Battery management
AssigneeIntercal (UK) Limited
InventorJohn Hardy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention provides a method and apparatus for managing a battery comprising a plurality of series connected cells. The battery comprises a plurality of series connected statically balanced cells. The battery is arranged so that a substantially identical load is imposed on all of the cells, in use in order to maintain the balance. A battery charging controller is used for controlling the charging of the battery as is arranged to terminate charging prior to the cells reaching their maximum state of charge. The invention also provides a modified charging regime which controls individual cell voltage to avoid any single cell exceeding a desired voltage.
Claims22
A rechargeable battery management system comprising:
- a battery comprising a plurality of series connected cells, which are statically balanced by equalizing the state of charge of each of the cells when they are rested and prior to installation in the battery management system, wherein the battery is arranged such that a substantially identical current flows through each of the cells in use, and no dynamic balancing of the cells takes place once the battery is installed in the battery management system;
- and
- a battery charging controller for controlling the charging of the battery by terminating charging prior to the cells reaching their maximum state of charge.
A method of operating a rechargeable battery comprising:
- statically balancing a plurality of cells by equalizing the state of charge of each of the cells when they are rested and prior to installation in the battery and carrying out no dynamic balancing of the cells once the battery is installed in the battery management system;
- connecting the plurality of statically balanced cells in series to form said battery;
- arranging connections between the cells such that a substantially identical current flows through each cell in use;
- and
- controlling the charging of the battery by terminating charging prior to the cells reaching their maximum state of charge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.