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1. Field of the Invention
The disclosure relates to a power source module and method for using the same.
2. Description of Related Art
Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98.
Electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles are becoming increasingly popular and various applications thereof are being developed rapidly. Accordingly, many teams are devoted to the research of power management control. U.S. Pat. No. 5,960,898 discloses a power supply unit which provides electric power to an electric vehicle using a capacitor unit. The capacitor unit includes at least two blocks each having a plurality of electric double-layer capacitors connected in series. The power supply unit changes connection states (parallel or serial) according to the load requirement of the electric vehicle.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,706,910 discloses a power source switching system which switches connection states of a plurality of batteries using a switching circuit. The switching circuit operates according to an instruction from a control device. The instruction from the control device is executed according to a signal detected by a discriminating means. When the discriminating means detects the occurrence of an external shock, the signal is transmitted to the control device so as to change the connection state of the batteries from a serial connection to a parallel connection, thus preventing short circuiting.
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2008/0252148 discloses a power system including a battery, a generator, and a switch. The generator is connected in parallel with the battery and the switch. If the power generated by the generator is insufficient for the requirement of a vehicle during the motion of the vehicle, both the generator and the battery will supply power to the vehicle by controlling the switch. On the basis of the above, the control of the power management is a significant issue in the related field of electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles.
The disclosure relates to a power source module and method for using the same. According to one exemplary embodiment, a power source module comprises a plurality of socket modules, at least one exchangeable battery module, and at least one system control unit. The socket modules are connected in parallel. The exchangeable battery module can be arbitrarily inserted into one of the socket modules. The system control unit is configured to transmit an instruction signal for controlling a switch of the exchangeable battery module according to a state of charge of the exchangeable battery module, a sensing result, and operating information of an external device (for example, a motor or a charger), so as to charge or discharge only one exchangeable battery module during a charging and discharging period.
According to another exemplary embodiment, a power source module comprises a plurality of socket modules, at least one exchangeable battery module, and at least one system control unit. The socket modules are connected in parallel. The exchangeable battery module can be arbitrarily inserted into one of the socket modules. The system control unit is configured to control a switch of the socket module according to a state of charge of the exchangeable battery module, a sensing result, and operating information of an external device (for example, a motor or a charger), so as to charge or discharge only one exchangeable battery module during a charging and discharging period.
According to yet another exemplary embodiment, a power source module comprises a plurality of socket modules, at least one exchangeable battery module, and at least one system control unit. The exchangeable battery module can be arbitrarily inserted into one of the socket modules. The system control unit is configured to switch the socket modules connected in parallel or in series or to transmit an instruction signal for controlling a switch of the exchangeable battery module according to a state of charge of the exchangeable battery module, a sensing result, and operating information of an external device (for example, a motor or a charger).
According to yet another exemplary embodiment, a power source module comprises a plurality of socket modules, at least one exchangeable battery module, and at least one system control unit. The exchangeable battery module can be arbitrarily inserted into one of the socket modules. The system control unit is configured to switch the socket modules connected in parallel or in series or to control a switch of the socket modules according to a state of charge of the exchangeable battery module, a sensing result, and operating information of an external device (for example, a motor or a charger).
Yet another exemplary embodiment discloses a method of using a power source module. First, a device control unit determines whether a state of charge of an exchangeable battery module in a power source module is lower than a first threshold value, for example 10%. If the state of charge is lower than the first threshold value, the device control unit then determines whether a motion state of a vehicle is in a preferred switching state. If the motion state of the vehicle is in a preferred switching state, a turn-off step is performed. If the device control unit determines that the motion state of the vehicle is not in the preferred switching state, then the device control unit determines whether the state of charge of the exchangeable battery module is lower than a second threshold value, for example 5%. If the state of charge of the exchangeable battery module is lower than the second threshold value, then the turn-off step is performed. If the state of charge of the exchangeable battery module is not lower than the second threshold value, then the device control unit determines whether the exchangeable battery module is in an abnormal state. If the exchangeable battery module is in the abnormal state, then the turn-off step is performed. In the turn-off step, the device control unit stops a torque output of an external device (for example, a motor) through a main battery management control unit. After performing the turn-off step, the device control unit determines whether the output current of the first exchangeable battery module is zero. If YES, the device control unit activates another exchangeable battery module through the main battery management control unit for providing required power to the external device.
Yet another exemplary embodiment discloses a method of using a power source module. First, a device control unit determines whether a state of charge of an exchangeable battery module in a power source module is lower than a threshold value, for example 10%. If the state of charge is lower than the threshold value, a turn-off step is performed. If the state of charge is not lower than the threshold value, the device control unit determines whether the exchangeable battery module is in an abnormal state. If the exchangeable battery module is in the abnormal state, the turn-off step is then performed. In the turn-off step, the device control unit stops a torque output of an external device (for example, a motor) through a main battery management control unit. After performing the turn-off step, the device control unit determines whether the output current of the first exchangeable battery module is zero. If YES, the device control unit activates another exchangeable battery module through the main battery management control unit for providing required power to the external device.
The power source module of the disclosure can select the quantity of the exchangeable battery modules and socket modules to be utilized according to demand. A portion of the exchangeable battery modules can be plugged in or out according to a user's requirement during a usage period, so that the user can program the quantity of exchangeable battery modules to be used in advance, similar to a conventional manner of refueling, and change or charge required exchangeable battery modules before a trip.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
The system control unit 105 comprises an interface control unit 11, a main battery management control unit 12, and a device control unit 13. The interface control unit 11 is configured to control the motor 110 and provide the operating information of the motor 110. The main battery management control unit 12 is configured to transmit the instruction signal, or obtain the state of charge of the exchangeable battery module 104 from the battery management control unit 108. The device control unit 13 controls the main battery management control unit 12 for transmitting the instruction signal according to the state of charge of the exchangeable battery module 104, the sensing result, and the operating information of the motor 110, so as to control the switch 109 of the exchangeable battery module 104. The sensor set 106 is configured to generate the sensing result, wherein the sensing result can be conditions of the exchangeable battery module 104, current of the exchangeable battery module 104, speed of the vehicle, accelerator pedal position, a braking signal, or a combination thereof. The independent power source 107 is configured to provide required power to the system control unit 105 or the sensor set 106 as shown in
The system control unit 207 comprises an interface control unit 21, a main battery management control unit 22, and a device control unit 23. The interface control unit 21 is configured to control the motor 214 and provide the operating information of the motor 214. The main battery management control unit 22 is configured to obtain the state of charge of the exchangeable battery modules 205 and 206, or transmit the instruction signal to the battery management control units 210 and 211. The device control unit 23 is configured to control the main battery management control unit 22 for transmitting the instruction signal according to the state of charge of the exchangeable battery modules 205 and 206, the sensing result and the operating information of the motor 214, so as to control a switch 212 of the exchangeable battery module 205 and a switch 213 of the exchangeable battery module 206. The battery management control units 210 and 211 are configured to measure status and the state of charge of the exchangeable battery modules 205 and 206, or to control a switch 212 or switch 213 according to the instruction signal. The sensor set 208 is configured to generate the sensing result, wherein the sensing result can be conditions of the exchangeable battery modules 205 and 206, current of the exchangeable battery modules 205 and 206, speed of the vehicle, accelerator pedal position, a braking signal, or the combination thereof.
The required power to the system control unit 207 or the sensor set 208 is either provided by the exchangeable battery module 205, in accordance with one exemplary embodiment by the independent power source 209.
The system control unit 307 comprises an interface control unit 31, a main battery management control unit 32, and a device control unit 33. The interface control unit 31 is configured to control the motor 316 and provide the operating information of the motor 316. The main battery management control unit 32 is configured to control switches 312-315, or to obtain the state of charge of the exchangeable battery modules 305 and 306 from the battery management control units 310 and 311. The device control unit 33 is configured to control the main battery management control unit 32 for controlling the switches 312-315 according to the state of charge of the exchangeable battery modules 305 and 306, the sensing result and the operating information of the motor 316. The sensor set 308 is configured to generate the sensing result, wherein the sensing result can be conditions of the exchangeable battery modules 305 and 306, current of the exchangeable battery modules 305 and 306, speed of the vehicle, accelerator pedal position, a braking signal, or the combination thereof.
The required power to the system control unit 307 or the sensor set 308 is either provided by the exchangeable battery module 305, in accordance with one exemplary embodiment by the independent power source 309.
The system control unit 405 comprises an interface control unit 41, a main battery management control unit 42, and a device control unit 43. The interface control unit 41 is configured to control the motor 413 and provide the operating information of the motor 413. The main battery management control unit 42 is configured to transmit instruction signals to battery management control units 408 and 409 for controlling the switches 410 and 411, configured to control the switch 412 for switching the connection states of the socket modules 401 and 402, or configured to obtain the state of charge of the exchangeable battery modules 403 and 404 through the battery management control units 408 and 409. The device control unit 43 is configured to control the main battery management control unit 42 for transmitting the instruction signal according to the state of charge of the exchangeable battery modules 403 and 404, the sensing result and the operating information of the motor 413, so as to control the switch 410 of the exchangeable battery module 403 and the switch 411 of the exchangeable battery module 404 or control the switch 412 for switching connection states of the socket modules 401 and 402. The sensor set 406 is configured to generate the sensing result, wherein the sensing result can be conditions of the exchangeable battery modules 403 and 404, current of the exchangeable battery modules 403 and 404, speed of the vehicle, accelerator pedal position, a braking signal, or the combination thereof. The independent power source 407 is configured to provide required power to the system control unit 405 or the sensor set 406. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, the exchangeable battery modules 403 and 404 also provide required power to the main battery management control unit 42 during the discharging period. However, the disclosure should not be limited to the embodiment.
The system control unit 505 comprises an interface control unit 51, a main battery management control unit 52, and a device control unit 53. The interface control unit 51 is configured to control the motor 513 and to provide the operating information of the motor 513. The main battery management control unit 52 is configured to control the switches 510 and 511, to control the switch 512 for switching the connection states of the socket modules 501 and 502, or to obtain the state of charge of the exchangeable battery modules 503 and 504 through the battery management control units 508 and 509. The term “control a switch” means that a switch is driven to an ON state from an OFF state or to an OFF state from an ON state. The device control unit 53 is configured to control the switches 510 and 511 or to control the switch 512 for switching the state of charge of the socket modules 501 and 502 through the main battery management control unit 52 according to the state of charge of the exchangeable battery modules 503 and 504, the sensing result and the operating information of the motor 513. The sensor set 506 is configured to generate the sensing result, wherein the sensing result can be conditions of the exchangeable battery modules 503 and 504, current of the exchangeable battery modules 503 and 504, speed of the vehicle, accelerator pedal position, a braking signal, or the combination thereof.
The required power to the system control unit 505 or the sensor set 506 is either provided by the exchangeable battery module 503, in accordance with one exemplary embodiment by the independent power source 507.
The above-described exemplary embodiments are intended to be illustrative of the invention principle only. Those skilled in the art may devise numerous alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 098140485 | Nov 2009 | TW | national |