Abstract: A storage control unit for a storage system includes a first storage controller. The first storage controller includes: first voltage detection terminals that is connected to voltage detection lines respectively connected to first storage units, via switches; a first voltage detection circuit that is connected to each of the first voltage detection terminals and that detects a first voltage of each of the first storage units via each of the first voltage detection lines; a first voltage input terminal that a second voltage of each of second storage units that are different from the first storage units is input to; and a first voltage output terminal that is connected to the first voltage detection terminals via switches. The first voltage detection circuit is further connected to the first voltage input terminal and detects the second voltage via the first voltage input terminal.

Abstract: A voltage detection device connects the positive electrodes of unit cells (BT1 to BT4) and terminals (T1 to T4) of a multiplexer (12) via connection lines (L1 to L4), respectively, and includes first switches (SW11 to SW14) between the connection lines and the unit cells. The voltage detection device connects first to fourth series-connected circuits (N1 to N4) to the respective connection lines to apply reference voltages to the connection lines. Subsequently, in a state where the first switches (SW11 to SW14) are turned off, reference voltages are applied to the respective connection lines and each of the reference voltages is selected by the multiplexer (12), level-shifted, and then digitized by an A/D converter (13). Based on the digitized voltages, the voltage detection device determines whether or not each of the multiplexer, level shifter, and A/D converter is nonconformity.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a charge accumulator (1) with several cells (2, 2a . . . 2n), wherein a parameter of a cell (2, 2a . . . 2n) is measured and transmitted to a central monitoring unit (4) by means of a pulse-width modulated signal. The pulse-width modulated signals emanating from the individual cells (2, 2a . . . 2n) are synchronously transmitted and summed. Furthermore, a cell monitoring unit (3, 3a . . . 3n) according to the invention, a central monitoring unit (4) according to the invention and an accumulator (1) according to the invention are set forth for implementing the method.

Abstract: An electric leakage detecting apparatus includes: a first voltage-dividing circuit; a second voltage-dividing circuit; a first switch which is inserted in a line connecting the first voltage-dividing circuit and the ground connection resistance; a second switch which is inserted in a line connecting the second voltage-dividing circuit and the ground connection resistance; a first voltage detecting circuit which detects an output voltage of the first voltage-dividing circuit; a second voltage detecting circuit which detects an output voltage of the second voltage-dividing circuit; and a judging circuit which judges whether the electric leakage of the high voltage battery occurs or not on the basis of the output voltage of the first voltage-dividing circuit in a case that the first switch is in ON state and the output voltage of the second voltage-dividing circuit in a case that the second switch is in ON state.

Abstract: A battery state measuring method includes a voltage detecting step of detecting a transient open-circuit voltage of a secondary battery at an end of a fixed-length period starting at a termination of charging or discharging of the secondary battery, a parameter detecting step of detecting one or more parameters indicative of one or more battery states of the secondary battery at or prior to the end of the fixed-length period, and a prediction step of utilizing a relationship between the transient open-circuit voltage, the one or more parameters indicative of one or more battery states, and a stabilized open-circuit voltage of the secondary battery as observed after the end of the fixed-length period to obtain the stabilized open-circuit voltage that corresponds to the transient open-circuit voltage detected by the voltage detecting step and the one or more parameters detected by the parameter detecting step.

Abstract: A battery charger and method for a rechargeable battery pack which includes various elements in series with the cells to be charged, including but not limited to current control FETs, a fuse, current sense resistor, and internal series impedance of the series connected cells to be charged. The charging current Ichg flowing through these series elements reduces the voltage applied to the cells, thus lengthening charging time. A compensation voltage Vcomp, which when added to the nominal charging voltage for the series connected cells overcomes these voltage drops, facilitates more efficient charging while avoiding over-voltage damage to the cells. Three voltages representing substantially all of the voltage drops reducing the charging voltage on the cells, are summed, and the result is a compensation voltage which is utilized to change the nominal charge voltage for the battery to overcome these voltage drops.

Abstract: A test apparatus and corresponding method for simulating an internal cell short and initiating thermal runaway in a battery cell is disclosed whereby the cell is internally heated through rapid charge and discharge cycles at high currents. The magnitude of the selected current may be modulated to simulate a cell short with the desired power profile without unrealistically heating neighboring cells or interfering with the thermal environment of the cell within the module.

Abstract: The present invention provides a battery-monitoring device is provided that monitors a voltage state of each battery cell constituting a battery, including: a voltage detection circuit; a management circuit which manages voltage detection data of each battery cell using the voltage detection circuit; a communication mode converter which is connected to the voltage detection circuit through a first communication line for communicating using a clock synchronous communication mode, and is connected to the management circuit through a second communication line for communicating using a clock asynchronous communication mode; and an insulating element which is interposed in the second communication line, wherein the communication mode converter transmits the voltage detection data, received from each of the voltage detection circuits through the first communication line, through the second communication line to the management circuit.

Abstract: In battery cell control system and method, a monitoring section connected to a battery cell included in an assembled battery, operated with the battery cell as a power source, and configured to monitor a state of the battery cell is provided and a first consumption of the battery cell which is consumed by the monitoring section in accordance with a voltage of the battery cell is estimated using the voltage of the battery cell.

Abstract: A system for estimating parameters of a fuel cell stack. The system includes a stack health monitor for monitoring minimum cell voltage, stack voltage and current density of the fuel cell stack. The stack health monitor also indicates when a predetermined minimum cell voltage threshold level has been achieved. The system further includes a controller configured to control the fuel cell stack, where the controller determines and records the average fuel cell voltage. The controller generates and stores artificial data points proximate to the one or more predetermined minimum cell voltage threshold levels each time the minimum cell voltage drops below the one or more predetermined minimum cell voltage threshold levels so as to provide an estimation of the fuel cell stack parameters including a minimum cell voltage trend and a minimum cell voltage polarization curve.

Abstract: A plurality of detection units are connected respectively in parallel with a plurality of battery cells connected in series. The detection units each include an inductor and a zener diode connected in series. A battery checker includes a plurality of detection inductors and a single voltmeter that form a closed circuit. A plurality of detection inductors are arranged so that they are magnetically coupled respectively with the inductors of the plurality of detection units. Each zener diode is connected with the polarity to be reverse biased by the output voltage of the battery cell. Respective breakdown voltages of the zener diodes are set higher than the output voltage of each battery cell in normal use and different in a stepwise manner from each other.

Abstract: A voltage detecting circuit includes a switch group that selects any one of a plurality of battery cells connected in series, a sampling capacitor that maintains a potential difference between a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal of a battery cell selected by the switch group, a measuring part that outputs a detected voltage value signal corresponding to the potential difference between ends of the sampling capacitor, a transfer switch that transfers, to the measuring part, the potential difference caused between the ends of the sampling capacitor, a correction capacitor provided in parallel to input terminals of the measuring part, and between the transfer switch and the measuring part, and a discharge switch provided in parallel to the correction capacitor, and controlled so that a switching condition of the discharge switch is mutually exclusive with that of the transfer switch.

Abstract: A voltage monitoring device monitors voltage of each of battery cells connected in series to one another to configure an assembled battery. The device includes a capacitor circuit, a filter circuit, an input side connection switching unit, a potential difference detection unit, and an output side connection switching unit. The capacitor circuit includes a plurality of capacitors connected in series to one another. The filter circuit includes a plurality of resistors connected to an electrode terminal of each of the battery cells. The plurality of resistors are divided into a first resistor group and a second resistor group. The first resistor group is connected to a connection end between adjacent capacitors of the plurality of capacitors. The second resistor group is connected to an independent end of the plurality of capacitors. A resistance value of the first resistor group is smaller than a resistance value of the second resistor group.

Abstract: Methods and systems for grouping multiple battery modules in a battery pack are disclosed. Multiple characteristic parameters of multiple cells in a battery module of the battery modules are measured to produce a measured result. Multiple differences between the multiple characteristic parameters are calculated according to the measured result. The battery module is classified according to the multiple differences.

Abstract: A voltage monitoring circuit includes a plurality of voltage input terminals which input a voltage across each of a plurality of series-coupled battery cells, a selection circuit which, by selecting two of the voltage input terminals, selects a voltage across one of the battery cells; an A/D converter which converts the voltage across the battery cell into a digital value, a control unit which sends the digital value to an external controller, a ground wiring which is coupled to a ground terminal for inputting a ground level voltage for the voltage monitoring circuit, the ground terminal being among the voltage input terminals, and through which the voltage monitoring circuit is supplied with the ground level voltage, a terminal which is supplied with a lowest fixed potential, and a switch circuit which is coupled between the first terminal and the ground wiring.

Abstract: An operational amplifier with different power supply voltages includes an input stage and an output stage. The input stage includes a current source for providing a bias current, and a differential input circuit for receiving the bias current and differential input voltage signals, and converting the differential input voltage signal to differential input currents. The input stage is supplied by a first power supply voltage. The output stage includes a load circuit coupled to the differential input voltage signal and for receiving the differential input currents, and outputting a single ended output voltage signal. The output stage is supplied by a second power supply voltage. The second power supply voltage is lower than the first power supply voltage.

Abstract: A controller of a power storage system includes a voltage measuring device configured to be electrically coupled to at least one cell and to generate first voltage data, the first voltage data comprising a first voltage value and a first voltage measurement time of a voltage of the at least one cell, and a current measuring device configured to be electrically coupled to the at least one cell and to generate first current data, the first current data comprising a first current value and a first current measurement time of a current through the at least one cell, the first voltage measurement time corresponding to the first current measurement time in a first measuring period, a battery management system configured to generate a clock signal transmitted to the voltage measuring device and the current measuring device to synchronize the first voltage data and the first current data in a first transmission period of the first measuring period.

Abstract: A battery system is disclosed which includes: first and second battery blocks connected in parallel, each including a plurality of batteries connected in series; a battery state detector detecting voltages of the batteries in either of the second battery blocks. The number of the batteries in the second battery block is smaller than that of the first battery block. The battery state detector is installed integral with the second battery block.

Abstract: An arrangement for monitoring the current or state of charge (SOC) of an energy system (230) having one or more series-connected strings (S1, S2, . . . Sn) of battery cells (C1, C2, . . . Cn). The battery cells each have respective dissipative devices (D1, D2, . . . Dn) selectively connectable in parallel therewith for balancing cell voltages in the string. The dissipative devices are of predetermined, typically equal, impedance value. The voltage across each cell (Vc1, Vc2, . . . Vcn) may be separately monitored, such that by dividing the monitored voltage across a cell by the impedance value of a dissipative device connected in parallel therewith, the dissipative current is determined. A summation of all of the dissipative currents yields an error value, which error value is then removed from the measured gross current (Ibat) flowing through the combined battery cells and dissipative devices to yield a corrected value of current (Ibatnet). A corrected SOC value (Qnet) is obtainable in a similar manner.

Abstract: The battery pack is provided with an analog front-end that detects battery voltage, and a micro-controller connected to the analog front-end that accepts analog voltage signals from the analog front-end as input. The micro-controller switches voltage signals input from the analog front-end to determine failure of the analog front-end or the micro-controller.

Abstract: A state-of-charge estimation apparatus connected to a power storage device having cell batteries, and estimating a state of charge of the power storage device, the apparatus including a first SOC computation unit computing a current integration value based on a total current from a current detector detecting the total current flowing to the storage device from a power conversion device using a previous SOC value as an initial value, and outputting the integration value as a first state-of-charge estimated value, and a second SOC computation unit estimating, after discharge suspension in the storage device, an open-circuit voltage based on a total voltage on a connection point between the conversion device and the storage device, a previous value of the total voltage, and a gain with time passage after discharge suspension in the storage device, and outputting the open-circuit voltage as a second state-of-charge estimated value.

Abstract: A battery internal short-circuit detection apparatus includes: a voltage detection unit for detecting a terminal voltage of the battery; a current detection unit for detecting a discharging current of the battery; a voltage drop and recovery detection unit for detecting a momentary voltage drop of the battery and a recovery from the voltage drop, in response to a result of detection performed by the voltage detection unit; and a determination unit for determining that an internal short circuit has occurred, when a maximum value of the discharging current detected by the current detection unit between the voltage drop and the recovery is equal to or lower than a threshold current.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a high-current battery system in which a high operating current flows, in particular for vehicle drives. The high-current battery system has a battery system monitoring electronics unit and a plurality of battery modules, each module including at least one rechargeable battery cell and being electrically connected in series by means of an operating current line such that an operating current flows through the operating current line during operation. At least one of the battery modules is designed as a bypass battery module which comprises a bypass switch and a bypass line, which are designed and disposed such that the battery module is electrically bridged by the bypass line after the bypass switch is switched from a normal operating position into a bypass position, so that the operating current flows through the bypass line.

Abstract: Disclosed is a voltage sensing assembly for a battery module to sense voltage of battery cells having electrode terminals formed at the upper or lower end thereof in a state in which the voltage sensing assembly is mounted in the battery module, the voltage sensing assembly including (a) an upper and a lower block case to be coupled to each other in an assembled fashion, the upper block case and the lower block case being made of an electrically insulative material, the upper block case and the lower block case being mounted to a region (front or rear) of the battery module corresponding to electrode terminal connection parts of the battery cells, (b) upper-row and lower-row conductive sensors to be connected to the electrode terminal connection parts of the battery cells, respectively, and (c) a connector to transmit voltages sensed by the conductive sensors to a battery management system (BMS).

Abstract: A cell monitoring device for monitoring cells connected in series in an electric storage module includes electric lines, switches connected in parallel to the cells, respectively, via the electric lines, and a controller. The controller configured to: close and reopen at least two of the switches; measure voltages between the lines connected to the cells after the switches connected in parallel to the cells are reopened; determine the measured voltages as cell voltages of the cells; determine whether at least one of a high abnormality voltage equal to or higher than a first threshold and a low abnormality voltage equal to or lower than a second threshold lower than the first threshold exists among the cell voltages; and determine at least one of the electric lines has lost continuity if at least one of the high abnormality voltage and the low abnormality voltage exists among the cell voltages.

Abstract: In a voltage monitoring system, a voltage monitoring module includes an adjusting current control circuit to generate an adjusting current so that the operating current consumed by the voltage monitoring modules reaches a specified value corresponding to a first operation current setting command, and stops generating the adjusting current according to an operating current switching command; and an operating current measurement circuit to measure the operating current according to the operating current measuring command following the operating current switching command; and in which a module control circuit sends a second operation current setting command based on the operating current that was measured, and the adjusting current control circuit generates an adjusting current so that the operating current reaches a specified value corresponding to the second operating current setting command.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a scalable battery controller are disclosed. In one example, a circuit board coupled to a battery cell stack is designed to be configurable to monitor and balance battery cells of battery cell stacks that may vary depending on battery pack requirements. Further, the battery pack control module may configure software instructions in response to a voltage at a battery cell stack.

Abstract: A monitoring circuit is provided for an energy storage device. The energy storage device has a plurality of cells which each provide a voltage between their first and second connections and are switched in series. At least two voltage measuring circuits are provided, wherein the voltage measuring circuits each measure the voltage between a first measurement input and a second measurement input. A first connection conductor connects the first terminal of the first cell to the first measurement input of a first voltage measurement circuit. A second connection conductor connects the second terminal of the first cell to the second measurement input of a first voltage measurement circuit. A first load resistor can be switched between the first measurement input of the second voltage measurement circuit and a first fixed potential.

Abstract: A battery system comprises a battery module, including a high-voltage grid and a low-voltage network having a BCU. The battery module includes a plurality of battery cells connected in series and a plurality of cell monitoring units configured to measure and to transmit battery voltages of the battery cells with respect to a first control signal. The BCU is configured to determine a charge state of the battery cells. The BCU includes a microcontroller and a nanocontroller. The nanocontroller is or can be directly connected to the cell monitoring units and is connected to the microcontroller by means of an isolator, and is configured to generate the first control signal and to transmit the signal to the cell monitoring units and to receive the battery voltages of the battery cells transmitted by the cell monitoring units and relay same to the microcontroller.

Abstract: A voltage detection apparatus includes first to third circuit boards are provided on first to third battery packs of a battery system respectively. The first circuit board includes a first voltage detection portion detecting a voltage of the first battery pack, a control portion controlling the first voltage detection portion, and a first insulation device which connecting the first voltage detection portion with the control portion. The second circuit board includes a second voltage detection portion detecting a voltage of the second battery pack, and a second insulation device connecting the second voltage detection portion with the control portion. The third circuit board includes a third voltage detection portion connected in series with the second voltage detection portion and detecting a voltage of the third battery pack. The control portion controls the second and third voltage detection portions.

Abstract: One state detector detects an abnormal state or a normal state relating to charge and discharge of a battery cell group in one battery module, and generates one detection signal representing the detected state. Another state detector detects an abnormal state or a normal state relating to charge and discharge of another battery cell group in another battery module, and generates another detection signal representing the detected state. One operation processing device sends the one detection signal generated by the one state detector to an external object. Another operation processing device sends the other detection signal generated by the other state detector to the external object. The one detection signal generated by the one state detector is transmitted to at least one of the other operation processing device and the other state detector via a signal line.

Abstract: A battery system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes i) a plurality of battery modules each of which is configured to store power, wherein each battery module is electrically connected to at least one other battery module and ii) a plurality of management units configured to monitor states of the battery modules. Each management unit is electrically connected to at least one other management unit and one or more of the battery modules. Each management unit may include: at least one measuring unit configured to perform the monitoring and a receiving unit configured to i) receive measurement data including the monitoring results from the measuring unit via a first communication protocol and ii) receive measurement data from another receiving unit included in another management unit via a second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol.

Abstract: A voltage measuring apparatus measures an output voltage of an assembled battery in which a plurality of unit cells are connected in series and are divided into a plurality of blocks. The apparatus includes: a block voltage detection section which detects a voltage of at least one of the plurality of blocks and provides an analog voltage signal; a reference power supply which generates a reference voltage; a sampling voltage generation section which generates a sampling voltage based on the reference voltage; a storage for storing voltage date corresponding to the sampling voltage; and an A/D conversion section of the block voltage detection section that digitizes the sampling voltage with the reference voltage for A/D conversion. A difference between the digitized sampling voltage and the voltage data is calculated and it is determined that abnormality occurs in the A/D conversion section when the difference is larger than a threshold.

Abstract: The control of the operational states of a battery or the electrochemical cells thereof is implemented on the basis of an evaluation of said operational states. Said evaluation is obtained by means of approximation functions with which the evaluation of second operational states are obtained by interpolating measuring data of first operational states.

Abstract: There are provided an electrically-conductive connecting plate that connects electrode terminals of a plurality of battery cells; a fastening member that fastens the connecting plate and each of the electrode terminals together; temperature-detecting means that is placed near a fastened portion between the connecting plate and the corresponding electrode terminal which are fastened together with the fastening member, and detects temperature around the fastened portion; and abnormality-judging means that judges abnormality in the battery cells or the fastening member on the basis of temperature detected by the temperature-detecting means.

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: A battery pack is provided which includes: a state detection section which decides whether secondary batteries are in an electricity-charged state or in an electricity-discharging state; a power decision section which decides whether the secondary batteries are in a power-on state or in a power-off state; and a residual-capacity calculation section which, if the state detection section decides that they are in the electricity-charged state, calculates the residual capacity of the secondary batteries by accumulating a current value detected by a current sensor, and if the state detection section decides that they are in the electricity-discharging state, calculates the residual capacity of the secondary batteries by acquiring the voltage of the secondary batteries when the power decision section decides that they are in the power-off state.

Abstract: A method for monitoring the voltage of each of a plurality of cells of a battery pack is provided. The method may include monitoring a voltage potential for each of a plurality of cells in a battery pack utilizing a single channel of battery control unit within the battery pack. If, during discharge of the battery, e.g., the battery is being used to power a hand tool, the voltage potential of any cell is determined by the battery control unit to be below a predetermined minimum voltage, the battery control unit discontinues a current flow from battery pack to the tool. Additionally, during charging of the battery pack, if a voltage differential between any one of the cells and any other one of the cells is determined to be above a predetermined maximum differential, the battery control unit reduces the voltage potential stored in the cell having the higher voltage potential.

Abstract: A solar cell characteristic measuring device measures the output characteristics of a solar cell while avoiding junction capacitance. The device provides a solar cell load circuit by connecting the solar cell with an electronic load device setting a load current or voltage variably, and a measurement circuit connecting voltage and current detectors with the load. An operation point control element divides the magnitude of the load, taken from the solar cell, of the electronic load device into a plurality ranging from states of opening to short-circuiting, while driving the load device in the load circuit periodically and intermittently, changing the load magnitude stepwise and controlling the operation point of the solar cell, and a processing element reading and processing the detected values of the voltage and current detectors at each drive period of the electronic load device and for the period of the stable output voltage of the solar cell.

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: A battery voltage monitoring system monitors voltage of an arrangement of more than two batteries (U1, U2, U3, U4, U5) in series. The system comprises a voltage divider comprises a first (R1, R2, R3, R4) and second resistive element (R5, R6, R7, R8) arranged parallel to at least a part of the battery arrangement and connected to a reference voltage line and to a node (N1, N2, N3, N4) in the battery arrangement. In between the first (R1, R2, R3, R4) and second resistive element (R5, R6, R7, R8) a transistor (Q11, Q12, Q13, Q14) is arranged. The base of the transistor is, via a diode (D1, D2, D3, D4), connected to a further node (N2, N3, N4, N5) in the series arrangement of batteries, and a switching element (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4) is provided to address the transistor (Q11, Q12, Q13,Q14).

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 battery voltage monitoring apparatus has a structure in which, for each adjacent two of battery cells, the positive electrode of the battery cell on the higher voltage side and the negative electrode of the battery cell on the lower voltage side are commonly connected to a corresponding one of common terminals provided in an RC filter circuit. The common terminal is branched into a first branch connected to one end of a first resistor and a second branch connected to one end of a second resistor, the first resistor being connected to a corresponding one of positive side detection terminals at the other end thereof, the second resistor being connected to a corresponding one of negative side detection terminals at the other end thereof. A capacitor is connected across a corresponding one of pairs of the positive side and negative side detection terminals.

Abstract: The battery voltage monitoring apparatus has a structure in which, for each adjacent two of battery cells, the positive electrode of the battery cell on the higher voltage side and the negative electrode of the battery cell on the lower voltage side are connected to a corresponding one of common terminals provided in an RC filter circuit. The common terminal is branched into first and second branches respectively connected with a first resistor and a second resistor. The first and second resistors are connected to a corresponding one of positive side detection terminals and a corresponding one of negative side detection terminals, respectively. A capacitor is connected across a corresponding one of pairs of the positive side and negative side detection terminals. Switches for making short circuits respectively between the positive side detection terminals and between the negative side detection terminals corresponding to each adjacent two battery cells are provided.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a charging method for an assembled cell including a plurality of secondary batteries connected in series is disclosed. The method can detect the cell voltages. The method can set a charging current setting value so as to lower the charging current setting value of the assembled cell, if at least one of the detected cell voltages reaches a predetermined charge termination upper limit voltage. The method can control the charging current of the assembled cell according to the charging current setting value. In addition, the method can stop the charge, when a lowest cell voltage is lower than a predetermined charge termination lower limit voltage at a time when at least one of the cell voltages detected reaches the charge termination upper limit voltage.

Abstract: A battery system having components with reduced maximum voltage tolerance requirements is disclosed. The battery system includes a battery pack with battery modules, and measuring units, which are connected to the battery modules. The measuring units have first analog front ends (AFEs) for monitoring the at least two battery modules. Each first AFE is configured to transmit information related to the monitored characteristic via an isolator to a processor configured to control the battery pack based on the transmitted information. The isolator receives the transmitted information from an AFE which is not connected to the battery module having the least electric potential or to the battery module having the greatest electric potential.

Abstract: A battery module includes a plurality of battery cells, a detection circuit, a communication unit, and a printed circuit board. The detection circuit and the communication circuit are mounted on the common printed circuit board. The detection circuit detects a voltage of each of the battery cells in the battery module, and feeds the detected voltage to the communication circuit. The communication circuit is connected to a communication circuit in another battery module or a battery ECU. Thus, the communication circuit in the battery module and the communication circuit in the other battery module or the battery ECU can communicate with each other.

Abstract: A system and method for use with a vehicle battery pack having a number of individual battery cells, such as a lithium-ion battery commonly used in hybrid electric vehicles. In one embodiment, the method evaluates individual battery cells within a vehicle battery pack in order to obtain accurate estimates regarding their average transient voltage effect, open circuit voltage (OCVCell) and/or state of charge (SOCCell) so that a cell balancing process can be performed. These cell evaluations may be performed fairly soon after the vehicle is turned off and in a manner that utilizes a minimal amount of in-vehicle resources.

Abstract: A tester includes a device under test (DUT) power supply (DPS) with and input and output includes an amplifier configured to set an output voltage of the DPS output equal to an input voltage for the DPS. The DPS has a first output stage coupled to the amplifier and configured to source and sink current at the output of the DPS between a first voltage rail and a third voltage rail. The DPS has a second output stage coupled to the amplifier and configured to source and sink current to the output of the DPS between a second voltage rail and the third voltage rail. A selection device is configured to enable the first and second output stages based on a selection input signal. The selection device is situated outside of the first and the second output stages.

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.