Abstract: A system for self-discharge prognostics for vehicle battery cells with an internal short circuit includes a plurality of battery cells and a voltage sensor providing open-circuit voltage data over time for each battery cell. The system further includes a computerized prognostic controller operating programming to monitor the open-circuit voltage data over time for each of the plurality of battery cells and evaluate a voltage drop rate through a time window for each of the plurality of battery cells based upon the open-circuit voltage data. The controller further identifies one of the plurality of battery cells to include the internal short circuit based upon the voltage drop rate and signals an alert based upon the one of the plurality of battery cells including the internal short circuit.

Abstract: Systems and methods for diagnosing health of a battery using in-vehicle impedance analysis. The method includes receiving a sensed current measurement for a cell of the battery; generating a current profile as a function of the sensed current measurement, including pulses to a peak current, the pulses having a pulse frequency (w); applying a current with the current profile to the cell; for each pulse in the current profile, receiving a voltage measurement for the cell that is responsive to the pulse, calculating an impedance for the cell responsive thereto, the impedance comprising a real component at the pulse frequency (RZw), and an imaginary component at the pulse frequency (IZw), identifying a battery health problem when either RZw exceeds a preprogrammed first threshold for the pulse frequency, or when IZw exceeds a preprogrammed second threshold for the pulse frequency, and storing the RZw and the IZw for the cell.

Abstract: A trip energy estimation system includes a memory and a control module. The memory stores average traffic speed, average traffic acceleration, driver speed, and driver acceleration data. The control module executes an algorithm to estimate an amount of energy for an electric vehicle to travel between two locations. The algorithm includes: determining, based on the average traffic speed data and the average traffic acceleration data, a baseline amount of energy for the electric vehicle to travel between the two locations; determining, based on the driver speed data and the driver acceleration data, a dynamic amount of energy corresponding to at least one of stop and go events, over speeding, or under speeding; and determining a total amount of energy based on the baseline amount of energy and the dynamic amount of energy. The control module, based on the total amount of energy, performs an operation including indicating a trip estimate.

Abstract: A monitoring system for a battery system includes a battery system including a battery pack. The battery pack includes M battery modules, where M is an integer greater than zero. Each of the M battery modules includes C battery cells, where C is an integer greater than one. T temperature sensors configured to generate sensed temperatures of the M battery modules, where T is greater than or equal to M and less than M times C. A battery management module configured to perform battery impedance measurements on the C battery cells of the M battery modules; generate estimated temperatures for each of the C battery cells of the M battery modules based on the battery impedance measurements; and selectively detect at least one of the C battery cells having a cell outlier temperature based on the estimated temperatures of the C battery cells.

Abstract: A battery system for a vehicle includes a plurality of battery modules, each of the plurality of battery modules including a respective management module, and a master management module configured to communicate with the management modules and with a battery control module. Each of the management modules includes a communication interface configured to transmit data to the master management module and receive data from the master management module and a diagnostic module configured to monitor operating parameters of a respective one of the plurality of battery modules, detect a fault associated with the respective one of the plurality of battery modules based on the operating parameters, and selectively output a signal indicative of the detected fault.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining the state of health of an electric battery that includes a plurality of battery cells. The method includes the steps of measuring the cell voltage of each individual cell of the plurality of battery cells, and analyzing each measured battery cell voltage to determine the state of health of the corresponding battery cell.

Abstract: A system for self-discharge prognostics for vehicle battery cells with an internal short circuit includes a plurality of battery cells and a voltage sensor providing open-circuit voltage data over time for each battery cell. The system further includes a computerized prognostic controller operating programming to monitor the open-circuit voltage data over time for each of the plurality of battery cells and evaluate a voltage drop rate through a time window for each of the plurality of battery cells based upon the open-circuit voltage data. The controller further identifies one of the plurality of battery cells to include the internal short circuit based upon the voltage drop rate and signals an alert based upon the one of the plurality of battery cells including the internal short circuit.

Abstract: A method for detecting thermal runaway of a cell includes: positioning a battery pack having multiple cells in an automobile vehicle; measuring a cell voltage of the multiple cells at a predetermined sample rate; and identifying if the cell voltage decreases and modulates coincident with a cell surface temperature increase indicating initiation of a cell short.

Abstract: A supervisory computer is used with an energy management system of an electric vehicle. The energy management system includes a battery system having a plurality of battery subsystems. One of the battery subsystems is an abnormal battery subsystem while the remaining battery subsystems are normal battery subsystems. The supervisory computer includes at least one processor and at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium. The processor monitors the remaining state of charge, capacity, and resistance of the battery system and monitor the remaining state of charge and capacity of the abnormal battery subsystem, calculate a low integration bound value, calculate a remaining energy value for all of the normal battery subsystems with respect to the low integration value, calculate a remaining energy value for the abnormal battery subsystem, and summate the remaining energy values of the normal and abnormal battery subsystems to determine a global remaining energy value for the battery system.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a system operating a method of controlling a temperature at a battery cell of the vehicle. The system includes the battery cell, a temperature sensor and a processor. The battery cell has a tab for flow of current to and from the battery cell. The temperature sensor is configured to measure a cell temperature of the battery cell at a location away from the tab. The processor is configured to predict a tab temperature from the cell temperature, and control a power supplied to a load from the battery cell based on the tab temperature.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a bed including a frame. A mattress is supported by the frame. A respiratory therapy apparatus is supported by the frame. A pneumatic system is operable to inflate at least one bladder of the mattress and operable to deliver air to the respiratory therapy apparatus.

Abstract: A vehicle, system and method for monitoring an occurrence of thermal runaway in a battery pack of the vehicle. The system includes a plurality of voltage sensors and a processor. The plurality of voltage sensors obtains a plurality of voltage measurements at each of a plurality of battery cells of the battery pack. The processor is configured to determine a mean value based on the plurality of voltage measurements, compare a voltage measurement obtained from a selected battery cell to the mean value, and generate a notification signal when a difference between the voltage measurement from the selected battery cell and the mean value is greater than or equal to a prognostic threshold.

Abstract: Powerflow of a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) is managed according to a method. The RESS has series-connected first and second battery elements with different characteristics. Each element, e.g., a pack, has a corresponding maximum or minimum voltage or current limit. Currents are predicted for each of the first and second battery elements via a controller using a corresponding voltage limit. A requested operating mode of the RESS is used to select a current for the elements. A voltage across the elements is predicted using the selected current and a corresponding battery state space model. The method predicts a total power capability of the RESS over a prediction horizon using the selected current to generate predicted power capability values. The requested operating mode is controlled over the horizon using the power capability values. A powertrain system includes the RESS, an inverter, an electric machine, and the controller.

Abstract: A method for estimating a state of a battery pack using a controller having battery state estimator (BSE) logic includes receiving or delivering a constant baseline current via the battery pack. Current oscillations having time-variant frequency content are selectively injected into the baseline current via the controller in response to a predetermined condition. The baseline current and the current oscillations combine to form a final current. The method includes estimating a battery parameter via the BSE logic concurrently with the current oscillations to generate an estimated battery parameter, and estimating the present state of the battery pack via the controller using the estimated battery parameter. An electrical system includes a rotary electric machine that is electrically connected to and driven by the battery pack, and a controller configured to execute the method.

Abstract: A system for use with a direct current fast-charging (DCFC) station includes a controller and battery system. The battery system includes first and second battery packs, and first, second, and third switches. The switches have ON/OFF conductive states commanded by the controller to connect the battery packs in a parallel-connected (P-connected) or series-connected (S-connected) configuration. An electric powertrain with one or more electric machines is powered via the battery system. First and second charge ports of the system are connectable to the station via a corresponding charging cable. The first charge port receives a low or high charging voltage from the station. The second charge port receives a low charging voltage. When the station can supply the high charging voltage to the first charge port, the controller establishes the S-connected configuration via the switches, and thereafter charges the battery system solely via the first charge port.

Abstract: A current command module is configured to, based on a direct current (DC) bus voltage for an electric motor of the vehicle, generate a d-axis current command for the electric motor and a q-axis current command for the electric motor. A voltage command module configured to generate voltage commands based on the d-axis current command and the q-axis current command. A battery switching control module is configured to: determine a voltage operating state of a battery based on the voltage commands; compare a battery parameter to at least one of a predetermined voltage parameter and a predetermined current parameter during a dwell time when a plurality of switches of the battery are open; and generate a switch control signal to transition at least one switch of the plurality of switches to cause the battery to operate in the voltage operating state based on the comparison.

Abstract: A system for torque control of an electric motor in a motor vehicle includes a power inverter that delivers a current to the electric motor to regulate the torque of the electric motor and a model predictive control module that sends a three-phase voltage to the power inverter to control the operation of the power inverter.

Abstract: An electrical system includes a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) and a controller. The RESS includes first and second battery packs connected to a voltage bus, each pack having a respective plurality of battery cells and a corresponding cell balancing circuit. The RESS further includes switches that selectively connect or disconnect the packs to or from each other to achieve series and parallel modes. The controller executes a method by detecting a requested series to parallel mode transition. Responsive to a threshold imbalance being present in a state of charge or pack voltage of the packs relative to each other, the controller balances the state of charge/voltage using open/closed state control of the cell balancing circuits, and possibly a switching block having PWM-controlled switches and a circuit element. The controller may execute the requested mode transition upon balancing.

Abstract: A distributed battery power system having a battery pack and a battery controller. The battery pack has: a plurality of cells configured to generate a plurality of cell voltages; a voltage current temperature module electrically connected to the plurality of cells; and a plurality of isolation switch sets electrically connected between the plurality of cells. The battery controller is in communication with the voltage current temperature module, and operable to: send a status request to the voltage current temperature module; receive the plurality of cell voltages from the voltage current temperature module in response to the status request; determine if the plurality of cells includes one or more problem cells in response to the plurality of cell voltages; and perform an action in response to determining that the one or more problem cells are present to prevent damage to the one or more problem cells.

Abstract: A system for use with a direct current fast-charging (DCFC) station includes a controller and battery system. The battery system includes first and second battery packs, and first, second, and third switches. The switches have ON/OFF conductive states commanded by the controller to connect the battery packs in a parallel-connected (P-connected) or series-connected (S-connected) configuration. An electric powertrain with one or more electric machines is powered via the battery system. First and second charge ports of the system are connectable to the station via a corresponding charging cable. The first charge port receives a low or high charging voltage from the station. The second charge port receives a low charging voltage. When the station can supply the high charging voltage to the first charge port, the controller establishes the S-connected configuration via the switches, and thereafter charges the battery system solely via the first charge port.