Lithium battery protection circuit
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for monitoring and protecting a battery having a plurality of cells, and being connected to a load, comprising:
- first means for comparing the battery potential with a first reference potential;
second means for comparing the potential of each cell with a respective second reference potential and third means for comparing the potential of only one of said cells with said second reference potential;
detecting circuit means for distinguishing between first and second battery types, said first battery type having all of said cells available for monitoring by said second means, said second battery type having the total battery potential and said one cell available for monitoring by said first and third means, wherein only said one cell is available for monitoring in both said first and second battery types;
means for establishing said reference potentials; and
means for electrically disconnecting the load from the battery when either the battery potential falls below the first reference potential or a cell potential falls below the second reference potential, thus preventing further discharge of the battery and reversal of said cell.
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Abstract
This invention provides a method and apparatus to prevent a battery or any one cell of a multi-celled battery from undergoing voltage reversals by disconnecting the battery from a load when the battery or one cell falls below predetermined reference potential levels. Means are provided for comparing the potential levels and disconnecting the load when the decreased potential levels are detected.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. An apparatus for monitoring and protecting a battery having a plurality of cells, and being connected to a load, comprising:
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first means for comparing the battery potential with a first reference potential; second means for comparing the potential of each cell with a respective second reference potential and third means for comparing the potential of only one of said cells with said second reference potential; detecting circuit means for distinguishing between first and second battery types, said first battery type having all of said cells available for monitoring by said second means, said second battery type having the total battery potential and said one cell available for monitoring by said first and third means, wherein only said one cell is available for monitoring in both said first and second battery types; means for establishing said reference potentials; and means for electrically disconnecting the load from the battery when either the battery potential falls below the first reference potential or a cell potential falls below the second reference potential, thus preventing further discharge of the battery and reversal of said cell. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification