US7075194B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronically reconfigurable battery
Assignee: L3 Technologies Inc
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Filing: 2003-07-31
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Granted: 2006-07-11
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Expires: 2023-07-31
Abstract
Abstract An electronically reconfigurable battery includes a number of battery modules selectively interconnected by a number of electronic switches, wherein a selectable number of battery modules may be connected either in a series configuration or in a parallel configuration, as a result of placing selected switches of said plurality of switches in open states or closed states. In a parallel configuration, the battery provides power to a primary load, such as a propulsion load for a vehicle. In a series configuration, the battery is configured to provide a high voltage and high power output to a short-term and/or pulsed load, such as an additional load provided on the vehicle. Current from the battery is limited in one of three ways: a) by the batteries themselves; b) a current limiting device or system in series with the total erected battery; or c) a single level power converter or current limiter that is used to erect and charge the capacitor bank in a sequential one level at a time manner until the battery is fully erected and the capacitor is fully charged.
Inventors
- 👤 Douglas M. Weidenheimer
- 👤 Kevin J. Donegan
- 👤 David Wayne Morton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 11:18
CPC Classifications
F; F41; F41B; F41B6/00; H; H02; H02J; H02J7/00; H02J7/50; H02J7/575; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/60; Y02T10/70
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
An electronically reconfigurable battery, comprising: a first plurality of battery modules; a plurality of switches selectively interconnecting said plurality of battery modules, wherein a selectable number of said plurality of battery modules may be connected either in a series configuration or in a parallel configuration, as a result of placing selected switches of said plurality of switches in open states or closed states; an output switch connecting a first output terminal of said battery to a first load; a series current limiting device, network or system inserted in circuit with the partially or sequentially connected battery modules so as to limit DC current; wherein said series current limiting device comprises a single stage converter (SSC), having an input and an output, whose output voltage is limited to approximately the battery module voltage level, wherein a bypass switch is used to connect the input to the output of the SSC circuit to directly connect a dynamic store portion of the battery with a static portion of the battery.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
167 words
An electronically reconfigurable battery, comprising: a first plurality of battery modules; a plurality of switches selectively interconnecting said plurality of battery modules, wherein a selectable number of said plurality of battery modules may be connected either in a series configuration or in a parallel configuration, as a result of placing selected switches of said plurality of switches in open states or closed states; an output switch connecting a first output terminal of said battery to a first load; a series current limiting device, network or system inserted in circuit with the partially or sequentially connected battery modules so as to limit DC current; wherein said series current limiting device comprises a single stage converter (SSC), having an input and an output, whose output voltage is limited to approximately the battery module voltage level, wherein a bypass switch is used to connect the input to the output of the SSC circuit to directly connect a dynamic store portion of the battery with a static portion of the battery.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
164 words
An electronically reconfigurable battery, comprising: a first plurality of battery modules; a plurality of switches selectively interconnecting said plurality of battery modules, wherein a selectable number of said plurality of battery modules may be connected either in a series configuration or in a parallel configuration, as a result of placing selected switches of said plurality of switches in open states or closed states; an output switch connecting a first output terminal of said battery to a first load; and a series current limiting device, network or system inserted in circuit with the partially or sequentially connected battery modules so as to limit DC current; wherein said series current limiting device comprises a single stage converter (SSC) whose output voltage is limited to approximately the battery module voltage level, wherein the SSC is an electronic DC-DC converter whose input circuit is connected to a static portion of the battery and whose output is connected to a first stage of a dynamic section of the battery.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
164 words
An electronically reconfigurable battery, comprising: a first plurality of battery modules; a plurality of switches selectively interconnecting said plurality of battery modules, wherein a selectable number of said plurality of battery modules may be connected either in a series configuration or in a parallel configuration, as a result of placing selected switches of said plurality of switches in open states or closed states; an output switch connecting a first output terminal of said battery to a first load; and a series current limiting device, network or system inserted in circuit with the partially or sequentially connected battery modules so as to limit DC current; wherein said series current limiting device comprises a single stage converter (SSC) whose output voltage is limited to approximately the battery module voltage level, wherein the SSC is an electronic DC-DC converter whose input circuit is connected to a static portion of the battery and whose output is connected to a first stage of a dynamic section of the battery.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
170 words
An electronically reconfigurable battery, comprising: a first plurality of battery modules; a plurality of switches selectively interconnecting said plurality of battery modules, wherein a selectable number of said plurality of battery modules may be connected either in a series configuration or in a parallel configuration, as a result of placing selected switches of said plurality of switches in open states or closed states; an output switch connecting a first output terminal of said battery to a first load; and a series current limiting device, network or system inserted in circuit with the partially or sequentially connected battery modules so as to limit DC current; wherein said series current limiting device comprises a single stage converter (SSC) whose output voltage is limited to approximately the battery module voltage level, wherein the SSC is an electronic DC-DC converter whose input circuit is connected to a suitable DC source other than a static portion of the battery and whose output is connected to a first stage of a dynamic section of the battery.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
170 words
An electronically reconfigurable battery, comprising: a first plurality of battery modules; a plurality of switches selectively interconnecting said plurality of battery modules, wherein a selectable number of said plurality of battery modules may be connected either in a series configuration or in a parallel configuration, as a result of placing selected switches of said plurality of switches in open states or closed states; an output switch connecting a first output terminal of said battery to a first load; and a series current limiting device, network or system inserted in circuit with the partially or sequentially connected battery modules so as to limit DC current; wherein said series current limiting device comprises a single stage converter (SSC) whose output voltage is limited to approximately the battery module voltage level, wherein the SSC is an electronic DC-DC converter whose input circuit is connected to a suitable DC source other than a static portion of the battery and whose output is connected to a first stage of a dynamic section of the battery.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
162 words
An electronically reconfigurable battery, comprising: a first plurality of battery modules; a plurality of switches selectively interconnecting said plurality of battery modules, wherein a selectable number of said plurality of battery modules may be connected either in a series configuration or in a parallel configuration, as a result of placing selected switches of said plurality of switches in open states or closed states; an output switch connecting a first output terminal of said battery to a first load; and a series current limiting device, network or system inserted in circuit with the partially or sequentially connected battery modules so as to limit DC current; wherein said series current limiting device comprises a single stage converter (SSC) whose output voltage is limited to approximately the battery module voltage level, wherein the SSC is an electronic AC-DC converter whose input circuit is connected to a suitable AC source and whose output is connected to a first stage of a dynamic section of the battery.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
162 words
An electronically reconfigurable battery, comprising: a first plurality of battery modules; a plurality of switches selectively interconnecting said plurality of battery modules, wherein a selectable number of said plurality of battery modules may be connected either in a series configuration or in a parallel configuration, as a result of placing selected switches of said plurality of switches in open states or closed states; an output switch connecting a first output terminal of said battery to a first load; and a series current limiting device, network or system inserted in circuit with the partially or sequentially connected battery modules so as to limit DC current; wherein said series current limiting device comprises a single stage converter (SSC) whose output voltage is limited to approximately the battery module voltage level, wherein the SSC is an electronic AC-DC converter whose input circuit is connected to a suitable AC source and whose output is connected to a first stage of a dynamic section of the battery.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2009-07-10 | 2010-01-09 | 2010-07-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2013-07-10 | 2014-01-09 | 2014-07-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2017-07-10 | 2018-01-09 | 2018-07-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |