Integrated cell balancing system for multi-cell batteries

• US 20110156648A1
• Filed: 12/28/2009
• Published: 06/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Batterymole LLC
• Original Assignee: 4 Peaks Technology LLC
• Inventors: Eidson, Mark, Conley, Michael, Goff, Lonnie Calvin
• Granted Patent: US 8,581,548 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/116
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0014 Circuits for equalisation of charge between batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0029 with safety or protection devices or circuits

Abstract

A cell balancing software program that executes on a computer system embedded inside a multi-cell battery and includes a means to control an external charging system.

Claims

1. A computer software program that includes a means for:

(a) configuring a computer system embedded inside a multi-cell battery for the purpose of executing cell balancing algorithms

(b) communicating with an external battery charging system using said computer system

(c) controlling the charge applied to said multi-cell battery using said communication means to said external battery charging system

(d) detecting a charge imbalance in one or more cells of said multi-cell battery

(e) determining a safe and appropriate charge to be applied to said multi-cell battery by said external battery charging system in order to minimize a cell charge imbalance.

2. The computer software program of claim 1 that includes a means to determine the internal battery temperature of said multi-cell battery and a means to use this information in determining a safe charge to be applied to said mufti-cell battery.

3. The computer software program of claim 1 that includes a means to determine the internal battery pressure of said multi-cell battery and a means to use this information in determining a safe charge to be applied to said multi-cell battery.

4. The computer program of claim 1 that includes a means to determine the electrolytic level in one or more cells of said multi-cell battery and a means to use this information in determining a safe charge to be applied to said multi-cell battery.

5. The computer software program of claim 1 that includes a means to determine both the internal battery temperature and the internal pressure of said multi-cell battery and a means to use this information in determining a safe charge to be applied to said multi-cell battery.

6. The computer software program of claim 1 that includes a means to determine both the internal battery temperature and the electrolytic level in one or more cells of said multi-cell battery and a means to use this information in determining a safe charge to be applied to said multi-cell battery.

7. The computer software program of claim 1 that includes a means to determine both the internal battery pressure and the electrolytic level in one or more cells of said multi-cell battery and a means to use this information in determining a safe charge to be applied to said multi-cell battery.

8. The computer software program of claim 1 that includes a means to determine the internal battery temperature, a means to determine the internal battery pressure, a means to determine the electrolytic level in one or more cells of said multi-cell battery and a means to use this information in determining a safe charge to be applied to said multi-cell battery.

9. A computer software program that includes a means for:

(a) configuring a computer system embedded inside a lead-acid multi-cell battery for the purpose of executing cell balancing algorithms

(b) communicating with an external battery charging system using said computer system

(c) controlling the charge applied to said lead-acid multi-cell battery using said communication means to said external battery charging system

(d) detecting a charge imbalance in one or more cells of said lead-acid multi-cell battery

(e) determining a safe and appropriate charge to be applied to said lead-acid multi-cell battery by said external battery charging system in order to minimize a cell charge imbalance.

10. The computer software program of claim 9 that includes a means to determine the internal battery temperature of said lead-acid multi-cell battery and a means to use this information in determining a safe charge to be applied to said lead-acid multi-cell battery.

11. The computer software program of claim 9 that includes a means to determine the internal battery pressure of said lead-acid multi-cell battery and a means to use this information in determining a safe charge to be applied to said lead-acid multi-cell battery.

12. The computer program of claim 9 that includes a means to determine the electrolytic level in one or more cells of said lead-acid multi-cell battery and a means to use this information in determining a safe charge to be applied to said lead-acid multi-cell battery.

13. The computer software program of claim 9 that includes a means to determine both the internal battery temperature and the internal pressure of said lead-acid multi-cell battery and a means to use this information in determining a safe charge to be applied to said lead-acid multi-cell battery.

14. The computer software program of claim 9 that includes a means to determine both the internal battery temperature and the electrolytic level in one or more cells of said lead-acid multi-cell battery and a means to use this information in determining a safe charge to be applied to said lead-acid multi-cell battery.

15. The computer software program of claim 9 that includes a means to determine both the internal battery pressure and to determine the electrolytic level in one or more cells of said lead-acid multi-cell battery and a means to use this information in determining a safe charge to be applied to said lead-acid multi-cell battery.

16. The computer software program of claim 9 that includes a means to determine the internal battery temperature, a means to determine the internal battery pressure, a means to determine the electrolytic level in one or more cells of said lead-acid multi-cell battery and a means to use this information in determining a safe charge to be applied to said lead-acid multi-cell battery.