SYSTEMS, APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR BATTERY CHARGE MANAGEMENT
First Claim
1. An apparatus for providing balanced and individualized charging to each battery cell in a plurality of battery cells, the apparatus comprising:
- a first power balancer configured to regulate a charge current applied to a first battery cell of the plurality of battery cells; and
a microcontroller configured to monitor a charge level of the first battery cell, wherein the microcontroller controls the first power balancer such that an effective amount of the charge current applied to the first battery cell is proportional to the charge level of the first battery cell, and wherein an unused portion of the charge current is dissipated as heat energy through a heat sink associated with the first power balancer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, apparatus, and methods for automobile battery management is provided. In one embodiment, an apparatus for providing balanced and individualized charging to a battery pack is provided. The apparatus uses microcontrollers to determine a charge level of the batteries, and correspondingly controls a power balancer to apply a charge current to the battery in relation to the charge level, and dissipates the remaining charge current as heat energy. In one embodiment, a system controller controls a balanced charging operation of the battery system, provides an interface for a user to monitor cell-level parameters, and protects the battery cells from undercharging or overcharging during the charging or discharging operations.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. An apparatus for providing balanced and individualized charging to each battery cell in a plurality of battery cells, the apparatus comprising:
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a first power balancer configured to regulate a charge current applied to a first battery cell of the plurality of battery cells; and a microcontroller configured to monitor a charge level of the first battery cell, wherein the microcontroller controls the first power balancer such that an effective amount of the charge current applied to the first battery cell is proportional to the charge level of the first battery cell, and wherein an unused portion of the charge current is dissipated as heat energy through a heat sink associated with the first power balancer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus for providing balanced and individualized charging to each battery cell in a plurality of battery cells, the apparatus comprising:
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a first power transistors configured to regulate a charge current applied to a first battery cell of the plurality of battery cells; and a PID controller configured to monitor a current charge level of the first battery cell, wherein, in operation the PID controller controls the first power transistor such that; a specific portion of the charge current is applied to the first battery cell, wherein the specific portion is determined in response to the current charge level of the first battery cell; an unused portion of the charge current that is not applied to the first battery cell appears as a balancing current in the first power transistor; and the balancing current in the first power transistor is dissipated as heat energy through a heat sink associated with the first power transistor - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
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20. A battery management system for use in a motor vehicle, the battery management system comprising:
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a charge balancer configured to individually control a charging operation of each of a plurality of battery cells, wherein the charge balancer includes a microcontroller to monitor a charge level of each of the plurality of battery cells and to control the charging operation of a particular battery cell in response to the charge level indicated by the particular battery cell; and a system controller configured to govern operations of the battery management system and to direct a battery power from the plurality of battery cells to a motor controller of the motor vehicle, wherein the system controller includes a balancing controller to facilitate charging operations of the charge balancer. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method for providing balanced and individualized charging to each battery cell in a plurality of battery cells, the method comprising:
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feeding a total charge current to a first power balancer, wherein the first power balancer regulates an effective charge current applied to a first battery cell of the plurality of battery cells; controlling the first power balancer using a microcontroller, wherein the microcontroller monitors a current charge level of the first battery cell; and using the microcontroller to vary a balancing current in the first power balancer such that a difference of the balancing current and the total charge current is applied to as the effective charge current to the first battery cell, wherein the effective charge current is relative to the current charge level of the first battery cell. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification