Battery system and method for determining a battery condition
First Claim
1. A battery system comprising:
- a main battery providing current to a main load and a battery capacity indicator the battery capacity indicator comprising;
a sense cell;
means for affecting a parameter of the sense cell related to the remaining capacity of the main battery, the battery system further comprising a circuit connecting the sense cell in series with the main battery.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention is a battery monitor and battery capacity indicator that uses a sense cell in addition to the main battery to determine main battery remaining capacity and depletion condition. A parameter of the sense cell is related to the main battery capacity so that the main battery will have a minimum capacity remaining when the sense cell parameter reaches a particular value or crosses a particular threshold. In a preferred embodiment, the sense cell is a battery which is identical and of the same manufacturing lot as the battery cell or cells in the main battery pack. A current is drawn from the sense cell that is larger than the current being drawn from the main battery. When the sense cell is fully depleted, the main battery will have a remaining capacity whose magnitude depends on the relationship between the main battery current and the sense cell current.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A battery system comprising:
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a main battery providing current to a main load and a battery capacity indicator the battery capacity indicator comprising; a sense cell; means for affecting a parameter of the sense cell related to the remaining capacity of the main battery, the battery system further comprising a circuit connecting the sense cell in series with the main battery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for determining a battery condition in a system delivering electrical power from a main battery to a load, the method comprising the following steps:
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providing a sense cell connected in series with the main battery; affecting a property of the sense cell in a manner related to main battery remaining capacity; monitoring a parameter of the sense cell; and determining a condition of the main battery from the monitored sense cell parameter. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A battery system comprising:
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a main battery providing current to a main load and a battery capacity indicator, the main battery comprising a main battery cell, the battery capacity indicator comprising; a sense cell that is substantially identical to the main battery cell; and means for affecting a parameter of the sense cell related to the remaining capacity of the main battery. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for determining a battery condition in a system delivering electrical power from a main battery to a load, the main battery comprising a main battery cell, the method comprising the following steps:
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providing a sense cell that is substantially identical to the main battery cell; affecting a property of the sense cell in a manner related to main battery remaining capacity; monitoring a parameter of the sense cell; and determining a condition of the main battery from the monitored sense cell parameter. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. A method for determining a battery condition in a system delivering electrical current from a main battery to a load, the method comprising the following steps:
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determining the current delivered from the main battery to the load; drawing a current from a sense cell that is greater than the current delivered from the main battery to the load; monitoring a parameter of the sense cell; and determining a condition of the main battery from the monitored sense cell parameter. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for determining a battery condition in a system delivering electrical current from at least first and second battery cells to a load, the method comprising the following steps:
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determining the current delivered from the first battery cell to the load; accelerating the discharge of the second battery cell with respect to the discharge of the first battery cell; monitoring a parameter of the second battery cell; and determining a condition of the first battery cell from the monitored second battery cell parameter.
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Specification