Battery Cell Tab Monitor
First Claim
1. A battery cell tab monitoring circuit electrically connected to a conductive element electrically connected to a first battery cell and a second battery cell, the circuit comprising:
- a current source connected to pull current from the conductive element or drive current into the conductive element;
a controller circuit connected to control operation of the current source;
a voltage measuring circuit connected to sense voltages during operation of the current source; and
the controller circuit connected to determine a status of the conductive element based at least in part on the voltage measurements.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A battery cell tab monitoring apparatus includes a conductive element electrically connected between two battery cells. The conductive element is connected to a sensing circuit including a pull-down current source connected to pull current from the conductive element and/or a pull-up current source connected to drive current into the conductive element. A voltage measuring circuit is connected to sense voltages during operation of the pull-down current source and the pull-up current source to be used to determine the status of the conductive element. For instance, voltages beyond certain fixed or variable thresholds indicate that the conductive element is flexing or cracking, which can be a precursor to its breaking. Voltages beyond other fixed or variable thresholds indicate that the conductive element is fully disconnected. The current sources used to push and pull the sensing currents may be used to bring the battery cells into balance when an imbalance is detected.
21 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A battery cell tab monitoring circuit electrically connected to a conductive element electrically connected to a first battery cell and a second battery cell, the circuit comprising:
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a current source connected to pull current from the conductive element or drive current into the conductive element; a controller circuit connected to control operation of the current source; a voltage measuring circuit connected to sense voltages during operation of the current source; and the controller circuit connected to determine a status of the conductive element based at least in part on the voltage measurements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of monitoring battery cell conditions comprising:
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pulling current out of a conductive element disposed between a first battery cell and a second battery cell; sensing a first voltage across the first battery cell while pulling current out of the conductive element; pushing current into the conductive element disposed between the first battery cell and the second battery cell; sensing a second voltage across the first battery cell while pushing current into the conductive element; determining a connection status of the conductive element based at least in part on the first voltage and the second voltage. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A battery cell tab monitoring apparatus electrically connected to a conductive element electrically connected to a first battery cell and a second battery cell, the apparatus comprising:
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a first pull-down current source connected to periodically pull a first current from the conductive element for a first amount of time; a first pull-up current source connected to periodically push current approximately equal to the first current into the conductive element for approximately the first amount of time; a second pull-down current source connected to periodically pull a second current from the conductive element for a second amount of time; a second pull-up current source connected to periodically drive current approximately equal to the second current into the conductive element for approximately the second amount of time; a controller circuit connected to control operation of the first pull-down current source, the first pull-up current source, the second pull-down current source, and the second pull-up current source; a voltage measuring circuit connected to sense voltages during operation of the first pull-down current source, the first pull-up current source, the second pull-down current source, and the second pull-up current source; and the controller circuit connected to determine a status of the conductive element based at least in part on the measured voltages such that the controller circuit compares voltages during operation of at least one of the first pull-down current source and the first pull-up current source to a first fixed or variable voltage threshold and the controller circuit compares voltages during operation of at least one of the second pull-down current source and the second pull-up current source to a second fixed or variable voltage threshold. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification