US 12,233,748 B2
Multi-voltage vehicle operation
Chunhao J. Lee, Troy, MI (US); Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Troy, MI (US); Yongjie Zhu, Troy, MI (US); Dongxu Li, Troy, MI (US); and Muhammad Hussain Alvi, Troy, MI (US)
Assigned to GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed by GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed on Jun. 16, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/336,705.
Prior Publication US 2024/0416796 A1, Dec. 19, 2024
Int. Cl. B60L 58/19 (2019.01); B60K 1/02 (2006.01); B60L 1/00 (2006.01); B60L 58/22 (2019.01); H02J 7/00 (2006.01)
CPC B60L 58/19 (2019.02) [B60L 1/00 (2013.01); B60L 58/22 (2019.02); H02J 7/0024 (2013.01); H02J 7/0063 (2013.01); B60K 1/02 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system in a vehicle comprising:
two or more battery packs configured to power one or more motors of the vehicle to move the vehicle;
a controller configured to dynamically activate an operational mode of a multilevel voltage system of the vehicle during vehicle operation, the operational mode being one of a plurality of possible operational modes, wherein the plurality of possible operational modes includes a first operational mode defining a series connection between the two or more battery packs and a second operational mode defining a parallel connection between the two or more battery packs, and wherein the connection between the two or more battery packs is controlled by a first plurality of switches;
a plurality of low voltage loads connected to a subset of the battery packs in the two or more battery packs such that a power output of the subset of the battery packs in the two or more battery packs provides power to the plurality of low voltage loads; and
wherein the plurality of low voltage loads are connected to only the subset of the battery packs in both the first operational mode and the second operational mode.