Large-format battery management system with configuration list for master-slave battery packs

A battery system configured for electrically powering an end device and comprising a plurality of battery packs, the battery system comprising:

• a first battery pack including:
• a first communication interface circuit configured to interface to a controller area network (CAN) bus;
• a first controller comprising at least one processor;
• and
• a first memory storing controller instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first controller to:
• obtain a configuration list of installed battery packs in the battery system, wherein a first entry corresponds to the first battery pack;
• when the first entry of the configuration list has a top priority position in the configuration list, configure the first battery pack to serve as a master battery pack of the battery system, wherein the top priority position is indicative that the first battery pack was installed before any other active battery packs in the battery system;
• when the first battery pack serves as the master battery pack, revise the configuration list when a third battery pack is installed or removed from the battery system;
• and
• repetitively broadcast the configuration list to all installed battery packs over the CAN bus via the first communication interface circuit;
• and
• a second battery pack, wherein the second battery pack has electrical and electronics components identical to the first battery pack, the second battery pack comprises:
• a second communication interface circuit configured to interface to the controller area network (CAN) bus;
• a second controller comprising one or more processors;
• and
• a second memory storing controller instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the second controller to:
• obtain the configuration list of the installed battery packs in the battery system, wherein a second entry corresponds to the second battery pack;
• when the second entry of the configuration list has the top priority position in the configuration list, configure the second battery pack to serve as the master battery pack of the battery system, wherein the top priority position is indicative that the second battery pack was installed before said any other active battery packs in the battery system;
• when the second battery pack serves as the master battery pack, revise the configuration list when the third battery pack is installed or removed from the battery system;
• and
• repetitively broadcast the configuration list to all installed battery packs over the CAN bus via the second communication interface circuit.

A method of powering an end device by a battery system, the method comprising:

• obtaining a configuration list of installed battery packs in the battery system, wherein a first entry corresponds to a first battery pack;
• when the first entry of the configuration list has a top priority position in the configuration list, configuring the first battery pack to serve as a master battery pack of the battery system, else when the first entry for the first battery pack is not at the top priority position in the configuration list, configure the first battery pack to serve as a slave battery pack, wherein the top priority position is indicative that the first battery pack was installed before any other active battery packs in the battery system;
• revising the configuration list when a second battery pack is installed or removed from the battery system;
• and
• repetitively broadcasting the configuration list to all installed battery packs over a communication channel via a communication interface circuit.

A battery system configured for electrically powering an end device and comprising a plurality of battery packs, the battery system comprising:

• a power bus coupled to the end device to provide electrical power to the end device;
• a communication channel coupled to the plurality of battery packs;
• a first battery pack of the plurality of battery packs, including:
• a first communication interface circuit configured to interface to the communication channel;
• a first discharging array;
• a first processor;
• and
• a first memory storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the first processor, cause the first battery pack to:
• disable the first discharging array to prevent discharging onto the power bus from the first battery pack;
• obtain a first open circuit voltage measurement of the first battery pack;
• and
• share the first open circuit voltage measurement with the plurality of battery packs via the communication channel;
• maintain a first copy of a configuration list based on the first open circuit voltage measurement and shared open circuit voltage measurements from the plurality of battery packs;
• and
• enable the first discharging array to allow discharging onto the power bus;
• and
• a second battery pack of the plurality of battery packs, including:
• a second communication interface circuit configured to interface to the communication channel;
• a second discharging array electrically connected to the power bus of the battery system;
• a second processor;
• and
• a second memory storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the second processor, cause the second battery pack to:
• disable the second discharging array to prevent discharging onto the power bus from the second battery pack;
• obtain a second open circuit voltage measurement of the second battery pack;
• and
• share the second open circuit voltage measurement with the plurality of battery packs via the communication channel;
• maintain a second copy of the configuration list based the second open circuit voltage measurement and the shared open circuit voltage measurements from the plurality of battery packs, wherein the configuration list is ordered based on decreasing open circuit voltage measurements and wherein a top member of the configuration list is designated as a master battery pack of the battery system;
• and
• enable the second discharging array to allow discharging onto the power bus.