Abstract: Vehicles and related systems and methods are provided for managing an electrical system. One method involves identifying a current condition associated with an energy source coupled to an electrical grid, identifying a current operating state associated with the vehicle electrical system, determining an adjusted control target for the energy source to increase availability of the energy source based at least in part on the current condition and the current operating state, identifying a control scheme for the energy source based at least in part on the current condition associated with the energy source, and autonomously operating the vehicle electrical system in a manner that is influenced by the adjusted control target in accordance with the identified control scheme.

Abstract: A vehicle, a Multiple Output Dynamically Adjustable Capacity System (MODACS) of the vehicle and a method of operating the MODACS. The MODACS includes a string and a processor. The string is coupled to a grid. A grid voltage is set to a first set point. The processor is configured to detect a change in a state of health of the string and change the grid voltage from the first set point to a second set point in response to the change in the state of health of the string.

Abstract: Vehicles and related systems and methods are provided for managing an electrical system. One method involves determining an estimated power consumption associated with one or more loads coupled to an electrical grid, obtaining a current voltage associated with the electrical grid, identifying an expected duration associated with an operating state associated with the vehicle electrical system, determining an energy threshold for the expected duration associated with the operating state based at least in part on the current voltage and the estimated power consumption, and autonomously operating the vehicle electrical system in a manner that is influenced by the energy threshold associated with the operating state.

Abstract: Vehicles and related systems and methods are provided for managing an electrical system. One method involves identifying a current condition associated with an energy source coupled to an electrical grid, identifying a current operating state associated with the vehicle electrical system, determining an adjusted control target for the energy source to increase availability of the energy source based at least in part on the current condition and the current operating state, identifying a control scheme for the energy source based at least in part on the current condition associated with the energy source, and autonomously operating the vehicle electrical system in a manner that is influenced by the adjusted control target in accordance with the identified control scheme.

Abstract: A vehicle system is provided and includes a modular dynamically allocated capacity storage system (MODACS) and an active management module. The MODACS includes blocks of cells. The active management module is configured to: detect a first state of a first block of cells of the blocks of cells; determine whether a safety fault condition exists with the first block of cells based on the first state of the first block of cells; in response to detecting existence of the safety fault condition, isolate the first block of cells from other ones of the blocks of cells; subsequent to isolating the first block of cells, actively discharge and detect a second state of the first block of cells; and based on the second state, continue isolating the first block of cells or reconnecting the first block of cells such that the first block of cells is no longer isolated.

Abstract: An electrical connector is provided. The electrical connector includes a first housing having an outer surface and a second housing configured to receive the first housing, wherein the second housing includes an inner surface configured to contact the outer surface of the first housing. The electrical connector also includes a plurality of sensors configured to monitor a contact between the inner surface and the outer surface and a controller in communication with the plurality of sensors, wherein the controller is configured to determine a position of the first housing relative to the second housing.

Abstract: A low-voltage mitigation and recovery system includes: an auxiliary power module that converts an output voltage of a power source of a vehicle to a charging voltage, the power source provides power to power a propulsion system of the vehicle; a contactor that supplies power from the power source to the auxiliary power module; a first control module that controls states of the auxiliary power module and the contactor. A second control module is integrated within a MODACS, monitors parameters of blocks of cells of the MODACS, and, based on at least one of the parameters: configures a switch network of the MODACS to disconnect a first set of blocks of the MODACS from loads and to connect or maintain connection of a second set of blocks of the MODACS to selected ones of the loads; and wakes up the first control module to jump start and recover the MODACS.

Abstract: A battery system for a vehicle includes: first and second positive terminals and a negative terminal; switches; at least three strings of battery cells, each of the strings configured to, at different times be: connected to the first positive terminal via first ones of the switches; connected to the second positive terminal via second ones of the switches; and disconnected from both of the first and second positive terminals; and a switch control module configured to: identify one of a short circuit and an over voltage condition in a first voltage bus; when the one of the short circuit and the over voltage condition is identified, identify N of the strings of battery cells with the N lowest state of health values; and control switching of the switches and connect the identified N strings of battery cells to the first voltage bus.

Abstract: A battery system for a vehicle includes: a first positive terminal, a second positive terminal, and a negative terminal; switches; at least two battery modules each including at least three strings of battery cells that are configured to, at different times be: connected in series and to the first positive terminal via first ones of the switches; connected in parallel and to the second positive terminal via second ones of the switches; and disconnected from both of the first and second positive terminals; and a switch control module configured to, based on a derated state of the vehicle, adjust at least one of an upper limit for charging of the battery strings and a lower limit for discharging of the battery strings.

Abstract: A vehicle system is provided and includes a modular dynamically allocated capacity storage system (MODACS) and an active management module. The MODACS includes blocks of cells. The active management module is configured to: detect a first state of a first block of cells of the blocks of cells; determine whether a safety fault condition exists with the first block of cells based on the first state of the first block of cells; in response to detecting existence of the safety fault condition, isolate the first block of cells from other ones of the blocks of cells; subsequent to isolating the first block of cells, actively discharge and detect a second state of the first block of cells; and based on the second state, continue isolating the first block of cells or reconnecting the first block of cells such that the first block of cells is no longer isolated.

Abstract: A system for vehicle battery heating is provided. The system includes a battery, including a plurality of battery cells. The system further includes a computerized battery controller operable to selectively energize a portion of the battery cells to provide an increased temperature of the portion of the battery cells. The portion of the battery cells may be energized in a distributed pattern or a focused pattern.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for evaluating a CAN that includes a CAN bus and a plurality of modules configured to communicate over the CAN bus. A voltage sensor may be provided in electrical communication with the CAN bus. A number (N) of pairs of voltages may be read. Each pair may include a CAN high (CAN-H) value and a CAN low (CAN-L) value. The N pair of voltages may be processed through a comparison of the CAN-H values and the CAN-L values. Whether a fault signature is present in the CAN-H and CAN-L values may be determined from the processing.

Abstract: A method of detecting a ground fault in a faulty electronic control unit. A ground fault detection technique executed by a processor is enabled. The processor determines a message count for each respective electronic control unit transmitted during a ground offset condition over a predetermined time period. The message count includes messages communicated within a communication bus having a measured voltage at least a predetermined voltage value above an expected voltage value. The message counts for each respective electronic control unit are normalized. The faulty electronic control unit is identified as a function of the normalized message counts. A fault signal is output to identify the fault electronic control unit.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for evaluating a CAN that includes a CAN bus and a plurality of modules configured to communicate over the CAN bus. A voltage sensor may be provided in electrical communication with the CAN bus. A number (N) of pairs of voltages may be read. Each pair may include a CAN high (CAN-H) value and a CAN low (CAN-L) value. The N pair of voltages may be processed through a comparison of the CAN-H values and the CAN-L values. Whether a fault signature is present in the CAN-H and CAN-L values may be determined from the processing.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for detecting ground faults in a communications system. The method includes measuring a predetermined number of voltage points; determining if the measured voltage points represent recessive or dominant bits; identifying which of the predetermined number of voltage points represent inter-frame bits and which represent frame data bits based on whether the measured voltage points are recessive or dominant; calculating a maximum average voltage for the inter-frame bits; calculating an average frame voltage for all dominant bits within a frame; determining a high average dominant voltage count based on a number of frames for which the average frame voltage is greater than a high voltage threshold; and determining if a ground fault exists based on the average frame voltage and the high average dominant voltage count.

Abstract: A method of detecting a ground fault in a faulty electronic control unit. A ground fault detection technique executed by a processor is enabled. The processor determines a message count for each respective electronic control unit transmitted during a ground offset condition over a predetermined time period. The message count includes messages communicated within a communication bus having a measured voltage at least a predetermined voltage value above an expected voltage value. The message counts for each respective electronic control unit are normalized. The faulty electronic control unit is identified as a function of the normalized message counts. A fault signal is output to identify the fault electronic control unit.

Abstract: A system and method for determining that a male terminal and a female terminal are becoming disconnected in a connector as a result of the connector becoming loose or the terminals becoming corroded. The connector is a multi-terminal connector including a male terminal housing that houses a plurality of male terminals and a female terminal housing that houses a plurality of associated female terminals. One of the male terminals is a diagnostic terminal that is shorter than the other male terminals so that it is disconnected from its associated female terminal before the other male terminals when the terminal housing separate, which can be used to detect connector failure.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for detecting ground faults in a communications system. The method includes measuring a predetermined number of voltage points; determining if the measured voltage points represent recessive or dominant bits; identifying which of the predetermined number of voltage points represent inter-frame bits and which represent frame data bits based on whether the measured voltage points are recessive or dominant; calculating a maximum average voltage for the inter-frame bits; calculating an average frame voltage for all dominant bits within a frame; determining a high average dominant voltage count based on a number of frames for which the average frame voltage is greater than a high voltage threshold; and determining if a ground fault exists based on the average frame voltage and the high average dominant voltage count.

Abstract: A system and method for determining that a male terminal and a female terminal are becoming disconnected in a connector as a result of the connector becoming loose or the terminals becoming corroded. The connector is a multi-terminal connector including a male terminal housing that houses a plurality of male terminals and a female terminal housing that houses a plurality of associated female terminals. One of the male terminals is a diagnostic terminal that is shorter than the other male terminals so that it is disconnected from its associated female terminal before the other male terminals when the terminal housing separate, which can be used to detect connector failure.