Abstract: A method and apparatus for battery stack monitoring and balancing. In one embodiment the apparatus includes a first low-pass filter (LPF) coupled between a first terminal and a first input node of a circuit that comprises a plurality of input nodes, wherein the first terminal is configured to be coupled to a positive terminal of a battery cell. A second LPF is coupled between the first terminal and a second input node of the circuit. A first circuit is coupled between the first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the first circuit is configured to transmit current between the first and second terminals when activated, and wherein the second terminal is configured to be coupled to a negative terminal of the battery cell. A second circuit is coupled between the second and third input nodes, wherein the second circuit is configured to activate the first circuit in response to the second circuit receiving a control signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the occurrence of a leakage current between a series connected electrochemical battery cells, comprising: a first cell connection terminal for connection to a first cell's first terminal via first filter circuitry; a second cell connection terminal for connection, via second filter circuitry, to a connection between the first cell's second terminal and a second cell's first terminal, the first and second cell adjacent in the series arrangement; a first cell balancing terminal for connection to the first cell's first terminal bypassing the first filter circuitry; a second cell balancing terminal for connection to the connection between the first cell's second terminal and the second cell's first cell terminal; balancing circuitry for providing a connection between the cell balancing terminals; the apparatus configured to provide for identification of a leakage current based at least on a voltage between the cell connection terminals and the cell balancing terminals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for battery stack monitoring and balancing. In one embodiment the apparatus includes a first low-pass filter (LPF) coupled between a first terminal and a first input node of a circuit that comprises a plurality of input nodes, wherein the first terminal is configured to be coupled to a positive terminal of a battery cell. A second LPF is coupled between the first terminal and a second input node of the circuit. A first circuit is coupled between the first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the first circuit is configured to transmit current between the first and second terminals when activated, and wherein the second terminal is configured to be coupled to a negative terminal of the battery cell. A second circuit is coupled between the second and third input nodes, wherein the second circuit is configured to activate the first circuit in response to the second circuit receiving a control signal.

Abstract: A battery monitoring device suitable for monitoring performance of one or more battery cells, such as with respect to a battery pack powering a vehicle. The battery monitoring device includes a signal injector configured to produce a replacement physical set that emulates one or more physical properties associated with the one or more battery cells, a multiplexer configured to selectively output, during different periods of time, the replacement physical set received from the signal injector or a physical set of physical properties received from the one or more battery cells, a sensor circuit configured to separately convert the physical set to a first signal set representing a first digitized measurement of the physical set and the replacement physical set to a second signal set representing a second digitized measurement of the replacement physical set, and a controller configured to compare the first signal set to the second signal set for a variance outside of a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the occurrence of a leakage current between a series connected electrochemical battery cells, comprising: a first cell connection terminal for connection to a first cell's first terminal via first filter circuitry; a second cell connection terminal for connection, via second filter circuitry, to a connection between the first cell's second terminal and a second cell's first terminal, the first and second cell adjacent in the series arrangement; a first cell balancing terminal for connection to the first cell's first terminal bypassing the first filter circuitry; a second cell balancing terminal for connection to the connection between the first cell's second terminal and the second cell's first cell terminal; balancing circuitry for providing a connection between the cell balancing terminals; the apparatus configured to provide for identification of a leakage current based at least on a voltage between the cell connection terminals and the cell balancing terminals.

Abstract: A cell monitoring apparatus includes a processor and memory arranged to execute code representing a linear time-invariant state transition model and a non-linear observation model are provided to model a rechargeable cell using at least a non-linear open circuit voltage, an internal resistance, a time-invariant distortion voltage across a reactive component block, and a distortion current component constituting an error of measurement of current flowing through the reactive component block. An estimator unit performs extended Kalman filtering in respect of the state transition model and the observation model using the input state data in order to generate output state data. The processor is arranged to evaluate a criterion associated with at least part of the output state data and to generate a control signal in response to evaluation of the criterion.

Abstract: A battery monitoring device suitable for monitoring performance of one or more battery cells, such as with respect to a battery pack powering a vehicle. The battery monitoring device includes a signal injector configured to produce a replacement physical set that emulates one or more physical properties associated with the one or more battery cells, a multiplexer configured to selectively output, during different periods of time, the replacement physical set received from the signal injector or a physical set of physical properties received from the one or more battery cells, a sensor circuit configured to separately convert the physical set to a first signal set representing a first digitized measurement of the physical set and the replacement physical set to a second signal set representing a second digitized measurement of the replacement physical set, and a controller configured to compare the first signal set to the second signal set for a variance outside of a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A cell monitoring apparatus includes a processor and memory arranged to execute code representing a linear time-invariant state transition model and a non-linear observation model are provided to model a rechargeable cell using at least a non-linear open circuit voltage, an internal resistance, a time-invariant distortion voltage across a reactive component block, and a distortion current component constituting an error of measurement of current flowing through the reactive component block. An estimator unit performs extended Kalman filtering in respect of the state transition model and the observation model using the input state data in order to generate output state data. The processor is arranged to evaluate a criterion associated with at least part of the output state data and to generate a control signal in response to evaluation of the criterion.

Abstract: A control method of the torque of a road vehicle having a powertrain system provided with an engine and a driveline which transmits the torque generated by the engine to the road surface; the method contemplates the steps of: determining a target torque; modeling the powertrain system as a single physical component which presents a characteristic mechanical inertia and a characteristic torsional elasticity; determining a current load torque of the vehicle; determining a target torsion of the powertrain system according to the target torque and the current load torque; determining a current torsion of the powertrain system and a current torsion speed of the powertrain system; determining a requested torque on the basis of the energy balance according to the target torsion, the current torsion, the current torsion speed, and the current load torque; and using the requested torque on the basis of the energy balance to control the torque generation of the engine.

Abstract: A method for determining the angular speed of a drive shaft of an internal combustion engine at each tooth event of a phonic wheel presenting a number N of teeth includes detecting the angular amplitude for each tooth; detecting the time of each tooth; and determining the raw angular speed of each tooth according to the corresponding angular amplitude and time. For each tooth a compensation value is determined which represents the difference between the actual angular amplitude of the tooth and the theoretic angular amplitude of the tooth; and determining the angular speed of each tooth by correcting the raw angular speed by means of the corresponding compensation value.

Abstract: An estimation method of the crank angle at which 50% of the fuel mass has been burnt in a cylinder of an internal combustion engine with spontaneous ignition of the mixture provided with a drive shaft coupled to a phonic wheel presenting a number N of teeth; the method contemplates the steps of: reading the passage of each tooth of the phonic wheel in front of a sensor; determining the angular speed of the drive shaft at each tooth event of the phonic wheel; determining at least one harmonic of the speed signal; determining an inverse mechanical model of the transmission; determining at least one torque harmonic by applying the inverse mechanical model to the speed signal harmonic; determining an algebraic function which puts a combustion index into relation with the phase of the nth torque harmonic; and determining the combustion index by applying the algebraic function to the nth torque harmonic.

Abstract: A powertrain control system for management and supervision of engine and servo-assisted gearbox control modules is arranged for determining the power to be applied to the drive wheels of the vehicle as a function of signals indicative of commands imparted by the driver, of the engine and gearbox state parameters and of possible requirements from the engine and gearbox control modules and supplementary on board vehicle traction/drive control systems; calculating data indicative of the torque to be delivered at the engine drive shaft, the torque transmissible by the clutch and the required transmission ratio, as a function of the determined value of the power to be applied to the drive wheels, of the state parameters and of the requirements of the engine and gearbox control modules and the traction/drive control systems; and transmitting the calculated data as signals to the engine and gearbox control modules.

Abstract: An estimation method of the crank angle at which 50% of the fuel mass has been burnt in a cylinder of an internal combustion engine with spontaneous ignition of the mixture provided with a drive shaft coupled to a phonic wheel presenting a number N of teeth; the method contemplates the steps of: reading the passage of each tooth of the phonic wheel in front of a sensor; determining the angular speed of the drive shaft at each tooth event of the phonic wheel; determining at least one harmonic of the speed signal; determining an inverse mechanical model of the transmission; determining at least one torque harmonic by applying the inverse mechanical model to the speed signal harmonic; determining an algebraic function which puts a combustion index into relation with the phase of the nth torque harmonic; and determining the combustion index by applying the algebraic function to the nth torque harmonic.

Abstract: A control method of the torque of a road vehicle having a powertrain system provided with an engine and a driveline which transmits the torque generated by the engine to the road surface; the method contemplates the steps of: determining a target torque; modeling the powertrain system as a single physical component which presents a characteristic mechanical inertia and a characteristic torsional elasticity; determining a current load torque of the vehicle; determining a target torsion of the powertrain system according to the target torque and the current load torque; determining a current torsion of the powertrain system and a current torsion speed of the powertrain system; determining a requested torque on the basis of the energy balance according to the target torsion, the current torsion, the current torsion speed, and the current load torque; and using the requested torque on the basis of the energy balance to control the torque generation of the engine.

Abstract: A method for managing the “stop-and-start” mode in a motor vehicle equipped with an internal combustion engine; the method provides for the “stop-and-start” mode to be enabled or disabled as a function of a state of charge (SOC) of a battery of the motor vehicle, as a function of a state of motion of a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine and as a function of the electric power consumed overall by the electrical consumers of the motor vehicle.