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US 8,575,896 B2Granted
Parallel battery architecture with shared bidirectional converter
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsThomas C. Greening, William C. Athas, P. Jeffrey Ungar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Some embodiments provide a system that provides a power source. The power source includes a set of cells and a main power bus configured to connect the set of cells in a parallel configuration. The power source also includes a bidirectional converter configured to connect to one cell from the set of cells at a time. Finally, the power source includes a set of switches configured to switch each cell in the set of cells to one of the main power bus and the bidirectional converter.
Claims19
A power source, comprising:
- a set of cells;
- a main power bus configured to connect the set of cells in a parallel configuration;
- a bidirectional converter configured to connect to one cell from the set of cells at a time;
- and
- a set of switches configured to connect one cell at a time through a corresponding switch to the bidirectional converter and connect the remaining cells through corresponding switches to the main power bus.
2 more elements
A method for providing a power source, comprising:
- connecting a set of cells in a parallel configuration;
- configuring a set of switches so that one cell at a time is connected through a corresponding switch to a bidirectional converter and the remaining cells are connected through corresponding switches to a main power bus;
- and
- supplying power from the set of cells.
1 more element
A portable electronic device, comprising:
- a set of components powered by a power source;
- and
- the power source, comprising:
- a set of cells;
- a main power bus configured to connect the set of cells in a parallel configuration;
- a bidirectional converter configured to connect to one cell from the set of cells at a time;
- and
- a set of switches configured to connect one cell at a time through a corresponding switch to the bidirectional converter and connect the remaining cells through corresponding switches to the main power bus.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.