Battery pack, battery charging station, and charging method
OwnerChi-Sheng Chuanginventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Various techniques described herein relate to battery packs of electric vehicles, batteries, and battery charging systems. Batteries may comprise a plurality of battery modules, wherein each battery module may be provided with one or more battery cells, and the plurality of battery modules may be connected in series when providing electric power output. Battery charging systems described herein may comprise a charging circuit that connects a plurality of battery modules in series, and may be used for charging the plurality of battery modules in the battery in series. Additional charging circuits may be connected respectively to the plurality of battery modules, and the additional charging circuits may be used for charging at least one battery module in the plurality of battery modules.
Claims14
A battery pack for an electric vehicle, comprising:
- a battery comprising a plurality of series connected battery modules;
- and
- a battery charging system, comprising:
- a first charging circuit connecting the plurality of battery modules in series, the first charging circuit configured to charge the plurality of battery modules in series, the plurality of battery modules including a first battery module;
- a plurality of second charging circuits, wherein each of the plurality of second charging circuits is connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of battery modules independently from the first charging circuit, and wherein each of the plurality of second charging circuits is configured to charge the corresponding battery module, the plurality of second charging circuits including a second charging circuit configured to charge the first battery module and a second battery module;
- and
- a control circuit configured to:
- switch on the first charge circuit to charge the battery modules in series;
- measure whether the voltage of the battery modules connected in series reaches a first preset voltage value;
- if the voltage of the battery modules connected in series reaches the first preset voltage value, measure whether the voltage of each battery module in the battery reaches a second preset voltage value;
- select one or more battery modules not reaching the second preset voltage value;
- charge the selected one or more battery modules using corresponding second charging circuits connected to the first and second battery modules until the voltages thereof reach the second preset voltage value.
A battery charging station for charging a battery comprising a series connected plurality of battery modules, the battery charging station comprising:
- a first charging circuit configured to charge the series connected plurality of battery modules in series, the plurality of battery modules including a first battery module and a second battery module;
- a plurality of second charging circuits, each second charging circuit configured to charge a corresponding one of the plurality of battery modules, independently from the first charging circuit, the plurality of second charging circuits including a second charging circuit configured to charge the first battery module and the second battery module;
- and
- a control circuit configured to
- switch on the first charge circuit to charge the battery modules in series;
- measure whether the voltage of the battery modules connected in series reaches a first preset voltage value;
- if the voltage of the battery modules connected in series reaches the first preset voltage value, measure whether the voltage of each battery module in the battery reaches a second preset voltage value;
- select one or more battery modules not reaching the second preset voltage value;
- and
- charge the selected one or more battery modules using corresponding second charging circuits connected to the first and second battery modules until the voltages thereof reach the second preset voltage value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.