# US 2019/0356138 A1 · Battery packs and methods for controlling charging of battery packs > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0356138 A1 - Document ID: US20190356138A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/529,465 - Filed: 2019-08-01 - Published: 2019-11-21 - Earliest claimed: 2017-02-03 - Assignees: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd - Inventors: Jihwan Seol; Jooyul Lee - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190356138A1 ## CPC - H02J 7/64: against overvoltage - H01M 10/44: Methods for charging or discharging (circuits for charging H02J7/00) - H02J 7/00: Circuit arrangements for charging or discharging batteries or for supplying loads from batteries - H02J 7/50: acting upon multiple batteries simultaneously or sequentially - H02J 7/663: {using battery or load disconnect circuits (H02J9/002 takes precedence)} - H02J 7/933: {the cycle being controlled or terminated in response to electric parameters} - 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 - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract Battery packs and methods for controlling charging of battery packs are disclosed. In one aspect, a battery pack includes a battery including at least one battery cell, a first pack terminal and a second pack terminal configured to be connected to a charger, and a discharging switch including a first switch and a diode. The first switch is connected between the second pack terminal and the battery. The diode is connected in parallel to the first switch and has a forward direction in which charging current of the battery flows. The battery pack further includes a battery management unit configured to select a charging mode from one of a first charging mode in which the battery is charged with charging current flowing through the first switch and a second charging mode in which the battery is charged with charging current flowing through the diode. The battery management unit is further configured to begin charging the battery in the first charging mode and then switch the charging mode to the second charging mode. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A battery pack, comprising: a battery comprising at least one battery cell, a first battery terminal, and a second battery terminal; a first pack terminal and a second pack terminal configured to be connected to a charger; a discharging switch comprising a first switch and a diode, the first switch being connected between the second pack terminal and the second battery terminal, the diode being connected in parallel to the first switch and having a forward direction in which charging current of the battery flows; and a battery management unit configured to select a charging mode from a first charging mode in which the battery is charged with charging current flowing through the first switch and a second charging mode in which the battery is charged with charging current flowing through the diode, wherein the battery management unit is further configured to begin charging the battery in the first charging mode and then switch the charging mode to the second charging mode. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The battery pack of claim 1, wherein: the battery management unit is further configured to switch the charging mode from the first charging mode to the second charging mode to complete charging of the battery at a second voltage which is lower than a first voltage in the first charging mode by a preset voltage. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The battery pack of claim 1, wherein: the battery management unit is further configured to switch the charging mode from the first charging mode to the second charging mode when a charging current of the charger for charging the battery is equal to or less than a preset current. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The battery pack of claim 1, wherein: the battery management unit is further configured to switch the charging mode from the first charging mode to the second charging mode when a charging voltage of the charger for charging the battery is maintained at a constant level. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The battery pack of claim 1, wherein: the battery management unit is further configured to switch the charging mode from the first charging mode to the second charging mode when the battery is charged to a preset reference voltage. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The battery pack of claim 1, wherein: the battery management unit is further configured to detect a state of charge of the battery, and the battery management unit is further configured to switch the charging mode from the first charging mode to the second charging mode when the detected state of charge of the battery is equal to or greater than a preset state of charge. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The battery pack of claim 1, wherein: the battery management unit is further configured to turn on the first switch when connection of the charger is not detected between the first pack terminal and the second pack terminal in the second charging mode. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The battery pack of claim 1, wherein: the second battery terminal comprises a negative terminal of the battery, and the first switch comprises an N-type FET switch. ### Claim 9 A method of controlling charging of a battery, the method comprising: detecting connection of a charger configured to charge the battery; charging the battery with a first charging current which flows through a first switch arranged along a high current path through which discharging current and charging current of the battery flows; turning off the first switch; and charging the battery with a second charging current which flows through a diode connected in parallel to the first switch. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the turning off of the first switch comprises: sensing a charging current applied from the charger; and turning off the first switch when the sensed charging current is less than a preset reference current. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the turning off of the first switch comprises: sensing a voltage of the battery; and turning off the first switch when the sensed voltage is equal to or greater than a preset reference voltage. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: detecting a state of charge of the battery based on the sensed voltage; and turning off the first switch when the detected state of charge of the battery is equal to or greater than a preset state of charge. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising: turning on the first switch when electrical connection with the charger is not detected. ### Claim 14 A battery pack, comprising: a battery comprising at least one battery cell; a first terminal and a second terminal configured to be connected to an external charger; a first switch and a diode connected in parallel, the first switch and the diode being electrically connected between the battery and the second terminal; and a battery management unit configured to adjust a state of the first switch such that a charging current flows through the first switch or through the diode. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The battery pack of claim 14, wherein: the battery management unit is further configured to adjust the first switch from a closed state to an open state to complete charging of the battery at a second voltage which is lower than a first voltage in the first charging mode by a preset voltage. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The battery pack of claim 14, wherein: the battery management unit is further configured to adjust the first switch from a closed state to an open state when a charging current of the charger for charging the battery is equal to or less than a preset current. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The battery pack of claim 14, wherein: the battery management unit is further configured to adjust the first switch from a closed state to an open state when a charging voltage of the charger for charging the battery is maintained at a constant level. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The battery pack of claim 14, wherein: the battery management unit is further configured to adjust the first switch from an open state to a closed state when the battery is charged to a preset reference voltage. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The battery pack of claim 14, further comprising: a second switch and a second diode connected in parallel, wherein the second switch and the second diode are electrically connected between the first switch and the second terminal. ### Claim 20 (depends on 20) The battery pack of claim 20, wherein: a forward direction of the first diode is opposite to a forward direction of the second diode.