BATTERY SYSTEMS WITH BATTERY GAUGE FUNCTIONS
First Claim
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1. A battery system comprising:
- an indicator having a plurality of channels and operable for displaying information about a battery cell unit in response to control signals received via said channels, wherein said channels include a first channel, and wherein said control signals include a first control signal;
a sensor operable for generating a sense signal; and
a controller having a first pin coupled to both said first channel and said sensor, wherein said controller is operable for controlling said first pin to apply said first control signal to said first channel when operating in a gauging mode and for controlling said first pin to receive said sense signal when operating in a sensing mode.
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Abstract
A battery system includes an indicator, a sensor, and a controller. The indicator has multiple channels and is operable for displaying information about a battery cell unit according to control signals received via the channels. The channels include a first channel and the control signals include a first control signal. The sensor is operable for generating a sense signal. The controller has a first pin coupled to both the first channel and the sensor. The controller controls the first pin to apply the first control signal to the first channel when operating in the gauging mode and controls the first pin to receive the sense signal when operating in the sensing mode
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A battery system comprising:
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an indicator having a plurality of channels and operable for displaying information about a battery cell unit in response to control signals received via said channels, wherein said channels include a first channel, and wherein said control signals include a first control signal; a sensor operable for generating a sense signal; and a controller having a first pin coupled to both said first channel and said sensor, wherein said controller is operable for controlling said first pin to apply said first control signal to said first channel when operating in a gauging mode and for controlling said first pin to receive said sense signal when operating in a sensing mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A controller for controlling a battery cell unit, said controller comprising:
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a first plurality of pins coupled respectively to a plurality of channels of an indicator, wherein said first plurality of pins comprise a first pin that is also coupled to a sensor; and a second pin coupled to a switch and operable for turning on and off said switch to enable and disable said indicator, wherein said controller is operable for controlling said second pin to enable said indicator in a gauging mode and to disable said indicator in a sensing mode, for controlling said first plurality of pins to display information about said battery cell unit on said indicator in said gauging mode, and for controlling said first pin to receive a sense signal generated by said sensor in said sensing mode. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for monitoring a battery cell unit, said method comprising:
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alternately operating a controller in a gauging mode and a sensing mode; providing a plurality of control signals to a plurality of channels within an indicator in said gauging mode, wherein said control signals comprises a first control signal provided via a first pin of said controller; indicating a measure of a parameter of said battery cell unit on said indicator based upon said control signals; sensing a temperature associated with said battery cell unit by a sensor; and receiving a sense signal indicative of said temperature via said first pin in said sensing mode. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification