Battery heating circuits and methods using voltage inversion and freewheeling circuit components

A circuit for heating a battery, the circuit comprising:

• the battery including a first damping component and a first current storage component, the first damping component and the first current storage component being parasitic to the battery, the battery including a first battery terminal and a second battery terminal;
• a switch unit;
• a switching control component coupled to the switch unit;
• a first charge storage component, the first charge storage component and the first current storage component being at least parts of an energy storage circuit;
• and
• an energy superposition unit coupled to the first charge storage component;
• a freewheeling circuit connected between the first battery terminal and the second battery terminal;
• wherein:
• the first damping component, the first current storage component, the switch unit, and the first charge storage component are connected in series;
• the switching control component is configured to turn on and off the switch unit so as to control a first current flowing between the battery and the first charge storage component;
• the energy superposition unit is configured to, after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off, adjust a storage voltage associated with the first charge storage component so that a positive voltage terminal of the first charge storage component is coupled, directly or indirectly, to a negative voltage terminal of the battery;
• and
• the freewheeling circuit configured to allow a freewheeling current to flow to the battery after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off;
• wherein the circuit for heating the battery is configured to heat the battery by at least discharging the battery;
• wherein the switch unit includes a first branch circuit for conduction in a first direction and a second branch circuit for conduction in a second direction, the first direction being from the positive voltage terminal of the battery to the first charge storage component, the second direction being from the first charge storage component to the battery;
• wherein the switching control component is coupled to the first branch circuit and the second branch circuit and configured to turn on and off the first branch circuit and the second branch circuit respectively;
• wherein:
• the first branch circuit includes a first switch and a first one-way semiconductor component connected in series with the first switch, the first switch being coupled to the switching control component;
• and
• the second branch circuit includes a second switch and a second one-way semiconductor component connected in series with the second switch, the second switch being coupled to the switching control component;
• wherein the switching control component is configured to:
• turn on and off the first branch circuit by turning on and off the first switch respectively;
• and
• turn on and off the second branch circuit by turning on and off the second switch respectively.