SYSTEMS, APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR BATTERY CHARGE MANAGEMENT
First Claim
1. An apparatus for providing balanced and individualized charging to each battery cell in a plurality of battery cells, the apparatus comprising:
- a first power transistor configured to regulate a charge current applied to a first battery cell of the plurality of battery cells; and
a PID controller configured to monitor a current charge level of the first battery cell, wherein, in operation the PID controller controls the first power transistor such that;
a specific portion of the charge current is applied to the first battery cell, wherein the specific portion is determined in response to the current charge level of the first battery cell;
an unused portion of the charge current that is not applied to the first battery cell appears as a balancing current in the first power transistor; and
the balancing current in the first power transistor is dissipated as heat energy through a heat sink associated with the first power transistor
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, apparatus, and methods for automobile battery management is provided. In one embodiment, an apparatus for providing balanced and individualized charging to a battery pack is provided. The apparatus uses microcontrollers to determine a charge level of the batteries, and correspondingly controls a power balancer to apply a charge current to the battery in relation to the charge level, and dissipates the remaining charge current as heat energy. In one embodiment, a system controller controls a balanced charging operation of the battery system, provides an interface for a user to monitor cell-level parameters, and protects the battery cells from undercharging or overcharging during the charging or discharging operations.
18 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for providing balanced and individualized charging to each battery cell in a plurality of battery cells, the apparatus comprising:
-
a first power transistor configured to regulate a charge current applied to a first battery cell of the plurality of battery cells; and a PID controller configured to monitor a current charge level of the first battery cell, wherein, in operation the PID controller controls the first power transistor such that; a specific portion of the charge current is applied to the first battery cell, wherein the specific portion is determined in response to the current charge level of the first battery cell; an unused portion of the charge current that is not applied to the first battery cell appears as a balancing current in the first power transistor; and the balancing current in the first power transistor is dissipated as heat energy through a heat sink associated with the first power transistor
-
-
2. A battery management system for use in a motor vehicle, the battery management system comprising:
-
a charge balancer configured to individually control a charging operation of each of a plurality of battery cells, wherein the charge balancer includes a microcontroller to monitor a charge level of each of the plurality of battery cells and to control the charging operation of a particular battery cell in response to the charge level indicated by the particular battery cell; and a system controller configured to govern operations of the battery management system and to direct a battery power from the plurality of battery cells to a motor controller of the motor vehicle, wherein the system controller includes a balancing controller to facilitate charging operations of the charge balancer. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification