ACTIVE CELL AND MODULE BALANCING FOR BATTERIES OR OTHER POWER SUPPLIES
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a power module of multiple power cells coupled in series, the power cells exhibiting different charge levels during charging and discharging;
charging circuitry configured to supply charging current to the power cells;
an active cell balancing circuit configured to substantially balance the charges of the power cells at least during charging, including;
current source circuitry configured to supply extra charging current to a selected power cell;
current source control circuitry configured to control the current source circuitry to supply extra charging current to the power cell with the lowest state of charge.
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Abstract
A system configured to actively balance power among power cells such as batteries. The system includes a power module of series-coupled power cells, each exhibiting different charge levels during charging and discharging. A power module includes active cell balancing circuitry configured to substantially balance the charges of the power cells at least during charging. In one embodiment, the active cell balancing circuitry includes: (a) current source circuitry configured to supply extra charging current to a selected power cell; and (b) current source control circuitry configured to control the current source circuitry to supply extra charging current to the power cell with the lowest state of charge. In another embodiment, the system includes multiple power modules, each having multiple power cells coupled in series, and each having an active cell balancing circuit configured to substantially balance the charges of the power cells in an associated one of the power modules.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a power module of multiple power cells coupled in series, the power cells exhibiting different charge levels during charging and discharging; charging circuitry configured to supply charging current to the power cells; an active cell balancing circuit configured to substantially balance the charges of the power cells at least during charging, including; current source circuitry configured to supply extra charging current to a selected power cell; current source control circuitry configured to control the current source circuitry to supply extra charging current to the power cell with the lowest state of charge. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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5. The system of claim 5, wherein each DC-DC converter is configured to superimpose the balancing current for its associated power module onto a power module charging or discharging current for its associated power module.
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11. An apparatus operable to provide active cell balancing for a power module of power cells coupled in series, the power cells exhibiting different charge levels during charging, comprising:
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charging circuitry configured to supply charging current to the power cells; an active cell balancing circuit configured to substantially balance the charges of the power cells at least during charging, including; current source circuitry configured to supply extra charging current to a selected power cell; current source control circuitry configured to control the current source circuitry to supply extra charging current to the power cell with the lowest state of charge. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method employable with power cells coupled in series, the power cells exhibiting different charge levels during charging, comprising:
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supplying charging current to charge the power cells; generating state of charge information about each power cell; supplying extra charging current, at least during charging, to the power cell with the lowest state of charge. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification