Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a vehicle battery system that includes a voltage bus having positive and negative bus rails, at least one battery pack connected to the voltage bus and having positive and negative battery terminals, and a battery disconnect unit. The method includes disconnecting the at least one battery pack from the voltage bus via the battery disconnect unit by performing a first battery disconnect process upon detecting an event condition, by performing a second battery disconnect process upon detecting a high overcurrent condition, and by performing a third battery disconnect process upon detecting a low overcurrent condition. The first battery disconnect process utilizes opening a main pyro fuse, the second battery disconnect process utilizes one or more of thermal fuses, solid-state relays and/or current sensors, and the third battery disconnect process utilizes one or more contactors or solid-state relays.

Abstract: An emergency disconnect circuit for use with a high-voltage (HV) bus of a battery electric system, e.g., aboard a mobile system, includes a pyrotechnic switch and a manual switch. The pyrotechnic switch configured irreversibly opens in response to an electronic triggering signal to disconnect an HV battery pack from the HV bus in a first manner. The manual switch is arranged on a low-voltage (LV) bus in series with and between the pyrotechnic switch and an LV power supply. Transition of the manual switch from an open position to a closed position connects the LV power supply to the pyrotechnic switch. This causes the LV power supply to discharge the triggering signal to the pyrotechnic switch. When used aboard a mobile system, an electronic monitoring unit generates the triggering signal in a second manner in response to a threshold impact event.

Abstract: An emergency disconnect circuit for use with a high-voltage (HV) bus of a battery electric system, e.g., aboard a mobile system, includes a pyrotechnic switch and a manual switch. The pyrotechnic switch configured irreversibly opens in response to an electronic triggering signal to disconnect an HV battery pack from the HV bus in a first manner. The manual switch is arranged on a low-voltage (LV) bus in series with and between the pyrotechnic switch and an LV power supply. Transition of the manual switch from an open position to a closed position connects the LV power supply to the pyrotechnic switch. This causes the LV power supply to discharge the triggering signal to the pyrotechnic switch. When used aboard a mobile system, an electronic monitoring unit generates the triggering signal in a second manner in response to a threshold impact event.