Method, apparatus and computer program product for managing a rechargeable battery
First Claim
1. A battery comprising:
- a) a first rechargeable battery cell, the cell having a number of replaceable sub-cells;
b) sensors for measuring certain conditions of the sub-cells, including voltages, currents and temperatures;
c) an output switching device coupled to the sub-cells, wherein the output switching device is operable, responsive to a first control signal, to selectively switch on a conductive path to a load from selected ones of the sub-cells;
d) an input switching device coupled to the sub-cells, wherein the input switching device is operable, responsive to a second control signal, to selectively switch on a conductive path to a source from selected ones of the sub-cells; and
e) logic circuitry coupled to the sensors and the input and output switching devices operable to automatically assert the control signals responsive to the measured conditions for switching a selected at least one of the sub-cells to supply the load and at least one of the sub-cells to recharge from the source.
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Abstract
In one form of the invention, a battery includes a rechargeable battery cell having replaceable sub-cells and sensors for measuring certain conditions of the sub-cells, including voltages, currents and temperatures. The battery also includes input and output switching devices coupled to the sub-cells. The switching devices are operable, responsive to respective first and second control signals, to selectively switch on a conductive path to a load and a conductive path to a source from selected ones of the sub-cells. Logic circuitry of the battery is coupled to the sensors and the input and output switching devices and is operable to automatically generate the control signals, responsive to the measured conditions, for switching a selected at least one of the sub-cells to supply the load and a selected at least one to recharge from the source.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A battery comprising:
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a) a first rechargeable battery cell, the cell having a number of replaceable sub-cells;
b) sensors for measuring certain conditions of the sub-cells, including voltages, currents and temperatures;
c) an output switching device coupled to the sub-cells, wherein the output switching device is operable, responsive to a first control signal, to selectively switch on a conductive path to a load from selected ones of the sub-cells;
d) an input switching device coupled to the sub-cells, wherein the input switching device is operable, responsive to a second control signal, to selectively switch on a conductive path to a source from selected ones of the sub-cells; and
e) logic circuitry coupled to the sensors and the input and output switching devices operable to automatically assert the control signals responsive to the measured conditions for switching a selected at least one of the sub-cells to supply the load and at least one of the sub-cells to recharge from the source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for managing a battery, wherein the battery has a first rechargeable battery cell, the cell having a number of replaceable sub-cells, the method comprising the steps of:
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measuring, by sensors of the battery, certain conditions of the sub-cells, including voltages, currents and temperatures;
selectively switching on a conductive path to a load from a selected at least one of the sub-cells by an output switching device coupled to the sub-cells, wherein the output switching device is responsive to a first control signal;
selectively switching on a conductive path to a recharging source from a selected at least one of the sub-cells by an input switching device coupled to the sub-cells, wherein the input switching device is responsive to a second control signal, wherein the battery includes logic circuitry coupled to the sensors, the first and second control signals being automatically asserted by the logic circuitry responsive to the measured conditions for the sub-cells. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A computer program product for managing a battery, wherein the battery has a first rechargeable battery cell, the cell having a number of replaceable sub-cells, the computer program product comprising:
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instructions for receiving measurements by logic circuitry from sensors of certain conditions of the sub-cells, including voltages, currents and temperatures;
instructions for asserting by the logic circuitry a first control signal for selectively switching on a conductive path to a load from a selected at least one of the sub-cells by an output switching device coupled to the sub-cells;
instructions for asserting by the logic circuitry a second control signal for selectively switching on a conductive path to a recharging source from a selected at least one of the sub-cells by an input switching device coupled to the sub-cells, wherein the control signals are automatically generated by the logic circuitry responsive to the measured conditions for the sub-cells. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification