BACKGROUND

The present disclosure generally relates to battery systems and, more particularly, to switching devices implemented in battery systems.

This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present techniques, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.

Electrical systems often include a battery system to capture (e.g., store) generated electrical energy and/or to supply electrical power. In fact, battery systems may be included in electrical systems utilized for various applications. For example, a stationary power system may include a battery system that receives electrical power output by an electrical generator and stores the electrical power as electrical energy. In this manner, the battery system may supply electrical power to electrical loads using the stored electrical energy.

Additionally, an electrical system in an automotive vehicle may include a battery system that supplies electrical power, for example, to provide and/or supplement the motive force (e.g., power) of the automotive vehicle. For the purpose of the present disclosure, such automotive vehicles are referred to as xEV and may include any one, any variation, and/or any combination of the following types of automotive vehicles. For example, electric vehicles (EVs) may utilize a battery-powered electric propulsion system (e.g., one or more electric motors) as the primary source of vehicular motive force. As such, a battery system in an electric vehicle may be implemented to supply electrical power to the battery-powered electric propulsion system. Additionally, hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) may utilize a combination of a battery-powered electric propulsion system and an internal combustion engine propulsion system to produce vehicular motive force. As such, a battery system may be implemented to facilitate directly providing at least a portion of the vehicular motive force by supplying electrical power to the battery-powered electric propulsion system.

Micro-hybrid electric vehicles (mHEVs) may use an internal combustion engine propulsion system as the primary source of vehicular motive force, but may utilize the battery system to implement “Stop-Start” techniques. In particular, a mHEV may disable its internal combustion engine while idling and crank (e.g., restart) the internal combustion engine when propulsion is subsequently desired. To facilitate implementing such techniques, the battery system may continue supplying electrical power while the internal combustion engine is disabled and supply electrical power to crank the internal combustion engine. In this manner, the battery system may indirectly supplement providing the vehicular motive force.

To facilitate controlling its operation, a battery system often includes a switching device electrically coupled to a battery (e.g., battery module, battery pack, or battery cell) in the battery system. For example, when electrically coupled between the battery and an electrical device, charging and/or discharging of the battery may be controlled by controlling the position of the switching device. In some instances, multiple different types of switching devices may be suitable for implementation in a battery system. However, at least in some instances, different types of switching devices often present varying tradeoffs, for example, that affect operational reliability and/or power consumption associated with a battery system.

SUMMARY

A summary of certain embodiments disclosed herein is set forth below. It should be understood that these aspects are presented merely to provide the reader with a brief summary of these certain embodiments and that these aspects are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Indeed, this disclosure may encompass a variety of aspects that may not be set forth below.

In one embodiment, an automotive vehicle includes a battery cell, a primary switching device electrically coupled to a terminal of the battery cell, and a secondary switching device electrically coupled to the terminal of the battery cell such that it is electrically parallel with the primary switching device. The primary switching device includes an electromechanical switching device that, when in a first closed position, enables current flow in a first direction through the primary switching device to facilitate charging of the battery cell or enables current flow in a second direction through the primary switching device to facilitate discharging the battery cell. Additionally, the secondary switching device includes a solid-state switching device and a diode, which is electrically coupled in series with the solid-state switching device. The diode enables current to flow, when the solid-state switching device is in a second closed position, in only one of the first direction and the second direction through the secondary switching device.

In another embodiment, a method for implementing an automotive battery system includes implementing a battery module, which includes a plurality of battery cells, which are electrically coupled between a positive terminal and negative terminal of the battery module. The method also includes implementing an electromechanical switching device, which includes an armature and coil circuitry. The method includes implementing the coil circuitry, which includes electrically coupling a close relay coil between a high-side close transistor and a low-side close transistor to enable the close relay coil to generate a first magnetic field, when supplied power at a first voltage via the high-side close transistor, that actuates the armature. Further, implementing the coil circuitry includes electrically coupling an open relay coil between a high-side open transistor and a low-side open transistor to enable the open relay coil to generate a second magnetic field, when supplied power at a second voltage via the high-side open transistor, that actuates the armature. Furthermore, implementing the coil circuitry includes electrically coupling an anode of a first diode to the close relay coil and the low-side close transistor. Additionally, coil circuitry implementation includes electrically coupling a cathode of the first diode to a capacitor and high-side open transistor that enables electrical energy to be stored at the second voltage within a capacitor when power at the first voltage is supplied to the close relay coil.

In another embodiment, a battery module includes a positive terminal and negative terminal on the battery module's housing and a plurality of battery cells coupled in series with the negative terminal. Furthermore, the battery module includes a primary switching device and a second switching device, which are electrically coupled in parallel between the plurality of battery cells and the positive terminal of the battery module. The primary switching device includes an armature and coil circuitry, which stores electrical energy at a boosted voltage and supply electrical power at the boosted voltage to actuate the armature from a first closed position to a first open position when a short-circuit condition is detected. The second switching device also includes a solid-state switching device and a first diode that limits current flow direction through the second switching device when the solid-state switching device is in a second closed position.

