Patent ID: 8729865
Filing Date: 2014-05-20
Classification: B60K,B60L,B60W,H01M,H02J,Y02E,Y02P,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A power supply, comprising: a microprocessor; a plurality of quick disconnect removable cartridge battery packs; a battery bus and a charge bus; a plurality of first switches, a plurality of first current steering diodes and a plurality of first electrical conductors between said plurality of quick disconnect removable cartridge battery packs and said battery bus, each of said plurality of said first switches interposed in one of said first electrical conductors between one of said plurality of quick disconnect removable cartridge battery packs and said battery bus, each of said first current steering diodes interposed in said one of said first electrical conductors in series with each of said plurality of said first switches between said one of said plurality of quick disconnect removable cartridge battery packs and said battery bus enabling current to flow only from said one of said plurality of quick disconnect removable cartridge battery packs to said battery bus, and, disabling current flow from said battery bus to said one of said plurality of quick disconnect removable cartridge battery packs; a plurality of second switches, a plurality of second current steering diodes and a plurality of second electrical conductors between said charge bus and said plurality of quick disconnect removable cartridge battery packs, each of said plurality of said second switches interposed in one of said second electrical conductors between said charge bus and said one of said plurality of quick disconnect removable cartridge battery packs, each of said plurality of said second current steering diodes interposed in said one of said second electrical conductors in series with each of said plurality of said second switches between said charge bus and said one of said plurality of quick disconnect removable cartridge battery packs enabling current to flow only from said charge bus to said one of said plurality of quick disconnect removable cartridge battery packs, and, disabling current flow from said one of said plurality of quick disconnect removable cartridge battery packs to said charge bus; each of said plurality of first switches movable between a first, closed position enabling electrical current flow in only one direction in said one of said first electrical conductors from said one of said plurality of said quick disconnect removable cartridge battery packs, through said each of said plurality of first switches, through said each of said plurality of first current steering diodes and to said battery bus, and a second, open position disabling electrical current flow in said one direction in said one of said first electrical conductors from said one of said plurality of said quick disconnect removable cartridge battery packs, through said each of said plurality of first current steering diodes and to said battery bus; each of said plurality of second switches movable between a first, closed position enabling electrical current flow in only one direction in one of said second electrical conductors from said charge bus, through said each of said plurality of second switches, through said each of said plurality of second current steering diodes and to said one of said plurality of quick disconnect removable cartridge battery packs, and a second, open position disabling electrical current flow in said one direction in said one of said second electrical conductors from said charge bus, through said each of said plurality of second current steering diodes and to said one of said plurality of said quick disconnect removable cartridge battery packs; and, said microprocessor controlling said first and second switches moving between said first and second positions thereof.