SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROTECTION OF BATTERY PACK

• US 20100308771A1
• Filed: 05/20/2010
• Published: 12/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: O2 Micro International Limited (O2 Micro Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: O2 Micro International Limited (O2 Micro Incorporated)
• Inventors: DENSHAM, William
• Application Number:
  US12/783,697
• Publication Number:
  US 20100308771A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/134
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4207 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/441 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery system includes a battery pack, an electrical interface and a load discharging the battery pack. The battery pack is used to provide a power supply and includes a monitor which is configured to monitor a battery status of the battery pack. The electrical interface is coupled to the battery pack for transmitting the power supply and the battery status. The load is coupled to the battery pack through the electrical interface, and receives the power supply to discharge the battery pack and receives the battery status via a first communication bus to control the discharging of the battery pack based on the battery status.

Claims

1. A battery system, comprising:

a battery pack operable for providing a power supply, said battery pack comprising a monitor which is configured to monitor a battery status of said battery pack;

a first electrical interface coupled to said battery pack and operable for transmitting said power supply and said battery status; and

a load coupled to said battery pack through said first electrical interface and operable for receiving said power supply to discharge said battery pack, and for receiving said battery status via a first communication bus to control discharging of said battery pack based on said battery status.

2. The battery system of claim 1, wherein said load comprises a controller operable for monitoring a load status of said load, and for communicating said load status to said battery pack via said first communication bus.

3. The battery system of claim 2, wherein said load further comprise a discharging switch controlled by said controller, and is operable for terminating said discharging by turning off said discharging switch.

4. The battery system of claim 1, wherein said battery pack further comprises a memory coupled to said monitor and operable for storing said battery status.

5. The battery system of claim 4, wherein said battery status stored in said memory is accessible by a computer.

6. The battery system of claim 1, further comprising:

a charger for charging said battery pack, wherein said charger receives said battery status from said battery pack via a second communication bus, and controls said charging based on said battery status.

7. The battery system of claim 6, wherein said charger comprises a controller operable for monitoring a charger status of said charger, and for communicating said charger status to said battery pack via said second communication bus.

8. The battery system of claim 7, wherein said charger further comprise a charging switch controlled by said controller, and is operable for terminating said charging by turning off said charging switch.

9. The battery system of claim 6, further comprising:

a second electrical interface coupled between said charger and said battery pack.

10. The battery system of claim 9, wherein said second electrical interface comprises a communication terminal for transmitting said battery status from said battery pack to said charger via said second communication bus.

11. The battery system of claim 1, wherein said first electrical interface further comprises a power terminal for delivering said power supply from said battery pack to said load.

12. The battery system of claim 1, wherein said first electrical interface comprises a communication terminal for supporting said first communication bus.

13. The battery system of claim 1, wherein said monitor comprises:

a cell monitoring unit coupled to each cell of a plurality of battery cells in said battery pack, and for monitoring said battery cells and generating a plurality of monitoring signals indicating statues of said battery cells;

an analog to digital convertor (A/DC) coupled to said cell monitoring unit and for converting said monitoring signals to digital signals respectively; and

a communication unit coupled to said A/DC for generating said battery status based on said digital signals, and for communicating said battery status.

14. A system comprising:

a battery pack including a monitor which is configured to detect a battery status of said battery pack;

a load including a first controller which is configured to control a discharging of said battery pack based on said battery status when said battery pack is coupled to said load for discharging;

a charger including a second controller which is configured to control a charging of said battery pack based on said battery status when said battery pack is coupled to said charger for charging; and

a transmission bus for selectively coupling said battery pack to said load and to said charger, said transmission bus further operable for transmitting discharging power and said battery status when said battery pack is coupled to said load module, and for transmitting charging power and said battery status when said battery pack is coupled to said charger.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said transmission bus comprises:

a power bus for selectively transmitting said charging power and said discharging power; and

a communication bus for transmitting said battery status of said battery pack to said load and said charger.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said communication bus comprises a serial communication bus.

17. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a memory coupled to said monitor and operable for storing said battery status.

18. A method for charging and discharging a battery pack, said method comprising:

monitoring a battery status of said battery pack;

selectively coupling said battery pack to a load for discharging said battery pack, and to a charger for charging said battery pack;

transmitting discharging power and said battery status when said battery pack is coupled to said load;

controlling transmission of said discharging power by said load based on said battery status;

transmitting a charging power and said battery status when said battery pack is coupled to said charger; and

controlling transmission of said charging power by said charger based on said battery status.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

monitoring a load status of said load; and

controlling transmission of said discharging power based on said load status.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

monitoring a charger status of said charger; and

controlling transmission of said charging power based on said charger status.