Battery pack
First Claim
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1. A battery pack having an nominal output voltage rating, comprises:
- a group of primary cells, the group of cells having a nominal voltage rating that is in excess of the nominal voltage rating of the battery pack;
a DC to DC converter, the DC to DC converter configured to discharge the group of cells down to a voltage level of about the terminal voltage of cell, before the DC-DC converter cuts out, enabling a maximum amount of energy transfer from the cells, with the group of primary cells coupled to discharge through the DC to DC converter.
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Abstract
A battery pack is described. The battery pack includes a DC to DC converter and a group of at least two primary cells. The DC-DC converter is operatively coupled to the group of primary cells. The group of primary cells have an initial voltage that is higher than a rated voltage for the battery pack. The DC-DC converter converts the voltage to a regulated nominal voltage that is lower that the rated voltage of the group of primary cells. By regulating the battery voltage down to a constant voltage, the cells can discharge down to a minimum voltage level per cell enabling additional energy transfer from the group of cells.
18 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A battery pack having an nominal output voltage rating, comprises:
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a group of primary cells, the group of cells having a nominal voltage rating that is in excess of the nominal voltage rating of the battery pack;
a DC to DC converter, the DC to DC converter configured to discharge the group of cells down to a voltage level of about the terminal voltage of cell, before the DC-DC converter cuts out, enabling a maximum amount of energy transfer from the cells, with the group of primary cells coupled to discharge through the DC to DC converter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
at least two cells, and wherein the DC-DC converter is a step-down converter.
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3. The battery pack of claim 2 wherein the group of primary cells comprise:
a plurality of cells coupled in series.
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4. The battery pack of claim 1 wherein the DC-DC converter comprises:
a controller device for current switching and an externally coupled switching transistor, arranged to switch high levels of current from the battery in accordance with a load placed on the battery.
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5. The battery pack of claim 1 wherein the DC-DC converter has an input coupled to one terminal of the group of primary cells and an output that forms one of the terminals of the battery pack.
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6. The battery pack of claim 1 wherein the group of at least one primary cell is replaceable.
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7. The battery pack of claim 1 wherein the group of at least one primary cell is not replaceable.
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8. The battery pack of claim 1 further comprising:
a case that houses the DC to DC converter and group of primary cells.
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9. The battery pack of claim 1
wherein the DC-DC converter is a step-up converter. -
10. The battery pack of claim 2 wherein the group of primary cells comprise a plurality of cells coupled in parallel.
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11. A battery pack, comprises:
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a DC to DC converter;
a group of at least two primary cells, with the DC-DC converter operatively coupled to the group of primary cells and with the group of primary cells having an initial voltage that is higher than a rated voltage for the battery pack;
case housing the DC-DC converter and the group of primary cells; and
a pair of external battery terminals coupled to the DC-DC converter and supported on the case. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification