Battery management system
First Claim
1. An apparatus for managing a battery with a plurality cells, said apparatus comprising:
- a master module having a battery monitoring circuit configured for monitoring at least one parameter associated with the battery, said master module having a master controller and a master communications port;
a plurality of slave modules each having a charging circuit, a cell monitoring circuit, a module disconnect switch, and a slave communications port, each one of said charging circuits configured to be electrically connected to an associated cell through said module disconnect switch, each one of said slave modules configured to be powered by at least one of said associated cell and an external power source, each one of said slave modules electrically isolated from said external power source, each one of said slave communications ports configured to communicate with said master communications port;
a transfer switch operatively connected to said master module, said transfer switch having a first state supplying power to said plurality of slave modules from said external power source, said transfer switch having a second state supplying power to said plurality of slave modules from the battery, said master controller causing said transfer switch to operate; and
a load disconnect switch operatively connected to said master module, said load disconnect switch configured to be electrically connected to a load to isolate said load from the battery, said master module causing said load disconnect switch to isolate said load from the battery when any one of said associated cells has a first operating parameter with a first specified value as determined by said cell monitoring circuit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for a modular battery management system with interchangeable slave modules connected to each cell and including a master module controlling and managing the battery system. All the modules receive power through a transfer switch that selectively switches between an external source, an auxiliary source, and the battery. The modules are configured to connect to a cell of the battery for charging and monitoring the cell individually. Each module is electrically isolated from the other modules. The modules are autonomous and shut down the battery and disconnect the module when a critical parameter of the cell is reached. When the battery is in service and a cell parameter approaches the critical level, the master controller instructs the corresponding slave module to charge the cell using battery power. The master module initializes the slave modules to uniquely identify the modules.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An apparatus for managing a battery with a plurality cells, said apparatus comprising:
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a master module having a battery monitoring circuit configured for monitoring at least one parameter associated with the battery, said master module having a master controller and a master communications port; a plurality of slave modules each having a charging circuit, a cell monitoring circuit, a module disconnect switch, and a slave communications port, each one of said charging circuits configured to be electrically connected to an associated cell through said module disconnect switch, each one of said slave modules configured to be powered by at least one of said associated cell and an external power source, each one of said slave modules electrically isolated from said external power source, each one of said slave communications ports configured to communicate with said master communications port; a transfer switch operatively connected to said master module, said transfer switch having a first state supplying power to said plurality of slave modules from said external power source, said transfer switch having a second state supplying power to said plurality of slave modules from the battery, said master controller causing said transfer switch to operate; and a load disconnect switch operatively connected to said master module, said load disconnect switch configured to be electrically connected to a load to isolate said load from the battery, said master module causing said load disconnect switch to isolate said load from the battery when any one of said associated cells has a first operating parameter with a first specified value as determined by said cell monitoring circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for managing a battery with a plurality cells, said apparatus comprising:
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a disconnect switch configured to be electrically connected to an associated cell; a charging circuit configured to be electrically connected to said associated cell through said module disconnect switch, said charging circuit configured to be powered by a power supply that is electrically isolated from said charging circuit, said power supply connected to said charging circuit from a transfer switch that is configured to connect one of an external source and the battery to said charging circuit; a power input receiving power from said associated cell, said power input disabled when said charging circuit is energized by said power supply; a monitoring circuit configured to monitor at least one parameter of said associated cell, said disconnect switch operating to isolate said associated cell when said monitoring circuit determines said associated cell has a first operating parameter with a first specified value; and a communications port configured to communicate a set of data to a master module, said set of data including said at least one parameter of said associated cell; wherein said disconnect switch, said first and second power inputs, said charging circuit, said cell monitoring circuit, and said communications port define a slave module. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for managing a battery with a plurality cells, said apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of slave modules each configured to electrically connect to an associated cell of the battery, each one of said plurality of slave modules configured to charge said associated cell, each one of said plurality of slave modules configured to monitor a condition of said associated cell, each one of said plurality of slave modules configured to isolate said associated cell from said one of said plurality of slave modules when said associated cell has a first operating parameter with a first specified value as determined by said cell monitoring circuit; a transfer switch connected to each one of said plurality of slave modules, said transfer switch configured to connect to an external power source, said transfer switch configured to connect to the battery, said transfer switch having a first state connecting said external power source to said plurality of slave modules, said transfer switch having a second state connecting the battery to said plurality of slave modules; a load switch configured to disconnect a load from the battery; and a master module in communication with said plurality of slave modules, said master module causing said load switch to disconnect said load when one of said plurality of slave modules signals to said master module that a corresponding one of said associated cells has said first operating parameter with said first specified value, said master module causing said transfer switch to be in said first state when said master module detects that said external power source is connected to said transfer switch. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification