Relating to battery pack arrangements

• US 5,545,491 A
• Filed: 06/01/1994
• Issued: 08/13/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Farley, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Niebling, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mee, Brendan
• Application Number:
  US08/251,868
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 429/9, 429/7, 429/61, 429/90, 429/123, 429/160, 429/161, 429/97
• US Class Current: 429/7
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/569 Constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements G01R31/364
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Battery pack arrangement having a control module 305 in the form of a programmed microcontroller and associated components on a printed circuit board, one or more battery cells 21 in which the respective cells are interconnected by metal conductive straps 22, wherein one of the interconnecting straps has a portion 309 of reduced width so as to serve as a current sensing element in conjunction with the control module 305. The reduced width of the interconnecting conductive strap 22 provides increased electrical resistance to the current flowing therein, with the value of the current sensing element 309 being measurable and storable in memory. The microcontroller and a regulating component of the control module are arranged to be located in intercellular space between successive cells in the cell array 21. The battery pack arrangement further includes electronic circuitry operably associated with the processor 38 of the microcontroller 16 including an input terminal 45 for accommodating a charger such that three different charging regimes are possible. The three charging regimes are respectively determined by the status of switching transistors Q1 and Q2 and resistors R1 and R2 to provide a trickle charge path, a quick charge medium current path, and a full current fast charge path depending upon whether the switching transistors Q1 and Q2 are "off" or are conductive.

Claims

1. In a battery pack having first and second pack terminals, a battery cell having first and second cell terminals respectively coupled by conductors to the first and second pack terminals, and a housing enclosing the battery cell and conductors, the improvement comprising:

a measuring-resistor strap having first and second projecting measuring contacts (300,

     301), forming at least a portion of the conductors; and

a separate current-measuring circuit mounted in the housing so as to couple to the first and second projecting measuring contacts.