Abstract: A method of handling a fault in a battery pack, the method comprising: a battery module supplying a voltage to a high-voltage circuit; a battery management system transmitting a heartbeat signal to the battery module via a fault bus; the battery module preventing the heartbeat signal from being transmitted back to the battery management system in response to the battery module detecting a critical condition; and the battery management system shutting off the supply of voltage from the battery module to the high-voltage circuit in response to the battery module preventing the heartbeat signal from being transmitted back to the battery management system. The battery module transmits battery data to the battery management system via a communication bus, which is distinct from the fault bus, and the battery management system transmits one or more commands to the battery module via the communication bus.

Abstract: A method of registering a plurality of Battery-Monitoring-Units (BMUs) in a battery pack with a Battery-Management-System (BMS), the method comprising: providing an indication to a user, wherein the indication prompts the user to register one of the BMUs with the BMS; the user performing an action on a communication-initiating mechanism on one of the BMUs, wherein the communication-initiating mechanism is configured to initiate the sending of a communication by the BMU to the BMS in response to the user performing the action; the BMU sending a communication to the BMS in response to the user performing the action on the communication-initiating mechanism; the BMS receiving the communication from the BMU; and the BMS registering the BMU in response to receiving the communication from the BMU.

Abstract: A method of handling a fault in a battery pack, the method comprising: a battery module supplying a voltage to a high-voltage circuit; a battery management system transmitting a heartbeat signal to the battery module via a fault bus; the battery module preventing the heartbeat signal from being transmitted back to the battery management system in response to the battery module detecting a critical condition; and the battery management system shutting off the supply of voltage from the battery module to the high-voltage circuit in response to the battery module preventing the heartbeat signal from being transmitted back to the battery management system. The battery module transmits battery data to the battery management system via a communication bus, which is distinct from the fault bus, and the battery management system transmits one or more commands to the battery module via the communication bus.

Abstract: A method of registering a plurality of Battery-Monitoring-Units (BMUs) in a battery pack with a Battery-Management-System (BMS), the method comprising: providing an indication to a user, wherein the indication prompts the user to register one of the BMUs with the BMS; the user performing an action on a communication-initiating mechanism on one of the BMUs, wherein the communication-initiating mechanism is configured to initiate the sending of a communication by the BMU to the BMS in response to the user performing the action; the BMU sending a communication to the BMS in response to the user performing the action on the communication-initiating mechanism; the BMS receiving the communication from the BMU; and the BMS registering the BMU in response to receiving the communication from the BMU.

Abstract: A portable, hand held, color reading device is provided for determining and displaying the color of an object. This device illuminates the object with series of colored light pulses produced by multiple Light Emitting Diodes, commonly called LEDs. The device has six LEDs, Red, Orange Yellow, Green, Bluish Green, and Blue, but additional LEDs may be used for finer color measurement and fewer LEDs may be used for coarser color measurement. The object's spectral reflectance is determined by measuring the reflected light during each LED's light pulse by a photo detector. The object color is then determined by comparing the relative strengths of the light reflectance that is measured during each LED color illumination. The Color may be displayed on the device's LCD, or read by a host computer through a PC I/O interface for use within Application software. The object's color may be displayed in various selectable color formats.