Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080197805 | Process For Balanced Charging of a Lithium Ion or Lithium Polymer Battery - The invention relates to a method for the balanced charging of n cells which form a lithium-ion or lithium-polymer battery and which are connected in series. The invention is characterised in that the method consists in monitoring the charge levels of the different cells ( | 08-21-2008 |
20080203968 | MULTIPLE CHARGING UNIT - A multiple charging unit for charging different batteries and/or electronic devices at the same time. The charging units can be removably interchangeable from a housing unit or relatively fixed into the housing unit, and can be adapted to attach a variety of batteries and/or electronic devices. The charging units can also work in conjunction with a communication unit to allow attached electronic devices to communicate with other attached electronic devices or an outside electronic device. The multiple charging unit can also have a data retention unit to store data from attached electronic devices and/or transmit stored data to attached electronic devices. | 08-28-2008 |
20080203969 | Battery pack charging method - The battery pack charging method charges a battery pack, which is a plurality of lithium ion rechargeable batteries connected in series, to full charge by constant current and constant voltage charging. Constant current charging is performed until total voltage reaches a prescribed total voltage. Subsequently, constant current charging is switched to constant voltage charging until full charge is reached. In addition, the voltage of each battery being charged is detected. When the voltage of any battery exceeds a first specified voltage, charging is switched to pulse charging. | 08-28-2008 |
20080211456 | Device and Method for Charge Equalization of Series-Connected Individual Cell of an Energy Accumulator - A device and a method equalize a charge of series-connected individual cells of an energy accumulator with a DC/DC converter. The DC/DC converter draws energy from the energy accumulator or from another power source for charging an intermediate circuit capacitor whose voltage is inverted in a DC/AC converter and the alternating voltage is converted into an intermittent direct current by a rectifier via an AC bus and a coupling element. A switch is placed between the AC bus and each cell thereby enabling the cell to be coupled to the AC bus or disconnected therefrom. | 09-04-2008 |
20080258684 | 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. | 10-23-2008 |
20080272735 | Circuit arrangement and method for transferring electrical charge between accumulator arrangement - A circuit arrangement for transferring electrical charge between accumulators of an accumulator arrangement includes a number of first series circuits, each connecting in parallel to one of the accumulators, and each comprising a switching element and an inductive storage element connected in series to the load path of the switching element. The circuit arrangement also includes a further series circuit connected in parallel to the accumulator arrangement and comprising a further switching element having a load path and a control terminal, and a further inductive element connected in series to the load path, the further inductive element being inductively coupled to the inductive elements of the first series circuits. The circuit arrangement also includes a control circuit comprising a number of first control outputs connected to the control terminals of the switching elements of the first series circuits, and a further control output connected to the control terminal of the further switching element. | 11-06-2008 |
20080284375 | CELL CONTROLLER, BATTERY MODULE AND POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM - A cell controller with excellent reliability in which noise and soon are suppressed is provided. The cell controller includes, corresponding to the number of cell packs, a plurality of ICs each having a voltage detecting circuit detecting voltages of respective cells of a cell pack in which four cells are connected in series, a switch control circuit controlling conduction and a blocking operation of a plurality of switch elements connected in parallel to the respective cells via capacity adjusting resistors, a LIN1 terminal for inputting control information, a LIN2 terminal for outputting control information, a Vcc terminal and a GND terminal, and a LIN2 terminal of a higher-order IC and a LIN1 terminal of a lower-order IC are connected in a daisy chain. The Vcc terminal of each IC is connected to a positive electrode of a higher-order cell among cells constituting a corresponding cell pack via an inductor L for eliminating noise, and the GND terminal is coupled directly to the Vcc terminal of the lower-order IC. Noise is not superposed on the LIN1, LIN2 terminals. | 11-20-2008 |
20080315835 | Battery pack producing method and battery pack - Provided is a battery pack producing method and a battery pack capable of suppressing defects such as overcharging or overdischarging in one or more of the used secondary batteries constituting a battery pack, and sufficiently exhibiting the performance of the used secondary batteries of the battery pack. This method includes an obtaining process for obtaining each full charge capacity of the used secondary batteries, a selecting process for selecting one or more used secondary batteries having similar full charge capacities from the used secondary batteries whose full charge capacities have been obtained, and an assembling process for assembling the selected secondary batteries. | 12-25-2008 |
20090033281 | Battery power supply - A battery power supply for use with an electronic device, such as a computer, uses a multi-cell battery, and a recharging circuit. Cells of the battery are serially interconnected to produce positive output voltages of 3.6, 4.8 and 12 volts DC and negative voltages of 4.8 and 12 volts DC. The power supply includes output terminals for delivering the DC voltages to power inlets of the device nominally rated at 12, 5 and 3.3 volts DC. The recharging circuit includes an AC voltage input terminal and outputs corresponding to the battery output terminals. | 02-05-2009 |
20090039830 | EQUILIBRATED CHARGING METHOD FOR A LITHIUM-ION OR LITHIUM-POLYMER BATTERY - An equilibrated charging method for n cells of a lithium-ion or lithium-polymer battery, connected in series. The method is characterised in carrying out a continuous monitoring of the levels of charge of the different cells ( | 02-12-2009 |
20090051320 | Rechargeable Battery and Method for its Operation - In order to provide rechargeable batteries with better characteristics, in particular for mobile electrical appliances, and in order to use rechargeable batteries in appliances, which are designed for use with rechargeable batteries of a different type, in particular with cells with a different cell voltage, the invention provides a rechargeable battery for operation with an external voltage which is applied at least at times to the output of the rechargeable battery and is below the output voltage of the rechargeable battery when in its fully charged state, which has at least one chargeable electrochemical cell, an electrical connection to the output of the rechargeable-battery for inputting and/or outputting electrical energy, a housing which surrounds the at least one chargeable electrochemical cell, and a control circuit for controlling the charging process of the rechargeable battery and/or the production of the rechargeable-battery voltage at the output of the rechargeable battery. The invention also provides a method for operation of a rechargeable battery such as this. | 02-26-2009 |
20090096418 | ELECTRICAL ENERGY STORAGE DEVICE, IN PARTICULAR FOR EQUIPPING A MOTOR VEHICLE - An electrical energy storage device ( | 04-16-2009 |
20090134840 | CHARGING CIRCUIT FOR SECONDARY BATTERY - The present invention, by connecting an operational amplifier to a midpoint between a plurality of serially connected battery cells constituting the secondary battery, provides a charging circuit for a secondary battery, which is capable of inhibiting a charge/discharge current from flowing to the midpoint and an input/output current from flowing from the midpoint to each battery cell. The charging circuit has disposed therein excess voltage detectors | 05-28-2009 |
20090140693 | FLYBACK CHARGE REDISTRIBUTION APPARATUS FOR SERIALLY CONNECTED ENERGY STORAGE DEVICES USING FLYBACK-TYPE CONVERTERS - A charge redistribution apparatus includes a transformer including a primary winding and a plurality of secondary windings. The apparatus also includes a plurality of rectifier circuits, respective ones of which are configured to connect respective ones of the secondary windings across respective groups of a plurality of serially connected energy storage devices (e.g., respective individual cells, respective batteries and/or respective strings of batteries). The apparatus further includes a switch configured to connect the primary winding across the plurality of serially connected energy storage devices, and a control circuit configured to control the switch. The control circuit may be configured to cause the switch to alternately connect and disconnect the primary winding to and from the string of serially connected energy storage devices to redistribute charge among the energy storage devices. | 06-04-2009 |
20090153100 | CHARGING CONTROL APPARATUS CONTROLLING CHARGING CURRENT AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFORE - Provided is a control apparatus that controls a battery circuit, including a voltage detector that detects a battery voltage, a battery protection circuit that stops charging current when the battery voltage detected by the voltage detecting unit exceeds a protection voltage, and a charging circuit being capable of changing a charging current value for charging a battery. The control apparatus includes an input interface that reads the battery voltage detected by the voltage detecting unit, a decision unit that decides whether or not the read battery voltage has approached the protection voltage to a predetermined limit value, an output interface that outputs a signal for controlling the charging current, and a current control unit that limits the charging current to a predetermined limit value via the output interface when the read battery voltage is decided to have approached the protection voltage to the predetermined limit value. | 06-18-2009 |
20090189566 | Energy Storage System and Method of Charging - A lighting system is provided that includes at least one lighting device, at least one connector, and a plurality of external power sources. The external power sources are adapted to be electrically connected to the lighting device by the connector. One of the external power sources is an energy storage system having a plurality of battery cells. A first charging method is utilized when a voltage potential of first and second battery cells is less than a voltage potential threshold, a second charging method is utilized when the voltage potential of the first and second battery cells is equal to or greater than the voltage potential threshold, and the first charging method is utilized to charge the first battery cell prior to charging the second battery cell when the first battery cell voltage potential is below the voltage potential threshold and greater than the second battery cell voltage potential. | 07-30-2009 |
20090230920 | BATTERY CHARGER HAVING ANALOG CHARGE PROFILE FOR CHARGING MULTIPLE BATTERIES - A battery charger for charging a plurality of batteries includes a plurality of charge managers and a cross-over controller coupled to the charge managers. The charge managers are coupled to a common power source that has a finite maximum available current. The cross-over controller is configured to continuously determine the charge current that is applied to one of the batteries by one of the charge managers, and to direct another one of the charge managers to apply to another one of the batteries a charge current that is based on the determined charge current. The total of the determined charge current that is applied to the one battery and the charge current that is applied to the other battery (prior to when the voltage across the other battery reaches a rated value) is continuously substantially equal to the maximum available current. | 09-17-2009 |
20090230921 | CHARGING CIRCUIT FOR BALANCE CHARGING SERIALLY CONNECTED BATTERIES - A charging circuit includes a battery pack having a plurality of serially connected batteries and being connected to a power supply; a changeover switch being serially connected to and between any two adjacent batteries; and a precision voltage detector being parallelly connected to each of the batteries for independently detecting a voltage of the connected battery and sending out a detected result to a charging control circuit for controlling the ON/OFF of the changeover switch corresponding to the battery. When a battery is detected by a corresponding precision voltage detector as having been fully charged, the corresponding charging control circuit sets the changeover switch corresponding to the battery to OFF to stop charging the battery. The remaining batteries that are subsequently fully charged are disconnected from the power source one by one until all the batteries in the battery pack have been fully charged. Thus, all the batteries are balance-charged. | 09-17-2009 |
20090237032 | Batteries and Battery Monitoring and Charging Systems - Batteries and battery monitoring and charging systems. The preferred battery has a plurality of rechargeable cells connected in series, first and second power terminals, each connected to a respective end of the series connection of rechargeable cells, a first connector for connecting to a battery charger, the first connector having connector contacts connected to each of the plurality of rechargeable cells, the first connector also having connector contacts coupled to a serial communication link, and a processor coupled to sense the voltage of each rechargeable cell and control the serial communication link for communication of rechargeable cell voltages when a charger is connected to the first connector. The charger communicates with the battery over the serial communication link to monitor cell temperature, and to charge each cell individually in a controlled manner. Various features and capabilities are disclosed. | 09-24-2009 |
20090261781 | BATTERY APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING PLURAL BATTERIES AND CONTROL METHOD OF PLURAL BATTERIES - Lower order control devices control plural battery cells configuring plural battery modules. An input terminal of the low order control device in the highest potential, an output terminal of the low order control device in the lowest potential, and a high order control device are connected by isolating units, photocouplers. Diodes which prevent a discharge current of the battery cells in the battery modules are disposed between the output terminal of the low order control device and the battery cells in the battery module on the low potential side. Terminals related to input/output of a signal are electrically connected without isolating among the plural low order control devices. | 10-22-2009 |
20090267565 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CELL EQUALIZATION WITH CHARGING SOURCES AND SHUNT REGULATORS - A system and method for charging a rechargeable, or secondary, battery including a series string of cells, includes a topology of charging sources that selectively provides charging current to cells that need to be charged, but avoids overcharging cells that are already charged above a predetermined voltage threshold. Based on individual cell voltage measurements, the charging current is controlled in a manner to direct charging current to the battery cell(s) needing charge until these cells are fully charged, and by-passes battery cells that are fully charged or become fully charged. | 10-29-2009 |
20090284223 | BATTERY APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING PLURAL BATTERIES AND CONTROL METHOD OF PLURAL BATTERIES - Lower order control devices control plural battery cells configuring plural battery modules. An input terminal of the low order control device in the highest potential, an output terminal of the low order control device in the lowest potential, and a high order control device are connected by isolating units, photocouplers. Diodes which prevent a discharge current of the battery cells in the battery modules are disposed between the output terminal of the low order control device and the battery cells in the battery module on the low potential side. Terminals related to input/output of a signal are electrically connected without isolating among the plural low order control devices. | 11-19-2009 |
20090295329 | VEHICLE POWER SUPPLY DEVICE - The vehicle power supply device includes a high-voltage battery portion | 12-03-2009 |
20090302802 | BATTERY APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING PLURAL BATTERIES AND CONTROL METHOD OF PLURAL BATTERIES - Lower order control devices control plural battery cells configuring plural battery modules. An input terminal of the low order control device in the highest potential, an output terminal of the low order control device in the lowest potential, and a high order control device are connected by isolating units, photocouplers. Diodes which prevent a discharge current of the battery cells in the battery modules are disposed between the output terminal of the low order control device and the battery cells in the battery module on the low potential side. Terminals related to input/output of a signal are electrically connected without isolating among the plural low order control devices. | 12-10-2009 |
20090309544 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CELL EQUALIZATION WITH SWITCHED CHARGING SOURCES - A system and method for charging a rechargeable, or secondary, battery including a series string of cells, includes a topology of charging sources that selectively provides charging current to cells that need to be charged, but avoids overcharging cells that are already charged above a predetermined voltage threshold. Based on individual cell voltage measurements, the charging current is controlled in a manner to direct charging current to the battery cell(s) needing charge until these cells are fully charged, and by-passes battery cells that are fully charged or become fully charged. | 12-17-2009 |
20090315514 | CIRCUIT CURRENT BALANCING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BATTERY APPARATUS - A circuit current balancing apparatus balances circuit currents among units of a battery device. The circuit current balancing apparatus is provided with a plurality of cell stacks respectively composed of at least one cell. The apparatus balances a circuit current of a control circuit connected to each of the plurality of cell stacks for controlling and monitoring a status of the cell stack. The apparatus also includes a comparator for calculating and outputting a voltage difference between an output voltage of the corresponding cell stack and a voltage of the control circuit connected to the corresponding cell stack, and a current source for adding or subtract a dummy current to/from a circuit current of the control circuit in correspondence with the output of the comparator. | 12-24-2009 |
20090315515 | BATTERY CHARGING CONTROLLER AND BATTERY MODULE USING THE SAME - The present invention discloses a battery charging controller for achieving a balanced battery charge. The battery charging controller includes a voltage divider, a switch module and a balance circuit. A reference voltage generated by the voltage divide is used to determine which battery unit in a battery module has an insufficient voltage lower than the others, so that the balance circuit controls the switch module to allow a larger current to charge a lower-voltage battery than a higher-voltage battery, so as to result in substantially the same voltage for each fully charged battery of the battery module. | 12-24-2009 |
20090315516 | POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM - A power supply system for a vehicle is provided which makes it easy to supply an ignition voltage to an electronic control unit by using a battery equalizer. The power supply system for a vehicle comprises: an electronic control unit; a battery unit supplying a battery voltage to the electronic control unit; and a battery equalizer supplying the battery voltage as an ignition voltage to the electronic control unit; wherein, the battery equalizer includes a transistor transmitting the battery voltage from the battery unit to the electronic control unit as the ignition voltage when the vehicle is ignited. | 12-24-2009 |
20100026240 | LITHIUM ION BATTERY PACK CHARGING SYSTEM AND DEVICE INCLUDING THE SAME - A lithium ion battery pack charging system comprises a lithium ion battery pack having positive and negative terminals and comprising a plurality of lithium ion cells connected in series and in electrical communication with the positive and negative terminals. Each of the plurality of lithium ion cells comprises an anode, a cathode, and electrolyte composition comprising a redox shuttle and a lithium salt at least partially dissolved in solvent. A charger in electrical communication with the positive and negative terminals is capable of charging the lithium ion battery pack at a first charge rate and a second lesser charge rate. The system further comprises a charger controller capable of monitoring input data and switching the charger from the first rate to the second changes based on the input data. A device comprising the lithium ion battery pack charging system is also disclosed. | 02-04-2010 |
20100033128 | Circuit and method for cell balancing - According to one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a cell balancing circuit used for balancing a plurality of cells comprising a first cell and a second cell adjacent to the first cell. The cell balancing circuit includes a first shunt path coupled to the first cell in parallel for enabling a shunt current of the first cell, a second shunt path coupled to the second cell in parallel for enabling a shunt current of the second cell. The cell balancing circuit further includes a controller which is coupled to the first shunt path and the second shunt path. The controller is operable for alternately conducting the first shunt path and the second shunt path if the first cell and the second cell are unbalanced. | 02-11-2010 |
20100052614 | SYSTEMS, APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR BATTERY CHARGE MANAGEMENT - Systems, apparatus, and methods for automobile battery management is provided. In one embodiment, an apparatus for providing balanced and individualized charging to a battery pack is provided. The apparatus uses microcontrollers to determine a charge level of the batteries, and correspondingly controls a power balancer to apply a charge current to the battery in relation to the charge level, and dissipates the remaining charge current as heat energy. In one embodiment, a system controller controls a balanced charging operation of the battery system, provides an interface for a user to monitor cell-level parameters, and protects the battery cells from undercharging or overcharging during the charging or discharging operations. | 03-04-2010 |
20100079108 | BATTERY UNIT AND BATTERY SYSTEM USING THE BATTERY UNIT - A battery system includes a battery unit in which battery arms are connected in parallel, and a charge/discharge control device that controls charge/discharge of the battery unit. Each of the battery arms includes: a battery composed of one or more battery cells connected in series; a switch connected in series to the battery; and a battery monitoring device that, in a case of having detected abnormality of the battery, opens the switch to thereby isolate the battery arm including the abnormal battery, and sends a switch opening signal indicating that the switch has been opened to the charge/discharge control device. The charge/discharge control device performs a control to reduce a charge/discharge current or charge/discharge power of the battery unit when the switch opening signal is sent from the battery monitoring device of the battery unit to the charge/discharge control device. | 04-01-2010 |
20100090647 | CHARGING APPARATUS - A charging apparatus includes a power supply circuit converting AC input into DC output, a secondary battery, having a plurality of batteries connected in series, which is charged by an output voltage of the power supply circuit, a charging control circuit that controls charging in a constant-current mode for charging the secondary battery with a constant current and, when a terminal voltage of the secondary battery reaches a predetermined voltage, switches the charging in the constant-current mode to a constant-voltage mode for charging the secondary battery to a constant voltage, and a plurality of voltage control circuits, each of which adjusts the voltage of each of the plurality of batteries to a set voltage. The plurality of voltage control circuits respectively detect voltage rises of the plurality of batteries, and one of the voltage control circuits, first detecting attainment of the set voltage, performs subsequent voltage control. | 04-15-2010 |
20100097033 | BATTERY STATE MONITORING CIRCUIT AND BATTERY DEVICE - Provided is a battery state monitoring circuit including a control circuit that applies, to a gate of a signal output transistor provided at a terminal for transmitting an overcharge detection signal, a potential at which the signal output transistor is turned off at a voltage lower than a minimum circuit operating voltage. Accordingly, in a battery device that uses the cascade-connected battery state monitoring circuits, charge is inhibited securely even at a power supply voltage lower than the minimum circuit operating voltage. | 04-22-2010 |
20100102778 | CHARGING SYSTEM, CHARGER, AND BATTERY PACK - After the initial current set processing is performed, by which a feed amount of a charge current Ic by a charge current feed portion | 04-29-2010 |
20100109606 | CHARGING CONTROL CIRCUIT - A charging control circuit connected with a charging power supply for charging a pile formed by a series-connection of battery units includes a protecting circuit having control ports and monitoring ports, a charging circuit including diffluent circuits respectively parallel-connected to the corresponding battery units, and a control circuit including two parallel branches connected between the charging power supply and the pile. The monitoring ports are connected to two terminals of the corresponding battery units. Each diffluent circuit has a controlled switch element and a diffluent resistance element series-connected with each other. The controlled switch element has a switch control terminal connected to the corresponding control port. One of the branches has a third resistance element. The other branch has a fourth resistance element and a third switch element series-connected with each other. The third switch element has a third control terminal connected to the charging circuit. | 05-06-2010 |
20100134068 | BATTERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND BATTERY MANAGEMENT METHOD - A battery management system and method, the method including balancing cells and measuring the cell voltages of cells that are not directly adjacent to the cells being balanced. | 06-03-2010 |
20100141208 | Energy Storage Module - A battery assembly having batteries connected in series to form rows and columns of battery cells into packs that combine the energy of multiple batteries. The battery cells are joined together to form columns of cells connected mechanically together by an exterior connection sleeve, and mechanically and electrically connected together by a conductive epoxy joining the end of one cell to the end of an adjacent cell in series. The columns of cells are mounted and held in place by racks, with bolts passing through the racks to form a sandwich structure that secures the position and orientation of the cells and columns, and that maintains the electrical connection between joined cells. Bus bars at the end of the columns of each rack are joined together to electrically connect the columns to each other, and to provide two terminals of the pack through which power is supplied to and from the cells. Perpendicularly disposed to the direction of the columns are a series of conductive bands that join adjacent cells together along rows of cells. | 06-10-2010 |
20100194339 | BATTERY PACK AND BALANCING METHOD OF BATTERY CELLS - A balancing method for a battery pack includes balancing battery cells near an end of discharge. A deep discharge of the battery cells can be prevented without using an overdischarge control unit. One battery cell balancing method includes: a balancing check condition determination step for determining whether or not a maximum voltage out of voltages of the battery cells is smaller than a reference voltage; a balancing start condition determination step for determining whether or not a residual capacity difference or voltage difference between the individual battery cells exceeds a reference value; a balancing time calculation step for calculating a balancing time for discharging the battery cell that exceeds the reference value; and a balancing operation step for discharging the selected battery cell when the battery cells are under charge or are at rest or when a discharge current of the battery cells is smaller than a reference current. | 08-05-2010 |
20100194340 | CHARGE AND DISCHARGE SYSTEM OF SECONDARY BATTERY AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING CHARGE AND DISCHARGE OF SECONDARY BATTERY - An electronic device includes a secondary battery having at least one bare cell, the secondary battery including a charge/discharge switching module for placing the secondary battery in one of a charging state for charging the at least one bare cell or a discharging state for discharging the at least one bare cell; and an analog front end for generating an analog signal based on information of the secondary battery and for transmitting the analog signal out of the secondary battery; and a processor external to the secondary battery for receiving the analog signal from the analog front end and for controlling the charge/discharge switching module in accordance with the analog signal. | 08-05-2010 |
20100201317 | BATTERY CHARGING CONTROLLING APPARATUS AND BATTERY BALANCE CHARGING CONTROLLER - A battery charging controlling apparatus for balancing voltages of the charged batteries is provided. The battery charging controlling includes a battery reference voltage generating unit, a voltage balancing unit, and a balance judging unit. The battery charging controlling apparatus determines whether a battery voltage difference between any two adjacent battery units of a battery module is too large or not by using a reference voltage provided from the battery reference voltage generating unit. The battery charging controlling apparatus further detects the voltage of the battery module and a charging current thereto to determine a suitable time for balancing the charged batteries. Then, the voltage balancing unit controlled by the balance judging unit allows the charging current of the lower-voltage battery unit greater than the charging current of the higher-voltage battery, unit so as to lower the battery voltage difference of the battery units. | 08-12-2010 |
20100213897 | Battery-Cell Converter Management Systems - A battery cell converter (BCC) unit including one or more energy-storing battery cells coupled to one or more DC/DC converters is disclosed. A management unit can monitor and control the charging and discharging of each battery cells; including monitoring of voltages & State-of-Charge of each cell as well as controlling the switching of the DC/DC converters. The combined power and cell switching algorithms optimizes the charging and discharging process of the battery cells. A compound battery cell converter system comprising a series stack of BCCs to achieve high effective converter output voltage is also disclosed. The new proposed Battery Cell Converter architecture will enable improvements in battery pack usage efficiencies, will increase battery pack useable time per charge, will extend battery pack life-time and will lower battery pack manufacturing cost. | 08-26-2010 |
20100219792 | Battery protection circuit device - Provided is a protection circuit device for a battery having a plurality of secondary batteries connected in series, in which power supply terminals of a reference voltage circuit and a voltage detection circuit are connected to a positive electrode of a secondary battery to be detected, ground terminals of the reference voltage circuit and the voltage detection circuit are connected to a negative electrode of the secondary battery to be detected, respectively, and a withstanding voltage of elements constituting those circuits is set to be lower than an overall voltage of the battery. | 09-02-2010 |
20100225275 | CELL BALANCING SYSTEMS EMPLOYING TRANSFORMERS - A cell balancing circuit for balancing battery cells includes a transformer and a switching controller. The transformer has a primary winding and a secondary winding. The switching controller can select a first cell coupled to the primary winding and select a second cell coupled to the secondary winding. The first cell and the second cell are coupled in series. The first cell has a cell voltage that is greater than the second cell. The cell balancing circuit further includes a controller coupled to the primary winding. The controller controls energy from the first cell to the primary winding so as to transfer the energy from the first cell to the second cell to balance the battery cells. | 09-09-2010 |
20100259220 | Lighting System - An energy storage system includes battery cells and a controller. The battery cells include first and second cells. The controller controls a current to the first and second cells, such that a first charging method is utilized when a voltage potential of the first and second cells is less than a first voltage potential threshold, and a second charging method is utilized when the voltage potential of the first and second cells is equal to or greater than the first voltage potential threshold. The first charging method charges at least one of first and second cells at a greater rate than second charging method, and first charging method is utilized to charge first cell prior to being utilized to charge said second cell when said voltage potential of first cell is below the first voltage potential threshold and greater than the voltage potential of the second cell. | 10-14-2010 |
20100264877 | BATTERY PACK, BATTERY CHARGER, AND BATTERY PACK SYSTEM - A battery pack includes: a plurality of rechargeable batteries ( | 10-21-2010 |
20100264878 | Vehicle Battery Control System - A vehicle battery control system includes: a battery module that is constituted with a plurality of cells that are connected in series; a cell controller that detects each voltage at the plurality of cells; and a battery control unit that detects a total voltage of the battery module based on a signal from a voltage sensor disposed between a contactor connected to the battery module and an inverter equipment connected to the contactor and calculates a battery state of the battery module based upon the detected total voltage. And the battery control unit calculates the battery state based upon a total value of voltages at the plurality of cells detected by the cell controller in place of the total voltage when the contactor is in an open state. | 10-21-2010 |
20100277123 | Method for Balancing of High Voltage Battery Pack - The present invention relates to a cell balancing method for a high-voltage battery pack, and the method comprises steps of a) measuring an electromotive force of each cell composing the battery pack; b) selecting the cell to be balanced based on the electromotive force of the each cell; c) computing a total amount of charges used for balancing of the cell to be balanced; d) obtaining an accumulative amount of charges by accumulating an amount of current consumed for the balancing while performing the balancing of the cell to be balanced; and e) completing the balancing of the cell to be balanced when the accumulative amount of charges equals the total amount of charges. | 11-04-2010 |
20100308770 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CHARGING A SERIES BATTERY - Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system for charging a series battery, wherein the series battery is comprised of a set of banks which are connected in series, so that the same charging current passes through each bank. During the charging process, the system measures a voltage across each bank in the set of banks. The system then compares the measured voltage with a target voltage for each bank, and adjusts the charging process based on results of the comparisons between the measured voltage and the target voltage. | 12-09-2010 |
20100327806 | Monitoring cells in energy storage system - A system for monitoring an energy storage system composed of multiple cells connected in series has a chain of monitors including at least first and second monitors. The first monitor is configured for monitoring at, least a first cell in the energy storage system to produce first monitored data. The second monitor is configured for monitoring at least a second cell in the energy storage system to produce second monitored data. The first monitor is further configured for transferring the first monitored data to the second monitor for delivery to a controller. | 12-30-2010 |
20100327807 | Enhanced Battery Storage and Recovery Energy Systems - Systems and methods are herein disclosed for efficiently and cost-effectively balancing the voltages across batteries and/or cells in an energy storage system. A controller monitors the battery voltages and instructs regulator circuits to balance voltages between any batteries or sets of batteries having imbalanced voltages. Regulator circuits implementing a modified Ćuk converter can be utilized. Regulator circuits can have two capacitive circuits, one inductive circuit, and two switches. Two capacitors, an inductor, and two field effect transistors can be used in each regulator circuit. | 12-30-2010 |
20110006733 | CHARGING METHOD FOR AN ASSEMBLED CELL AND AN ASSEMBLED CELL SYSTEM - According to one embodiment, a charging method for an assembled cell including a plurality of secondary batteries connected in series is disclosed. The method can detect the cell voltages. The method can set a charging current setting value so as to lower the charging current setting value of the assembled cell, if at least one of the detected cell voltages reaches a predetermined charge termination upper limit voltage. The method can control the charging current of the assembled cell according to the charging current setting value. In addition, the method can stop the charge, when a lowest cell voltage is lower than a predetermined charge termination lower limit voltage at a time when at least one of the cell voltages detected reaches the charge termination upper limit voltage. | 01-13-2011 |
20110012558 | CONTROL STRATEGY FOR HV BATTERY EQUALIZATION CHARGE DURING DRIVING OPERATION IN FUEL CELL HYBRID VEHICLES - A system and method for equalizing the state of charge of the cells of a battery in an electric vehicle while the vehicle is being driven. The method includes monitoring the state of charge of the battery cells in the battery and measuring the actual current of the battery. The method also includes determining a maximum charge current limit of the battery and comparing the actual battery current and the charge current limit. The method also includes modifying the charge current limit based on the comparison between the actual battery current and the charge current limit. The method then converts the modified charge current limit to a power charge limit and then over charges the battery using a small amount of current and the power charge limit so that all of the cells in the battery become fully charged. | 01-20-2011 |
20110012559 | CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD FOR TRANSFERRING ELECTRICAL CHARGE BETWEEN ACCUMULATORS OF AN ACCUMULATOR ARRANGEMENT - A circuit arrangement for transferring electrical charge between accumulators of an accumulator arrangement includes a number of first series circuits, each connecting in parallel to one of the accumulators, and each comprising a switching element and an inductive storage element connected in series to the load path of the switching element. The circuit arrangement also includes a further series circuit connected in parallel to the accumulator arrangement and comprising a further switching element having a load path and a control terminal, and a further inductive element connected in series to the load path, the further inductive element being inductively coupled to the inductive elements of the first series circuits. The circuit arrangement also includes a control circuit comprising a number of first control outputs connected to the control terminals of the switching elements of the first series circuits, and a further control output connected to the control terminal of the further switching element. | 01-20-2011 |
20110025270 | BATTERY PACK MANAGER - An apparatus for lessening variations in a state of charge (SOC) or remaining capacity of a battery pack. The battery pack is made up of a plurality of blocks, and slave units are provided for the respective blocks. Terminal voltages of the blocks are detected and supplied to a master unit. Variations arise in a state of charge or remaining capacity of the respective blocks for reasons of differences among the slave units in terms of electric power consumption. The master unit controls deactivation timing of the respective slave units incidental to turning off of a vehicle ignition according to the variations in the state of charge of the respective blocks. The deactivation timing is delayed much longer with an increase in the state of charge, thereby equalizing the state of charge or the remaining capacity. | 02-03-2011 |
20110057616 | Battery Charging Circuit - A battery charging circuit includes a power input unit for supplying power to charging units and a control module. Each charging unit includes a connecting port for connecting one battery, an electromagnetic coil and a switch module connected between the connecting port and the electromagnetic coil. The connecting ports are series-connected with one another. The control module is used for monitoring the voltage of the batteries and then controlling a work state of the switch modules by means of comparing a voltage variance between any two of the batteries with a specific data set in the control module so as to make the battery with a greatest voltage discharged to produce a discharge current for secondarily charging the other batteries by means of the electromagnetic coils when the voltage variance is greater than the specific data. | 03-10-2011 |
20110068744 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BATTERY CELL BALANCING - Without battery cell balancing, voltages of multiple series-connected battery cells may quickly become out of balance, which causes some cells of the battery to deteriorate faster than others, and reduces the life cycle of the battery. Embodiments of the present invention address this problem by providing a system for balanced charging of multiple series-connected battery cells. The system includes resistors that are selectably and electrically coupled in parallel with respective battery cells via activation and deactivation of respective switches. The system also includes a control unit that is configured to determine a battery cell having a lowest voltage among the battery cells, and to activate and deactivate the switches as a function of differences in voltages between the voltage of the lowest battery cell and voltages of each of the other battery cells, thus, providing balanced charging of the multiple series-connected battery cells. | 03-24-2011 |
20110074354 | CAR POWER SOURCE APPARATUS, AND CAPACITY EQUALIZING METHOD FOR THE CAR POWER SOURCE APPARATUS - The power source apparatus is provided with a unit switch | 03-31-2011 |
20110080138 | BATTERY PACK MANAGER - A manager that lessens a difference in state of charge of a battery pack. The battery pack is constituted of a plurality of blocks. A slave unit is provided for each of the blocks, to thus detect a terminal voltage of the block and supply the detected terminal voltage to a master unit. A difference arises in state of charge among the blocks for reasons of a difference in current consumption of the respective slave units. The master unit makes up an operation clock signal for each of the slave units from a high frequency signal and a low frequency signal. A difference in state of charge among the blocks is lessened by controlling an appearance ratio of the high frequency signal to the low frequency signal for each of the slave units. | 04-07-2011 |
20110084662 | BATTERY PACK AND CHARGING CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A charging control method for a battery pack including a plurality of battery cells in which a full charge voltage value is initially set as a first voltage value. The charging control method includes: charging the plurality of battery cells to the first voltage value in an initial charge mode; and resetting the full charge voltage value to a second voltage value less than the first voltage value in a subsequent charge mode. | 04-14-2011 |
20110089897 | BATTERY PACK WITH BALANCING MANAGEMENT - A battery management system for a battery pack comprising multiple battery modules is disclosed. Each of the battery modules includes multiple battery cells. The battery management system includes multiple first balancing units, multiple first controllers, a second balancing unit including multiple second balancing circuits, and a second controller coupled to the battery modules and the second balancing circuits. The first controllers are operable for controlling the first balancing units to adjust voltages of battery cells in the battery module if an unbalance occurs between the battery cells. The second controller is operable for controlling said second balancing circuits to adjust voltages of said battery modules if an unbalance occurs between battery modules. | 04-21-2011 |
20110089898 | Two-Stage Charge Equalization Method and Apparatus for Series-Connected Battery String - A two-stage charge equalization apparatus for a series-connected battery string having a two-stage DC-DC converter including a first DC-DC converter; and a second DC-DC converter which is inputted. A battery string is divided into one or more battery modules having a plurality of battery cells connected in series, and a current conversion switch module forms a path of the charge current between the battery module and the second DC-DC converter to allow the charge current to be applied to the particular battery cell composing the battery module and controls an application direction of the charge current. A microprocessor determines a battery cell to be charged of a low-charged battery cell and controls the current conversion switch module to allow the charge current to be applied to the battery cell to be charged. | 04-21-2011 |
20110101916 | CHARGING SYSTEMS WITH CELL BALANCING FUNCTIONS - In a power converter, a primary winding receives an input power. In addition, multiple secondary windings transform the input power into multiple charging currents to charge a set of cells via a set of paths. The multiple secondary windings further balance the set of cells based on the charging currents. A ratio between a first turn number of a first secondary winding of the secondary windings and a second turn number of a second secondary winding of the secondary windings is determined by a nominal voltage ratio between two corresponding cells of the set of cells. | 05-05-2011 |
20110101917 | BATTERY PACK - A battery pack includes a case including external terminals, batteries disposed in the case, and balancing lines connected to each of the batteries and functioning as pathways of a voltage signal transmitted to a controller. At least one of the balancing lines functions as a high current line supplying battery current to the external terminals. Thus, the battery pack may have a simple structure and may be simply assembled using the high current line as a balancing line. | 05-05-2011 |
20110109268 | BATTERY VOLTAGE BALANCE APPARATUS AND BATTERY CHARGE APPARATUS - A battery voltage balance apparatus including a balance determining unit and a converting unit is provided. The balance determining unit is coupled to a plurality of battery units and determines whether to perform a battery voltage balance process according to battery voltages of each battery units. The converting unit has an energy storage circuit and is coupled to the battery units. In the battery voltage balance process, the converting unit stores energy in the energy storage circuit and selectively charging at least one of the battery units by the energy storage circuit, so that the voltage differences between any two of the battery units are reduced to be lower than a predetermined value or a predetermined percentage. | 05-12-2011 |
20110109269 | CIRCUIT AND METHOD FOR BALANCING BATTERY CELLS - Embodiments of the invention provided circuits and methods for balancing battery cells. According to a first embodiment, a cell balancing circuit includes an auxiliary current path for controlling a conductance status of a shunt path. According to a second embodiment, a cell balancing circuit utilizes a total voltage of multiple neighboring cells in a battery pack to generate a current. Based on the current, a voltage drop is generated to conduct a shunt path corresponding to one cell of the neighboring cells. According to a third embodiment, a cell balancing circuit utilizes a total voltage of multiple neighboring cells in a battery pack to generate a current. Based on the current, a voltage drop is generated to conduct a shunt path corresponding to one cell of the neighboring cells. The cell balancing circuit can turn on multiple internal switches at the same time to balance multiple neighboring cells simultaneously. | 05-12-2011 |
20110109270 | INTER-MODULE VOLTAGE BALANCE CORRECTING CIRCUIT OF A POWER STORAGE SYSTEM - Provided is an inter-module voltage balance correcting circuit of a power storage system including a plurality of storage modules connected in series, each of the storage modules including a plurality of storage cells connected in series. The inter-module voltage balance correcting circuit includes a resistance voltage dividing circuit (R | 05-12-2011 |
20110115434 | ELECTRONICS WITH MULTIPLE CHARGE RATE - One or more buttons, located either on a battery pack or on an electronic device powered by the battery pack, that allow the user to charge the battery of a portable device faster than normal. Electronic circuitry is provided for activating the charge mode choices. | 05-19-2011 |
20110127960 | System and Method For Equalizing a Battery Pack During a Battery Pack Charging Process - A system and method for equalizing a battery pack during a battery pack charging process in accordance with an exemplary embodiment is provided. The method includes receiving total capacity estimates for all battery cells in the battery pack, and receiving state-of-charge estimates for all battery cells in the battery pack. The method further includes computing an equalization metric for all battery cells in the battery pack. The method further includes determining an equalization action for all battery cells in the battery pack, and initiating that equalization action. The method further includes executing a battery pack charging step. | 06-02-2011 |
20110127961 | BATTERY WITH BATTERY CELLS AND METHOD FOR MONITORING AND CONTROLLING THE BATTERY CELLS OF THE BATTERY - The invention relates to a battery with battery cells and a method for monitoring and controlling the battery cells of the battery. The battery has a plurality of battery cell stacks which are connected in series. A battery cell stack may have an individual battery cell or may be constructed from battery cells which are connected in parallel. Sensors monitor the charge state of individual battery cells, individual battery cell stacks, individual pairs of battery cells and/or individual pairs of battery cell stacks. A charge compensation device has a target value table of the permissible charge state of individual battery cells. The charge compensation device varies the charge compensation depending on the charge state and, when the target value for the charge state of individual battery cells is reached, the charge compensation of the battery cells is interrupted. | 06-02-2011 |
20110140662 | BALANCING SYSTEM FOR A BATTERY PACK - A balancing system for a battery pack includes a first balancing stage and a second balancing stage. The battery pack includes multiple modules and each of the modules in the battery pack includes a subset of the cells. The first balancing stage can balance an unbalanced module. The second balancing stage coupled to the first balancing stage can balance an unbalanced cell in a module. | 06-16-2011 |
20110140663 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR BALANCING MULTI-CELL BATTERIES - Systems and methods for balancing multi-cell batteries are provided. In one embodiment, the battery balancing circuit includes a battery including a plurality of cells coupled in series, a first terminal and a second terminal, a transformer including a primary winding and a plurality of secondary windings, where each secondary winding is coupled to one of the plurality of cells via a secondary switch and a rectifier circuit, where the primary winding is coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal of the battery, a primary switch in series with the primary winding of the transformer, and a control circuitry coupled to the primary switch, the plurality of secondary switches, and each of the plurality of cells. | 06-16-2011 |
20110140664 | CHARGING APPARATUS AND CHARGE CONTROL METHOD - A charging apparatus able to safely and reliably secure capacity is provided. The charging apparatus comprises: a charging current configuration unit that configures a set value for the charging current flowing to the battery; a charging current controller that controls the charging current on the basis of the set value configured by the charging current configuration unit; a cell voltage detector that detects the cell voltages applied to each cell; and a voltage determining unit that determines whether or not at least one of the cell voltages detected by the cell voltage detector has exceeded a threshold voltage. If it is determined by the voltage determining unit that at least one of the cell voltages has exceeded the threshold voltage, then the charging current configuration unit switches the set value to a smaller value. | 06-16-2011 |
20110156648 | Integrated cell balancing system for multi-cell batteries - A cell balancing software program that executes on a computer system embedded inside a multi-cell battery and includes a means to control an external charging system. | 06-30-2011 |
20110163720 | System and method for rebalancing a vehicle battery - A vehicle may include an electric machine, a battery, a driver interface and one or more controllers. The one or more controllers may be configured to determine whether a battery imbalance condition exists, to cause an alert to be generated via the driver interface if a battery imbalance condition exists, to determine whether a response to the alert is received, and to cause the battery to be rebalanced in a single cycle if a response to the alert is received. | 07-07-2011 |
20110169452 | Battery Cell Tab Monitor - A battery cell tab monitoring apparatus includes a conductive element electrically connected between two battery cells. The conductive element is connected to a sensing circuit including a pull-down current source connected to pull current from the conductive element and/or a pull-up current source connected to drive current into the conductive element. A voltage measuring circuit is connected to sense voltages during operation of the pull-down current source and the pull-up current source to be used to determine the status of the conductive element. For instance, voltages beyond certain fixed or variable thresholds indicate that the conductive element is flexing or cracking, which can be a precursor to its breaking. Voltages beyond other fixed or variable thresholds indicate that the conductive element is fully disconnected. The current sources used to push and pull the sensing currents may be used to bring the battery cells into balance when an imbalance is detected. | 07-14-2011 |
20110175573 | ASSEMBLED BATTERY AND ASSEMBLED BATTERY CONTROL SYSTEM - An assembled battery ( | 07-21-2011 |
20110187325 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BALANCING A BATTERY PACK - A system and method for balancing a battery pack is disclosed. The method includes the step of monitoring voltages for all batteries in the battery pack and if the voltages of any two batteries are out of balance, then, issuing a balancing command to charge the battery that is relatively lower in voltage between the two until the voltage of the battery attaining a preset voltage. The battery-pack balancing system includes a battery-monitoring unit and a battery-balancing unit. The battery-monitoring unit monitors the voltage of all the batteries in the battery pack and, when the voltages of any of the two batteries in the battery pack is out of balance, issues a balancing command to charge the battery that is relatively lower voltage in the battery pack. | 08-04-2011 |
20110187326 | Battery Apparatus, Battery Control Apparatus, and Motor Drive Unit - The present invention provides enhanced serial communication reliability in a situation where a plurality of cell controllers and a battery controller are daisy-chained to form a serial communication configuration. While the plurality of cell controllers and the battery controller are daisy-chained to form a serial communication configuration, the battery controller or each cell controller includes a communication speed detection means, which detects the communication speed of data input from an additional controller, and a reception timing correction means, which corrects the reception, timing for data input from the additional controller in accordance with the communication speed detected by the communication speed detection means. | 08-04-2011 |
20110193525 | BATTERY PACK - Provided is a battery pack for a portable computer, which can be charged using a mobile phone charger. The battery pack includes battery cells connected in series, a controller electrically connected to the battery cells to sense voltages of the battery cells, and performing a cell balancing operation to make the voltages of the battery cells equal to each other. The battery pack also includes a charge circuit electrically connected to each of the plurality of battery cells, and sequentially supplying a charge voltage in a time-divisional manner to each of the battery cells in response to a control signal of the controller. | 08-11-2011 |
20110199051 | BATTERY MONITORING DEVICE - There is disclosed a battery monitoring device including a voltage equalization circuit that equalizes cell voltages of a plurality of battery cells being connected in series and forming a battery pack, and a microcomputer that outputs an instruction signal to instruct the voltage equalization circuit to start an voltage equalizing operation for the battery cells. The microcomputer includes a first timer section that stops the voltage equalizing operation a first predetermined set time after the start of the voltage equalizing operation, and the voltage equalization circuit includes a second timer section that stops the voltage equalizing operation a second predetermined set time after the start of the voltage equalizing operation. This can enhance reliability during the voltage equalizing operation. | 08-18-2011 |
20110204850 | RECHARGEABLE BATTERY CHARGING METHOD, RECHARGEABLE BATTERY CHARGE CONTROLLING DEVICE AND BATTERY PACK - If a protection voltage (or setting voltage value) is continuously exceeded for two times (three times) by all of the voltage values of a battery block that are read periodically at a period of 250 ms, it is determined that the voltage of the battery block exceeds the protection voltage value of 4.32 V (or setting voltage value of 4.30 V) so that a target value of charging current is reduced to 0.1 C (or reduced to a value smaller than the currently-set target value) at the first determination. Every when it is detected that the voltage value exceeds the setting voltage value, the target value is reduced at a predetermined reduction rate. As a result, charging current is exponentially reduced whereby keeping the charging operation. At the second determination where the voltage of the battery block exceeds the protection voltage, a circuit breaker cuts off the charging current. | 08-25-2011 |
20110210700 | BATTERY VOLTAGE MONITORING APPARATUS - Each monitor IC in the apparatus obtains operation power from a block including cells that are the objects to be monitored. The monitor IC includes a consumption-current adjusting circuit that adjusts a consumption current used from the operation power to a target value. In each monitor IC, the consumption current is adjusted to have the target value by the consumption-current adjusting circuit, and thus the consumption currents of the monitor ICs can be equalized, even if a different number of cells are connected to each monitor IC. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the variation in the consumption currents among the monitor ICs. | 09-01-2011 |
20110215760 | BALANCING CIRCUIT FOR CHARGE STORAGE ELEMENTS - There is disclosed a charge balancing circuit (CBC) and method ( | 09-08-2011 |
20110227537 | COMBINED BATTERY CHARGER AND BATTERY EQUALIZER - A combined battery charger and battery equalizer for equalizing a first battery bank and charging a second battery bank, respectively includes a buck-boost power converting circuit configured to convert a received electrical voltage into, either a battery equalization voltage, or a battery charging voltage. The buck-boost power converting circuit is connected to an output switch configured to enable output of either the equalization voltage level to a battery equalizer output connector, or the battery charging voltage to a battery charging output connector. A combined battery charging and battery equalization system includes a voltage source connected to a combined battery equalizer and battery charger. The combined battery equalizer and battery charger is configured to convert an electrical voltage received from the voltage source into either a battery equalization voltage or a battery charging voltage. The combined battery equalizer and battery charger is further connected to either a positive pole of a starter battery bank or to a voltage reference point of a service battery bank. | 09-22-2011 |
20110234162 | SECONDARY BATTERY SYSTEM - A secondary battery system that is light in weight and low in cost is provided, which comprises a plurality of secondary batteries connected in series. A plurality of first diodes each has an anode connected to a negative electrode of the corresponding secondary battery. A plurality of second diodes each has a cathode connected to a positive electrode of the corresponding secondary battery. A plurality of capacitors is each connected to a junction portion between the cathode of the first diode and the anode of the second diode. An alternating current power source is commonly connected to the junction portions through the capacitors. | 09-29-2011 |
20110241622 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CELL BALANCING - A method for balancing multiple battery cells which are grouped into multiple battery modules includes: obtaining cell parameters of the battery cells, respectively; calculating an average cell parameter for each of the battery modules according to the cell parameters; identifying a donator module and a receiver module from the battery modules based upon the average cell parameter; and transferring energy from the donator module to the receiver module to balance the battery cells. | 10-06-2011 |
20110254507 | CHARGING DEVICE AND CHARGING METHOD - A charging device for charging a first battery cell and a second battery cell comprises a node, a control circuit, a charging circuit and a current-dividing unit. The control circuit is coupled to the charging circuit, the current-dividing unit, and the first and second battery cells. The control circuit controls the charging circuit to provide a first charge current or a second current for the node which couples to the first battery cell and the current-dividing unit and controls the state of the current-dividing unit. The current-dividing unit is set to share the current flowing into the node and acts as an open circuit in a first state and a resistor of finite resistance in a second state. | 10-20-2011 |
20110267005 | Active Charge Balancing Circuit - A charge balancing circuit and an energy storage arrangement with a charge balancing circuit are disclosed. | 11-03-2011 |
20110267006 | CHARGE/DISCHARGE CONTROL METHOD - A secondary battery charging method includes the step of determining whether to perform one of a first charging control method of performing constant current charging and constant voltage charging and a second charging control method of performing only the constant current charging according to information stored in a plurality of secondary batteries including a compound oxide particle with an olivine crystal structure. The first charging control method includes the steps of performing the constant current charging of the secondary batteries, performing the constant voltage charging, determining whether voltage variation amounts of the plurality of secondary batteries are a value equal to or greater than a first set value, and storing information and firstly terminating the charging. The second charging control method includes the steps of starting the constant current charging of the plurality of secondary batteries connected to each other in series, and secondly terminating the constant current charging. | 11-03-2011 |
20110291618 | BATTERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A battery management system can include a battery having a plurality of cells, a plurality of devices coupled to the battery, and a control unit coupled to a first device of the devices. The devices can assess the statuses of the cells. The control unit can communicate with a destination device of the devices via a default path and can communicate with the destination device via a backup path if an undesirable condition occurs in the default path. | 12-01-2011 |
20120013304 | BATTERY CONTROL APPARATUS, VEHICLE, AND BATTERY CONTROL METHOD - A battery control apparatus includes: a battery circuit in which a plurality of batteries are connected in series; a plurality of bypass circuits, each of which removes a corresponding battery from the battery circuit; a plurality of switches, each of which switches whether to connect a corresponding battery in series with the other batteries, or to connect the corresponding battery to a corresponding bypass circuit to remove the corresponding battery from the battery circuit; a deterioration detecting section that detects deterioration of each of the plurality of batteries; and a switch control section that controls the plurality of switches to remove, from the battery circuit, the batteries having greater deterioration and connects, in series, the batteries having smaller deterioration. | 01-19-2012 |
20120019209 | MORE READILY AVAILABLE TRACTION BATTERY - The invention relates to a traction battery having at least two serially connected battery modules, each of which has a first battery module pole, a second battery module pole, and at least one inserted series circuit and/or parallel circuit of battery cells. A first terminal of the series circuit of battery modules is connected to a first battery pole, while a second terminal of the series circuit of battery modules is connected to a second battery pole. According to the invention, at least one battery module of the at least two serially connected battery modules is a first battery module which has a first disconnecting device, a second disconnecting device, and a bridging device. When triggered accordingly, the first disconnecting device interrupts the connection between the series circuit and/or parallel circuit of battery cells and the first battery module pole, and when triggered accordingly, the second disconnecting device interrupts the connection between the series circuit and/or parallel circuit of battery cells and the second battery module pole. Furthermore, the first battery module pole and the second battery module pole are short-circuited via the bridging device inserted between the first battery module pole and the second battery module pole when the bridging device is triggered accordingly. Additionally or alternatively, at least one battery module of the at least two serially connected battery modules is a second battery module that has at least one charging and disconnecting device, a disconnecting device, and a bridging device. When triggered accordingly, the at least one charging and disconnecting device interrupts the connection between the series circuit and/or parallel circuit of battery cells and the first battery module pole and limits charging or compensating currents occurring when the battery module or the battery comprising the battery module is connected. Furthermore, when triggered accordingly, the interrupting device interrupts the connection between the series circuit and/or parallel circuit of battery cells and the second battery module pole, and the first battery module pole and the second battery module pole are short-circuited via the bridging device inserted between the first battery module pole and the second battery module pole when the bridging device is triggered accordingly. | 01-26-2012 |
20120025768 | POWER SUPPLY DEVICE HAVING PRECHARGING CIRCUIT FOR CHARGING CAPACITOR - A power supply device includes a battery | 02-02-2012 |
20120038321 | DETECTING MODULE FOR A BATTERY EQUALIZER AND METHOD FOR DETECTING A BATTERY EQUALIZER - A detecting module is for detecting a battery equalizer of a power supply device. The detecting module includes a current detecting unit, a drive circuit, and a control circuit. The current detecting unit is to be coupled to the battery equalizer and a battery set of the power supply device, and generates an output based on detected current flow through the battery equalizer. The drive circuit is to be coupled to the battery equalizer for driving operation of the battery equalizer. The control circuit is coupled to the drive circuit and the current detecting unit, controls the drive circuit to drive operation of the battery equalizer and determines, according to the output of the current detecting circuit, whether the battery equalizer is in a normal operating state. | 02-16-2012 |
20120056585 | SYSTEMS, APPARATUS, AND METHODS FOR BATTERY CHARGE MANAGEMENT - Systems, apparatus, and methods for automobile battery management is provided. In one embodiment, an apparatus for providing balanced and individualized charging to a battery pack is provided. The apparatus uses microcontrollers to determine a charge level of the batteries, and correspondingly controls a power balancer to apply a charge current to the battery in relation to the charge level, and dissipates the remaining charge current as heat energy. In one embodiment, a system controller controls a balanced charging operation of the battery system, provides an interface for a user to monitor cell-level parameters, and protects the battery cells from undercharging or overcharging during the charging or discharging operations. | 03-08-2012 |
20120074905 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR STABILIZING VOLTAGE OF ENERGY STORAGE - Disclosed herein are a device and a method for stabilizing voltage of an energy storage. The device for stabilizing voltage of an energy storage includes: a bypass unit connected to a unit cell in parallel; a controller connected to the unit cell in parallel to monitor voltage of the unit cell and connected to the bypass unit to control turn on/off of the bypass unit; and an analog circuit unit connected to the unit cell in parallel to detect the voltage of the unit cell and turning on the bypass unit when the detected voltage is higher than a preset second reference voltage. | 03-29-2012 |
20120081075 | BATTERY PACK CAPACITY LEARN ALGORITHM - A method that considers battery capacity for providing cell balancing for battery cells in a battery pack. The method includes providing a current state-of-charge for each battery cell in the battery pack for a current time frame and a previous state-of-charge for each battery cell in the battery pack from a previous time frame. The method also includes subtracting the current state-of-charge from the previous state-of-charge for each battery cell to generate a cell delta state-of-charge for each cell and providing an average cell delta state-of-charge of the cell delta state-of-charges for all of the cells. The method also includes dividing each cell delta state-of-charge by the average cell delta state-of-charge to provide a relative cell delta state-of-charge for each cell and dividing the current state-of-charge by the relative cell delta state-of-charge for that cell to generate a capacity adjustment state-of-charge that identifies the capacity of the cell. | 04-05-2012 |
20120086399 | BATTERY PACK, METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME, AND ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM INCLUDING THE BATTERY PACK - A battery pack, a method of controlling the same, and an energy storage system including the battery pack are disclosed. According to some aspects, the method may include calculating charge capacities of the battery cells, obtaining a first average value, which is an average value of the calculated charge capacities, establishing a first standard value for selecting an abnormal battery cell based on the first average value and determining a first battery cell having the lowest charge capacity from among battery cells having charge capacities greater than the first standard value. A second standard value for selecting a battery cell that is to be discharged during a cell balancing operation may be established. A cell balancing operation with respect to battery cells having charge capacities greater than the second standard value may then be performed. Accordingly, a cell balancing operation may be effectively performed in order to efficiently manage a battery pack. | 04-12-2012 |
20120105004 | CELL VOLTAGE BALANCING CONVERTER - A method for cell voltage balancing is disclosed. A plurality of cells is coupled to a plurality of cell interface circuits, and the cell interface circuits are driven with a balancing transformer such that a balancing current flows between the cell interface circuits. Control gates of the cell interface circuits are driven with a gate drive transformer such that two adjacent circuits of the cell interface circuits are activated with opposite phase. | 05-03-2012 |
20120105005 | BATTERY SECTION/MODULE AUTOMATIC CELL BALANCER REPAIR TOOL - A portable cell balancing repair tool for correcting cell-to-cell voltage imbalances. The tool defines a voltage set-point that identifies a desired voltage that the cells will be charged to for the cell-to-cell voltage balancing. The tool selects a cell to be balanced, measures the voltage of the selected cell and determines if the measured voltage is less than the voltage set-point. The tool charges the selected cell with a charging current for a predetermined period of time, and then determines if the voltage of the selected cell is greater than the voltage set-point after the time expires. The tool continues charging the selected cell at the charging current if the measured voltage is not greater than the voltage set-point, and determines if the charging current was at the minimum charging current if the measured voltage of the selected cell is greater than the voltage set-point. | 05-03-2012 |
20120126750 | METHOD OF CHARGING A BATTERY ARRAY - The method of charging a battery array performs constant current, constant voltage charging of a battery array while detecting the voltage of each battery. The battery array is a plurality of series connected batteries. The charge method detects the voltage of each battery cell at a prescribed sampling rate. When the voltage of any battery cell exceeds a preset maximum specified voltage, charging power is reduced for constant current, constant voltage charging of the battery array. | 05-24-2012 |
20120133329 | BATTERY SYSTEM - A battery system is provided that can prevent overcharging during charging, and that can demonstrate appropriate charging performance and output performance of a secondary battery even when the battery system is used in a low-temperature environment. The battery system includes a secondary battery and a protection circuit. The protection circuit includes a bypass electrical path that connects an upstream-side main electrical path that is connected to a positive terminal of the secondary battery to a downstream-side main electrical path that is connected to a negative terminal of the secondary battery. The battery system is configured so that, when the voltage of the secondary battery exceeds a predetermined voltage during charging, current flowing through the secondary battery decreases while current flowing through the bypass electrical path increases, and when the voltage of the secondary battery falls below the predetermined voltage during charging, the current flowing through the secondary battery increases while the current flowing through the bypass electrical path decreases. The bypass electrical path includes a heater that generates heat using the current flowing through the bypass electrical path, and the heater is arranged adjacent to or in close contact with the secondary battery so as to impart a thermal effect to the secondary battery. | 05-31-2012 |
20120153898 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CHARGING A SERIES BATTERY - Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system for charging a series battery, wherein the series battery is comprised of a set of banks which are connected in series, so that the same charging current passes through each bank. During the charging process, the system measures a voltage across each bank in the set of banks. The system then compares the measured voltage with a target voltage for each bank, and adjusts the charging process based on results of the comparisons between the measured voltage and the target voltage. | 06-21-2012 |
20120187907 | RECHARGEABLE BATTERY SYSTEMS AND RECHARGEABLE BATTERY SYSTEM OPERATIONAL METHODS - Rechargeable battery systems and rechargeable battery system operational methods are described. According to one aspect, a rechargeable battery system includes a plurality of rechargeable battery modules coupled between a plurality of terminals, wherein the rechargeable battery modules individually comprise a plurality of rechargeable battery cells and charge balancing circuitry configured to implement, for individual ones of the rechargeable battery modules, first charge balancing operations with respect to the rechargeable battery cells of individual ones of the rechargeable battery modules, and to implement second charge balancing operations with respect to the rechargeable battery modules. | 07-26-2012 |
20120187908 | BATTERY PACK CONTROL APPARATUS - A plurality of voltage switching circuits | 07-26-2012 |
20120194133 | ACTIVE CELL BALANCING USING INDEPENDENT ENERGY TRANSFER BUS FOR BATTERIES OR OTHER POWER SUPPLIES - A system includes a power source having multiple energy storage power cells. The system also includes multiple cell active balancing circuits. Each active balancing circuit is coupled across and associated with at least one of the power cells. Each active balancing circuit is also configured to provide energy to and draw energy from the at least one associated power cell. The system further includes an energy transfer bus configured to transfer energy between the active balancing circuits. In addition, the system includes a controller configured to control the transfer of energy between the active balancing circuits in order to control balancing of charges on the power cells. Each active balancing circuit could include a bi-directional direct current-to-direct current converter configured to convert and transfer DC energy between the associated power cell(s) and the energy transfer bus. The power source could include a battery, and the power cells could include battery cells within the battery. | 08-02-2012 |
20120194134 | Inductive Charge Balancing - Disclosed is a method for charge balancing in a charge storage arrangement having a plurality of charge storage cells connected in series, and a charge balancing circuit. | 08-02-2012 |
20120212182 | BATTERY SYSTEM WITH BALANCE FUNCTION - The embodiments of the present disclosure disclose a battery system. The battery system at least comprises a battery pack, an inductor and two sets of switch branches. The battery system controls the inductor to store and release energy, so as to transfer energy between the battery pack and a battery cell or between two battery cells. | 08-23-2012 |
20120217931 | METHOD OF CHARGING A BATTERY ARRAY - The method of charging a battery array performs constant current and constant voltage charging of a battery array while detecting the voltage of each battery. The battery array is a plurality of series connected batteries. The charge method detects the voltage of each battery cell at a prescribed sampling rate. When the voltage of any battery cell exceeds a preset maximum specified voltage, charging power is reduced for constant current, constant voltage charging of the battery array. | 08-30-2012 |
20120223677 | Battery System - Even if requirements for any scale of system constructions occur, a battery system of flexibly responding to the requirements is provided. The battery system comprising a battery module having a plurality of battery cells being connected, a battery pack having a plurality of battery modules being connected either in series or in parallel or both in series and in parallel, and a battery block having a plurality of battery packs being connected either in series or in parallel or both in series and in parallel. They are mutually layered. In the battery system, the battery module, the battery pack, and the battery block are previously prepared as variations of layered basic units. In response to requirements for any scale of system constructions, the basic units are combined accordingly. | 09-06-2012 |
20120249074 | BATTERY VOLTAGE DETECTOR - A battery voltage detector includes, but is not limited to: a voltage detection circuit; and a voltage processor. The voltage detection circuit includes, but is not limited to: a capacitor configured to be charged by a battery cell; a pair of output terminals; an output switch; and a voltage processor. While the capacitor is charged, the output switch is configured to be off-state and insulate the capacitor from the pair of the output terminals. After the capacitor is charged, the output switch is configured to be on-state and connect the capacitor to the pair of the output terminals. The voltage processor is configured to obtain, as a cell voltage, a voltage between the output terminals of the voltage detection circuit while the output switch is on-state. A high-potential output terminal of the pair of the output terminals is connected to a power line via a pull-up resistor. | 10-04-2012 |
20120256591 | BALANCER CIRCUIT FOR RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES - A balancer circuit for a cell in a rechargeable battery, having connecting terminals for connection of the balancer circuit to the cell. A first resistor is electrically connected to one of the connecting terminals and a voltage switch is arranged in series with the first resistor and electrically connected to the other one of the connecting terminals. The voltage switch, e.g., an adjustable voltage reference circuit, is operable to shunt a balancing current through the first resistor when a load voltage sensed over the connecting terminals is higher than a threshold voltage. | 10-11-2012 |
20120268069 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SETTING SEQUENTIAL IDENTIFICATION TO MULTI-SLAVE IN BATTERY PACK - Disclosed is a method for setting sequential ID to a multi-slave BMS in a battery pack, the battery pack including N (N: natural number of 2 or more) slave BMSs having sequential physical locations to control a battery module containing at least one battery and a main BMS to control the N slave BMSs. | 10-25-2012 |
20120293125 | COMPARATOR CIRCUIT, SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE, BATTERY MONITORING SYSTEM, CHARGING ROHIBITION METHOD, AND COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM - A comparator circuit includes: a switching element that is disposed between a positive electrode of a battery cell and a fixed potential supply source, that has a control terminal connected to a negative electrode of the battery cell, and that operates in response to a voltage applied from the battery cell to the control terminal; a voltage regulating unit that is disposed between the battery cell and the switching element and that regulates the voltage applied from the battery cell to the switching element; and an output signal line that outputs a potential between the switching element and the fixed potential supply source. | 11-22-2012 |
20120293126 | CHARGING METHOD - A charging method to charge a lithium ion battery in a short amount of time at low cost without degradation of the lithium ion battery is provided. A lithium ion battery includes a lithium compound containing iron as a positive electrode active material. The lithium ion battery is charged through a quasi-constant voltage charging procedure. The lithium ion battery includes a lithium compound as a positive electrode active material used for a positive electrode material. With the lithium compound, a voltage in a flat voltage section of a charging characteristic curve is higher than a voltage of a battery including the lithium compound containing iron as the positive electrode active material. The lithium ion battery may be an assembled battery including a plurality of electric cells connected in series. | 11-22-2012 |
20120293127 | STORAGE-MODULE CONTROL DEVICE - Provided is an electricity storage module control device which is capable of controlling the voltage of each electricity storage section so that an electricity storage module is prevented from being deteriorated even when the electricity storage module is continuously charged/discharged in a relatively short cycle over a long period of time, in particular, when charging/discharging of a large amount of current is repeated. The electricity storage module control device controls the electricity storage module including a plurality of electricity storage sections connected in series. The electricity storage module control device acquires a voltage value of each of the plurality of electricity storage sections over a predetermined period, and controls voltages of the plurality of electricity storage sections based on the voltage value of each of the plurality of electricity storage sections, which has been acquired over the predetermined period. | 11-22-2012 |
20120306447 | APPARATUS FOR STABILIZING VOLTAGE OF ENERGY STORAGE - Disclosed herein is an apparatus for stabilizing voltage of an energy storage in which a plurality of unit cells are connected to each other in series, including: a bypass unit that is connected to the unit cell in parallel; and a controller that detects voltage of the unit cell and controls an operation of the bypass unit according to the detected voltage of the unit cell, wherein the bypass unit bypasses current flowing in the unit cell when the detected voltage of the unit cell is larger than predetermined reference voltage to generate the reusing voltage, whereby the voltage of each unit cell is stably equalized and reuses the voltage provided to the bypass path, thereby performing voltage equalization without loss. | 12-06-2012 |
20120319652 | SCALABLE METHOD OF PROPORTIONAL ACTIVE STATE OF CHARGE BALANCING FOR MANAGING VARIATIONS IN THE STATE OF HEALTH OF BATTERIES - A method and system for power management among batteries of varying states of health. Two or more battery packs are switched on and off in square wave pulses to energize a multi-winding transformer, and the output of the transformer is used to power a load. As the state of charge of the battery packs decrease at different rates, the duty cycle of each battery pack's switch pulse is made proportional to its state of charge relative to the other battery packs. The battery pack with the greatest state of charge has the longest on-time and provides the most energy to the transformer, yet all battery packs contribute. A baseline duty cycle is computed by a proportional integral control module, based on voltage measurements at the load. Energy contribution is managed so that state of charge does not diverge even when the battery packs have widely varying states of health. | 12-20-2012 |
20120326670 | CHARGE CONTROL SCHEME FOR USE IN POWER TOOLS - A simplified control scheme is presented for use in a power tool. The power tool may be comprised of two or more lithium-ion battery cells connected in series and operable to drive the motor in the tool. A charging circuit is configured to receive a charging current from an AC adapter and to supply the charging current to the battery cells. A microcontroller monitors the voltage of the battery cells and terminates charging of the battery cells in accordance with the monitored voltages of the battery cells. The microcontroller does not receive power from the battery cells but is only powered by the AC adapter. Of note, each of the battery cells preferably employs an electrolyte composition comprised of a redox shuttle material. In combination with other tool components, the use of the redox shuttle material reduces or eliminates the need for expensive charge and discharge controls, thereby reducing the cost of the tool. | 12-27-2012 |
20130020997 | Battery System - A battery system having a battery string configured by connecting in series a plurality of battery units includes: an SOC detection unit for individually detecting states of charge of the plurality of battery units; and a charge-and-discharge control unit for individually charging and discharging the battery units, based on a full charge capacity of each battery unit and each state of charge of the battery units individually detected by the detection unit, upon the battery system being in no load state, the control unit individually charges and discharges the battery units so that the states of charge of the battery units are approximately equal with each other when the battery units are in a discharge end state and so that a difference between the states of charge of the battery units is relatively large when the battery units are approximately in a full charge state. | 01-24-2013 |
20130026989 | VEHICLE BATTERY AND METHOD OF CHARGING THE SAME - A vehicle battery and charging method that may be used to balance cell voltages during a battery charging operation, and may do so in a way that protects the individual cells from over-charging and improves the overall efficiency of the operation. According to one example, the vehicle battery includes a number of cell-balancing current paths, each of which is connected in parallel to an individual battery cell and can shunt or bypass the corresponding cell when its voltage exceeds some maximum amount. This may enable under-charged battery cells to be charged at the same time that over-charged battery cells are bypassed. Each of the cell-balancing current paths may include a series-connected electronic switch and zener diode combination, where the electronic switch is controlled by a battery control module so that cell-balancing can be enabled during a battery charging operation and disabled at other times. | 01-31-2013 |
20130026990 | CHARGE SYSTEM FOR SERIES CONNECTED RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES - A charge system for series connected rechargeable batteries includes: a power generating unit generating a DC input power based on a voltage input from an AC power source; a charge control unit generating a charge voltage based at least the DC input power from the power generating unit and supplying the charge voltage to the rechargeable batteries through an interface unit; and multiple detecting units each detecting a voltage of a corresponding rechargeable battery through the interface unit, generating a feedback power based on the voltage of the corresponding rechargeable battery upon detecting that the voltage of the corresponding rechargeable battery is within a predetermined voltage range, and outputting the feedback power to the charge control unit such that the charge voltage is generated by the charge control unit further based on the feedback power from any one of the detecting units. | 01-31-2013 |
20130026991 | Power Supply System with Charge Balancing - A power supply system includes a first charge storage. A series circuit with a plurality of n charge storage modules is connected between load terminals. A second charge storage includes load terminals. A charge transfer arrangement includes at least one charge transfer unit coupled between one of the charge storage modules and the load terminals of the second charge storage. The charge transfer arrangement is configured to transfer upon request electrical charge from the one charge storage module to the second charge storage. | 01-31-2013 |
20130033231 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR BALANCING BATTERY CELLS - A cell balancing system includes multiple bypass paths and a battery management circuit. The multiple bypass paths are coupled in parallel to the battery cells. The battery management circuit is coupled to the bypass paths and monitors cell voltages of the battery cells, compares the cell voltages with a first reference voltage for a first stage, enables a bypass path in the first stage if a battery cell in parallel with the bypass path has a cell voltage at the first reference voltage, and compares the cell voltages of the battery cells with a second reference voltage for a second stage if a specified cell voltage in the first stage is at the first reference voltage. | 02-07-2013 |
20130106354 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR BATTERY EQUALIZATION | 05-02-2013 |
20130119935 | MULTIPLEXER AND SWITCH-BASED ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL MONITOR AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system for monitoring a plurality of battery cells using the switch and multiplexing circuits with the plurality of monitored signal indicating the battery voltage levels for each cell by switching the measured voltage of each cell and using switching of the monitored cell voltage to selectively measure each selected signal ( | 05-16-2013 |
20130134941 | POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A power supply system for EV and a control method thereof are provided, the system including a high voltage battery formed with a plurality of battery cells and generating a power driving source to a motor of the EV, and a low voltage battery generating a power driving source for electrical load, and an OBC (On-Board-Charger) selectively charging a high voltage battery or a low voltage battery using an externally-supplied AC power source based on an output voltage level of the low voltage battery. | 05-30-2013 |
20130141047 | BATTERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREOF - The present invention relates to a battery management system and a method thereof. The system includes a number of battery units connected in series, a DC/DC converter module and a controller controlling the DC/DC converter module to operate under one of at least two operation modes. The battery units include a given battery unit needed to be charged. When the DC/DC converter module operates in a first operation mode, the DC/DC converter module receives and reduces a total voltage of all the battery units and transmits the reduced voltage to charge the given battery unit. When the DC/DC converter module operates in a second operation mode, the DC/DC converter module receives and converts a cumulated voltage of part of the battery units and transmits the converted voltage to charge the given battery unit. | 06-06-2013 |
20130175994 | BATTERY RESIDUAL AMOUNT MEASUREMENT SYSTEM, COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM STORING BATTERY RESIDUAL AMOUNT MEASUREMENT PROGRAM, AND BATTERY RESIDUAL AMOUNT MEASUREMENT METHOD - The present invention provides a battery residual amount measurement system including: a current detection section that defects a current value of current discharged from a battery that is an object of measurement: a first storage section that stores reference undischargeable amounts that are determined in advance in accordance with ambient temperatures of the battery and current values of current discharged from the battery; and a calculating section that when a discharging operation is carried out at the battery, acquires, from the first storage section, the reference undischargeable amount that corresponds to an ambient temperature of the battery and the current value detected by the current detection section, and calculates a battery residual amount on the basis of a undischargeable amount that is calculated and computed on the basis of the acquired reference undischargeable amount and a nominal battery capacity of the battery. | 07-11-2013 |
20130200849 | SYSTEM FOR MANAGING A SERIES COMBINATION OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY GENERATION OR STORAGE ELEMENTS, BASED ON A PLURALITY OF VOLTAGE INVERTER LEGS - A management system for managing a series association of elements for storing and/or generating electrical energy (CA | 08-08-2013 |
20130207609 | MULTI-SERIES BATTERY CONTROL SYSTEM - A multi-series battery control system comprises a plurality of unit battery cell of which unit consists of multiple battery cells connected in series; a plurality of control IC comprising a control circuit for controlling the unit battery cell; a main controller that sends and receives signal to/from the control ICs via an insulation; means for sending an abnormality signal, which represents the existence or the absence of abnormality of the control ICs or the battery cells, to the main controller from the control ICs, responding to the first signal outputted from the main controller via the insulation; and means for searching contents of the abnormality in the control ICs or the battery cells and sending the abnormality contents signal based on the search, to the main controller from the control ICs, responding to the second signal outputted from the main controller via the insulation. | 08-15-2013 |
20130249489 | BATTERY CHARGING CIRCUIT - A battery charging circuit includes a plurality of unit batteries that are connected in series; a current path forming unit that is connected between the unit batteries and forms a charging current path to one or more unit batteries selected by one or more selection signals; a control unit that senses the charging status of each of the plurality of the unit batteries, and generates the selection signals and controls the duty ratio according to the sensing results; and a charging electricity providing unit that controls the charging voltage provided to the charging current path forming unit according to the duty ratio of the charging control pulse. | 09-26-2013 |
20130300369 | Battery having a Plurality of Battery Modules Arranged in Battery Strings, and Method for Operating the Battery - A battery includes a plurality of battery modules which are arranged in battery strings and are selectively activated or deactivated by driving. The battery module voltage of a respective battery module contributes to an output voltage of the corresponding battery string of the battery in the activated state. The battery further includes a switching converter topology which is coupled to the battery strings and is configured to selectively generate currents flowing into one or more of the battery strings. | 11-14-2013 |
20130314045 | CHARGING AN ENERGY STORE - The invention relates to a system for charging at least one energy storing cell ( | 11-28-2013 |
20130314046 | SYSTEM FOR CHARGING AN ENERGY STORE, AND METHOD FOR OPERATING THE CHARGING SYSTEM - The invention relates to a system for charging at least one energy storing cell ( | 11-28-2013 |
20140009116 | BALANCE CORRECTION APPARATUS AND ELECTRIC STORAGE SYSTEM - Excess current is prevented from flowing through an electric storage cell. an inductor having an end electrically connected to a connection point between an end of the first electric storage cell and an end of the second electric storage cell; a first switching device electrically connected between another end of the inductor and another end of the first electric storage cell; a second switching device electrically connected between the other end of the inductor and another end of the second electric storage cell; and a current restricting device connected in series with the inductor, the current restricting device restricting a current flowing through the inductor once a magnitude of the current flowing through the inductor has exceeded a predetermined value are provided. | 01-09-2014 |
20140062407 | MONITORING CELLS IN ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM - A system for monitoring an energy storage system composed of multiple cells connected in series has a chain of monitors including at least first and second monitors. The first monitor is configured for monitoring at least a first cell in the energy storage system to produce first monitored data. The second monitor is configured for monitoring at least a second cell in the energy storage system to produce second monitored data. The first monitor is further configured for transferring the first monitored data to the second monitor for delivery to a controller. | 03-06-2014 |
20140070770 | ELECTRIC ENERGY STORAGE DEVICE AND INSTALLATION-OPERATION METHOD THEREOF - Frequent charging/discharging to an electric energy storage element is suppressed for energy saving and longer lifetime. A transmission-line-side power converter device converts power from a transmission line, and supplies DC power to a feeder line connected to an electric energy storage element. An output current controller connected with a line voltage detector detects the feeder line voltage, and a charging rate detector detects a charging rate of the electric energy storage element. A control table sets charging/discharging start voltages and current saturated voltages based on the detected line voltage and charging rate. The output current controller controls the electric energy storage element to discharge at a high line voltage as the charging rate increase, to suppress charging the electric energy storage element at the low line voltage, and makes discharging difficult at the low line voltage to facilitate charging at the low line voltage as the charging rate decreases. | 03-13-2014 |
20140084867 | SECONDARY BATTERY DEVICE AND BATTERY CAPACITY ESTIMATION SYSTEM - Certain embodiments provide a secondary battery device comprising: a battery module including a plurality of secondary battery cells; a battery monitoring circuit that measures a cell voltage value and a cell temperature value of each cell; a current measurement circuit that measures a current value flowing through the battery module; a time addition unit that adds time information to the current value, the cell voltage value and the cell temperature value, respectively; a memory that stores the current value, the cell voltage value and the cell temperature value, each value being associated with time information; and an operation unit that calculates a time difference between the cell temperature value and the cell voltage value, or a time difference between the cell temperature value and the current value stored in the memory, and determines a degree of deterioration for each cell according to the time difference. | 03-27-2014 |
20140139184 | CAPACITIVELY COUPLED CELL BALANCER WITH A COMMON AC BUS - This invention concerns a capacitively coupled cell balancer with a common AC bus. It comprises either a half or full bridge connected to each cell of a set of N cells, which are either floating or connected in series. The midpoints of each half bridge and the full bridges are coupled through coupling capacitors to a common AC bus. | 05-22-2014 |
20140152258 | STEADY STATE DETECTION OF AN EXCEPTIONAL CHARGE EVENT IN A SERIES CONNECTED BATTERY ELEMENT - A system and method for identifying and responding to exceptional charge events of series-connected energy storage elements. | 06-05-2014 |
20140159663 | BATTERY CONTROL CIRCUIT - A battery module includes an anode terminal, a cathode terminal, and multiple capacitor cells. Multiple tap electrodes are each provided to a corresponding connection node that connects adjacent capacitor cells. An intermediate terminal is connected to one from among the multiple tap electrodes. A battery control circuit includes a cell balance circuit configured to stabilize each of the voltages at the multiple tap electrodes to a corresponding target voltage level. The voltage at the anode terminal is supplied to the power supply terminal of the cell balance circuit. | 06-12-2014 |
20140159664 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING BATTERY PACK AND BATTERY PACK - A battery pack that has multiple battery units that differ in full charge capacity is charged and discharged to the maximum. A method of manufacturing the battery pack includes the following steps. First, battery cells that differ in full charge capacity are individually charged to be charged up to the full charge capacity (a charge step, S | 06-12-2014 |
20140285151 | Method for Equalizing Different States of Charge of Batteries - A method for reducing a total charge loss of battery cells by equalizing states of charge includes making an initial check as to whether a temperature of at least one balancing unit lies below a preselectable temperature limit. Thereupon a check takes place as to whether a charging process of the battery cells has completed and the state of charge of the battery cells is >90%. A determination then follows as to whether a maximum state of charge difference between battery cells lies above an adjustable limit (DELTA_SoC). | 09-25-2014 |
20140300323 | VEHICLE BATTERY SYSTEM BALANCING SYSTEMS AND METHODS - System and methods for balancing a vehicle battery system are presented. In certain embodiments, a method for balancing a vehicle battery system including a plurality of sections may include calculating a plurality of quanta of energy required for each of the plurality of sections to reaching a balancing point. Based at least in part on the calculated plural of quanta of energy, it may be determined that the plurality of sections of the battery system are unbalanced. To balance the battery system, a balancing system may be selectively actuated to change the amounts of energy stored in one or more of the plurality of cells such that the plurality of quanta of energy are within a particular range. | 10-09-2014 |
20140300324 | ASSEMBLED BATTERY CHARGING METHOD, CHARGING CONTROL CIRCUIT, AND POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM - A method for charging an assembled battery including series circuits connected in parallel, each of the series circuits including series-connected lead storage batteries, using a single charger is provided. The method includes: a first step of obtaining a first index value corresponding to a resistance value of a first series circuit with a correlative relationship, the first series circuit having a lowest resistance value; a second step of obtaining a second index value corresponding to a resistance value of a second series circuit with a correlative relationship, the second series circuit having a highest resistance value; a third step of performing normal charging, in which the assembled battery is charged with a first amount of charge corresponding to the first index value; and a fourth step of performing refresh charging, in which the assembled battery is charged with a second amount of charge corresponding to the second index value. | 10-09-2014 |
20140327399 | BOOST CAPACITOR SHARING ARCHITECTURE FOR POWER SUPPLY ACTIVE BALANCING SYSTEMS - An apparatus includes multiple first channels configured to be coupled to a first boost capacitor and multiple second channels configured to be coupled to a second boost capacitor. Each channel includes a transistor switch and a gate driver configured to drive the transistor switch. The gate drivers in the first channels include switch sub-arrays configured to control which transistor switch in the first channels is driven using a voltage from the first boost capacitor. The gate drivers in the second channels include switch sub-arrays configured to control which transistor switch in the second channels is driven using a voltage from the second boost capacitor. The transistor switch in each channel may include first and second transistors having their sources coupled together, and each of the channels may further include a pull-down switch configured to pull the sources of the first and second transistors to ground. | 11-06-2014 |
20140340042 | MULTI-SERIES BATTERY CONTROL SYSTEM - A multi-series battery control system comprises a plurality of unit battery cell of which unit consists of multiple battery cells connected in series; a plurality of control IC comprising a control circuit for controlling the unit battery cell; a main controller that sends and receives signal to/from the control ICs via an insulation; means for sending an abnormality signal, which represents the existence or the absence of abnormality of the control ICs or the battery cells, to the main controller from the control ICs, responding to the first signal outputted from the main controller via the insulation; and means for searching contents of the abnormality in the control ICs or the battery cells and sending the abnormality contents signal based on the search, to the main controller from the control ICs, responding to the second signal outputted from the main controller via the insulation. | 11-20-2014 |
20150077059 | BATTERY MONITORING DEVICE AND BATTERY MONITORING SYSTEM - A battery monitoring system includes a clock input terminal, a data input terminal, a communication control circuit receiving the clock signal and the data signal from the clock input terminal and the data input terminal, respectively, a main power regulator controlled by the communication control circuit to supply and stop supplying main power, a charge circuit charged by the clock signal, and a sub power regulator started by a charge voltage of the charge circuit to supply a sub power to the communication control circuit. The communication control circuit controls the main power regulator with the data signal when the sub power is received from the sub power regulator. | 03-19-2015 |
20150130420 | METHOD FOR CHARGING THE ENERGY STORAGE CELLS OF AN ENERGY STORAGE DEVICE, AND RECHARGEABLE ENERGY STORAGE DEVICE - The invention relates to a method for charging energy storage cells of an energy storage device with a plurality of energy storage modules which are connected in series in an energy supply line, each energy storage module comprising an energy storage cell module which has at least one energy storage cell and comprising a coupling device with coupling elements. The coupling elements are designed to selectively connect the energy storage cell module in the energy supply line or to bridge the energy storage cell module. The method consists of the following steps: coupling the output connections of the energy storage device to a DC voltage source, controlling the coupling devices of all the energy storage modules in order to bridge the energy storage cell modules in the energy supply line for a first specified period of time, and controlling the coupling devices of at least one first energy storage module in order to connect the energy storage cell module of the first energy storage module in the energy supply line for a second specified period of time after the first specified period of time has elapsed. | 05-14-2015 |
20150295424 | Equalization Device | 10-15-2015 |
20150295428 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CELL BALANCING AND CHARGING USING A SERIALLY COUPLED INDUCTOR AND CAPACITOR - An apparatus for charging a plurality of series connected battery cells, includes a first and second input terminals for providing a charging voltage to the plurality of series connected battery cell. A transformer includes a primary side associated with the charging voltage and a secondary side includes a plurality of portions. Each of the plurality of portions is connected across at least one of the plurality of series connected battery cell. A switch in series between each of the plurality of portions of the secondary side and the at least one of the plurality of series connected battery cells increases an impedance between the portion of the secondary side and the associated one of the plurality of series connected battery cells in a first state and decreases the impedance between the portion of the secondary side and the associated one of the plurality of series connected battery cells in a second state. | 10-15-2015 |
20150295429 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CELL BALANCING AND CHARGING USING A SERIALLY COUPLED INDUCTOR AND CAPACITOR - An apparatus for charging a plurality of series connected battery cells, includes a first and second input terminals for providing a charging voltage to the plurality of series connected battery cell. A transformer includes a primary side associated with the charging voltage and a secondary side includes a plurality of portions. Each of the plurality of portions is connected across at least one of the plurality of series connected battery cell. A switch in series between each of the plurality of portions of the secondary side and the at least one of the plurality of series connected battery cells increases an impedance between the portion of the secondary side and the associated one of the plurality of series connected battery cells in a first state and decreases the impedance between the portion of the secondary side and the associated one of the plurality of series connected battery cells in a second state. | 10-15-2015 |
20150295442 | SERIES-CONNECTED STORAGE INTERFACE CONVERTER - A method for operating a plurality of energy storage devices includes controlling operation of the plurality of energy storage devices connected in series by independently varying a current and/or bypassing and/or reversing a polarity of at least one of the plurality of energy storage devices without a corresponding change in current, bypass, or reversal of polarity of one or more of the other energy storage devices connected in series. | 10-15-2015 |
20150336469 | SYSTEM COMPRISING A BATTERY FORMED BY BATTERY MODULES, AND CORRESPONDING METHOD FOR CONNECTING OR DISCONNECTING A BATTERY MODULE - A system and corresponding method, including a battery including a plurality of battery modules arranged in series, each module including a switch and a diode arranged in series and connected in parallel to the module. The system further includes a capacitor connected directly by an electrical connection to a point situated between the diode and the switch of each module, and directly to the negative terminal of the battery, and a load connected in parallel to the capacitor, a mechanism controlling each module switch using a pulse width modulation signal having a duty cycle that varies between 0% and 100%. | 11-26-2015 |
20150340888 | BATTERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A device comprises a control entity configured to monitor an operation parameter of at least one battery cell of a battery. The device further comprises an interface coupled with a power line of the battery and configured to transceive control data via at least one of load modulation or load demodulation of a power line signal of the power line. | 11-26-2015 |
20150349564 | Electrical Connector And Movable Device Using The Same - The invention discloses an electric connector, comprises an insulated housing, a male plug at one end of the housing and a female socket on the opposite end of the housing. The male plug and female socket respectively have an electrode and an electrode slice which is electrically connected with a pair of the male plug and female socket inside the housing. The female socket has an opening adaptive to accommodate the male plug the and enable a connection between the electrode of the male plug and that of the female socket. The invention also provides a movable device using the electric connector. According to the invention, a plurality of movable devices with a charging unit can be charged simultaneously and the charging process can be simplified, thereby improving the utilization and safety of the movable devices and lowering the cost of maintenance. | 12-03-2015 |
20160043579 | HIGH-EFFICIENCY BATTERY EQUALIZATION FOR CHARGING AND DISCHARGING - A non-contiguous group of cells in a battery of cells is selected for charging or discharging the battery. | 02-11-2016 |
20160064964 | Battery Balancing with Resonant Converter - A system and a method for charging of rechargeable batteries is presented. In particular, The charging of battery stacks comprising a plurality of battery cells or storage cells is presented. The system is configured to charge a first subset of storage cells from a storage comprising a serial arrangement of storage cells. The system comprises a driver circuit configured to generate an AC voltage comprising a frequency component at an AC frequency from an electric energy source at a DC voltage. Furthermore, the system comprises a first resonance circuit configured to amplify and/or attenuate the AC voltage as a function of the AC frequency, to yield a modified AC voltage. In addition, the system comprises a first rectifying unit configured to generate a modified DC voltage from the modified AC voltage, and configured to provide electric energy at the modified DC voltage to the first subset of storage cells. | 03-03-2016 |
20160064972 | Bulk Force In A Battery Pack And Its Application To State Of Charge Estimation - There is disclosed an electrical device including a battery pack, a pressure sensor for measuring a volume change of the battery pack, a voltage sensor in electrical communication with a positive terminal and a negative terminal of the battery pack, a temperature sensor positioned in a cell of the battery pack, and a battery management system. The battery management system includes a controller in electrical communication with the pressure sensor, the voltage sensor, and the temperature sensor, the controller being configured to execute a program stored in the controller to determine a state of charge percentage of the battery pack based on a pressure reading from the pressure sensor, a terminal voltage reading from the voltage sensor, and a temperature reading from the temperature sensor. | 03-03-2016 |
20160105045 | POWER SUPPLY DEVICE - A power supply device includes a battery module in which batteries are connected in series; a negative electrode output terminal to which a negative electrode terminal of the battery module is connected; a positive electrode output terminal to which a positive electrode terminal of the battery module and a connection point between predetermined batteries are individually connected through discharging switches; an output voltage detecting circuit for detecting an output voltage; a charging current adjusting circuit for adjusting the charging current of the battery module; thermistors for detecting the state-of-charge of the battery module; and a control device for controlling the charge and discharge of the battery module, wherein the control device includes means for controlling the discharging switches, so that the output voltage is within a specific range, and means for controlling the charging current adjusting circuit on the basis of the state-of-charge of each battery of the battery module. | 04-14-2016 |
20160126766 | STRING CURRENT LIMITED BATTERY CHARGING CONTROL - Systems and methods for charging a plurality of battery strings are provided. The individual string current of each of the individual battery strings can be monitored and used to regulate a charging output provided by the charger. For instance, the output voltage of charger can be controlled as part of a closed loop control system based on the individual string current of the battery string under the constraint of an individual string current limit and/or a charging voltage limit. As the charging voltage of the charger increases as a result of the closed loop control based on the individual string current, other battery strings can be coupled to the charger when the charging voltage provided by the charger exceeds a battery string voltage associated with the battery string. | 05-05-2016 |
20160190830 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PERFORMING BATTERY MANAGEMENT - Systems and methods for battery management are disclosed. A system may include an internal control network including multiple node controllers powered by a unique cell or combination of cells of a battery. The node controllers may communicate with each other via a node communication system. Each node controller may be responsible for managing a charge level associated with one or more cells. The one or more devices of the internal control network may enable measurement of environmental factors such as a temperature and a current and voltage applied at the battery. Based on the measured environmental factors, the internal control network may perform an ongoing assessment of the one or more cells of the battery and of an overall battery condition. The internal control network may initiate turning on or off a battery output to prevent over discharge and possible damage to the battery or devices connected to the battery. | 06-30-2016 |
20160190832 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND BATTERY VOLTAGE MEASURING METHOD - The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device including: a first buffer amplifier into which a voltage of a high potential side of one battery cell selected from plural battery cells that are connected in series is input; a second buffer amplifier into which a voltage of a low potential side of the one battery cell other than a lowermost stage battery cell is input; an analog level shifter into which a voltage output from the first buffer amplifier and a voltage output from, the buffer amplifier are input; a first switch that switches a voltage input to the analog level shifter from the voltage output from the second buffer amplifier to a reference voltage; and a second switch that switches a voltage input to the first buffer amplifier from the voltage of the high potential side of the one battery cell to the reference voltage. | 06-30-2016 |
20160197505 | Electric Energy Storage Device and Method for Increasing the Voltage at the Storage Device Terminals | 07-07-2016 |