POWER SOURCE APPARATUS

• US 20120313439A1
• Filed: 02/02/2011
• Published: 12/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Energy Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamaguchi, Masao, Itagaki, Shinichi, Kobayashi, Masayuki, Yamamoto, Hiroyoshi, Tamai, Mikitaka, Kaite, Osamu
• Granted Patent: US 9,030,167 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/71
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/441 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/465 with solar battery as charging system
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0016 using shunting, discharge or bypass circuits
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

The power source apparatus configuration can be changed to adapt to the installation site and environment. The power source apparatus is provided with first equalizing circuits 14 to control remaining charge capacity variation among a plurality of battery units 10, and second equalizing circuits 24 to control remaining charge capacity variation among all the series-connected battery packs 20 that make up each battery unit 10. A first equalizing circuit 14 connects each battery unit 10 with an output line OL through a first series circuit made up of a first limiting resistor 15 and first equalizing switch 16. Remaining charge capacity variation is equalized among all the battery units 10 by the first equalizing circuits 14, and remaining charge capacity variation between battery packs 20 in each battery unit 10 is controlled by the second equalizing circuits 24. (Cell balancing is performed quickly and efficiently.)

Claims

1-14. -14. (canceled)

15. A power source apparatus with a plurality of battery cells connected in series and parallel having battery packs configured with a plurality of battery cells connected in parallel, battery units configured with a plurality of battery packs connected in series, and a plurality of battery units connected in parallel to an output line comprising:

first equalizing circuits to control remaining charge capacity variation between the battery units;

second equalizing circuits to control remaining charge capacity variation between all the series-connected battery packs that make up each battery unit; and

parallel connecting switches between the battery units and the output line;

wherein each first equalizing circuit is made up of a first (current) limiting resistor connected in series with a first equalizing switch, and each first equalizing circuit is connected between a battery unit and the output line in parallel with each parallel connecting switch.

16. The power source apparatus as cited in claim 15, further comprising a switching section that switches the parallel connecting switches and first equalizing switches according to remaining charge capacity variation between the battery units.

17. The power source apparatus as cited in claim 15, wherein each second equalizing circuit is made up of a second (current) limiting resistor and a second equalizing switch connected in series, and a second equalizing circuit is connected in parallel with each battery pack.

18. The power source apparatus as cited in claim 15, wherein connections between the battery packs in each battery unit are made with detachable connectors.

19. The power source apparatus as cited in claim 15, wherein each battery pack is configured with a plurality of parallel blocks connected in series, each parallel block has a plurality of battery cells connected in parallel, and a third equalizing circuit is provided with each parallel block to control remaining charge capacity variation between the parallel blocks.

20. The power source apparatus as cited in claim 15, wherein the battery array configured with a plurality of battery cells has a charge capacity of 1 KVA to 100 KVA.

21. The power source apparatus as cited in claim 15, wherein the plurality of battery units is connected to the output line in a detachable manner.

22. The power source apparatus as cited in claim 15, further comprising a power source controller to control the parallel connecting switches and the first equalizing switches,

wherein the power source controller connects a battery unit in parallel by turning a parallel connecting switch ON, and

wherein controls remaining charge capacity variation between battery units by turning a first equalizing switch ON with the parallel connecting switch in the OFF state.

23. The power source apparatus as cited in claim 16, wherein when equalizing remaining charge capacity variation between the battery units, the switching section turns the parallel connecting switch OFF and the first equalizing switch ON for the high voltage battery unit;

and turns the parallel connecting switch ON with the first equalizing switch OFF for the low voltage battery unit.

24. The power source apparatus as cited in claim 15, wherein the battery cells that make up the battery packs are lithium ion batteries.

25. The power source apparatus as cited in claim 16, wherein when connecting a battery unit to the load, the switching section initially turns the first equalizing switch ON with the parallel connecting switch in the OFF state;

and after a given time period, the switching section turns the parallel connecting switch ON and the first equalizing switch OFF.

26. The power source apparatus as cited in claim 15, further comprising a switch control circuit connected in parallel with the first equalizing circuits and the parallel connecting switches to control the parallel connecting switches and first equalizing switches, wherein

at the time of connection of a battery unit to the load, the switch control circuit turns the first equalizing switch in the first equalizing circuit ON to connect the battery unit to the load LD and limit surge current with the first (current) limiting resistor, and

when there is no surge current flow, the switch control circuit turns the parallel connecting switch ON to connect the battery unit to the load.

27. A power source apparatus with a plurality of battery cells connected in series and parallel having battery packs configured with a plurality of battery cells connected in parallel, battery units configured with a plurality of battery packs connected in series, and a plurality of battery units connected in parallel to an output line comprising:

first equalizing circuits to control remaining charge capacity variation between the battery units; and

parallel connecting switches between the battery units and the output line;

wherein each first equalizing circuit is made up of a first (current) limiting resistor connected in series with a first equalizing switch, and each first equalizing circuit is connected between a battery unit and the output line in parallel with each parallel connecting switch.

28. The power source apparatus as cited in claim 27, further comprising a switching section that switches the parallel connecting switches and first equalizing switches according to remaining charge capacity variation between the battery units.

29. The power source apparatus as cited in claim 27, further comprising a power source controller to control the parallel connecting switches and the first equalizing switches;

the power source controller connects a battery unit in parallel by turning a parallel connecting switch ON; and

controls remaining charge capacity variation between battery units by turning a first equalizing switch ON with the parallel connecting switch in the OFF state.