Description:PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION:
[0001] The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Technical field of the invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a system for automatically swapping batteries in an electric vehicle and method thereof. The invention particularly relates to automatic swapping of batteries if one battery runs out of charge, thereby eliminating the need for manual intervention.
Background of the invention
[0003] With technological advancements and the utilization of sustainable energy resources in vehicles, the prominence of electric vehicles as an alternative to combustion engine vehicles is growing. Batteries are used as energy storage devices in all electric vehicles. All such batteries serve to provide the electric vehicle with the necessary power (such as electrical and mechanical power). However, due to power restrictions, size restrictions, and weight restrictions associated with these batteries, electric vehicles have certain drawbacks such as low mileage range. Furthermore, these batteries must be charged on a regular basis in order to provide the necessary power to the electric vehicles. A standard battery can take several hours to recharge, and travel may be disrupted during this time. For example, the charging time is lengthy, and even dc charging takes at least half an hour, which is inconvenient, especially when driving.
[0004] Rapid charging techniques are now being used to reduce the overall recharge time of each battery. Rapid charging techniques, on the other hand, reduce the life of the battery and are thus unsuitable for everyday use. To address the aforementioned issues, battery swapping allows for the exchange of discharged batteries in an electric vehicle for charged batteries. Such battery swapping may take a few minutes, but it eliminates the possibility of battery degradation and thus extends the life of the battery. The charged batteries are then used to power the electric vehicle after being swapped. Thus, during a ride, unwanted and lengthy interruptions may be reduced. Furthermore, the charged batteries are communicatively coupled to a vehicle to manage the power within the electric vehicle.
[0005] The Patent number US20210309121A1 (U) titled “Battery swapping to manage in-vehicle battery communication” relates to battery swapping which includes receiving a swap request for swapping a set of discharged batteries in a vehicle with a set of charged batteries at a charging station. Based on a battery swapping count provided by a user, the set of charged batteries including first and second subsets of charged batteries are selected from a plurality of charged batteries available at the charging station. At least one of a static ID or a dynamic ID is assigned to each charged battery. Each charged battery in the first and second subsets is configured as a master battery and a slave battery by integrating at least the respective static and dynamic ID in a corresponding battery management system of each charged battery, respectively, for facilitating in-vehicle battery communication. Further, the set of charged batteries is released from a charging and storing platform to a swapping platform for swapping.
[0006] The Patent number WO2015001930A1 (U) titled “Battery replacement system for electric vehicle and program” relates to a system comprising an electric vehicle equipped with a replaceable battery; a battery station capable of charging a battery; and a management server for managing the entire system. On receiving a battery replacement request from an electric vehicle, the management server predicts when the electric vehicle will arrive at the battery station on the basis of at least the positional information of the electric vehicle. The management server determines a charging speed for a battery loaded in the charger in the battery station on the basis of at least the time predicted for the electric vehicle to arrive at the battery station.
[0007] Hence, there exists a need for automatic battery swapping mechanism in order to avoid manual swapping of the batteries if one battery runs out of charge, thereby eliminating the scenario of a vehicle stalling while riding due to a loss of battery charge.
Summary of the invention:
[0008] The present invention overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art by disclosing a system for automatically swapping batteries in an electric vehicle, wherein the system comprises a first battery pack and a second battery pack docked in a battery bay for supplying power to an electric vehicle. Further, the system comprises a first battery management module for interpreting the charging state of the first battery pack, wherein the first battery management module directs the first battery pack docked in the battery bay to connect to an Electronic Control Unit (ECU), when the vehicle ignition is turned on. Further, the system comprises a second battery management for interpreting the charging state of the second battery pack and directing the second battery pack in the battery bay to connect to the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) upon receiving a signal for the charging state of the first battery pack below the threshold value.
[0009] Further, the present invention discloses a method for automatically swapping batteries in an electric vehicle. The method comprises the steps of receiving charging state by a first battery pack and a second battery pack docked in a battery bay through a communication protocol. Further, the charging state of the first battery pack is interpreted by a first battery management module and the charging state of a second battery pack is interpreted by a second battery management module, wherein the first battery management module directs the first battery pack docked in the battery bay to connect to an Electronic Control Unit (ECU), when the vehicle ignition is turned ON. Further, the method comprises the steps of verifying the charging state of the first battery pack, wherein when the charging state of the first battery pack is below the threshold value, sending a signal by the first battery management module through the communication protocol to cut off the power supply from the first battery pack. Furthermore, the method comprises the steps of directing the second battery pack in the battery bay to connect to the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) by the second battery management module after cutting off the power supply from the first battery pack.
[0010] The present invention offers a seamless method of changing the batteries while in ride mode, indicating that there is no delay between switching batteries and riding. The risk of a vehicle stalling while in motion due to a loss of battery charge is also avoided by the automatic swapping mechanism instead of manually switching the batteries in the event when one battery runs out of charge.
Brief description of the drawings:
[0011] The foregoing and other features of embodiments will become more apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals refer to like elements.
[0012] FIG 1 illustrates a block diagram of a system for automatically swapping batteries in an electric vehicle.
[0013] FIG 2. illustrates a flowchart of the method for automatically swapping batteries in an electric vehicle.
Detailed description of the invention:
[0014] Reference will now be made in detail to the description of the present subject matter, one or more examples of which are shown in figures. Each example is provided to explain the subject matter and not a limitation. Various changes and modifications obvious to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains are deemed to be within the spirit, scope, and contemplation of the invention.
[0015] Referring to FIG. 1, a block diagram of a system for automatically swapping batteries in an electric vehicle is illustrated. The system (100) comprises a first battery pack (101a) and a second battery pack (101b) docked in a battery bay (104) for supplying power to an electric vehicle. Further, the system (100) comprises a first battery management module (102a) for interpreting the charging state of the first battery pack (101a), wherein the first battery management module (102a) directs the first battery pack (101a) docked in the battery bay (104) to connect to an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) (103), when the vehicle ignition is turned ON. Furthermore, the system (100) comprises a second battery management module (102b) for interpreting the charging state of the second battery pack (101b) and directing the second battery pack (101b) in the battery bay (104) to connect to the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) (103) upon receiving a signal for the charging state of the first battery pack (101a) below the threshold value.
[0016] In an embodiment of the present invention, the first battery pack (101a) and the second battery pack (101b) are initially charged to 100% and docked in the battery bay (104).
[0017] In an embodiment of the present invention, the first battery pack (101a) and the second battery pack (101b) are provided with docking connectors having pins for handling data. The docking connector is a connector used to attach an electronic device simultaneously to multiple external resources. The docking connector may carry a variety of signals and power, through a single connector, to simplify the process of docking the electronic device. Further, the docking connector may be embedded in a mechanical fixture used to support or align the electronic device or may be at the end of a cable.
[0018] FIG 2 illustrates a flowchart of the method for automatically swapping batteries in an electric vehicle, wherein the method (200) comprises the steps of receiving charging state by a first battery pack (101a) and a second battery pack (101b) docked in a battery bay (104) through a communication protocol (105) in step (201). Further, in step (202) the charging state of the first battery pack (101a) is interpreted by a first battery management module (102a) and the charging state of the second battery pack (101b) is interpreted by a second battery management module (102b), wherein the first battery management module (102a) directs the first battery pack (101a) docked in the battery bay (104) to connect to an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) (103), when the vehicle ignition is turned ON.
[0019] Further in step (203), the charging state of the first battery pack (101a), is verified wherein when the charging state of the first battery pack (101a) is below the threshold value, a signal is sent by the first battery management module (102a) to cut off the power supply from the first battery pack (101a). Furthermore, in step (204) the second battery pack (101b) in the battery bay (104) is directed to connect to the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) (103) by the second battery management module (102b) after cutting off the power supply from the first battery pack (101a).
[0020] In an embodiment of the present invention, the charging state of the first battery pack (101a) and the second battery pack (101b) is interpreted at a predetermined time and the signal corresponding to the charging state is continuously transmitted through the communication protocol (105) preferably a Controller Area Network (CAN) communication protocol (105) to the first battery management module (102a) and the second battery management module (102b).
[0021] In an embodiment of the present invention, the Controller Area Network (CAN) communication protocol (105) is a method of communication between electronic devices embedded in a vehicle, such as the engine-management systems, active suspension, central locking, air conditioning, airbags, and so on. However, the present invention is not limited to the employment of the CAN protocol for communication and extends to other communication protocols known in the present state of the art.
[0022] In another embodiment of the present invention, the first battery management module (102a) constantly compares the charging state sent by the docking connector via a communication protocol (105) such as but not limited to the Controller Area Network (CAN) communication protocol (105) to compare the charging state of the first battery pack (101a) with the threshold value. If the charging state is less than the threshold value, a signal is sent by the first battery management module (102a) through the communication protocol (105) to shut off the power supply from the first battery pack (101a). Further, the second battery management module (102b) interprets the communication protocol (105) and directs the second battery pack (101b) to connect to the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) (103).
[0023] The present invention provides a seamless method of changing batteries while riding, implying that there is no time lag between switching batteries and riding. The method, opposes manually switching the batteries in the event when one battery runs out of charge, thereby reducing the possibility of a vehicle stalling while in motion due to a loss of battery charge.
Reference numbers:
Components Reference Numbers
System 100
First battery pack 101a
Second battery pack 101b
First battery management module 102a
Second battery management module 102b
Electronic Control Unit (ECU) 103
Battery bay 104
Communication protocol 105
, Claims:We claim:
1. A system for automatically swapping batteries in an electric vehicle, the system (100) comprising:
a. a first battery pack (101a) and a second battery pack (101b) docked in a battery bay (104) for supplying power to an electric vehicle;
b. a first battery management module (102a) for interpreting the charging state of the first battery pack (101a), wherein the first battery management module (102a) directs the first battery pack (101a) docked in the battery bay (104) to connect to an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) (103), when the vehicle ignition is turned on; and
c. a second battery management module (102b) for interpreting the charging state of the second battery pack (101b) and directing the second battery pack (101b) in the battery bay (104) to connect to the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) (103) upon receiving a signal for the charging state of the first battery pack (101a) below the threshold value.

2. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a signal is sent by the first battery management module (102a) through the communication protocol (105) to shut off the power supply from the first battery pack (101a) when the charging state of the first battery pack (101a) is below the threshold value.
3. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first battery pack (101a) and the second battery pack (101b) are provided with docking connectors having pins for handling data.

4. A method for automatically swapping batteries in an electric vehicle, the method (200) comprising the steps of:

a. receiving charging state by a first battery pack (101a) and a second battery pack (101b) docked in a battery bay (104) through a communication protocol (105);
b. interpreting the charging state of the first battery pack (101a) by a first battery management module (102a) and the second battery pack (101b) by a second battery management module (102b), wherein the first battery management module (102a) directs the first battery pack (101a) docked in the battery bay (104) to connect to an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) (103), when the vehicle ignition is turned on;
c. verifying the charging state of the first battery pack (101a), wherein when the charging state of the first battery pack (101a) is below the threshold value, sending a signal by the first battery management module (102a) to cut off the power supply from the first battery pack (101a); and
d. directing the second battery pack (101b) in the battery bay (104) to connect to the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) (103) by the second battery management module (102b) after cutting off the power supply from the first battery pack (101a).

5. The method (200) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the charging state of the first battery pack (101a) and the second battery pack (101b) is interpreted at a predetermined time and the signal corresponding to the charging state is continuously transmitted through the communication protocol (105) to the first battery management module (102a) and the second battery management module (102b).