Systems and methods for battery charging and equalization

• US 6,771,045 B1
• Filed: 09/05/2002
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
• Original Assignee: ISE Incorporated (ISE Group of Companies)
• Inventors: Keller, Jesse P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Application Number:
  US10/236,379
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 320/116, 320/118, 320/119, 320/120, 320/121
• US Class Current: 320/118
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/22 Balancing the charge of battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/441 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/006 of fuel cells with rechargeable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0016 using shunting, discharge or bypass circuits
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A method and system for charging and equalizing battery packs in a battery power system by transferring charge between battery packs. The method involves determining if a battery pack is a candidate for charging, selecting a battery pack to transfer charge from, and transferring charge between the battery packs until an equalizing charge level is accomplished between the battery packs.

Claims

1. In a battery power system comprising a plurality of battery packs, a method for charging and equalizing battery packs by transferring charge between battery packs, the method comprising:

a) while the plurality of battery packs are not receiving energy from a power source external to the plurality of battery packs;

b) determining if an adjacent neighbor battery pack is a candidate for receiving charge or supplying charge;

c) selecting a battery pack to transfer charge from;

d) transferring charge from the battery pack selected to transfer charge from to the battery pack selected to transfer charge to and equalizing charge therebetween;

e) continuously and simultaneously performing steps b-d to multiple pairs of battery packs in parallel while the plurality of battery packs are not receiving energy from a power source external to the plurality of battery packs.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining if an adjacent neighbor battery pack is a candidate for receiving charge or supplying charge further comprises determining if an adjacent neighbor battery pack is fully charged.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising discharging a battery pack.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein determining if an adjacent neighbor battery pack is a candidate for receiving charge or supplying charge includes determining if an adjacent neighbor battery pack is a candidate for discharging then charging.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein each battery pack comprises a plurality of batteries.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein charging and equalizing battery packs by transferring charge between battery packs occurs between battery packs and between batteries.

31. The method of claim 1, further including performing steps b-e while at least one of the plurality of battery packs are active and supplying stored energy, and the plurality of battery packs are passive and neither supplying nor receiving stored energy.

7. In a vehicle comprising a main power unit, a DC power bus, and a battery power system comprising a pair of battery packs, a method of charging and equalization battery packs by transferring charge between battery packs, the method comprising:

a) while the plurality of battery packs are not receiving energy from a power source external to the plurality of battery packs;

b) determining if an adjacent neighbor battery pack is a candidate for receiving charge or supplying charge;

c) selecting a battery pack to transfer charge from;

d) transferring charge from the battery pack selected to transfer charge from to the battery pack selected to transfer charge to and equalizing the charge therebetween;

e) continuously and simultaneously performing steps b-d to multiple pairs of battery packs in parallel while the plurality of battery packs are not receiving energy from a power source external to the plurality of battery packs.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein determining if an adjacent neighbor battery pack is a candidate for receiving charge or supplying charge further comprises determining if an adjacent neighbor battery pack is fully charged.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising discharging a battery pack.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein determining if an adjacent neighbor battery pack is a candidate for receiving charge or supplying charge includes determining if an adjacent neighbor battery pack is a candidate for discharging then charging.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein each battery pack comprises a plurality of batteries.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein for charging and equalizing battery packs by transferring charge between battery packs occurs between battery packs and between batteries.

32. The method of claim 7, further including performing steps b-e while at least one of the plurality of battery packs are active and supplying stored energy, and the plurality of battery packs are passive and neither supplying nor receiving stored energy.

13. A battery charging and equalization system, comprising:

a plurality of battery packs;

a battery charging and equalization unit coupled with each of the battery packs, the battery charging and equalization unit configured a) while the plurality of battery packs are not receiving energy from a power source external to the plurality of battery packs, b) to determine if an adjacent neighbor battery pack is a candidate for receiving charge or supplying charge, c) select a battery pack to transfer charge from, d) transfer charge from the battery pack selected to transfer charge from to the battery pack selected to transfer charge to and equalize charge therebetween, e) to continuously and simultaneously perform b-d to multiple pairs of battery packs in parallel while the plurality of battery packs are not receiving energy from a power source external to the plurality of battery packs.

14. The battery power system of claim 13, wherein the battery and charging and equalization unit comprises a processor coupled with each battery pack, the processor, configured to determine if an adjacent neighbor battery pack is a candidate for receiving charge or supplying charge, select a battery pack to transfer charge from, direct charge transfer, direct discontinuation of charge transfer, and direct equalization of charge level between the battery packs.

15. The battery power system of claim 13, wherein the battery and charging and equalization unit comprises a charge shuffler coupled with each battery pack, the charge shuffler configured to transfer charge, discontinue charge transfer, and equalize charge level between battery packs.

16. The battery power system of claim 13, wherein the battery and charging and equalization unit comprises a controller, the controller configured to direct operation of the battery and charging and equalization system.

17. The battery power system of claim 13, wherein the battery and charging and equalization unit is configured to perform steps b-e while at least one of the plurality of battery packs are active and supplying stored energy, and the plurality of battery packs are passive and neither supplying nor receiving stored energy.

18. The battery power system of claim 13, wherein the battery and charging and equalization unit comprises a monitor, the monitor configured to obtain charge level data from the battery packs.

19. The battery power system of claim 13, wherein each of the battery packs comprises a plurality of batteries.

20. The battery power system of claim 19, wherein the battery and charging and equalization unit is further coupled with each of the batteries, the battery charging and equalization unit configured to determine if a battery is a candidate for charging, select a battery to transfer charge from, transfer charge, discontinue charge transfer, and equalize charge level between batteries.

21. The battery power system of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of battery packs and a plurality of lower power shufflers each coupled with a pair of battery packs, the lower power shufflers configured to equalize charge levels between battery packs.

22. In a vehicle comprising a main power unit and a DC power bus, a system capable of the charging and equalization of battery packs by transferring charge between battery packs, the system comprising:

a plurality of battery packs;

a battery charging and equalization unit coupled with each of the battery packs, the battery charging and equalization unit configured a) while the plurality of battery packs are not receiving energy from a power source external to the plurality of battery packs, b) to determine if an adjacent neighbor battery pack is a candidate for receiving charge or supplying charge, c) to select a battery pack to transfer charge from, d) to transfer charge from the battery pack selected to transfer charge from to the battery pack selected to transfer charge to and equalize charge therebetween, e) to continuously and simultaneously perform b-d to multiple pairs of battery packs in parallel while the plurality of battery packs are not receiving energy from a power source external to the plurality of battery packs.

23. The battery power system of claim 22, wherein the battery and charging and equalization unit comprises a processor coupled with each battery pack, the processor configured to determine if an adjacent neighbor battery pack is a candidate for receiving charge or supplying charge, select a battery pack to transfer charge from, direct charge transfer, direct discontinuation of charge transfer, and direct equalization of charge level between the battery packs.

24. The battery power system of claim 22, wherein the battery and charging and equalization unit comprises a charge shuffler coupled with each battery pack, the charge shuffler configured to transfer charge, discontinue charge transfer, and equalize charge level between battery packs.

25. The battery power system of claim 22, wherein the battery and charging and equalization unit comprises a controller, the controller configured to direct operation of the battery and charging and equalization system.

26. The battery power system of claim 22, wherein the battery and charging and equalization unit is configured to perform steps b-e while at least one of the plurality of battery packs are active and supplying stored energy, and the plurality of battery packs are passive and neither supplying nor receiving stored energy.

27. The battery power system of claim 22, wherein the battery and charging and equalization unit comprises a monitor, the monitor configured to obtain charge level data from the battery packs.

28. The battery power system of claim 22, wherein each of the battery packs comprises a plurality of batteries.

29. The battery power system of claim 28, wherein the battery and charging and equalization unit is further coupled with each of the batteries, the battery charging and equalization unit configured to determine if a battery is a candidate for charging, select a battery to transfer charge from, transfer charge, discontinue charge transfer, and equalize charge level between batteries.

30. The battery charging and equalization system of claim 22 farther comprising a plurality of battery packs and a plurality of lower power shufflers each coupled with a pair of battery packs, the lower power shufflers configured to equalize charge levels between battery packs.