Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
320120000 | Having variable number of cells or batteries in series | 39 |
20090102423 | APPARATUS AND METHOD TO PROVIDE POWER TO BATTERY-BACKUP ASSEMBLIES DISPOSED IN AN INFORMATION STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEM - A method to supply power to one or more battery-backup assemblies, wherein the method supplies a first controller, a second controller, a first battery-backup assembly, and a second battery-backup assembly. The method further supplies a power bus interconnected to the first controller, the second controller, the first battery-backup assembly, and the second battery-backup assembly, and a first power supply and a second power supply interconnected with the power bus. The method provides power to the first controller and to the second controller and to the first battery-backup assembly over a first period of time, and provides power to the first controller and to the second controller and to the second battery-backup assembly over a second period of time, where the first period of time differs from the second period of time. | 04-23-2009 |
20090289599 | SYSTEM FOR BALANCING BATTERY PACK SYSTEM MODULES - A system for balancing a plurality of battery pack system modules connected in series comprising: a plurality of battery pack system modules, wherein a high charge module of the plurality of battery pack system modules has a charge greater than a that of other modules. At least one zener diode connected in series with a current limiting resistor is connected in parallel to the plurality of battery pack system modules. A power source is in communication with a disconnect circuit of at least one of the battery pack system modules. The disconnect circuit is actuated when the battery pack system module reaches a predetermined state of charge. The zener diode enables current from the power source to bypass charged battery pack system modules to charge other battery pack system modules. | 11-26-2009 |
20100141209 | Battery charging controller and battery balance charging controller - The present invention discloses a battery charging controller for balancing the charged batteries. The battery charging controller comprises a battery reference voltage generator, a voltage balancing module and a balance judging circuit. The battery charging controller determines which one has the lower voltage between battery units of a battery module according to reference voltages generated by the battery reference voltage generator. The voltage balancing module controlled by the balance judging circuit allows the charging current of the lower-voltage battery larger than the charging current of the higher-voltage battery in such that the final voltages of the battery units are substantially equaled when they are completely saturated. | 06-10-2010 |
20100188048 | NONAQUEOUS SECONDARY BATTERY, BATTERY PACK, POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM, AND ELECTRICAL DEVICE - A nonaqueous secondary battery includes a negative electrode plate | 07-29-2010 |
20100201318 | POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM AND CELL ASSEMBLY CONTROL METHOD - The power supply system of the present invention includes: a cell assembly in which a first assembled battery, formed from a plurality of first cells connected in series, and a second assembled battery, formed from a plurality of second cells connected in series, are connected in parallel; and a generator for charging the cell assembly. The cell assembly is configured such that an average charging voltage V | 08-12-2010 |
20100207579 | Two-Stage Charge Equalization Method and Apparatus for Series-Connected Battery String - A two-stage charge equalization apparatus for a series-connected battery string comprises a battery module having a plurality of batteries connected in series; a battery string having M (M≧2) battery modules connected in series; M charge control switch modules connected in parallel to each of the M battery modules; M second DC/DC converters connected to each of the M charge control switch modules; a single first DC/DC converter connected to the M second DC/DC converter; and a microprocessor controlling the charge control switch module, wherein the first DC/DC converter is inputted with an overall potential of the battery string and outputs a potential lower than the potential inputted and each of batteries composing the battery module shares the second DC/DC converter using the charge control switch module. | 08-19-2010 |
20100219793 | POWER SUPPLY FOR AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A power supply for a medical device having one or more power consuming components. The power supply system comprises first and second battery cells electrically connected in series to supply a first level of power to the components, and at least one additional battery cell. The power supply also comprises a control system configured to electrically connect the at least one additional battery in parallel with one or both of the first or second batteries upon a detection of a power demand at the components that is greater than said first level. | 09-02-2010 |
20100270973 | Battery Pack - A battery pack which is detachably connected to a charger and charged by connecting thereto, includes a battery assembly including a plurality of secondary batteries serially connected; a pair of power terminals connected to a negative and a positive electrode of the battery assembly, respectively; a control circuit adapted to individually detect voltages across respective secondary batteries and output a charge control signal to the charger when the detected voltages exceed a predetermined value; a signal terminal adapted to output the charge control signal to the charger; and a temperature measurement element for detecting a temperature of the battery assembly. Further, the control circuit changes the predetermined value to be compared with the detected voltages based on the detected temperature of the temperature measurement element. | 10-28-2010 |
20110248679 | Actively Rapid Battery Voltage Balancing System - The present invention provides an actively rapid battery voltage balancing system which includes a power converter, a switch, a voltage balancing multiplexer, a voltage measurement multiplexer, a voltage sensor, a microprocessor, and a series connected battery pack. By the application of the above components, the balancing voltage conditions of each battery cell in a series connected battery pack can be actively monitored and estimated. While in the charge or discharge period, if a battery cell in the series connected battery pack is determined to be an unbalanced cell, the voltage balancing process can be carried out promptly. Less component is required to fulfill the purpose of the cell voltage balance in the present invention. | 10-13-2011 |
20110248680 | LITHIUM-ION AIRCRAFT BATTERY WITH AUTOMATICALLY ACTIVATED BATTERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A rechargeable aircraft battery assembly includes at least one lithium-ion cell having a positive cell terminal and a negative cell terminal and a battery management circuit operable to control charging and/or discharging of the lithium-ion cell. The battery management circuit is constantly off when the aircraft circuit is not engaged with the battery connector and is constantly on when the aircraft circuit is engaged with the battery connector. | 10-13-2011 |
20150349557 | Movable Device and Method of Charging the Same - An apparatus and method for charging movable devices like carts or trolleys. Each movable device includes a charging unit and a charging connector coupled to the charging unit, including a male plug at one end, a female socket at the other end, and two electrodes interconnected. When the devices are in a queue, the male plug of the connector of a device in the rear is connected to the female socket of the same in the front so that a plurality of movable devices are connected to each other in tandem and charged simultaneously. The method includes connecting the plurality of devices in tandem with the respective connectors so that the devices can be charged simultaneously. A plurality of movable devices can be charged simultaneously and the charging process can be simplified, thereby improving the utilization and safety of the movable devices and reducing the cost of maintenance. | 12-03-2015 |
320121000 | Switchable cells (e.g., for voltage regulation, etc.) | 11 |
20090261783 | System and Methods to Extend the Service Life of Portable Devices - A method for extending the service life of a portable device includes monitoring a battery of a portable device; identifying a problem bank; reconfiguring a connection schema for the battery to replace the problem battery bank with at least one spare bank; conditioning or exercising the problem bank; connecting the portable device to a power supply to recharge the problem bank; and reconnecting the recharged or repaired bank according to the connection schema without the at least one spare bank. A method for extending the service life of a portable device includes monitoring power consumption of at least one of the hardware or software of a portable device; and reconfiguring the connection schema of the battery banks to redistribute power consumption of at least one of the hardware or software. | 10-22-2009 |
20100109608 | AUTONOMOUS BALANCING OF SERIES CONNECTED CHARGE STORAGE DEVICES - A charge balancing circuit implemented within a charge storage device (cell) in a series connected charge storage unit (battery) made up of a plurality of cells. The charge balancing circuit may utilize a controller to sense the voltage in the cell it is implemented therein and the cells adjacent thereto. If the voltage of the current cell exceeds a threshold voltage and is greater than at least one adjacent cell the current cell can transfer charge to the adjacent cell having the lowest voltage. The transfer of the charge is done with a switching network that extracts current from the current cell and then transfers the current to the adjacent cell having the lowest voltage. The switching network may utilize switches and a current storage device (inductor) to transfer the charge. The controller may activate different switches based on which adjacent cell has the lowest voltage. | 05-06-2010 |
20100244770 | MULTI BATTERY PACK SYSTEM, CONTROL METHOD THEREOF, AND BATTERY PACK USING THE SAME - A multi battery pack system is composed of a plurality of battery packs. The master battery pack receives a total voltage from each slave battery pack and calculates a target total voltage using its total voltage and total voltages of all slave battery pack whenever a predetermined time period passes, sends the calculated target total voltage to each slave battery pack, compares the target total voltage with its total voltage, and then connects or disconnects its cell group and output terminals according to the comparison result. The slave battery packs include at least one slave battery pack, which sends its total voltage according to a request of the master battery pack, receives a target total voltage from the master battery pack, compares the target total voltage with its total voltage, and then connects or disconnects its cell group and output terminals according to the comparison result. | 09-30-2010 |
20100244771 | MULTI BATTERY PACK SYSTEM, CONTROL METHOD THEREOF, AND BATTERY PACK USING THE SAME - A multi battery pack system is composed of a plurality of battery packs. The master battery pack receives a total voltage from each slave battery pack and calculates a target total voltage using its total voltage and total voltages of all slave battery pack whenever a predetermined time period passes, sends the calculated target total voltage to each slave battery pack, compares the target total voltage with its total voltage, and then connects or disconnects its cell group and output terminals according to the comparison result. The slave battery packs include at least one slave battery pack, which sends its total voltage according to a request of the master battery pack, receives a target total voltage from the master battery pack, compares the target total voltage with its total voltage, and then connects or disconnects its cell group and output terminals according to the comparison result. | 09-30-2010 |
20110175574 | BATTERY ID SETTING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DRIVING THE SAME - A battery identification (ID) setting system effectively managing a plurality of batteries and a method of driving the same. The battery ID setting system having an external terminal includes a master battery management system (BMS) outputting ID setting signals, and a plurality of slave BMSs transmitting battery information signals containing absolute battery IDs and battery potential differences of batteries to the master BMS in response to the ID setting signals. The master BMS receives the battery information signals to assign and store the relative battery IDs corresponding to the absolute battery IDs of the batteries. | 07-21-2011 |
20130162214 | CAPACITOR ACTIVE BALANCING DEVICE WITH HIGH-VOLTAGE DIFFERENTIAL AND METHOD THEREOF - A capacitor active balancing device with high-voltage differential and the method thereof are disclosed. A plurality of cells are connected in series for charging an energy storage unit under a high-voltage differential. The energy storage unit discharges cells of lower power to achieve battery balancing. The mechanism helps improve the efficiency of battery balancing. | 06-27-2013 |
20130175995 | Battery with Cell Balancing - A battery includes at least one battery module line, a sensor means for determining a charging stage of a battery cell, and a control unit. The battery module line includes a plurality of battery modules mounted in series, each module having at least one battery cell and a coupling unit. The at least one battery cell is mounted between a first input and a second input of the coupling unit, and the coupling unit is configured (i) to switch the at least one battery cell between a first terminal of the battery module and a second terminal of the battery module, on a first control signal, and (ii) to connect the first terminal to the second terminal on a second control signal. The sensor means is connectable to the at least one battery cell of each battery module. | 07-11-2013 |
20140184161 | SOLID-STATE ACTIVE SWITCH MATRIX FOR HIGH ENERGY, MODERATE POWER BATTERY SYSTEMS - A battery management system employs electronic switches and capacitors. No traditional cell-balancing resistors are used. The BMS electronically switches individual cells into and out of a module of cells in order to use the maximum amount of energy available in each cell and to completely charge and discharge each cell without overcharging or under-discharging. | 07-03-2014 |
20150042283 | BATTERY STACK WITH DISTRIBUTED CONTROL OF CELLS DRIVING EVENTS - Embodiments of the present invention relate to a battery stack controller system. The system may include a plurality of battery cell stages with cell controller systems (as described above with respect to the first embodiment). The system may also include a stack controller to send charge/discharge commands to the battery stack via a communication network. The stack controller may send the commands to the battery stack based on the requirements of a load or the state of the battery cell stages. The battery cell stages may either comply with the commands or send the commands to neighboring cells via the communication network. | 02-12-2015 |
20150077060 | EQUALIZATION DEVICE FOR ASSEMBLED BATTERY - In an equalization device for equalizing voltages of battery cells connected in series, each battery cell is provided with an equalization switch and a level shift section. The level shift section includes at least one level shift circuit. Each level shift circuit operates on a power supply voltage supplied from a series circuit of a predetermined number of adjacent battery cells. The level shift circuits are arranged so that potentials of the power supply voltages are different from each other in sequence. In the level shift section, a first level shift circuit outputs a pair of drive voltages by level-shifting a pair of control signals inputted from a second level shift circuit adjacent to the first level shift circuit, and a last level shift circuit outputs the pair of drive voltages as a control voltage for a corresponding equalization switch. | 03-19-2015 |
20160149421 | LOW VOLTAGE CHARGING AND BALANCING OF A HIGH VOLTAGE, SERIES-CONNECTED STRING OF BATTERY MODULES - Systems and methods for performing low voltage charging of a high voltage, series-connected string of battery modules are disclosed. A battery pack system may include a plurality of battery cells, including one or more groups of battery cells coupled in parallel. A processor may be configured to select a sub-group of battery cells from a group of battery cells for charging separately from other battery cells of the selected group of battery cells. The group of battery cells may be reconfigured to allow charging of the sub-group of battery cells separate from the other battery cells. The sub-group of battery cells may be charged, and then the group of battery cells may be reconfigured to allow operation of the sub-group of battery cells with the other battery cells. During charging, the sub-group of battery cells may be unavailable but other battery cells may continue to discharge. | 05-26-2016 |
320122000 | Bypassable battery cell | 17 |
20090033282 | Voltage adjusting apparatus - For providing a reliable voltage adjusting apparatus in low cost, a low-voltage control apparatus controls a high-voltage power supply circuit to be switched power off by transmitting a power-off signal through a second communication line arranged between the high-voltage power supply circuit and itself through an isolation unit when an information signal from an equalizing apparatus is not transmitted within a predetermined first malfunction judging period. The equalizing apparatus stops an equalizing process in itself when the information signal from the low-voltage control unit | 02-05-2009 |
20090079390 | RECHARGEABLE BATTERY ARRAY - Rechargeable battery array is described. The rechargeable battery array is constructed from: a battery row | 03-26-2009 |
20090079391 | Systems and methods for cell balancing - A cell balancing circuit comprises a first cell having a first voltage, a second cell in series with the first cell and having a second voltage that is greater than the first voltage, and a bypass path in parallel with the second cell for enabling a bypass current for the second cell if a difference between the first voltage and the second voltage is greater than a predetermined threshold. The bypass current is enabled for a balancing time period that is proportional to the difference between the fist voltage and the second voltage. | 03-26-2009 |
20090091294 | Battery cell balancing systems using current regulators - According to one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a cell balancing circuit used for balancing a cell. The cell balancing circuit includes a bypass path coupled to the cell, a current regulator coupled to the bypass path, and a bleeding control switch. The current regulator is operable for producing a current and for controlling a conductance status of the bypass path. The bleeding control switch conducts the bypass path in response to the current produced by the current regulator. | 04-09-2009 |
20090096420 | Systems and methods for cell balancing - A cell balancing circuit comprises a first cell having a first voltage, a second cell in series with the first cell and having a second voltage that is greater than the first voltage, and a bypass path in parallel with the second cell for enabling a bypass current for the second cell if a difference between the first voltage and the second voltage is greater than a predetermined threshold. The bypass current is enabled for a balancing time period that is proportional to the difference between the fist voltage and the second voltage. | 04-16-2009 |
20090096421 | METHOD FOR BALANCING CELLS IN A BATTERY PACK - A method is provided for charging a plurality of cells in a battery pack to a target charging value. The method includes: delivering a charging current to the plurality of cells; monitoring cell voltage of each cell in the plurality of cells to determine when at least one of the cells reaches the target charging value; and diverting the charging current around the cells having reached the target charging value and cooperatively adjusting the charging current so that a current received by the cells having reached the target charging value is substantially zero. | 04-16-2009 |
20090167243 | Cell balancing systems with multiple controllers - In one embodiment, a cell balancing system includes a first controller for controlling cell balancing of a first set of cells coupled in series, and a second controller for controlling cell balancing of a second set of cells coupled in series. There is at least one common cell in the first set of cells and the second set of cells. | 07-02-2009 |
20090167244 | PROTECTION DEVICE FOR ASSEMBLED BATTERY AND ASSEMBLED BATTERY SYSTEM CONTAINING THE SAME - A protection device for an assembled battery includes a sampling capacitor, first switches and second switches to sample the voltages of the battery cells and hold the voltages in the capacitor, a detection unit which detects the voltages of the battery cells based on the voltage sampled by any one of the first switches and the second switches and held on the capacitor and output the detected value, a computing unit which computes an average value of the detected values, a comparator which compares the detected value with the average value so as to obtain a result of comparison indicating a relation in size between the both, and a controller which controls the first switches and the second switches, for the second switches to sample if the detected value obtained by sampling by the first switches is higher than the average value according to the comparison result. | 07-02-2009 |
20110089902 | CIRCUITRY FOR BALANCING CHARGING OF SERIES CONNECTED BATTERY CELLS - A circuit for preventing overcharging a battery cell is disclosed. The circuit comprises a voltage detector for monitoring a voltage across a battery cell. The voltage detector is configured to determine when the voltage across the battery cell is greater than a first threshold voltage. The circuit further comprises an electronic switch responsive to the voltage detector and is configured to shunt current around the battery cell when the voltage detector has determined the battery cell voltage is greater than the first threshold voltage. | 04-21-2011 |
20110260688 | BATTERY SYSTEM - A battery system capable of inhibiting a reverse voltage applied to a unit cell that has lost the electromotive force without active control is provided. The battery system include two or more unit cells electrically connected in series, and a rectification section that is composed of at least one of an electronic device having a rectification function and an interface having a rectification action, and is electrically connected to the respective two or more unit cells in parallel. | 10-27-2011 |
20120091964 | BATTERY FAULT TOLERANT ARCHITECTURE FOR CELL FAILURE MODES SERIES BYPASS CIRCUIT - A battery cell by-pass circuit that has particular application for by-passing cells in a high voltage battery for a vehicle. The battery includes a plurality of battery cells electrically coupled in series. The by-pass circuit includes a first switch electrically coupled in series with one or more of the battery cells, a by-pass line electrically coupled around the one or more battery cells and a second switch electrically coupled in the by-pass line and in parallel with the one or more battery cells. During normal cell operation, the first switch is closed and the second switch is open so that current flows through the one or more battery cells. If the one or more battery cells fail or are failing, the first switch is opened and the second switch is closed so that current by-passes the one or more cells and they are removed from the battery circuit. | 04-19-2012 |
20120098496 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR STABILIZING VOLTAGE OF ENERGY STORAGE - The present invention provides a device and a method for stabilizing a voltage of an energy storage capable of performing voltage stabilization in different ways by setting different references when charging or discharging and when standing by. Therefore, system resources consumed for the voltage stabilization of the energy storage can be minimized. | 04-26-2012 |
20130193926 | Battery System and Method for Charging a Large Number of Battery Cells which are Connected in Series - The disclosure describes a battery system having a large number of battery cells which are connected in series. At least one battery cell of the large number of battery cells is connected in parallel with an electrical component. The resistance of the electrical component is reduced when a voltage, which is applied to the electrical component and to the battery cell, exceeds a predetermined voltage threshold value. The disclosure also describes a method for charging a large number of battery cells which are connected in series. The method can be executed using the battery system according to the disclosure. | 08-01-2013 |
20130234667 | BATTERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - A battery management system can be provided which can include a plurality of battery management units connected in series and a host controller. Each battery management unit can include a battery cell, an isolation element, and at least one bypass element. The isolation element is connected with the battery cell in series, and the battery cell is isolated by turning off the isolation element. The bypass elements can be in parallel connection with the battery cell and isolation element, and the battery cell is bypassed by turning on the bypass element. A battery management method can include: activating the battery cell of the battery management unit by turning on the isolation element and turning off the bypass elements of the battery management unit; and deactivating the battery cell of the battery management unit by turning off the isolation element and turning on the bypass elements of the battery management unit. | 09-12-2013 |
20140015488 | Battery with Individual Cell Management - The invention relates to a battery comprising a plurality of modules arranged in series, characterised in that a module comprises a cell and a cell switch arranged in series with the cell, and in that a circuit for controlling the cell switch is electrically fed directly by at least one cell of a module of the battery. | 01-16-2014 |
20150061597 | BATTERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system includes a plurality of units and a transformer. Each of the plurality of units has an energy storage element, a branch switch and a branch diode. The transformer has a primary side and a secondary side and functions as an equalizer for at least one of charging and discharging the energy storage elements to achieve equalization. The plurality of units are connected to the primary side through a control switch and isolated from a secondary circuit connected to the secondary side. | 03-05-2015 |
20150130421 | BATTERY MANAGEMENT ELECTRONICS WITH CONFIGURABLE BATTERY MODULE BYPASS CONTROL - A system that supports multiple battery cell bypass schemes by reconfiguring a set of electronics. This system allows a single circuit to be used either for providing a charge path in a diode/switch battery module bypass scheme or for providing commands to a current-activated bypass switch used for electrically removing a battery module from a stack of cells. The subject system utilizes a single circuit design that can service multiple bypass schemes (diode/switch bypass and current activated bypass switches) by reconfiguring the external connections between the battery management electronics and the battery cell bypass devices. | 05-14-2015 |