Cell Management System

• US 20110133690A1
• Filed: 08/10/2009
• Published: 06/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Penny and Giles Controls Limited (Curtiss-Wright Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Penny and Giles Controls Limited (Curtiss-Wright Corporation)
• Inventors: Crane, Jolyon M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,537,330 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/21 having the same nominal voltage
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/382 Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3828 using current integration
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/441 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/443 in response to temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0016 using shunting, discharge or bypass circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0069 Charging or discharging for charge maintenance, battery initiation or rejuvenation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A powered system has a charging system and a controller arrangement. The charging system is capable of recharging the multi-cell power supply for the system and the controller arrangement enables selection between alternative modes of operation of the system. The charging system is arranged to operate in different regimes in which a target charging voltage across one or more cells or batteries is set to a different level dependent upon the selected mode of operation. There is provided a mode for optimising the battery management for maximum range or, alternatively, a mode for extending charge and discharge cycle life of the multi-cell power supply. There is also a storage mode where the target voltage is set to a minimum value.

Claims

1. A system for use with a rechargeable multi-cell power supply including a plurality of rechargeable power cells, the system including:

a charging system for recharging the rechargeable power cells of the power supply; and

a controller arrangement enabling selection between alternative modes of operation of the charging system;

wherein the charging system is arranged to operate in different charging regimes in which a target charging voltage across one or more of the rechargeable power cells is set to a different level dependent upon the selected mode of operation of the charging system.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

the target charging voltage corresponds to a maximum charging voltage.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

the target charging voltage corresponds to a minimum discharge voltage.

4. A powered system according to claim 1, wherein:

the controller arrangement is arranged such that, dependent upon which mode of operation is selected, charging is controlled by setting parameter limits selected from the group including maximum permitted cell charge and minimum permitted cell charge.

5. A system, according to claim 1, further comprising:

a monitor arrangement to monitor a parameter of one or more of the rechargeable power cells, said parameter selected from the group including the cell voltage and cell temperature.

6. A system, according to claim 1, wherein:

the charging system includes a charge controller to switch the charging regime.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

the controller arrangement includes a main system controller.

8. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a main system controller and a charge controller, wherein the charge controller is in communication with but discrete from the main system controller.

9. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a monitor arrangement that monitors cell voltages for respective rechargeable power cells, and the controller arrangement is adapted to adjust the charging regime for the respective rechargeable power cells in response to the corresponding cell voltages input from the monitor arrangement, such that separate rechargeable power cells may be subject to different charging regimes.

10. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a monitor arrangement that monitors cell temperatures for respective rechargeable power cells, and the controller arrangement is adapted to adjust the charging regime for the respective rechargeable power cells in response to the corresponding cell temperatures input from the monitor arrangement, such that separate rechargeable power cells may be subject to different charging regimes.

11. A system according to any preceding claim 1, further comprising:

a charge controller and a monitor arrangement, wherein the charge controller is arranged to initiate a charge balancing function for the rechargeable power cells of the power supply in response to the input from the monitoring arrangement.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein:

said monitor arrangement monitors voltages for respective rechargeable power cells of the power supply; and

said charge controller is adapted to determine if the voltages for certain rechargeable power cells of the power supply are different by a predetermined amount and initiate the charge balancing function in response thereto, whereby the charge balancing function alters the charging regime to reduce differences between such voltages.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein:

the charge balancing function is implemented using a balancing arrangement which diverts charge away from certain rechargeable power cells until the differences between such voltages is reduced.

14. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a main system controller and a charge controller, wherein the charge controller is in communication with but discrete from the main system controller, and the main system controller receives charge state data from the charge controller and renders a charge state display for the user to review.

15. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

the charging system monitors the amount of charge delivered to the rechargeable power cells of the power supply.

16. A powered system according to claim 15, wherein:

the charging system calculates a the charge state of the rechargeable power cells of the multi cell power supply is calculated by means of monitoring the number of coulombs delivered to the rechargeable power cells of the multi cell power supply.

17. A powered system according to claim 15, further comprising:

a charge controller in communication with but discrete from a main system controller, wherein the charge state is communicated to the main system controller.

18. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a charge controller and a main system controller, wherein the charge controller is discrete from the main system controller and enables disconnection of the rechargeable power cells of the power supply from the main system when the rechargeable power cells of the power supply is to be charged.

19. A system according to claim 18, further comprising:

charge balancing means for adjusting the distribution of charge within the separate rechargeable power cells of the power supply.

20. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a circuit having a 3 terminal input port.

21. A powered system according to any preceding claim L wherein:

the rechargeable power cells of the power supply are lithium ion batteries.

39. An electrically powered carriage device, comprising:

a rechargeable multi-cell power supply including a plurality of rechargeable power cells; and

the system of claim 1.

22. A method of charging a rechargeable multi-cell power supply including a plurality of rechargeable power cells, the method comprising:

providing a charging system that is selectively operable in alternative modes of operation; and

selecting one of the modes of operation of the charging system; and

operating the charging system in different regimes in which the target voltage across one or more rechargeable power cells is set to a different level dependent upon the selected mode of operation of the charging system.

23. A system for use with a rechargeable multi-cell power supply including a plurality of rechargeable power cells, the system comprising:

a charging system for charging the rechargeable power cells of the power supply, the charging system including a monitor arrangement for monitoring one or more parameters of respective rechargeable power cells of the power supply separate cells, and a charge controller arranged to adjust the charging regime for the respective rechargeable power cells dependant upon input from the monitor arrangement, such that separate rechargeable power cells may be subject to different charging regimes; and

a controller arrangement enabling rendering of information concerning the level of charge of the rechargeable power cells of the power supply;

wherein, in charging the rechargeable power cells of the power supply, the charging system monitors the amount of charge delivered to the rechargeable power cells of the power supply and communicates corresponding delivered charge data to the controller arrangement, the level of charge information rendered being derived from the difference calculated between the delivered charge data and used charge data maintained by the controller arrangement.

24. A system according to claim 23, wherein:

the used charge data is calculated from current values derived from operating parameters of the system.

26. A system according to claim 23, wherein:

the delivered charge data is calculated by means of monitoring the number of coulombs delivered to the rechargeable power cells of the power supply.

27. A system according to claim 23, wherein:

the charge controller is in communication with but discrete from a main system controller.

28. A system according to claim 23, wherein:

the monitoring arrangement monitors cell voltage for the respective rechargeable power cells of the power supply, and the charge controller is adapted to adjust the charging regime for the respective rechargeable power cells of the power supply in response to corresponding cell voltages input from the monitor arrangement, such that separate rechargeable power cells may be subject to different charging regimes.

29. A system according to claim 23, wherein:

the monitoring arrangement monitors cell temperature for the respective rechargeable power cells of the power supply, and the charge controller is adapted to adjust the charging regime for the respective rechargeable power cells of the power supply in response to corresponding cell temperatures input from the monitor arrangement, such that separate rechargeable power cells may be subject to different charging regimes.

30. A system according to claim 23, wherein:

the charge controller is arranged to initiate a charge balancing function for the rechargeable power cells of the power supply in response to the input from the monitoring arrangement.

31. A system according to claim 30, wherein:

said monitor arrangement monitors voltages for respective rechargeable bower cells of the supply; and

said charge controller is adapted to determine if the voltages for certain rechargeable power cells of the power supply are different by a predetermined amount and initiate the charge balancing function in response thereto, whereby the charge balancing function alters the charging regime to reduce differences between such voltages.

32. A system according to claim 31, wherein:

the charge balancing function is implemented using a balancing arrangement which diverts charge away from certain rechargeable power cells until the differences between such voltages is reduced.

33. A system according to claim 23, wherein:

the charge controller is in communication with but discrete from a main system controller, and the main system controller receives charge state data from the charge controller and renders a charge state display for the user to review.

34. A system according to claim 23, wherein:

the charging system monitors the amount of charge delivered to the rechargeable power cells of the power supply.

35. A system according to claim 34, wherein:

the charging system calculates a charge state of the rechargeable power cells of the power supply by means of monitoring the number of coulombs delivered to the rechargeable power cells of the power supply.

36. A system according to claim 34, wherein:

the charge controller is in communication with but discrete from a main system controller, and charge state data concerning the amount of charge delivered to the rechargeable power cells of the power supply is communicated to the main system controller.

37. A system according to claim 23, wherein:

the rechargeable power cells of the power supply are lithium ion batteries.

25. A system according to claim, wherein:

the used charge data is calculated from current values measured by the system.

38. A method of charging a rechargeable multi-cell power supply including a plurality of rechargeable power cells, and for rendering of information concerning the level of charge of the rechargeable power cells of the power supply, the method comprising:

monitoring one or more parameters of separate rechargeable power cells;

adjusting the charging regime for the rechargeable power cells dependent upon the monitoring, such that separate rechargeable power cells may be subject to different charging regimes;

monitoring the amount of charge delivered to the rechargeable power cells of the power supply;

obtaining used charge data; and

calculating the difference between the delivered charge data and used charge data in order to enable rendering of the level of charge information.

40. A charging system for a rechargeable multi-cell power supply including a plurality of rechargeable power cells, the charging system comprising;

a main control system; and

a charge controller discrete from the main control system and enabling disconnection of the rechargeable power cells of the power supply from the main control system when the rechargeable power cells of the power supply are to be charged.

41. A charging system according to claim 40, further comprising:

charge balancing means for adjusting the distribution of charge within the separate rechargeable power cells of the power supply.

42. A system, comprising:

a rechargeable multi-cell power supply including a plurality of rechargeable power cells; and

a charging system according to claim 40.

43. A charging system for use with a rechargeable multi-cell power supply including a plurality of rechargeable power cells, the charging system comprising:

a monitor arrangement for monitoring one or more parameters of separate rechargeable power cells;

a charge controller arranged to adjust the charging regime for the rechargeable bower cells dependent upon input from the monitor arrangement, such that separate rechargeable power cells may be subject to different charging regimes.

44. A system for use with a rechargeable multi-cell power supply including a plurality of rechargeable power cells, the system comprising:

a charging system for charging the rechargeable power cells of the power supply;

a controller arrangement enabling selection between alternative modes of operation of the charging system;

wherein the charging system is arranged to operate in different regimes dependent upon the selected mode of operation.

45. A system for use with a rechargeable multi-cell power supply including a plurality of rechargeable power cells, the system comprising:

a charging system for charging the rechargeable power cells of the power supply;

a controller arrangement enabling rendering of information concerning the level of charge of the rechargeable power cells of the power supply;

wherein, in charging the rechargeable power cells of the power supply, the charging system monitors the amount of charge delivered to the rechargeable power cells of the power supply and corresponding delivered charge data is directed to the controller arrangement, the level of charge information rendered being derived from the difference calculated between the delivered charge and used charge data maintained by the controller arrangement.