Battery having a built-in controller
First Claim
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1. A multiple-cell battery comprising:
- (a) a housing having an output positive terminal, an output negative terminal and a periphery;
(b) at least one microvalve disposed in a portion of said periphery of said housing;
(c) a first oxygen pervious container contained within said housing, said first container having a first container positive terminal and a first container negative terminal, said first container being electrically connected to said output positive terminal and said output negative terminal of said housing;
(d) a first metal-air electrochemical cell disposed within said first container, said first cell having a first positive electrode electrically connected to said first container positive terminal, a first negative electrode electrically connected to said first container negative terminal, and a first cell voltage measured across said first positive electrode and said first negative electrode of said first cell;
(e) a second container at least substantially contained within said housing, said second container having a second container positive terminal and a second container negative terminal, said second container being electrically connected to said output positive terminal and said output negative terminal of said housing;
(f) a second electrochemical cell disposed within said second container, said second cell having a second positive electrode electrically connected to said second container positive terminal, a second negative electrode electrically connected to said second container negative terminal, and a second cell voltage measured across said second positive electrode and said second negative electrode; and
(g) a controller electrically connected to said first positive electrode and said first negative electrode of said first cell, said controller controlling said microvalve.
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Abstract
A battery having a built-in controller that controls one or more functions of the battery is disclosed. The battery may, for example, control a charge or a discharge cycle of a battery, disconnect an electrochemical cell from the terminals of the battery in an emergency condition, provide electronic identification of all characteristics or conditions, or provide a low remaining charge warning. The battery may be a single-cell battery, a universal single-cell battery, a multiple-cell battery or a multiple-cell hybrid battery. Each individual cell preferably has a built-in controller.
310 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A multiple-cell battery comprising:
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(a) a housing having an output positive terminal, an output negative terminal and a periphery; (b) at least one microvalve disposed in a portion of said periphery of said housing; (c) a first oxygen pervious container contained within said housing, said first container having a first container positive terminal and a first container negative terminal, said first container being electrically connected to said output positive terminal and said output negative terminal of said housing; (d) a first metal-air electrochemical cell disposed within said first container, said first cell having a first positive electrode electrically connected to said first container positive terminal, a first negative electrode electrically connected to said first container negative terminal, and a first cell voltage measured across said first positive electrode and said first negative electrode of said first cell; (e) a second container at least substantially contained within said housing, said second container having a second container positive terminal and a second container negative terminal, said second container being electrically connected to said output positive terminal and said output negative terminal of said housing; (f) a second electrochemical cell disposed within said second container, said second cell having a second positive electrode electrically connected to said second container positive terminal, a second negative electrode electrically connected to said second container negative terminal, and a second cell voltage measured across said second positive electrode and said second negative electrode; and (g) a controller electrically connected to said first positive electrode and said first negative electrode of said first cell, said controller controlling said microvalve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A rechargeable multiple-cell battery useful with an external charger that supplies a charging current, the rechargeable multiple cell battery comprising:
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(a) a first container having a first container positive terminal and a first container negative terminal; (b) a first rechargeable electrochemical cell disposed within said first container, said first cell having a first positive electrode, a first negative electrode and a first cell voltage measured across said first positive electrode and said first negative electrode of said first cell; (c) a first controller electrically connected between said first electrodes of said first cell and said first terminals of said first container, said first controller being adapted to control the charging current of the external charging circuit to charge said first cell; (d) a second container having a second container positive terminal and a second container negative terminal;
said second container being electrically connected to said first container;(e) a second rechargeable electrochemical cell disposed within said second container, said second cell having a second positive electrode, a second negative electrode and a second cell voltage measured across said second positive electrode and said second negative electrode; and (f) a second controller electrically connected between said second electrodes of said second cell and said second terminals of said second container, said second controller being adapted to control the charging current of the external charging circuit to charge said second cell. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification