Abstract: A battery module includes: a battery pack including multiple cells; control circuits corresponding to the cells, each control circuit including a control unit for managing the corresponding cell and a compensation unit for generating a corresponding compensation current such that the sum of the corresponding consumed current and the corresponding compensation current is equal to a target total current, where the control circuits include a first control circuit and a second control circuit, where the first control circuit includes a first control unit operating with a first consumed current, the second control circuit includes a second control unit operating with a second consumed current, and where the first control circuit conditionally generates a first compensation current and the second control circuit conditionally generates a second compensation current based on a comparison of the first consumed current and the second consumed current.

Abstract: A battery management system includes detecting circuitry and control circuitry coupled to the detecting circuitry. The detecting circuitry detects cell voltages of battery cells of a battery pack. The control circuitry alternates between a normal state and a charging prohibition state. In the normal state, charging of the battery cells is enabled and the cell voltages increase, and if a voltage of a battery cell of the battery cells exceeds a predetermined overcharge threshold, then the control circuitry transitions to the charging prohibition state. In the charging prohibition state, charging of the battery cells is disabled, and the voltage of the battery cell decreases if at least one cell of the battery cells has a voltage less than a balance threshold. If the voltage of the battery cell falls to a predetermined overcharge-released threshold, then the control circuitry transitions to the normal state and enables charging of the battery cells.

Abstract: A battery module includes: a battery pack including multiple cells; control circuits corresponding to the cells, each control circuit including a control unit for managing the corresponding cell and a compensation unit for generating a corresponding compensation current such that the sum of the corresponding consumed current and the corresponding compensation current is equal to a target total current, where the control circuits include a first control circuit and a second control circuit, where the first control circuit includes a first control unit operating with a first consumed current, the second control circuit includes a second control unit operating with a second consumed current, and where the first control circuit conditionally generates a first compensation current and the second control circuit conditionally generates a second compensation current based on a comparison of the first consumed current and the second consumed current.

Abstract: A battery module includes: a battery pack including multiple cells; control circuits corresponding to the cells, each control circuit including a control unit for managing the corresponding cell and a compensation unit for generating a corresponding compensation current such that the sum of the corresponding consumed current and the corresponding compensation current is equal to a target total current, where the control circuits include a first control circuit and a second control circuit, where the first control circuit includes a first control unit operating with a first consumed current, the second control circuit includes a second control unit operating with a second consumed current, and where the first control circuit conditionally generates a first compensation current and the second control circuit conditionally generates a second compensation current based on a comparison of the first consumed current and the second consumed current.

Abstract: A battery module includes: a battery pack including multiple cells; control circuits corresponding to the cells, each control circuit including a control unit for managing the corresponding cell and a compensation unit for generating a corresponding compensation current such that the sum of the corresponding consumed current and the corresponding compensation current is equal to a target total current, where the control circuits include a first control circuit and a second control circuit, where the first control circuit includes a first control unit operating with a first consumed current, the second control circuit includes a second control unit operating with a second consumed current, and where the first control circuit conditionally generates a first compensation current and the second control circuit conditionally generates a second compensation current based on a comparison of the first consumed current and the second consumed current.

Abstract: A battery management system includes detecting circuitry and control circuitry coupled to the detecting circuitry. The detecting circuitry detects cell voltages of battery cells of a battery pack. The control circuitry alternates between a normal state and a charging prohibition state. In the normal state, charging of the battery cells is enabled and the cell voltages increase, and if a voltage of a battery cell of the battery cells exceeds a predetermined overcharge threshold, then the control circuitry transitions to the charging prohibition state. In the charging prohibition state, charging of the battery cells is disabled, and the voltage of the battery cell decreases if at least one cell of the battery cells has a voltage less than a balance threshold. If the voltage of the battery cell falls to a predetermined overcharge-released threshold, then the control circuitry transitions to the normal state and enables charging of the battery cells.

Abstract: A cell balancing circuit comprises a first cell having a first voltage, a second cell in series with the first cell and having a second voltage that is greater than the first voltage, and a bypass path in parallel with the second cell for enabling a bypass current for the second cell if a difference between the first voltage and the second voltage is greater than a predetermined threshold. The bypass current is enabled for a balancing time period that is proportional to the difference between the first voltage and the second voltage.

Abstract: A method for diagnosing a control system for a stacked battery. The control system comprises a plurality of processors, a plurality of controllers, and a monitoring unit (control unit). The method comprises sending a diagnostic information from the central unit to a top processor of the plurality of processors, transmitting a return information from the top processor of the plurality of processors to the central unit, comparing the diagnostic information sent from the central unit with the return information received by the central unit, and indicating a communication problem if the diagnostic information sent from the central unit is different from the return information received by the central unit. The steps are repeated by eliminating the top processor from a previous cycle and assigning a new top processor if there is no problem with the reconfigurable communication system.

Abstract: A method for diagnosing a control system for a stacked battery. The control system comprises a plurality of processors, a plurality of controllers, and a monitoring unit (control unit). The method comprises sending a diagnostic information from the central unit to a top processor of the plurality of processors, transmitting a return information from the top processor of the plurality of processors to the central unit, comparing the diagnostic information sent from the central unit with the return information received by the central unit, and indicating a communication problem if the diagnostic information sent from the central unit is different from the return information received by the central unit. The steps are repeated by eliminating the top processor from a previous cycle and assigning a new top processor if there is no problem with the reconfigurable communication system.

Abstract: A method for diagnosing a control system for a stacked battery is disclosed. The control system comprises a plurality of processors, a plurality of controllers, and a monitoring unit (control unit). The method comprises sending a diagnostic information from the central unit to a top processor of the plurality of processors, transmitting a return information from the top processor of the plurality of processors to the central unit, comparing the diagnostic information sent from the central unit with the return information received by the central unit, and indicating a communication problem if the diagnostic information sent from the central unit is different from the return information received by the central unit. The steps are repeated by eliminating the top processor from a previous cycle and assigning a new top processor if there is no problem with the reconfigurable communication system.

Abstract: A method for diagnosing a control system for a stacked battery is disclosed. The control system comprises a plurality of processors, a plurality of controllers, and a monitoring unit (control unit). The method comprises sending a diagnostic information from the central unit to a top processor of the plurality of processors, transmitting a return information from the top processor of the plurality of processors to the central unit, comparing the diagnostic information sent from the central unit with the return information received by the central unit, and indicating a communication problem if the diagnostic information sent from the central unit is different from the return information received by the central unit. The steps are repeated by eliminating the top processor from a previous cycle and assigning a new top processor if there is no problem with the reconfigurable communication system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a control system which is used for a stacked battery of a plurality of battery packs. Each battery pack has a plurality of battery cells coupled in series. The control system is capable of reconfiguring communication among the battery packs in the stacked battery, and comprises a plurality of processors, a plurality of controllers, and a monitoring unit. The processors are coupled to the battery packs. Two adjacent processors among the processors are able to communicate with each other though a first bus. The controllers are coupled to the battery packs. Two adjacent controllers among the controllers are able to communicate with each other through a second bus. The processors are capable of communicating with the controllers through a third bus. The monitoring unit is used for monitoring communications among the plurality of processors and communications among the plurality of controllers.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a cell balancing circuit used for balancing a cell. The cell balancing circuit includes a bypass path coupled to the cell, a current regulator coupled to the bypass path, and a bleeding control switch. The current regulator is operable for producing a current and for controlling a conductance status of the bypass path. The bleeding control switch conducts the bypass path in response to the current produced by the current regulator.

Abstract: The present invention provides a control system which is used for a stacked battery of a plurality of battery packs. Each battery pack has a plurality of battery cells coupled in series. The control system is capable of reconfiguring communication among the battery packs in the stacked battery, and comprises a plurality of processors, a plurality of controllers, and a monitoring unit. The processors are coupled to the battery packs. Two adjacent processors among the processors are able to communicate with each other though a first bus. The controllers are coupled to the battery packs. Two adjacent controllers among the controllers are able to communicate with each other through a second bus. The processors are capable of communicating with the controllers through a third bus. The monitoring unit is used for monitoring communications among the plurality of processors and communications among the plurality of controllers.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A cell balancing circuit comprises a first cell having a first voltage, a second cell in series with the first cell and having a second voltage that is greater than the first voltage, and a bypass path in parallel with the second cell for enabling a bypass current for the second cell if a difference between the first voltage and the second voltage is greater than a predetermined threshold. The bypass current is enabled for a balancing time period that is proportional to the difference between the fist voltage and the second voltage.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a cell balancing circuit used for balancing a cell. The cell balancing circuit includes a bypass path coupled to the cell, a current regulator coupled to the bypass path, and a bleeding control switch. The current regulator is operable for producing a current and for controlling a conductance status of the bypass path. The bleeding control switch conducts the bypass path in response to the current produced by the current regulator.