US 11,901,750 B2
Multi-functional current limiter for energy storage devices
Yongduk Lee, Vernon, CT (US); Xin Wu, Glastonbury, CT (US); Bo Liu, Vernon, CT (US); and Parag M. Kshirsagar, South Windsor, CT (US)
Assigned to HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION, Charlotte, NC (US)
Filed by Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation, Charlotte, NC (US)
Filed on Jun. 8, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/342,221.
Prior Publication US 2022/0393489 A1, Dec. 8, 2022
Int. Cl. H02J 7/00 (2006.01); B64D 41/00 (2006.01)
CPC H02J 7/0029 (2013.01) [B64D 41/00 (2013.01); H02J 7/0013 (2013.01); B64D 2221/00 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
a first set of batteries coupled to a battery terminal;
a power converter coupled to a power converter terminal, wherein the battery terminal is coupled to the power converter terminal;
a first current limiting circuit in series with the first set of batteries, wherein the current limiting circuit comprises:
a first circuit comprising a first transistor in series with a first diode, wherein a first anode of the first diode is coupled to a first source of the first transistor, and wherein a first drain of the first transistor is coupled to a first node;
a second circuit comprising a second transistor in series with a second diode, wherein a first cathode of the second diode is coupled to a second drain of the second transistor, and wherein a second source of the second transistor is coupled to the first node;
a first resistor inductor (RL) circuit comprising a first resistor and a first inductor connected in series, wherein the first RL circuit, the first circuit, and the second circuit are arranged in parallel; and
a controller configured to:
operate the first current limiting circuit in a plurality of modes comprising:
a battery discharge mode, wherein when in the battery discharge mode the controller causes the first transistor to not conduct current and the second transistor to conduct current; and
a voltage imbalance mode, wherein when in the voltage imbalance mode the controller causes the first transistor and the second transistor to not conduct current, and current flows between at least a first battery and a second battery of the first set of batteries.