US 9,438,048 B2 · Modular battery cell architecture and control method

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention relate to a configuration of a multi-cell battery pack, with at least two cells electrically connected in a first parallel arrangement, which is connected in series to a second parallel arrangement of at least two additional cells. Each cell is locally connected to a sensor to sense and control the current of the cells in parallel or parallel-series combination in the multi-cell battery pack. A control module is in communication with each sensor, and associated instructions electrically remove or disable a cell from the multi-cell battery pack determined to be defective based on measurements from an associated sensor. Accordingly, the configuration measures and monitors a state of health of each cell in the multi-cell battery pack, the measurements including temperature, voltage and current sensing.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method comprising:

arranging a battery pack with multiple cells, the multiple cells arranged in a parallel configuration with each cell electrically connected in series to a current sensor, including a first cell in communication with a first current sensor and a second cell in communication with a second current sensor;
using each respective current sensor in measuring current at an associated cell in the battery pack, including the first current sensor measuring current through the first cell and the second current sensor measuring current through the second cell;
and
controlling current flow in each individual cell within the battery pack responsive to the current measured at each individual cell, including balancing current flow in each cell in the battery pack.

1 more element

A computer program product for controlling current flow in each cell of multiple cells in a battery pack, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage device having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a processor to perform a method comprising:

measuring current at an associated cell in a multi-cell battery pack arrangement, the multi-cell battery pack arrangement including the multiple cells arranged in a parallel configuration with each cell electrically connected in series to a current sensor, including a first cell in communication with a first current sensor and a second cell in communication with a second current sensor, the current measurements including the first current sensor measuring current through the first cell and the second current sensor measuring current through the second cell;
and
controlling current flow in each individual cell within the battery pack responsive to the current measured at each individual cell, including balancing current flow in each cell in the battery pack.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Modular battery cell architecture and control method

Life of this patent

Modular battery cell architecture and control method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20