With Discharge Of Cells Or Batteries Patents (Class 320/118)
  • Patent number: 8902072
    Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and a method for diagnosing an abnormality in a cell balancing circuit. The apparatus may include a plurality of cell balancing circuits respectively connected to a plurality of battery cells included in a battery pack for balancing the voltages of the battery cells, a diagnosis resistor respectively installed between the cell balancing circuit and a cathode terminal and an anode terminal of the corresponding battery cell, a voltage measuring unit for measuring a voltage difference of the balancing circuit corresponding to each of the battery cells, and a control unit for turning on or off a cell balancing circuit to be diagnosed and for determining whether there is an abnormality in the cell balancing circuit to be diagnosed, based on a variation pattern of a voltage difference of a cell balancing circuit adjacent to the cell balancing circuit to be diagnosed that is measured by the voltage measuring unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-Hoon Lee, Dal-Hoon Lee, Ju-Hyun Kang, Jee-Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 8901889
    Abstract: A discharge control apparatus includes: two or more battery packs equipped with a secondary battery; and a main control unit controlling discharge from the battery packs, in which the two or more battery packs are controlled such that at least one of the battery packs selected by the main control unit discharges, and when switching the battery packs so that only the selected battery pack discharges, the main control unit controls switching such that the battery pack after switching discharges and then the battery pack before switching stops discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihito Ishibashi
  • Patent number: 8901886
    Abstract: The present inventions, in certain aspects, are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to charge a battery the method comprises (i) charging the battery via a charging sequence, wherein charging the battery includes: (a) applying a plurality of charge signals, and (b) applying one or more discharge signals wherein, in response thereto, the battery outputs electrical energy. In certain embodiments, the electrical energy output by the battery in response to the discharge signals is stored (for example, in a capacitor and/or second battery). The present inventions are also directed to, among other things, an apparatus to charge a battery comprising charging circuitry including: (i) a current source to generate a plurality of charge signals, and (ii) a current sink to generate one or more discharge signals, wherein, in response thereto, the battery outputs electrical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Qnovo Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Berkowitz, Nadim Maluf, Dania Ghantous
  • Patent number: 8896155
    Abstract: In an electric power supply system, a plurality of batteries (405, 406) are connected in series by a switch group (402 to 404, 407 to 409), and a higher voltage and a lower voltage are output through a terminal and a VOL terminal, respectively, and are respectively converted in the voltage thereof by two step-down DC-DC inverters (105, 106). During a discharge operation upon a serial connection, remaining content of the batteries is measured in a period other than the period of discharge from the batteries (105, 106), and the connection mode of the serial connection is controlled based on the remaining content, to control the discharge of the respective batteries up to the discharge capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Lenovo Innovations Limited (Hong Kong)
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Oga
  • Patent number: 8896315
    Abstract: A battery cell balancing system is operable to utilize a relatively small number of transformers interconnected with a battery having a plurality of battery cells to selectively charge the battery cells. Windings of the transformers are simultaneously driven with a plurality of waveforms whereupon selected battery cells or groups of cells are selected and charged. A transformer drive circuit is operable to selectively vary the waveforms to thereby vary a weighted voltage associated with each of the battery cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Francis J. Davies
  • Patent number: 8884585
    Abstract: Batteries, battery systems, battery submodules, battery operational methods, battery system operational methods, battery charging methods, and battery system charging methods are described. According to one aspect, a battery includes a first battery terminal, a second battery terminal, and a plurality of submodules individually comprising a first submodule terminal, a second submodule terminal, a plurality of rechargeable cells electrically coupled between the first and second submodule terminals, and switching circuitry configured to electrically couple one of the first and second battery terminals with one of the first and second submodule terminals of one of the submodules during an engaged mode of operation of the one of the submodules and to electrically isolate the one of the first and second battery terminals from the one of the first and second submodule terminals of the one of the submodules during a disengaged mode of operation of the one of the submodules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Valence Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell M. Troxel, Joel E. Sandahl
  • Patent number: 8884584
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Shin-Kobe Electric Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiko Emori, Shigeyuki Yoshihara, Kazuyoshi Sasazawa, Tatsuo Horiba, Akihiko Kudo
  • Publication number: 20140327400
    Abstract: A battery system monitoring apparatus for monitoring a cell group having a plurality of battery cells, and includes a cell controller IC which monitors and controls the states of the plurality of battery cells. A battery controller controls the cell controller IC and a plurality of voltage detection lines measure the voltage across the terminals of the battery cell. The voltage detection lines connect positive and negative electrodes of the battery cell, respectively, to a plurality of voltage input terminals of the cell controller IC. A power line connects the positive electrode of the battery cell having the highest potential among the plurality of battery cells to a power supply terminal of the cell controller IC and a ground line which connects the negative electrode of the battery cell having the lowest potential among the plurality of battery cells to a ground terminal of the cell controller IC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: HITACHI VEHICLE ENERGY, LTD.,
    Inventors: Akihiko Kudo, Mutsumi Kikuchi, Akihiko Emori
  • Patent number: 8878541
    Abstract: A battery voltage monitoring circuit includes a first power supply terminal to be connected to the positive terminal of a battery pack having rechargeable cells connected in series; a first supply voltage sensing terminal to be connected to the positive terminal of the battery pack; a first resistor connected between the first power supply terminal and the first supply voltage sensing terminal; a second supply voltage sensing terminal to be connected to the negative terminal of a first rechargeable cell of the rechargeable cells, the first rechargeable cell being on the positive terminal side of the battery pack and connected to the positive terminal of the battery pack; a second resistor connected between the second supply voltage sensing terminal and the first power supply terminal; and a first comparator configured to compare a voltage at the first power supply terminal and a voltage at the first supply voltage sensing terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Nishizawa, Takashi Takeda
  • Patent number: 8878493
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided, which monitors an operation state of a battery composed of a plurality of cells mutually connected in series. In this apparatus, a cell voltage of each of the plurality of cells is detected as information indicating an operation state of the battery. Based on the detected cell voltages, an operation state is monitored for a cell having a highest cell voltage and a cell having a lowest cell voltage among the plurality of cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuya Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8872477
    Abstract: A battery pack and a method of operating the battery pack are disclosed. The battery pack includes a plurality of battery cells and is configured to open a terminal of the battery if an open circuit is detected in a line connecting battery cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jongwoon Yang, Euijeong Hwang, Susumu Segawa, Jinwan Kim, Hanseok Yun, Beomgyu Kim
  • Patent number: 8872478
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provided circuits and methods for balancing battery cells. According to a first embodiment, a cell balancing circuit includes an auxiliary current path for controlling a conductance status of a shunt path. According to a second embodiment, a cell balancing circuit utilizes a total voltage of multiple neighboring cells in a battery pack to generate a current. Based on the current, a voltage drop is generated to conduct a shunt path corresponding to one cell of the neighboring cells. According to a third embodiment, a cell balancing circuit utilizes a total voltage of multiple neighboring cells in a battery pack to generate a current. Based on the current, a voltage drop is generated to conduct a shunt path corresponding to one cell of the neighboring cells. The cell balancing circuit can turn on multiple internal switches at the same time to balance multiple neighboring cells simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: O2Micro Inc.
    Inventor: Guoxing Li
  • Patent number: 8872476
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a charging management system and a charger with such charging management system. The charging management system includes a first signal-output port, a second signal-output port, a third signal-output port and a controller electrically connected with the first, second and third signal-output ports. The first and second signal-output ports are adapted for outputting first and second control signals representing first and second charging currents, respectively, to a charging circuit. The third signal-output port is adapted for outputting a third control signal representing a variable third charging current to the charging circuit. The controller controls the charging management system to operate under at least one of two modes. In the first mode, the controller alternately controls the first and second signal-output ports to output the first and second control signals. In the second mode, the controller only controls the third signal-output port to output the third control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignees: Suzhou Golden Crown New Energy Co., Ltd, Golden Crown New Energy (HK) Limited
    Inventors: Jen-Chin Huang, Zhijian Liu
  • Publication number: 20140312844
    Abstract: A charge-balancing device for balancing charge of an electrical power-storage device that has several series-connected electrical storage elements two DC/DC converters with current limitation, each having an input for receiving a set value of output voltage from the converter, an input to be connected to the terminals of a respective storage element, and an output to be connected to an electric network having a voltage regulated at a level below a voltage at the terminals of the power-storage device, and a control module. The control module is configured to determine respective residual charges of the electrical storage elements connected to the inputs and to apply a higher set value of voltage to the converter connected to an electrical storage elements that has a highest residual charge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Sylvain Mercier, Daniel Chatroux, Matthieu Desbois-Renaudin, Laurent Garnier
  • Patent number: 8866445
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a power supply system includes two power modules each configured to be electrically coupled to a set of battery cells. The set of battery cells produces a first voltage when in a first operational state, and a second voltage when in a second operational state. The second voltage is less than the first voltage. The first power module is configured to provide a third voltage to a load device that is substantially equal to the first voltage, when the set of battery cells is in the first operational state. The second power module is configured to provide a fourth voltage to the load device that is substantially equal to the first voltage, when the set of battery cells is in the second operational state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: HeartWare, Inc.
    Inventor: Craig Carder
  • Publication number: 20140306662
    Abstract: A monitoring device includes an input terminal configured to receive an input signal from a battery system management (BSM); an output terminal configured to output cell parameters used to determine an open cell voltage associated with one of a plurality of cells within the battery stack connected to the monitoring circuit based on the input signal received from the BSM; a processor; and a memory storing executable instructions for causing the processor to: measure a cell voltage associated with the one of the plurality of cells within the battery stack; measure a voltage drop associated with a measured balancing current; calculate the open cell voltage by adjusting the measured cell voltage based on the measured voltage drop; and balance the battery stack based on the calculated open cell voltage, wherein balancing and calculating the open cell voltage are performed concurrently.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: LINEAR TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dave Daekyum KIM, Robert Jon MILLIKEN
  • Patent number: 8860422
    Abstract: The invention relates to an evaluation circuit for detecting the voltage in battery cells of a battery system which are preferably connected in series. The evaluation circuit includes serially connected resistors, the number of which is equal to the number of battery cells for which the voltage is to be detected. One of the resistors is associated with each of the battery cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Butzmann
  • Patent number: 8860363
    Abstract: A charge device converting electric power from an external power supply into a charging electric power for a power storage device is configured to allow power conversion bidirectionally. An AC/DC converter of an external charging system converts AC power of a power line into a charging electric power for an auxiliary battery. A DC/DC converter of the vehicle running system converts the electric power from the power storage device into the charging power for the auxiliary battery. When charging of the auxiliary battery is requested, a control device selectively executes a first charge of converting the electric power of the power storage device by the DC/DC converter to charge the auxiliary battery, and a second charge of converting the electric power of the power storage device by a charge device and the AC/DC converter to charge the auxiliary battery, according to an output state of the auxiliary battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Wanleng Ang
  • Publication number: 20140300325
    Abstract: A lithium-ion battery includes two or more series-connected lithium-ion cells, a balancing lithium-ion cell, controllable switches with the same number as the lithium-ion cells, a drive module for the controllable switches, a voltage detection module for detecting a voltage at two ends of the lithium-ion cells, and a controller. The balancing lithium-ion cell is connected in parallel to the lithium-ion cells. The controllable switches control the turn on/off of the connection in parallel between the balancing lithium-ion cell and each of the lithium-ion cells independently. The drive module for the controllable switches and the voltage detection module are connected to the controller. A battery pack including the lithium-ion battery and a method for real-time charge/discharge equalizing of the lithium-ion battery are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventor: Yuebin Wu
  • Patent number: 8847550
    Abstract: A control device includes a controller causing a plurality of cell blocks each configured of one or plurality of secondary battery cells and connected in series to be charged with a cell balance, and the controller includes a detector detecting a voltage of each of the cell blocks, an updater sequentially updating a maximum voltage of the detected voltage of each of the cell blocks, and a discharger discharging a cell block among the plurality of cell blocks, the cell block with a voltage range between the detected voltage and the updated maximum voltage within a discharge target voltage range defined in advance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuharu Yanagihara, Akira Sanpei
  • Publication number: 20140285152
    Abstract: A method for reducing a total loss of charge of battery cells by balancing states of charge includes checking boundary conditions as to whether a vehicle is in the park mode, whether a previous balancing step occurred in the past by at least a defined time period, whether a temperature of a balancing unit lies below an adjustable temperature limit and whether states of charge of all battery cells exceed a minimum state of charge. Additionally, the method includes determining a need for balancing such that a check is made as to whether a maximum difference of all states of charge of all battery cells is greater than an adjustable limit state of charge. Also the method includes, balancing by the balancing units if the first two steps of the method are affirmed. The balancing resistances are connected to respective battery cells for a predetermined time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicants: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Becker, Andre Boehm, Armin Steck, Christian Korn, Marianne Heizmann
  • Patent number: 8841888
    Abstract: A battery management system for a battery pack comprises a battery module and a controller. The controller comprises a voltage detection and control circuit, wherein the controller comprises a voltage to current converter. A cell voltage is converted to current and produces a voltage detected at an input to one or more logic devices. The level of voltage detected is dependent upon the current output of the voltage to current converter and a threshold current. The output of the one or more logic devices is received by a controller, and the controller is operable to control the charging and discharging of the battery cell based on the logic device output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: 02Micro, Inc.
    Inventor: Guoxing Li
  • Publication number: 20140266051
    Abstract: An ECU outputs, when it determines that there is a battery cell which needs charging, address information to a battery monitor AFE 6. The battery monitor AFE 6 turns ON a transistor specified by the address information and outputs an active ON/OFF signal to a balancing circuit 4. To the balancing circuit 4, a DC converter 30 to which each of battery cells 2a are connected is provided, and selectively charges the battery cells by operating the DC converter 30. When the ON/OFF signal is active, the DC converter 30 is formed of a magnetic-amplifier type forward converter and selectively charges the battery cells having a low cell voltage when the voltage of the battery cells is about lower than 4.2 V, and eventually maintains the cell voltage at about 4.2 V to prevent overcharging to the battery cells 2a.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Hirohiko Hayakawa
  • Publication number: 20140266050
    Abstract: A battery cell balancing and measuring apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of terminals having a portion of the terminals grouped as terminal pairs, each terminal of the plurality of terminals operable to couple to a node in a battery stack. Each terminal pair having a capacitor and a switch coupled in parallel with each other, the capacitor and the switch coupled across respective terminal pair. The apparatus includes a plurality of resistors, each resistor of the plurality of resistors coupled to a terminal of the plurality of terminals. Each resistor of the plurality of resistors provides a discharge path for a respective battery cell coupled to a terminal pair via the switch and wherein each resistor of the plurality of resistors provides a low pass filter path for the respective battery cell via the capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Atieva, Inc.
    Inventor: Atieva, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8836168
    Abstract: A remaining capacity equalizing device is provided having an inductance connected to a reference node of a battery pack and first and second switching elements. A first closed circuit is formed through selecting sequentially a first switching switch from a first switching switch group that is connected to the high-voltage side of the reference node. A second closed circuit is formed by selecting sequentially a second switching switch from among a second switching switch group that is connected to the low-voltage side of the reference node. The first and second switching elements are turned ON/OFF alternatingly for each combination of first and second closed circuits so that, during a specific interval, the ratio of the conductive times of the first and second switching elements is the inverse of the ratio of the numbers of storage cells in the first and second closed circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Kouichi Yamanoue
  • Patent number: 8829854
    Abstract: A secondary battery includes a plurality of battery cells and measures voltages of the battery cells. The secondary battery includes a capacitive device, a relay and an A/D converter. The capacitive device is connected to the battery cells to sequentially store the voltages of the battery cells. The relay is between the battery cells and the capacitive device, and sequentially connects the battery cells to the capacitive device. The A/D converter is connected to the capacitive device to receive and convert the voltages of the battery cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignees: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Jongdoo Park
  • Patent number: 8829716
    Abstract: An energy storage device for a power compensator including a battery stack including a plurality of battery units connected in series, each of the battery units including one or more parallel-connected battery modules including a plurality of battery cells, where each battery unit further includes a bypass switch connected in parallel with the battery modules and the energy storage device comprises a control unit which is operatively connected to the bypass switches and adapted to receive information on a failure in any of the battery modules and to close the bypass switch in order to bypass the battery unit in case of a failure in any of the battery modules of the battery unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Fredrik Tinglow, Falah Hosini, Tomas Larsson
  • Publication number: 20140247013
    Abstract: In a voltage detection apparatus for a battery pack, a pair of electric paths are respectively connected to a pair of ends of a unit battery defined as one of battery cells configuring a respective cell group or one of serial connections of the battery cells. A voltage detecting unit detects voltage across terminals of the unit battery via the electric paths. An electrically conductive member connects: a positive terminal of one of two adjacent cell groups and a negative terminal of the other of the two adjacent cell groups. A bypass connects one of the electric paths connected to one of both ends of the conductive member; and the other of the pair connected to the other of the both ends. A bypassing unit disposed in the bypass allows current to flow in the bypass when voltage across both terminals of the conductive member has exceeded a specified voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomomichi MIZOGUCHI
  • Patent number: 8823323
    Abstract: Batteries, battery systems, battery submodules, battery operational methods, battery system operational methods, battery charging methods, and battery system charging methods are described. According to one aspect, a battery includes a first battery terminal, a second battery terminal, and a plurality of submodules individually comprising a first submodule terminal, a second submodule terminal, a plurality of rechargeable cells electrically coupled between the first and second submodule—terminals, and switching circuitry configured to electrically couple one of the first and second battery terminals with one of the first and second submodule terminals of one of the submodules during an engaged mode of operation of the one of the submodules and to electrically isolate the one of the first and second battery terminals from the one of the first and second submodule terminals of the one of the submodules during a disengaged mode of operation of the one of the submodules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Valence Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell M. Troxel, Joel E. Sandahl
  • Publication number: 20140239897
    Abstract: Disclosed are a voltage measuring apparatus and a battery management system including the same. The voltage measuring apparatus is connected to a plurality of battery cells connected to each other in series to measure respective voltage of the battery cells. The voltage measuring apparatus includes a first node coupled to one of an positive electrode and a negative electrode of one of a plurality of battery cells as a voltage measuring target, amplifies a voltage difference between the first node and the second node to generate an error voltage, converts the error voltage into a digital signal, and compensates for a polarity of the digital signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: FAIRCHILD KOREA SEMICONDUCTOR LTD.
    Inventors: Moonsik SONG, Seok HEO
  • Publication number: 20140239900
    Abstract: This invention reduces degradation of respective lead storage batteries making up a lead storage battery bank and extends the longevity of the lead storage batteries. A lead storage battery system includes an individual battery state measurement unit 102 that measures current, voltage, temperature etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventors: Keiko Abe, Hideki Inoue, Toshiyuki Sawa, Masahiro Watanabe, Hisaaki Takabayashi, Ichiro Shimoura, Keisuke Fukuhara
  • Publication number: 20140239899
    Abstract: A battery system balancing control method for performing balancing control with aid of reference voltage information and battery system are provided. The battery system balancing control method includes: after a specific reference resistor of a plurality of reference resistors is installed into a specific battery module of a set of battery modules connected in series within a power supply device and the reference resistors are electrically connected in series, converting a total voltage of the set of battery modules into the reference voltage information, wherein each battery module of the set of battery modules includes at least one battery cell, and the reference voltage information includes a plurality of sets of reference voltage levels respectively corresponding to the reference resistors; and performing balancing control of the specific battery module according to a set of reference voltage levels corresponding to the specific reference resistor within the sets of reference voltage levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventor: Fu-Sheng Tsai
  • Publication number: 20140239898
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a power supply device is provided, where the apparatus includes at least one portion of the power supply device. The apparatus includes at least one battery module, each of which is a battery module of a set of battery modules connected in series within the power supply device, where each battery module of the set of battery modules includes at least one battery cell, at least one processing circuit, and at least one balancing circuit, which is electrically connected to the battery cell and the processing circuit. The processing circuit controls operations of the aforementioned each battery module of the set of battery modules. In addition, under control of the processing circuit, the balancing circuit performs balancing of the battery cell. Additionally, the balancing circuit provides the processing circuit with a bias voltage, and the processing circuit obtains electric power from the balancing circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventor: Fu-Sheng Tsai
  • Patent number: 8816639
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery assembly provides load balancing for individual battery cells making up a battery assembly. The battery assembly includes a plurality of series-connected battery cell assemblies. Each battery cell assembly includes a battery cell and a charge bypass load connected in parallel with the battery cell. A cell supervisory circuits (CSCs) and battery interface unit (BUI) interface between the battery cell assembly and a battery charge/discharge circuit to provide load balancing by comparing the voltages monitored with respect to each battery cell assembly to an end of charge voltage (EOCV) threshold and in response to the monitored voltage equaling the EOCV threshold issues a charge bypass command to the CSC to activate the charge bypass load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: AeroJet Rocketdyne of DE, Inc.
    Inventors: Cheng-Yi Lu, Erich H. Soendker
  • Publication number: 20140232345
    Abstract: There is provided a semiconductor device capable of preventing the passage of current that is unexpected in a circuit operation even in the case of reverse connection, thus ensuring higher safety. The semiconductor device has a switch circuit which includes: a first transistor; a second transistor having a drain thereof connected to a drain of the first transistor, a source and a back gate thereof connected to a back gate of the first transistor, and a gate thereof connected to a source of the first transistor; and a third transistor having a drain thereof connected to the source of the first transistor, a source and a back gate thereof connected to the back gate of the first transistor, and a gate thereof connected to the drain of the first transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Atsushi SAKURAI, Hiroshi SAITO
  • Publication number: 20140232344
    Abstract: A battery equalization circuit is provided, comprising: a positive battery node connected to a positive terminal of a monitored battery cell contained in a battery circuit that includes a plurality of other battery cells connected in series with the monitored battery cell; a negative battery node connected to a negative terminal of the monitored battery cell; a secondary transformer coil configured to receive a square wave, the secondary transformer coil having an upper transformer node and a lower transformer node; an upper switch connected between the positive battery node and the upper transformer node; a lower switch connected between the negative battery node and the lower transformer control node; and a control circuit configured to control operation of the upper and lower switches based on a measured cell voltage between the positive battery node and the negative battery node, and a total battery voltage of the battery circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventor: Josef DROBNIK
  • Publication number: 20140232346
    Abstract: A system configured to actively balance power among power cells such as batteries. The system includes a power module of series-coupled power cells, each exhibiting different charge levels during charging and discharging. A power module includes active cell balancing circuitry configured to substantially balance the charges of the power cells at least during charging. In one embodiment, the active cell balancing circuitry includes: (a) current source circuitry configured to supply extra charging current to a selected power cell; and (b) current source control circuitry configured to control the current source circuitry to supply extra charging current to the power cell with the lowest state of charge. In another embodiment, the system includes multiple power modules, each having multiple power cells coupled in series, and each having an active cell balancing circuit configured to substantially balance the charges of the power cells in an associated one of the power modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Jianhui Zhang, Ali Djabbari, Qinggui Liu, Ahmad Bahai
  • Patent number: 8810201
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Han-Seok Yun, Yusai Murakami
  • Patent number: 8803478
    Abstract: A battery pack is provided. The battery pack includes first battery cells, a second battery cell coupled to one of the first battery cells, a voltage sensing and balancing circuit for measuring voltages of the first battery cells and for maintaining voltage balance between the first battery cells, a controller that includes an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter, and an analog switch for measuring a voltage value of the second battery cell and for transferring the measured voltage value to the A/D converter. The controller is for controlling charging and discharging of the first and second battery cells. The analog switch includes a flying capacitor, a first switch unit for transferring a voltage between the second battery cell and the flying capacitor, a second switch unit for transferring a voltage of the flying capacitor to the A/D converter, and a first diode for protecting a voltage source from a surge current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jongwoon Yang, Susumu Segawa
  • Publication number: 20140217982
    Abstract: To satisfactorily carry out balancing even when balancing control is suspended. It is selected according to a condition which of battery cell information (old state information) by the last balancing stored in a storage device and battery cell information (new state information) acquired during a start of this time is used, and the balancing control is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Hitachi Vehicle Energy, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiichiro Ohkawa, Youhei Kawahara, Ryouhei Nakao
  • Patent number: 8797173
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for controlling charging of a portable terminal equipped with a solar battery that converts solar energy into an electrical energy, the apparatus including a thermistor in which a resistance value changes according to a temperature change; a comparator which outputs a first signal when a temperature surrounding the thermistor is less than a preset reference temperature as determined by the resistance value change of the thermistor according to the temperature change and outputs a second signal when the temperature is at least the preset reference temperature or more; and a charging unit which is activated and receives the electrical energy from the solar battery to charge a battery when the first signal is inputted from the comparator, and is deactivated and blocks the charge of battery in case the second signal is inputted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Chul Kang, Seung Chul Choi, Jae Ahn Ryu
  • Patent number: 8796992
    Abstract: A basic unit of lithium-ion battery, including: at least two series-connected lithium-ion cells; at least one lithium-ion cell for balance; controllable switches with the same number as the lithium-ion cells; a drive module for the controllable switches; a voltage detection module for detecting a voltage at two ends of the lithium-ion cells; and a controller. The lithium-ion cell for balance is connected in parallel to the lithium-ion cells. The controllable switches control the turn on/off of the connection in parallel between the lithium-ion cell for balance and each of the lithium-ion cells independently. The drive module for the controllable switches and the voltage detection module are connected to the controller. A battery pack including the basic unit of lithium-ion battery and a method for real-time charge/discharge equalizing of the basic unit of lithium-ion battery are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Inventor: Yuebin Wu
  • Publication number: 20140210414
    Abstract: The storage battery system includes a storage battery comprising a plurality of battery modules; a plurality of voltage monitoring circuits for monitoring a voltage of the battery module; and a control device that controls charging and discharging of the storage battery on the basis of monitoring information that is obtained by carrying out communication with the voltage monitoring circuits, wherein the control device comprises a determination unit that calculates an estimated output voltage of the storage battery by using the monitoring information that is obtained from any one of the voltage monitoring circuits before occurrence of a communication failure in a case where the communication failure with any one of the voltage monitoring circuits occurs, and compares the estimated output voltage and an output voltage of the storage battery after occurrence of the communication failure to determine an abnormal site of the communication failure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: KEIHIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seiji KAMATA, Satomu SASAKI
  • Publication number: 20140210415
    Abstract: An equalization circuit includes: discharge sections which are provided correspondingly to secondary batteries respectively, and discharge the corresponding secondary batteries to convert energy resulting from the discharge into heat; a temperature detector which detects a temperature under the converted heat; and an equalization controller which selects a discharge section as a selection discharge section, the selection discharge section corresponding to a secondary battery of the secondary batteries to be discharged, the equalization controller causing the selection discharge section to discharge the corresponding secondary battery, and equalizing electric quantities accumulated in the secondary batteries, wherein if the secondary battery is discharged by the selection discharge section and if the temperature detected by the temperature detector is higher than a predetermined reference temperature, the equalization controller reduces a discharge current to a value lower than a value when the temperature is
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Chikara Ohmori
  • Patent number: 8791668
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Shin-Kobe Electric Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiko Emori, Shigeyuki Yoshihara, Kazuyoshi Sasazawa, Tatsuo Horiba, Akihiko Kudo
  • Patent number: 8791710
    Abstract: A battery emulation device for simulating a battery cell voltage at a terminal of a battery control unit in accordance with a setpoint value includes a control unit configured to determine the setpoint value and provide the determined setpoint value via a galvanically isolated interface; and at least one emulation channel, each including: a voltage source; an amplifier unit; connection lines for connecting the emulation channel; measurement lines; and a fault simulation device configured to simulate fault states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Dspace Digital Signal Processing and Control Engineering GmbH
    Inventors: Joerg Bracker, Jens Driessen
  • Patent number: 8791667
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for charge balancing in a charge storage arrangement having a plurality of charge storage cells connected in series, and a charge balancing circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Clemens Kain
  • Patent number: 8786256
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Shin-Kobe Electric Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiko Emori, Shigeyuki Yoshihara, Kazuyoshi Sasazawa, Tatsuo Horiba, Akihiko Kudo
  • Patent number: 8786255
    Abstract: A charge balancing circuit and an energy storage arrangement with a charge balancing circuit are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Peter Gollob, Uschi Pechlaner
  • Publication number: 20140197795
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for balancing an association in series of elements for generating and/or storing electrical energy, characterised in that it comprises: a plurality of full bridge inverters (OPC1, OPC2, OPCN), each consisting of two inverter arms connected in parallel between two end ports of the inverter, each inverter arm, in turn, consisting of two switches (Th1, Tb1; Th2, Tb2) connected in series by a so-called median point (P11, P12) of the arm; a plurality of connectors for connecting the two end ports of each full bridge inverter to a respective element (CA1, CA2, CAN, PV1, PV2, PVN) of said association in series; and a magnetic coupler (NM) formed by a magnetic core on which a plurality of windings (W?W2, WN) is formed, each winding being connected to the median points of the arms of one of said inverters. The invention also relates to an association in series of elements (CA1, CA2, CAN) for the electrochemical storage of electrical energy, provided with such a balancing system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Inventors: Jean-Christophe Crebier, Alexandre Chureau