Sensor circuit for providing maximum and minimum cell voltages of a battery
First Claim
1. A sensor circuit for monitoring cells of a battery, said sensor circuit comprising:
- a switched capacitor network selectively coupled to pairs of individual cells of the battery for sensing the terminal voltages of the battery cells coupled thereto and for providing terminal cell signals indicative of the terminal voltages of the battery cells;
a comparator coupled to said switched capacitor network for comparing the terminal voltages of pairs of battery cells and for providing a compare signal indicative of the comparison results;
a maximum cell indicator circuit for receiving the compare signal and providing a maximum cell signal indicative of the cell with the maximum terminal voltage present in the monitored cells; and
a minimum cell indicator circuit for receiving the compare signal and providing a minimum cell signal indicative of the cell with the minimum terminal voltage present in the monitored cells.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor circuit is provided for monitoring four cells of a battery. The sensor circuit provides a maximum terminal cell voltage and a minimum terminal cell voltage. In a switched capacitor embodiment, one comparator compares the cells, two at a time. The output of the comparator is provided to a maximum state machine and a minimum state machine which select the cells with the highest and lowest voltages, respectively. In a continuous system embodiment, six comparators continuously monitor the cell voltages. The comparator outputs are provided to a maximum logic circuit and a minimum logic circuit which select the cells with the highest and lowest voltages, respectively, and provides a maximum and a minimum terminal voltages signals. These maximum and minimum terminal voltage signals are provided so that a charge controller can monitor the cells for overcharge and discharge conditions.
240 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A sensor circuit for monitoring cells of a battery, said sensor circuit comprising:
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a switched capacitor network selectively coupled to pairs of individual cells of the battery for sensing the terminal voltages of the battery cells coupled thereto and for providing terminal cell signals indicative of the terminal voltages of the battery cells; a comparator coupled to said switched capacitor network for comparing the terminal voltages of pairs of battery cells and for providing a compare signal indicative of the comparison results; a maximum cell indicator circuit for receiving the compare signal and providing a maximum cell signal indicative of the cell with the maximum terminal voltage present in the monitored cells; and a minimum cell indicator circuit for receiving the compare signal and providing a minimum cell signal indicative of the cell with the minimum terminal voltage present in the monitored cells. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A sensor circuit for monitoring cells of a battery, said sensor circuit comprising:
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an amplifier network coupled to the battery for providing terminal cell voltage signals indicative of the terminal cell voltages of the battery cells, said amplifier network having two or more amplifiers; a comparator network having one or more comparators for comparing the terminal cell voltage signals received from said amplifier network and for providing comparison signals indicative of the comparison results; a maximum indicator cell circuit for receiving the comparison signals and providing a maximum cell signal indicative of the cell with the maximum terminal voltage present in the monitored cells; and a minimum cell indicator circuit for receiving the comparison signals and providing a minimum cell signal indicative of the cell with the minimum terminal voltage present in the monitored cells. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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Specification