US 2012/0293130 A1Published application

System and method for managing parallel-connected battery cells

AssigneeInphi Corporation

InventorsANDREW J. BURSTEIN, Lawrence Tse

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Abstract

The present system and method manage a rechargeable battery comprising two or more battery cells or series stacks of cells. The system includes a set of switches, each of which connects a cell or stack of cells between positive and negative nodes when actuated, or connects one cell in a stack of cells to another cell in the stack when actuated, such that when all the switches in a given stack are actuated, it is connected between the positive and negative nodes. An electrical load is directly connected to the positive and negative nodes. A controller determines the state of each cell or stack of cells by measuring and/or calculating one or more predetermined characteristics, and selectively actuates the switches based on the states of the cells or stacks of cells so as to enhance the life of the battery.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A system for managing a rechargeable battery comprising two or more battery cells or series stacks of cells, comprising:

a set of switches adapted for connection to a battery comprising two or more battery cells or series stacks of cells ,each of said switches arranged to connect a respective one of said battery cells or stacks of cells between positive and negative nodes when actuated, or to connect one cell in a series stack of cells to another of said cells in said series stack of cells when actuated, said system arranged such that when all of the switches in a given series stack are actuated, said series stack is connected between said positive and negative nodes;
an electrical load directly connected to said positive and negative nodes;
and
a controller arranged to:
determine the state of each of said battery cells or series stacks of cells based on one or more predetermined characteristics of each cell or series stack of cells;
and
selectively actuate said switches based on the states of said battery cells or series stacks of cells so as to enhance the life of said battery.

4 more elements

A method of managing a rechargeable battery comprising two or more battery cells or series stacks of cells, comprising:

for a battery which comprises two or more battery cells or series stacks of cells, determining the state of each of the battery cells or series stacks of cells by measuring and/or calculating one or more predetermined characteristics for each cell or series stacks of cells;
based on the states of said cells or series stacks of cells and to enhance the life of said battery, actuating a set of switches to selectively connect said battery cells or series stacks of cells between positive and negative nodes and/or to connect one cell in a series stack of cells to another of said cells in said series stack of cells, said switches arranged such that when all of the switches in a given series stack are actuated, said series stack is connected between said positive and negative nodes;
and
directly connecting an electrical load between said positive and negative nodes.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/474,600Filed 17 May 2012
Priority: 17 May 2011
Published: 22 Nov 2012
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification3 codes

H02J 7/34
Circuit arrangements for charging or discharging batteries or for supplying loads from batteries: parallel operation in networks using both…
H02J 7/56
For charge balancing, e.g. equalisation of charge between batteries: active balancing, e.g. using capacitor-based, inductor-based or DC-DC converters
H02J
Power supply and charging

Family

Application61/486,926Us provisional application · filed 17 May 2011
US 9,018,912 B2Related patent
US 2012/0293130 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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