# US 2017/0288422 A1 · Charge equalization apparatus for a battery string

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- Number: US 2017/0288422 A1
- Document ID: US20170288422A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/495,592
- Filed: 2017-04-24
- Published: 2017-10-05
- Earliest claimed: 2013-10-22
- Assignees: SK Innovation Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: SK Innovation Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Jeong Hwan YANG; Gun-Woo MOON; Chol-Ho KIM; Moon-Young KIM
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170288422A1

## CPC

- H02J 7/52: for charge balancing, e.g. equalisation of charge between batteries
- H01M 10/441: {for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially}
- H01M 10/482: {for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially}
- H02J 7/56: Active balancing, e.g. using capacitor-based, inductor-based or DC-DC converters
- G01R 19/16542: {for batteries (charge condition monitoring in G01R31/36)}
- G01R 31/3835: involving only voltage measurements
- G01R 31/396: Acquisition or processing of data for testing or for monitoring individual cells or groups of cells within a battery
- H02J 7/82: Control of state of charge [SOC]
- H02J 7/84: Control of state of health [SOH]
- Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

Provided are a charge equalization apparatus for a battery string. According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the charge equalization apparatus are modularized by being divided into the master unit and the slave unit, such that the charge equalization apparatus may be expanded and contracted independent of the number of batteries, the circuits are separated for each module, such that the circuits may be easily implemented, and when the circuits are damaged, only the damaged module is replaced, such that the effective countermeasure may be performed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A charge equalization apparatus for a battery string, comprising:
two or more detachable battery modules, each of the two or more detachable battery modules comprising: two or more battery cells; a switch block unit configured to switch the two or more battery cells; a module switch unit configured to select the switch block unit; and a battery monitoring unit configured to monitor the two or more battery cells and measure a cell potential of each of the two or more battery cells to transmit information on the cell potential;
a control unit configured to receive the information from the battery monitoring unit, compare the information with a prestored reference value so as to determine whether charges of the two or more battery cells are equalized, and transmit a control signal to the battery monitoring unit; and
a equalization converter configured to perform a charge equalization by charging or discharging the two or more battery cells,
wherein the battery monitoring unit controls operations of the switch block unit and the module switch unit according to the control signal.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The charge equalization apparatus of claim 1, wherein the module switch unit of the two or more detachable battery modules is configured to share the equalization converter

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The charge equalization apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control unit and the single equalization converter form a single master module; and each of the two or more detachable battery modules form a slave module and is configured to be independently attachable to and detachable from the single master module.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The charge equalization apparatus of claim 3, wherein when the slave module is attached to the single master module, the battery monitoring unit is configured to be connected independently to the control unit.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The charge equalization apparatus of claim 4, wherein the battery monitoring unit is configured to be connected via communication with the control unit.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The charge equalization apparatus of claim 1, wherein the battery monitoring unit and the switch block unit are configured of a single integrated circuit.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The charge equalization apparatus of claim 1, wherein the switch block unit or the module switch unit is configured of at least any one of a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET), a bipolar junction transistor (BJT), and a relay.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The charge equalization apparatus of claim 1, wherein the equalization converter is configured of a chargeable/dischargeable DC/DC converter or an insulating transformer.