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US 10,985,552 B2Granted
Circuit breakers
AssigneeBourns, Inc.
InventorsKiyoshi Tada, Cathal Sheehan, Gordon Lee Bourns, Brian Ahearne
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Electromechanical circuit breakers are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the breakers can be integrated into battery management systems to simplify battery management circuitry and/or to provide redundancy to the battery management systems. In some embodiments, the breakers can be provided to reduce damage to the battery management systems during hot-swapping of a battery cell. The breakers can be automatically resettable or not automatically resettable in various embodiments.
Claims41
An electrical breaker responsive to a fault condition for one or more battery cells, the breaker comprising:
- a first terminal configured to electrically connect to a battery management system;
- a second terminal configured to electrically connect to a first discharge resistor;
- a third terminal;
- a second discharge resistor electrically connected to the third terminal, the second discharge resistor configured to electrically connect to a first electrode of a battery cell of the one or more battery cells, the third terminal disposed between the first terminal and the second discharge resistor;
- and
- a thermally-activated switch disposed between the first terminal and the second and third terminals,
- wherein the switch has a first operating condition in which the first terminal is electrically connected to the second terminal, and the switch has a second condition in which the first terminal is electrically connected to the third terminal.
4 more elements
An electrical breaker, the breaker comprising:
- a first terminal configured to electrically connect to a first electrode of a battery cell;
- a second terminal configured to electrically connect to a battery management system;
- a thermally-activated switch disposed between the first terminal and the second terminal;
- and
- a resistor in parallel with the switch and configured to electrically connect to the battery management system,
- wherein the switch has a first operating condition in an electrically open state in which the first terminal is disconnected from the second terminal, and a second operating condition in which the first terminal is electrically connected to the second terminal,
- wherein, during a connection phase when an electrical connection between the electrical breaker and the battery cell is being made, the switch is in the first operating condition and a first electrical current passes through the resistor to the battery management system,
- wherein, during an operational phase the switch is in the second operating condition and a second electrical current passes through the switch to the battery management system, the first electrical current greater than the second electrical current.
5 more elements
A fuse comprising:
- an electrical breaker comprising:
- a first terminal electrically connected to a first pin;
- a second terminal;
- a third terminal;
- a thermally-activated switch between the first terminal and the second and third terminals;
- and
- a resistor electrically connected to the third terminal and thermally coupled with the switch;
- a transistor electrically connected to the resistor and the third terminal,
- wherein, when the transistor is in a first state, current does not flow through the transistor and the breaker, and the first terminal is electrically connected to the third terminal,
- wherein, when the transistor is in a second state, current flows through the transistor and the resistor, the switch configured to disconnect from the third terminal and connect to the second terminal when a temperature of the resistor exceeds a predetermined threshold.
7 more elements
An electrical breaker responsive to a fault condition, the breaker comprising:
- a first terminal;
- a second terminal;
- a third terminal;
- a thermally-activated switch disposed between the first terminal and the second and third terminals;
- a resistor in parallel with the switch and in electrical communication with the second terminal;
- and
- a thyristor in parallel with the switch and in series with the resistor.
4 more elements
An electrical breaker responsive to a fault condition, the breaker comprising:
- a first terminal;
- a second terminal;
- a third terminal configured to connect to an electrical bypass pathway to bypass an electrical component;
- a spring;
- and
- a thermally-activated switch comprising a bimetal switching element, the switch mechanically connected to the spring, the thermally-activated switch disposed between the first terminal and the second and third terminals, wherein the switch has a normal operating condition in which the first terminal is electrically connected to the second terminal, and the switch has a fault condition in which the first terminal is electrically connected to the third terminal, such that in a fault condition, at least a majority of the current flows between the first terminal and the third terminal,
- wherein, upon thermal activation, the switch is configured to move from the normal operating condition to the fault condition, the movement of the switch imparting a change in mechanical potential energy of the spring to bias the spring such that the switch does not automatically move back to the normal operating condition.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.