Switching of particular inputs in a signal processing channel permits an independent evaluation of that signal processing channel, in a system where there are at least two signal processing channels, one of which is able to be calibrated while the other of which is measuring current in a shunt. Switching a controlled current through a shunt, the controlled current being small in value compared with an overall current being measured, permits yet another independent evaluation of the shunt.
G01R 19/00 - Arrangements for measuring currents or voltages or for indicating presence or sign thereof
G01R 29/02 - Measuring characteristics of individual pulses, e.g. deviation from pulse flatness, rise time or duration
G01R 1/30 - Structural combination of electric measuring instruments with basic electronic circuits, e.g. with amplifier
G01R 1/20 - Modifications of basic electric elements for use in electric measuring instrumentsStructural combinations of such elements with such instruments
2.
METHOD OF PREDICTING THERMAL RESISTIVE BEHAVIOR OF SHUNTS
The invention draws upon an insight that if the distance between the Sensing Points of a shunt is precisely defined and is repeatable (for example, due to the punching tool used to create the holes for the Sensing Points), then accurate calibration and determination of the Thermal Compensation function of the shunt can be done by means of a single measurement at room temperature. Saying this differently, once the calibration according to the invention has been carried out, the shunt can be used to achieve very accurate current measurements at any of a range of temperatures, and yet (perhaps counter-intuitively) the calibration itself only needs to be carried out at a single temperature.
G01R 15/14 - Adaptations providing voltage or current isolation, e.g. for high-voltage or high-current networks
G01R 1/20 - Modifications of basic electric elements for use in electric measuring instrumentsStructural combinations of such elements with such instruments
G01R 27/02 - Measuring real or complex resistance, reactance, impedance, or other two-pole characteristics derived therefrom, e.g. time constant
G01K 1/02 - Means for indicating or recording specially adapted for thermometers
3.
IMPROVED RUNTIME-CALIBRATABLE ANALOG COMPUTING SYSTEM AND METHODS OF USE
The inventive disclosures described herein generally pertain to an improved runtime-calibratable analog-computing system. In many embodiments, the improved analog-computing system comprises at least two analog computers, wherein after initial calibration, the system is designed to stagger the runtime calibration modes of each of the at least two analog-computers such that at least one of the analog computers is always in service, thus preventing any downtime for the overall system. In other words, a system user sees one initial calibration, and computing by the overall system is never interrupted.
The inventive disclosures described herein pertain to an improved analog computer that features the implementation of a method for dynamic amplitude rescaling in solving non-linear differential equations, including an efficient non-linear function evaluator/generator. The improved analog-computing scheme can constrain the variables of an ordinary differential equation (ODE) to fixed intervals in order to circumvent typical analog-computing input limitations while also ensuring that all changes to a real-world input value results in a non-zero change in the output of the improved non-linear-function generator. Various practical applications of these concepts are also described.
G06G 7/38 - Arrangements for performing computing operations, e.g. amplifiers specially adapted therefor for solving of equations of differential or integral equations
G06G 7/48 - Analogue computers for specific processes, systems, or devices, e.g. simulators
5.
IMPROVED ANALOG COMPUTING USING DYNAMIC AMPLITUDE SCALING AND METHODS OF USE
An improved integrator for use in physical analog-computing systems is disclosed, featuring real-time dynamic amplitude scaling schemas that make use of an injected correction factor responsive to a contemporaneous change in an input dynamic-amplitude-scaling compensation factor. The injected correction factor is designed to reduce or eliminate transient output perturbations due to the amplitude scaling change. The disclosures discussed have real-world applications for physical analog computers and hybrid computers used to control and manage many types of industrial-control systems.
G06G 7/161 - Arrangements for performing computing operations, e.g. amplifiers specially adapted therefor for multiplication or division with pulse modulation, e.g. modulation of amplitude, width, frequency, phase, or form
G06G 7/66 - Analogue computers for specific processes, systems, or devices, e.g. simulators for control systems
6.
IMPROVED ANALOG COMPUTING IMPLEMENTING ARBITRARY NON-LINEAR FUNCTIONS USING CHEBYSHEV-POLYNOMIAL- INTERPOLATION SCHEMES AND METHODS OF USE
The inventive disclosures described herein pertain to an improved physical analog computer that features the ability to evaluate arbitrary non-linear functions using an interpolation method based on Chebyshev polynomials. What has been developed is an improved method for non-linear-function generation in hybrid computing that relies on Chebyshev interpolation. The method requires an initial computation of the interpolation coefficients, which is to be carried out in the digital domain. These coefficients, along with the domain of definition of the non-linear function to be generated, are used during the programming of the analog domain to set multiplier and summer elements.
The inventive disclosures described herein pertain to an implementation of a non- linear-function generator for hybrid/analog computing. More generally, the implementation can be seen as a piecewise-polynomials evaluator for an analog computer. In embodiments, this piecewise-polynomials evaluator is coupled with interpolation techniques, such as cubic- spline interpolation, in order to efficiently implement non-linear-function generators in hybrid computers. The accuracy of the non-linear-function generator is controllable by adjusting the degree (or order) of the spline interpolation scheme and the number of knots, and the implementation for evaluating piecewise polynomials in analog computers makes it possible to implement sophisticated and high-order interpolation schemes for high-accuracy.
The inventive disclosures described herein pertain to an improved physical analog computer that features one or more improved integrators that can be time-scaled with respect to an input signal in order to better match the time performance of the analog computing with needs of the real-world machine/system that the improved physical analog computer is incorporated into so that adverse effects of non-time-scaled operations are minimized or eliminated. Such time-scaling also permits the improved physical analog computer to assist in solution of differential equations, used for example in simulations of physical, biological, financial, and other systems. The basic concept is to provide a means to introduce an input time-scaling factor to a forcing function and to the integrating operations of integrator(s) within the improved physical analog computer, wherein a time-scaling factor of greater than 1 is used to slow-down said analog-computational time, and a time-scaling factor of less than 1 is used to speed-up said analog-computational time.
G06G 7/184 - Arrangements for performing computing operations, e.g. amplifiers specially adapted therefor for integration or differentiation using capacitive elements
An analog computer solves equations by implementing a system characterized by the same equations as the ones to be solved. Composed of blocks implementing mathematical operations and programmed digitally, they function in synergy with a digital computer, resulting in a system known as a "hybrid computer." Differential equations, ordinary or stochastic, are simulated using analog electrical circuitry, creating a dynamical system which reproduces the solution of the equation to be solved. A dedicated circuit can be integrated into the analog system to produce continuous-time random noise, improving the accuracy of simulation results.
G06F 7/64 - Digital differential analysers, i.e. computing devices for differentiation, integration or solving differential or integral equations, using pulses representing incrementsOther incremental computing devices for solving difference equations
Wide deployment of high voltage battery systems in traction, industrial and renewable energy installations is raising the concerns for human safety. Exposure to hazardous high voltages may occur due to deterioration of insulation materials or by accidental events. It is thus important to monitor for such faults and being able to provide timely warnings to affected persons. For this purpose it has become mandatory for electrified passenger vehicles (CFR 571.305) to maintain high isolation values which can be continuously monitored by electrical isolation monitoring devices. The task of monitoring isolation resistance within the electrically noisy car environment is not a trivial task and the solution to this problem has become quickly a field of research and innovation for all affected industries.
G01R 27/02 - Measuring real or complex resistance, reactance, impedance, or other two-pole characteristics derived therefrom, e.g. time constant
G01R 27/28 - Measuring attenuation, gain, phase shift, or derived characteristics of electric four-pole networks, i.e. two-port networksMeasuring transient response
11.
COMPENSATING FOR THE SKIN EFFECT IN A CURRENT SHUNT
A method and apparatus to compensate for distortion of a waveform due to the skin effect in a current shunt. The method includes modeling the complex impedance of the shunt as component complex impedances. By designing a filter corresponding to the component complex impedances, the distortion of a waveform across the shunt may be reversed to provide an accurate replica of the undistorted waveform.
A complete model numerical solver resides on an embedded processor for real time control of a system. The solver eliminates the need for custom embedded code, requiring only model equations, definition of the independent and dependent variables, parameters and input sources information as input to solve the model equations directly. Through elimination of the need for custom code, the solver speeds up the model deployment process and provides the control application sophisticated features such as Automatic Differentiation, sensitivity analysis, sparse linear algebra techniques and adaptive step size in solving the model concurrently.
A system and method are described permitting a sophisticated control of a battery composed of a multiplicity of three-terminal electrochemical cells. Each cell has first and second terminals, connected with respective electrodes, one of which is a positive terminal and one of which is a negative terminal. Each cell has a third terminal connected with a grid electrode. A battery is composed of N cells. For each of the N cells, there is provided a respective capacitor switchably coupled to the second and third terminals thereof. A controller is connected through a switching matrix to the capacitors. In operation, the controller is connected sequentially to each capacitor among the multiplicity of capacitors, during which time the capacitor is momentarily uncoupled from its respective cell. When the controller is connected to one of the capacitors, it measures the voltage thereupon. The controller can then charge up or discharge the capacitor to drive it to a desired voltage level. Thereafter, the capacitor is disconnected from the controller and is coupled again to its respective cell.
A complete model numerical solver resides on an embedded processor for real time control of a system. The solver eliminates the need for custom embedded code, requiring only model equations, definition of the independent and dependent variables, parameters and input sources information as input to solve the model equations directly. Through elimination of the need for custom code, the solver speeds up the model deployment process and provides the control application sophisticated features such as Automatic Differentiation, sensitivity analysis, sparse linear algebra techniques and adaptive step size in solving the model concurrently.
A method and a system are shown for attachment of leads for the electrical sensing of the voltage on conductive structures; connections attached per this invention have the valuable property of very low thermoelectric errors (due to Seebeck effect), among several other beneficial properties. The described method can be applied in the factory setting as well as in the field. This system is especially suitable for applications with high-precision resistive shunts utilized in the measurements of the electric current.
G01R 31/00 - Arrangements for testing electric propertiesArrangements for locating electric faultsArrangements for electrical testing characterised by what is being tested not provided for elsewhere
G01R 19/00 - Arrangements for measuring currents or voltages or for indicating presence or sign thereof
Methods and circuits for reduction of errors in a current shunt are disclosed, for example sensing lines for Kelvin sensing in which the sensing lines are of identical material to the high-resistance portions of the shunt, and welded thereto. This allows application of a current shunt with lower output voltage and thus lower power losses than the contemporary art implementations, while maintaining high accuracy with regard to temperature changes.
An arrangement provides simulation of important battery factors such as state of charge or state of health, and the estimates are provided to the human user in ways that permit the human user to make better use of the battery, for example in an electric car. The arrangement uses modeling elements that communicate with each other by means of an analog bus. Some lines on the analog bus are voltages that are intended to be inputs to the simulation or actual measured values from a physical system. Other lines, importantly, are "voltages" that are intended to communicate characteristics of interest such as open-circuit voltage of a cell. Still other lines may be "voltages" that merely pass messages between modeling elements, the voltages not necessarily representing any real-life measurable such as the afore-mentioned temperature value.
G01R 31/36 - Arrangements for testing, measuring or monitoring the electrical condition of accumulators or electric batteries, e.g. capacity or state of charge [SoC]
G01R 19/165 - Indicating that current or voltage is either above or below a predetermined value or within or outside a predetermined range of values
A topology is described in which each pair of cells in a string shares a single inductor. Switches permit the single inductor to selectively charge one or the other of the cells. In a variant of the topology, the inductor together with additional switches permit selectively charging multiple cells simultaneously (even one or both cells simultaneously in a pair of cells), drawing upon either an external energy source or upon one or multiple other cells in the string. In this way the number of inductors is minimized while providing isolation among the charging circuits.
An apparatus and method make use of a single shunt and two or more instrumentation amplifiers, switchably measuring voltages at the shunt. This permits current measurement. At times each instrumentation amplifier has its input shorted, which permits zeroing out many sources of offset in the signal path of that amplifier. Dynamic range is several orders of magnitude better than known current measurement approaches, permitting coulometry.
A method, an algorithm, and circuits for implementation of a high-accuracy voltage divider are described that include a capability of fault detection. The disclosure allows for correction of non- catastrophic faults, such as significant changes of the components' values. The performance of the circuit built as described is vastly superior to operations achievable with the modern-day components utilized in previous standard and known configurations.
A method predicts the battery state in "real-time", which is based on a nodal algorithmic model. Under this method, the battery is modeled as a network mesh of both linear and non-linear electrical branch elements. Those branch elements are interconnected through a set of nodes. Each node can have several branches either originating or ending into it. The branch elements may represent loosely some particular function or region of the battery or they may serve a pure algorithmic function. The non-linear behavior of the elements may be described either algorithmically or through lookup tables. Kirchhoff's laws are applied on each node to describe the relationships between currents and voltages. The system may be connected with a battery so that it can receive measured values at the battery, and the system yields state-of-charge, state-of-health, and state-of- function signals.
G01R 31/36 - Arrangements for testing, measuring or monitoring the electrical condition of accumulators or electric batteries, e.g. capacity or state of charge [SoC]
G01R 19/165 - Indicating that current or voltage is either above or below a predetermined value or within or outside a predetermined range of values
A highly accurate voltage reference and temperature sensor circuit requires only several low-cost components in addition to a general-purpose microcontroller with an analog-to-digital converter. Unlike known circuits, the circuit disclosed does not rely on matching between a pair of semiconductor devices, as only a single semiconductor junction is used. All of the signal processing may be performed digitally.
G05F 1/565 - Regulating voltage or current wherein the variable actually regulated by the final control device is DC using semiconductor devices in series with the load as final control devices sensing a condition of the system or its load in addition to means responsive to deviations in the output of the system, e.g. current, voltage, power factor
Cell balancing aims to prolong the battery operating life by equalizing the Electro Motive Force (or Open Circuit Voltage) of the participating cells. Even perfectly balanced cells though will exhibit different output voltages because of differences in their internal impedances. The difference in voltage will depend on the load current frequency and intensity. A method is described for re-distributing charge in such a way so when the worst (from the point of view of voltage spread) possible load conditions occur, cells will have similar outputs and none will cross the under-voltage threshold causing a premature shut down of the battery.
A system is used with a plurality of modules, each module requiring galvanic isolation from the other modules. Galvanic isolators are employed, each having an input and an output, the output galvanically isolated from the input, the output responsive to the input according to a response characteristic of the isolator. Each module has, a respective first isolator and a respective second isolator. The input of each respective first isolator and each respective second isolator for each module is disposed controllably to receive an activation signal from the module indicative of a module fault to be annunciated or to receive a test signal from the module, the test signal being smaller than the activation signal. The outputs of the respective first isolators are aggregated to a first node and the outputs of the respective second isolators are aggregated to a second node. A selection circuit selects from the first node and the second node, yielding a fault signal output when the selected node satisfies a predetermined condition. An analog-to-digital converter is coupled with each of the nodes, the analog-to-digital converter disposed to sense an output from one of the isolators indicative of its response characteristic in the event of a test signal being applied to the isolator.
G01R 31/36 - Arrangements for testing, measuring or monitoring the electrical condition of accumulators or electric batteries, e.g. capacity or state of charge [SoC]
H01M 10/48 - Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte
G01R 31/3183 - Generation of test inputs, e.g. test vectors, patterns or sequences
A method, circuit, and topology are provided for utilization of this circuit in Li-Ion or any other battery that benefits from balancing between individual cells. The whole system is characterized as having high efficiency (and thus low heat losses) compared to previous art implementations. The actions of the circuit are continuous and bi-directional in respect to each cell.
A current sensing approach makes use of two shunts in series, embedded in a switching fabric, each shunt the object of a differential measurement of voltage drop across the shunt. Methodical make-before-break cycling of the switches in the switching fabric permit real- time or very near-real-time measurement of nearly all of the errors such as offset errors present in each differential-measurement path. Additional differential measurement paths can be connected with the shunts, with RFI filtering at shorter time constants to serve electronic fuse needs.
A series array of electrochemical cells is charged by first applying a first charging current to the series array, thereby applying the first charging current to each of the cells in the series array. When one of the cells reaches a predefined maximum voltage, the series charging current is ceased. A second charging current is then selectively applied to various of the cells in the series array, topping up each of the cells in the series array. Priority is given to the weakest cell in the array. If there is an idle time for the battery load before the array is connected to a load, then charge is transferred from fully charged cells to weaker cells, thereby reducing charge imbalance among the cells. The array is connected to a load and power is drawn from the series array.
H02J 7/02 - Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries for charging batteries from AC mains by converters
H02J 7/34 - Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other DC sources, e.g. providing buffering
A type of protection and cell conditioning circuit is proposed that partly uses the typically existing hardware present in traditional cell-protection circuits and that can achieve an optimum state of charge for the individual cell independently from the actions of the external battery charger. For minimum cost, the proposed circuit and system can solve the battery-cell-balancing problem, while optimizing the performance of the battery pack and while simultaneously enhancing the safety of the battery pack. Multiple battery cells can be communicatively combined to form large batteries. Information from and commands to each of the individual battery cells can be relayed through a low-power serial bus in order to form "intelligent" and optimally managed battery systems.
H02H 7/18 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements specially adapted for specific types of electric machines or apparatus or for sectionalised protection of cable or line systems, and effecting automatic switching in the event of an undesired change from normal working conditions for batteriesEmergency protective circuit arrangements specially adapted for specific types of electric machines or apparatus or for sectionalised protection of cable or line systems, and effecting automatic switching in the event of an undesired change from normal working conditions for accumulators
H02J 7/00 - Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
One or more small chargers with microcontroller circuitry, located inside the battery pack, are used to finely control individual cell charging and overall battery-pack charging in order to identify a more-efficient battery-charge termination point and avoid battery-cell degradation from over-charging. Battery cells are connected in series with a series of small chargers connected across each individual cell. A microcontroller and associated switches turn off the main charge when any of the cells reaches full charge voltage, then activate a series of small chargers, powered by the external charger, which then provide charge only to the cells that still need to be charged. The microcontroller acts as a current detector and voltage detector for all of the cells, stores information such as the amount of time it takes to charge the battery pack, the remaining charge in the battery pack, etc., and communicates this information to the host computing system.
