BATTERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A battery management system comprising:
- means for switchably connecting one or more battery cells to a load;
means for measuring a current between the battery cells and the load;
means for measuring a voltage over the battery cells;
means for determining if the current is below a predetermined value and the voltage is below a higher threshold, thereby electrically disconnecting the battery cells from the load by the means for switchably connecting when the current is below the predetermined value and the voltage is below the higher threshold; and
means for determining if the current is above the predetermined value and the voltage is below a lower threshold, thereby electrically disconnecting the battery cells from the load by the means for switchably connecting when the current is above the predetermined value and the voltage is below the lower threshold.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An application for a battery management system that monitors current and voltage from one or more battery cells and determines if the current is above or below a predetermined value. If the current is below the predetermined value (e.g. a load from a few lights, etc), the battery management system disconnects the battery cells from the load when the voltage falls below a higher voltage threshold (e.g. 12V). If the current is above the predetermined value (e.g. a load from a starter motor cranking an engine), the battery management system disconnects the battery cells from the load when the voltage falls below a lover voltage threshold (e.g. 8V). Once disconnected a reset signal is required to reconnect the battery cell(s) to the load.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A battery management system comprising:
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means for switchably connecting one or more battery cells to a load; means for measuring a current between the battery cells and the load; means for measuring a voltage over the battery cells; means for determining if the current is below a predetermined value and the voltage is below a higher threshold, thereby electrically disconnecting the battery cells from the load by the means for switchably connecting when the current is below the predetermined value and the voltage is below the higher threshold; and means for determining if the current is above the predetermined value and the voltage is below a lower threshold, thereby electrically disconnecting the battery cells from the load by the means for switchably connecting when the current is above the predetermined value and the voltage is below the lower threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of managing one or more battery cells, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) electrically connecting the battery cells to a load; (b) measuring an electric current from the battery cells to the load; (c) if the electric current is greater than a predetermined value; (d) starting a timer; (e) if the electric current is still greater than the predetermined load and a voltage over the battery cells is greater than a lower threshold, repeating from step (a); (f) if the timer has not expired, repeating steps (e)-(f); (g) electrically disconnecting the battery cells from the load; (h) waiting until a reset occurs; (i) repeating from step (a); (j) if the electric current is less than the predetermined value; (k) starting the timer; (l) if the electric current is still less than the predetermined load and the voltage over the battery cells is greater than a higher threshold, repeating from step (a); (m) if the timer has not expired, repeating steps (l)-(m); (n) electrically disconnecting the battery cells from the load; (o) waiting until a reset occurs; (p) repeating from step (a). - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A battery management system comprising:
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one or more transistors connected in series between a plurality of battery cells and a load; a sensor for measuring an electric current between the battery cells and the load; a sensor for measuring a voltage over the battery cells; a processor, the processor connected to the transistors for connecting and disconnecting the load and the battery cells, the processor connected to the sensor for measuring the electric current and the sensor for measuring the voltage, the processor having stored values for a lower voltage threshold and a higher voltage threshold; software running on the processor determines if the electric current is below a predetermined value and if the voltage is below the higher voltage threshold and signals the transistors to disconnect the battery cells from the load when the electric current is below the predetermined value and the voltage is below the higher voltage threshold; and the software also determines if the electric current is above the predetermined value and the voltage is below the lower voltage threshold and signals the transistors to disconnect the battery cells from the load when the electric current is above the predetermined value and the voltage is below the lower voltage threshold. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification