# US 9,520,613 B2 · Battery control with block selection > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,520,613 B2 - Document ID: US9520613B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/949,178 - Filed: 2013-07-23 - Published: 2015-01-29 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2013-07-23 - Assignees: Infineon Technologies AG - Applicants: Infineon Technologies AG - Inventors: Philip Georg Brockerhoff - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9520613B2 ## CPC - B60L 58/19: Switching between serial connection and parallel connection of battery modules - H01M 10/02: Details (of electrodes H01M4/00; of non-active parts H01M50/00) - H01M 10/441: {for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially} - H02J 7/50: acting upon multiple batteries simultaneously or sequentially - H02J 7/56: Active balancing, e.g. using capacitor-based, inductor-based or DC-DC converters - H01M 10/48: Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte (constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569) - H01M 10/482: {for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially} - H02J 7/345: {using capacitors as storage or buffering devices} - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries - B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A battery block is equipped with a plurality of battery blocks. Each of the battery blocks includes at least one battery cell to provide a block voltage of the battery block. A first number of the battery blocks is selected, and the first number of the battery blocks is coupled to voltage terminals of the battery to set a battery voltage which corresponds to the sum of the block voltages of the first number of battery blocks. Further, a second number of the battery blocks is selected, and the second number of battery blocks is coupled to the voltage terminals of the battery to set a battery voltage which corresponds to the sum of the block voltages of the second number of battery blocks. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of controlling a battery comprising a plurality of battery blocks, each of the battery blocks comprising at least one battery cell to provide a block voltage of the battery block, the method comprising: selecting a first number of the battery blocks; coupling the first number of the battery blocks to voltage terminals of the battery to set a battery voltage that corresponds to the sum of the block voltages of the first number of the battery blocks; selecting a second number of the battery blocks, wherein selecting the second number of the battery blocks comprises: estimating a load on the battery; comparing the estimated load to a threshold value; and selecting the second number of the battery blocks to be lower than the first number of the battery blocks when the estimated load is above the threshold value; and coupling the second number of the battery blocks to the voltage terminals of the battery to set a battery voltage that corresponds to the sum of the block voltages of the second number of the battery blocks. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising applying the battery voltage produced by the selected battery blocks to an electrical device connected to the voltage terminals of the battery. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising charging the selected battery blocks by applying a charging voltage to the voltage terminals of the battery. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising: detecting the battery voltage after coupling the first number of the battery blocks to the voltage terminals; and performing the selection of the second number of the battery blocks depending on the detected battery voltage. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, further comprising: comparing the detected battery voltage to a threshold value; and in response to the determined battery voltage being below the threshold value, selecting the second number of the battery blocks to be higher than the first number of the battery blocks. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising: detecting a charging status of at least one of the battery blocks; and performing the selection of the first number of the battery blocks and/or of the second number of the battery blocks depending on the detected charging status. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising: detecting a block voltage of at least one of the battery blocks; and performing the selection of the first number of the battery blocks and/or of the second number of the battery blocks depending on the detected block voltage. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising: monitoring a fault status of at least one of the battery blocks; and performing the selection of the first number of the battery blocks and/or of the second number of the battery blocks depending on the monitored fault status. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising: connecting the battery blocks in series via a first connection node and a second connection node of at least one of the battery blocks; and depending on the at least one battery block being selected, performing the coupling to the voltage terminals by switching between configurations of the battery block, the configurations of the battery block comprising: a first configuration in which a bypass connection between the first connection node and the second connection node of the battery block is open and the at least one battery cell of the battery block is connected between the first connection node and the second connection node, and a second configuration in which a bypass connection between the first connection node and the second connection node of the battery block is closed and the at least one battery cell of the battery block is disconnected from at least one of the first connection node and the second connection node of the battery block. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, further comprising: temporarily connecting a resistor in series with the battery blocks; and while the resistor is connected in series, switching the battery block between the first configuration and the second configuration. ### Claim 11 A battery control circuit for a battery comprising: a plurality of battery blocks, each of the battery blocks comprising at least one battery cell to provide a block voltage of the battery block; a controller configured to: select a first number of the battery blocks; control coupling the first number of the battery blocks to voltage terminals of the battery to set a battery voltage which corresponds to the sum of the block voltages of the first number of the battery blocks; select a second number of the battery blocks, wherein to select the second number of the battery blocks comprises to: estimate a load on the battery; compare the estimated load to a threshold value; and select the second number of the battery blocks to be lower than the first number of the battery blocks when the estimated load is above the threshold value; and control coupling of the second number of the battery blocks to the voltage terminals of the battery to set a battery voltage which corresponds to the sum of the block voltages of the second number of the battery blocks. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The battery control circuit according to claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to: detect the battery voltage; and perform the selection of the first number of the battery blocks and/or of the second number of the battery blocks depending on the detected battery voltage. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The battery control circuit according to claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to: detect a charging status of at least one of the battery blocks; and perform the selection of the first number of the battery blocks and/or of the second number of the battery blocks depending on the detected charging status. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The battery control circuit according to claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to: detect the block voltage of at least one of the battery blocks; and perform the selection of the first number of the battery blocks and/or of the second number of the battery blocks depending on the detected block voltage. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The battery control circuit according to claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to: monitor a fault status of at least one of the battery blocks; and perform the selection of the first number of the battery blocks and/or of the second number of the battery blocks depending on the determined fault status. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The battery control circuit according to claim 11, wherein the battery blocks are connected in series via a first connection node and a second connection node of at least one of the battery blocks; and wherein the controller is further configured to: depending on the at least one battery block being selected, control the coupling to the voltage terminals by switching between configurations of the battery block, the configurations of the battery block comprising: a first configuration in which a bypass connection between the first connection node and the second connection node of the battery block is open and the at least one battery cell of the battery block is connected between the first connection node and the second connection node, and a second configuration in which a bypass connection between the first connection node and the second connection node of the battery block is closed and the at least one battery cell of the battery block is disconnected from at least one of the first connection node and the second connection node of the battery block. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The battery control circuit according to claim 16, wherein the controller is further configured to: control temporary connection of a resistor in series with the battery blocks; and initiate switching of the at least one the battery block between the first configuration and the second configuration while the resistor is connected in series. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The battery control circuit according to claim 16, comprising: a switching circuit configured to perform the switching between the configurations of the at least one battery block, the switching circuit comprising: at least one first switch to selectively disconnect the at least one battery cell of the battery block from at least one of the first connection node and the second connection node of the battery block, and at least one second switch to selectively close the bypass connection between the first connection node and the second connection node of the battery block. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The battery control circuit according to claim 16, wherein the at least one battery block further comprises a capacitor connected in parallel to the at least one battery cell of the battery block. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The battery control circuit according to claim 16, wherein the at least one battery block comprises a fuse connected in series with the at least one battery cell of the battery block. ### Claim 21 A battery system comprising: a first voltage terminal and a second voltage terminal; a plurality of battery blocks, each of the battery blocks comprising at least one battery cell to provide a block voltage of the battery block; a controller configured to: select a first number of the battery blocks; control coupling the first number of the battery blocks to the voltage terminals to set a battery voltage which corresponds to the sum of the block voltages of the first number of the battery blocks; select a second number of the battery blocks, wherein to select the second number of the battery blocks comprises to: estimate a load on the battery; compare the estimated load to a threshold value; and select the second number of the battery blocks to be lower than the first number of the battery blocks when the estimated load is above the threshold value; and control coupling of the second number of the battery blocks to the voltage terminals to set a battery voltage which corresponds to the sum of the block voltages of the second number of the battery blocks. ### Claim 22 A control circuit for a battery block with at least one battery cell, a first connection node and a second connection node to connect the battery block between a first voltage terminal and a second voltage terminal of a battery, the control circuit comprising: at least one first switch to selectively disconnect the at least one battery cell of the battery block from at least one of the first connection node and the second connection node of the battery block; at least one second switch to selectively close a bypass connection between the first connection node and the second connection node of the battery block; and a control logic configured to generate control signals for the at least one first switch and the at least one second switch to switch between configurations in such a way that when an estimated load on the battery is above a threshold value, the battery block is switched from a first configuration to a second configuration so that a number of battery blocks connected between the first voltage terminal and the second voltage terminal of the battery circuit is decreased, the control logic comprising: the first configuration in which the bypass connection between the first connection node and the second connection node of the battery block is open and the at least one battery cell of the battery block is connected between the first connection node and the second connection node, and the second configuration in which the bypass connection between the first connection node and the second connection node of the battery block is closed and the at least one battery cell of the battery block is disconnected from at least one of the first connection node and the second connection node of the battery block.