Description:FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
[39 of 1970]
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(Section 10; Rule 13)

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REVIVING DISCHARGED AUXILIARY BATTERY IN ELECTRIC VEHICLE WITH DIRECT CURRENT ARCHITECTURE

ULTRAVIOLETTE AUTOMOTIVE PRIVATE LIMITED
529-530, Intermediate Ring Road, Amarjyoti Layout, Domlur,
Bangalore – 560071, Karnataka, India
An Indian Company

The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to electrical architecture and particularly to auxiliary functions in an electric vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
An electric vehicle (EV) is a vehicle which is powered autonomously by a traction battery and could also include an auxiliary battery for providing energy to vehicle accessory loads. Typically, during normal vehicle operation, the traction battery supplies energy to the auxiliary battery to maintain the auxiliary battery at a fully charged state. The variant in electric vehicle encompasses battery electric vehicles (BEV) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEV). A BEV includes an electric motor and the energy source for the motor is the traction battery. The BEV traction battery is re-chargeable from an external electric grid. A HEV includes an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, wherein the energy source for the engine is fuel and the energy source for the motor is the traction battery.

Generally, when the traction battery is fully discharged or approaches the fully discharged state, it is charged in a battery charging station or by using a battery charger. But, there could be an emergency case where the traction battery and the auxiliary battery are completely discharged rendering the vehicle control unit of the electric vehicle to an inactive state. In such cases, when the vehicle’s traction battery is in the fully discharged state the vehicle will not operate, making it necessary to provide emergency charging to the battery. The emergency charging may be provided by an emergency vehicle or another vehicle, where charging is connected directly to the terminals of the traction battery. However, this is not a convenient solution as it raises a safety concern to connect directly to the terminals of the traction battery and is also inefficient to do so. On the other hand, an emergency battery may be used instead of the fully discharged traction battery to move to the station for servicing.

However, when the traction battery and the auxiliary battery are in fully discharged state, there is no solution currently to revive the existing auxiliary battery in the electric vehicles. The present invention provides a solution for reviving the existing auxiliary battery that has fully discharged without replacing the same.

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED BY INVENTION
As mentioned earlier, when the traction battery and the auxiliary battery are in fully discharged state, there is no solution currently to revive the existing auxiliary battery in the electric vehicles. Hence, it is a primary objective of the current invention to avoid the problem of replacing the auxiliary battery every time it is fully discharged.

Moreover, it is yet another objective of the current invention to avoid additional costs that is involved in replacing the auxiliary battery every time it is fully discharged. It is important to have a feasible, less time consuming and a cost-effective solution.

It is yet another objective of the current invention to ease diagnosis of the electric vehicle. The secondary functions in the electric vehicle become dysfunctional when the auxiliary battery goes into fully discharged state and this makes diagnosis of the electric vehicle difficult.

The above-mentioned shortcomings, disadvantages and problems are addressed herein and which will be understood by reading and studying the following specification.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Various embodiments herein describe a method and system for reviving discharged auxiliary battery in electric vehicle with direct current architecture. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a system for reviving discharged auxiliary battery in electric vehicle with direct current architecture is disclosed. A direct current (DC) inlet receives the electric charge from an external source. A direct current protection (DCP) board obtains the received electric charge from the DC inlet. The DCP board activates a vehicle control unit (VCU) with the electric charge obtained. The VCU detects the level of electric charge in the auxiliary battery. The VCU sends commands to a direct current (DC) contactor for passing the electric charge if the detected level of electric charge is less than full charge. The DC contactor switches a pair of internal contacts to pass the electric charge based on the received commands from the VCU. A step-down converter steps down the passed electric charge into a lower value. Further, the step-down converter charges the auxiliary battery with the stepped down electric charge.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method for reviving discharged auxiliary battery in electric vehicle with direct current architecture is disclosed. At first step, receiving the electric charge from an external source by a direct current (DC) inlet. At second step, obtaining the received electric charge from the DC inlet by a direct current protection (DCP) board. At third step, activating a vehicle control unit (VCU) with the electric charge obtained by the DCP board. At fourth step, detecting the level of electric charge in the auxiliary battery by the VCU. At fifth step, sending commands to a direct current (DC) contactor for passing the electric charge if the detected level of electric charge is less than full charge by the VCU. At sixth step, switching a pair of internal contacts to pass the electric charge based on the received commands from the VCU by the DC contactor. At seventh step, stepping down the passed electric charge into a lower value by a step-down converter. At last step, charging the auxiliary battery with the stepped down electric charge by the step-down converter.

As per first embodiment of the current invention, the method involves sending commands to the DC contactor for blocking the electric charge if the detected level of electric charge is full charge by the VCU.

As per second embodiment of the current invention, the method comprises the following steps. At first step, detecting the level of electric charge in the traction battery by the VCU. At second step, sending commands to the DC contactor for passing the electric charge if the detected level of electric charge is less than full charge by the VCU. At third step, switching a pair of internal contacts to pass the electric charge based on the received commands from the VCU by the DC contactor. At last step, receiving the passed electric charge from the DC contactor by a traction battery.

As per third embodiment of the current invention, the method comprises disabling the DC contactor upon detecting an uneven incoming electric charge from the DC inlet by the DCP board.

As per fourth embodiment of the current invention, the method involves that the obtained electric charge from the DC inlet by the DCP board is 12V.

The foregoing has outlined, in general, the various aspects of the invention and serves as an aid to better understanding the more complete detailed description which is to follow. In reference to such, there is to be a clear understanding that the present invention is not limited to the method or application of use described and illustrated herein. It is intended that any other advantages and objects of the present invention that become apparent or obvious from the detailed description or illustrations contained herein are within the scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The other objects, features and advantages will occur to those skilled-in-the-art from the following description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an electrical architecture for reviving discharged auxiliary battery in electric vehicle with direct current architecture, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a flow diagram illustrating an electrical architecture for reviving discharged auxiliary battery in electric vehicle with direct current architecture, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Further, those skilled-in-the-art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and may not have necessarily been drawn to scale. Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the figures by conventional symbols, and the figures may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the figures with details that will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a method and system for reviving discharged auxiliary battery in electric vehicle with direct current architecture. In the following detailed description of the embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled-in-the-art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.

The specification may refer to “an”, “one” or “some” embodiment(s) in several locations. This does not necessarily imply that each such reference is to the same embodiment(s), or that the feature only applies to a single embodiment. Single features of different embodiments may also be combined to provide other embodiments.

As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless expressly stated otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “includes”, “comprises”, “including” and/or “comprising” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations and arrangements of one or more of the associated listed items.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying figures.

According to Figure 1, a system for reviving discharged auxiliary battery (107) in electric vehicle with direct current architecture is disclosed. A direct current (DC) inlet (101) receives the electric charge from an external source. A direct current protection (DCP) board (102) obtains the received electric charge from the DC inlet (101). The DCP board (102) activates a vehicle control unit (VCU) (104) with the electric charge obtained. The VCU (104) detects the level of electric charge in the auxiliary battery (107). The VCU (104) sends commands to a direct current (DC) contactor (103) for passing the electric charge if the detected level of electric charge is less than full charge. The DC contactor (103) switches a pair of internal contacts to pass the electric charge based on the received commands from the VCU (104). A step-down converter (106) steps down the passed electric charge into a lower value. Further, the step-down converter (106) charges the auxiliary battery (107) with the stepped down electric charge.

According to Figure 2, a method for reviving discharged auxiliary battery (107) in electric vehicle with direct current architecture is disclosed. At first step (201), receiving the electric charge from an external source by a direct current (DC) inlet (101). At second step (202), obtaining the received electric charge from the DC inlet (101) by a direct current protection (DCP) board (102). At third step (203), activating a vehicle control unit (VCU) (104) with the electric charge obtained by the DCP board (102). At fourth step (204), detecting the level of electric charge in the auxiliary battery (107) by the VCU (104). At fifth step (205), sending commands to a direct current (DC) contactor (103) for passing the electric charge if the detected level of electric charge is less than full charge by the VCU (104). At sixth step (206), switching a pair of internal contacts to pass the electric charge based on the received commands from the VCU (104) by the DC contactor (103). At seventh step (207), stepping down the passed electric charge into a lower value by a step-down converter (106). At last step (208), charging the auxiliary battery (107) with the stepped down electric charge by the step-down converter (106).

As per first embodiment of the current invention, the method involves sending commands to the DC contactor (103) for blocking the electric charge if the detected level of electric charge is full charge by the VCU (104).

As per second embodiment of the current invention, the method comprises the following steps. At first step, detecting the level of electric charge in the traction battery (105) by the VCU (104). At second step, sending commands to the DC contactor (103) for passing the electric charge if the detected level of electric charge is less than full charge by the VCU (104). At third step, switching a pair of internal contacts to pass the electric charge based on the received commands from the VCU (104) by the DC contactor (103). At last step, receiving the passed electric charge from the DC contactor (103) by a traction battery (105).

As per third embodiment of the current invention, the method comprises disabling the DC contactor (103) upon detecting an uneven incoming electric charge from the DC inlet (101) by the DCP board (102).

As per fourth embodiment of the current invention, the method involves that the obtained electric charge from the DC inlet (101) by the DCP board (102) is 12V.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, when the traction battery (105) and the auxiliary battery (107) are in completely discharged state, the auxiliary battery (107) could be revived simply by using an external charger. The secondary functions on the electric vehicle are activated upon reviving the auxiliary battery (107). The secondary functions on the electric vehicle include access to data for diagnosis, detecting location, lights associated with the electric bike, status of primary battery, etc. The DC inlet (101) provides 12V initially to the DCP board (102) for reviving the auxiliary battery (107), which in turn gives it to the VCU (104). The VCU (104) on receiving the 12V from the DCP board (102), activates and provides that 12V to the DC contactor (103) for further charging. The DCP board (102) checks for the uneven incoming electric charge and protects the circuit by disabling the DC contactor (103) if such a case is detected. The DC contactor (103) is an electromechanical switch which connects or disconnects the flow of electric charge physically. The VCU (104) connected to a vehicle network typically receives user generated signals and/or signals generated by sensors or actuators connected to the vehicle network. The generated signals operate to control a particular component involved in performing a function. The VCU (104) communicates with the traction battery (105) and the DC contactor (103) via the DCP board (102) using Controller Area Network (CAN) communication.

FURTHER ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
The current invention solves the problem of replacing the auxiliary battery every time it is fully discharged. Also, the current invention helps in avoiding additional costs that is involved in replacing the auxiliary battery every time it is fully discharged. It is important to have a feasible, less time consuming and a cost-effective solution. The present disclosure also provides ease in diagnosis of the electric vehicle by making the data accessible by activating the secondary functions.

Although the embodiments herein are described with various specific embodiments, it will be obvious for a person skilled in the art to practice the invention with modifications. However, all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the claims. It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all the generic and specific features of the embodiments described herein and all the statements of the scope of the embodiments which as a matter of language might be said to fall there between.
 

REFERENCES

S.No. Name Numbering
1. a direct current (DC) inlet 101
2. a direct current protection (DCP) board 102
3. a direct current (DC) contactor 103
4. a vehicle control unit (VCU) 104
5. a traction battery 105
6. a step-down converter 106
7. a auxiliary battery 107
, Claims:CLAIMS:
We claim:

1. A method for reviving discharged auxiliary battery (107) in electric vehicle with direct current architecture, the method comprising of:
receiving the electric charge from an external source by a direct current (DC) inlet (101);
obtaining the received electric charge from the DC inlet (101) by a direct current protection (DCP) board (102);
activating a vehicle control unit (VCU) (104) with the electric charge obtained by the DCP board (102);
detecting the level of electric charge in the auxiliary battery (107) by the VCU (104);
sending commands to a direct current (DC) contactor (103) for passing the electric charge if the detected level of electric charge is less than full charge by the VCU (104);
switching a pair of internal contacts to pass the electric charge based on the received commands from the VCU (104) by the DC contactor (103);
stepping down the passed electric charge into a lower value by a step-down converter (106); and
charging the auxiliary battery (107) with the stepped down electric charge by the step-down converter (106).

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein sending commands to the DC contactor (103) for blocking the electric charge if the detected level of electric charge is full charge by the VCU (104).

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising:
detecting the level of electric charge in the traction battery (105) by the VCU (104);
sending commands to the DC contactor (103) for passing the electric charge if the detected level of electric charge is less than full charge by the VCU (104);
switching a pair of internal contacts to pass the electric charge based on the received commands from the VCU (104) by the DC contactor (103); and
receiving the passed electric charge from the DC contactor (103) by a traction battery (105).

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising:
disabling the DC contactor (103) upon detecting an uneven incoming electric charge from the DC inlet (101) by the DCP board (102).

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the obtained electric charge from the DC inlet (101) by the DCP board (102) is 12V.

6. A system for reviving discharged auxiliary battery (107) in electric vehicle with direct current architecture, the system comprising of:
a direct current (DC) inlet (101) receives the electric charge from an external source;
a direct current protection (DCP) board (102) obtains the received electric charge from the DC inlet (101);
the DCP board (102) activates a vehicle control unit (VCU) (104) with the electric charge obtained;
the VCU (104) detects the level of electric charge in the auxiliary battery (107);
the VCU (104) sends commands to a direct current (DC) contactor (103) for passing the electric charge if the detected level of electric charge is less than full charge;
the DC contactor (103) switches a pair of internal contacts to pass the electric charge based on the received commands from the VCU (104);
a step-down converter (106) steps down the passed electric charge into a lower value; and
the step-down converter (106) charges the auxiliary battery (107) with the stepped down electric charge.