System and Method for Balancing a State of Charge of Series Connected Cells
AssigneeEnerdel, Inc.
InventorChad Hartzog
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of balancing a state of charge (SOC) of a plurality of cells connected in series, including identifying an undercharged cell from the plurality of cells to charge, electrically connecting a positive side of the undercharged cell to a positive bus, electrically connecting a negative side of the undercharged cell to a negative bus, electrically connecting an inductor to a voltage source during a first time period; electrically disconnecting the inductor from the voltage source in response to an elapse of the first time period, and maintaining the disconnection of the inductor from the plurality of cells for a second time period corresponding generally to the time for the inductor to discharge energy to the undercharged cell.
Claims18
A method of balancing a state of charge (SOC) of a plurality of cells connected in series, said method comprising:
- identifying an undercharged cell from the plurality of cells to charge;
- electrically connecting a positive side of the undercharged cell to a positive bus;
- electrically connecting a negative side of the undercharged cell to a negative bus;
- electrically connecting an inductor to a voltage source during a first time period;
- electrically disconnecting the inductor from the voltage source in response to an elapse of the first time period;
- and
- maintaining the disconnection of the inductor from the plurality of cells for a second time period corresponding generally to the time for the inductor to discharge energy to the undercharged cell.
A method of balancing a state of charge (SOC) of a plurality of cells connected in series, said method comprising:
- identifying an undercharged cell from the plurality of cells to charge;
- electrically connecting a positive side of the undercharged cell to a positive bus;
- electrically connecting a negative side of the undercharged cell to a negative bus;
- electrically connecting an inductor to a voltage source during a first time period;
- electrically disconnecting the inductor from the voltage source in response to an elapse of the first time period;
- sensing a current flowing through the inductor;
- and
- maintaining the disconnection of the inductor from the plurality of cells for a second time period corresponding generally to the time for the inductor to discharge energy to the undercharged cell.
A method of balancing a state of charge (SOC) of a plurality of cells connected in series, said method comprising:
- identifying an undercharged cell from the plurality of cells to charge;
- electrically connecting a positive side of the undercharged cell to a positive bus;
- electrically connecting a negative side of the undercharged cell to a negative bus;
- electrically connecting an inductor to a voltage source during a first time period;
- electrically disconnecting the inductor from the voltage source in response to an elapse of the first time period;
- sensing a current flowing through the inductor;
- maintaining the disconnection of the inductor from the plurality of cells for a second time period corresponding generally to the time for the inductor to discharge energy to the undercharged cell;
- and
- repeating said steps of electrically connecting an inductor, sensing a current, electrically disconnecting the inductor, and maintaining the disconnection in response to the undercharged cell remaining undercharged with respect to the plurality of cells.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.