Patent US7893561B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US7893561B2
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Modular electronically reconfigurable battery system
Assignee: Fisica Applied Technologies Inc
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Filing: 2006-07-10
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Granted: 2011-02-22
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Expires: 2026-07-10
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 20:36
CPC Classifications
F; F41; F41B; F41B6/00; H; H02; H02J; H02J7/00; H02J7/50; H02J7/575; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P70/00; Y02P70/50; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/60; Y02T10/70
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
An electronically reconfigurable battery, comprising: a first plurality of battery modules configured in a star configuration; a plurality of switches interconnecting said plurality of battery modules such that 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 for connecting a first output terminal of said battery to a first load; a series current limiting device inserted in circuit with the partially or sequentially erected battery so as to limit DC current; and wherein said charge current limiting device comprises a single stage converter (SSC) whose output voltage is limited to approximately the battery module voltage level.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
130 words
An electronically reconfigurable battery, comprising: a first plurality of battery modules configured in a star configuration; a plurality of switches interconnecting said plurality of battery modules such that 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 for connecting a first output terminal of said battery to a first load; a series current limiting device inserted in circuit with the partially or sequentially erected battery so as to limit DC current; and wherein said charge current limiting device comprises a single stage converter (SSC) whose output voltage is limited to approximately the battery module voltage level.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
97 words
An electronically reconfigurable battery as recited in claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of battery modules is coupled with at least three of said plurality of switches as follows: a first switch which connects said each battery module in series with an adjacent battery module when closed, and second and third switches which connect said each battery module in parallel with an adjacent battery module when closed, wherein when said first switch is closed, said second and third switches are open, and when said first switch is open, said second and third switches are closed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
An electronically reconfigurable battery as recited in claim 1 , further comprising: a second plurality of battery modules, each of said second plurality of battery modules being connected in parallel with each other, said first plurality of battery modules being selectively connected to said second plurality of battery modules through at least two of said plurality of switches.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electronically reconfigurable battery as set forth in claim 3 , further comprising a second output terminal for connecting said second plurality of battery modules to a second load.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
An electronically reconfigurable battery as set forth in claim 4 , wherein said second load comprises a motor for propelling a vehicle or vessel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
An electronically reconfigurable battery as set forth in claim 5 , wherein said first load comprises an electromagnetic armor system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
An electronically reconfigurable battery as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said plurality of switches comprises a plurality of integrated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) switches.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
An electronically reconfigurable battery as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said plurality of switches comprises a plurality of metal oxide field effect transistor (MOSFET) switches.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
An electronically reconfigurable battery as set forth in claim 7 , where in said plurality of IGBT switches comprise opto-isolated switches.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
An electronically reconfigurable battery as set forth in claim 8 , wherein said plurality of MOSFET switches comprise opto-isolated switches.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
An electronically reconfigurable battery as recited in claim 1 , wherein said reconfigurable battery can be reconfigured to match a hybrid vehicle with a variable DC main bus voltage used for a first level of reliability and to shorter life higher power mode.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
An electronically reconfigurable battery as described in claim 1 , wherein DC current is limited by selection of electrochemical discharge characteristics of the selected battery technology.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
An electronically reconfigurable battery as described in claim 1 , further comprising a series current limiting device inserted in circuit with the fully erected battery so as to limit DC current.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
An electronically reconfigurable battery as described in claim 13 , wherein said current limiting device comprises a resistive or inductive component in a resistance-capacitance (RC) or inductance-capacitance (LC) current limiting circuit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
An electronically reconfigurable battery as described in claim 1 , wherein a bypass switch is used to connect the input to the output of the SSC circuit to directly connect the dynamic store portion of the battery with the static portion of the battery.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
An electronically reconfigurable battery as described in claim 1 , wherein the SSC comprises an electronic DC-DC converter whose input circuit is connected to the static portion of the battery and whose output is connected to the first stage of the dynamic section of the battery.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
52 words
An electronically reconfigurable battery as described in claim 1 , wherein the SSC comprises an electronic DC-DC converter whose input circuit is connected to a suitable DC source other than the static portion of the battery and the output is connected to the first stage of the dynamic section of the battery.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
An electronically reconfigurable battery as described in claim 1 , wherein the SSC comprises an electronic converter whose circuit topology is chosen from the group consisting of Buck, Boost, Buck/Boost, step-up, step-down, resonant, isolated, non-isolated, cyclo-converter, and matrix converter.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
44 words
An electronically reconfigurable battery as described in claim 1 , wherein the SSC comprises an electronic AC-DC converter whose input circuit is connected to a suitable AC source and whose output is connected to the first stage of the dynamic section of the battery.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
An electronically reconfigurable battery as described in claim 1 , wherein said battery is adapted for use in high to extreme peak to average power output pulsed power applications and platforms for non-vehicular applications.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
An electronically reconfigurable battery as described in claim 1 , wherein each arm of the configuration comprises a plurality of ERB modules which can be strung together based on the needs of the particular application.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
134 words
A reconfigurable battery system comprising: a plurality of battery arms, each battery arm comprising a plurality of battery modules which are electronically reconfigurable to selectively operate in parallel or series; a center switch matrix coupled with a first output terminal and each of said battery arms, and configured to selectively connect one or more of said battery arms with said first output terminal; an outer switch matrix coupled with a second output terminal and each of said battery arms, and configured to selectively connect one or more of said battery arms with said second output terminal; a series current limiting device inserted in circuit with said plurality of battery arms; and wherein said current limiting device comprises a single stage converter (SSC) whose output voltage is limited to approximately the battery module voltage level.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
134 words
A reconfigurable battery system comprising: a plurality of battery arms, each battery arm comprising a plurality of battery modules which are electronically reconfigurable to selectively operate in parallel or series; a center switch matrix coupled with a first output terminal and each of said battery arms, and configured to selectively connect one or more of said battery arms with said first output terminal; an outer switch matrix coupled with a second output terminal and each of said battery arms, and configured to selectively connect one or more of said battery arms with said second output terminal; a series current limiting device inserted in circuit with said plurality of battery arms; and wherein said current limiting device comprises a single stage converter (SSC) whose output voltage is limited to approximately the battery module voltage level.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
53 words
The reconfigurable battery system as recited in claim 22 , wherein said center switch matrix couples the first output terminal with each said battery arm on a first battery arm side thereof, and said outer switch matrix couples the second output terminal with each battery arm on a second battery arm side thereof.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
The reconfigurable battery system of claim 22 , wherein the plurality of battery arms comprises a first battery arm, a second battery arm, a third battery arm and a fourth battery arm.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
The reconfigurable battery system of claim 22 wherein each battery arm comprises a scalable number of battery modules.
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2014-02-21 | 2014-08-23 | 2015-02-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2018-02-21 | 2018-08-23 | 2019-02-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2022-02-21 | 2022-08-23 | 2023-02-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |