Abstract: A battery management system with synchronized data sampling for a battery pack including multiple battery cells is disclosed. The battery management system includes a plurality of local monitors coupled to a plurality of battery cells and operable for sampling status information for the battery cells. The battery management system further includes a central controller coupled to the local monitors and operable for broadcasting a sample command to the local monitor synchronously, wherein the local monitors start to sample the status information for the battery cells in response to the sample command.

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 system for cell balancing comprises battery modules and a controller. Each of the battery modules comprises battery cells, balance circuits and a battery management module. The battery management module in each of the battery modules is coupled to the battery cells and for acquiring cell voltages of battery cells. The balance circuits are coupled to the battery cells and for performing balance operation on the battery cells under control of the battery management module. The controller is coupled to the battery modules and for generating a reference signal based on the cell voltages provided by each of the battery modules. The battery management module in each of the battery modules can control the balance circuits to balance the battery cells according to the reference signal, thereby achieving cell balance among the battery modules.

Abstract: A battery management system includes a monitoring circuit and a charger. The monitoring circuit is operable for monitoring a battery pack that includes a plurality of cells, and for checking an unbalanced condition of the battery pack in each cycle of a plurality of cycles. The charger is operable for controlling a charging current to the battery pack and for receiving monitoring information from the monitoring circuit, and for adjusting the charging current from a first level in a previous cycle to a second level that is lower than the first level in response to a detection of the unbalanced condition in a current cycle.

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: 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: An apparatus comprising a controller, wherein said controller is configured to display a message text, receive an input indicating a keyword; determine an associated operation and to generate a response message according to the associated operation.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of channels, a converter, a control block and a counter. The channels can be used to measure a first plurality of signals. The converter can be used to convert the first plurality of signals into a second plurality of signals. The control block can be used to control the channels and the converter and to determine if any of the channels and the converter experience an abnormal condition. The counter can be used to count the number of times the channels and the converter experience an abnormal condition.

Abstract: A system for cell balancing comprises battery modules and a controller. Each of the battery modules comprises battery cells, balance circuits and a battery management module. The battery management module in each of the battery modules is coupled to the battery cells and for acquiring cell voltages of battery cells. The balance circuits are coupled to the battery cells and for performing balance operation on the battery cells under control of the battery management module. The controller is coupled to the battery modules and for generating a reference signal based on the cell voltages provided by each of the battery modules. The battery management module in each of the battery modules can control the balance circuits to balance the battery cells according to the reference signal, thereby achieving cell balance among the battery modules.

Abstract: A battery management system with synchronized data sampling for a battery pack including multiple battery cells is disclosed. The battery management system includes a plurality of local monitors coupled to a plurality of battery cells and operable for sampling status information for the battery cells. The battery management system further includes a central controller coupled to the local monitors and operable for broadcasting a sample command to the local monitor synchronously, wherein the local monitors start to sample the status information for the battery cells in response to the sample command.

Abstract: A battery management system includes a monitoring circuit and a charger. The monitoring circuit is operable for monitoring a battery pack that includes a plurality of cells, and for checking an unbalanced condition of the battery pack in each cycle of a plurality of cycles. The charger is operable for controlling a charging current to the battery pack and for receiving monitoring information from the monitoring circuit, and for adjusting the charging current from a first level in a previous cycle to a second level that is lower than the first level in response to a detection of the unbalanced condition in a current cycle.

Abstract: A battery management system comprises a control circuit and an adapter. The control circuit can be used to generate a control signal according to a status of each cell of a plurality of cells in a battery pack. The adapter receives the control signal and charges the battery pack. An output power of the adapter is adjusted according to the control signal.

Abstract: The present invention is a LDO voltage regulator circuit with common-mode feedback. The LDO voltage regulator includes an error amplifier with a common-mode feedback unit, a pass device and a compensation circuit. A signal from the pass device acts as an input signal to the error amplifier and is compared with another input signal, producing a differential signal. The differential signal is amplified and then provided to the pass device. A capacitor in the compensation unit provides frequency compensation to the LDO voltage regulator. The common-mode feedback unit incorporated into the error amplifier greatly improves a slew rate of a gate voltage of the pass device.

Abstract: The present invention is a voltage regulator circuit with enhanced frequency compensation. The voltage regulator includes an error amplifier, a dynamic bias circuit, an enhanced frequency compensation unit, a pass device and a compensation circuit. A signal from the pass device acts as an input signal of the error amplifier and is compared with another input signal, producing a differential signal. The differential signal is amplified and then provided to the dynamic circuit and the enhanced frequency compensation unit. The enhanced frequency compensation unit is provided such that a zero reference value in a left-hand plane can be generated to optimize the compensation for the voltage regulator circuit. The error amplifier includes a capacitor for compensating an output voltage of the voltage regulator circuit.

Abstract: The present invention is a LDO voltage regulator circuit with common-mode feedback. The LDO voltage regulator includes an error amplifier with a common-mode feedback unit, a pass device and a compensation circuit. A signal from the pass device acts as an input signal to the error amplifier and is compared with another input signal, producing a differential signal. The differential signal is amplified and then provided to the pass device. A capacitor in the compensation unit provides frequency compensation to the LDO voltage regulator. The common-mode feedback unit incorporated into the error amplifier greatly improves a slew rate of a gate voltage of the pass device.

Abstract: The present invention is a voltage regulator circuit with enhanced frequency compensation. The voltage regulator includes an error amplifier, a dynamic bias circuit, an enhanced frequency compensation unit, a pass device and a compensation circuit. A signal from the pass device acts as an input signal of the error amplifier and is compared with another input signal, producing a differential signal. The differential signal is amplified and then provided to the dynamic circuit and the enhanced frequency compensation unit. The enhanced frequency compensation unit is provided such that a zero reference value in a left-hand plane can be generated to optimize the compensation for the voltage regulator circuit. The error amplifier includes a capacitor for compensating an output voltage of the voltage regulator circuit.