Systems and methods for management of asymmetrical multi-tapped battery packs
First Claim
1. A battery system comprising:
- a plurality of battery banks electrically coupled in series, at least two battery banks of the plurality of battery banks having different capacities from each other;
a plurality of taps, each tap coupled to one or more corresponding battery banks of the at least two battery banks; and
an electronic circuit coupled to the plurality of taps, the electronic circuit configured to balance states of charge among the at least two battery banks by moving charge among the at least two battery banks by controlling one or more converters;
wherein each of the at least two battery banks is coupled to a protection circuit through its corresponding tap, the protection circuit configured to selectably conduct and block charging and discharging current of the corresponding battery bank;
wherein the one or more converters comprise a first inductor and a first switching leg,wherein the first switching leg comprises two or more serially-coupled switches, the first switching leg coupled between a first tap of the plurality of taps and a ground node,wherein the first inductor comprises a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the first inductor coupled to a node between the two or more serially-coupled switches of the first switching leg, the second terminal of the first inductor coupled to a second tap of the plurality of taps, andwherein the first inductor and the first switching leg are configured to selectably step down a first voltage of the first tap to a second voltage of the second tap, and step up the second voltage of the second tap to the first voltage of the first tap.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This disclosure describes a battery pack that includes a plurality of asymmetrical banks, with different capacities and/or voltages, and multiple taps, coupled to the corresponding banks, to power electrical loads. The battery pack also comprise a balancing circuit and a battery management unit. The battery pack may regulate voltages among the banks and/or balance the states of charge among the asymmetrical banks, by moving charges among the banks, by controlling one or more converters. The battery pack monitors the status of its banks and communicate with a host system via the battery management unit. Based on the monitored information and/or communication, the battery management unit generates control signals to drive the one or more converters.
-
Citations
27 Claims
-
1. A battery system comprising:
-
a plurality of battery banks electrically coupled in series, at least two battery banks of the plurality of battery banks having different capacities from each other; a plurality of taps, each tap coupled to one or more corresponding battery banks of the at least two battery banks; and an electronic circuit coupled to the plurality of taps, the electronic circuit configured to balance states of charge among the at least two battery banks by moving charge among the at least two battery banks by controlling one or more converters; wherein each of the at least two battery banks is coupled to a protection circuit through its corresponding tap, the protection circuit configured to selectably conduct and block charging and discharging current of the corresponding battery bank; wherein the one or more converters comprise a first inductor and a first switching leg, wherein the first switching leg comprises two or more serially-coupled switches, the first switching leg coupled between a first tap of the plurality of taps and a ground node, wherein the first inductor comprises a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the first inductor coupled to a node between the two or more serially-coupled switches of the first switching leg, the second terminal of the first inductor coupled to a second tap of the plurality of taps, and wherein the first inductor and the first switching leg are configured to selectably step down a first voltage of the first tap to a second voltage of the second tap, and step up the second voltage of the second tap to the first voltage of the first tap. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
3. A battery system comprising:
-
a plurality of battery banks electrically coupled in series, at least two battery banks of the plurality of battery banks having different capacities from each other; a plurality of taps, each tap coupled to one or more corresponding battery banks of the at least two battery banks; and an electronic circuit coupled to the plurality of taps, the electronic circuit configured to balance states of charge among the at least two battery banks by moving charge among the at least two battery banks by controlling one or more converters; wherein each of the at least two battery banks is coupled to a protection circuit through its corresponding tap, the protection circuit configured to selectably conduct and block charging and discharging current of the corresponding battery bank; wherein the one or more converters comprises a first inductor, a first switching leg, a third switch and a fourth switch, wherein the first switching leg comprises two or more serially-coupled switches, the first switching leg coupled between a first tap of the plurality of taps and a ground node, wherein the first inductor comprises a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the first inductor coupled to a node between the two or more serially-coupled switches of the first switching leg, the second terminal of the first inductor coupled to a second tap of the plurality of taps via the third switch, the second terminal of the first inductor coupled to a third tap of the plurality of taps via the fourth switch, wherein the first inductor, the first switching leg and the third switch are configured to selectably step down the first voltage of the first tap to the second voltage of the second tap, and step up the second voltage of the second tap to the first voltage of the first tap, and wherein the first inductor, the first switching leg and the fourth switch are configured to selectably step down the first voltage of the first tap to a third voltage of a third tap, and step up the third voltage of the third tap to the first voltage of the first tap. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
-
-
8. A method for balancing states of charge for a battery system, the battery system comprising a plurality of battery banks and a plurality of taps, at least two battery banks of the plurality of battery banks having different capacities from each other, the method comprising:
-
balancing the states of charge among the at least two battery banks by moving charges among the at least two battery banks by controlling one or more converters, wherein each of the plurality of taps is coupled to one or more corresponding battery banks of the at least two battery banks; and providing a protection circuit for each of the at least two battery banks through its corresponding tap, the protection circuit configured to selectably conduct and block charging and discharging current of the corresponding battery bank; wherein the one or more converters comprise a first inductor and a first switching leg, wherein the first switching leg comprises two or more serially-coupled switches, the first switching leg coupled between a first tap of the plurality of taps and a ground node, wherein the first inductor comprises a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the first inductor coupled to a node between the two or more serially-coupled switches of the first switching leg, the second terminal of the first inductor coupled to a second tap of the plurality of taps, and wherein the first inductor and the first switching leg are configured to selectably step down a first voltage of the first tap to a second voltage of the second tap, and step up the second voltage of the second tap to the first voltage of the first tap. - View Dependent Claims (9, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
10. A method for balancing states of charge for a battery system, the battery system comprising a plurality of battery banks and a plurality of taps, at least two battery banks of the plurality of battery banks having different capacities from each other, the method comprising:
-
balancing the states of charge among the at least two battery banks by moving charges among the at least two battery banks by controlling one or more converters, wherein each of the plurality of taps is coupled to one or more corresponding battery banks of the at least two battery banks; and providing a protection circuit for each of the at least two battery banks through its corresponding tap, the protection circuit configured to selectably conduct and block charging and discharging current of the corresponding battery bank; wherein the one or more converters comprises a first inductor, a first switching leg, a third switch and a fourth switch, wherein the first switching leg comprises two or more serially-coupled switches, the first switching leg coupled between a first tap of the plurality of taps and a ground node, wherein the first inductor comprises a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the first inductor coupled to a node between the two or more serially-coupled switches of the first switching leg, the second terminal of the first inductor coupled to a second tap of the plurality of taps through the third switch, the second terminal of the first inductor coupled to a third tap of the plurality of taps through the fourth switch, wherein the first inductor, the first switching leg and the third switch are configured to selectably step down the first voltage of the first tap to the second voltage of the second tap, and step up the second voltage of the second tap to the first voltage of the first tap, and wherein the first inductor, the first switching leg and the fourth switch are configured to selectably step down the first voltage of the first tap to a third voltage of the third tap, and step up the third voltage of the third tap to the first voltage of the first tap. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
-
-
15. A method of operating a battery system, the battery system comprising a plurality of battery banks and a plurality of taps, at least two battery banks of the plurality of battery banks having different capacities from each other, the method comprising:
-
adjusting the states of charge among the at least two battery banks by transferring charges among the at least two battery banks by controlling one or more converters, wherein each of the plurality of taps is coupled to one or more corresponding battery banks of the at least two battery banks; and providing a protection circuit for each of the at least two battery banks through its corresponding tap, the protection circuit configured to selectably conduct and block charging and discharging current of the corresponding battery bank; wherein the one or more converters comprise a first inductor and a first switching leg, wherein the first switching leg comprises two or more serially-coupled switches, the first switching leg coupled between a first tap of the plurality of taps and a ground node, wherein the first inductor comprises a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the first inductor coupled to a node between the two or more serially-coupled switches of the first switching leg, the second terminal of the first inductor coupled to a second tap of the plurality of taps, and wherein the first inductor and the first switching leg are configured to selectably step down a first voltage of the first tap to a second voltage of the second tap, and step up the second voltage of the second tap to the first voltage of the first tap. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
-
-
18. A method of operating a battery system, the battery system comprising a plurality of battery banks and a plurality of taps, at least two battery banks of the plurality of battery banks having different capacities from each other, the method comprising:
-
adjusting the states of charge among the at least two battery banks by transferring charges among the at least two battery banks by controlling one or more converters, wherein each of the plurality of taps is coupled to one or more corresponding battery banks of the at least two battery banks; and providing a protection circuit for each of the at least two battery banks through its corresponding tap, the protection circuit configured to selectably conduct and block charging and discharging current of the corresponding battery bank; wherein the one or more converters comprises a first inductor, a first switching leg, a third switch and a fourth switch, wherein the first switching leg comprises two or more serially-coupled switches, the first switching leg coupled between a first tap of the plurality of taps and a ground node, wherein the first inductor comprises a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the first inductor coupled to a node between the two or more serially-coupled switches of the first switching leg, the second terminal of the first inductor coupled to a second tap of the plurality of taps through the third switch, the second terminal of the first inductor coupled to a third tap of the plurality of taps through the fourth switch, wherein the first inductor, the first switching leg and the third switch are configured to selectably step down the first voltage of the first tap to the second voltage of the second tap, and step up the second voltage of the second tap to the first voltage of the first tap, and wherein the first inductor, the first switching leg and the fourth switch are configured to selectably step down the first voltage of the first tap to a third voltage of the third tap, and step up the third voltage of the third tap to the first voltage of the first tap. - View Dependent Claims (19)
-
Specification