Method and system for charging a series battery
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsSteven C. Michalske, Thomas C. Greening, P. Jeffrey Ungar, William C. Athas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system for charging a series battery, wherein the series battery is comprised of a set of banks which are connected in series, so that the same charging current passes through each bank. During the charging process, the system measures a voltage across each bank in the set of banks. The system then compares the measured voltage with a target voltage for each bank, and adjusts the charging process based on results of the comparisons between the measured voltage and the target voltage.
Claims28
A method for charging a series battery, comprising:
- charging the series battery, wherein the series battery includes a set of banks which are connected in series, so that the same charging current passes through each bank in the set of banks;
- measuring a voltage across each bank in the set of banks as the series battery is charging;
- for each bank in the set of banks, comparing the measured voltage for the bank with a target voltage for the bank, wherein comparing the measured voltage with the target voltage comprises computing a difference between the measured voltage and the target voltage to produce a set of differences for the set of banks;
- and
- adjusting the charging process based on results of the comparisons between the measured voltage and the target voltage for each bank by limiting a voltage output for the charging process based on a result of a comparison of the differences in the set of differences.
A system for charging a series battery, comprising:
- the series battery, wherein the series battery includes a set of banks which are connected in series;
- a battery charger which is coupled to the series battery so that the same charging current passes through each bank in the set of banks;
- a set of voltage monitors configured to measure a voltage across each bank in the set of banks as the series battery is charging;
- a comparison circuit configured to compare the measured voltage for each bank with a target voltage for the bank, wherein, while comparing the measured voltage with the target voltage, the comparison circuit is configured to compute a difference between the measured voltage and the target voltage to produce a set of differences for the set of banks;
- a controller within the battery charger configured to adjust the charging process based on results of the comparisons between the measured voltage and the target voltage for each bank in the set of banks by limiting a voltage output for the charging process based on a result of a comparison of the differences in the set of differences.
A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for charging a series battery, the method comprising:
- using a battery charger to charge the series battery, wherein the series battery includes a set of banks which are connected in series, so that the same charging current passes through each bank in the set of banks;
- receiving measurements of voltages across each bank in the set of banks as the series battery is charging;
- for each bank in the set of banks, computing differences between the measured voltage and the target voltage for each bank to produce a set of differences for the set of banks;
- and
- adjusting the charging process based on the set of differences between the measured voltage and the target voltage for each bank by limiting a voltage output for the charging process based on a result of a comparison of the differences in the set of differences.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.