, 610c to one or more AC load or source (e g., the motor 10 and / or AC grid 108 shown in FIG. 1, the motor 202 of FIG. 2-3, or the motor 516a and / or 516b of FIG. 5 A). More particularly, the interface terminals 610a can be an output of a first phase of AC voltage, the interface terminal 610B can be an output of a second phase of AC voltage, and the interface terminal 610c can be an output of a third phase of AC voltage (e.g., interface terminals 610a, 610B, 610c can correspond to output lines 510, 512, 514 respectively as shown in FIG. 5A). The multiphase converter system 600 includes three LC filters 612. Each LC filter 612 includes a switch-side inductor 614 (also labeled Lfs,a, Lfs,b, or Lts.c), a lower capacitor 616 (also labeled Cf,a, Crb, and Cf,c), an upper capacitor 618 (also labeled Cf,a, C b, or Cr,c). A neutral point 620a of the lower capacitors 616 is coupled to the negative DC terminal 602b, such that the neutral point 620 and the negative DC terminal 224 are a common node. Similarly, a neutral point 620b of the upper capacitors 618 is coupled to the positive DC terminal 602a. The switch-side inductor 614 is coupled between the midpoint node 622 and the fdter node 624. Although the multiphase converter system 600 includes the upper capacitor 618 for each phase, in some examples, the upper capacitors 618 are not included.

[0066] As further illustrated in FIG. 6, in some examples of the power conversion systems provided herein, the LC fdter 612 includes an LC fdter for each phase, where a common point of each capacitor is connected to the DC bus negative terminal (and / or positive terminal). This connection creates a bypassing path for zero-sequence voltage control. By leveraging thetopological modification and zero voltage control, the common mode voltage can be stabilized to reduce leakage current.

[0067] In some examples, the power converters described herein (e.g., the bidirectional power system 12 or the multiphase converter system 600) are non-isolated power converters. In other examples, the power converters described herein may be isolated power converters that are coupled to an AC load or source via an isolating transformer.

[0068] In some embodiments, a power conversion system (e.g., similar to bidirectional power system 12 illustrated in FIG. 1) has an N-phase power converter and a cascaded control system, with “N” being an integer number greater than 1. A cascaded control system includes a central controller and at least one local controller. For example, FIG. 7 illustrates a cascaded control system 700, and the description of control system 700 may apply either fully or partially to the control circuitry 110 illustrated in FIG. 1 and / or to the control system 502 illustrated in FIG. 5 A. As noted above, the control system 700 may be a cascaded control system including the central controller 702 cascaded with one or more local controllers 704. When the control system 700 is referred to as the cascaded control system 700 herein, the control system 700 should be understood to include at least one of the local controllers 704 in addition to the central controller 702. The cascaded control system 700 may provide, for example, resonance damping, improved dynamic performance, and / or leakage current attenuation capabilities. Additionally, the cascaded control system 700 can improve the modularity of the components (e.g., easing the addition and removal of local controllers and corresponding converter blocks as ACMs).

[0069] In some embodiments of the cascaded control system 700, the central controller 702 provides an outer loop of control, while each of the local controllers 704 provides a distinct inner loop of control. For example, the central controller 702 may implement a PI controller, PID controller, or other regulating controller, that regulates the control for a power converter 706 or individual ACMs 706(1) through 706(X) (e.g., similar to ACMs 208 illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, and ACMs 506 illustrated in FIG. 5A) of the power converter 706 in a rotating reference frame (e g., the dqO reference frame). “X” is an integer number greater than 1. While the discussion below references ACM 706(1), the control system 700 can control other ACMs of the power converter 706 (e.g., ACM 706(X)) in a similar or identical manner as described for ACM 706(1).

[0070] Additionally, the control system can implement processes and workflows across multiple ACMs of a power converter, including the process 800 described in FIGS. 8A and 8B. As part ofthe outer loop of control, the central controller 702 generates control reference targets (e.g., targets Refabc) based on the regulation in the rotating reference frame. For example, the central controller 702 may receive electrical operational characteristics from each local controller 704a-c of the ACM 706(1), which may include one or more of vc,abc, io, abc, and i , abc. The central controller 702 may convert these electrical operational characteristics from the stationary reference frame (abc reference frame) to the rotational reference frame (e.g., dqO) using the Park-Clark transform. Then, the central controller 702 may implement a regulation scheme to determine a control reference target in the rotational reference frame (e.g., Vc.dqo) based on, for example, a comparison of io.d o to reference targets i0.dqo* (e.g., obtained from memory, or from a lookup table based on a desired output current received by the central controller 702). Then, the central controller may transform the control reference target from the rotational reference frame to the stationary reference frame using the inverse Park-Clarke transform to generate, for example, Vc.abc* as Refabc. Thus, the control reference targets may be generated in the stationary (abc) reference frame. Additionally, the central controller 702 may provide the control reference targets to the local controllers 704. The local controllers 704 may be configured to control one or more of the N phases of the power converter 706, where the control of the N phases of the power converter 706 is divided up among the local controllers 704. Thus, each phase of the power converter 706 may be associated with and controlled by a particular local controller 704.

[0071] Each respective local controller 704 implements the inner loop control via model predictive control (MPC), PI control, PID control, or another regulating technique, based on the control reference targets (e.g., targets voltages to achieve operational parameters for the system, which can include a target velocity, acceleration, maximum heat flux, current, torque, etc.) received from the central controller 702. For example, each local controller 704 may also receive a voltage measurement or estimate for the voltage across the lower capacitor 616 (vc) (illustrated in FIG. 6) associated with the same phase or converter block 708 as the local controller. Based on the measured or estimated capacitor voltage (vc) and the control reference target (e.g., vc*), each local controller 704 may control its associated converter block 708 to adjust or control the switching of the power switching elements to achieve (or tend towards) a capacitor voltage (vc) that is equal to the reference control target. The inner loop control provided by the respective local controllers 704 includes the generation of control signaling provided to the power switching elements of the ACM 706(1) (or, in FIG. 6, converter 600). For example, with reference also to FIG. 6, the localcontroller 704(a) provides control signaling to the power switching elements 604, 606 of a first phase of the ACM 706(1), the local controller 704b provides control signaling to the power switching elements 604, 606 of a second phase of the ACM 706(1), and the local controller 704c provides control signaling to the power switching elements 604, 606 of a third phase of the ACM 706(1).

[0072] The control signaling provided by each local controller 704 may be a PWM signal of a particular duty cycle and frequency. The duty cycle may be determined using a regulator scheme (e g., PI, PID, or MPC algorithm) based on the control reference target received from the central controller and estimated or measured values for the phase associated with the particular local controller. The frequency may be selected using a variable frequency soft switching algorithm that identifies the frequency that will enable a soft switch of the power switching elements. By varying the switching frequency to achieve soft-switching, as opposed to hard switching, high turn-on losses of the upper switch are substituted with low turn-off losses of the lower switch of a converter block. More particularly, in some examples, to realize soft switching, each local controller 704 reshapes the phase leg inductor current ripple such that the vertex and nadir points are positive and negative. The vertex and nadir point ripple value should be large enough to guarantee a full soft switching. For example, each local controller 704 may receive or determine the inductor current (it), de rail voltage (vac), and inductance of the inductor (Lf), and determined duty cycle, and determine from these inputs a switching frequency (fsw) to achieve soft switching for the converter block that the local controller drives. The desired switching frequency (fsw) may be derived according to a threshold current, Itfl, of soft switching operation criteria. The phase leg side inductor current ripple, AiL, can be demonstrated asand the soft switching operation criteria require the vertex and nadir points of the phase leg side inductor current values to be larger than Ithand smaller than -lth. Thus, the derivation of the timevarying switching frequency, fsw, can be demonstrated asin which iL averepresents the mean value of phase leg side inductor current.

[0073] The central controller 702 and the local controllers 704 may communicate with each other in real time (e.g., each control cycle) both monitoring information (e.g., sensor data) and control information. For example, each local controller 704 may determine and transmit, in real time to the central controller 702, electrical operational characteristics particular to the phase or phases of the ACM 706(1) with which the local controller 704 is associated. For example, with reference to FIG. 7, these electrical operational characteristics may include one or more of vc.abc, io.abc, and iL,abc for each ACM 706. For example, vc,a, io, a, and i , a are from local controller 704(a); vc.b, io,b, and ir,b are from local controller 704(b); and so on. In some embodiments, the local controllers 704 provide other electrical operational characteristics. Additionally, the central controller 702 may determine and transmit, in real time to the respective local controllers 704, the control reference targets. In some examples, control reference targets are voltage reference targets, as discussed above. In some examples, the control reference targets are current reference targets. In such examples, the local controllers 704 may control the power switching elements of their respective phases in accordance with the current reference targets.

[0074] As further illustrated in FIG. 7, the cascaded control system 700 illustrates an example of the communications for at least some examples of the bidirectional power system 12 illustrated in FIG. 1 and the converter system 500 illustrated in FIG. 5A. For example, the cascaded control system 700 is an example of a cascaded control system that enables the communications described above with respect to cascaded control systems.

[0075] The cascaded control system 700 includes the central controller 702 and local systems 710(a)-(c). Each local system includes a respective local controller 704(a)-(c) and a respective local converter or converter block 708(a)-(c) (instances of the converter block 708 described with respect to the power converter 600 of FIG. 6). Although each ACM 706 is illustrated as a three- phase system, in some examples, the ACM 706 may include n phases, with “n” being an integer number greater than 1. The converter blocks 708, although illustrated in FIG. 7, may be considered separate from the control system and, rather, part of the power converter (e.g., as illustrated in FIG. 1 with separate control circuitry 110 and power converter 120). Further, each ACM (e.g., ACM 208, 506, 706) may include a portion the power converter 120 (e.g., the converter block 710 for each phase of the ACM) and a portion of the control circuitry 110 (e.g., the local controller 704 for each phase of the ACM). The central controller 702 and local controllers 704(a)-(c) arecommunicatively coupled via a communication bus 709 (e.g., similar, or identical to communications system 508 shown in FIG. 5A). The communication bus 709 may include a collection of dedicated communication paths between each local controller 704 and the central controller 702, may include shared communication paths between the local controllers 704 and the central controller 702 (e.g., where communications include addressing information to identify an intended destination device), or a combination thereof.

[0076] As noted, the central controller 702 and the local controllers 704 may communicate with each other in real time (e.g., each control cycle) both monitoring information (e.g., sensor data) and control information. For example, the local controllers 704 may determine and transmit to the central controller 702 electrical operational characteristics including one or more of Vc,abc, lo,abc, and it,abc, and the central controller 702 may determine and transmit the control reference targets (e.g., which may be Vc.abc*, io.abc*, and i ,abc*) based on the received electrical operational characteristics. In FIG. 7, the electrical operational characteristics and control reference targets are shown on bus 709 for only the ACM 706(1); however, similar electrical operational characteristics and control reference targets may be exchanged between the other ACMs 706(n) and the central controller 700 as well. The local controllers 704 may further generate and transmit PWM control signals to their corresponding converter block 708. The PWM control signals output by the local controllers 704 may indicate a duty cycle and / or a frequency for a PWM signal that drives a gate terminal of each power switching element of the converter block 708 or may be the PWM signal itself. Each converter block 708 may further includes a respective gate driver for driving the power switching elements of the converter block, or the gate driver for a local converter block 710 may be considered part of the corresponding local controller 704.

[0077] In some examples, a state estimator is associated with each of the local controllers 704 to provide an estimation of one or more of the electrical operational characteristics for the phase associated with the local controller based on samplings of other electrical characteristics for the phase. For example, the state estimator may implement a Luenberger observer technique that estimates the switch side inductor current for a phase (also referred to herein as inductor current iL,abc) based on the capacitor voltage (Vc,abc) and grid side inductor current (io,abc) for the phase. Use of a state estimator can reduce the number of sensors used in the system to provide the local controllers 704 with the electrical characteristics, thereby reducing costs and / or size of the motor circuitry.

[0078] In some embodiments, the cascaded control system further incorporates one or both of harmonic injection, as described above, or MPC for active damping to mitigate resonance, as described below. When used in a power conversion system (e.g., the system 1 and system 500), MPC may provide, for example, active resonance damping, improved dynamic performance, and / or leakage current attenuation capabilities, which can be particularly beneficial a non-isolated power converters system, but also beneficial in an isolated power converter system.

[0079] A controller of the control system 700, such as the central controller 702 or the local controllers 704, implementing MPC may be referred to as an MPC controller. The MPC controller may be configured to determine electrical operational characteristics of the ACM 706(1) (e.g., characteristics for each phase of the converter), determine one or more control reference targets for the ACM 706(1) (e.g., a target per phase of the converter), and then generate control signaling, based on an MPC algorithm using the electrical operational characteristics and the control reference target. The control signaling may be applied to actuate the power switching elements of the ACM 706(1) to perform voltage conversion and active damping to mitigate resonance in filter circuit(s) of the ACM 706(1) (e.g., LC filters 612 shown in FIG. 6).

[0080] The MPC controller (or MPC controllers) may implement an MPC algorithm for each phase of the ACM 706(1) to generate the control signaling. As used herein, MPC can refer to a control algorithm that relies on or is aware of a system dynamic (e.g., implements or uses a dynamic model representing the converter under control) and predicts, through computation based on electrical characteristics of the converter and the dynamic model, input commands or reference values to control the system's behavior. Accordingly, MPC, as used herein, may refer to a model predictive control algorithm in a stricter use of the term (such as described in further detail below) as well as other dynamic prediction algorithms (e.g., a linear-quadratic regulator (LQR) control algorithm).

[0081] In one example, to implement the MPC algorithm for a particular phase, the MPC controller may, in each control period, solve a cost function using the electrical characteristics and the control reference target for that phase. By solving the cost function, the MPC controller can predict future steps of control signaling to actuate the power switching elements to control power on that phase of an AC voltage section of the power converter to trend towards the control reference target. The MPC controller may then generate the control signaling for that particular phase based on a first step of the future steps of control signals. Accordingly, in contrast to a PIcontrol algorithm, the MPC algorithm derives an optimal duty cycle by processing a state variable and tracking error in a linear way with specific coefficients. Because no integration procedure is needed in MPC, the dynamic performance of MPC may be improved relative to a PI technique with less overshoot and higher tracking speed. Additionally, because MPC has higher control bandwidth, the MPC controller can provide an active damping term to mitigate (reduce or eliminate) LC or LCL resonance that may otherwise be present in a filter circuit in the AC section of the ACM 706(1).

[0082] Power conversion systems (e.g., bidirectional power system 12 shown in FIG. 1 or power conversion system 500 shown in FIG. 5A) can control N-phase power converters (e.g., ACMs) of the system to achieve desired power efficiencies for the power conversion system for different loads or load configurations. In some examples, a control circuitry 110, 502, 700 of the power conversion system can selectively enable N-phase power converters of a power conversion system to implement a cascaded power conversion (a cascaded mode). For example, in some examples, a first N-phase power converter can be enabled, and when the first N-phase power converter reaches or achieves a preselected load, the power conversion system can enable a second N-phase power converter to reach or achieve a greater power output and increase an efficiency. In some cases, a plurality of N-phase power converters can be enabled, and a DC load can be alternately provided to each of the plurality of enable N-phase power converters to implement a cascaded power conversion in which AC input signal is rectified to provide a DC signal to the DC load. In some cases, a control circuitry 110, 502, 700 can operate N-phase power converters of a power conversion system in a round-robin mode where a round-robin selection algorithm is used to switch which N-phase power converted s) of the plurality of enabled N-phase power converter to receive and convert DC power periodically (e.g., every millisecond every 5 ms, every 10 ms, every 20 ms, every 50 ms, every 100 ms, etc.). The round-robin mode may be considered a sub-mode or particular example of the cascaded mode. In some cases, a control circuitry 110, 502, 700 can operate N-phase power converters of a power conversion system in a parallel mode, rather than in a cascaded mode, distributing power conversion evenly or relatively evenly to each of the plurality of N-phase power converters at the same time (e.g., without switching between enabled N-phase power converters).

[0083] Referring to FIGS. 8A and 8B, flowcharts showing an example of a process for operating the bidirectional power system 12 (see FIG. 1) are illustrated, in accordance with some aspects ofthe disclosure. As noted above, the electronic processor 112 of the bidirectional power system 12 can be configured to perform the process for operating the bidirectional power system 12 as is illustrated by the flowcharts of FIGS. 8 A and 8B. Further, as described above, FIGS. 2-7 illustrate examples of components and configurations of components of the power system 1. Accordingly, the bidirectional power system 12, implemented in a manner as illustrated and described with respect to one or more of FIGS. 2-7, may be configured to perform the process of FIGS. 8A and 8B. Although the process in FIGS. 8A and 8B is described with respect to the multiphase power conversion system 1, in some examples, the process in FIGS. 8A and 8B is executable by another device or within another system. Although the blocks of the process in FIGS. 8A and 8B are illustrated in a particular order, one or more of the blocks may be executed in another order or in parallel (partially or entirely) with another block or blocks of the process.

[0084] The electronic processor 112 may execute the instructions in the memory 114 to perform the process illustrated in FIG. 8A. As illustrated in FIG. 8A, the electronic processor 112 may control the bidirectional power system 12 to operate in various operation modes. As described further below, these operation modes may include a charging mode as illustrated in FIGS. 9A and 9B, a power reception mode as illustrated in FIGS. 10A and 10B, a power generation mode as illustrated in FIGS. 11A and 11B, a regenerative braking mode as illustrated in FIG. 12, and a traction mode as illustrated in FIG. 13.

[0085] The process in FIG. 8A begins at block 800, for example, when power is applied to the bidirectional power system 12. Thereafter, the process of FIG. 8A proceeds to block 802.

[0086] In block 802, the electronic processor 112 performs an initialization of the bidirectional power system 12 that sets the mode of the bidirectional power system 12 to an initial mode. The initial mode is a default setting for the bidirectional power system 12. For example, while in the initial mode, the electronic processor 112 may control the bidirectional power system 12 in a manner that prevents the interface circuitry 124 from outputting electric power to the connector 122. Thereafter, the process of FIG. 8A proceeds to block 804. In some examples of the process in FIG. 8 A, the bidirectional power system 12 proceeds directly to block 804, bypassing block 802.

[0087] In block 804 of FIG. 8A, the electronic processor 112 may detect performance events. In some examples, in response to detecting a performance event, the electronic processor 112 sets an operational mode of the bidirectional power system 12. The operational mode may be, for example,a charging mode, power reception mode, power generation mode, regenerative braking mode, or traction mode. The flowchart of FIG. 8B is an example of the block 804 process for detecting the performance events, discussed in further detail below.

[0088] After detecting a performance event in block 804, the process in FIG. 8 A advances to block 806. In block 806 of FIG. 8A, the electronic processor 112 determines whether or not the electronic processor 112 has set the operation mode of the bidirectional power system 12. When the electronic processor 112 determines in block 806 that the electronic processor 112 has not set the operation mode of the bidirectional power system 12, the process in FIG. 8 A advances from block 806 to block 802 and the process repeats beginning at block 802.

[0089] When the electronic processor 112 determines in block 806 that the electronic processor 112 has set the operation mode of the bidirectional power system 12 (e.g., to one of the aforementioned operational modes), the electronic processor 112 configures the bidirectional power system 12 to perform the operational mode in block 806. Thereafter, the process in FIG. 8 A advances from block 806 to block 808 and performs the operational mode. Examples of the bidirectional power system 12 performing the various operational modes are described in further detail below (e g., with respect to FIG. 9A - FIG. 13).

[0090] In some examples, the electronic processor 112 may continue to perform the operational mode (in block 808) until the electronic processor 112 detects a new performance event. For example, upon beginning to perform the operational mode in block 808, the process of FIG. 8A may loop back from block 808 to block 804 and await detection of a new performance event. In such case, the electronic processor 112 may then set a new operational mode in block 804, proceed through block 806 to block 808 with the new operational mode being set, and, in block 808, start performing the new operational mode.

[0091] Accordingly, in at least some examples, the bidirectional power system 12, via electronic processor 112, is configured to continuously detect performance events and set an operational mode of the bidirectional power system 12 based on the detected performance events.

[0092] Referring to FIG. 8B, illustrated is a flowchart showing an example of a process for the electronic processor 112 to detect the performance events, in accordance with some aspects of the disclosure. As previously noted, the flowchart of FIG. 8B is an example of the block 804 process for detecting the performance events.

[0093] In FIG. 8B, the process of block 804 begins with block 831 and proceeds to block 832. In block 832, the electronic processor 112 detects whether a performance event occurred. In particular, the electronic processor 112 determines whether a performance event has occurred that indicates to set the operational mode of the converter / charger to a charging mode. An example of such a performance event is an electrical connection between the connector 122 and a charging station.

[0094] In some examples, with reference to FIGS. 9A and 9B, a charging station 16 is removably connectable to the connector 122 of the interface circuitry 124. The multiphase power conversion system 1 may communicate with a charging station 16. The charging station 16 is equipment that may supply electric power from a power distribution grid to the multiphase power conversion system 1. Data link 15 is a V2X communication link. The data link 15 (and V2X communication link) may include a wireless communication link, a wired communication link, or a communication link including both wireless and wired communication links. The control circuitry 110 establishes the data link 15 when the control circuitry 110 detects the presence of the charging station 16. The control circuitry 110 may detect the presence of the charging station 16 when the multiphase power conversion system 1 is in the proximity of the charging station 16. The control circuitry 110 may establish the data link 15 to perform the V2X communication wirelessly with the charging station 16. The bidirectional power system 12 may output, to the charging station 16, information that identifies the electric vehicle. Specifically, the control circuitry 110 may establish the data link 15 to perform the V2X communication wirelessly with the charging station 16. The control circuitry 110 may output, wirelessly over the data link 15, the information that identifies the electric vehicle.

[0095] The charging station 16 is equipment that may supply electric power from a power distribution grid to the electric vehicle (e.g., via the bidirectional power system 12). Accordingly, one of the performance events that is detectable by the electronic processor 112 is an electrical connection between the connector 122 and the charging station 16.

[0096] The electronic processor 112 controls the bidirectional power system 12 in block 832 of FIG. 8B so as to permit the control circuitry 110 to sense the electrical connection between the connector 122 and a charging station 16. As a performance event that is detectable by the electronic processor 112 in block 832 of FIG. 8B, the electronic processor 112 may detect the existence of the electrical connection between the interface circuitry 124 and the charging station 16 when the control circuitry 110 senses the electrical connection between the connector 122 and a chargingstation 16. An electrical connection between the interface circuitry 124 and the charging station 16 exists when the connector 122 is electrically connected to the charging station 16. The electronic processor 112 may detect the existence of the electrical connection by sensing with a sensor, for example, a change in resistance at the connector 122, a change in capacitance at the connector 122, a voltage or current at the connector 112, or the like. When the electronic processor 112 detects the existence of the electrical connection between the connector 122 and the charging station 16 in block 832, the process in FIG. 8B proceeds to block 844 wherein the electronic processor 112 sets the operation mode of the bidirectional power system 12 to the charging mode. Connecting the charging station 16 to the bidirectional power system 12 is a performance event that commences the charging mode.

[0097] The process of FIG. 8B proceeds from block 844 to block 854, which returns the process to block 804 in FIG. 8A. Upon a return from block 854 in FIG. 8B to block 804 in FIG. 8A, the process in FIG. 8 A advances to block 806. In block 806 of FIG. 8A, the electronic processor 112 determines whether or not the electronic processor 112 has set the operation mode of the bidirectional power system 12. When the electronic processor 112 determines in block 806 that the electronic processor 112 has not set the operation mode of the bidirectional power system 12, the process in FIG. 8A advances from block 806 to block 802 and the process repeats beginning at block 802. When the electronic processor 112 determines in block 806 that the electronic processor 112 has set the operation mode of the bidirectional power system 12 to the charging mode, the electronic processor 112 configures the bidirectional power system 12 to perform the charging mode in block 806. Thereafter, the process in FIG. 8A advances from block 806 to block 808.

[0098] FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate two examples of the bidirectional power system 12 operating in the charging mode (e.g., as may occur in block 808 of FIG. 8A). In the power generation mode, the bidirectional power system 12 receives the electric power from the charging station 16 when the bidirectional power system 12 is electrically connected to the charging station 16.

[0099] More particularly, the solid line between the interface circuitry 124 and the motor in FIG. 9A illustrates that the electronic processor 112 may control the interface circuitry 124 during the charging mode in a manner that causes the interface circuitry 124 to output the electric power also to the motor 10. Alternatively, the dashed line between the interface circuitry 124 and the motor in FIG. 9B illustrates that the electronic processor 112 may control the interface circuitry 124during the charging mode in block 808 in a manner that causes the interface circuitry 124 to prevent the motor 10 from receiving the electric power during the power generation mode in block 808.

[0100] With continued reference to FIGS. 9A and 9B, during the charging mode, an electrical connection exists between the connector 122 and the charging station 16 so that the interface circuitry 124 may receive the electric power from the charging station 16 when the connector 122 is electrically connected to the charging station 16.

[0101] The electric power that the interface circuitry 124 receives from the charging station 16 may be direct current (DC) electric power or alternating current (AC) electric power. The interface circuitry 124 may receive the AC electric power from the charging station 16 as single-phase electric power. The electric power, when being single-phase electric power, one stream of electric current that cycles at a fixed time period. The interface circuitry 124 may receive the AC electric power from the charging station 16 as multi-phase electric power. The electric power, when being multi-phase electric power, has two or more streams of electric current with each of the streams cycling at a fixed time period while cycling out of phase with all others of the streams. Alternatively, the electric power that the interface circuitry 124 receives from the charging station 16 may be direct current (DC) electric power.

[0102] The power converter 120 receives the electric power from the interface circuitry 124 in block 808 of FIG. 8A during the charging mode. The electronic processor 112 controls the bidirectional power system 12 to operate in the charging mode in block 808 by controlling the power converter 120 in a manner that causes the power converter 120 to convert, into a direct current (DC) voltage, the electric power that the power converter 120 receives from the interface circuitry 124. Upon causing the power converter 120 to convert the electric power into the DC voltage during block 808, the electronic processor 112 controls the power converter 120 in a manner that causes the power converter 120 to output the DC voltage to the load 14.

[0103] The power converter 120 includes module (1) through module (N), with “N” being an integer number greater than 1. Each of the modules 126(1) through 126(N) may convert the DC voltage into an amount of the electric current. The voltage level of the DC voltage output from the power converter 120 may depend upon on how many of the modules 126(1) through 126(N) are engaged. For example, engaging four of the modules 126(1) through 126(N) can provide a higher maximum voltage level of the DC voltage than when three of the modules 126(1) through 126(N) are engaged. Similarly, engaging two of the modules 126(1) through 126(N) can provide a lowermaximum voltage level of the DC voltage than when three of the modules 126(1) through 126(N) are engaged.

[0104] The modules 126(1) through 126(N) may operate in parallel or in a cascaded mode to produce electric signals with desired power characteristics. In parallel mode, each of the modules 126(1) through 126(N) may be engaged to convert power, and the N modules 126 may be controlled to provide a desired power output. For example, if 50% of maximum power output for the overall power converter 120 is desired, each of the N modules 126 may be operated to output 50% maximum power output. In some cases, the control of the N modules 126 may be less complex in parallel mode than in cascade mode. In cascaded mode, the number of modules 126 to be engaged in power conversion can be selected (e.g., by the control circuitry 110 based on current power demands or characteristics of the system 1). The number of modules 126 to be engaged in the cascade mode can include all N modules 126 or fewer than N modules 126. For example, in a cascaded mode, if 50% of maximum power output for the overall power converter 120 is desired, N / 2 of the modules 126 may be engaged to output at 100% maximum power output. In some cases, the overall efficiency of the power converter 120 may be higher by enabling fewer than all N modules 126. In some examples, the engaging of modules 126 may be controlled in a cascading manner, such that the number of engaged modules 126 generally increases as the desired power output by the overall power converter 120 increases, and generally decreases as the desired power output by the overall power converter 120 decreases.

[0105] Accordingly, the electronic processor 112 may determine a desired number of modules 126 of the N modules 126 to be engaged to enable the bidirectional power system 12 to convert the electric power from the charging station 16 into the DC voltage for the load 14, the battery 142, and / or the aux device 144. In some examples, the number of the N modules 126 to be enabled for power conversion is selected based on the overall power output requirements. For example, if more DC voltage is desired for charging in the charging mode in a first instance than in a second instance, the electronic processor 112 may enable more of the N modules 126 in the first instance than in the second instance. In some examples, a subset of the modules 126 (e g., one or two modules 126) is dedicated to converting received power to DC voltage for charging in the charging mode. In other examples, the electronic processor 112 may select randomly or according to a selection scheme the subset of modules 126 to convert received power to DC voltage for charging in the charging mode. The selection scheme may be configured to cause the electronic processor112 to rotate the module(s) used in the charging mode to evenly distribute wear on the N modules 126.

[0106] During the charging mode, the electronic processor 112 monitors the bidirectional power system 12 to prevent the bidirectional power system 12 from overcharging the load 14. More specifically, when the DC voltage from the bidirectional power system 12 rises and reaches a predetermined threshold value, the electronic processor 112 controls the modules 126(1) through 126(N) of the power converter 120 so as to limit the voltage level of the DC voltage to the predetermined threshold value.

[0107] The load 14 includes a battery 142 and an aux device 144. The battery 142 is a device that stores the DC voltage as potential energy when the load 14 receives the DC voltage from the power converter 120. The battery 142 may be a rechargeable battery. As a rechargeable battery, the battery 142 may be repeatedly charged with the DC voltage when some or all of the potential energy stored in the battery 142 has been discharged from the battery 142. In block 808 of FIG. 8 A, the electronic processor 112 controls load 14 in a manner that causes load 14 to store the DC voltage in the battery 142 as the potential energy.

[0108] Aux device 144 may comprise an electrical device that consumes the DC voltage when receiving the DC voltage. In block 808 of FIG. 8A, the electronic processor 112 controls load 14 in a manner that causes load 14 to supply the DC voltage to the aux device 144 when the aux device 144 is the electrical device. The aux device 144 may comprise auxiliary battery that, when charged with the (DC) power, also stores the DC voltage as additional potential energy. Being a rechargeable battery, the auxiliary battery may be charged again with the DC voltage when some or all of the potential energy stored in the auxiliary battery has been discharged from the auxiliary battery. In block 808 of FIG. 8A, the electronic processor 112 controls load 14 in a manner that causes load 14 to store the DC voltage in the aux device 144 as auxiliary potential energy when the aux device 144 is the auxiliary battery. In some examples, aux device 144 is installed in the electric vehicle.

[0109] The process in FIG. 8A proceeds from block 808 to block 804 whereby the bidirectional power system 12 continues to operate in the charging mode until a subsequent performance event causes the control circuitry 110 to commence an operation mode other than the charging mode. Disconnecting the charging station 16 from the interface circuitry 124 is one of the performance events that causes the control circuitry 110 to terminate the charging mode.

[0110] The process in block 804 begins with block 831 in FIG. 8B and advances to block 832. The electronic processor 112 controls the bidirectional power system 12 in block 832 of FIG. 8B so as to permit the bidirectional power system 12 to sense the electrical connection between the connector 122 and a charging station 16. When the electronic processor 112 detects the nonexistence of the electrical connection between the connector 122 and the charging station 16 in block 832, the process in FIG. 8B proceeds to block 834. In another example, the electronic processor 112 may determine in block 832 to exit the charging mode in response to the electronic processor 112 determining that the battery 142 is charged above a threshold.

[0111] FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate two examples of the bidirectional power system 12 operating in the charging mode (e.g., as may occur in block 808 of FIG. 8A). In the power reception mode, the bidirectional power system 12 receives the electric current from the external power network 18 when the bidirectional power system 12 is electrically connected to the external power network 18.

[0112] As illustrated in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the interface circuitry 124 includes the connector 122. In some examples, an external power network 18 shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B is removably connectable to the connector 122 of the interface circuitry 124.

[0113] The control circuitry 110 may establish a data link 17 when the control circuitry 110 detects the presence of an external power network 18. The data link 17 is a V2X communication link between the multiphase power conversion system 1 and the external power network 18. The external power network 18 may include a vehicle or an electrical device. The external power network 18 may include the power distribution grid. In some examples, the external power network 18 includes both a vehicle and at least one other electrical device or power distribution grid. For example, the multiphase power conversion system 1 of a first electric vehicle may cooperate with a multiphase power conversion system (e.g., similar to system 1) of a second electric vehicle that is part of the external power network 18, such that the two power conversion systems may form a microgrid that cumulatively generates power for consumption by the at least one other electrical device and / or power distribution grid. The bidirectional power system 12 may output the electric power to the power distribution grid when outputting the electric power to the external power network 18. The external power network 18 may consume the electric power when the bidirectional power system 12 outputs the electric power to the external power network 18. The multiphase power conversion system 1 may communicate, with an external power network 18wirelessly over the data link 17. The control circuitry 110 may detect the presence of the external power network 18 when the multiphase power conversion system 1 is in the proximity of the external power network 18. The control circuitry 110 may establish the data link 17 to perform the V2X communication with the external power network 18. The bidirectional power system 12 may output, to the external power network 18, information that identifies the electric vehicle. Specifically, the control circuitry 110 may establish the data link 17 to perform the V2X communication wirelessly with the external power network 18. The control circuitry 110 may output, wirelessly over the data link 17, the information that identifies the electric vehicle.

[0114] One of the performance events that is detectable by the electronic processor 112 is an electrical connection between the connector 122 and the external power network 18. As a performance event that is detectable by the electronic processor 112 in block 834 of FIG. 8B, the electronic processor 112 may detect the existence of the electrical connection between the interface circuitry 124 and the external power network 18 when the control circuitry 110 senses the electrical connection between the connector 122 and the external power network 18. The electronic processor 112 controls the bidirectional power system 12 in block 834 of FIG. 8B in a manner that permits the control circuitry 110 to sense the electrical connection between the connector 122 and the external power network 18. The electronic processor 112 may detect the existence of the electrical connection by sensing with a sensor, for example, a change in resistance at the connector 122, a change in capacitance at the connector 122, a voltage or current at the connector 112, or the like. When detecting the electrical connection between the connector 122 and the external power network 18 in block 834, the electronic processor 112 determines whether the bidirectional power system 12 is to receive the electric power from the external power network 18 or output an electric current to the external power network 18.

[0115] An electrical connection between the interface circuitry 124 and the external power network 18 exists when the connector 122 is electrically connected to the external power network 18. When the electronic processor 112 detects the existence of the electrical connection between the connector 122 and the external power network 18, and determines that the bidirectional power system 12 is to receive the electric power from the external power network 18, the process in FIG. 8B proceeds from block 834 to block 846. In block 846, the electronic processor 112 sets the operation mode of the bidirectional power system 12 to the power reception mode. A performance event that commences the power reception mode is the existence of the electrical connectionbetween the connector 122 and the external power network 18, and the determination that bidirectional power system 12 is to receive the electric power from the external power network 18.

[0116] The process of FIG. 8B proceeds from block 846 to block 854, which returns the process to block 804 in FIG. 8A. Upon a return from block 854 in FIG. 8B to block 804 in FIG. 8A, the process in FIG. 8 A advances to block 806. In block 806 of FIG. 8A, the electronic processor 112 determines whether or not the electronic processor 112 has set the operation mode of the bidirectional power system 12.

[0117] When the electronic processor 112 determines in block 806 that the electronic processor 112 has not set the operation mode of the bidirectional power system 12, the process in FIG. 8 A advances from block 806 to block 802 and the process repeats beginning at block 802.

[0118] When the electronic processor 112 determines in block 806 that the electronic processor 112 has set the operation mode of the bidirectional power system 12 to the power reception mode in block 846, the electronic processor 112 in block 806 configures the bidirectional power system 12 to perform the power reception mode. Thereafter, the process in FIG. 8 A advances from block 806 to block 808.

[0119] The dashed line between the interface circuitry 124 and the motor in FIG. 10A illustrates that the electronic processor 112 may control the interface circuitry 124 during the power reception mode in block 808 in a manner that causes the interface circuitry 124 to prevent the motor 10 from receiving the electric power during the power reception mode in block 808. Alternatively, the solid line between the interface circuitry 124 and the motor in FIG. 10B illustrates that the electronic processor 112 may control the interface circuitry 124 during the power reception mode in a manner that causes the interface circuitry 124 to output the electric power to the motor 10.

[0120] During the power reception mode in block 808, an electrical connection exists between the connector 122 and the external power network 18 so that the interface circuitry 124 may receive the electric power from the external power network 18 when the connector 122 is electrically connected to the external power network 18.

[0121] The electric power that the interface circuitry 124 receives from the external power network 18 may be direct current (DC) electric power or alternating current (AC) electric power. The interface circuitry 124 may receive the AC electric power from the external power network 18 as single-phase electric power. The electric power, when being single-phase electric power, one stream of electric current that cycles at a fixed time period. The interface circuitry 124 may receivethe AC electric power from the external power network 18 as multi-phase electric power. The electric power, when being multi-phase electric power, has two or more streams of electric current with each of the streams cycling at a fixed time period while cycling out of phase with all others of the streams. Alternatively, the electric power that the interface circuitry 124 receives from the external power network 18 may be direct current (DC) electric power.

[0122] The power converter 120 receives the electric power from the interface circuitry 124 in block 808 of FIG. 8A during the power reception mode. In block 808, the electronic processor 112 controls the power converter 120 in a manner that causes the power converter 120 to convert, into the DC voltage, the electric power that the power converter 120 receives from the interface circuitry 124. Upon causing the power converter 120 to convert the electric power into the DC voltage during block 808, the electronic processor 112 controls the power converter 120 in a manner that causes the power converter 120 to output the DC voltage to the load 14.

[0123] The power converter 120 includes module (1) through module (N), with “N” being an integer number greater than 1. Each of the modules 126(1) through 126(N) may convert the DC voltage into an amount of the electric current. The voltage level of the DC voltage output from the power converter 120 may depend upon on how many of the modules 126(1) through 126(N) are engaged.

[0124] The modules 126(1) through 126(N) may operate in parallel or in a cascaded mode to produce electric signals with desired power characteristics. In some examples, engaging four of the modules 126(1) through 126(N) when electronic processor 112 controls the modules 126(1) through 126(N) to operate during a first moment of time in a cascaded mode may provide a higher maximum voltage level of the DC voltage than when three of the modules 126(1) through 126(N) are engaged. Similarly, while in the cascaded mode, engaging two of the modules 126(1) through 126(N) can provide a lower maximum voltage level of the DC voltage than when three of the modules 126(1) through 126(N) are engaged. In other examples, engaging four of the modules 126(1) through 126(N) when electronic processor 112 controls the modules 126(1) through 126(N) to operate during a first moment of time in a parallel mode may provide a lower maximum voltage level of the DC voltage than when three of the modules 126(1) through 126(N) are engaged. Similarly, while in the parallel mode, engaging two of the modules 126(1) through 126(N) can provide a higher maximum voltage level of the DC voltage than when three of the modules 126(1) through 126(N) are engaged.

[0125] The modules 126(1) through 126(N) may operate in parallel or in a cascaded mode to produce electric signals with desired power characteristics. In parallel mode, each of the modules 126(1) through 126(N) may be engaged to convert power, and the N modules 126 may be controlled to provide a desired power output. For example, if 50% of maximum power output for the overall power converter 120 is desired, each of the N modules 126 may be operated to output 50% maximum power output. In some cases, the control of the N modules 126 may be less complex in parallel mode than in cascade mode. In cascaded mode, the number of modules 126 to be engaged in power conversion can be selected (e.g., by the control circuitry 110 based on current power demands or characteristics of the system 1). The number of modules 126 to be engaged in the cascade mode can include all N modules 126 or fewer than N modules 126. For example, in a cascaded mode, if 50% of maximum power output for the overall power converter 120 is desired, N / 2 of the modules 126 may be engaged to output at 100% maximum power output. In some cases, the overall efficiency of the power converter 120 may be higher by enabling fewer than all N modules 126. In some examples, the engaging of modules 126 may be controlled in a cascading manner, such that the number of engaged modules 126 generally increases as the desired power output by the overall power converter 120 increases, and generally decreases as the desired power output by the overall power converter 120 decreases.

[0126] Accordingly, the electronic processor 112 may determine a desired number of modules 126 of the N modules 126 to be engaged to enable the bidirectional power system 12 to convert the electric power from the charging station 16 into the DC voltage for the load 14, the battery 142, and / or the aux device 144. In some examples, the number of the N modules 126 to be enabled for power conversion is selected based on the overall power output requirements. For example, if more DC voltage is desired for charging in the charging mode in a first instance than in a second instance, the electronic processor 112 may enable more of the N modules 126 in the first instance than in the second instance. In some examples, a subset of the modules 126 (e.g., one or two modules 126) is dedicated to converting received power to DC voltage for charging in the charging mode. In other examples, the electronic processor 112 may select randomly or according to a selection scheme the subset of modules 126 to convert received power to DC voltage for charging in the charging mode. The selection scheme may be configured to cause the electronic processor 112 to rotate the module(s) used in the charging mode to evenly distribute wear on the N modules 126.

[0127] During the power reception mode, the electronic processor 112 monitors the bidirectional power system 12 to prevent the bidirectional power system 12 from overcharging the load 14. More specifically, when the DC voltage from the bidirectional power system 12 rises and reaches a predetermined threshold value, the electronic processor 112 controls the modules 126(1) through 126(N) of the power converter 120 so as to limit the voltage level of the DC voltage to the predetermined threshold value.

[0128] The load 14 includes a battery 142 and an aux device 144. The battery 142 is a device that stores the DC voltage as potential energy when the load 14 receives the DC voltage from the power converter 120. The battery 142 may be a rechargeable battery. As a rechargeable battery, the battery 142 may be repeatedly charged with the DC voltage when some or all of the potential energy stored in the battery 142 has been discharged from the battery 142. In block 808 of FIG. 8A, the electronic processor 112 controls load 14 in a manner that causes load 14 to store the DC voltage in the battery 142 as the potential energy.

[0129] Aux device 144 may comprise an electrical device that consumes the DC voltage when receiving the DC voltage. In block 808 of FIG. 8A, the electronic processor 112 controls load 14 in a manner that causes load 14 to supply the DC voltage to the aux device 144 when the aux device 144 is the electrical device. The aux device 144 may comprise auxiliary battery that, when charged with the (DC) power, also stores the DC voltage as additional potential energy. Being a rechargeable battery, the auxiliary battery may be charged again with the DC voltage when some or all of the potential energy stored in the auxiliary battery has been discharged from the auxiliary battery. In block 808 of FIG. 8A, the electronic processor 112 controls load 14 in a manner that causes load 14 to store the DC voltage in the aux device 144 as auxiliary potential energy when the aux device 144 is the auxiliary battery. In some examples, aux device 144 is installed in the electric vehicle.

[0130] The process in FIG. 8A proceeds from block 808 to block 804 whereby the bidirectional power system 12 continues to operate in the power reception mode until a subsequent performance event causes the control circuitry 110 to commence an operation mode other than the power reception mode. Disconnecting the external power network 18 from the interface circuitry 124 is one of the performance events that causes the control circuitry 110 to terminate the power reception mode. A determination by the electronic processor 112 that bidirectional power system 12 is tooutput the electric current to the external power network 18 is another of the performance events that causes the control circuitry 110 to terminate the power reception mode.

[0131] The process in FIG. 8B proceeds from block 834 to block 836 when the electronic processor 112 detects the nonexistence of the electrical connection between the connector 122 and the external power network 18, and determines that bidirectional power system 12 is to output the electric current to the external power network 18.

[0132] One of the performance events that is detectable by the electronic processor 112 is an electrical connection between the connector 122 and the external power network 18.

[0133] One of the performance events that is detectable by the electronic processor 112 is an electrical connection between the connector 122 and the external power network 18. As a performance event that is detectable by the electronic processor 112 in block 836 of FIG. 8B, the electronic processor 112 may detect the existence of the electrical connection between the interface circuitry 124 and the external power network 18 when the control circuitry 110 senses the electrical connection between the connector 122 and the external power network 18. The electronic processor 112 controls the bidirectional power system 12 in block 836 of FIG. 8B in a manner that permits the control circuitry 110 to sense the electrical connection between the connector 122 and the external power network 18. The electronic processor 112 may detect the existence of the electrical connection by sensing with a sensor, for example, a change in resistance at the connector 122, a change in capacitance at the connector 122, a voltage or current at the connector 112, or the like. When detecting the electrical connection between the connector 122 and the external power network 18 in block 836, the electronic processor 112 determines whether the bidirectional power system 12 is to receive the electric power from the external power network 18 or output the electric current to the external power network 18.

[0134] An electrical connection between the interface circuitry 124 and the external power network 18 exists when the connector 122 is electrically connected to the external power network 18. When the electronic processor 112 detects the existence of the electrical connection between the connector 122 and the external power network 18, and determines that bidirectional power system 12 is to output the electric current to the external power network 18, the process in FIG. 8B proceeds from block 836 to block 848. In block 848, the electronic processor 112 sets the operation mode of the bidirectional power system 12 to the power reception mode. A performance event that commences the power reception mode is the existence of the electrical connectionbetween the connector 122 and the external power network 18, and the determination that bidirectional power system 12 is to output the electric current to the external power network 18.

[0135] The process of FIG. 8B proceeds from block 848 to block 854, which returns the process to block 804 in FIG. 8A. Upon a return from block 854 in FIG. 8B to block 804 in FIG. 8A, the process in FIG. 8 A advances to block 806. In block 806 of FIG. 8A, the electronic processor 112 determines whether or not the electronic processor 112 has set the operation mode of the bidirectional power system 12.

[0136] FIGS. 11A and 11B illustrate the multiphase power conversion system 1 operating in a power generation mode. In the power generation mode, the bidirectional power system 12 outputs the electric current to the external power network 18 when the bidirectional power system 12 is electrically connected to the external power network 18.

[0137] The external power network 18 may include a single apparatus 182(1) connected to the bidirectional power system 12. Alternatively, the external power network 18 may include apparatus 182(1) through apparatus 182(X) connected to the bidirectional power system 12, with “X” being an integer number greater than 1. Each of the apparatuses 182(1) through 182(X) is an electrical device that consumes electric power when the bidirectional power system 12 outputs the electric power to the external power network 18. The apparatuses 182(1) through 182(X) may be a network of the electrical devices. The external power network 18 may include the power distribution grid.

[0138] The dashed line between the interface circuitry 124 and the motor 10 in FIG. 11 A illustrates that the electronic processor 112 may control the interface circuitry 124 during the power generation mode in block 808 in a manner that causes the interface circuitry 124 to prevent the motor 10 from receiving the electric power during the power generation mode in block 808. Alternatively, the solid line between the interface circuitry 124 and the motor in FIG. 11B illustrates that the electronic processor 112 may control the interface circuitry 124 during the power generation mode in a manner that causes the interface circuitry 124 to output the electric power also to the motor 10.

[0139] In block 850, the electronic processor 112 sets the operation mode of the bidirectional power system 12 to the power generation mode. The process of FIG. 8B proceeds from block 850 to block 854, which returns the process to block 804 in FIG. 8A. Upon a return from block 854 in FIG. 8B to block 804 in FIG. 8A, the process in FIG. 8A advances to block 806. In block 806 ofFIG. 8 A, the electronic processor 112 determines whether or not the electronic processor 112 has set the operation mode of the bidirectional power system 12.

[0140] When the electronic processor 112 determines in block 806 that the electronic processor 112 has not set the operation mode of the bidirectional power system 12, the process in FIG. 8 A advances from block 806 to block 802 and the process repeats beginning at block 802.

[0141] Conversely, when the electronic processor 112 determines in block 806 that the electronic processor 112 has set the operation mode of the bidirectional power system 12 to the power generation mode, the process in FIG. 8 A advances from block 806 to block 808. The electronic processor 112 determining that the mode command instructs the control circuitry 110 to place the bidirectional power system 12 in the power generation mode is a performance event that commences the power generation mode or continues the power generation mode.

[0142] In block 808, the electronic processor 112 configures the bidirectional power system 12 to perform the power generation mode. FIGS. 11 A and 1 IB illustrate the bidirectional power system 12 operating in the power generation mode. While in the power generation mode, the bidirectional power system 12 converts the potential energy that is stored in the load 14 into electric power that is consumed by the external power network 18.

[0143] The existence of the power generation instruction in the mode information may occur when the user control 146 includes an actuator such as a switch or some other device, and manipulation of the actuator causes the user control 146 to output the power generation instruction in the mode command. The electronic processor 112 determining that the mode command instructs the control circuitry 110 to place the bidirectional power system 12 in the power generation mode is a performance event that commences the power generation mode or continues the power generation mode.

[0144] When processing the power generation mode instruction, the electronic processor 112 may determine an amount of the electric power to be output from the bidirectional power system 12 to the external power network 18. In particular, the electronic processor 112, in block 808, controls the bidirectional power system 12 to perform the power generation mode. The control circuitry 110 configuring the power converter 120 to receive a DC voltage from the load 14 in block 808 may commence or continue the power generation mode. When configuring the power converter 120 to receive the DC voltage from the load 14, the electronic processor 112 may control the load 14 in a manner that causes the load 14 to output the potential energy that is stored in the battery142 as a DC voltage. During block 808, the electronic processor 112 may control the power converter 120 to receive the DC voltage from the load 14 and convert the DC voltage into electric current. In block 808 of FIG. 8A, the electronic processor 112 controls load 14 in a manner that causes load 14 to supply the DC voltage to the aux device 144 when the aux device 144 is the electrical device.

[0145] The power converter 120 includes module (1) through module (N), with “N” being an integer number greater than 1. Each of the modules 126(1) through 126(N) may convert the DC voltage into an amount of the electric current. The total amount of the electric current output from the bidirectional power system 12 is dependent upon on how many of the modules 126(1) through 126(N) are engaged.

[0146] The modules 126(1) through 126(N) may operate in parallel or in a cascaded mode to produce electric signals with desired power characteristics. In some examples, engaging four of the modules 126(1) through 126(N) when electronic processor 112 controls the modules 126(1) through 126(N) to operate during a first moment of time in a cascaded mode may provide a higher maximum voltage level of the DC voltage than when three of the modules 126(1) through 126(N) are engaged. Similarly, while in the cascaded mode, engaging two of the modules 126(1) through 126(N) can provide a lower maximum voltage level of the DC voltage than when three of the modules 126(1) through 126(N) are engaged. In other examples, engaging four of the modules 126(1) through 126(N) when electronic processor 112 controls the modules 126(1) through 126(N) to operate during a first moment of time in a parallel mode may provide a lower maximum voltage level of the DC voltage than when three of the modules 126(1) through 126(N) are engaged. Similarly, while in the parallel mode, engaging two of the modules 126(1) through 126(N) can provide a higher maximum voltage level of the DC voltage than when three of the modules 126(1) through 126(N) are engaged.

[0147] The modules 126(1) through 126(N) may operate in parallel or in a cascaded mode to produce electric signals with desired power characteristics. In parallel mode, each of the modules 126(1) through 126(N) may be engaged to convert power, and the N modules 126 may be controlled to provide a desired power output. For example, if 50% of maximum power output for the overall power converter 120 is desired, each of the N modules 126 may be operated to output 50% maximum power output. In some cases, the control of the N modules 126 may be less complex in parallel mode than in cascade mode. In cascaded mode, the number of modules 126 tobe engaged in power conversion can be selected (e.g., by the control circuitry 110 based on current power demands or characteristics of the system 1). The number of modules 126 to be engaged in the cascade mode can include all N modules 126 or fewer than N modules 126. For example, in a cascaded mode, if 50% of maximum power output for the overall power converter 120 is desired, N / 2 of the modules 126 may be engaged to output at 100% maximum power output. In some cases, the overall efficiency of the power converter 120 may be higher by enabling fewer than all N modules 126. In some examples, the engaging of modules 126 may be controlled in a cascading manner, such that the number of engaged modules 126 generally increases as the desired power output by the overall power converter 120 increases, and generally decreases as the desired power output by the overall power converter 120 decreases.

[0148] Accordingly, the electronic processor 112 may determine a desired number of modules 126 of the N modules 126 to be engaged to enable the bidirectional power system 12 to convert the electric power from the charging station 16 into the DC voltage for the load 14, the battery 142, and / or the aux device 144. In some examples, the number of the N modules 126 to be enabled for power conversion is selected based on the overall power output requirements. For example, if more DC voltage is desired for charging in the charging mode in a first instance than in a second instance, the electronic processor 112 may enable more of the N modules 126 in the first instance than in the second instance. In some examples, a subset of the modules 126 (e.g., one or two modules 126) is dedicated to converting received power to DC voltage for charging in the charging mode. In other examples, the electronic processor 112 may select randomly or according to a selection scheme the subset of modules 126 to convert received power to DC voltage for charging in the charging mode. The selection scheme may be configured to cause the electronic processor 112 to rotate the module(s) used in the charging mode to evenly distribute wear on the N modules 126.

[0149] The control circuitry 110 permits the electronic processor 112 to determine an amount of electric power to be output from the bidirectional power system 12 to the external power network 18. The electronic processor 112, in block 808, processes the mode information in the mode command to determine the number of the modules 126(1) through 126(N) to be engaged during block 808. When the electronic processor 112 determines the number of the modules 126(1) through 126(N) to be engaged, the electronic processor 112 controls the power converter 120 is a manner that causes the power converter 120 to engage the number of the modules 126(1) through126(N). For each time that the process proceeds to block 808, the electronic processor 112 may determine the number of the modules 126(1) through 126(N) to be engaged when the mode is the power generation mode. The electronic processor 112 controls the power converter 120 in a manner that prevents the bidirectional power system 12 from exceeding the maximum power capability of the bidirectional power system 12.

[0150] When the bidirectional power system 12 receives the potential energy from the load 14, the power converter 120 converts the DC voltage into the total amount of the electric current. The electronic processor 112 may control the power converter 120 in a manner that causes the power converter 120 to output the electric current to the interface circuitry 124. The electronic processor 112 may control the interface circuitry 124 to output, to the external power network 18, the electric current during block 808.

[0151] The electric power that the external power network 18 receives from the interface circuitry 124 may be DC electric power or AC electric power. The external power network 18 may receive the AC electric power from the interface circuitry 124 as single-phase electric power. The electric power, when being single-phase electric power, one stream of electric current that cycles at a fixed time period. The external power network 18 may receive the AC electric power from the interface circuitry 124 as multi-phase electric power. The electric power, when being multi-phase electric power, has two or more streams of electric current with each of the streams cycling at a fixed time period while cycling out of phase with all others of the streams. Alternatively, the electric power that the external power network 18 receives from the interface circuitry 124 may be DC electric power.

[0152] The process in FIG. 8A proceeds from block 808 to block 804 whereby the bidirectional power system 12 continues to operate in the power reception mode until a subsequent performance event causes the control circuitry 110 to commence an operation mode other than the power reception mode. Disconnecting the external power network 18 from the interface circuitry 124 is one of the performance events that causes the control circuitry 110 to terminate the power generation mode. A determination by the electronic processor 112 that bidirectional power system 12 is to receive the electric power from the external power network 18 is another of the performance events that causes the control circuitry 110 to terminate the power generation mode.

[0153] The process in FIG. 8B proceeds from block 836 to block 838 when the electronic processor 112 detects the nonexistence of the electrical connection between the connector 122 andthe external power network 18 or determines that bidirectional power system 12 is not to output the electric current to the external power network 18.

[0154] In block 838, the control circuitry 110 receives a mode command from the user control 146. Upon receiving the mode command, the electronic processor 112 decodes the mode command to determine whether or not mode information in the mode command instructs the electronic processor 112 to set the bidirectional power system 12 to an operation mode. The memory 114 stores a list of the operation modes that the bidirectional power system 12 may perform. The electronic processor 112 retrieves, from the memory 114, the list of the operation modes in block 838. The electronic processor 112 in block 838 compares the mode information in the mode command against the list of the operation modes to determine whether a power reception instruction is existent or nonexistent in the mode information.

[0155] Thereafter, the process in FIG. 8B proceeds to blocks 240 and 242. In FIG. 8B, each of the blocks 240 and 242 allows the electronic processor 112 to compare the mode information against the list of the operation modes. Although blocks 240 and 242 of the process in FIG. 8B are illustrated in a particular order, one or more of the blocks may be executed in another order or in parallel (partially or entirely) with another block or blocks of the process.

[0156] When the electronic processor 112 determines that a braking instruction exists in the mode information, the process in FIG. 8B proceeds from block 840 to block 850. The existence of a braking instruction in the mode information may occur when the user control 146 includes an actuator such as a brake pedal or some other device, and manipulation of the actuator causes the user control 146 to output the braking instruction in the mode command. The electronic processor 112 determining that the mode command instructs the control circuitry 110 to place the bidirectional power system 12 in the regenerative braking mode is a performance event that commences the regenerative braking mode or continues the regenerative braking mode. In block 850, the electronic processor 112 sets the operation mode of the bidirectional power system 12 to the regenerative braking mode.

[0157] The process of FIG. 8B proceeds from block 850 to block 854, which returns the process to block 804 in FIG. 8A. Upon a return from block 854 in FIG. 8B to block 804 in FIG. 8A, the process in FIG. 8A advances to block 806. In block 806 of FIG. 8A, the electronic processor 112 determines whether or not the electronic processor 112 has set the operation mode of the bidirectional power system 12.

[0158] When the electronic processor 1 12 determines in block 806 that the electronic processor 112 has not set the operation mode of the bidirectional power system 12, the process in FIG. 8 A advances from block 806 to block 802 and the process repeats beginning at block 802.

[0159] Conversely, when the electronic processor 112 determines in block 806 that the electronic processor 112 has set the operation mode of the bidirectional power system 12 to the regenerative braking mode, the process in FIG. 8 A advances from block 806 to block 808.

[0160] FIG. 12 illustrates the bidirectional power system 12 operating in the regenerative braking mode. In some examples, the motor 10 shown in FIG. 12 converts mechanical energy into electric power during a braking of the motor 10. The mechanical energy is due to the rotation speed of the motor shaft for the motor 10. The braking of the motor 10 occurs upon the cessation of the electric power from the bidirectional power system 12 to the motor 10. During the braking of the motor 10, the rotation speed of the motor shaft for the motor 10 reduces. The braking of the motor 10 may be AC injection braking in which the motor 10 produces the electric power due to the rotation speed of the motor shaft for the motor 10. Alternatively, the braking of the motor 10 may be DC injection braking in which the bidirectional power system 12 applies a direct current to stationary windings of the motor 10 upon the cessation of the electric power to the motor 10.

[0161] When processing the braking instruction in block 808, the electronic processor 112 may configure the bidirectional power system 12 to perform the regenerative braking mode. While in the regenerative braking mode, the electronic processor 112 controls the interface circuitry 124 in a manner that causes the interface circuitry 124 to prevent the motor 10 from receiving electric power from the interface circuitry 124 while permitting the interface circuitry 124 to receive electric power from the motor 10.

[0162] The electric power that the interface circuitry 124 receives from the motor 10 may be direct current (DC) electric power or alternating current (AC) electric power. The interface circuitry 124 may receive the AC electric power from the motor 10 as single-phase electric power. The electric power, when being single-phase electric power, one stream of electric current that cycles at a fixed time period. The interface circuitry 124 may receive the AC electric power from the motor 10 as multi-phase electric power. The electric power, when being multi-phase electric power, has two or more streams of electric current with each of the streams cycling at a fixed time period while cycling out of phase with all others of the streams. Alternatively, the electric power that the interface circuitry 124 receives from the motor 10 may be direct current (DC) electric power.

[0163] The power converter 120 receives the electric power from the interface circuitry 124 during block 808. In block 808 of FIG. 8A, the electronic processor 112 controls the power converter 120 in a manner that causes the power converter 120 to convert, into the DC voltage, the electric power that the power converter 120 receives from the interface circuitry 124. Upon causing the power converter 120 to convert the electric power into the DC voltage during block 808, the electronic processor 112 controls the power converter 120 in a manner that causes the power converter 120 to output the DC voltage to the load 14.

[0164] The power converter 120 includes module (1) through module (N), with “N” being an integer number greater than 1. Each of the modules 126(1) through 126(N) may convert the DC voltage into an amount of the electric current. The voltage level of the DC voltage output from the power converter 120 is dependent upon on how many of the modules 126(1) through 126(N) are engaged. For example, engaging four of the modules 126(1) through 126(N) will cause a higher voltage level of the DC voltage than when three of the modules 126(1) through 126(N) are engaged. Similarly, engaging two of the modules 126(1) through 126(N) will cause a lower voltage level of the DC voltage than when three of the modules 126(1) through 126(N) are engaged.

[0165] During the regenerative braking mode, the electronic processor 112 monitors the bidirectional power system 12 to prevent the bidirectional power system 12 from overcharging the load 14. More specifically, when the DC voltage from the bidirectional power system 12 rises and reaches a predetermined threshold value, the electronic processor 112 controls the modules 126(1) through 126(N) of the power converter 120 so as to limit the voltage level of the DC voltage to the predetermined threshold value.

[0166] The load 14 includes a battery 142 and an aux device 144. The battery 142 is a device that stores the DC voltage as potential energy when the load 14 receives the DC voltage from the power converter 120. The battery 142 may be a rechargeable battery. As a rechargeable battery, the battery 142 may be repeatedly charged with the DC voltage when some or all of the potential energy stored in the battery 142 has been discharged from the battery 142. In block 808 of FIG. 8A, the electronic processor 112 controls load 14 in a manner that causes load 14 to store the DC voltage in the battery 142 as the potential energy.

[0167] Aux device 144 may comprise an electrical device that consumes the DC voltage when receiving the DC voltage. In block 808 of FIG. 8A, the electronic processor 112 controls load 14 in a manner that causes load 14 to supply the DC voltage to the aux device 144 when the auxdevice 144 is the electrical device. The aux device 144 may comprise auxiliary battery that, when charged with the (DC) power, also stores the DC voltage as additional potential energy. Being a rechargeable battery, the auxiliary battery may be charged again with the DC voltage when some or all of the potential energy stored in the auxiliary battery has been discharged from the auxiliary battery. In block 808 of FIG. 8A, the electronic processor 112 controls load 14 in a manner that causes load 14 to store the DC voltage in the aux device 144 as auxiliary potential energy when the aux device 144 is the auxiliary battery. In some examples, aux device 144 is installed in the electric vehicle.

[0168] The process in FIG. 8A proceeds from block 808 to block 804 whereby the bidirectional power system 12 continues to operate in the regenerative braking mode until a subsequent performance event causes the control circuitry 110 to commence an operation mode other than the regenerative braking mode.

[0169] When the electronic processor 112 determines that the braking instruction is nonexistent in the mode information, the process in FIG. 8B proceeds from block 840 to block 842. In block 842, the electronic processor 112 compares the mode information in the mode command against the list of the operation modes to determine whether a traction mode is existent or nonexistent in the mode information.

[0170] When the electronic processor 112 determines that the traction mode instruction exists in the mode information, the process in FIG. 8B proceeds from block 842 to block 852. In block 852, the electronic processor 112 sets the operation mode of the bidirectional power system 12 to the traction mode. The process of FIG. 8B proceeds from block 852 to block 854, which returns the process to block 804 in FIG. 8A. Upon a return from block 854 in FIG. 8B to block 804 in FIG. 8A, the process in FIG. 8A advances to block 806. In block 806 of FIG. 8A, the electronic processor 112 determines whether or not the electronic processor 112 has set the operation mode of the bidirectional power system 12.

[0171] When the electronic processor 112 determines in block 806 that the electronic processor 112 has not set the operation mode of the bidirectional power system 12, the process in FIG. 8A advances from block 806 to block 802 and the process repeats beginning at block 802.

[0172] Conversely, when the electronic processor 112 determines in block 806 that the electronic processor 112 has set the operation mode of the bidirectional power system 12 to the traction mode, the process in FIG. 8A advances from block 806 to block 808. The electronic processor 112determining that the mode command instructs the control circuitry 110 to place the bidirectional power system 12 in the traction mode is a performance event that commences the traction mode or continues the traction mode.

[0173] In block 808, the electronic processor 112 configures the bidirectional power system 12 to perform the traction mode. FIG. 13 illustrates the bidirectional power system 12 operating in the traction mode. While in the traction mode, the bidirectional power system 12 converts the potential energy that is stored in the load 14 into mechanical energy that is produced by the motor 10. The existence of the traction mode instruction in the mode information may occur when the user control 146 includes an actuator such as an accelerator pedal or some other device, and manipulation of the actuator causes the user control 146 to output the traction mode instruction in the mode command. Accordingly, the traction mode may refer to a mode of the electric vehicle in which the motor 10 is driven by the bidirectional power system 12 to propel the vehicle. Additionally or alternatively, in some examples, the traction mode may refer to a mode of the bidirectional power system 12. For example, when the bidirectional power system 12 includes a dedicated on-board charger (e.g., comprising one or more of the modules 126 (1) through (N) functioning as an AC / DC rectifier), the traction mode may refer to the dedicated on-board charger turning off or being reconfigured as a DC / DC converter, for example, to boost or buck DC voltage received from the battery 142 and being provided to another of the one or more modules 126 (1) through (N) serving as an AC / DC inverter that drives the motor 10. As another example, when the bidirectional power system 12 includes one or more modules 126 (1) through (N) that is / are selectively controlled to function as an on-board charger in some instances, and as an AC / DC inverter to drive the motor 10 in other instances, the traction mode may refer to the one or more modules 126 (1) through (N) being controlled to function as the AC / DC inverter (rather than the on-board charger). Accordingly, the traction mode may refer to the mode of the electric vehicle, to the mode of the bidirectional power system 12 (e.g., and the power converter 120 or modules thereof), or to both.

[0174] When processing the traction mode instruction, the electronic processor 112 may determine an amount of the electric power to be output from the bidirectional power system 12 to the motor 10. In particular, the electronic processor 112, in block 808, controls the bidirectional power system 12 to perform the traction mode. The control circuitry 110 configuring the power converter 120 to receive a DC voltage from the load 14 in block 808 may commence or continue the traction mode. When configuring the power converter 120 to receive the DC voltage from the load 14, theelectronic processor 1 12 may control the load 14 in a manner that causes the load 14 to output the potential energy that is stored in the battery 142 as a DC voltage. During block 808, the electronic processor 112 may control the power converter 120 to receive the DC voltage from the load 14 and convert the DC voltage into electric current. In block 808 of FIG. 8A, the electronic processor 112 controls load 14 in a manner that causes load 14 to supply the DC voltage to the aux device 144 when the aux device 144 is the electrical device.

[0175] Power converter 120 includes module (1) through module (N), with “N” being an integer number greater than 1. Each of the modules 126(1) through 126(N) may convert the DC voltage into an amount of the electric current. The total amount of the electric current output from the bidirectional power system 12 is dependent upon on how many of the modules 126(1) through 126(N) are engaged. Engaging four of the modules 126(1) through 126(N) will cause a higher total amount of the electric current than when three of the modules 126(1) through 126(N) are engaged. Similarly, engaging two of the modules 126(1) through 126(N) will cause a lower total amount of the electric current than when three of the modules 126(1) through 126(N) are engaged. The electronic processor 112 controls the power converter 120 in a manner that prevents the bidirectional power system 12 from exceeding the maximum power capability of the bidirectional power system 12.

[0176] The mode command includes information that permits the electronic processor 112 to determine an amount of electric power to be output from the bidirectional power system 12 to the motor 10. The electronic processor 112, in block 808, processes the mode information in the mode command to determine the number of the modules 126(1) through 126(N) to be engaged during block 808. When the electronic processor 112 determine the number of the modules 126(1) through 126(N) to be engaged, the electronic processor 112 controls the power converter 120 is a manner that causes the power converter 120 to engage the number of the modules 126(1) through 126(N). For each time that the process proceeds to block 808, the electronic processor 112 may determine the number of the modules 126(1) through 126(N) to be engaged when the mode is the traction mode.

[0177] When the bidirectional power system 12 receives the potential energy from the load 14, the power converter 120 converts the DC voltage into the total amount of the electric current. The electronic processor 112 may control the power converter 120 in a manner that causes the power converter 120 to output the electric current to the interface circuitry 124. The electronic processor112 may control the interface circuitry 124 to output, to the motor 10, the electric current during block 808.

[0178] The motor 10 is an electromechanical device that converts the total amount of the electric current into mechanical energy. The motor shaft of the motor 10, when the motor 10 receives the higher total amount of the electric current from the bidirectional power system 12, will rotate faster that when the motor 10 receives the lower total amount of the electric current from the bidirectional power system 12.

[0179] The electric power that the motor 10 receives from the interface circuitry 124 may be DC electric power or AC electric power. The motor 10 may receive the AC electric power from the interface circuitry 124 as single-phase electric power. The electric power, when being single-phase electric power, one stream of electric current that cycles at a fixed time period. The motor 10 may receive the AC electric power from the interface circuitry 124 as multi-phase electric power. The electric power, when being multi-phase electric power, has two or more streams of electric current with each of the streams cycling at a fixed time period while cycling out of phase with all others of the streams. Alternatively, the electric power that the motor 10 receives from the interface circuitry 124 may be DC electric power.

[0180] The process in FIG. 8A proceeds from block 808 to block 804 whereby the bidirectional power system 12 continues to operate in the traction mode until a subsequent performance event causes the control circuitry 110 to commence an operation mode other than the traction mode.

[0181] When the electronic processor 112 determines that the traction mode instruction is nonexistent in the mode information, the process in FIG. 8B proceeds from block 842 to block 854, which returns the process to block 804 in FIG. 8A. Upon a return from block 854 in FIG. 8B to block 804 in FIG. 8A, the process in FIG. 8 A advances to block 806. In block 806 of FIG. 8A, the electronic processor 112 determines whether or not the electronic processor 112 has set the operation mode of the bidirectional power system 12. When the electronic processor 112 determines in block 806 that the electronic processor 112 has not set the operation mode of the bidirectional power system 12, the process in FIG. 8 A advances from block 806 to block 802 and the process repeats beginning at block 802.

[0182] In some examples, the power conversion system 1 further selects an operational mode based on mode enabled settings. The mode enabled settings may be flags or indicators, stored in the memory 114 or another memory accessible by the control circuitry 110, that indicate whetherparticular modes of the potential operational modes of the power conversion system 1 may be activated and enabled by the power conversion system 1. For example, each operational mode of the power conversion system 1 (e.g., charging mode, power reception mode, power generation mode, regenerative braking mode, and traction mode) may have an associated mode enabled flag stored in the memory 114. Each mode enabled flag may be a binary value indicating whether the associated operational mode is enabled or disabled, or may have additional values indicating levels of enablement of the associated operational modes (e.g., enabled parallel mode only, enabled cascaded mode only, enabled parallel or cascade mode, disabled).

[0183] In some examples, to select an operational mode based on the mode enabled settings, the electronic processor 112 determines whether the mode enabled flag indicates that an associated operational mode is enabled before setting the bidirectional power system 12 in that particular mode. For example, with reference to FIG. 8B, in block 832, as an additional condition, the electronic processor 112 may determine whether the mode enabled flag for the charging mode is set to enabled before proceeding to block 844. Similarly, in block 834, as an additional condition, the electronic processor 112 may determine whether the mode enabled flag for the power reception mode is set to enabled before proceeding to block 846. Similarly, in block 836, as an additional condition, the electronic processor 112 may determine whether the mode enabled flag for the power generation mode is set to enabled before proceeding to block 848. Similarly, in block 840, as an additional condition, the electronic processor 112 may determine whether the mode enabled flag for the regenerative braking mode is set to enabled before proceeding to block 850. Similarly, in block 842, as an additional condition, the electronic processor 112 may determine whether the mode enabled flag for the traction mode is set to enabled before proceeding to block 852.

[0184] The mode enabled flags may be preset with default values at the time of manufacture (e.g., all enabled, all disabled, some enabled and some disabled). Further, in some examples, the mode enabled flags may be updated based on communications that the power conversion system 1 receives from an external source. In one example, the mode enabled settings may have mode enabled flags with default settings such that one or more of the charging mode, traction mode, and regenerative braking mode are enabled, and one or more of the power reception mode and power generation mode are disabled. Then, with reference to FIG. 1, the power conversion system 1 may communicate wirelessly with a server, a mobile device (e.g., laptop, smart phone, tablet), a personal computer (desktop, laptop), or another external computing device to receive an over-the-air (OTA) update. The OTA update may include one or more wireless communications received by the power conversion system 1 that cause the power conversion system 1 to enable one or more disabled (or not fully enabled) operational modes. For example, the OTA update may update the mode enabled settings to enable or change the enabled level of one or more operational modes. In the example given, the OTA update may update the mode enabled flags of the power reception mode and / or the power generation mode to enable the mode(s).

[0185] In some examples, the OTA update may be triggered by a request from a user of the power conversion system 1. For example, a client computing device (e.g., mobile device, personal computer, etc.) of an owner or operator of the electric vehicle in which the power conversion system 1 resides may transmit a request to enable an operational mode. The client device may wirelessly transmit the request via a communication network (e.g., Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular, etc.) to a server device to enable the operational mode. In some examples, the server device may respond to the client device (e.g., after receiving an associated payment or confirming that the operator or client device has appropriate authority) with a token or other validation message to the client device. In response to the received validation message, the client device (e.g., software executing thereon) may communicate the OTA update to the power conversion system 1. In some examples, the server may communicate the OTA update to the power conversion system 1 without the client device as an intermediary. Accordingly, using these techniques, an OTA update may be used to enable V2X functionality (e.g., by enabling one or both of the power reception and power generation mode) where the power conversion system 1 may have previously had V2X functionality disabled. In some examples, instead of a wireless OTA update, a wired connection is used (e.g., data link 15 with charging station 16) to communicate an update to the mode enabled settings.

[0186] In some examples, the power conversion system 1 and an external network controller associated with an external power network (e.g., network 18) communicate with one another (e.g., as part of block 846 or 848 in FIG. 8B) in advance of the power conversion system 1 outputting or receiving power to / from the external power network. For example, as part of block 846 or 848, or separate from process of FIG. 8B, the bidirectional power system 12 (e.g., the control circuitry 110) may form a communication link with an external network controller. The external network controller may be a computing device, for example, a server, mobile device or personal computing device associated with the external power network (e.g., a utility grid, a local residential orcommercial grid, an electric vehicle-formed microgrid, or the like). The external network controller may be part of the external power network 18. The communication link may be wired and / or wireless (see, e.g., data link 17).

[0187] The bidirectional power system 12 (e.g., the control circuitry 110) may further communicate over the communication link an identifier for the electric vehicle having the bidirectional power system 12 to the external network controller. For example, the identifier may include one or more of a vehicle identification number (VIN) uniquely identifying the vehicle, an identifier indicating the vehicle type (e.g., by make, model, and / or year), an identifier uniquely identifying the particular bidirectional power system 12, an identifier identifying the type of bidirectional power system 12, a unique identifier for an operator of the vehicle, or the like.

[0188] In some examples, the bidirectional power system 12 may further communicate, via the commination link to the external network controller, power capability information for the power conversion system 1 or, more particularly, for the bidirectional power system 12. In other examples, the external network controller may determine such power capability information based on the identifier received from the bidirectional power system 12. The power capability information may indicate, for example, power input limit information (e.g., maximum and / or minimum voltage, current, or wattage), power output limit information (e.g., maximum and / or minimum voltage, current, or wattage), power type (e.g., single phase versus three phase), or other power characteristics.

[0189] In some examples, the bidirectional power system 12 may further output a power request via the communication link to the external power controller. The power request may be a power output request indicating a request to output power to the external power network may be a power input request indicating a request to receive input power from the external power network.

[0190] The external power network may, in response to the power request, communicate a reply to the power request. In the case of a power output request, the external power network may communicate an approval to output power and may provide power characteristics for the bidirectional power system 12 to follow when outputting power (e.g., power output limit information, power type). In response, the bidirectional power system 12 may begin outputting power in accordance with the received power characteristics. If power is already present on the external power network, the bidirectional power system 12 may synchronize with the power already present (e.g., self-regulate discharging to the external power network). To synchronize, thebidirectional power system 12 may sense voltage and / or current phase, amplitude, and / or frequency (e.g., with voltage and / or current sensors as described with respect to FIGS. 6-7) and control the converter blocks accordingly to output power in synchronization with the power already on the external power network. In the case of a power input request, the external network may communicate an indication that the external network will begin providing power to the bidirectional power system 12, and may indicate power characteristics of the power to be output. The external network may then begin providing power to the bidirectional power system 12 in accordance with the conveyed power characteristics. In either case, the external network controller may determine the power characteristics based at least in part on the power capability information determined from the information received from the bidirectional power system 12.

[0191] In some examples, rather than the bidirectional power system 12 initiating power transfer to / from the external power network, the external network controller initiates power transfer. For example, the communication link may be formed between the external network controller and the bidirectional power system 12. Then, the external network controller may request power to be output from the bidirectional power system 12. In some examples, the external network controller may transmit the power output request to the bidirectional power system 12 in response to detecting a power outage on the external power network. For example, the external network controller may be integrated into a local residential power grid and may detect a power outage on that local grid (e.g., when a utility grid fails). In response, the external network controller may transmit the power output request to the bidirectional power system 12 and may activate a griddisconnect switch to disconnect the local grid from the utility grid. In response to the request, the bidirectional power system 12 may begin to generate and output power (e.g., in power generation mode, as shown in FIG. 11 A). In some examples, the external network controller transmits requested power characteristics along with the power output request to the bidirectional power system 12. In response, the bidirectional power system 12 may generate and output power in accordance with the power characteristics.

[0192] In some examples, in response to receiving the power output request, the bidirectional power system 12 outputs power capability information to the external network controller. The external network controller may selectively activate particular circuits on the local grid based on power capability information. For example, the external network controller may reference a predefined priority scheme for circuits of the local grid and enable as many of the circuits, in the orderdefined by the priority scheme, as possible while maintaining the total power load (e.g., in terms of current or wattage) of the circuits below a limit specified by the power capability information.

[0193] FIG. 14 illustrates a power system 1000 for controlling a flow of power between a power distribution grid 1005 and a vehicle 1010. The power distribution grid 1005 (also referred to as the grid 1005) is, for example, an electrical grid maintained and controlled by a utility company to provide alternating current (AC) power to power consuming entities in an area (e.g., industrial buildings, commercial buildings, and / or residential units). The grid 1005 includes a grid interface 1012 having a grid meter 1014, a grid switch 1016, and an interface controller 1018. The grid interface 1012 enables the grid 1005 to interface with the vehicle 1010 for transfer of power therebetween. The grid switch 1016 may be selectively enabled by the interface controller 1018 to enable power to pass through from the grid 1005 to the vehicle 1010 and / or from the vehicle 1010 to the grid 1005. The grid meter 1014 is configured to measure the flow of power between the grid 1005 and the vehicle 1010 and to output the measured flow of power (e.g., as meter data). The interface controller 1018 is configured to control the grid switch 1016 (e.g., ON and OFF) and to receive meter data from the grid meter 1014. Although the diagram illustrates unidirectional communication between the interface controller 1018 and the grid switch 1016 and the grid meter 1014, in some examples, the communication is bidirectional.

[0194] In contrast to a typical electric vehicle charging station, the grid interface 1012 does not include costly and bulky conversion circuitry to rectify incoming AC power to DC power and to boost and condition the DC power to a suitable and stable level for an electric vehicle to use to charge a vehicle battery. Rather, the grid interface 1012 outputs AC power received from the grid 1005 to the vehicle 1010 (without conversion), which is then converted by the power converter 120 to charge the battery. As previously described, the power converter 120 is configured to convert received AC power to DC power for charging a battery of the load 14 (see, e.g., the battery 142 of FIG. 1). The power converter is generally voltage level independent and, accordingly, can receive AC voltage of different types, for example, 120 V, 240 V, single phase, multi -phase, etc. Further, the power converter 120 is configured to serve as a boost and buck converter to increase or decrease a DC voltage level for charging the battery (see, e.g., discussion about with respect to FIG. 5B). For example, the power converter 120 is configured to receive an AC voltage from the grid 1005 (via the grid interface 1012), convert the AC voltage to DC voltage, and boost the DC voltage for charging the battery.

[0195] Additionally, in contrast to a typical electric vehicle charging station, the grid interface 1012 enables the vehicle 1010 to output AC power to the grid 1005. For example, the power converter 120 may receive power from a battery of the load 14 (see, e.g., the battery 142 of FIG. 1), boost or buck the DC voltage to a suitable level, then convert the DC voltage to AC voltage for output to the grid 1005 via the grid interface 1012.

[0196] The grid 1005 is further associated with a grid control system 1020. The grid control system 1020 may include one or more servers executing software to monitor and control power distribution on the grid 1005, one or more databases that are accessible and updated by the server(s) and that include consumer information and power usage data for consumers, and one or more user terminals or client devices enabling utility personnel to access and interact with the other portions of the grid control system 1020 (e.g., to monitor and / or control the grid 1005).

[0197] The vehicle 1010 includes the motor 10, the bidirectional power system 12, and the load 14, as previously described herein. Additionally, the vehicle 1010 includes a vehicle meter 1022, a vehicle switch 1024, and a transceiver 1026. The vehicle meter 1022 and the vehicle switch 1024 may be part of the bidirectional power system 12. The vehicle switch 1024 may be selectively enabled by the control circuitry 110 to enable power to pass through from the grid 1005 to the vehicle 1010 and / or from the vehicle 1010 to the grid 1005. The vehicle meter 1022 is configured to measure the flow of power between the grid 1005 and the vehicle 1010 and to output the measured flow of power (e.g., as meter data). Although the diagram illustrates unidirectional communication between the control circuitry 110 and the vehicle meter 1022 and the vehicle switch 1024, in some examples, the communication is bidirectional.

[0198] In some examples of the power system 1000, the vehicle meter 1022 and the grid meter 1014 are present (as illustrated), while in other examples, either the vehicle meter 1022 or the grid meter 1014 are present, but not both. In some examples of the power system 1000, the grid switch 1016 and the vehicle switch 1024 are present (as illustrated), while in other examples, either the grid switch 1016 or the vehicle switch 1024 are provided, but not both.

[0199] The power system 1000 further includes a communication network 1028 enabling communication between the grid control system 1020, the grid interface 1012 (e.g., the interface controller 1018), and / or the vehicle 1010. The communication network 1028 may include or use one or more of wireless connections, wired connections, routers, hubs, network switches, cellular networks, local area network(s), wide area network(s) (e.g., the Internet), or the like. In someexamples, an account system 1030 is also included in the power system 1000 to enable and process payments between an operator of the vehicle 1010 and the grid control system 1020 (e.g., to compensate for power received by the vehicle 1010 from the grid 1005 and / or provided by the vehicle 1010 to the grid 1005). The account system 1030 may be operated by a third party or may be operated by (or incorporated into) the grid control system 1020. The account system 1030 may include a database of identifiers, each identifier corresponding to a vehicle, operator, or other entity, and each identifier associated with account information specific to the identifier. For example, the account information may include one or more of a contact name, physical address, phone number, email address, financial institution information (e.g., bank account routing number, credit card information, etc.), current available funds (e.g., pre-paid or pre-approved), account balance (e.g., in US dollars or another currency), net power usage, power output from grid (usage), power input supplied to grid, and the like.

[0200] FIG. 15 illustrates a method 1500 for operation of the power system 1000, according to some examples. In some examples, the method 1500 may be performed by the grid interface 1012 or, more particularly, by the interface controller 1018. In other examples, the method 1500 is performed by another device or system. Additionally, although illustrated serially in a particular order, in some examples, one or more blocks of the method 1500 are executed in parallel, partially in parallel, in a different order, or are bypassed.

[0201] In block 1505, the grid interface 1012 is coupled to the vehicle 1010. For example, the grid interface 1012 may include a power cable 1035 with a first end coupled to the grid interface 1012 and a second end selectively coupled to the vehicle 1010. The vehicle 1010 may include a power cable receptacle that receives the second end of the power cable 1035. The power cable 1035 may provide an electrical connection between the grid switch 1016 and / or the grid meter 1014 of the grid interface 1012 with the vehicle 1010 (e.g., with the vehicle meter 1022, the vehicle switch 1024, and / or the power converter 120). Accordingly, the bidirectional charger 12 may include a connector (e.g., the connector 122) that provides a connection to the power cable 1035 and that is further connected to the vehicle meter 1022, the vehicle switch 1024, and / or the power converter 120.

[0202] In block 1510, the grid interface 1012 receives an identifier for the electric vehicle 1010. For example, the identifier may include one or more of a vehicle identification number (VIN) uniquely identifying the vehicle, an identifier indicating the vehicle type (e.g., by make, model,and / or year), an identifier uniquely identifying the particular bidirectional power system 12, an identifier identifying the type of bidirectional power system 12, a unique identifier for an operator of the vehicle, a unique identifier for an account associated with the operator or the vehicle, or the like.

[0203] The identifier may be received from various sources. In some examples, the identifier is received wirelessly from the control circuitry 110 via the transceiver 1026. In such examples, the grid interface 1012 may include a transceiver coupled to the interface controller 1018 to receive the identifier. This wireless communication may occur via a known wireless protocol. In some examples, the communication is triggered in response to the grid interface 1012 detecting that the vehicle 1010 is proximate to the grid interface 1012 (e.g., based on a strength of a wireless signal from the transceiver 1026 exceeding a threshold). In other examples, this communication is manually triggered by an operator of the vehicle interacting with a user interface (e.g., a graphical user interface on a console display screen or a console button) of the vehicle 1010 or be the operator connecting the vehicle to the grid interface 1012 via the power cable 1035 (e.g., in block 1505).

[0204] In some examples, the identifier is received from manual interaction by an operator of the vehicle 1010 with the grid interface 1012. For example, the grid interface 1012 may include a point-of-sale interface (e.g., with a display screen having a graphical user interface to enable interact with a user) coupled to the interface controller 1018. In some examples, the point-of-sale interface enables an operator to input the identifier. For example, the operator may use a keyboard, touch screen, or other human input device to input the identifier. In some examples, the point-of- sale interface includes a credit card scanner to sense a magnetic stripe or a radio frequency identifier (RFID) chip of a credit card, where the identifier is associated with and obtained from the credit card (e.g., credit card number, credit card owner, etc.).

[0205] In some examples, the identifier is received by the grid interface 1012 based on scanning the vehicle 1010 using, for example, a radio frequency identifier (RFID) scanner or optical scanner (e.g., bar code or QR code scanner), to sense an RFID tag, bar code, or QR code on or of the vehicle 1010.

[0206] In block 1515, the grid interface 1012, based on the received identifier, enables power flow between the grid 1005 and the vehicle 1010 through the grid interface 1012. As previously described, the power flowing may be alternating current (AC) power. In some examples, the powerflow is from the grid 1005 to the vehicle 1010. In other examples, the power flow is from the vehicle 1010 to the grid 1005.

[0207] In some examples, to enable the power flow, the interface controller 1018 may control the grid switch 1016 to be enabled (i.e., ON), permitting the flow of power therethrough. For example, the interface controller 1018 may output a switch enable signal that activates the grid switch 1016 to be in an enabled or conducting state. In some examples, to enable the power flow, the interface controller 1018 may control the vehicle switch 1024 to be enabled (i.e., ON), permitting the flow of power therethrough. For example, the interface controller 1018 may wireless communicate a message to the control circuitry 110, via the transceiver 1026, instructing the control circuitry 110 to enable the vehicle switch 1024. In response, the control circuitry 110 may output a switch enable signal that activates the vehicle switch 1024 to be in an enabled or conducting state.

[0208] The grid interface 1012 may base the enabling of the power flow on the received identifier using various techniques. In some examples, the grid interface 1012 communicate with the grid control system 1020 to confirm that power should be enabled. For example, the grid interface controller 1018 may output the received identifier to the grid control system 1020 via the network 1028. The grid control system 1020 may confirm that the identifier is valid. To confirm that the identifier is valid, the grid control system 1020 may access the account system 1030 to determine, for example, that the identifier is present in the account system 1030 (e.g., in a database of identifiers) and / or that the identifier is associated with sufficient funds, credit, or financial resources to purchase power from the grid 1005 or provide power to the grid 1005. In some examples, the grid control system 1020 may additionally or alternatively communicate with the vehicle 1010 (e.g., via the network 1028 and transceiver 1026) to confirm the identifier is valid. For example, the grid control system 1020 may communicate with the vehicle 1010 (or an operator thereof) to confirm an intent to transfer power via the grid interface 1012. In response, to determining in that the identifier is valid, the grid control system may transmit a confirmation back to the grid interface controller 1018. In response to receiving the confirmation, the grid interface controller 1018 may enable the power flow. In some examples, the grid interface 1012 communicates directly with the account system 1030 to confirm that the identifier is valid and that the power should be enabled.

[0209] In some examples, to enable the power flow in block 1515, the interface controller 1018 enables the grid switch 1016 using one of the above-noted techniques, and the grid control system1020, based on the received identifier from the grid interface 1012, communicates a message to the control circuitry 110 of the vehicle 1010, via the network 1028, the transceiver 1026, instructing the control circuitry 110 to enable the vehicle switch 1024. In response, the control circuitry 110 may output a switch enable signal that activates the vehicle switch 1024 to be in an enabled or conducting state.

[0210] In block 1520, the grid interface 1012 generates a power transfer amount indicative of an amount of power transferred between the grid 1005 and the vehicle 1010. For example, the interface controller 1018 may receive meter data from the grid meter 1014 during the power transfer or at a conclusion of power transfer that occurs during block 1515. The meter data may indicate the power transfer amount. In some examples, the interface controller 1018 may receive meter data generated by the vehicle meter 1022 (via the control circuitry 110 and transceiver 1026) that is indicative of the power transfer amount. In some examples, the interface controller 1018 receive meter data from both the grid meter 1014 and the vehicle meter 1022. In such cases, the interface controller 1018 may select the meter data from one of the two meters to use to determine the power transfer amount or may combine the meter data (e.g., calculate an average) to determine the power transfer amount. To generate the power transfer amount, the interface controller 1018 may output the power transfer amount determined from the meter data received from the meter 1014, the meter 1022, and / or both meters 1014 and 1022. Outputting the power transfer amount may include the interface controller 1018 displaying on a display screen of the grid interface 1012 or transmitting the power transfer amount to another device. For example, the interface controller 1018 may transmit the power transfer amount to the grid control system 1020 (via the network 1028) and / or to the vehicle 1010 (via the transceiver 1026).

[0211] The grid control system 1020 and / or the account system 1030 may track the power transfer total associated with the identifier over time. Accordingly, the grid control system 1020 and / or the account system 1030 may add or subtract the power transfer amount from the power transfer total associated with the identifier. For example, when the power transfer amount indicates power transferred to the vehicle 1010 from the grid 1005, the system 1020 or 1030 may add the power transfer amount to the power transfer total, and when the power transfer amount indicates power transferred from the vehicle 1010 to the grid 1005, the system 1020 or 1030 may subtract the power transfer amount to the power transfer total.

[0212] In some examples, the interface controller 1018 converts the generated power transfer amount to a financial cost, receives payment information (e.g., via a credit card or digital payment interface of the grid interface 1012), and communicates with the account system 1030 to process payment for the power transfer. In some examples, the payment information may have already been received as part of the identifier of block 1510.

[0213] Additionally or alternatively, in some examples, in block 1520, the control circuitry 110 receives meter data from the vehicle meter 1022 and transmits the meter data to the grid control system 1020 via the network 1028. In such examples, the grid control system 1020 may identify discrepancies in metering by the grid meter 1014 and the vehicle meter 1022. Such discrepancies can correlate to, and be used to identify, malfunctioning power meters of grid interfaces and vehicles.

[0214] Additionally or alternatively, in some examples, in block 1520, the control circuitry 110 receives meter data from the vehicle meter 1022 and displays the meter data (e.g., in kilowatts or another format) on a display screen of the vehicle 1010. This display of the meter data enables an operator of the vehicle 1010 to track power transfer and compare the power transfer amount indicated by the vehicle 1010 to the power transfer amount indicated by the grid interface 1012 (e.g., to ensure consistency and identify discrepancies).

[0215] FIG. 16 illustrates another method 1600 for operation of the power system 1000, according to some examples. In some examples, the method 1600 may be performed by the vehicle 1010 or, more particularly, by the control circuitry 110. In other examples, the method 1600 is performed by another device or system. Additionally, although illustrated serially in a particular order, in some examples, one or more blocks of the method 1600 are executed in parallel, partially in parallel, in a different order, or are bypassed.

[0216] In block 1605, the grid interface 1012 is coupled to the vehicle 1010. For example, the grid interface 1012 may include a power cable 1035 with a first end coupled to the grid interface 1012 and a second end selectively coupled to the vehicle 1010. The vehicle 1010 may include a power cable receptacle that receives the second end of the power cable 1035. The power cable 1035 may provide an electrical connection between the grid switch 1016 and / or the grid meter 1014 of the grid interface 1012 with the vehicle 1010 (e.g., with the vehicle meter 1022, the vehicle switch 1024, and / or the power converter 120).

[0217] In block 1610, the electric vehicle 1010 transmits an identifier for the electric vehicle 1010. For example, the identifier may include one or more of a vehicle identification number (VIN) uniquely identifying the vehicle, an identifier indicating the vehicle type (e.g., by make, model, and / or year), an identifier uniquely identifying the particular bidirectional power system 12, an identifier identifying the type of bidirectional power system 12, a unique identifier for an operator of the vehicle, a unique identifier for an account associated with the operator or the vehicle, or the like.

[0218] The vehicle 1010 may transmit the identifier to the grid interface 1012, the grid control system 1120, and / or the account system 1030. In some examples, the control circuitry 110 transmits the identifier wirelessly via the transceiver 1026. The grid interface 1012 may include a transceiver coupled to the interface controller 1018 to receive the identifier. This wireless communication may occur via a known wireless protocol (e.g., Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, etc ).

[0219] In some examples, the transmission is triggered in response to the vehicle 1010 (e.g., the control circuitry 110) detecting that the transceiver 1026 is proximate to the grid interface 1012 (e.g., based on a strength of a wireless signal from the grid interface 1012 exceeding a threshold). In other examples, this communication is manually triggered by an operator of the vehicle interacting with a user interface (e.g., a graphical user interface on a console display screen or a console button) of the vehicle 1010 or be the operator connecting the vehicle to the grid interface 1012 via the power cable 1035 (e.g., in block 1605).

[0220] In block 1615, the vehicle 1010 receives a confirmation signal to proceed with power transfer. The vehicle 1010 may receive the confirmation signal via the transceiver 1026 from the grid interface 1012, the grid control system 1020, and / or the account system 1030. For example, the grid interface 1012, the grid control system 1020, and / or the account system 1030 may confirm that the identifier transmitted by the vehicle 1010 is valid using one of the techniques described above with respect to block 1515. In response to validating the identifier, one of the grid interface 1012, the grid control system 1020, and / or the account system 1030 may transmit the confirmation signal to the vehicle 1010. The vehicle 1010 may receive the confirmation signal at the control circuitry 110 via the transceiver 1026. When transmitted from the grid control system 1020 or the account system 1030, the confirmation signal may further be received via the network 1028.

[0221] In block 1620, in response to receiving the confirmation signal, the vehicle 1010 enables power flow between the grid 1005 and the vehicle 1010 through the grid interface 1012. Aspreviously described, the power flowing may be alternating current (AC) power. In some examples, the power flow is from the grid 1005 to the vehicle 1010. In other examples, the power flow is from the vehicle 1010 to the grid 1005.

[0222] In some examples, to enable the power flow, the control circuitry 110 may control the vehicle switch 1024 to be enabled (i.e., ON), permitting the flow of power therethrough. For example, the control circuitry 110 may output a switch enable signal that activates the vehicle switch 1024 to be in an enabled or conducting state. In some examples, to enable the power flow, the control circuitry 110 may control the grid switch 1016 to be enabled (i.e., ON), permitting the flow of power therethrough. For example, the control circuitry 110 may wireless communicate a message to the grid interface 1012, via the transceiver 1026, instructing the interface controller 1018 enable the grid switch 1016. In response, the interface controller 1018 may output a switch enable signal that activates the grid switch 1016 to be in an enabled or conducting state.

[0223] In some examples, to enable the power flow in block 1620, the control circuitry 110 enables the vehicle switch 1024 using one of the above-noted techniques, and the grid control system 1020, based on the received identifier from the vehicle 1010, communicates a message to the interface controller 1018 of the grid interface 1012, via the network 1028, instructing the interface controller 1018 to enable the grid switch 1016. In response, the interface controller 1018 may output a switch enable signal that activates the grid switch 1016 to be in an enabled or conducting state.

[0224] In block 1625, the control circuitry 110 generates a power transfer amount indicative of an amount of power transferred between the grid 1005 and the vehicle 1010. For example, the control circuitry 110 may receive meter data from the vehicle meter 1022 during the power transfer or at a conclusion of power transfer that occurs during block 1620. The meter data may indicate the power transfer amount. In some examples, the control circuitry 110 may receive meter data generated by the grid meter 1014 (via the interface controller 1018 communicating with the transceiver 1026) that is indicative of the power transfer amount. In some examples, the control circuitry 110 receives meter data from both the grid meter 1014 and the vehicle meter 1022. In such cases, the control circuitry 110 may select the meter data from one of the two meters to use to determine the power transfer amount or may combine the meter data (e.g., calculate an average) to determine the power transfer amount. To generate the power transfer amount, the control circuitry 110 may output the power transfer amount determined from the meter data received from the meter 1014, the meter 1022, and / or both meters 1014 and 1022. Outputting the power transferamount may include the control circuitry 1 10 displaying on a display screen of vehicle 1010 or transmitting the power transfer amount to another device. For example, the control circuitry 110 may transmit the power transfer amount to the grid control system 1020 (via the transceiver 1026 and the network 1028) and / or to the grid interface 1012 (via the transceiver 1026).

[0225] The grid control system 1020 and / or the account system 1030 may track the power transfer total associated with the identifier overtime. Accordingly, the grid control system 1020 and / or the account system 1030 may add or subtract the power transfer amount from the power transfer total associated with the identifier. For example, when the power transfer amount indicates power transferred to the vehicle 1010 from the grid 1005, the system 1020 or 1030 may add the power transfer amount to the power transfer total, and when the power transfer amount indicates power transferred from the vehicle 1010 to the grid 1005, the system 1020 or 1030 may subtract the power transfer amount to the power transfer total.

[0226] In some examples, the control circuitry 110 converts the generated power transfer amount to a financial cost, receives payment information (e.g., via a credit card or digital payment interface of the vehicle 1010), and communicates with the account system 1030 to process payment for the power transfer. In some examples, the payment information may have already been pre-stored in the memory 114.

[0227] Additionally or alternatively, in some examples, in block 1625, the interface controller 1018 receives meter data from the grid meter 1014 and transmits the meter data to the grid control system 1020 via the network 1028. In such examples, the grid control system 1020 may identify discrepancies in metering by the grid meter 1014 and the vehicle meter 1022. Such discrepancies can correlate to, and be used to identify, malfunctioning power meters of grid interfaces and vehicles.

[0228] Additionally or alternatively, in some examples, in block 1625, the control circuitry 110 receives meter data from both the vehicle meter 1022 and the grid meter 1014 and displays the meter data (e.g., in kilowatts or another format) on a display screen of the vehicle 1010. This display of the meter data enables an operator of the vehicle 1010 to track power transfer and compare the power transfer amount indicated by the vehicle 1010 to the power transfer amount indicated by the grid interface 1012 (e.g., to ensure consistency and identify discrepancies). In some examples, the control circuitry 110 may compare the meter data and identify discrepanciesin metering by the grid meter 1014 and the vehicle meter 1022. Such discrepancies can correlate to, and be used to identify, malfunctioning power meters of grid interfaces and vehicles.

[0229] In some examples, block 1625 is bypassed. For example, in some examples, the grid (e.g., grid control system 1020 via grid interface 1012) tracks power transfer and the vehicle 1010 does not generate a power transfer amount.

[0230] In some examples, the bidirectional charger 12 of one or more of the preceding examples and figures is a standalone charger within an electric vehicle. As a standalone charger, the bidirectional charger 12 is not a power source for and does not drive the motor 10, and is not a load powered by the motor 10 (e.g., during regenerative braking). In other words, when the bidirectional charger 12 is a standalone charger, the electric vehicle having the bidirectional charger 12 has a separate power converter system for driving motor(s) of the electric vehicle. As an example of such an embodiment, with reference to FIG. 14, the vehicle 1010 may include an additional power converter (in addition to the power converter 120) coupled between the load 14 and the motor 10. The bidirectional charger 12, when implemented as a standalone charger onboard the vehicle, the bidirectional charger 12 may not include the interface circuitry 124.

[0231] In some examples, aspects of the technology, including computerized implementations of methods according to the technology, can be implemented as a system, method, apparatus, or article of manufacture using standard programming or engineering techniques to produce software, firmware, hardware, or any combination thereof to control a processor, also referred to as an electronic processor, (e.g., a serial or parallel processor chip or specialized processor chip, a single- or multi-core chip, a microprocessor, a field programmable gate array, any variety of combinations of a control unit, arithmetic logic unit, and processor register, and so on), a computer (e.g., a processor operatively coupled to a memory), or another electronically operated controller to implement aspects detailed herein. Accordingly, for example, examples of the technology can be implemented as a set of instructions, tangibly embodied on a non-transitory computer-readable media, such that a processor can implement the instructions based upon reading the instructions from the computer-readable media. Some examples of the technology can include (or utilize) a control device such as, e.g., an automation device, a special purpose or programmable computer including various computer hardware, software, firmware, and so on, consistent with the discussion herein. As specific examples, a control device can include a processor, a microcontroller, a field-programmable gate array, a programmable logic controller, logic gatesetc., and other typical components that are known in the art for implementation of appropriate functionality (e.g., memory, communication systems, power sources, user interfaces and other inputs, etc.).

[0232] Certain operations of methods according to the technology, or of systems executing those methods, can be represented schematically in the figures or otherwise discussed herein. Unless otherwise specified or limited, representation in the figures of particular operations in particular spatial order can not necessarily require those operations to be executed in a particular sequence corresponding to the particular spatial order. Correspondingly, certain operations represented in the figures, or otherwise disclosed herein, can be executed in different orders than are expressly illustrated or described, as appropriate for particular examples of the technology. Further, in some examples, certain operations can be executed in parallel or partially in parallel, including by dedicated parallel processing devices, or separate computing devices configured to interoperate as part of a large system.

[0233] As used herein in the context of computer implementation, unless otherwise specified or limited, the terms “component,” “system,” “module,” “block,” and the like are intended to encompass part or all of computer-related systems that include hardware, software, a combination of hardware and software, or software in execution. For example, a component can be, but is not limited to being, a processor device, a process being executed (or executable) by a processor device, an object, an executable, a thread of execution, a computer program, or a computer. By way of illustration, both an application running on a computer and the computer can be a component. One or more components (or system, module, and so on) can reside within a process or thread of execution, can be localized on one computer, can be distributed between two or more computers or other processor devices, or can be included within another component (or system, module, and so on).

[0234] Also as used herein, unless otherwise limited or defined, “or” indicates a non-exclusive list of components or operations that can be present in any variety of combinations, rather than an exclusive list of components that can be present only as alternatives to each other. For example, a list of “A, B, or C” indicates options of: A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; and A, B, and C. Correspondingly, the term “or” as used herein is intended to indicate exclusive alternatives only when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as, e.g., “either,” “only one of,” or “exactly one of.” Further, a list preceded by “one or more” (and variations thereon) and including “or” to separatelisted elements indicates options of one or more of any or all of the listed elements. For example, the phrases “one or more of A, B, or C” and “at least one of A, B, or C” indicate options of: one or more A; one or more B; one or more C; one or more A and one or more B; one or more B and one or more C; one or more A and one or more C; and one or more of each of A, B, and C. Similarly, a list preceded by “a plurality of’ (and variations thereon) and including “or” to separate listed elements indicates options of multiple instances of any or all of the listed elements. For example, the phrases “a plurality of A, B, or C” and “two or more of A, B, or C” indicate options of: A and B; B and C; A and C; and A, B, and C. In general, the term “or” as used herein only indicates exclusive alternatives (e.g., “one or the other but not both”) when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as, e.g., “either,” “only one of,” or “exactly one of.”

[0235] In the description above and the claims below, the term “connected” can refer to a physical connection or a logical connection. A physical connection indicates that at least two devices or systems co-operate, communicate, or interact with each other, and are in direct physical or electrical contact with each other. For example, two devices are physically connected via an electrical cable. A logical connection indicates that at least two devices or systems co-operate, communicate, or interact with each other, but may or may not be in direct physical or electrical contact with each other. Throughout the description and claims, the term “coupled” may be used to show a logical connection that is not necessarily a physical connection. “Co-operation,” “communication,” “interaction” and their variations include at least one of: (i) transmitting of information to a device or system; or (ii) receiving of information by a device or system.

[0236] The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any aspect or design described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs.

[0237] Any mark, if referenced herein, may be common law or registered trademarks of third parties affiliated or unaffiliated with the applicant or the assignee. Use of these marks is by way of example and shall not be construed as descriptive or to limit the scope of this invention to material associated only with such marks.

[0238] Although the present technology has been described by referring to certain examples, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the scope of the discussion.

[0239] FURTHER EXAMPLES

[0240] Example 1 : A method, apparatus, and / or non-transitory computer-readable medium storing processor-executable instructions for a power conversion system for an electric vehicle, comprising: a bidirectional power system including control circuitry that is electrically connected to interface circuitry and a power converter including a plurality of power converter modules, each power converter module including a three-phase AC / DC converter, wherein the control circuitry is configured to: control, when the control circuitry detects an electrical connection between the interface circuitry and an external power network, a load to output a DC voltage from the load to the power converter, control, when the control circuitry determines that a mode command from a user control includes a traction mode instruction, the load to output the DC voltage from the load to the power converter, and control, when the load outputs the DC voltage, the power converter in a manner that causes the power converter to convert the DC voltage into an electric current.

[0241] Example 2: The method, apparatus, and / or non-transitory computer readable medium of Example 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to: control, when the control circuitry detects the electrical connection between the interface circuitry and the external power network, the interface circuitry in a manner that causes the interface circuitry to output the electric current to the external power network.

[0242] Example 3 : The method, apparatus, and / or non-transitory computer readable medium of any of Examples 1 to 2, wherein the control circuitry is configured to: control, when the control circuitry determines that the mode command includes the traction mode instruction, the interface circuitry in a manner that causes the interface circuitry to output the electric current to a motor.

[0243] Example 4: The method, apparatus, and / or non-transitory computer readable medium of any of Examples 1 to 3, wherein the control circuitry is configured to: control, when the interface circuitry receives electric power from a power distribution grid, the power converter in a manner that causes the power converter to convert the electric power into the DC voltage and supply the DC voltage to the load.

[0244] Example 5: The method, apparatus, and / or non-transitory computer readable medium of any of Examples 1 to 4, wherein the interface circuitry comprises a connector that is configured to removably connect the interface circuitry to the external power network.

[0245] Example 6: The method, apparatus, and / or non-transitory computer readable medium of Example 5, wherein the connector is configured to removably connect the interface circuitry to acharging station when the charging station supplies the electric power from the power distribution grid to the interface circuitry.

[0246] Example 7: The method, apparatus, and / or non-transitory computer readable medium of Example 6, wherein the control circuitry is configured to: output, to the charging station, information that identifies the electric vehicle.

[0247] Example 8: The method, apparatus, and / or non-transitory computer readable medium of any of Examples 1 to 7, wherein the control circuitry is configured to: output, to the external power network, information that identifies the electric vehicle.

[0248] Example 9: The method, apparatus, and / or non-transitory computer readable medium of any of Examples 1 to 8, wherein the control circuitry is configured to: control, when the load outputs the DC voltage, the power converter in a manner that prevents the power converter from exceeding a maximum power capability of the bidirectional power system.

[0249] Example 10: The method, apparatus, and / or non-transitory computer readable medium of any of Examples 1 to 9, further comprising at least one selected from a group of a vehicle meter and a vehicle switch coupled between the power converter and a grid interface.

[0250] Example 11 : A method, apparatus, and / or non-transitory computer-readable medium storing processor-executable instructions for a power conversion system for an electric vehicle, comprising: the system comprising: a connector to receive a connection to a grid interface; a power converter including a plurality of power converter modules; and control circuitry including an electronic processor, wherein the control circuitry is configured to: transmit an identifier for an electric vehicle; receive a confirmation signal based on the identifier; enable power transfer between a power grid coupled to the grid interface connection and the electric vehicle in response to the confirmation signal; and generate a power transfer amount indicative of an amount of power transferred between the grid and the vehicle.

[0251] Example 12: The method, apparatus, and / or non-transitory computer readable medium of Example 11, wherein the power transfer is from the power grid to the electric vehicle, and wherein the power converter is configured to: convert AC power received from the power grid to DC power; and output the DC power to a battery of the electric vehicle to charge the battery.

[0252] Example 13: The method, apparatus, and / or non-transitory computer readable medium of any of Examples 11 to 12, wherein the power transfer is from the electric vehicle to the power grid, and wherein the power converter is configured to: convert DC power received from abattery of the electric vehicle to AC power; and output the AC power to the power grid via the grid interface.

[0253] Example 14: The method, apparatus, and / or non-transitory computer readable medium of any of Examples 11 to 13, further comprising: a vehicle meter configured to measure a flow of power between the power grid and the electric vehicle, wherein, to generate the power transfer amount, the control circuitry is configured to: receive meter data from the vehicle meter of the electric vehicle, a grid meter of the grid interface, or both the vehicle meter and the grid meter; and generate the power transfer amount based on the meter data.

[0254] Example 15: The method, apparatus, and / or non-transitory computer readable medium of any of Examples 11 to 14, wherein, to transmit the identifier for the electric vehicle, the control circuitry is configured to: transmit the identifier in response to detecting that a transceiver of the bidirectional charger is proximate to the grid interface.

[0255] Example 16: The method, apparatus, and / or non-transitory computer readable medium of any of Examples 11 to 15, further comprising: a transceiver coupled to the control circuitry, wherein, to receive the confirmation signal based on the identifier, the control circuitry is configured to: receive the confirmation signal wirelessly at the transceiver from one or more of the grid interface, a grid control system, or an account system.

[0256] Example 17: The method, apparatus, and / or non-transitory computer readable medium of any of Examples 11 to 16, wherein the power converter includes a DC / DC converter and a plurality of power converter modules, each power converter module comprising a three-phase AC / DC converter, and wherein the power converter is configured to convert power transferred between the power grid and the electric vehicle in response to the control circuitry enabling the power transfer between the power grid and the electric vehicle.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A power conversion system for an electric vehicle, the system comprising: a bidirectional power system including control circuitry that is electrically connected to interface circuitry and a power converter including a plurality of power converter modules, each power converter module including a three-phase AC / DC converter, wherein the control circuitry is configured to: control, when the control circuitry detects an electrical connection between the interface circuitry and an external power network, a load to output a DC voltage from the load to the power converter, control, when the control circuitry determines that a mode command from a user control includes a traction mode instruction, the load to output the DC voltage from the load to the power converter, and control, when the load outputs the DC voltage, the power converter in a manner that causes the power converter to convert the DC voltage into an electric current.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to: control, when the control circuitry detects the electrical connection between the interface circuitry and the external power network, the interface circuitry in a manner that causes the interface circuitry to output the electric current to the external power network.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to: control, when the control circuitry determines that the mode command includes the traction mode instruction, the interface circuitry in a manner that causes the interface circuitry to output the electric current to a motor.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to: control, when the interface circuitry receives electric power from a power distribution grid, the power converter in a manner that causes the power converter to convert the electric power into the DC voltage and supply the DC voltage to the load.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the interface circuitry comprises a connector that is configured to removably connect the interface circuitry to the external power network.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the connector is configured to removably connect the interface circuitry to a charging station when the charging station supplies the electric power from the power distribution grid to the interface circuitry.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the control circuitry is configured to: output, to the charging station, information that identifies the electric vehicle.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to: output, to the external power network, information that identifies the electric vehicle.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to: control, when the load outputs the DC voltage, the power converter in a manner that prevents the power converter from exceeding a maximum power capability of the bidirectional power system.

10. The system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one selected from a group of a vehicle meter and a vehicle switch coupled between the power converter and a grid interface.

11. A method for operating a bidirectional power system of an electric vehicle, the method comprising: controlling, by control circuitry of the bidirectional power system, when the control circuitry detects an electrical connection between interface circuitry and an external power network, a load to output a DC voltage from the load to a power converter of the bidirectional power system, the power converter including a plurality of power converter modules, each power converter module including a three-phase AC / DC converter;controlling, by the control circuitry, when the control circuitry determines that a mode command from a user control includes a traction mode instruction, the load to output the DC voltage from the load to the power converter; and controlling, by the control circuitry, when the load outputs the DC voltage, the power converter in a manner that causes the power converter to convert the DC voltage into an electric current, wherein the control circuitry is electrically connected to the interface circuitry and the power converter.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is configured to: control, when the control circuitry detects the electrical connection between the interface circuitry and the external power network, the interface circuitry in a manner that causes the interface circuitry to output the electric current to the external power network.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is configured to: control, when the control circuitry determines that the mode command includes the traction mode instruction, the interface circuitry in a manner that causes the interface circuitry to output the electric current to a motor.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is configured to: control, when the interface circuitry receives electric power from a power distribution grid, the power converter in a manner that causes the power converter to convert the electric power into the DC voltage and supply the DC voltage to the load.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the interface circuitry comprises a connector that is configured to removably connect the interface circuitry to the external power network.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the connector is configured to removably connect the interface circuitry to a charging station when the charging station supplies the electric power from the power distribution grid to the interface circuitry.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the control circuitry is configured to: output, to the charging station, information that identifies the electric vehicle.

18. The method according to claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is configured to: output, to the external power network, information that identifies the electric vehicle.

19. The method according to claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is configured to: control, when the load outputs the DC voltage, the power converter in a manner that prevent the power converter from exceeding a maximum power capability of the bidirectional power system.

20. A non-transitory, computer readable medium encoded with machine-readable instructions executable by a processor, the machine-readable storage medium comprising: instructions for controlling by control circuitry for the bidirectional power system, when the control circuitry detects an electrical connection between interface circuitry and an external power network, a load to output a DC voltage from the load to the power converter; instructions for controlling by the control circuitry, when the control circuitry determines that a mode command from a user control includes a traction mode instruction, the load to output the DC voltage from the load to a power converter; and instructions for controlling by the control circuitry, when the load outputs the DC voltage, the power converter in a manner that causes the power converter to convert the DC voltage into an electric current.

21. The computer readable medium according to claim 20, wherein the control circuitry comprises the processor and the computer readable medium.

22. A method for operation of a power system, the method comprising: receiving, by a bidirectional charger of an electric vehicle, a connection to a grid interface; transmitting, by the bidirectional charger, an identifier for an electric vehicle;receiving, by the bidirectional charger, a confirmation signal based on the identifier; enabling, by the bidirectional charger, power transfer between a power grid coupled to the grid interface connection and the electric vehicle in response to the confirmation signal; and generating, by the bidirectional charger, a power transfer amount indicative of an amount of power transferred between the grid and the vehicle.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the power transfer is from the power grid to the electric vehicle, and the method further comprises: converting, by a power converter of the bidirectional charger, AC power received from the power grid to DC power; and outputting, by the power converter, the DC power to a battery of the electric vehicle to charge the battery.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the power transfer is from the electric vehicle to the power grid, and the method further comprises: converting, by a power converter of the bidirectional charger, DC power received from a battery of the electric vehicle to AC power; and outputting, by the power converter, the AC power to the power grid via the grid interface.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein generating the power transfer amount comprises: control circuitry of the bidirectional charger receiving meter data from a vehicle meter of the electric vehicle, a grid meter of the grid interface, or both the vehicle meter and the grid meter; and generating, by the control circuitry, the power transfer amount based on the meter data.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein transmitting, by the bidirectional charger, the identifier for the electric vehicle comprises: transmitting the identifier in response to control circuitry of the bidirectional charger detecting that a transceiver of the bidirectional charger is proximate to the grid interface.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein receiving, by the bidirectional charger, the confirmation signal based on the identifier comprises: receiving, by control circuitry of the bidirectional charger, the confirmation signal wirelessly at a transceiver of the bidirectional charger from one or more of the grid interface, a grid control system, or an account system.

28. The method of claim 22, further comprising: in response to enabling, by the bidirectional charger, the power transfer between the power grid and the electric vehicle, converting power by a power converter of the bidirectional charger, wherein the power converter includes a DC / DC converter and a plurality of power converter modules, each power converter module comprising a three-phase AC / DC converter.

29. A bidirectional charger of an electric vehicle, the system comprising: a connector to receive a connection to a grid interface; a power converter including a plurality of power converter modules; and control circuitry including an electronic processor, wherein the control circuitry is configured to: transmit an identifier for an electric vehicle; receive a confirmation signal based on the identifier; enable power transfer between a power grid coupled to the grid interface connection and the electric vehicle in response to the confirmation signal; and generate a power transfer amount indicative of an amount of power transferred between the grid and the vehicle.

30. The bidirectional charger of claim 29, wherein the power transfer is from the power grid to the electric vehicle, and wherein the power converter is configured to: convert AC power received from the power grid to DC power; and output the DC power to a battery of the electric vehicle to charge the battery.

31. The bidirectional charger of claim 29, wherein the power transfer is from the electric vehicle to the power grid, and wherein the power converter is configured to:convert DC power received from a battery of the electric vehicle to AC power; and output the AC power to the power grid via the grid interface.

32. The bidirectional charger of claim 29, further comprising: a vehicle meter configured to measure a flow of power between the power grid and the electric vehicle, wherein, to generate the power transfer amount, the control circuitry is configured to: receive meter data from the vehicle meter of the electric vehicle, a grid meter of the grid interface, or both the vehicle meter and the grid meter; and generate the power transfer amount based on the meter data.

33. The bidirectional charger of claim 29, wherein, to transmit the identifier for the electric vehicle, the control circuitry is configured to: transmit the identifier in response to detecting that a transceiver of the bidirectional charger is proximate to the grid interface.

34. The bidirectional charger of claim 29, further comprising: a transceiver coupled to the control circuitry, wherein, to receive the confirmation signal based on the identifier, the control circuitry is configured to: receive the confirmation signal wirelessly at the transceiver from one or more of the grid interface, a grid control system, or an account system.

35. The bidirectional charger of claim 29, wherein the power converter includes a DC / DC converter and a plurality of power converter modules, each power converter module comprising a three-phase AC / DC converter, and wherein the power converter is configured to convert power transferred between the power grid and the electric vehicle in response to the control circuitry enabling the power transfer between the power grid and the electric vehicle.

36. A non-transitory, computer readable medium comprising machine-readable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a bidirectional charger of an electric vehicle, cause the processor to: transmit an identifier for an electric vehicle; receive a confirmation signal based on the identifier; enable power transfer between a power grid coupled to a grid interface connection and the electric vehicle in response to the confirmation signal; and generate a power transfer amount indicative of an amount of power transferred between the grid and the vehicle.

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