SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BALANCING MULTI-CELL BATTERY SYSTEMS

• US 20130328529A1
• Filed: 06/12/2012
• Published: 12/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alexander Danilo Zbrozek
• Original Assignee: Alexander Danilo Zbrozek
• Inventors: ZBROZEK, ALEXANDER DANILO
• Application Number:
  US13/494,832
• Publication Number:
  US 20130328529A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/118
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0016 using shunting, discharge or bypass circuits

Abstract

A battery balancing system including two battery modules connected in series, wherein each module is coupled to a balancing circuit. The balancing circuit is selectively operable between two modes: a dissipative mode, wherein the balancing circuit is connected in parallel to the respective battery module and dissipates energy from the battery module as light; and a latent mode, wherein the balancing circuit is disconnected from the battery module. A method of balancing a battery, including: charging a module of the battery, the module including at least one electrochemical cell; monitoring a system parameter indicative of the module charge; determining that a dissipation condition has been met based on the system parameter; and connecting a balancing circuit to the module upon determination of the dissipation condition being met, wherein the balancing circuit dissipates energy from the battery module as light.

Claims

1. A rechargeable battery comprising:

two battery modules connected in series, each battery module comprising at least one electrochemical cell;

two balancing circuits, each coupled to a battery module, each selectively operable between;

a dissipative mode, wherein the balancing circuit is connected in parallel to the respective battery module and dissipates energy from the battery module as light; and

,

a latent mode, wherein the balancing circuit is disconnected from the battery module.

2. The battery of claim 1, wherein each balancing circuit comprises a diode coupled in series with a switch.

3. The battery of claim 1, wherein the balancing circuit comprises a switch and a plurality of diodes coupled in series.

4. The battery of claim 3, wherein the diode is a light emitting diode.

5. The battery of claim 1, wherein the battery further comprises a controller configured to switch the balancing circuit between the dissipative mode and the latent mode.

6. The battery of claim 1, wherein the battery further comprises a light pipe optically coupled to the balancing circuit.

7. The battery of claim 6, wherein the battery further comprises a cover with an optically transparent segment, wherein the optically transparent segment is the light pipe.

8. The battery of claim 6, wherein the light pipe is configured to transport the light to an indicator symbol.

9. A method of balancing a battery, comprising:

charging a module of the battery, the module comprising at least one electrochemical cell;

monitoring a system parameter indicative of the module charge;

determining that a dissipation condition has been met based on the system parameter; and

connecting a balancing circuit to the module upon determination of the dissipation condition being met, wherein the balancing circuit dissipates energy from the battery module as visible light.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the balancing circuit comprises a diode, wherein the balancing circuit is coupled to the cell with a switch.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein determining that the dissipation condition has been met comprises determining the module has been charged to a predetermined charge threshold for the module.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the charge threshold for each module is determined empirically.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein monitoring a module comprises determining the module state of charge.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising disconnecting the balancing circuit from the module upon determination of a disconnection condition being met.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the disconnection condition is met when the measured module charge falls below the maximum charge.