Battery pack control module

• US 20070126400A1
• Filed: 12/02/2005
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Southwest Electronic Energy Corporation (Ultralife Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Southwest Electronic Energy Corporation (Ultralife Corporation)
• Inventors: White, David, Benckenstein, Claude
• Granted Patent: US 7,274,170 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/119
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0016 using shunting, discharge or bypass circuits

Abstract

A battery pack control module for balancing a plurality of cells or groups of cells connected in series includes a controller assembly, a disconnect circuit, a pack sensing circuit, a balancing circuit, and computer instructions for instructing the controller assembly to control the disconnect circuit and the balancing circuit. The disconnect circuit engages the controller assembly and a plurality of cells or groups of cells connected in series. The pack sensing circuit connects to the controller assembly and the plurality of cells or groups of cells connected in series. The balancing circuit connects between the plurality of cells or groups of cells connected in series, and engages the controller assembly. The plurality of cells or groups of cells connected in series is balanced when the battery pack control module operates in a charging phase, a discharging phase, a quiescent phase, or a storage phase.

Claims

1. A battery pack control module for balancing a plurality of cells or groups of cells connected in series, wherein the battery pack control module consists of:

a. a controller assembly comprising an analog controller and a digital controller;

b. a disconnect circuit, comprising a charge switch and a discharge switch connected in series, engaging the controller assembly and the plurality of cells or groups of cells connected in series;

c. a pack sensing circuit comprising a member selected from the group consisting of means for measuring battery pack system module temperature, means for measuring battery pack system module current, means for measuring cell voltages, or combinations thereof;

wherein the pack sensing circuit connects to the controller assembly and the plurality of cells or groups of cells connected in series;

d. a balancing circuit comprising a shunt resistor connected to a by-pass switch, wherein the balancing circuit connects between the plurality of cells or groups of cells connected in series and engages the controller assembly; and

e. computer instructions for instructing the controller assembly to control the disconnect circuit and the balancing circuit; and

wherein the plurality of cells or groups of cells connected in series are balanced when the battery pack control module operates in a charging phase, a discharging phase, a quiescent phase, and a storage phase.

2. The battery pack control module of claim 1, wherein the digital controller further comprises at least one configuration table.

3. The battery pack control module of claim 2, wherein the at least one configuration table is programmable.

4. The battery pack control module of claim 1, further comprising at least one diode for preventing excessive voltage from developing across the controller assembly.

6. The battery pack control module of claim 1, further comprising a second diode for balancing a plurality of battery pack system modules by discharging the plurality of battery pack system modules until a balance phase for the plurality of battery pack system modules is achieved.

7. The battery pack control module of claim 1, wherein the by-pass switch comprises a member selected from the group consisting of a semiconductor switch, a variable resistor, a mini-micro switch or combinations thereof.

8. The battery pack control module of claim 1, wherein a cell voltage is measured between cells, between groups of cells, or combinations thereof.

9. The battery pack control module of claim 1, wherein means for measuring battery pack control module temperature is external to the controller assembly.

10. The battery pack control module of claim 1, wherein the means for measuring battery pack control module current is external to the controller assembly.

11. The battery pack control module of claim 1, wherein the means for measuring cell voltages between cells, between groups of cells or combinations thereof is internal to the analog controller.

12. The battery pack control module of claim 1, wherein the digital controller comprises one or more analog I/O ports, one or more digital I/O ports, a processor, memory with processing logic and the computer instructions for instructing the controller assembly.

13. The battery pack control module of claim 12, further comprising data storage in communication with the processor for storing the computer instructions for instructing the controller assembly.

14. The battery pack control module of claim 1, wherein the computer instructions for controlling the controller assembly include instructions to direct the processor to connect the plurality of cells or groups of cells connected in series to the charger, to connect the plurality of cells or groups of cells connected in series to a load, to connect the plurality of cells or groups or cells connected in series to an application, or to disconnect the plurality of cells.

15. The battery pack control module of claim 1, wherein at least two groups battery pack system modules are connected together in series to form a battery pack system.

16. The battery pack control module of claim 1, wherein at least two groups of battery pack system modules are connected together in parallel to form a battery pack system.

17. The battery pack control module of claim 1, wherein at least four groups of battery pack system modules are connected together in both parallel and series to form a battery pack system.

18. The battery pack control module of claim 1, further comprising a voltage regulator for powering the controller assembly.

19. The battery pack control module of claim 16, wherein the voltage regulator is a DC programmable voltage regulator.

20. The battery pack control module of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of cells or groups of cells is a lithium ion cell.

5. The battery pack control module of claim 5, wherein the at least one diode performs the function of a second diode.