Abstract: A battery system with a large-format Li-ion battery powers attached equipment by discharging battery cells distributed among a plurality of battery packs. The discharging of the battery cells is controlled in an efficient manner while preserving the expected life of the Li-ion battery cells. Each battery pack internally supports a battery management system and may have identical components, thus supporting an architecture that easily scales to higher power/energy. Battery packs may be added or removed without intervention with a user, where one of battery packs serves as a master battery pack and the remaining battery packs serve as slave battery packs. When the master battery pack is removed, one of the slave battery packs becomes the master battery pack. Charging and discharging of the battery cells is coordinated by the master battery pack with the slave battery packs over a communication channel such as a controller area network (CAN) bus.

Abstract: A magnetic brake mitigation module is described. During a catastrophic failure of a power supply, magnetic brakes are designed to quickly bring an electric vehicle to a stop. In some electric vehicles with minimal safety systems (e.g., seatbelts or doors), the abrupt stop can be unsafe. The magnetic brake mitigation module determines when a catastrophic failure has occurred and supplies, for a short period, stored power to the magnetic brakes to prevent a maximum braking force from being applied to the wheels.

Abstract: A battery-powered electric lawn mower includes battery packs mounted on a docking stations of a bus bar by way of a gravity-biased engagement. The lawn mower also includes a priority charging control logic for giving priority of charge to battery packs that have a state of charge over a threshold. The lawn mower also includes a live to drive system which alerts the user when the lawn mower is capable of moving in response to manipulation of controls. The lawn mower also includes a variable speed control which adjusts a sensitivity of speed controls such that more precise, slower speed control of the lawn mower is achieved when mowing around trees and the like.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for managing charging and discharging of battery packs. In one or more aspects, a system and method are provided to minimize overcharging of battery cells of specific battery chemistries while still enabling fast charging cycles. In other aspects, a buck converter may be used to reduce a voltage of power used to charge the cells. In further aspects, a fast overcurrent protection circuit is described to address situations involving internal short circuits of a battery cell or battery pack. In yet further aspects, a bypass circuit is provided in series-connected battery packs to improve the charging of undercharged battery packs while also increasing the efficiency of the overall charging process. In other aspects, a circuit is provided that permits a controller to determine a configuration of battery packs.

Abstract: A battery system with a large-format Li-ion battery pack powers attached equipment by discharging battery cells distributed among a plurality of battery packs. A limp home notification is generated from a smart lithium-ion battery pack to one or more application devices using an analog signal. The battery pack may provide broadcast messages over electronic communication lines, that includes state of charge (SoC), fault status, etc. which can be read by one or more application devices to enter limp home mode. In another example, a “fully charged” notification is generated from the smart lithium-ion battery pack to one or more application devices using an analog signal. The end device powered by the battery pack system receives and reacts to the outputted fully charged signal by modifying the state of the circuitry on the end device.

Abstract: Described herein is a battery system that allows a battery pack to operate in different modes at different times. Each of the different modes may provide its own set of functionality that affects how the battery pack operates and/or reacts to external input signals. A mode may change how the battery pack discharges power by, for example, altering whether terminals are enabled or disabled. A mode may change how the battery pack's hardware operates by, for example, disabling or enabling portions of the battery pack's hardware. A mode may change what battery-related services are provided by the battery pack and available to an end user by, for example, enabling or disabling the sending of battery status information from the battery pack.

Abstract: A medium- and/or large-format (M/L), rechargeable battery pack used for powering attached equipment may include features to protect the battery pack from external fire. For example, the features may protect the battery pack due to exposure to fire from outside of the end device, e.g., a vehicle, due to a fuel spill. According to another aspect of the embodiments, the M/L rechargeable battery pack may include a high current terminal/power connector for the battery pack. The embodiment optimizes the battery pack output power connector assembly, improves and solves poor connection designs that can cause fire hazards from sparks, and provides water ingress protection.

Abstract: A medium- and/or large-format (M/L), rechargeable battery pack used for powering attached equipment may include features to protect the battery pack from external fire. For example, the features may protect the battery pack due to exposure to fire from outside of the end device, e.g., a vehicle, due to a fuel spill. According to another aspect of the embodiments, the M/L rechargeable battery pack may include a high current terminal/power connector for the battery pack. The embodiment optimizes the battery pack output power connector assembly, improves and solves poor connection designs that can cause fire hazards from sparks, and provides water ingress protection.

Abstract: A battery system with a large-format Li-ion battery powers attached equipment by discharging battery cells distributed among a plurality of battery packs. The discharging of the battery cells is controlled in an efficient manner while preserving the expected life of the Li-ion battery cells. Each battery pack internally supports a battery management system and may have identical components, thus supporting an architecture that easily scales to higher power/energy. Battery packs may be added or removed without intervention with a user, where one of battery packs serves as a master battery pack and the remaining battery packs serve as slave battery packs. When the master battery pack is removed, one of the slave battery packs becomes the master battery pack. Charging and discharging of the battery cells is coordinated by the master battery pack with the slave battery packs over a communication channel such as a controller area network (CAN) bus.

Abstract: Described herein is a battery system that allows a battery pack to operate in different modes at different times. Each of the different modes may provide its own set of functionality that affects how the battery pack operates and/or reacts to external input signals. A mode may change how the battery pack discharges power by, for example, altering whether terminals are enabled or disabled. A mode may change how the battery pack's hardware operates by, for example, disabling or enabling portions of the battery pack's hardware. A mode may change what battery-related services are provided by the battery pack and available to an end user by, for example, enabling or disabling the sending of battery status information from the battery pack.

Abstract: A medium- and/or large-format (M/L), rechargeable battery pack used for powering attached equipment may include features to protect the battery pack from external fire. For example, the features may protect the battery pack due to exposure to fire from outside of the end device, e.g., a vehicle, due to a fuel spill. According to another aspect of the embodiments, the M/L rechargeable battery pack may include a high current terminal/power connector for the battery pack. The embodiment optimizes the battery pack output power connector assembly, improves and solves poor connection designs that can cause fire hazards from sparks, and provides water ingress protection.

Abstract: A battery balancing method for balancing voltages of battery packs on a bus bar of a utility vehicle is disclosed. The method includes determining, by a control system, a state of charge for a first battery pack and a second battery pack of the utility vehicle, initiating converter battery balancing, by the control system, to discharge the first battery pack to the second battery pack through a DC-to-DC converter in response the first battery pack having a state of charge that is more than a first threshold amount above a state of charge of the second battery pack, and initiating direct battery balancing, by the control system, to discharge the first battery pack to the second battery pack in response to the first battery pack having a state of charge that is less than the first threshold amount above the state of charge of the second battery pack.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for managing charging and discharging of battery packs. In one or more aspects, a system and method are provided to minimize overcharging of battery cells of specific battery chemistries while still enabling fast charging cycles. In other aspects, a buck converter may be used to reduce a voltage of power used to charge the cells. In further aspects, a fast overcurrent protection circuit is described to address situations involving internal short circuits of a battery cell or battery pack. In yet further aspects, a bypass circuit is provided in series-connected battery packs to improve the charging of undercharged battery packs while also increasing the efficiency of the overall charging process. In other aspects, a circuit is provided that permits a controller to determine a configuration of battery packs.

Abstract: A battery system with a large-format Li-ion battery powers attached equipment by discharging battery cells distributed among a plurality of battery packs. The discharging of the battery cells is controlled in an efficient manner while preserving the expected life of the Li-ion battery cells. Each battery pack internally supports a battery management system and may have identical components, thus supporting an architecture that easily scales to higher power/energy. Battery packs may be added or removed without intervention with a user, where one of battery packs serves as a master battery pack and the remaining battery packs serve as slave battery packs. When the master battery pack is removed, one of the slave battery packs becomes the master battery pack. Charging and discharging of the battery cells is coordinated by the master battery pack with the slave battery packs over a communication channel such as a controller area network (CAN) bus.

Abstract: Described herein is a battery system that allows a battery pack to operate in different modes at different times. Each of the different modes may provide its own set of functionality that affects how the battery pack operates and/or reacts to external input signals. A mode may change how the battery pack discharges power by, for example, altering whether terminals are enabled or disabled. A mode may change how the battery pack's hardware operates by, for example, disabling or enabling portions of the battery pack's hardware. A mode may change what battery-related services are provided by the battery pack and available to an end user by, for example, enabling or disabling the sending of battery status information from the battery pack.

Abstract: A battery system with a large-format Li-ion battery powers attached equipment by discharging battery cells distributed among a plurality of battery packs. The discharging of the battery cells is controlled in an efficient manner while preserving the expected life of the Li-ion battery cells. Each battery pack internally supports a battery management system and may have identical components, thus supporting an architecture that easily scales to higher power/energy. Battery packs may be added or removed without intervention with a user, where one of battery packs serves as a master battery pack and the remaining battery packs serve as slave battery packs. When the master battery pack is removed, one of the slave battery packs becomes the master battery pack. Charging and discharging of the battery cells is coordinated by the master battery pack with the slave battery packs over a communication channel such as a controller area network (CAN) bus.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for managing charging and discharging of battery packs. In one or more aspects, a system and method are provided to minimize overcharging of battery cells of specific battery chemistries while still enabling fast charging cycles. In other aspects, a buck converter may be used to reduce a voltage of power used to charge the cells. In further aspects, a fast overcurrent protection circuit is described to address situations involving internal short circuits of a battery cell or battery pack. In yet further aspects, a bypass circuit is provided in series-connected battery packs to improve the charging of undercharged battery packs while also increasing the efficiency of the overall charging process. In other aspects, a circuit is provided that permits a controller to determine a configuration of battery packs.

Abstract: A battery-powered electric lawn mower includes battery packs mounted on a docking stations of a bus bar by way of a gravity-biased engagement. The lawn mower also includes a priority charging control logic for giving priority of charge to battery packs that have a state of charge over a threshold. The lawn mower also includes a live to drive system which alerts the user when the lawn mower is capable of moving in response to manipulation of controls. The lawn mower also includes a variable speed control which adjusts a sensitivity of speed controls such that more precise, slower speed control of the lawn mower is achieved when mowing around trees and the like.