METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CHARGING MULTI-CELL LITHIUM-BASED BATTERIES

• US 20070273334A1
• Filed: 08/10/2007
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Johnson, Todd, Meyer, Gary, Rosenbecker, Jay, Scheucher, Karl, Glasgow, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 7,508,167 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/138
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00038 using passive battery identification means, e.g. resistors or capacitors identification by mechanical connections H02J7/0045
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0014 Circuits for equalisation of charge between batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0019 using switched or multiplexed charge circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00302 Overcharge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00306 Overdischarge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00309 Overheat or overtemperature protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0031 using battery or load disconnect circuits H02J9/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0036 using connection detecting circuits H02J7/0034 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0069 Charging or discharging for charge maintenance, battery initiation or rejuvenation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0071 with a programmable schedule
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00711 with introduction of pulses during the charging process
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007182 in response to battery voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007194 of the battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 : Regulation of charging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A method and system for charging multi-cell lithium-based batteries. In some aspects, a battery charger includes a housing, at least one terminal to electrically connect to a battery pack supported by the housing, and a controller operable to provide a charging current to the battery pack through the at least one terminal. The battery pack includes a plurality of lithium-based battery cells, with each battery cell of the plurality of battery cells having an individual state of charge. The controller is operable to control the charging current being supplied to the battery pack at least in part based on the individual state of charge of at least one battery cell.

Claims

1. A battery charger, comprising:

a housing;

at least one terminal to electrically connect to a battery pack supported by the housing, the battery pack including a plurality of lithium-based battery cells, each battery cell of the plurality of battery cells having an individual state of charge; and

a controller operable to supply a charging current to the battery pack through the at least one terminal, the controller being operable to control the charging current being supplied to the battery pack based at least in part on the individual state of charge of at least one battery cell,

wherein each battery cell of the plurality of battery cells is individually tapped such that the controller is operable to monitor the respective individual state of charge thereof.

2. The battery charger of claim 1, wherein the controller is further operable to supply a charging current to the battery pack by supplying the charging current in a plurality of pulses of charging current, the plurality of pulses each having a first period of time, in which the charging current is being supplied to the battery pack at a predefined amplitude, and a second period of time, in which the supply of charging current is suspended.

3. The battery charger of claim 2, wherein the controller is further operable to control the charging current being supplied to the battery pack by modifying at least one of the first period of time and the second period of time.

4. The battery charger of claim 1, wherein the controller includes a first charging module and a second charging module, the first charging module being operable to provide a first charging current to the battery pack, the second charging module being operable to provide a second charging current to the battery pack, and wherein the controller implements one of the first charging module and the second charging module based at least in part on the individual state of charge of the at least one battery cell.

5. The battery charger of claim 4, wherein the first charging current and the second charging current differ in one of average current amplitude and duty-cycle.

6. The battery charger of claim 1, wherein the controller is further operable to control the charging current being supplied to the battery pack based at least in part on battery temperature.

7. The battery charger of claim 1, wherein the battery cells have a lithium-manganese spinel chemistry.

8. An electrical combination, comprising:

a battery having a battery temperature and including

a battery housing,

a plurality of lithium-based battery cells supported by the battery housing, each battery cell having an individual state of charge, and

at least one battery terminal supported by the battery housing and electrically connected to the plurality of battery cells,

each battery cell of the plurality of battery cells being individually tapped such that its respective individual state of charge is monitorable; and

a battery charger including

a charger housing,

at least one charger terminal to electrically connect to the at least one battery terminal, and

a controller operable to supply a charging current to the battery through the at least one terminal, the controller being operable to control the charging current being supplied to the battery based at least in part on the monitored individual state of charge of at least one battery cell.

9. The electrical combination of claim 8, wherein the battery further includes a battery controller operable to measure the individual state of charge of each tapped battery cell, to measure the temperature of the battery, and to communicate the temperature of the battery and the individual state of charge of each battery cell to the controller of the battery charger.

10. The electrical combination of claim 8, wherein the controller is further operable to control the charging current being supplied to the battery based on the temperature of the battery.

11. The electrical combination of claim 8, wherein the battery cells have a lithium-manganese spinel chemistry.

12. A battery charger, comprising:

a housing;

at least one terminal to electrically connect to a battery pack supported by the housing, the battery pack including a plurality of lithium-based battery cells, each battery cell of the plurality of battery cells having an individual state of charge; and

a controller operable to supply a charging current to the battery pack through the at least one terminal, the controller being operable to control the charging current being supplied to the battery pack based at least in part on the individual state of charge of at least one battery cell.

13. The battery charger of claim 12, wherein the controller is further operable to supply a charging current to the battery pack by supplying the charging current in a plurality of pulses of charging current, the plurality of pulses each having a first period of time, in which the charging current is being supplied to the battery pack at a predefined amplitude, and a second period of time, in which the supply of charging current is suspended.

14. The battery charger of claim 13, wherein the controller is further operable to control the charging current being supplied to the battery pack by modifying at least one of the first period of time and the second period of time.

15. The battery charger of claim 12, wherein the controller is operable to receive the individual state of charge of each battery cell of the plurality of battery cells.

16. The battery charger of claim 12, wherein the controller includes a first charging module and a second charging module, the first charging module being operable to provide a first charging current to the battery pack, the second charging module being operable to provide a second charging current to the battery pack, and wherein the controller implements one of the first charging module and the second charging module based at least in part on the individual state of charge of the at least one battery cell.

17. The battery charger of claim 16, wherein the first charging current and the second charging current differ in one of average current amplitude and duty-cycle.

18. The battery charger of claim 12, wherein the battery cells have a lithium-manganese spinel chemistry.