Abstract: A monitoring circuit for accurately monitoring a voltage level from each of a plurality of battery cells of a battery pack includes an analog to digital converter (ADC) and a processor. The ADC is configured to accept an analog voltage signal from each of the plurality of battery cells and convert each analog voltage signal to a digital signal representative of an accurate voltage level of each battery cell. The processor receives such signals and provides a safety alert signal based on at least one of the signals. The ADC resolution may be adjustable. A balancing circuit provides a balancing signal if at least two of the digital signals indicate a voltage difference between two cells is greater than a battery cell balance threshold. An electronic device including such monitoring and balancing circuits is also provided. Various methods are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a signaling system for use in a system for monitoring and/or controlling a stack of power cells. The stack of power cells is series connected, i.e. the negative terminal of one power cell is connected to the positive electrode of the adjacent power cell. A monitoring device is associated with each power cell to monitor characteristics of the power cell (temperature, voltage). Every monitoring device is powered by the power cell it is associated. The monitoring device monitors the status of the cell (e.g. it measures the difference of potential between the positive terminal and the negative terminal of that cell but it may also measure the temperature of the power cell, the pH of the electrolyte if the power cell Ci is a battery, etc. and communicates information on the status of the cell to other monitoring devices. The monitoring devices are daisy chained.

Abstract: The invention provides a battery balancing apparatus. The battery balancing apparatus is applied to a battery module of a laptop computer. The battery module comprises a plurality of batteries and a plurality of switch units coupled in series. The battery balancing apparatus comprises a first multiplexer, a second multiplexer, a switch module and a controlling module. The first multiplexer is coupled to the anode of each of the batteries; the second multiplexer is coupled to the cathode of each of the batteries. The switch module is coupled to the switch units. When a cycle counting parameter meets a default condition, the controlling module controls the first multiplexer, the second multiplexer and the switch module to be in a specific mode to form a specific current path among the batteries.

Abstract: A battery pack for an electrically powered tool includes: one or plural secondary batteries connected in series and/or in parallel; a current detection resistor in a current path through which a charge/discharge current flows into each secondary battery; an N-channel charge control FET and an N-channel discharge control FET in the current path so as to control the charge/discharge current; and a controller detecting the charge/discharge current flowing in the current detection resistor and controlling the charge and discharge control FETs based on the detection result. A threshold value indicating an overcurrent detection current with respect to the charge/discharge current is set in advance, and the controller compares the charge/discharge current detected by the current detection resistor with the threshold value, and when the detected charge/discharge current is the threshold value or more, determines that an overcurrent state is detected and turns off the charge and discharge control FETs.

Abstract: A parallel monitor circuit having a simple circuit configuration, in which a voltage divider circuit can be formed with resistors having the same resistance value, includes plural capacitors are connected in series, and a bypass device of each of parallel monitor circuits is connected in parallel with each capacitor. Plural voltages Va different from one another by a constant voltage are sequentially outputted from a digital-to-analog converter, and the voltages Va are inputted to plural parallel monitor circuits. When a charging voltage is higher than a monitor voltage determined by the voltage Va, each capacitor discharges through the bypass device, and the capacitor is kept at a predetermined monitor voltage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a charge equalization apparatus, in which series-connected batteries are divided into modules having certain sizes, and intra-module charge equalization and inter-module charge equalization are simultaneously performed, thus improving charge equalization performance and reducing the circuit size.

Abstract: An abnormality diagnostic device is configured to diagnose an abnormality in a battery pack having a plurality of cells connected in series. Each of a plurality of diagnostic voltage detecting circuits is configured to detect one of a voltage across a corresponding one of discharging circuits. An abnormality diagnostic control section is configured to perform a first diagnostic operation in which the switches corresponding to alternate ones of the cells are turned on and a second diagnostic operation in which all of the switches are turned on, and to determine whether a break exists in an electrical connection or an abnormality exists in one of the switches based on the voltages detected by the diagnostic voltage detecting circuits during the first diagnostic operation and the voltages detected by the diagnostic voltage detecting circuits during the second diagnostic operation.

Abstract: The battery system has a battery 1 having a plurality of series-connected battery cells 2, a voltage detection circuit 3 that detects each battery cell voltage, discharge circuits 4 to discharge each battery cell, and a decision circuit 5 that judges the condition of the connection between a battery cell 2 and the voltage detection circuit 3 from the detected battery cell voltage measured by the voltage detection circuit. The voltage detection circuit 3 measures discharge voltage of a battery cell 2 with the discharge circuit 4 in the discharging state, and measures non-discharge voltage with the battery cell 2 in a non-discharging state. The decision circuit 5 compares the difference between the detected battery cell non-discharge voltage and discharge voltage with the normal voltage, or compares battery cell discharge voltage with the normal voltage to judge abnormal connection between the battery cell and the voltage detection circuit.

Abstract: A battery management system and a driving method thereof, to set a discharge completion voltage using the cell voltages of cells of a battery, and to balance the cell voltages according to the set discharge completion voltage.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a method of controlling the operation of battery modules in a battery system, which includes two or more battery modules or battery module assemblies, wherein the battery system further includes energy consuming loads for consuming charged energy, and the method includes, when a specific battery module or a specific battery module assembly is abnormally operated, connecting the abnormally operated battery module or the abnormally operated battery module assembly to the corresponding energy consuming load to forcibly discharge the charged energy, and a battery system that is capable of performing the battery system control method.

Abstract: In a battery pack which comprises: a battery set composed of two or more lithium battery cells connected in series; a first protection circuit including a first voltage detect part for detecting the voltage(s) of a part of the two or more battery cells, and a first signal output part for issuing an output signal when a detect voltage detected by the first voltage detect part goes below a given over-discharge judgment voltage value; a second protection circuit including a second voltage detect part for detecting the voltage(s) of another part of the two or more battery cells, and a second signal output part for issuing an output signal when the detect voltage of the battery cell detected by the second voltage detect part goes below a given over-discharge judgment voltage value; and, a switch which is connected to the current path of the battery set and can be turned on or off according to the output signals of the first and second signal output parts and, there is further provided dead time means connected bet

Abstract: A system for balancing energy delivery devices within the one or more battery packs and for providing isolated monitoring of the battery packs includes at least one group of energy delivery devices electrically connected in series. For each group of energy delivery devices, the system includes a balancing circuit for each adjacent pair of energy delivery devices. The balancing circuit adjusts charge stored in each energy delivery device of the pair so that the charge stored in the energy delivery devices of the pair is substantially equal, and the charge stored in each energy delivery device remains above a threshold. The system also includes a voltage monitoring module for sequentially selecting each of the energy delivery devices and providing a voltage associated with the selected device at an output port. The voltage monitoring module uses a low on-resistance differential multiplexer to select each of the energy delivery devices.

Abstract: A battery pack includes: a secondary battery formed by connecting a plurality of battery cells in series; a control section measuring a voltage at each of the battery cells and controlling each part according to the measurement result; a charge/discharge control circuit temporarily inhibiting charging and discharging of the secondary battery under control of the control section; an interruption circuit interrupting charge and discharge currents of the secondary battery under control of the control section to inhibit charging and discharging of the secondary battery permanently; a discharge circuit discharging a predetermined battery cell among the battery cells under control of the control section; a capacity measuring section measuring the amount of electricity discharged from the battery cell; and a storage section storing total discharge amount information indicating a total amount of discharged electricity and a charge/discharge inhibition record indicating a count of temporary charge/discharge inhibition

Abstract: The present invention provides a voltage equalization apparatus and method for a battery system. The apparatus includes: a mutual inductor or a transformer, which includes a primary winding, a magnetic core and multiple secondary windings; a first switch, connected in series with the primary winding, wherein the first switch and the primary winding are connected in parallel with the battery system; a plurality of second switches, respectively connected in series with the secondary windings, wherein the second switches and the secondary windings are connected in parallel with the cells; and a voltage equalization control circuit, configured to: test voltage of each cell in the battery system and control turning off and turning on of the first switch and second switches.

Abstract: The battery system includes a battery pack having a plurality of power sources arranged in parallel groups that are connected in series. Each parallel group includes a plurality of power sources connected in parallel. Each power source includes a battery. The system also includes electronics configured to repeatedly charge the battery pack according to a charging protocol. The charging protocol is configured such that the voltage of any one battery in the battery pack does not exceed its maximum operational voltage after failure of a battery in the battery pack.

Abstract: A plurality of discharge resistors Rd1 to Rdn having different resistance values is provided. A CPU 72 selects one from a plurality of unit cells B1 to B16 as a connection cell and selects one resistance value according to a voltage across the connection cell from the plurality of resistance values. The CPU 72 turns on/off a cell selecting switch group 2, a polarity reversing switch group 3 and a discharge resistor selecting switch group 5 and connects the connection cell to the discharge resistor having the selected resistance value to discharge stored electric charge of the connection cell, thereby equalizing the respective voltages across the unit cells.

Abstract: An electrical combination including a driver drill capable of producing an average current draw of approximately 20-amps, a circular saw capable of producing an average current draw of approximately 20-amps, and a power tool battery pack operable to supply power to the driver drill and to the circular saw, the battery pack including a plurality of battery cells, the plurality of battery cells each having a lithium-based chemistry.

Abstract: An assembled battery voltage detecting apparatus includes a sampling switch section which samples a voltage of each of single batteries, capacitors charged with voltages of single batteries, a transfer switch section to transfer a charge voltage charged in each of the capacitors, a ground potential setting switch section which, in the case of reading the voltage charged in the capacitor, connects a reference electric potential of the capacitor to a grounding terminal of a voltage detecting apparatus, and a voltage detecting circuit which controls a switching timing of each of the above switches, and then reads a voltage of each capacitor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a battery array voltage equalization device comprising: a sampling unit which samples the battery voltage signals of the battery array according to a sampling control signal; an analog-to-digital converting unit which converts the sampled voltage signals into a digital voltage signal; a control unit which generates the sampling control signal and a driving signal based on the digital voltage signal; an equalization unit which equalizes the voltage signals of the battery array based on the driving signal; a filter unit which is connected to the equalization unit and the battery array. The present invention applies the filter unit to filter out the ripple signal generated during equalization.

Abstract: The voltage detection circuit 3 is provided with an isolation transformer 4 having its primary side connected to battery 2 connection nodes 10, a switching device 5 connected to the primary side of the isolation transformer 4, an isolated input circuit 7 that switches the switching device 5 ON and OFF, and a secondary voltage detection section 8 that detects output voltage from the secondary side of the isolation transformer 4. In the voltage detection circuit 3, the series input circuit 6 of the isolation transformer 4 primary side and the switching device 5 are connected to battery 2 measurement nodes, the switching device 5 is switched ON and OFF with a given periodicity by the isolated input circuit 7, and the output voltage from the secondary side of the isolation transformer 4 is detected by the secondary voltage detection section 8 to determine the voltage across the measurement nodes.

Abstract: A voltage controller having an input distribution network with imbedded input switches, a number of charge storage elements such as capacitors, an output distribution network with imbedded output switches, and a switch actuator which controls the input switches and output switches to provide for the controlled charging and discharging of the charge storage elements.

Abstract: The invention relates to an energy storage device, particularly for an automobile, that comprises: an assembly (2) of serially-connected energy storage cells; a balancing circuit adapted for balancing the cells during the discharge thereof by enabling the flow of one or more balancing currents in one or more cells of the assembly (2); optionally a diagnosis system (61) for providing at least one piece of information associated with at least one cell in the assembly; wherein the balancing circuit (10; 41) is adapted for controlling the balancing current(s) based at least on external information independent from the energy-storage cell assembly and/or information associated with at least one of the cells and provided by the optional diagnosis system.

Abstract: The application relates to a battery including a pack of modules, each containing rechargeable cells in series, the battery including means for measuring the voltage and/or the temperature of at least one module. According to the application, the battery includes: means for computing, based on the voltage and/or temperature measured by the measuring means and on a recorded characteristic of the discharge current and/or regeneration current of the battery, a maximum discharge and/or regeneration current limit (laut-reg)of the pack, a transmission means for transmitting to the outside the information on the maximum discharge and/or regeneration current limit of the pack.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cell balancing apparatus and method using a voltage variation pattern of a battery cell, which measures voltage of each cell, estimates OCV or SOC of each cell using a voltage variation pattern of each cell including a present voltage and a past voltage, and eliminates a deviation in OCV or SOC between the cells through comparison of the estimated OCV or SOC of each cell. In estimating the OCV of each cell, an output voltage error due to IR drop is corrected. Thus, SOC of each cell may be accurately estimated. And, an accurate estimation of SOC may render substantial elimination for a SOC deviation of each cell. Furthermore, SOC estimating using an output voltage leads to an active cell balancing even during charge and discharge of battery, thereby minimizing an SOC deviation of each cell.

Abstract: A battery management system for controlling a secondary battery module which includes a plurality of unit batteries includes a sensor, a comparator and a controller. The sensor sequentially measures respective voltages of the unit batteries. The comparator compares the respective voltages of the unit batteries to a cut-off voltage range and a recovery voltage range to determine if the voltages are within the cut-off voltage range and the recovery voltage range. The controller receives comparison results from the comparator, cuts off the secondary battery module from an external device when there is at least one unit battery within the cutoff voltage range, and couples the secondary battery module to the external device when all of the unit batteries are within the recovery voltage range.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring voltage of individual cells connected in series includes a single flying capacitor. The capacitor stores the charge of one of the cells such that an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) connected to the capacitor may process an accurate representation of the voltage of the cell being measured. A plurality of switches electrically connects and disconnects the cells from the capacitor. A controller is in communication with the ADC and the switches for sequencing the switches and recording the voltage measurements of each cell. At least one precision voltage reference device is included to provide the ADC a reference voltage to provide self-calibration.

Abstract: A method to detect the presence of battery protection circuits in any battery powered product. The major advantage of the method is to make the battery voltage very smooth during the charging process. The proposed circuit can give a good prediction of protection switching turn on time. This can provide the battery powered system work smoothly by avoiding any battery voltage discontinuity. The proposed invention addresses the issue of deep discharge and provides a solution through a discharge test procedure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for a Battery Management System (BMS) for the controlling of the charging and discharging of a plurality of batteries (12). Each battery has an associated plurality of control circuits (32, 36) which monitor and control the charging of individual battery. These units are controlled by a central microcontroller (14) which shunts current around the battery if fully charged and stops discharge if a battery is fully discharged in order to prevent damage to the batteries.

Abstract: A battery pulsation system including a battery string including a plurality of cells, the battery string defining a positive end and a negative end, a first pulsation device connected to a first cell of the battery string to supply a first pulsation energy thereto, the first cell includes a first positive terminal and a first negative terminal and is generally adjacent to the positive end of the battery string, wherein the first pulsation device applies a greater portion of the first pulsation energy to the first negative terminal than the first positive terminal, and a second pulsation device connected to a second cell of the battery string to supply a second pulsation energy thereto, the second cell includes a second positive terminal and a second negative terminal and is generally adjacent to the negative end of the battery string, wherein the second pulsation device applies a greater portion of the second pulsation energy to the second positive terminal than the second negative terminal.

Abstract: A discharge controller includes secondary battery, a switch section for opening/closing a discharge path from the secondary battery to a load, a voltage detector for detecting a terminal voltage of the secondary battery, and a cut-off voltage control section for controlling the switch section to be opened when the terminal voltage as detected by the voltage detector is not more than a predetermined cut-off voltage of discharge VE, while measuring an amount of decrease per unit time of the terminal voltage as detected by the voltage detector to set the cut-off voltage of discharge VE to a lower voltage, for a larger amount of decrease per unit time of the terminal voltage as detected by the voltage detector.

Abstract: Disclosed are system and method for adjusting a voltage balancing of cell in a lithium ion multicell battery pack, the system comprising; a multicell battery pack including a master module and a slave module, a CPU located in the system controller and outputting a synchronization signal for each of the cells in the master module and the slave module, a first vertical interface transmitting the synchronization signal outputted from the CPU to the master module, and a second vertical interface transmitting the synchronization signal to the slave module through the first vertical interface.

Abstract: A circuit for charging and/or discharging a battery includes a switch coupled to a battery in series, and a driving transistor coupled to the switch and operable for sensing a voltage of the battery. The driving transistor is turned on if the voltage of the battery is less than a predetermined threshold. A driving current flowing through the driving transistor determines an on-resistance of the switch.

Abstract: An apparatus for balancing charge capacity of battery cell includes a voltage sensing/discharging circuit having a battery with cell group, a switching unit for selectively connecting both terminals of each battery cell to conductive lines, capacitor connected to the conductive lines, a voltage amplifying unit connected to both terminals of capacitor via a first switch, and a discharge resistance connected to both terminals of capacitor via a second switch; and a voltage balancing unit for controlling the switching unit in ON state of first switch to connect both terminals of each battery cell to the conductive lines and then sense voltage of each battery cell through the voltage amplifying unit, and controlling the switching unit in OFF state of first switch to charge voltage of balancing-requiring cell to the capacitor and then turning on the second switch to discharge charged voltage of capacitor through the discharge resistance.

Abstract: A remaining-capacity dispersion detecting apparatus for a battery pack having a plurality of cells includes a total voltage sensing section adapted to sense a total voltage which is a terminal voltage of the whole of battery pack; a storing section adapted to store a value of the total voltage when the battery pack becomes under unloaded condition from loaded condition; and a dispersion detecting section. The dispersion detecting section is adapted to detect a value of the total voltage at a time of activation before the battery pack becomes under the loaded condition from the unloaded condition, to compare the currently-detected total voltage value with the total voltage value previously stored by the storing section, and to detect a dispersion in respective remaining capacities of the plurality of cells in the case where a difference between the currently-detected total voltage value and the previously-stored total voltage value is greater than or equal to a predetermined value.

Abstract: A battery system in which module batteries, each of which includes cell batteries connected in series, are connected to one another. Each of the module batteries includes: a cell voltage detection/inter-cell balancing circuit that detects a cell voltage of each of the cell batteries to then create a cell voltage signal, and balances energies among the cell batteries based on the created cell voltage signal; and an inter-module balancing circuit that balances energies among the module batteries based on a module voltage obtained by summing up the cell voltages of the cell batteries.

Abstract: A set battery control circuit includes: a voltage detection portion that detects a terminal voltage across each secondary battery in a set battery formed by connecting a plurality of secondary batteries in series; a discharge portion that discharges the plurality of secondary batteries; and an imbalance reduction processing portion that performs imbalance reduction processing at set timing preset as timing at which terminal voltages across the plurality of secondary batteries become voltages at or below a cut-off voltage of discharge preset as a voltage at which discharge is to end in such a manner that a secondary battery having a terminal voltage higher than a lowest voltage, which is a lowest terminal voltage among the terminal voltages across the plurality of secondary batteries detected by the voltage detection portion, is discharged by means of the discharge portion so that a difference among the terminal voltages across the respective secondary batteries is lessened.

Abstract: A battery charge control system including an algorithm for determining whether the battery chemistry of a battery pack for use in a portable electronic device is primary, in which case charging is prevented, or secondary, in which case charging is enabled. The routine operates by measuring the terminal voltage and temperature of the battery under certain predetermined tests, which generally include a combination of voltage and internal impedance tests performed during charge or discharge. Additionally, a method is described to detect and to correct for lack of cell balance within the rechargeable battery pack of a portable electronic device. A cell or cells of the battery pack which are close to depletion, or are completely depleted, are detected, and a discharge/charge routine is executed to provide for optimum recharging of all of the cells of the battery, thus ensuring proper cell balance, and most efficient power usage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a charge equalization apparatus, which can enable the primary windings and the secondary windings of transformers to be easily manufactured, can control the flow of charges into batteries depending on the charged states of series-connected batteries, and can prevent overcurrent from flowing into batteries that are currently being charged.

Abstract: A monitoring system (14, 24, 34, 50) monitors voltage of a stack of batteries (10, 20, 30.) Each battery has a plurality of cells (13). A monitoring unit (14, 24, 34) is associated with each battery and measures voltage across a selected cell. A first monitoring unit and a second monitoring unit measure the same cell, e.g. cell Cn,1 of battery 10. The first and second measurements are used to calculate a correction factor which can be used to correct a set of measurements made by one of the monitoring units (14, 24). The monitoring units (14, 24, 34) are arranged in a chain, with adjacent units in the chain being connected by a communication interface in which data is transmitted as signaling voltage levels between interface units. The interface units (16, 25) of a pair of monitoring units (14, 24) use the same signaling voltage levels.

Abstract: Method for managing a battery system including a number of serially coupled batteries in a flexible, reliable, and cost effective way and that can be used in a wide variety of applications, such as tools, for example, hand tools, cars, boats, back-up systems, buses, trucks, golf carts, wheel chairs, electric cars and fork-lift trucks. The method includes the steps of detecting the battery voltage over each individual battery of the battery system; and utilizing a voltage imbalance between different batteries of the system during operation of the battery system. Furthermore, the method controls the voltage distribution of the batteries to create a voltage imbalance between different batteries of the battery system.

Abstract: A system for monitoring a group of electrochemical cells (C1, . . . , Ci, . . . , Cn) arranged in series, wherein each cell (Ci) is provided for outputting a DC voltage (Vi) greater than a minimum value (Vmin). According to the invention, said monitoring system includes a corresponding set of n electronic components (D1, . . . , Di, . . . , Dn) arranged in series, wherein each component (Di) is biased by the DC voltage (Vi) of a corresponding cell (Ci) by means of a low-frequency connecting element (Li), and has a conductivity threshold voltage (Vs) no lower than said minimum value (Vmin); and a means (D) for measuring a high-frequency conductivity parameter of all of said components. The system is useful in fuel cells.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for adjusting a voltage balancing of cells in a lithium ion multicell battery pack. The system comprises a vertical interface outputting inputs of a reading balance signal defining a voltage reading period and a balance period and a reading hold signal holding a cell voltage when reading a voltage; an interface outputting an address clock for designating an address of a cell to be controlled and an input of a balance hold signal for independently reading a cell voltage within a voltage balance period; and a control section of a cell balancing adjusting circuit connected to the vertical interface and the interface and receiving signal outputs therefrom to adjust a balancing of cells.

Abstract: A control device for a secondary battery includes an offset addition unit (62) calculating an offset amount based on a plurality of voltage values (V0-Vn) sensed by a sensor, the number of a plurality of battery cells included in one battery block and a preset range, and adding an offset amount to the sensed voltage values (V0-Vn), when a flag (FLG) is turned on to indicate the fact the voltage value of one of the battery cells falls within a preset range, and also includes an I/O control unit (64) controlling charge/discharge of the battery based on voltage values (V0A-VnA) containing the offset amount added thereto. Even when the battery voltage is sensed a battery block at a time, the voltage value can be controlled a cell at a time.

Abstract: In the voltage detecting device according to the present invention, voltage detecting lines respectively extend from a plurality of voltage input terminals, a plurality of capacitative elements are respectively interposed on coupling lines each coupling two adjacent voltage detecting lines to each other, and the voltage detecting lines are connected to a voltage detecting unit. At least all the voltage detecting lines respectively disposed on the positive electrode side of the cells are each connected to ground via one or more disconnection detection resistors. The voltage detecting unit detects a disconnection on a wire between each of a plurality of voltage detecting points of the assembled battery and a plurality of voltage input terminals based on voltage inputted from each voltage detecting line.

Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to a battery voltage equalization apparatus and method, and, more particularly, to a charge equalization apparatus and method, which decrease the withstand voltages of semiconductor switching elements while maintaining charge equalization performance, thus making it easy to implement the secondary windings of transformers while reducing the costs of the charge equalization apparatus. The charge equalization apparatus includes N first transformers (T1 to Tn) connected in series with N series-connected batteries (B1 to Bn) and adapted to decrease voltages of overcharged batteries among the N batteries. A charge storage device (Cdump) stores energy supplied from the first transformers. A second transformer (TS) redistributes energy stored in the charge storage device to the N series-connected batteries.

Abstract: In a battery pack which comprises: a battery set composed of two or more lithium battery cells connected in series; a first protection circuit including a first voltage detect part for detecting the voltage(s) of a part of the two or more battery cells, and a first signal output part for issuing an output signal when a detect voltage detected by the first voltage detect part goes below a given over-discharge judgment voltage value; a second protection circuit including a second voltage detect part for detecting the voltage(s) of another part of the two or more battery cells, and a second signal output part for issuing an output signal when the detect voltage of the battery cell detected by the second voltage detect part goes below a given over-discharge judgment voltage value; and, a switch which is connected to the current path of the battery set and can be turned on or off according to the output signals of the first and second signal output parts and, there is further provided dead time means connected bet

Abstract: A battery pack system is disclosed. The battery pack system includes a battery pack having batteries arranged in a plurality of parallel groups that are connected in series. Each parallel group includes a plurality of the batteries connected in parallel. The electronics are configured to drop the current at which the battery pack is operating from a first current level to a second current level one or more times. The second current level is lower than the first current level. The electronics can drop the current from the first current level to the second current level during the charge and/or discharge of the battery pack. In some instances, the electronics intermittently drop the current from the first current level to the second current level during the charge and/or discharge of the battery pack.

Abstract: Lower order control devices control plural battery cells configuring plural battery modules. An input terminal of the low order control device in the highest potential, an output terminal of the low order control device in the lowest potential, and a high order control device are connected by isolating units, photocouplers. Diodes which prevent a discharge current of the battery cells in the battery modules are disposed between the output terminal of the low order control device and the battery cells in the battery module on the low potential side. Terminals related to input/output of a signal are electrically connected without isolating among the plural low order control devices.

Abstract: [Object] There is provided series-connected rechargeable cells in which a large number of cells are series-connected and that makes it possible to improve performance on operations such as assembly or exchange and to perform speedy and smooth voltage-balance correcting for all cells. [Means for Solution] Series-connected rechargeable cells includes: a large number of rechargeable cells that are series-connected, and that are divided into a plurality of series-connected cell groups placed continuously in order of connecting; and a voltage-balance correcting circuit that balances the voltages of the cells, and that is provided with an inter-cell voltage-balance correcting circuit that performs voltage-balance correcting between adjacent cells in each of the cell groups and an inter-group voltage-balance correcting circuit that performs balance correcting of series-connection voltages of the cell groups by AC-coupling formed with a transformer coil and a switching circuit.

Abstract: A system for managing energy stored in a plurality of series connected energy storage units has a plurality of energy storage unit controllers, each controller being associated with one of the plurality of energy storage units, a balancing circuit between two of the energy storage units, the balancing circuit being controlled by at least one of the energy storage unit controllers, a serial electrical interface between the energy storage unit controllers for providing voltage isolated bi-directional communication, and a central controller in electrical communication with the energy storage unit controllers.