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  • Determining battery DC impedance
    Patent number: 11415635
    Abstract: A controller for use in a battery charging system includes processing circuitry configured to perform certain tasks during battery charging operations, and other tasks during operational use of the battery. During a charging operation, the controller receives a measured DC impedance of a propulsion battery measured by a battery data acquisition and monitoring subsystem, obtains a reference DC impedance of a hypothetical battery, and determines an impedance degradation factor of the propulsion battery using the measured DC impedance and the reference DC impedance. During operational use of the propulsion battery, the controller obtains an operational reference impedance of the propulsion battery, determines a real-time effective impedance for the propulsion battery based on the impedance degradation factor and the operational reference impedance, and generates a feed-forward parameter based on the real-time effective impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventor: Anil Paryani
  • Discharge lamp lighting device
    Patent number: 4410837
    Abstract: A device for lighting a discharge lamp such as a xenon short-arc lamp is provided. The device includes a starter comprising a starter energizing capacitor connected to the boost voltage charging capacitor, a thyristor, a high voltage pulse transformer, a discharge gap, a starting capacitor, a diode and a Tesla coil. The starter is actuated with the energy charged in the boost voltage charging capacitor without any special power source therefor. The ignition voltage of the thyristor is higher than the output voltage of the power circuit of the ballast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1983
    Assignee: Ushio Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shunichi Suzuki, Masaharu Kotaka
  • BIDIRECTIONAL POLYPHASE MULTIMODE CONVERTER INCLUDING BOOST AND BUCK-BOOST MODES
    Publication number: 20120019212
    Abstract: A charging method using a multiphase line voltage for charging an energy storage system (ESS) using a polyphase motor drive circuit communicated to a polyphase motor, the polyphase motor drive circuit including a plurality M of driver stages, one driver stage for each phase of the polyphase motor with each driver stage coupled across the energy storage system, the method including the steps of: (a) determining a charge mode responsive to a comparison of the multiphase line voltage to a voltage of the energy storage system, the determined charge mode including a boost mode when the voltage of the energy storage system has a first predetermined relationship to the multiphase line voltage and the determined charge mode including a boost-buck mode when the voltage of the energy storage system has a second predetermined relationship to the multiphase line voltage; (b) converting, when the charge mode includes the boost mode, the multiphase line voltage to a first charging voltage using a first set of N number of t
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Krauer
  • Bidirectional polyphase multimode converter including boost and buck-boost modes
    Patent number: 8493032
    Abstract: A charging method using a multiphase line voltage for charging an energy storage system (ESS) using a polyphase motor drive circuit communicated to a polyphase motor, the polyphase motor drive circuit including a plurality M of driver stages, one driver stage for each phase of the polyphase motor with each driver stage coupled across the energy storage system, the method including the steps of: (a) determining a charge mode responsive to a comparison of the multiphase line voltage to a voltage of the energy storage system, the determined charge mode including a boost mode when the voltage of the energy storage system has a first predetermined relationship to the multiphase line voltage and the determined charge mode including a boost-buck mode when the voltage of the energy storage system has a second predetermined relationship to the multiphase line voltage; (b) converting, when the charge mode includes the boost mode, the multiphase line voltage to a first charging voltage using a first set of N number of t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Krauer
  • System for optimizing battery pack cut-off voltage
    Patent number: 8054038
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for optimizing the level of battery charging required by an electric vehicle is provided. The system includes an interface for the user to input various travel parameters, such as a travel itinerary, which is then used by the battery charging system during charge optimization. In addition to a travel itinerary, the system may be configured to take into account departure times, road conditions, traffic conditions and weather conditions in determining miles to be traveled as well as the electrical energy per mile conversion factors to be used during optimization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt Russell Kelty, Scott Ira Kohn
  • Collection, storage and use of metal-air battery pack effluent
    Patent number: 8298692
    Abstract: A system and method for collecting, storing and using the oxygen-rich effluent generated when charging a metal-air battery pack is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventor: Weston Arthur Hermann
  • Control, Collection and Use of Metal-Air Battery Pack Effluent
    Publication number: 20120041628
    Abstract: A system and method for maintaining an ambient oxygen concentration below a preset concentration while charging a metal-air battery pack is provided, the system utilizing an on-board means for collecting and storing the oxygen-rich effluent generated during the charge cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: TESLA MOTORS, INC.
    Inventors: Weston Arthur Hermann, Jeffrey Brian Straubel
  • Control, collection and use of metal-air battery pack effluent
    Patent number: 8557414
    Abstract: A system and method for maintaining an ambient oxygen concentration below a preset concentration while charging a metal-air battery pack is provided, the system utilizing an on-board means for collecting and storing the oxygen-rich effluent generated during the charge cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Weston Arthur Hermann, Jeffrey Brian Straubel
  • Battery Pack Overcharge Protection System
    Publication number: 20120105015
    Abstract: An overcharge protection device (OPD) is provided that may be used alone, or in combination with conventional charging protection systems, to protect a battery pack from the occurrence of a potentially damaging overcharging event. The OPD is designed to be coupled to, and interposed between, the terminals of the battery pack. During normal system operation, the OPD has no effect on the operation of the charging system or the battery pack. During an overcharging event, if overcharging is not prevented by another conventional system, the OPD of the invention creates a short across the terminals of the battery pack causing a battery pack fuse designed to provide battery pack short circuit protection to blow, thereby interrupting the current path from the charger to the battery pack and preventing the battery pack from being overcharged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: TESLA MOTORS, INC.
    Inventors: Weston Arthur Hermann, Scott Ira Kohn, Philip David Cole, Nicholas Robert Kalayjian
  • Dual mode range extended electric vehicle
    Patent number: 8463481
    Abstract: A dual mode battery charging system and method of use are provided for use in an electric vehicle. The system utilizes at least two user selectable, charging operational modes. In a first operational mode, a state of charge circuit powers on the engine/generator system whenever the battery state of charge falls below a first level and until the battery state of charge reaches a second level, where the second level is higher than the first level. In a second operational mode, the state of charge circuit powers on the engine/generator system whenever the battery state of charge falls below a third level and until the battery state of charge reaches the second level, where the third level is lower than both the first and second levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt Russell Kelty, Scott Ira Kohn, Weston Arthur Hermann, Jeffrey Brian Straubel
  • Battery pack overcharge protection system
    Patent number: 8659270
    Abstract: An overcharge protection device (OPD) is provided that may be used alone, or in combination with conventional charging protection systems, to protect a battery pack from the occurrence of a potentially damaging overcharging event. The OPD is designed to be coupled to, and interposed between, the terminals of the battery pack. During normal system operation, the OPD has no effect on the operation of the charging system or the battery pack. During an overcharging event, if overcharging is not prevented by another conventional system, the OPD of the invention creates a short across the terminals of the battery pack causing a battery pack fuse designed to provide battery pack short circuit protection to blow, thereby interrupting the current path from the charger to the battery pack and preventing the battery pack from being overcharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Weston Arthur Hermann, Scott Ira Kohn, Philip David Cole, Nicholas Robert Kalayjian
  • DETERMINING BATTERY DC IMPEDANCE
    Publication number: 20110077879
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring battery cell DC impedance by controlling charging of the battery cell. The method includes real-time characterization of a battery, (a) measuring periodically a DC impedance of the battery to determine a measured DC impedance; (b) ratioing the measured DC impedance to a reference DC impedance for the battery to establish an impedance degradation factor; (c) obtaining, during use of the battery and responsive to a set of attributes of the battery, an operational reference impedance for the battery; and (d) applying the impedance degradation factor to the operational reference impedance to obtain a real-time effective impedance for the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventor: Anil Paryani
  • Voltage dividing vehicle heater system and method
    Patent number: 8049460
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a rechargeable battery pack installed in an electric vehicle, a power supply coupled to the rechargeable battery pack, the power supply operable to provide a charge voltage to perform charging operations on the rechargeable battery pack, a heater to heat a fluid to be circulated through the rechargeable battery pack, the fluid thermally coupled to a plurality of battery cells within the rechargeable battery pack, a switching circuit, the switching circuit coupled to the heater and to the power supply, the switching circuit operable in a first mode to couple the source of electrical power to the heater without coupling the source of electrical power to the rechargeable battery pack, the switching circuit operable in a second mode to couple a source of electrical power external to the electric vehicle to the power supply to form a recharging circuit in order to perform charging operations on the rechargeable battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Krauer, Jeffrey Brian Straubel, Troy Adam Nergaard, Ian Craven, Arthur Joseph Hebert
  • Dual mode range extended electric vehicle
    Patent number: 8428806
    Abstract: A dual mode battery charging system and method of use are provided for use in an electric vehicle. The system utilizes at least two user selectable, charging operational modes. In a first operational mode, a state of charge circuit powers on the engine/generator system whenever the battery state of charge falls below a first level and until the battery state of charge reaches a second level, where the second level is higher than the first level. In a second operational mode, the state of charge circuit powers on the engine/generator system whenever the battery state of charge falls below a third level and until the battery state of charge reaches a fourth level, where the fourth level is higher than the third level, and where both the third and fourth levels are lower than both the first and second levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt Russell Kelty, Scott Ira Kohn, Weston Arthur Hermann, Jeffrey Brian Straubel
  • Determining battery DC impedance
    Patent number: 10300798
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring battery cell DC impedance by controlling charging of the battery cell. The method includes real-time characterization of a battery, (a) measuring periodically a DC impedance of the battery to determine a measured DC impedance; (b) ratioing the measured DC impedance to a reference DC impedance for the battery to establish an impedance degradation factor; (c) obtaining, during use of the battery and responsive to a set of attributes of the battery, an operational reference impedance for the battery; and (d) applying the impedance degradation factor to the operational reference impedance to obtain a real-time effective impedance for the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: TESLA, INC.
    Inventor: Anil Paryani
  • CONTROLLING A COMPRESSOR FOR AIR SUSPENSION OF ELECTRIC VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20150298520
    Abstract: A method of controlling a compressor for an air suspension of an electric vehicle includes: determining a state of a reservoir in the electric vehicle, the reservoir coupled to drive air springs of a suspension system; determining whether the electric vehicle is connected to an external source of electric energy for charging an energy storage of the electric vehicle; in response to determining that the electric vehicle is connected to the external source, applying a first value as a threshold for whether to replenish the reservoir by a compressor; and in response to determining that the electric vehicle is not connected to the external source, applying a second value, different from the first value, as the threshold for whether to replenish the reservoir by the compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley W. HAYES, Daniel Joseph MARIONI
  • Efficient Dual Source Battery Pack System for an Electric Vehicle
    Publication number: 20120041625
    Abstract: A method of optimizing the operation of the power source of an electric vehicle is provided, where the power source is comprised of a first battery pack (e.g., a non-metal-air battery pack) and a second battery pack (e.g., a metal-air battery pack). The power source is optimized to minimize use of the least efficient battery pack (e.g., the second battery pack) while ensuring that the electric vehicle has sufficient power to traverse the expected travel distance before the next battery charging cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: TESLA MOTORS, INC.
    Inventors: Kurt Russell Kelty, Vineet Haresh Mehta, Jeffrey Brian Straubel
  • Determining battery DC impedance
    Patent number: 8965721
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring battery cell DC impedance by controlling charging of the battery cell. The method includes real-time characterization of a battery, (a) measuring periodically a DC impedance of the battery to determine a measured DC impedance; (b) ratioing the measured DC impedance to a reference DC impedance for the battery to establish an impedance degradation factor; (c) obtaining, during use of the battery and responsive to a set of attributes of the battery, an operational reference impedance for the battery; and (d) applying the impedance degradation factor to the operational reference impedance to obtain a real-time effective impedance for the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventor: Anil Paryani
  • Dual mode range extended electric vehicle
    Patent number: 8463480
    Abstract: A dual mode battery charging system and method of use are provided for use in an electric vehicle. The system utilizes at least two user selectable, charging operational modes. In a first operational mode, a state of charge circuit cycles an engine/generator system on/off between a first level and a second level, where the second level is higher than the first level. In a second operational mode, the state of charge circuit cycles the engine/generator system on/off between a third level and a fourth level. After the fourth state of charge has been reached once, the state of charge circuit cycles the engine/generator system on/off between a fifth level and the fourth level, where the fifth level is higher than the third level and lower than the fourth level, and where the fourth level is lower than both the first and second levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt Russell Kelty, Scott Ira Kohn, Weston Arthur Hermann, Jeffrey Brian Straubel
  • Efficient dual source battery pack system for an electric vehicle
    Patent number: 8543270
    Abstract: A method of optimizing the operation of the power source of an electric vehicle is provided, where the power source is comprised of a first battery pack (e.g., a non-metal-air battery pack) and a second battery pack (e.g., a metal-air battery pack). The power source is optimized to minimize use of the least efficient battery pack (e.g., the second battery pack) while ensuring that the electric vehicle has sufficient power to traverse the expected travel distance before the next battery charging cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt Russell Kelty, Vineet Haresh Mehta, Jeffrey Brian Straubel
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