DESC:FIELD OF INVENTION
The present disclosure relates to a system and a method for charging and discharging of accumulators. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an analog controlled charge-discharge voltage switch system for an electric vehicle powertrain.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Electric Vehicles (EV) lead the present as well as the future era of the automotive industry. They are an excellent alternative to the conventional combustion vehicles but there are numerous challenges faced by commercially-used EVs. There is a need to deliver a satisfactory range as well as speed for the customer. So, the vehicle accumulator has to be designed in such a way so that it can store maximum electrical energy and voltage while weighing as less as possible and at the same time occupying minimum vehicle space.
Adjusting the voltage and discharge capacity of the accumulator for a specific electrical energy output, would cause the accumulator to take a significant amount of time for charging to the maximum pack voltage or might take very less time to discharge, hence decreasing the vehicle range, both of which is unacceptable for a potential customer.
A plausible solution to this would be to connect all accumulators used in the vehicle in one configuration while charging and in another while discharging or when the vehicle is being used. This would ensure fast charging and slow discharging which is what we strive to achieve. Evidently, such a switch of connections is not possible manually each time when somebody wishes to charge or ride the vehicle. Thus, there is a need for a system and method to automate the connections of the accumulators.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing, aspects of the present disclosure provide a system and method to control charging and discharging of a plurality of accumulators and automate the connections between the plurality of accumulators by way of a number of switches such that while charging, the plurality of accumulators are connected in series and while discharging, the accumulators are connected in parallel.
In some aspects of the present disclosure, the system to control charging and discharging of the plurality of accumulators includes a plurality of charge switches, a plurality of discharge switches and a switch driver. Each charge switch of the plurality of charge switches and each discharge switch of the plurality of discharge switches are connected to at least one accumulator of the plurality of accumulators. The switch driver is coupled to the plurality of charge switches and the plurality of discharge switches.
To charge the plurality of accumulators, the switch driver is configured to activate the plurality of charge switches and deactivate the plurality of discharge switches, connecting the plurality of accumulators in series. To discharge the plurality of accumulators, the switch driver is configured to deactivate each switch of the plurality of charge switches and activate the plurality of discharge switches, connecting the plurality of accumulators in parallel. The plurality of accumulators are discharged to a motor unit including a motor controller and a motor.
In one aspects of the present disclosure, the plurality of charge switches include two charge switches and the plurality of discharge switches includes four discharge switches. A first charge switch of the plurality of charge switches is connected between a negative terminal of a first accumulator of the plurality of accumulators and a positive terminal of a second accumulator of the plurality of accumulators. A second charge switch of the plurality of charge switches is connected between the positive terminal of the second accumulator and a positive terminal of the motor unit. A first discharge switch of the plurality of discharge switches is connected between a positive terminal of the first accumulator and the positive terminal of the second accumulator. A second discharge switch of the plurality of discharge switches is connected between the negative terminal of the first accumulator and a negative terminal of the second accumulator. A third discharge switch of the plurality of discharge switches is connected between the positive terminal of the first accumulator and the positive terminal of the motor unit. A fourth discharge switch of the plurality of discharge switches is connected between the negative terminal of the second accumulator and a negative terminal of the motor unit.
In other aspect of the present disclosure, the plurality of charge switches include two charge switches and the plurality of discharge switches including three discharge switches. A first charge switch of the plurality of charge switches is connected between a negative terminal of a first accumulator of the plurality of accumulators and a positive terminal of a second accumulator of the plurality of accumulators. A first discharge switch of the plurality of discharge switches is connected between a positive terminal of the first accumulator and the positive terminal of the second accumulator. A second discharge switch of the plurality of discharge switches is connected between the negative terminal of the first accumulator and a negative terminal of the second accumulator. A second charge switch of the plurality of charge switches is connected to the positive terminal of the first accumulator by a first end of the second charge switch and is connected to a third discharge switch by a second end of the second charge switch. The third discharge switch of the plurality of discharge switches is connected to the second charge switch by a first end of the third discharge switch and is connected to a the positive terminal of the motor unit by a second end of the third discharge switch. A negative terminal of the motor unit is connected to the negative terminal of the second accumulator.
In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the number of accumulators is equal to the number of charge switches whereas the number of discharge switches is at most double of the number of accumulators.
In some aspects of the present disclosure, the switch driver upon receiving a battery management signal, generates a trigger signal by way of which the one or more charge switches of the plurality of charge switches and the one or more discharge switches of the plurality of discharge switches are activated or deactivated.
In some aspects of the present disclosure, each charge switch of the plurality of charge switches and each discharge switch of the plurality of discharge switches is one of, a Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor (MOSFET) based switch and an Insulated-Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) based switch.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The drawing/s mentioned herein disclose exemplary aspects of the claimed disclosure. Other objects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent from the following description when read with reference to the accompanying drawing.
FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of the system to control charging and discharging of a plurality of accumulators in an environment, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure;
FIG. 2 illustrates an arrangement of a plurality of charge switches and a plurality of discharge switches of the system with the plurality of accumulators and the motor unit for charging and discharging of the plurality of accumulators, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure;
FIG. 3 illustrates another arrangement of the plurality of charge switches and the plurality of discharge switches of the system with the plurality of accumulators and the motor unit for charging and discharging of the plurality of accumulators, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure; and
FIG. 4 illustrates a method of controlling charging and discharging of the plurality of accumulators, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
This section is intended to provide explanation and description of various possible aspects of the present disclosure. The aspects used herein, and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to non-limiting aspects illustrated in the accompanying drawing/s and detailed in the following description. The examples used herein are intended only to facilitate understanding of ways in which the aspects may be practiced and to enable the person skilled in the art to practice the aspects used herein. Also, the examples/aspects described herein should not be construed as limiting the scope of the aspects herein.
As mentioned above, there is a need for a system and method to automate the connections of the a plurality of accumulators. Disclosed is a system (100) and method (400) to control charging and discharging of the plurality of accumulators (108) first and second of which are shown as 108a and 108b respectively. The system 100 may be configured to automate the connections between the plurality of accumulators (108) by way of a plurality of switches such that while charging, the plurality of accumulators (108) may be connected in series and while discharging, the plurality of accumulators (108) may be connected in parallel.
Referring initially to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of the system 100 to control charging and discharging of the plurality of accumulators 108 (hereinafter interchangeably referred to as “the system”) in an environment 001 not limited to an electric vehicle, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure. In some aspects, the system 100 may include a plurality of charge switches 102, first and second of which are shown as 102a and 102b. The system 100 may further include the plurality of discharge switches 104 first through fourth of which are shown as 104a-104d. Furthermore, the system 100 may include a switch driver 106 that is configured to activate and/or deactivate the plurality of charge switches 102 and the plurality of discharge switches 104.
In some aspects of the present disclosure, the switch driver 106 may be configured to control an electrical coupling configuration of the plurality of accumulators 108 to an electric charger (not shown) while charging the plurality of the plurality of accumulators 108. The switch driver 106 may further be configured to control the electric coupling configuration of the plurality of accumulators 108 to a motor unit 110 while discharging of the plurality of accumulators 108.
In some aspects of the present disclosure, the switch driver 106 may be configured to activate the plurality of charge switches 102 and deactivate the plurality of discharge switches 104, such that while charging, the plurality of accumulators 108 are electrically connected in series. The switch driver 106 may further be configured to deactivate the plurality of charge switches 102 and activate the plurality of discharge switches 104, such that while discharging, the plurality of accumulators 108 are electrically connected in parallel.
In some aspects of the present disclosure, the switch driver 106 may include a detection subsystem 116 and a driver trigger 118. The detection subsystem 116 may be configured to determine a state (charging or discharging) of the system 100. The detection subsystem 116 may further be configured to communicate the state of the system 100 to the driver trigger 118 by way of an appropriate communication link (not shown). The driver trigger 118 may be configured to generate a driver trigger signal corresponding to the state of the system 100. The driver trigger 118 may further be configured to activate or deactivate the plurality of charge switches 102 and the plurality of discharge switches 104 based on the driver trigger signal. The driver trigger signal may include a charging variable and a discharging variable.
In some aspects of the present disclosure, for charging of the plurality of accumulators 108, the driver trigger 118 may be configured to set the driver trigger signal to ‘1’ and for discharging of the plurality of accumulators 108, the driver trigger 118 may be configured to set the driver trigger signal to ‘0’.
In some aspects of the present disclosure, for charging of the plurality of accumulators 108, the driver trigger 118 may be configured to set the charging variable of the driver trigger signal to ‘1’ and the discharging variable of the driver trigger signal may to ‘0’. For discharging of the plurality of accumulators 108, the driver trigger 118 may be configured to set the charging variable of the driver trigger signal may be set to ‘0’ and the discharging variable of the driver trigger signal to ‘1’.
In some aspects of the present disclosure, the motor unit 110 may include a motor controller 112 and a motor 114. The system 100 may be configured to electrically couple the motor 110 to the plurality of accumulators 108 while discharging of the plurality of accumulators 108, such that the motor controller 112 is enabled to drive the motor 114.
FIG. 2 illustrates an arrangement 200 of the plurality of charge switches 102 and the plurality of discharge switches 104 of the system 100 with the plurality of accumulators 108 and the motor unit 110, for charging and discharging of the plurality of accumulators 108, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure.
In one aspect of the present disclosure, the plurality of charge switches 102 may include two charge switches (first and second of which are shown as 102a and 102b respectively) and the plurality of discharge switches 104 may include four discharge switches (first through fourth of which are shown as 104a-104d respectively).
A first charge switch 102a of the plurality of charge switches 102 may be connected between a negative terminal of a first accumulator 108a of the plurality of accumulators 108 and a positive terminal of a second accumulator 108b of the plurality of accumulators 108. A second charge switch 102b of the plurality of charge switches 102 may be connected between the positive terminal of the second accumulator 108b and a positive terminal of the motor unit 110. A first discharge switch 104a of the plurality of discharge switches 104 may be connected between a positive terminal of the first accumulator 108a and the positive terminal of the second accumulator 108b. A second discharge switch 104b of the plurality of discharge switches 104 may be connected between the negative terminal of the first accumulator 108a and a negative terminal of the second accumulator 108b. A third discharge switch 104c of the plurality of discharge switches 104 may be connected between the positive terminal of the first accumulator 108a and the positive terminal of the motor unit 110. A fourth discharge switch 104d of the plurality of discharge switches 104 may be connected between the negative terminal of the second accumulator 108b and a negative terminal of the motor unit 110.
FIG. 3 illustrates another arrangement 300 of the plurality of charge switches 102 and the plurality of discharge switches 104 of the system 100 with the plurality of accumulators 108 and the motor unit 110, for charging and discharging of the plurality of accumulators 108, according to another exemplary aspect of the present disclosure.
In another aspect of the present disclosure, the plurality of charge switches 102 may include two charge switches, first and second of which are shown as 102a and 102b respectively. The plurality of discharge switches 104 may include three discharge switches, first through third of which are shown as 104a-104c respectively.
A first charge switch 102a of the plurality of charge switches may be connected between a negative terminal of a first accumulator 108a of the plurality of accumulators 108 and a positive terminal of a second accumulator 108b of the plurality of accumulators 108b. A first discharge switch 104b of the plurality of discharge switches 104 may be connected between a positive terminal of the first accumulator 108a and the positive terminal of the second accumulator 108b. A second discharge switch 104b of the plurality of discharge switches 104 may be connected between the negative terminal of the first accumulator 108a and a negative terminal of the second accumulator 108b. A second charge switch 102b of the plurality of charge switches 102 may be connected to the positive terminal of the first accumulator 108a by a first end of the second charge switch 102b and is connected to a third discharge switch 104c by a second end of the second charge switch 102b. The third discharge switch 104b of the plurality of discharge switches 104 may be connected to the second charge switch 102b by a first end of the third discharge switch 104c and may be connected to a the positive terminal of the motor unit 110 by a second end of the third discharge switch 104c. A negative terminal of the motor unit 110 may be connected to the negative terminal of the second accumulator.
In some aspects, for charging of the plurality of accumulators 108, the plurality of charge switches 102 may be activated and the plurality of discharge switches 104 may be deactivated, such that the activated switches result in an open circuit, allowing electric current to flow through them and the deactivated switches result in a short circuit, restricting electric current to flow through them.
In some aspects, for charging of the plurality of accumulators 108, due to activation of the plurality of charge switches 102 and deactivation of the plurality of discharge switches 104, the plurality of accumulators 108 may be electrically connected in series.
In some aspects, for discharging of the plurality of accumulators 108, the plurality of charge switches 102 may be deactivated and the plurality of discharge switches 104 may be activated, such that the activated switches result in an open circuit, allowing electric current to flow through them and the deactivated switches result in a short circuit, restricting electric current to flow through them.
In some aspects, for discharging of the plurality of accumulators 108, due to deactivation of the plurality of charge switches 102 and activation of the plurality of discharge switches 104, the plurality of accumulators 108 may be electrically connected in parallel.
FIG. 4 illustrates a method 400 of controlling charging and discharging of the plurality of accumulators, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure. In some aspects of the present disclosure, at step 402, the system 100 by way of the detection subsystem 116 may be configured to detect the driver trigger signal for charging or discharging of the plurality of accumulators 108. In some aspects, if the driver trigger signal is ‘1’, the system 100 by way of the detection subsystem 116 may be configured to detect instructions for charging of the plurality of accumulators 108. If the driver trigger signal is ‘0’, the system 100 by way of the detection subsystem 116 may be configured to detect instructions for discharging of the plurality of accumulators 108.
At step 404, the system 100 by way of the driver trigger 118 may be configured to transmit a driver trigger signal to the plurality of charge switches 102 and the plurality of discharge switches 104, such that the charge switches 102 are deactivated and the discharge switches 104 are activated. In some aspects, the driver trigger signal may include a charging variable and a discharging variable, such that the value of the charging variable is set to ‘0’ and the value of the discharging variable is set to ‘1’. At step 406, the system 100 by activating the plurality of discharge switches 104 and deactivating the plurality of charge switches 102 may be configured to connect the plurality of accumulators 108 in an electrical parallel configuration.
At step 408, the system 100 may be configured to connect the plurality of accumulators 108 to the motor unit 110, such that the plurality of accumulators 108 are discharged to the motor unit 110.
At step 410, the system 100 by way of the driver trigger 118 may be configured to transmit a driver trigger signal to the plurality of charge switches 102 and the plurality of discharge switches 104, such that the charge switches 102 are activated and the discharge switches 104 are deactivated. In some aspects, the driver trigger signal may include the charging variable and the discharging variable, such that the value of the charging variable is set to ‘1’ and the value of the discharging variable is set to ‘0’.
At step 412, the system 100 by deactivating the plurality of discharge switches 104 and activating the plurality of charge switches 102, may be configured to connect the plurality of accumulators 108 in an electrical series configuration.
At step 414, the system 100 may be configured to connect the plurality of accumulators 108 to the external charger (not shown), such that the plurality of accumulators 108 are charged to the external charger.
In some aspects of the present disclosure, each charge switch 102a-102b of the plurality of charge switches 102 and each discharge switch 104a-104d of the plurality of discharge switches104 is one of, a Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor (MOSFET) based switch and an Insulated-Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) based switch.
As will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, the present aspects may easily be produced in other specific forms without departing from its essential characteristics. The present aspects are, therefore, to be considered as merely illustrative and not restrictive, the scope being indicated by the claims rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come within therefore intended to be embraced therein.
As one skilled in the art will appreciate, the system 100 includes a number of hardware components such that, the hardware components go beyond merely finding one or more computer algorithms to carry out one or more procedures and/or methods in the form of a predefined sequential manner, adding up the overall functionality of the system 100. Hence the all the steps, methods and/or procedures of the system 100 are generic and procedural in nature.
Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. While various aspects of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described, it will be clear that the present disclosure is not limited to these aspects only. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions, and equivalents will be apparent to those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, as described in the claims. ,CLAIMS:CLAIMS:
1. A system (100) comprising:
a plurality of charge switches (102) such that each charge switch of the plurality of charge switches (102) is connected to at least one accumulator of a plurality of accumulators (108);
a plurality of discharge switches (104) such that each discharge switch of the plurality of discharge switches (104) is connected to at least one accumulators of the plurality of accumulators (108); and
a switch driver (106) coupled to the plurality of charge switches (102) and the plurality of discharge switches (104);
wherein, to charge the plurality of accumulators (108), the switch driver (106) is configured to connect the plurality of accumulators (108) in series by way of activation and deactivation of the plurality of charge and discharge switches (102, 104), respectively; and
wherein, to discharge the plurality of accumulators (108), the switch driver (106) is configured to connect the plurality of accumulators (108) in parallel by way of activation and deactivation of the plurality of charge and discharge switches (102, 104), respectively.
2. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of accumulators (108) is discharged to a motor unit (110) that comprises a motor controller (112) and a motor (114).
3. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of charge switches (102) comprising two charge switches (102a-102b) and the plurality of discharge switches (104) comprising four discharge switches (104a-104d).
4. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of charge switches (102) comprising two charge switches (102a-102b) and the plurality of discharge switches (104) comprising three discharge switches (104a-104c).
5. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a number of the plurality of accumulators (108) is equal to a number of the plurality of charge switches (102).

6. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, the number of the plurality of accumulators (108) is at least half of a number of the plurality of charge switches (102).
7. The system (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein:
a first charge switch (102a) of the plurality of charge switches (102) is connected between a negative terminal of a first accumulator (108a) of the plurality of accumulators (108) and a positive terminal of a second accumulator (108b) of the plurality of accumulators (108);
a second charge switch (102b) of the plurality of charge switches (102) is connected between the positive terminal of the second accumulator (108b) and a positive terminal of the motor unit (110);
a first discharge switch (104a) of the plurality of discharge switches (104) is connected between a positive terminal of the first accumulator (108a) and the positive terminal of the second accumulator (108b);
a second discharge switch (104b) of the plurality of discharge switches (104) is connected between the negative terminal of the first accumulator (108a) and a negative terminal of the second accumulator (108b);
a third discharge switch (104c) of the plurality of discharge switches (104) is connected between the positive terminal of the first accumulator (108a) and the positive terminal of the motor unit (110); and
a fourth discharge switch (104d) of the plurality of discharge switches is connected between the negative terminal of the second accumulator (108b) and a negative terminal of the motor unit (110).
8. The system (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein:
a first charge switch (102a) of the plurality of charge switches (102) is connected between a negative terminal of a first accumulator (108a) of the plurality of accumulators (108) and a positive terminal of a second accumulator (108b) of the plurality of accumulators (108);
a first discharge switch (104a) of the plurality of discharge switches (104) is connected between a positive terminal of the first accumulator (108a) and the positive terminal of the second accumulator (108b);
a second discharge switch (104b) of the plurality of discharge switches (104) is connected between the negative terminal of the first accumulator (108a) and a negative terminal of the second accumulator (108b);
a second charge switch (102b) of the plurality of charge switches (102) is connected to the positive terminal of the first accumulator (108a) by a first end of the second charge switch (102b) and is connected to a third discharge switch (104c) by a second end of the second charge switch (102b);
the third discharge switch (104c) of the plurality of discharge switches (104) is connected to the second charge switch (102b) by a first end of the third discharge switch (104c) and is connected to a the positive terminal of the motor unit (110) by a second end of the third discharge switch (104c); and
a negative terminal of the motor unit (110) is connected to the negative terminal of the second accumulator (108b).
9. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the switch driver (106) generates a trigger signal by way of the one or more discharge switches of the plurality of discharge switches (104) are activated or deactivated.
10. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each charge switch of the plurality of charge switches (102) and each discharge switch of the plurality of discharge switches (104) is one of, a Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor (MOSFET) based switch and an Insulated-Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) based switch.