INDIVIDUAL CELL CHARGER AND METHOD OF USING SAME
First Claim
1. A method of charging series connected battery cells individually, comprising:
- measuring voltages on all of the cell;
charging from a source of power alternating ones of a first set of these cells only;
determining using a battery management system that voltage increases on all cells are within predetermined limits;
switching the power source using a switcher to the alternating ones of a second set of the cells;
charging from the source of power the second set of the cells with a higher charging current; and
charging all of these cells until at least one of these cells has reached the predetermined limit at the last value of the charging current.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An individual cell charger and method of using it are disclosed. The voltage of each individual battery cell of a series connected cell configuration, is measured. A controlled power source charges the cells individually at an initial voltage. The voltage on each individual one of the charged cells is subsequently measured by a battery management system. The voltage of the controlled power source is incrementally increased to charge the cells individually at an incrementally higher voltage. The measuring and charging of each individual cell is repeated until the voltage on at least one of the cells reaches a predetermined voltage. Once the voltage on at least one of the cells reaches a predetermined voltage, the measuring and charging each individual cell continues at substantially the same last incremental voltage.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of charging series connected battery cells individually, comprising:
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measuring voltages on all of the cell; charging from a source of power alternating ones of a first set of these cells only; determining using a battery management system that voltage increases on all cells are within predetermined limits; switching the power source using a switcher to the alternating ones of a second set of the cells; charging from the source of power the second set of the cells with a higher charging current; and charging all of these cells until at least one of these cells has reached the predetermined limit at the last value of the charging current. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. An individual cell battery charger for charging a group of series connected battery cells, comprising:
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a controlled power source for supplying charging current to the cells to be charged; a plurality of switches to connect the charging current to individual ones of the cells; a battery management system for selectively interconnecting the controlled power source to selected ones of the cells; and wherein the battery management system measures the voltage on each one of the cells and increases the charging current from the controlled power source incrementally until the voltage on all of the cells reaches a predetermined voltage; and wherein the battery management system causes the switches to connect selectively, alternate ones of the cells to the controlled power source. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of charging individually a group of series connected battery cells, comprising:
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measuring the voltage on each individual one of the cells; charging the cells individually using a controlled power source at an initial voltage; subsequently measuring the voltage on each individual one of the charged cells; increasing the voltage of the controlled power source incrementally; charging the cells individually at an incrementally higher voltage using the controlled power source; repeating the measuring and charging of each individual one of the cells until the voltage on at least one of them reaches a predetermined voltage; subsequently repeating the measuring and charging each individual one of the cells at the last incremental voltage of the controlled power source until the voltage on all of the cells reaches the predetermined voltage, unless the voltage on at least one of the cells exceeds the predetermined voltage; and subsequently repeating the measuring and charging each individual one of the cells at an incrementally lower voltage of the controlled power source until the voltage on all of the cells reaches the predetermined voltage. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An individual cell charger for charging individually a group of series connected battery cells, comprising:
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means for measuring the voltage on each individual one of the cells; means for charging the cells individually using a controlled power source at an initial voltage; means for subsequently measuring the voltage on each individual one of the charged cells; means for increasing the voltage of the controlled power source incrementally; means for charging the cells individually at an incrementally higher voltage using the controlled power source; means for repeating the measuring and charging of each individual one of the cells until the voltage on at least one of them reaches a predetermined voltage; means for subsequently repeating the measuring and charging each individual one of the cells at the last incremental voltage of the controlled power source until the voltage on all of the cells reaches the predetermined voltage, unless the voltage on at least one of the cells exceeds the predetermined voltage; and means for subsequently repeating the measuring and charging each individual one of the cells at an incrementally lower voltage of the controlled power source until the voltage on all of the cells reaches the predetermined voltage. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification