ADJUSTING CHARGE VOLTAGE ON CELLS IN MULTI-CELL BATTERY

• US 20150280461A1
• Filed: 03/26/2014
• Published: 10/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bulur, Yakup, Fishbune, Richard J., Maresh, Mark E., Swenson, Neil C., Wheeler, Adam M.
• Application Number:
  US14/225,853
• Publication Number:
  US 20150280461A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/441 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0014 Circuits for equalisation of charge between batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A method for charging a battery pack containing a plurality of cells is disclosed. The method includes receiving capacity information for a voltage adjustable set of the plurality of cells from two or more fuel gauges. Each of the two or more fuel gauges is associated with one cell in the adjustable set. The method further includes identifying a target cell for increasing charge voltage based on the capacity information. The method further includes sending a signal to a charge voltage controller associated with the target cell. The signal is configured to cause the charge voltage controller to increase charge voltage on the target cell. The charge voltage controller is one of a plurality of charge voltage controllers. Each of the plurality of charge voltage controllers is associated with one or more cells in the voltage adjustable set.

Claims

1. A method for charging a battery pack containing a plurality of cells, the method comprising:

receiving capacity information for a voltage adjustable set of the plurality of cells from two or more fuel gauges, each of the two or more fuel gauges associated with one cell in the adjustable set;

identifying a target cell for increasing charge voltage based on the capacity information; and

sending a signal to a charge voltage controller associated with the target cell, the signal configured to cause the charge voltage controller to increase charge voltage on the target cell, the charge voltage controller one of a plurality of charge voltage controllers, each of the plurality of charge voltage controllers associated with one or more cells in the voltage adjustable set.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a capacity for the battery pack; and

determining the capacity of the battery pack is below a minimum level.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying the target cell comprises determining the target cell has a lowest capacity of the voltage adjustable set.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying the target cell comprises determining that the target cell has not been associated with a flag.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying the target cell comprises determining the target cell has a highest capacity of the voltage adjustable set.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the voltage adjustable set includes all of the plurality of cells.

7. A computer program product for charging a battery pack containing a plurality of cells, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program code embodied therewith, the program code executable by a computer to perform a method comprising:

receiving capacity information for a voltage adjustable set of the plurality of cells from two or more fuel gauges, each of the two or more fuel gauges associated with one cell in the adjustable set;

identifying a target cell for increasing charge voltage based on the capacity information; and

sending a signal to a charge voltage controller associated with the target cell, the signal configured to cause the charge voltage controller to increase charge voltage on the target cell, the charge voltage controller one of a plurality of charge voltage controllers, each of the plurality of charge voltage controllers associated with one or more cells in the voltage adjustable set.

8. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises:

determining a capacity for the battery pack; and

determining the capacity of the battery pack is below a minimum level.

9. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the identifying the target cell comprises determining the target cell has a lowest capacity of the voltage adjustable set.

10. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the identifying the target cell comprises determining that the target cell has not been associated with a flag.

11. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the identifying the target cell comprises determining the target cell has a highest capacity of the voltage adjustable set.

12. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the voltage adjustable set includes all of the plurality of cells.

13. A computer system for charging a battery pack containing a plurality of cells, the computer system comprising:

one or more processors, one or more computer-readable memories, one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices, and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, the program instructions for execution comprising;

program instructions to receive capacity information for a voltage adjustable set of the plurality of cells from two or more fuel gauges, each of the two or more fuel gauges associated with one cell in the adjustable set;

program instructions to identify a target cell for increasing charge voltage based on the capacity information; and

program instructions to send a signal to a charge voltage controller associated with the target cell, the signal configured to cause the charge voltage controller to increase charge voltage on the target cell, the charge voltage controller one of a plurality of charge voltage controllers, each of the plurality of charge voltage controllers associated with one or more cells in the voltage adjustable set.

14. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the program instructions for execution further comprise:

program instructions to determine a capacity for the battery pack; and

program instructions to determine the capacity of the battery pack is below a minimum level.

15. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the program instructions to identify the target cell comprise program instructions to determine the target cell has a lowest capacity of the voltage adjustable set.

16. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the program instructions to identify the target cell comprise program instructions to determine that the target cell has not been associated with a flag.

17. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the program instructions to identify the target cell comprise program instructions to determine the target cell has a highest capacity of the voltage adjustable set.

18. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the voltage adjustable set includes all of the plurality of cells.