Batteries, battery systems, battery submodules, battery operational methods, battery system operational methods, battery charging methods, and battery system charging methods
First Claim
1. A battery comprising:
- a first battery terminal;
a second battery terminal;
a plurality of submodules individually comprising a plurality of rechargeable cells electrically coupled between the first and second battery terminals and wherein the rechargeable cells receive charging electrical energy from at least one of the first and second battery terminals;
control circuitry configured to monitor the rechargeable cells of the submodules and to use the monitoring to control the application of different non-zero amounts of the charging electrical energy to the rechargeable cells of different ones of the submodules at a common moment in time; and
wherein the at least one of the first and second battery terminals receives the charging electrical energy from a source which is external of the battery.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Batteries, battery systems, battery submodules, battery operational methods, battery system operational methods, battery charging methods, and battery system charging methods are described. According to one aspect, a battery includes a first battery terminal, a second battery terminal, and a plurality of submodules individually comprising a first submodule terminal, a second submodule terminal, a plurality of rechargeable cells electrically coupled between the first and second submodule-terminals, and switching circuitry configured to electrically couple one of the first and second battery terminals with one of the first and second submodule terminals of one of the submodules during an engaged mode of operation of the one of the submodules and to electrically isolate the one of the first and second battery terminals from the one of the first and second submodule terminals of the one of the submodules during a disengaged mode of operation of the one of the submodules.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A battery comprising:
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a first battery terminal; a second battery terminal; a plurality of submodules individually comprising a plurality of rechargeable cells electrically coupled between the first and second battery terminals and wherein the rechargeable cells receive charging electrical energy from at least one of the first and second battery terminals; control circuitry configured to monitor the rechargeable cells of the submodules and to use the monitoring to control the application of different non-zero amounts of the charging electrical energy to the rechargeable cells of different ones of the submodules at a common moment in time; and wherein the at least one of the first and second battery terminals receives the charging electrical energy from a source which is external of the battery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A battery operational method comprising:
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conducting electrical energy with respect to a plurality of rechargeable cells of a plurality of submodules of a battery during operations of respective individual ones of the submodules in an engaged mode of operation; changing one of the submodules to a disengaged mode of operation wherein electrical energy is not conducted with respect to the rechargeable cells of the one of the submodules; and operating the one of the submodules in the disengaged mode of operation during the operations of others of the submodules in the engaged mode of operation, and wherein electrical energy is conducted with respect to the rechargeable cells of the others of the submodules during the operating of the one of the submodules in the disengaged mode of operation; and wherein the changing is responsive to a communication received from external of the battery. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A battery operational method comprising:
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using switching circuitry of a plurality of submodules, electrically coupling a plurality of rechargeable cells of the submodules with a terminal which is coupled with an external device at a first moment in time; conducting electrical energy between the external device and the rechargeable cells of the submodules during the electrically coupling; electrically isolating the rechargeable cells of one of the submodules from the terminal at a second moment in time; monitoring the one of the submodules, and wherein the electrically isolating comprises electrically isolating responsive to the monitoring; biasing the switching circuitry of the submodules to different conductive states; and wherein the conducting comprises conducting different non-zero amounts of the electrical energy with respect to the rechargeable cells of the submodules as a result of the biasing. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A battery comprising:
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a first battery terminal; a second battery terminal; a plurality of submodules individually comprising a plurality of rechargeable cells electrically coupled between the first and second battery terminals and wherein the rechargeable cells receive charging electrical energy from at least one of the first and second battery terminals; control circuitry configured to monitor the rechargeable cells of the submodules and to use the monitoring to control the application of different amounts of the charging electrical energy to the rechargeable cells of different ones of the submodules; and wherein the control circuitry is configured to control the application of the charging electrical energy having an increased current to the rechargeable cells of one of the submodules compared to a non-zero current of the charging electrical energy applied to the rechargeable cells of another of the submodules. - View Dependent Claims (33)
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32. A battery comprising:
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a first battery terminal; a second battery terminal; a plurality of submodules individually comprising a plurality of rechargeable cells electrically coupled between the first and second battery terminals and wherein the rechargeable cells receive charging electrical energy from at least one of the first and second battery terminals; control circuitry configured to monitor the rechargeable cells of the submodules and to use the monitoring to control the application of different amounts of the charging electrical energy to the rechargeable cells of different ones of the submodules; and wherein the control circuitry is configured to control the application of the charging electrical energy having an increased current to the rechargeable cells of one of the submodules compared to the application of a non-zero current of the charging electrical energy to the rechargeable cells of another of the submodules responsive to the monitoring determining that the rechargeable cells of the one of the submodules are at a lower state of charge compared with the rechargeable cells of the another of the submodules.
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Specification