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Multicell battery pack bilateral power distribution unit with individual cell monitoring and control

  • US 5,656,915 A
  • Filed: 08/28/1995
  • Issued: 08/12/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. In a multicell battery pack comprising a plurality of series connected cells, a power distribution unit for providing regulated, bi-directional transfer of energy to and from said pack or a selected portion of the pack comprising:

  • (a) a plurality of electrical tap points located at the end poles of the pack and at the junction between sets of one or more series connected cells within said pack, whereby any two consecutive tap points present the positive and negative poles of the cell set in-between, and where any two non-consecutive tap points present the positive and negative pole of a larger group produced by the series connection of all the cell sets between said non-consecutive tap points;

    (b) at least two bus conductors for the transfer of energy into or out of any selected group of cell sets within said pack;

    (c) individually controlled switching means for allowing current flow in at least one direction from any tap point to at least one bus conductor and individually controlled switching means for allowing current flow in at least one direction from the same tap point to at least one other bus conductor;

    (d) controller means for executing pack control algorithm means for selecting the most suitable group of cell sets for regulating a preset output voltage to an external load and the most suitable group of cell sets for regulating the receipt of energy from an external source, and where said controller means includes the functionality of accessing and actuating said individually controlled switching means, and the input and output of analog and digital signals related to the control of said power distribution unit;

    (e) sensing means for measuring a value indicative of the electrical current flow into or out of each cell set contained in said pack and supplying the measurement to said controller;

    (f) sensing means with at least enough sensor connection points to measure a value indicative of the voltage across the poles of each cell set within said pack and at most enough sensor connection points to measure a value indicative of the voltage across the poles of each individual cell within said pack, and supplying the measurement to said controller;

    (g) sensing means for measuring a value indicative of the voltage across the output terminals of said power distribution unit and supplying the measurement to said controller.

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