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US 2004/0164706 A1Published application
Battery management unit, system and method
AssigneeDesignline International Holdings, LLC
InventorJeffrey Roger Osborne
Life of this patent
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AssigneeDesignline International Holdings, LLC
InventorJeffrey Roger Osborne
Estimating the term…
A battery management unit and system for managing the state of charge of cells or batteries (B1-B10). Each battery management unit (1) measures cell or battery terminal voltage and provides this information to a central controller (3) via a communication medium (2). Each battery management unit (1) monitors a plurality of batteries (B1-B10) and can selectively charge a selected battery (B1-B10) via a charger (7) and switch circuit (8, 17) or can selectively discharge a selected battery (B1-B10) via a load (10) and switch circuit (8, 17) under the control of a controller (6). The controller (6) may control charging and discharging in accordance with measurements from voltage sensors (15a-j) or may convey information from a voltage sensors (15a-15j) to the central controller (3) and receive charging and discharging commands from the central controller (3). Charging and discharging is controlled to maintain all batteries within a desired state of charge ranged. The central controller (3) may selectively connect a main charger (20) or generator (21) to a bank of batteries associated with a battery management unit (1).
A battery management unit for managing the state of charge of a plurality of cells or batteries connected thereto including:
A battery management unit as claimed in any preceding claim including a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the cells or batteries and providing temperature information to the controller.
A battery management unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the controller charges and discharges selected cells or batteries so as to maintain the state of charge of the cells or batteries within a desired range.
A battery management unit as claimed in any proceeding claim wherein the battery or cell having the highest terminal voltage, above a predetermined high, voltage threshold, is connected to the discharger for a predetermined period until all cells have a terminal voltage below the high voltage threshold.
A battery management unit as claimed in any one of the proceeding claims including a power sensor for monitoring the power supplied by the charger to a cell or battery and supplying the information to the controller.
A battery management unit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the controller includes a relay matrix for selectively connecting output terminals of the charger or discharger across the selected cell or battery.
A battery management unit as claimed in any one of the proceeding claims including a communications port for facilitating communication of battery information to a central control unit and for receiving commands from the central control unit to control the charging or discharging of selected cells or batteries.
A battery management system comprising a plurality of battery management units as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and a central control unit, the battery management units being in communication with the central control unit via respective communication paths.
A method of charging and equalising the state of charge of a plurality of cells or batteries comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.