Virtual cell for battery thermal management

Abstract

A system, method, and apparatus for virtual cells for battery thermal management are disclosed. The disclosed method involves sensing, with at least one temperature sensor, a temperature of at least one battery cell in a battery pack. The method further involves sensing, with at least one current sensor, at least one current within the battery pack. Also, the method involves determining, with a battery thermal management system (BTMS) controller, if the temperature of any of the battery cells in the battery pack exceeds a temperature limit (TLimit). Further, the method involves activating, with the BTMS controller, at least one virtual cell to provide current or sink current for at least one of the battery cells in the battery pack that exceeds the temperature limit.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.