Abstract: A multilevel inverter includes a set of inverter switches arranged in a multilevel inverter topology. The multilevel inverter topology has a high voltage (V) input, a low voltage input and an intermediate voltage input. A first voltage source connects the high voltage input to the intermediate voltage input and a second voltage source connects the intermediate voltage input to the low voltage source.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for electrical energy transfer between a pair of series connected batteries coupled between positive and negative DC rails of a power inverter operatively connected to a plurality of stator phase windings of a stator winding of a motor may include coupling a midpoint of the pair of series connected batteries to the stator winding of the motor, and controlling the power inverter to operate the power inverter and the stator winding as a switched-mode power converter to charge at least one of the stator phase windings from one of the pair of series connected batteries and to discharge the at least one of the stator phase windings to the other of the pair of series connected batteries.

Abstract: Electrical energy is transferred between an on-vehicle DC power source and an off-vehicle DC power source by controlling conduction of the phase legs of a power inverter to operatively configure the power inverter and the stator phase windings of a traction motor as a switched-mode power converter including the at least one phase winding and at least one switch of one of the phase legs.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure include a symmetric direct current (DC) link capacitor having a low parasitic equivalent series L-inductance (ESL). An exemplary capacitor can include one or more positive-dielectric-negative (PDN) stacks having a positive layer, a negative layer, and a dielectric layer between the positive layer and the negative layer. A first contact layer is electrically coupled to the positive layer on a sidewall of the one or more PDN stacks and a second contact layer is electrically coupled to the negative layer on the sidewall of the one or more PDN stacks. A positive terminal is electrically coupled to the first contact layer and a negative terminal is electrically coupled to the second contact layer.

Abstract: A charging system of a vehicle includes a charging device configured to transfer an electric charge between a battery system of the vehicle and a recipient energy storage system, the charging device including a plurality of conversion stages. The charging system also includes a switching system configured to selectively bypass one or more conversion stages during a charging process, the charging process including transferring electric charge from the battery system to the recipient energy storage system, and a first controller configured to operate the switching system based on a voltage range of a recipient charge port of the recipient energy storage system.

Abstract: An electric vehicle includes a system performing a method of charging a battery of the electric vehicle. The system includes an electrical motor having a rotor and a plurality of windings. The vehicle is turned off to allow the rotor to come to rest at an initial rotor position. The processor controls a current through the motor to rotate the rotor to locate a boundary of an electrical lash region associated with the rotor, determines a selected winding of the plurality of windings having a phase vector located close to the electrical lash region, deactivates the selected winding, controls flow of a first current through the motor with the selected winding deactivated to rotate the rotor towards a direction of the selected winding, and controls flow of a second current from a charging station to the battery through the electric motor with the rotor rotated towards the selected winding.

Abstract: Power converters on a vehicle may provide electrical power to propulsion and non-propulsion vehicle systems from a battery source. Power converters may include DC link capacitors. An electronically resettable fuse may pass electric current between the battery source and the power converters through a switch module. The switch module may be controlled in a pre-charge mode and a circuit protection mode, wherein the pre-charge mode limits a rate of charging of the DC link capacitor by controlling the electric current with the switch module.

Abstract: A charging system of a vehicle includes a charging device configured to transfer an electric charge between a battery system of the vehicle and a recipient energy storage system, the charging device including a plurality of conversion stages. The charging system also includes a switching system configured to selectively bypass one or more conversion stages during a charging process, the charging process including transferring electric charge from the battery system to the recipient energy storage system, and a first controller configured to operate the switching system based on a voltage range of a recipient charge port of the recipient energy storage system.

Abstract: Fuse configurations for a distributed power architecture of a vehicle is provided. The distributed power architecture includes a high-voltage battery pack having a plurality of batteries and a plurality of converters, each of the plurality of converters being configured to receive high-voltage power from one of the plurality of batteries and to provide low-voltage power to a low-voltage bus. The distributed power architecture also includes a plurality of fuses disposed on one or more of an input side and an output side of each of the plurality of converters and a vehicle controller with at least one communication link to each of the plurality of power converters. Each of the plurality of fuses are configured to selectively prevent current flow through one of the plurality of converters.

Abstract: A vehicle, system and method of charging the vehicle. The vehicle includes a battery, a first electric motor coupled to the battery, a second electric motor coupled to the battery, and a switch for forming a circuit between a charging station and the battery through the first electric motor and the second electric motor. A processor controls a configuration of the switch and commences charging of the battery from the charging station through the first electric motor and the second electric motor.

Abstract: An optimal control strategy for a distributed low voltage system with bidirectional DC/DC converters is provided. A vehicle system includes DC/DC converters configured to receive electrical currents from high voltage battery modules and output regulating electrical currents to a low voltage battery. The vehicle system includes a control system coupled to the DC/DC converters, the high voltage battery modules, and the low voltage battery, where the control system is configured to control the DC/DC converters to recirculate one or more of the electrical currents back to one or more of the high voltage battery modules in order to balance states of charge in the high voltage battery modules.

Abstract: Fuse configurations for a distributed power architecture of a vehicle is provided. The distributed power architecture includes a high-voltage battery pack having a plurality of batteries and a plurality of converters, each of the plurality of converters being configured to receive high-voltage power from one of the plurality of batteries and to provide low-voltage power to a low-voltage bus. The distributed power architecture also includes a plurality of fuses disposed on one or more of an input side and an output side of each of the plurality of converters and a vehicle controller with at least one communication link to each of the plurality of power converters. Each of the plurality of fuses are configured to selectively prevent current flow through one of the plurality of converters.

Abstract: A battery system for a vehicle includes multiple battery cells each configured to store charge for powering an electric vehicle, a high voltage bus electrically coupled with the multiple battery cells to provide power to an electric motor, and multiple cell monitoring modules each coupled with a corresponding one of the multiple battery cells, each cell monitoring module including a controller configured to monitor operation parameters of the corresponding one of the multiple battery cells. The system includes multiple DC-DC converters in a converter housing, each DC-DC converter electrically coupled with a corresponding one of the multiple battery cells outside of the converter housing, and a low voltage bus electrically connected between the multiple DC-DC converters in the converter housing and at least one vehicle electrical component outside of the converter housing. The low voltage bus is configured to provide low voltage power to at least one vehicle electrical component.

Abstract: An energy storage system includes a plurality of batteries coupled in series, a plurality of first isolated DC-DC power converters each having first and second sides, a DC bus coupled to the second sides of the plurality of first isolated DC-DC power converters, and a second isolated DC-DC power converter coupled in parallel with the plurality of first isolated DC-DC power converters. Each of the first sides of the plurality of first isolated DC-DC power converters is coupled to at least one of the batteries. The second isolated DC-DC power converter includes a first side coupled to the plurality of batteries and a second side coupled to the DC bus. The second isolated DC-DC power converter is configured to mitigate a transient load condition on the DC bus.

Abstract: A charging system includes a scalable power source for powering a motor of a vehicle and telematics and battery management modules. The scalable power source includes: N battery packs, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 3; and multiple switches connected to the N battery packs including N?1 switches for serially connecting the N battery packs between supply and return lines and a multiple of N switches for parallel connecting the N battery packs to the supply and return lines. The telematics module requests capability of a charging station and receives a response signal from a device indicating the capability of the charging station. The battery management module: based on the capability of the charging station, selects one of the available arrangements in which to connect the N battery packs, sets states of the multiple switches; and then charges the N battery packs based on the states.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure include a power module having enhanced thermal management. An exemplary power module can include a direct bond copper (DBC) substrate having a top copper layer, a bottom copper layer, and a dielectric layer between the top copper layer and the bottom copper layer. The power module includes a thin-film thermoelectric cooler (TFTEC) having a thermoelectric film positioned between a top insulator and a bottom insulator. One or more dies are positioned over the DBC substrate and the TFTEC and a controller is configured to adjust a thermoelectric device current of the TFTEC responsive to a temperature of the one or more dies.

Abstract: An electrified vehicle may include a plurality of electric drive units, a plurality of battery packs, a plurality of charge ports and a plurality of controllable switches. The switches may be controlled to flexibly configure power transfer into and out of the vehicle through one or more charge ports affecting one or more battery packs in parallel or individually passively or actively through inverter integrated converter charge transfer.

Abstract: A battery system for a vehicle includes multiple battery cells each configured to store charge for powering an electric vehicle, a high voltage bus electrically coupled with the multiple battery cells to provide power to an electric motor, and multiple cell monitoring modules each coupled with a corresponding one of the multiple battery cells, each cell monitoring module including a controller configured to monitor operation parameters of the corresponding one of the multiple battery cells. The system includes multiple DC-DC converters in a converter housing, each DC-DC converter electrically coupled with a corresponding one of the multiple battery cells outside of the converter housing, and a low voltage bus electrically connected between the multiple DC-DC converters in the converter housing and at least one vehicle electrical component outside of the converter housing. The low voltage bus is configured to provide low voltage power to at least one vehicle electrical component.

Abstract: A battery electric system for a motor vehicle or another electrified system includes a battery pack connected to a direct current voltage bus, and having positive and negative battery terminals, a main pyrotechnic fuse (“pyro fuse”), a high-voltage (HV) component connected to the bus via an HV channel, a current sensing element connected to the HV component on the HV channel, and a control system configured to selectively disconnect the battery pack from the bus by transmitting a voltage signal to the main pyro fuse when a measured current value from the current sensor is indicative of a short-circuit fault. A channel switch may be connected to or integral with the current sensing element, and configured to disconnect the HV component from the bus by opening in response to the measured current value.

Abstract: A method includes: selectively actuating switches of an inverter module and first, second, third, and fourth switches of a motor; and charging a battery with power from a charger using at least one of first, second, and third stator windings of the motor, the battery having a first voltage and being electrically connected in parallel with the inverter module, and the charger having a second voltage that is less than the first voltage.