US 12,451,527 B2
Modular lithium-ion battery system for fork lifts
Kennon Guglielmo, San Antonio, TX (US); Adam Schumann, San Antonio, TX (US); Brent Ludwig, San Antonio, TX (US); and Matthew Martin, San Antonio, TX (US)
Assigned to ETHIUM, LLC, San Antonio, TX (US)
Filed by EControls, LLC, San Antonio, TX (US)
Filed on Jul. 6, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/368,237.
Application 17/368,237 is a continuation of application No. 16/193,071, filed on Nov. 16, 2018, granted, now 11,056,727.
Application 16/193,071 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2018/042188, filed on Jul. 13, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/692,702, filed on Jun. 30, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/532,199, filed on Jul. 13, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2021/0351444 A1, Nov. 11, 2021
Int. Cl. H01M 10/42 (2006.01); B60L 50/64 (2019.01); H01M 4/58 (2010.01); H01M 10/0525 (2010.01); H01M 10/48 (2006.01); H01M 50/204 (2021.01); H01M 50/249 (2021.01); H01M 50/284 (2021.01); H01M 50/296 (2021.01); H01M 50/298 (2021.01); H01M 50/509 (2021.01); H01M 50/519 (2021.01)
CPC H01M 10/425 (2013.01) [B60L 50/64 (2019.02); H01M 10/4257 (2013.01); H01M 10/482 (2013.01); H01M 50/204 (2021.01); H01M 50/249 (2021.01); H01M 50/284 (2021.01); H01M 50/296 (2021.01); H01M 50/298 (2021.01); H01M 50/509 (2021.01); H01M 50/519 (2021.01); H01M 4/5825 (2013.01); H01M 10/0525 (2013.01); H01M 2010/4271 (2013.01); H01M 2010/4278 (2013.01); H01M 2220/20 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A battery system adapted for optimizing per cycle discharge potential for modular lithium-ion battery assemblies, said battery system comprising:
a) a housing assembly comprising a main positive terminal and a main negative terminal positioned for being electrically connected to an application for which electric battery power is desired, said housing assembly further comprising:
i. a first plurality of internal electrical connections that are electrically communicable with said main positive terminal;
ii. a second plurality of internal electrical connections that are electrically communicable with said main negative terminal;
iii. a plurality of module supports each configured for supporting a battery module;
b) a plurality of battery modules associated with said housing assembly, wherein each battery module of said plurality of battery modules comprises:
i. a positive module terminal positioned to be electrically connected to one of said first plurality of internal electrical connections of said housing assembly;
ii. a negative module terminal positioned to be electrically connected to one of said second plurality of internal electrical connections of said housing assembly;
iii. a plurality of lithium-ion battery cells electrically united to provide a combined electrical potential between the positive module terminal and the negative module terminal of the battery module; and
iv. a solid-state switch positioned to operatively isolate the plurality of lithium-ion battery cells of the battery module from at least one of the positive module terminal or the negative module terminal of the battery module, thereby disabling discharge of the plurality of lithium-ion battery cells of the battery module; and
c) one or more processors programmed to:
i. monitor or determine at least a state of charge corresponding to individual battery modules of said plurality of battery modules;
ii. determine if the state of charge of an individual battery module of said plurality of battery modules is below a desired minimum charge level for that individual battery module;
iii. enable operative discharge of one or more of said plurality of battery modules when their respective states of charge are greater than their respective desired minimum charge levels; and
iv. cause the solid-state switch of the individual battery module to isolate the plurality of lithium-ion battery cells of the individual battery module from at least one of the positive module terminal or the negative module terminal of the battery module, thereby disabling discharge from the individual battery module, if the state of charge of the individual battery module is below the desired minimum charge level for that individual battery module.