Abstract: A power distribution system is provided that ensures that a car is able to operate safely in an autonomous mode. The system includes multiple power rails, including a pair of safety critical power rails. Associated with each safety critical power rail is a safety switch, vehicle sensors (e.g., vehicle location and obstacle sensors), vehicle actuators (e.g., braking and steering actuators) and an autonomous control unit. If a fault is detected during vehicle initialization or general operation, the safety switch which detected the fault opens and that particular power rail is decoupled from the general purpose power rail as well as the remaining safety critical power rail. The remaining safety critical power rail is then able to provide power to a sufficient number of sensors, actuators and controllers to allow the car to safely and autonomously complete an emergency stop on the side of the road.

Abstract: A power distribution system is provided that ensures that a car is able to operate safely in an autonomous mode. The system includes multiple power rails, including a pair of safety critical power rails. Associated with each safety critical power rail is a safety switch, vehicle sensors (e.g., vehicle location and obstacle sensors), vehicle actuators (e.g., braking and steering actuators) and an autonomous control unit. If a fault is detected during vehicle initialization or general operation, the safety switch which detected the fault opens and that particular power rail is decoupled from the general purpose power rail as well as the remaining safety critical power rail. The remaining safety critical power rail is then able to provide power to a sufficient number of sensors, actuators and controllers to allow the car to safely and autonomously complete an emergency stop on the side of the road.

Abstract: A power management system for an electric vehicle is provided which maintains power to the various vehicle ‘always-on’ components and subsystems during periods of vehicle non-use without requiring the low voltage battery to undergo frequent charge/discharge cycling. The system uses a secondary DC/DC converter that has a lower output voltage, and operates at a higher efficiency, then the primary DC/DC converter. As a result of this system, the life of the low voltage battery is prolonged and power consumption efficiency is improved, thereby minimizing range loss while the car is parked.

Abstract: Embodiments discussed herein refer to backwards compatible charging circuits and methods for charging a battery to a relatively high voltage level regardless of whether the charging station is capable of supplying power at that relatively high voltage level. The circuitry and methods according to embodiments discussed herein can use the motor and power electronics (e.g., inverter) to provide a voltage boosting path to increase the charge voltage from a legacy voltage level (e.g., a relatively low voltage level) to a native voltage level (e.g., a relatively high voltage level). When a native voltage charging station is charging the battery, the circuitry and methods according to embodiments discussed herein can use a native voltage path for supplying power, received from the charging station at the native voltage, to the battery.

Abstract: A battery assembly is provided that utilizes electrically isolated heat sinks to enhance battery pack thermal management and safety. The battery assembly is divided into groups of batteries, where the batteries within each group are of the same voltage, and where each battery group is serially coupled to the other battery groups. The heat sink is segmented, where each heat sink segment is thermally coupled to the batteries within a single battery group, and where each heat sink segment is electrically isolated from the adjacent heat sink segments. The heat sink segments are thermally coupled to, and electrically isolated from, at least one coolant conduit which, in turn, is coupled to a thermal management system.

Abstract: A battery assembly is provided that utilizes electrically isolated heat sinks to enhance battery pack thermal management and safety. The battery assembly is divided into groups of batteries, where the batteries within each group are of the same voltage, and where each battery group is serially coupled to the other battery groups. The heat sink is segmented, where each heat sink segment is thermally coupled to the batteries within a single battery group, and where each heat sink segment is electrically isolated from the adjacent heat sink segments. The heat sink segments are thermally coupled to a cold plate, and electrically isolated from the cold plate by a layer of a thermal interface material.

Abstract: A battery assembly is provided that utilizes electrically isolated heat sinks to enhance battery pack thermal management and safety. The battery assembly is divided into groups of batteries, where the batteries within each group are of the same voltage, and where each battery group is serially coupled to the other battery groups. The heat sink is segmented, where each heat sink segment is thermally coupled to the batteries within a single battery group, and where each heat sink segment is electrically isolated from the adjacent heat sink segments. The heat sink segments are thermally coupled to a cold plate, and electrically isolated from the cold plate by a layer of a thermal interface material.

Abstract: A battery assembly is provided that utilizes electrically isolated heat sinks to enhance battery pack thermal management and safety. The battery assembly is divided into groups of batteries, where the batteries within each group are of the same voltage, and where each battery group is serially coupled to the other battery groups. The heat sink is segmented, where each heat sink segment is thermally coupled to the batteries within a single battery group, and where each heat sink segment is electrically isolated from the adjacent heat sink segments. The heat sink segments are thermally coupled to, and electrically isolated from, at least one coolant conduit which, in turn, is coupled to a thermal management system.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for automating full stripe operations in a redundant data storage array. In a redundant storage device controller, a parity product is accumulated that is associated with an information stripe. The parity product is stored in controller memory in a single write operation. A stored parity product is then written in a storage device. The parity product may be accumulated in a RAID controller, stored in a RAID controller memory, and written in a RAID. For example, the controller may receive n data stripelets for storage. The parity product is accumulated by creating m parity stripelets, and the m parity stripelets are written into the controller memory in a single write operation. Alternately, the controller may receive (n+m?x) stripelets from a RAID with (n+m) drives, recover x stripelets, and write x stripelets into controller memory in a single write operation.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for automating full stripe operations in a redundant data storage array. In a redundant storage device controller, a parity product is accumulated that is associated with an information stripe. The parity product is stored in controller memory in a single write operation. A stored parity product is then written in a storage device. The parity product may be accumulated in a RAID controller, stored in a RAID controller memory, and written in a RAID. For example, the controller may receive n data stripelets for storage. The parity product is accumulated by creating m parity stripelets, and the m parity stripelets are written into the controller memory in a single write operation. Alternately, the controller may receive (n+m?x) stripelets from a RAID with (n+m) drives, recover x stripelets, and write x stripelets into controller memory in a single write operation.