Charge redistribution method for cell arrays
First Claim
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1. Apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of cell assemblies each having a positive and negative current terminal, the assemblies connected in series by their current terminals,each cell assembly comprising first and second storage cells each having a respective positive and negative terminal, the positive terminal of the first cell defining the positive current terminal, the negative terminal of the second cell defining the negative current terminal, the negative terminal of the first cell connected with the positive terminal of the second cell, thereby defining a node;
each cell assembly further comprising an inductor and first and second switches, the inductor having first and second leads, the second lead of the inductor connected to the node, the first lead of the inductor connected by the first switch to the positive terminal of the first cell and connected by the second switch to the negative terminal of the second cell,the inductors of the cell assemblies inductively coupled together,the apparatus further comprising a controller selectively opening and closing the first switches and the second switches of the cell assemblies.
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Abstract
A topology is described in which each pair of cells in a string shares a single inductor. Switches permit the single inductor to selectively charge one or the other of the cells. In a variant of the topology, the inductor together with additional switches permit selectively charging multiple cells simultaneously (even one or both cells simultaneously in a pair of cells), drawing upon either an external energy source or upon one or multiple other cells in the string. In this way the number of inductors is minimized while providing isolation among the charging circuits.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. Apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of cell assemblies each having a positive and negative current terminal, the assemblies connected in series by their current terminals, each cell assembly comprising first and second storage cells each having a respective positive and negative terminal, the positive terminal of the first cell defining the positive current terminal, the negative terminal of the second cell defining the negative current terminal, the negative terminal of the first cell connected with the positive terminal of the second cell, thereby defining a node; each cell assembly further comprising an inductor and first and second switches, the inductor having first and second leads, the second lead of the inductor connected to the node, the first lead of the inductor connected by the first switch to the positive terminal of the first cell and connected by the second switch to the negative terminal of the second cell, the inductors of the cell assemblies inductively coupled together, the apparatus further comprising a controller selectively opening and closing the first switches and the second switches of the cell assemblies. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification