US 11,777,334 B2
System for charging multiple power sources and monitoring diode currents for faults
Herman Wiegman, South Burlington, VT (US)
Assigned to BETA AIR, LLC, South Burlington, VT (US)
Filed by BETA AIR, LLC, South Burlington, VT (US)
Filed on Nov. 11, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/524,090.
Prior Publication US 2023/0145553 A1, May 11, 2023
Int. Cl. H02J 7/00 (2006.01); B60L 3/04 (2006.01); H02J 1/00 (2006.01); H01M 10/44 (2006.01); B60L 3/00 (2019.01); H02J 1/10 (2006.01)
CPC H02J 7/00712 (2020.01) [B60L 3/0046 (2013.01); B60L 3/04 (2013.01); H01M 10/441 (2013.01); H02J 1/108 (2013.01); H02J 7/0029 (2013.01); B60L 2200/10 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for charging multiple power sources, the system comprising:
a plurality of batteries;
a plurality of diodes, each diode of the plurality of diodes electrically connected in series with at least a battery of the plurality of batteries, wherein each diode of the plurality of diodes restricts current flow into the plurality of batteries and the plurality of diodes permits current flow from the plurality of batteries, wherein each battery is communicatively connected to a first current sensor and a second current sensor, and wherein the first current sensor and the second current sensor are configured to:
detect, using the first current sensor, a first current measurement;
detect, using the second current sensor, a second current measurement, wherein the second current measurement is different from the first current measurement amount; and
determine that a diode failure has occurred where the difference between the first current measurement and the second current measurement exceeds a 5% tolerance sufficient to indicate diode failure and signal the determined diode failure to a user;
a bus element, wherein the bus element comprises a ring bus, wherein:
the bus element electrically connects the batteries in parallel;
the bus element includes a cross tie element having an engaged state and disengaged state, wherein the cross tie element comprises at least a transistor;
the bus element further comprises flexible buses with conductive layers coupled together which includes a structural frame configured to provide rigidity to the bus element; and
the bus element is configured to:
disconnect a first battery of the plurality of batteries from a second battery of the plurality of batteries when the cross tie element is in the disengaged state, wherein the disconnected battery is isolated from the plurality of batteries; and
connects the first battery to the second battery when the cross tie element is in the engaged state; and
a load electrically connected to the plurality of diodes.