Electrochemical cell recharging system

• US 6,811,903 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2001
• Issued: 11/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Evionyx Incorporated (Reveo, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Evlonyx Incorporated
• Inventors: Vartak, Aditi, Tsai, Tsepin
• Primary Examiner(s): Gulakowski, Randy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Winter, Gentle E.
• Application Number:
  US09/827,982
• Publication Number:
  US 20020146600A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,306 Days
• Field of Search: 429/9, 429/7, 429/12, 429/27, 429/30, 429/40, 429/42, 429/44, 429/50, 429/59, 429/61, 429/149, 429/156, 429/209, 429/216, 429/247, 429/303, 429/133, 429/162, 429/163, 429/110, 320/112, 320/118, 320/119, 320/137, 320/138, 320/4, 320/14, 320/17, 204/282, 204/283, 204/290.R
• US Class Current: 429/9
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/42 Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells H01M10/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4264 with capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/441 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 12/06 with one metallic and one gaseous electrode
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 429/90 Fuel cell including means for power conditioning, e.g. Conversion to ac

Abstract

A rechargeable electrochemical cell system is provided. The system includes a plurality of cells, wherein each cell is comprised of a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode electrically isolated from the second electrode. The cell system may be discharged upon application of a load across a discharge circuit, which is formed from the first electrodes and the second electrodes. The cell may be recharged upon application of a voltage across a recharging circuit, which is formed of at least one of the first electrodes and at least one of the third electrodes.

Claims

1. A rechargeable electrochemical cell system comprising:

a plurality of rechargeable cells, each rechargeable cell including

a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode electrically isolated from the second electrode;

wherein each cell is configured for being discharged upon application Office action a load across the first electrode and the second electrode, and

wherein each cell is configured for being independently recharged upon application of the voltage across the first electrode and the third electrode of each cell in isolation from the other cells;

wherein the voltage for the recharging is applied by one or more transformers; and

wherein the transformer comprises a single primary winding and a plurality of secondary windings, each secondary winding associated with a third electrode and a corresponding cell.

2. The rechargeable electrochemical cell system as in claim 1 wherein each second electrode is in isolation from the voltage across each corresponding first electrode and third electrode when the cell is recharged.

3. The rechargeable electrochemical cell as in claim 1, wherein the isolation is effectuated by a transformer, a power supply, capacitor, a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.

4. The rechargeable electrochemical cell system as in claim 1, further comprising a switching power converter coupled to a power source in operable connection with the primary winding.

5. The rechargeable electrochemical cell system as in claim 1, wherein the switching power converter comprises a MOSFET device.

6. The rechargeable electrochemical cell system as in claim 4, wherein the power source is controlled by a control unit.

7. The rechargeable electrochemical cell system as in claim 6, wherein the control unit comprises an oscillator.

8. The rechargeable electrochemical cell system as in claim 1, further comprising a diode between at least one pair of the secondary winding and the third electrode.

9. The rechargeable electrochemical cell system as in claim 1, further comprising a rectifier between at least one pair of the secondary winding and the third electrode.

10. The rechargeable electrochemical cell system as in claim 1, wherein the voltage across the first electrode and the third electrode is provided from a power supply.

11. The rechargeable electrochemical cell system as in claim 10, further comprising a cell conditioning unit between the power supply, and the recharging circuit of each cell in the system.

12. The rechargeable electrochemical cell system as in claim 11, wherein the cell conditioning unit comprises a switching power converter.

13. The rechargeable electrochemical cell system as in claim 11, wherein the cell conditioning unit comprises a battery parameters monitor.

14. The rechargeable electrochemical so system as in claim 11, wherein the cell conditioning unit comprises signal conditioning system.

15. The rechargeable electrochemical cell system as in claim 11, wherein the cell conditioning unit comprises a filter.

16. The rechargeable electrochemical cell system as in claim 1, wherein the voltage is applied across the recharging circuit with a capacitor.

17. The rechargeable electrochemical cell system is in claim 16, wherein the capacitor is coupled to a power supply.

18. The rechargeable electrochemical cell system is in claim 17, wherein the capacitor is charged by the power supply by operation of a switch device.

19. The rechargeable electrochemical cell system as in claim 16, wherein the capacitor is connected across the recharging circuit via a switch between the capacitor and the first electrode and the switch between the capacitor and the third electrode.

20. The rechargeable electrochemical cell system as in claim 17, wherein the capacitor is coupled to the first electrode via a first switch and wherein the capacitor is coupled to the second electrode via a second switch, and wherein the power supply is coupled to the capacitor via a third switch.

21. The rechargeable electrochemical cell system as in claim 20, wherein operation of the third switch, and operation of the first and second switches, are optimized based on charging the capacitor and charging the individual cells.

22. The rechargeable electrochemical cell system as in claim 1, wherein the cell is recharging upon application of a selective voltage across one or more selected recharging circuits.

23. The rechargeable electrochemical cell system as in claim 22, wherein selected recharging circuits are selected based on charging requirements.

24. The rechargeable electrochemical cell system as in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of cells are arranged in series.

25. The rechargeable electrochemical cell system as in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of cells are arranged in parallel.

26. A method of recharging the rechargeable cell system of claim 1 comprising:

applying a discrete power source to each cell which is isolated from the power source associated with the other cells.

27. The method as in claim 26, wherein the isolation is effectuated by a transformer, a power supply, a capacitor, a switch, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.

28. The method as in claim 26, wherein the voltage for recharging is applied by one or more transformers.

29. The method as in claim 26, wherein the transformer comprises a single primary winding and a plurality of secondary windings, each secondary winding associated with a charging electrode of a corresponding cell.