Battery management systems with controllable adapter output

• US 20080218127A1
• Filed: 06/20/2007
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: O2 Micro International Limited (O2 Micro Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: O2 Micro International Limited (O2 Micro Incorporated)
• Inventors: Li, Guoxing, Liu, Liusheng, Hou, Xiaohua, Kao, Han-Jung, Tang, Ruichao, Guo, Jiankui, Zhang, Zhengming
• Application Number:
  US11/821,042
• Publication Number:
  US 20080218127A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/134
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/10 Control circuit supply, e.g. means for supplying power to the control circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0016 using shunting, discharge or bypass circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers

Abstract

A battery management system comprises a control circuit and an adapter. The control circuit can be used to generate a control signal according to a status of each cell of a plurality of cells in a battery pack. The adapter receives the control signal and charges the battery pack. An output power of the adapter is adjusted according to the control signal.

Claims

1. A battery management system comprising:

a control circuit operable for generating a control signal according to a status of each cell of a plurality of cells in a battery pack; and

an adapter coupled to said control circuit operable for charging said battery pack, wherein an output power of said adapter is adjusted according to said control signal.

2. The battery management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control circuit is integrated in said battery pack.

3. The battery management system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a monitoring circuit operable for monitoring said each cell and for generating a monitoring signal for said each cell indicative of said status.

4. The battery management system as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:

a command converter coupled to said monitoring circuit and operable for generating said control signal according to said monitoring signal.

5. The battery management system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said command converter comprises a processor.

6. The battery management system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said command converter comprises a state machine.

7. The battery management system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a pulse width modulation signal generator operable for generating a pulse width modulation signal, wherein a duty cycle of said pulse width modulation signal is controlled by said control signal.

8. The battery management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control signal comprises an analog control signal.

9. The battery management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control signal comprises a digital control signal.

10. The battery management system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a cell balancing circuit in said battery pack operable for balancing said plurality of cells.

11. The battery management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said status comprises a voltage of each cell.

12. The battery management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said status comprises a current of each cell.

13. The battery management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said status comprises a temperature of each cell.

14. A method for charging a battery pack, comprising:

generating a control signal according to a status of each cell of a plurality of cells in said battery pack; and

adjusting an output power of an adapter according to said control signal.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising:

generating a monitoring signal for each cell indicative of said status.

16. The method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising:

controlling a duty cycle of a pulse width modulation signal according to said control signal.

17. The method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising:

monitoring a current of each cell.

18. The method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising:

monitoring a voltage of each cell.

19. The method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising:

monitoring a temperature of each cell.

20. A battery pack comprising:

a plurality of cells;

a monitoring circuit coupled to said plurality of cells and operable for generating a monitoring signal for each cell of said plurality of cells indicative of a status of said each cell; and

a command converter coupled to said monitoring circuit and operable for generating a control signal for controlling an output power of an adapter, wherein said control signal is generated according to said monitoring signal.

21. The battery pack as claimed in claim 20, wherein said command converter comprises a processor.

22. The battery pack as claimed in claim 20, wherein said command converter comprises a state machine.

23. The battery pack as claimed in claim 20, wherein said control signal comprises an analog control signal.