METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING ENERGY IN PLURAL ENERGY STORAGE UNITS
First Claim
1. A system for managing energy stored in a plurality of series connected energy storage units, the system comprising:
- a plurality of energy storage unit controllers, each controller being associated with one of the plurality of energy storage units;
a balancing circuit between two of the energy storage units, the balancing circuit being controlled by at least one of the energy storage unit controllers;
a serial electrical interface between the energy storage unit controllers for providing voltage isolated bi-directional communication; and
a central controller in electrical communication with the energy storage unit controllers.
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Abstract
A system for managing energy stored in a plurality of series connected energy storage units has a plurality of energy storage unit controllers, each controller being associated with one of the plurality of energy storage units, a balancing circuit between two of the energy storage units, the balancing circuit being controlled by at least one of the energy storage unit controllers, a serial electrical interface between the energy storage unit controllers for providing voltage isolated bi-directional communication, and a central controller in electrical communication with the energy storage unit controllers. A method for managing charge in a plurality of series connected energy storage units forming an energy storage device includes monitoring a current supplied to the energy storage device, determining at least one of a charging rate and a capacity of a first energy storage unit and a second energy storage unit in the energy storage device, and diverting current from the first energy storage unit to the second energy storage unit in response to the steps of monitoring and determining.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for managing energy stored in a plurality of series connected energy storage units, the system comprising:
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a plurality of energy storage unit controllers, each controller being associated with one of the plurality of energy storage units; a balancing circuit between two of the energy storage units, the balancing circuit being controlled by at least one of the energy storage unit controllers; a serial electrical interface between the energy storage unit controllers for providing voltage isolated bi-directional communication; and a central controller in electrical communication with the energy storage unit controllers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for managing energy stored in plural series connected energy storage units comprising:
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first means for monitoring voltage across a first energy storage unit; second means for separately monitoring voltage across a second energy storage unit; and means for balancing charge among the first and second energy storage units by exchanging energy among the first and second energy storage units in response to the first and second monitoring means during at least one of charging and discharging of the first and second energy storage units, the charge balancing means including a reactive equalization circuit. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification