Abstract: This present invention provides a bridge battery voltage equalizer to equalize the voltages of the serially connected battery strings, comprising at least one battery crossing over an energy-transferring circuit. A plurality of the energy-transferring circuits are interconnected in a bridge architecture. Each energy-transferring circuit having four nodes comprises a first semiconductor switch, a first diode, a second semiconductor switch, a second diode, and an inductor. One end of the first element switch is connected to a negative pole of the first diode thereto. A positive pole of the second diode is connected to one end of the second element switch thereto. The inductor is an energy storing element that crosses over between the negative pole of the first diode and the positive pole of the second diode.

Abstract: The car power source apparatus is provided with a series battery array 10 having a plurality of rechargeable batteries 11 connected in series to supply power to an electric motor that drives the car, equalizing circuits 20 that equalize battery 11 electrical characteristics by discharging or charging each battery 11 of the series battery array 10, a cut-off mechanism 19 connected in series with the series battery array 10 to disconnect the series connection, and a stopping circuit 50, 70, 80 that detects the cut-off state of the cut-off mechanism 19 and controls equalizing circuit 20 operation. In this car power source apparatus, the stopping circuit 50, 70, 80 detects cut-off due to cut-off mechanism 19 removal and stops the equalizing operation performed by the equalizing circuits 20.

Abstract: A battery pack control module for balancing a plurality of lithium secondary cells or groups of lithium secondary cells connected in series and method of use.

Abstract: A capacity adjustment circuit provided in conjunction with each cell discharges the corresponding cell if the cell voltage is higher than a bypass operating voltage and, as a result, the extent of inconsistency among the voltages at the individual cells is minimized. A cell switching circuit switches the connections between the individual cells and the capacity adjustment circuits over predetermined time intervals.

Abstract: An electric storage device is disclosed, this device can balance voltages across each one of energy storage devices with each other in a short time even if the voltages disperse in a wide range, and also it can reduce needless power consumption. This device includes the energy storage devices and an equalizing voltage circuit coupled in parallel with the energy storage devices. The equalizing voltage circuit includes a balancing resistor, a balancing switch coupled between respective energy storage devices and respective balancing resistors, a discharging resistor coupled in parallel with the respective energy storage devices and having a smaller resistance value than the balancing resistor, and a discharging switch coupled between the respective energy storage devices and the respective discharging resistors.

Abstract: A methodology for balancing batteries for use in an electric vehicle. The methodology includes initializing a target balance voltage value to a predetermined voltage. Sampling a first voltage of the batteries at a predetermined interval. Sending the lowest voltage value to all of the batteries. Replacing the target value voltage with the lowest voltage if the lowest voltage is lower than the target balance voltage and bleeding the batteries if a sampled voltage is higher than the target balance voltage.

Abstract: Provided are active balancing modules that control voltage imbalances between capacitors stacked in a series arrangement and methods for their manufacture. These modules are simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and versatile. They may be used alone or they may be combined together to form a multi-module active balancing circuitry for a plurality of capacitors stacked in a series arrangement. The modules may further be aligned in either a side-by-side topology or an overlapping topology.

Abstract: A battery with a battery balancing assembly that regulates the discharge of battery cell charge and a method of evenly discharging battery cells, the battery comprising a plurality of cells. The balancing assembly includes switches disposed between the cells such that the switches may configure the cells in a normal configuration and a balance configuration, wherein in the normal configuration the plurality of cells may be connected to an electronic device and wherein in the balance configuration the plurality of cells are connected to a balancing circuit. The balancing circuit serving to balance the charge in the plurality of cells prior to the recharging of the cell.

Abstract: Provided is a charge and discharge control circuit capable of further preventing poor charge of a battery, and a battery device. Cell balance periods are detected before charge of respective batteries is stopped even when an overcharge detection voltage of a certain charge and discharge control circuit becomes lower than a cell balance period detection voltage thereof due to process variations occurring in mass production of the charge and discharge control circuits. That is, the charge of the respective batteries is stopped after cell balance control. Therefore, the respective batteries can be further prevented from being poorly charged.

Abstract: A system for balancing charge between a plurality of storage battery cells within a storage battery. The battery balancing system sense changes, possibly caused by environmental influences, in the overall resonant frequency of charge balancing circuits contained within the battery balancing system. Using a phase locked loop based controller, the battery balancing system compensates for the change in resonant frequency by driving the battery balancing circuits at a frequency that matches the actual sensed resonant frequency of the battery balancing circuits.

Abstract: An intelligent equalizing battery charger having equalization charging circuitry is disclosed, comprising an insulating switch-type DC to DC converting circuit, a microprocessor monitoring/calculating control circuit, and a charging battery set wherein the insulating switch-type DC to DC converting circuit is composed of a power supply switch circuit, an insulating transformer, and a rectification converting circuit. The microprocessor monitoring/calculating control circuit includes multiple switch elements and a charging control microprocessor. Via the aforementioned structure, each individual cell of the charging battery set can be appropriately charged in equalization, which can not only increase the charging/discharging times of the battery set, but also efficiently extend the battery life in application.

Abstract: When a control section (39) turns on a switch (31, 33, 35), a capacitor (37) is connected to a secondary battery (B1) in parallel. Accordingly, voltage between both ends of each capacitor (37, 38) reaches voltage between both polarities of each secondary battery (B1, B2). Thereafter, when the control section (39) turns off the switch (31, 33, 35) and turns on a switch (32, 34, 36), each capacitor (37, 38) is connected to the secondary battery (B2, B3) in parallel. The capacitor (37, 38) is charged/discharged to balance voltage between both polarities of the secondary battery (B1 to B3).

Abstract: A system and method for rebalancing a battery in a vehicle during vehicle operation, the battery including a plurality of modules, is provided. The method may include determining when an automatic rebalance mode start condition is satisfied, modifying a target state of charge for the battery at least in part in response to the start condition being satisfied such that the target state of charge is raised from a standard operating value to a rebalance value, operating the vehicle with the target state of charge at the rebalance value, determining when an automatic rebalance mode end condition or an interrupt condition is satisfied, and modifying the target state of charge in response to the automatic rebalance mode end condition or the interrupt condition being satisfied such that the target state of charge is lowered from the rebalance value to the standard operating value.

Abstract: A method for operating a battery having a plurality of battery cells includes determining when certain end of life criteria for the battery are met. A counter is incremented when the certain end of life criteria are met. The battery is rebalanced when it is determined that the end of life criteria are met, and the counter is not greater than a predetermined value. An end of life of the battery is indicated when it is determined that the end of life criteria are met, and the counter is greater than the predetermined value.

Abstract: In a battery pack manager that manages series-connected rechargeable unit cells, a cell equalizer equalizes the cell voltages by individually discharging the unit cells according to deviations from reference voltages. An overcharge/overdischarge detector detects an overcharge and an overdischarge state of each unit cell. An inhibit circuit prevents the cell equalizer from discharging the unit cells when the overcharge/overdischarge detector is activated to reduce the cell voltage variability, which would otherwise occur as a result of interference from the overcharge/overdischarge detector, so that the overcharge/overdischarge states of all unit cells can be determined with precision. Connecting lines of the unit cells are monitored to detect a line-cut.

Abstract: A voltage measuring circuit 11 measures a voltage of a block B1. Then, a voltage measuring circuit 12 measures a voltage of a block B2. Then, the voltage measuring circuit 11 measures again the voltage of a block B1. A low voltage CPU judges that an in-vehicle battery is abnormal if the measured voltage is out of predetermined upper and lower limits, or a voltage difference between the block B2 and the block B1 measured again is more than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A charging device including an assembled battery having plural secondary batteries serially connected, a charge power source unit which supplies charging current to both ends of said assembled battery having plural secondary batteries serially connected, and plural charge controllers which connect to both ends of each secondary battery among said plural secondary batteries; wherein said charge power source unit includes a charging current output unit which outputs charging current to said assembled battery, and a control unit which controls the current of said charging current output unit based on notification of the bypass current from said charge controllers; and wherein each of said plural charge controllers includes a current control unit which bypasses the current that flows to said secondary battery when the terminal voltage of said secondary battery has reached a preset voltage value, and a notification unit which notifies the control unit of said charge power source unit of said bypass current.

Abstract: A discharge control system of an electric storage pack controls a discharge line connected from a plurality of electric rechargeable cells to a rotary inductive load or a load driving feeding circuit. The electric rechargeable cells are provided in series within the electric storage pack.

Abstract: In a chargeable-and-dischargeable power supply system, a plurality of battery cell sections are connected in series with one another, a plurality of cell state detecting sections are installed for the respective battery cell sections and configured to detect a charge state in the respectively corresponding battery cell sections, a power control section is configured to carry out a power supply control for the battery cell sections, a first electrical isolation section is installed in a first signal route from the power control section to one of the cell state detecting sections which is for a highest potential positioned battery cell section, and a second electrical isolation section is installed in a second signal route from one of the cell state detecting sections which is for a lowest potential positioned battery cell section to the power control section.

Abstract: The invention relates to control of a battery, permitting a reduction in the number of components of the battery. The battery comprises several modules (2a, . . . , 2n), each module comprising a charge limiting circuit (4). When a module is detected as defective, the charge limiting circuit (4) carries out a command for the discharge of said defective module, by formation of a short-circuit path. The battery can subsequently be used without functional hindrance by the defective module.

Abstract: An electronic device, which captures and accumulates varying levels of electrical energy in suitable short-term storage means until the energy is of such a level that it can be efficiently transferred to at least one long-term storage device means, such as electro-chemical batteries. The invention further permits simultaneous transfer to a variety of electro-chemical batteries, which can possess different storage chemistries.

Abstract: Techniques for sequencing switched single capacitor for automatic equalization of batteries connected in series are described herein. In one embodiment, a battery equalizer includes a single capacitor, at least two switching circuits to be coupled to each of at least two batteries coupled in series. The battery equalizer further includes at least two driver circuits corresponding the at least two switching circuits and a controller. The controller is programmed to control the driver circuits in order to drive the switching circuits to sequentially couple the single capacitor to one of the batteries coupled in series during charging and/or discharging of the batteries. Only one of the switching circuits is turned on at a given time such that only one of the batteries is coupled to the single capacitor at the given time. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

Abstract: A method for managing power of a power source and a system is disclosed. The method includes determining (404) a power source capacity value for the power source having a plurality of cells. Further, the method includes determining (406) a cell-capacity value for each cell of the plurality of cells. Furthermore, the method includes determining (408) a duty-cycle ratio value for each cell of the plurality of cells according to the determined cell-capacity value of the cell and the power source capacity value. Moreover, the method includes drawing (410) power from each cell of the plurality of cells according to the determined duty-cycle ratio value of the cell to achieve the power source capacity value for the power source.

Abstract: In a method and system for protecting a battery being charged by an electrical device, a current flowing through a cell stack of the battery is measured. If the measured current is greater than a predefined value the battery is isolated from the device. If subsequent current measurements made within a predefined time interval indicate that the measured current is less than or equal to the predefined value then the battery is recoupled to the device. If the measured current remains greater than the predefined value during the predefined time interval then a fuse is blown and the battery is disabled.

Abstract: Disclosed is a switching circuit for balancing battery cells. The switching circuit includes plural pairs of switching means, each pair of which are connected to each other in parallel and interrupt a flow of electric current in a bi-direction in order to reduce the internal voltage applied to the switching means. According to the present invention, since the switching elements of low internal voltage can be used for the switching circuit, it is possible to constitute the switching circuit for cell balancing without use of switching elements of high internal voltage and to reduce the number of MOSFETs, thereby making it possible to design the switching circuit effectively. Since the MOSFETs having the low internal voltage and low resistance are used for the switching circuit, it is possible to reduce a loss of the electric current due to the resistance during the cell balancing, thereby improving the balancing efficiency and reducing heat generation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hybrid battery module, which comprises: a first cell set; a first programmable fuse; a first discharging switch; a first charging switch; a first analog front end circuit; a first thermister; a second cell set; a second programmable fuse; a second discharging switch; a second charging switch; a second analog front end circuit; a second thermister; and a controller; whereby the voltage of the first cell set and the second cell set can reach a balance status when the hybrid battery module is disposed into a jig; When the voltage of the first cell set and the second cell set are balanced, then the battery pack can parallel charging/discharging the first cell set and the second cell set simultaneously. Furthermore, the present invention also provides a method for manufacturing the hybrid battery module and its charging and discharging method.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting total voltage of an assembled battery including a number of serially-connected electric cells. Voltages of the respective cells are detected and added up, correlation between the resulting total voltage and a total voltage obtained by detecting the voltage of the assembled battery directly from its terminals is obtained, and a corrective arithmetic operation is carried out inside the device to correct the total voltage obtained through direct detection. The total voltage is detected with a high degree of accuracy without the need for individual adjustment operations using a variable resistance, high-accuracy external tester.

Abstract: A discharge control system of a electric storage pack has a plurality of electric rechargeable cells connected in series and a discharge line is connected from a electric rechargeable cell to a load driving feeding circuit. The discharge control system includes cell voltage detection units for detecting respective cell voltages of the plurality of cells, a switch group made up of a plurality of switches connected between the plurality of cells, and a control unit which designates a cell having a highest cell voltage in the plurality of electric rechargeable cells possessed by the electric storage pack in accordance with detection results by the cell voltage detection units and on/off controls the switches of the switch group individually so as to form a discharge line from a electric rechargeable cell of the group to the load driving feeding circuit.

Abstract: A battery pack including a discharge current interruption FET which cuts off the discharge current, and a minimum voltage detecting portion which switches the discharge current interruption FET from ON to OFF state when the voltage of any battery becomes lower than a minimum voltage. The charge circuit includes a charge current switching portion which switches the charge current so as to charge the battery pack in a main charge mode when the output voltage is higher than a prescribed voltage, and in a preliminary charge mode with a small current when the output voltage is lower than the prescribed voltage. A charge current switching portion charges the battery pack in the preliminary charge mode in the state where the OFF signal of the discharge current interruption FET is provided, even in the state where the output voltage of the battery pack is higher than the prescribed voltage.

Abstract: There is provided a discharge controller for a multiple cell battery that has a plurality of storage cells connected in series with each other. A discharge path from the storage cell is connected a load. The discharge controller includes: cell voltage detection units for detecting respective cell voltages of the storage cells; a switch group comprising a plurality of switches each connected between the storage cells; and a control unit for performing ON/OFF control on the respective switches individually in response to detection results detected by the cell voltage detection units so as to form the discharge path from the storage cell to the load.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided that includes a plurality of serially-connected bypass circuits, a measurement/control element and a plurality of safety circuits. The bypass circuits are electrically connectable in parallel with a plurality of serially-connected batteries, each bypass circuit being connectable in parallel with a respective battery. The measurement/control element is electrically connected to the bypass circuits, and electrically connectable to the batteries; and the safety circuits are electrically connected to the measurement/control element, and electrically connectable between the measurement/control element and the batteries. The measurement/control element is configured to measure voltages across the respective batteries and, based on the voltages, selectively operate the bypass circuits to divert electrical current to or from the batteries through the respective bypass circuits. And each safety circuit is configured to limit current flow to the measurement/control element.

Abstract: A method comprises discharging each of a plurality of cells of a battery pack, stopping the discharging of a selected cell of the plurality of cells when the selected cell reaches a predetermined capacity, and charging the plurality of cells after the discharging has stopped for all of the plurality of cells.

Abstract: A system and method for cell balancing with smart low-voltage control circuit. The cell balancing system comprises a plurality of battery cells, an external bypass path for each cell, an internal bypass path for each cell, an input terminal receiving an enable signal for each cell, an input terminal receiving a selection signal, and a cell balancing unit for generating a configuration signal to conduct the external bypass path or internal bypass path. The enable signal is configured to enable a bypass current of each cell, and the selection signal is configured to select the external bypass path or internal bypass path. The cell balancing unit is employed to receive signals from input terminals, and generate a configuration signal to control the conductance of external bypass paths or internal bypass paths.

Abstract: An automotive power supply system comprises a battery module that includes serially connected battery groups each constituted with serially connected battery cells, integrated circuits each disposed in correspondence to one of the battery groups, a control circuit, a transmission path through which the integrated circuits are connected to the control circuit and a relay circuit via which an electrical current is supplied from the battery module. In response to a start signal instructing an operation start and received via the transmission path, each integrated circuit measures terminal voltages at the individual battery cells in the corresponding battery group and executes an abnormality diagnosis. If abnormality diagnosis results provided by the integrated circuits indicate no abnormality, the control circuit closes the relay, enabling supply of electrical current from the battery module and subsequently, the control circuit receives measurement results from the integrated circuits via the transmission path.

Abstract: A multi-series battery control system comprises a plurality of unit battery cell of which unit consists of multiple battery cells connected in series; a plurality of control IC comprising a control circuit for controlling the unit battery cell; a main controller that sends and receives signal to/from the control ICs via an insulation; means for sending an abnormality signal, which represents the existence or the absence of abnormality of the control ICs or the battery cells, to the main controller from the control ICs, responding to the first signal outputted from the main controller via the insulation; and means for searching contents of the abnormality in the control ICs or the battery cells and sending the abnormality contents signal based on the search, to the main controller from the control ICs, responding to the second signal outputted from the main controller via the insulation.

Abstract: In a combined battery pack of a plurality of battery cells, a comparison circuit compares a voltage appearing at a common connection point between two adjacent battery cells with a reference voltage. Based on a result of the comparison, an electric discharging operation of an electric discharging circuit connected between both terminals of each of the battery cells is carried out. The comparison circuit is driven to operate with a power supply voltage appearing between a positive-side terminal of a battery cell provided on a higher-potential side of a common connection point and the negative-side terminal of the battery cell provided on a lower-potential side of the common connection point.

Abstract: Providing a charge condition adjusting apparatus, which can shorten a time for equalization of each charge in unit cells, a low-voltage CPU selects each smallest unit cell in the each cell block, which has each smallest voltage between the both electrodes, from among plural unit cells structuring the cell blocks. The low-voltage CPU controls ON/OFF of a block-discharging switch to connect the both electrodes of each cell block and each block-discharging resistor for discharging the each cell block until the each voltage between the both electrodes of the selected smallest unit cell reaches the target voltage. Successively, the low-voltage CPU controls ON/OFF of a selecting switches and a cell-discharging switch to connect the both electrodes of each unit cell and each cell-discharging resistor to discharge the each unit cell until the each voltage between the both electrodes of the unit cells reaches the target voltage.

Abstract: A Distributed Energy Storage Control System (DESCS) comprised of one or a plurality of identical BMS (Battery Management System) battery unit (40), series-parallel system controller (60) and DESCS main controller (70). Each BMS battery unit (40) including a smart battery unit (10), a discharge bypass path control switch (43), a super capacitor (45), a charge bypass load (46) and charge bypass path control switch (44). This DESCS system substantially promotes the energy efficiency of battery, provides a large scale and complicated energy storage system with on-line repair or replacement of batteries, proceeds charge/discharge task uninterrupted during maintenance, and possesses high maintainability.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an adjustable current source that is coupled to an external battery. The semiconductor device includes a feedback control module that is responsive to a voltage level at the external battery. The feedback control module also has an output that is directed to control the current supplied by the adjustable current source. Also, the feedback control module can selectively provide a signal to periodically and temporarily turn off the current supplied by the adjustable current source. A voltage at the external battery is measured during a time period when the current is turned on and during a time period when the current is turned off. While the current is turned off, the feedback control module can measure the external battery voltage so that it can be compared to the battery voltage while the adjustable current source is on.

Abstract: A device and method enable measuring individual cell voltages of cells in a cell stack of an energy accumulator. To this end, a series circuit formed of two diodes is connected in parallel to each cell, the nodes between these diodes are connected to a changeover switch via a respective capacitor and to a differential amplifier via the changeover switch, and an alternating current of a specified frequency and amplitude is fed into these capacitors while generating an alternating voltage corresponding to the cell voltage. This alternating voltage, after rectifying, becomes a direct voltage to ground value for the cell voltage.

Abstract: A first power storage unit is a battery assembly, and is divided into battery blocks of n (n is a natural number) in number each formed of several electric cells connected together in series. When a state allowing charging with an external power supply is attained, the ECU executes an operation of resetting an SOC of a first power storage unit. The ECU controls a corresponding converter to discharge the first power storage unit with a constant current, and sets reset values for battery blocks of n in number based on battery voltages and battery temperatures exhibited when any one of the battery voltages of the n battery blocks becomes lower than a reset voltage. The ECU resets the SOCs of the battery blocks of the first power storage unit to the respective reset values thus set.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a microprocessor controlled battery management system that optimizes the total electrical capacity of that battery. It uses localized cell power sources that correct the capacity of the individual connected cells to achieve the maximum capacity of the battery as it acts in a synergistic series connection of cells. The microprocessor retrieves data of battery load current, cell voltage, cell temperature, and battery charger current in timed increments. Through the application of the microprocessor's algorithms, after an initial cell profiling of individual cell capacities has been performed, individual cell DC/DC converters are enabled to correct the condition of the individual cells. In this manner the battery capacity is not affected by the capacity of the weakest cell.

Abstract: A first voltage source terminal, to which a first voltage is input, is connected to a maximum voltage terminal of serially-connected secondary batteries to be monitored. A second voltage source terminal, to which a second voltage is input, is connected to a minimum voltage terminal of the secondary batteries. A battery-voltage detecting unit outputs a detection signal based on a result of a voltage monitoring. A first reference-voltage generating unit receives the first and the second voltages as operating voltages, and generates a first reference voltage. A voltage converting unit receives the detection signal, and converts the detection signal received into either the first reference voltage or the second voltage. An output terminal outputs the detection signal converted, as an output detection signal.

Abstract: A device for balancing a plurality of at least two batteries or cells of a multicell battery comprises a multicell battery and a battery management system with a balancing circuit. Thereby all individual battery cells are connected to the battery monitoring system, wherein the battery monitoring system measures single cell voltage as well as the battery temperature and the current. The battery monitoring system is able to discern the lowest cell voltage and to discern a number of cells having a voltage higher than a determined maximum allowable voltage, which will be balanced until the charge imbalance decreases to an acceptable amount. The battery management system is active during charging and discharging of the multicell battery and the thresholds vary with the state of the battery.

Abstract: A power storage system capable of surely carrying out activation, operation, and stopping that are crucial and necessary in the use of the power storage system and appropriately addressing various kinds of abnormalities is provided. The power storage system regulates DC power from a DC power supply into prescribed voltage and current using a DC-DC converter unit for storage in a power storage unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to an operating method for an electrical circuit with an energy store (5), made from several storage elements (C2-C5) and a charge-equalisation circuit (6), for charge equalisation between the individual storage elements (C2-C5) of the energy store (5), comprising the following steps: charging the energy store (5) and charge equalisation between the individual storage elements (C2-C5) of the energy store (5) by means of the charge equalisation circuit (6). The invention further relates to a corresponding electrical circuit for carrying out said operating method.

Abstract: Provided is a battery state monitoring circuit which is capable of preventing a discharge leak current from a battery so as to eliminate a load conventionally imposed on a user, including: a battery state detector circuit that detects a state of the battery based on a voltage of the battery; a transmitting terminal that transmits battery state information indicative of the state of the battery to an outside; a receiving terminal that receives battery state information of another battery from the outside; a transistor that is used for transmitting the battery state information, and has any one of two terminals except for a control terminal connected to the transmitting terminal; and a diode that is connected in a direction opposite to a direction of a parasitic diode disposed between the two terminals of the transistor, the diode being disposed between the transmitting terminal and one terminal of the transistor.

Abstract: A battery ECU controls a main battery composed of a plurality of battery cells connected to each other in series. The battery cells are grouped into cell blocks each having a cell-block monitor circuit. A control unit controls charging/discharging processes on the basis of signals output by the cell-block monitor circuit. A signal output by a cell-block monitor circuit on a high-voltage side turns on a transistor for propagating a signal to a cell-block monitor circuit on a middle-voltage side. In the cell-block monitor circuit on a middle-voltage side, the propagated signal turns on another transistor for further propagating a signal to a cell-block monitor circuit on a low-voltage side. In the cell-block monitor circuit on a low-voltage side, the propagated signal turns on a further transistor for outputting a signal to a control unit.

Abstract: A system and method for cell balancing with smart low-voltage control circuit. The cell balancing system comprises a plurality of battery cells, an external bypass path for each cell, an internal bypass path for each cell, an input terminal receiving an enable signal for each cell, an input terminal receiving a selection signal, and a cell balancing unit for generating a configuration signal to conduct the external bypass path or internal bypass path. The enable signal is configured to enable a bypass current of each cell, and the selection signal is configured to select the external bypass path or internal bypass path. The cell balancing unit is employed to receive signals from input terminals, and generate a configuration signal to control the conductance of external bypass paths or internal bypass paths.

Abstract: A power supply device having a plurality of series-connected-battery blocks which are connected in parallel and in which two or more secondary cells capable of charging and discharging are connected in series, includes a constant-current control circuit provided for each of the series-connected-battery blocks.