Abstract: An electrical battery comprises a plurality of cells connected in series which are charged by a charger under the control of a battery management system including an individual current shunt circuit in parallel with each cell. The shunt circuit is activated if the voltage at the terminals of the cell exceeds a minimum balancing threshold value. A higher balancing threshold voltage is substituted for the minimum balancing threshold voltage if the battery has not been supplied with power by the charger for a time exceeding a particular time-delay. In the battery management system a single-wire control daisychain connects individual interfaces assigned to each cell of the battery in series to a common control interface.

Abstract: An electrical battery comprises a plurality of cells connected in series which are charged by a charger under the control of a battery management system including an individual current shunt circuit in parallel with each cell. The shunt circuit is activated if the voltage at the terminals of the cell exceeds a minimum balancing threshold value. A higher balancing threshold voltage is substituted for the minimum balancing threshold voltage if the battery has not been supplied with power by the charger for a time exceeding a particular time-delay. In the battery management system a single-wire control daisychain connects individual interfaces assigned to each cell of the battery in series to a common control interface.

Abstract: A method enabling balanced charging of batteries that have voltages of the same order of magnitude and which can be of different kinds uses a charger device to provide at least one constant regulation voltage appropriate to a battery, in an arrangement including a system composed of individual interfaces associated with respective rechargeable cells constituting the battery and a common interface. The individual interfaces provide the common interface with an indication relating to the voltages that they measure at the terminals of the associated cell. The common interface produces a signal controlling switching of a battery charging characteristic between two characteristics when one of the measurement circuits determining the voltage present at the terminals of the rechargeable cells reports that a maximum balancing threshold value is exceeded.

Abstract: A method enabling balanced charging of batteries that have voltages of the same order of magnitude and which can be of different kinds uses a charger device to provide at least one constant regulation voltage appropriate to a battery, in an arrangement including a system composed of individual interfaces associated with respective rechargeable cells constituting the battery and a common interface. The individual interfaces provide the common interface with an indication relating to the voltages that they measure at the terminals of the associated cell. The common interface produces a signal controlling switching of a battery charging characteristic between two characteristics when one of the measurement circuits determining the voltage present at the terminals of the rechargeable cells reports that a maximum balancing threshold value is exceeded.

Abstract: A battery module including at least one cell, at least one sensor, an interrupter device such as a fuse connected in series with the cells and an electronic switch. The electronic switch includes power transistors for short circuiting the series-connected components and the fuse if the sensor senses a malfunction and a diode for assuring that the power transistors maintain the series-connected circuit short circuited regardless of the subsequent status of the sensor. The diode memorizes the malfunction so that the module continues to conduct after the fuse blows, even if the sensors no longer detect any malfunction.

Abstract: A measurement circuit for a system of electrical modules in series with which are associated individual measurement interfaces and a measurement transducer to which the interfaces successively supply their measurement signals via a first serial link in response to interface selection pulses from a common logic unit transmitted serially from one interface to the next via a link. Each measurement signal is transmitted to the transducer either directly for the one closest to the transducer or via one or more interfaces which are not selected and which it crosses, depending on the position within the sequence of interfaces of the interface which produced it. To this end a routing unit, a measurement signal generator and a bypass are associated with each other in each interface. Protective diodes are connected in series in the link elements between the interfaces of two successive modules.

Abstract: A management process and a corresponding control arrangement are provided for systems made up of cells in series subjected to alternating charge, possibly fast charge, and discharge, possibly deep discharge, phases. Each cell of the system is associated with a current bypass connected to the terminals of that cell and controlled by a control system that operate in accordance with indications supplied by a measuring system individually assigned to the cells. The process provides for balancing, which can be initiated at any time, that is programmed to be used over a time period that can cover all of the various phases of operation of the system, in connection with an application supplied with power by the system, and which is effected cell by cell until balance, in a battery charge phase, in an idle phase between charges by a charger and discharges by the application and/or in discharge phases.

Abstract: A system and a system module for monitoring charging in a set made up of a plurality of electrochemical cells connected in series and governed by a central unit. Each cell is associated with a respective interface including a module comprising means for measuring the voltage between the terminals of the cell and means for providing an image signal of the measured voltage for use by the common control unit. Each module further comprises a precision measurement circuit providing an image signal at high amplification for the central unit whenever the measured voltage corresponds to a reference value that is defined for the precision measurement circuit and is optionally modifiable.

Abstract: The method and the facility are intended for regulating the current supplied by a charger (3) to a set (1) made up of a plurality of units (2), each of which is provided with an individual interface (5) making it possible to measure voltage, to divert a portion of the charging current, when the voltage measured across the unit is greater than a threshold value, and to supply measurement signals to a controller (4) of the charger. The charging current is reduced as soon as one of the interfaces indicates that it is diverting current, and so long as the charging current supplied is greater than the sum of the currents that can be diverted by the interfaces. The charging current is then maintained at the same level until all of the interfaces indicate that they are diverting current.

Abstract: The circuit has a common measurement transducer together with individual measurement interfaces for each of the cells. Each interface has its own generator for defining a measurement signal relating to a characteristic of the associated cell, and each of the interfaces has its own measurement signal output that is connected to the measurement transducer of the circuit via a common single-wire link. Each interface also includes two ports, operable in alternation so that one constitutes an input for control pulses transmitted to the interface while the other acts as an output for relaying such pulses after they have been received. Each interface also includes means for forcing a signal to be emitted via its measurement signal output to the measurement transducer of the circuit in the event of a threshold being crossed by a measurement element that monitors a characteristic of the cell with which the interface is associated.

Abstract: A measurement circuit for a modular system of cells electrically connected in series, in particular for electrical accumulator batteries, includes individual interfaces respectively connected to each power terminal of a different cell and each including a single-wire measurement output for a current measurement signal to be transmitted to a common transducer via a common single-wire connection. The interfaces each incorporate a switchable measurement current generator. They are connected in series by successive elements of a single-wire connection enabling serial transmission of individual switching control pulses grouped into streams for the current generators.

Abstract: The power supply control module is designed to be associated with a power supply battery (1) for powering an appliance (2). The control module includes a detector circuit (4) associated with a switch circuit (5) placed in the loop via which the battery powers the appliance, the detector circuit including a shunt resistor (9) which is inserted between the battery and the switch circuit, and two operational amplifiers (7, 8) connected as comparators, one of the amplifiers being active when the battery is being used as a power source, and the other amplifier being active during fast battery-charging. The second amplifier (8) is also connected to the terminals of a diode (19) in parallel with the switch circuit, so that the amplifier is active during trickle battery-charging. The battery preferably includes a power supply control module housed inside the pack in which it is packaged.