Battery protection systems

A battery pack comprising:

• a first plurality of battery cells;
• a second plurality of battery cells coupled to said first plurality of battery cells;
• a first protection module coupled to said first plurality of battery cells;
• and
• a second protection module coupled to said second plurality of battery cells,
• wherein each protection module of said first and second protection modules comprises:
• a plurality of monitoring terminals operable for monitoring a status of a corresponding plurality of battery cells of said first and second pluralities of battery cells;
• an output terminal operable for outputting a protection signal if an abnormal condition in said corresponding plurality of battery cells is detected;
• a switching terminal operable for receiving a switching signal;
• and
• detection circuitry, coupled to said monitoring terminals, said output terminal, and said switching terminal, and configured to:
• switch from a normal-working mode to a fast-test mode in response to said switching signal, delay said outputting of said protection signal for a first time interval if said abnormal condition is detected in said normal-working mode, and delay said outputting of said protection signal for a second time interval, less than said first time interval, if said abnormal condition is detected in said fast-test mode,
• and wherein the switching terminal of said first protection module and a first monitoring terminal of said first protection module are coupled to said second protection module and are operable for receiving the protection signal output from the output terminal of said second protection module.

A method for protecting a battery pack comprising a first plurality of battery cells and a second plurality of battery cells, said method comprising:

• monitoring, via a plurality of monitoring terminals of a first protection module, a status of said first plurality of battery cells;
• receiving, at a switching terminal of said first protection module, a switching signal;
• controlling said first protection module to switch from a normal-working mode to a fast-test mode in response to said switching signal;
• outputting, through a first output terminal of said first protection module, a first protection signal if an abnormal condition in said first plurality of battery cells is detected, wherein said outputting of said first protection signal is delayed for a first time interval if said abnormal condition is detected in said normal-working mode, and wherein said outputting of said first protection signal is delayed for a second time interval, less than said first time interval, if said abnormal condition is detected in said fast-test mode;
• monitoring, using a second protection module, a status of said second plurality of battery cells;
• and
• outputting, through a second output terminal of said second protection module, a second protection signal if an abnormal condition in said second plurality of battery cells is detected,
• wherein said method further comprises:
• receiving, at said switching terminal of said first protection module, said second protection signal from said second output terminal of said second protection module;
• and
• receiving, at a first monitoring terminal of said first protection module, said second protection signal from said second output terminal of said second protection module.