Abstract: An apparatus for balancing a plurality of cells in a battery includes common bus having a connector for connecting to a common bus of another battery. Each of plurality of balancing circuits has a bidirectional voltage converter connected to a given cell of the plurality of cells and a linear current regulator arrangement controls the magnitude of current flow between the bidirectional voltage converter. A controller is connected to the common bus and the plurality of cells and selectively operatives the plurality of balancing circuits to transfer energy between the plurality of cells and the common bus to balance the states of charge of the cells. The balancing circuits are operated in response to actual states of charge of the cells, an average state of charge, a desired voltage level for the common bus, and an actual voltage level on the common bus.

Abstract: An apparatus for balancing a plurality of cells in a battery includes common bus having a connector for connecting to a common bus of another battery. Each of plurality of balancing circuits has a bidirectional voltage converter connected to a given cell of the plurality of cells and a linear current regulator arrangement controls the magnitude of current flow between the bidirectional voltage converter. A controller is connected to the common bus and the plurality of cells and selectively operatives the plurality of balancing circuits to transfer energy between the plurality of cells and the common bus to balance the states of charge of the cells. The balancing circuits are operated in response to actual states of charge of the cells, an average state of charge, a desired voltage level for the common bus, and an actual voltage level on the common bus.

Abstract: A power converter includes a DC input (26) connected to an inductive element (TR), a switch (T1) arranged to interrupt the inductive current cyclically with a predetermined cycle period, a plurality of load circuits (31, 32, 33), and a multiplexer (36) having a plurality of parallel channels (M1, M2, M3) between first and second output terminals (34, 38) of the inductive element (TR), wherein each channel includes one of the load circuits (31, 32, 33), and the multiplexer is adapted to make the channels conductive sequentially and periodically, and the multiplexer has a switching period that is a multiple of the predetermined cycle period of the switch (T1).

Abstract: A method is described wherein DC power is converted into battery charging power by means of an inductor carrying a current which is controlled by a power controller during an adjustable part of a pulse width period. The pulse width period is made adjustable in order to influence the power consumption of the controller which consumes a substantial amount of the total power consumed for controlled DC-DC conversion. Several additional features are provided to improve the efficiency and to further reduce the power consumed by both the converter and the power controller, which provides new uses for a variety of products and appliances having solar cells, such as road studs.

Abstract: A power converter includes a DC input (26) connected to an inductive element (TR), a switch (T1) arranged to interrupt the inductive current cyclically with a predetermined cycle period, a plurality of load circuits (31, 32, 33), and a multiplexer (36) having a plurality of parallel channels (M1, M2, M3) between first and second output terminals (34, 38) of the inductive element (TR), wherein each channel includes one of the load circuits (31, 32, 33), and the multiplexer is adapted to make the channels conductive sequentially and periodically, and the multiplexer has a switching period that is a multiple of the predetermined cycle period of the switch (T1).

Abstract: A method is described wherein DC power is converted into battery charging power by means of an inductor carrying a current which is controlled by a power controller during an adjustable part of a pulse width period. The pulse width period is made adjustable in order to influence the power consumption of the controller which consumes a substantial amount of the total power consumed for controlled DC-DC conversion. Several additional features are provided to improve the efficiency and to further reduce the power consumed by both the converter and the power controller, which provides new uses for a variety of products and appliances having solar cells, such as road studs.