BATTERY PACK AND BATTERY CONTROL MODULE
First Claim
1. A battery control module configured for use with a battery pack having a housing that defines an opening, said battery control module comprising:
- a cover disposable within said opening and attachable to said battery pack to close said opening;
a plurality of rigid conductors disposed on said cover;
a first connector disposed on an outer surface of the cover, coupled to said plurality of rigid conductors, so as to connect to an electrical load;
a second connector disposed on an inner surface of the cover coupled to said plurality of rigid conductors and to said first connector, said second connector configured to be connected to a battery cell located within the housing;
a controller disposed on said cover, coupled to said plurality of rigid conductors; and
a battery connection circuit disposed on said cover, coupled to said plurality of rigid conductors, and in communication with said controller, wherein said battery connection circuit is configured to establish or break an electrical connection between said battery cell and said electrical load in response to a signal from said controller.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A battery pack containing a plurality of battery cells having a housing and defining an opening within the housing and a battery control module configured to be disposed within the opening of the battery pack. The battery control module may contain circuitry for controlling a connection between the battery pack and an electric load or electric source and for controlling the charging of the battery cells. The circuitry within the battery control module is connected by rigid conductors, such as conductive traces on a circuit board or bus bars rather than flexible wire cables. The battery control module may be configured to be removed for serving the battery pack without removing the battery pack housing. The battery pack may further include a battery voltage monitor configured to monitor a terminal voltage of each battery cell and send a digital signal representing the voltage to the battery control module.
-
Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A battery control module configured for use with a battery pack having a housing that defines an opening, said battery control module comprising:
-
a cover disposable within said opening and attachable to said battery pack to close said opening; a plurality of rigid conductors disposed on said cover; a first connector disposed on an outer surface of the cover, coupled to said plurality of rigid conductors, so as to connect to an electrical load; a second connector disposed on an inner surface of the cover coupled to said plurality of rigid conductors and to said first connector, said second connector configured to be connected to a battery cell located within the housing; a controller disposed on said cover, coupled to said plurality of rigid conductors; and a battery connection circuit disposed on said cover, coupled to said plurality of rigid conductors, and in communication with said controller, wherein said battery connection circuit is configured to establish or break an electrical connection between said battery cell and said electrical load in response to a signal from said controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A battery pack configured to interface with an electrical load and electrical source, said battery pack comprising:
-
a plurality of battery cells; a housing configured to contain said plurality of battery cells, wherein said housing defines an access opening; a battery control module disposed within said access opening, said battery control module including, a cover, a plurality of rigid conductors disposed on said cover, a first connector disposed on an outer surface of the cover, coupled to said plurality of rigid conductors, and configured to connect to said electrical load, a second connector coupled to said plurality of rigid conductors coupled to said first connector, and coupled to said plurality of battery cells, a controller disposed on said cover, coupled to said plurality of rigid conductors and configured to control charging of said plurality of battery cells, and a battery connection circuit disposed on said cover, coupled to said plurality of rigid conductors, and in communication with said controller, wherein said battery connection circuit is configured to establish or break an electrical connection between said plurality of battery cells and said electrical load in response to a signal from said controller. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
-
Specification