Electrical systems, battery assemblies, and battery assembly operational methods

• US 7,986,124 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2004
• Issued: 07/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Valence Technology Incorporated (Lithium Werks B.V.)
• Original Assignee: Valence Technology Incorporated (Lithium Werks B.V.)
• Inventors: Darilek, Christopher, Lamoreux, Joseph, Stone, Lawrence, Bjorklund, Tage, St. Angelo, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Berhanu; Samuel
• Application Number:
  US10/947,602
• Publication Number:
  US 20050062456A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,499 Days
• Field of Search: 320/106, 320/112, 320/110
• US Class Current: 320/106
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0016 using shunting, discharge or bypass circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0019 using switched or multiplexed charge circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0047 with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/005 Detection of state of health [SOH]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/70 Hybrid systems, e.g. uninterruptible or back-up power supplies integrating renewable energies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Electrical systems, power supply apparatuses, and power supply operational methods are described. According to one aspect, an electrical system includes an electrical entity configured to utilize electrical energy, and wherein the electrical entity comprises a communications interface, and a power supply apparatus configured to provide the electrical energy for use by the electrical entity, and wherein the power supply apparatus comprises a support system, a plurality of battery assemblies configured to be removably coupled with and supported by the support system, wherein individual ones of the battery assemblies comprise at least one rechargeable electrochemical device configured to provide the electrical energy, at least one power terminal configured to couple with the electrical entity and to provide the electrical energy from the electrochemical device to the electrical entity, and a communications interface configured to implement communications with the communications interface of the electrical entity, and wherein the electrical entity and the power supply apparatus are configured to implement the communications comprising at least one of status information regarding the power supply apparatus from the power supply apparatus to the electrical entity and a command regarding an operation of the power supply apparatus from the electrical entity to the power supply apparatus.

Claims

1. An electrical system comprising:

an electrical entity configured to utilize electrical energy; and

a power supply apparatus configured to provide the electrical energy for use by the electrical entity, and wherein the power supply apparatus comprises a battery assembly comprising;

a rechargeable electrochemical device configured to store the electrical energy;

a power terminal configured to electrically couple with the electrical entity and to provide the electrical energy from the rechargeable electrochemical device to the electrical entity;

storage circuitry comprising status information regarding the battery assembly stored during different operational modes of the battery assembly including a normal operational mode and a sleep operational mode wherein the electrical energy of the rechargeable electrochemical device is consumed at a reduced rate in the sleep operational mode compared with the normal operational mode;

a switching device configured to selectively electrically isolate the rechargeable electrochemical device of the battery assembly from the electrical entity; and

processing circuitry configured to monitor at least one operation of the battery assembly and to control operation of the switching device to implement the electrical isolation of the rechargeable electrochemical device responsive to the monitoring by the processing circuitry detecting a triggering event;

backup circuitry configured to monitor at least one operation of the battery assembly and to control operation of the switching device to implement the electrical isolation of the rechargeable electrochemical device responsive to the monitoring by the backup circuitry detecting a triggering event independent of the monitoring by the processing circuitry; and

wherein the processing circuitry is configured to utilize a first period of time to implement the control of the operation of the switching device and the backup circuitry is configured to utilize a second period of time less than the first period of time to implement the control of the operation of the switching device.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first and the second periods of time comprise periods of time to implement the electrical isolation by the switching device using respective ones of the processing circuitry and backup circuitry responsive to the same triggering event.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one component of the battery assembly is at least partially powered down during the sleep operational mode to consume less of the electrical energy of the rechargeable electrochemical device compared with the normal operational mode.

4. A battery assembly comprising:

a plurality of rechargeable electrochemical devices individually configured to store electrical energy;

a power terminal configured to electrically couple with an electrical entity configured to utilize the electrical energy and to provide the electrical energy from the battery assembly to the electrical entity;

storage circuitry comprising a history of the battery assembly including status information regarding a characteristic of the battery assembly at a plurality of moments in time, wherein the history of the storage circuitry also includes temporal information comprising a plurality of temporal data entries which identify the plurality of moments in time when the status information regarding the characteristic of the battery assembly was acquired for the history;

a switching device configured to selectively electrically isolate the rechargeable electrochemical device from the electrical entity;

processing circuitry configured to monitor at least one operation of the battery assembly and to control operation of the switching device to implement the electrical isolation of the rechargeable electrochemical device responsive to the monitoring by the processing circuitry detecting a triggering event;

backup circuitry configured to monitor at least one operation of the battery assembly and to control operation of the switching device to implement the electrical isolation of the rechargeable electrochemical device responsive to the monitoring by the backup circuitry detecting a triggering event independent of the monitoring by the processing circuitry; and

wherein the processing circuitry is configured to utilize a first period of time to implement the control of the operation of the switching device and the backup circuitry is configured to utilize a second period of time less than the first period of time to implement the control of the operation of the switching device.

5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein one of the temporal data entries for an individual one of the moments in time is associated with the status information regarding the characteristic for the individual one of the moments in time.

6. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the storage circuitry stores the status information determined at the plurality of moments in time according to a period.

7. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the first and the second periods of time comprise periods of time to implement the electrical isolation by the switching device using respective ones of the processing circuitry and backup circuitry responsive to the same triggering event.

8. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the status information comprises different values of the characteristic comprising a common characteristic of the different individual ones of the rechargeable electrochemical devices.

9. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the status information comprises different information regarding different characteristics of the different individual ones of the rechargeable electrochemical devices.

68. The assembly of claim 5 wherein the one of the temporal data entries comprises at least one of date and time information for the individual one of the moments in time.

10. A battery assembly operational method comprising:

storing electrical energy using a rechargeable electrochemical device of a battery assembly;

supplying the electrical energy from the battery assembly to an electrical entity configured to utilize the electrical energy;

determining a plurality of periodic moments in time according to a predetermined period;

storing status information regarding the battery assembly using the battery assembly at the periodic moments in time as determined according to the predetermined period; and

communicating the status information regarding the battery assembly externally of the battery assembly after the storing.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

using the battery assembly, receiving a command from externally of the battery assembly, and

controlling an operation of the battery assembly responsive to the command.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the communicating and receiving comprise communicating and receiving with respect to a system manager.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the communicating and receiving comprise communicating and receiving with respect to the electrical entity.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the storing comprises storing the status information comprising capacity information of the rechargeable electrochemical device.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the battery assembly comprises a plurality of the rechargeable electrochemical devices individually configured to store the electrical energy, and wherein the storing comprises storing the status information comprising capacity information of the individual ones of the rechargeable electrochemical devices.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the storing comprises storing the status information comprising state of charge information of the rechargeable electrochemical device.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein the battery assembly comprises a plurality of the rechargeable electrochemical devices individually configured to store the electrical energy, and wherein the storing comprises storing the status information comprising state of charge information of the individual ones of the rechargeable electrochemical devices.

18. The method of claim 10 wherein the storing comprises storing the status information comprising charge/discharge cycle information of the rechargeable electrochemical device.

19. The method of claim 10 wherein the battery assembly comprises a plurality of the rechargeable electrochemical devices individually configured to store the electrical energy, and wherein the storing comprises storing the status information comprising charge/discharge cycle information of the individual ones of the rechargeable electrochemical devices.

20. The method of claim 10 wherein the storing comprises storing the status information comprising charging current information of the rechargeable electrochemical device.

21. The method of claim 10 wherein the battery assembly comprises a plurality of the rechargeable electrochemical devices individually configured to store the electrical energy, and wherein the storing comprises storing the status information comprising charging current information of the individual ones of the rechargeable electrochemical devices.

22. The method of claim 10 wherein the storing comprises storing the status information comprising discharging current information of the rechargeable electrochemical device.

23. The method of claim 10 wherein the battery assembly comprises a plurality of the rechargeable electrochemical devices individually configured to store the electrical energy, and wherein the storing comprises storing the status information comprising discharging current information of the individual ones of the rechargeable electrochemical devices.

24. The method of claim 10 wherein the storing comprises storing the status information comprising temperature information of the battery assembly.

25. The method of claim 10 wherein the storing comprises storing the status information comprising a history of operations of the battery assembly including temporal information of the status information at the plurality of moments in time.

26. The method of claim 10 wherein the storing comprises storing the status information comprising a length of time of use of the battery assembly.

27. The method of claim 10 further comprising electrically isolating the rechargeable electrochemical device of the battery assembly from the electrical entity.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising:

using processing circuitry of the battery assembly, monitoring at least one operation of the battery assembly and controlling the electrically isolating responsive to the monitoring by the processing circuitry detecting a triggering event;

using backup circuitry of the battery assembly, monitoring at least one operation of the battery assembly and controlling the electrically isolating responsive to the monitoring by the backup circuitry detecting a triggering event independent of the monitoring by the processing circuitry; and

wherein the processing circuitry utilizes a first period of time to implement the electrically isolating and the backup circuitry utilizes a second period of time less than the first period of time to implement the electrically isolating.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the first and the second periods of time comprise periods of time to control the electrically isolating using respective ones of the processing circuitry and the backup circuitry responsive to the same triggering event.

30. The method of claim 10 wherein the communicating the status information comprises communicating the status information externally of a housing of the battery assembly which is configured to house the rechargeable electrochemical device and storage circuitry comprising the stored status information.

31. The method of claim 10 wherein the storing comprises storing using storage circuitry of the battery assembly and the status information comprises electrical information.

32. The method of claim 10 wherein the storing the status information comprises storing information regarding a characteristic of the rechargeable electrochemical device at the moments in time.

33. An electrical system comprising:

an electrical entity configured to utilize electrical energy; and

a power supply apparatus configured to provide the electrical energy for use by the electrical entity, and wherein the power supply apparatus comprises a battery assembly comprising;

a rechargeable electrochemical device configured to store the electrical energy;

a power terminal configured to electrically couple with the electrical entity and to provide the electrical energy from the rechargeable electrochemical device to the electrical entity;

storage circuitry comprising status information regarding the battery assembly;

a switching device configured to selectively electrically isolate the rechargeable electrochemical device of the battery assembly from the electrical entity;

processing circuitry configured to monitor at least one operation of the battery assembly and to control operation of the switching device to implement the electrical isolation of the rechargeable electrochemical device responsive to the monitoring by the processing circuitry detecting a triggering event;

backup circuitry configured to monitor at least one operation of the battery assembly and to control operation of the switching device to implement the electrical isolation of the rechargeable electrochemical device responsive to the monitoring by the backup circuitry detecting the triggering event independent of the monitoring by the processing circuitry; and

wherein the processing circuitry is configured to utilize a first period of time to implement the control of the operation of the switching device and the backup circuitry is configured to utilize a second period of time less than the first period of time to implement the control of the operation of the switching device.

34. The system of claim 33 wherein the battery assembly further comprises:

a communications interface configured to output the status information externally of the battery assembly and to receive a command from externally of the battery assembly; and

control circuitry configured to control an operation of the battery assembly responsive to the command.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein the communications interface is configured to output the status information to a device external of the battery assembly and to receive the command from the device external of the battery assembly.

36. The system of claim 35 wherein the device external of the battery assembly comprises a system manager.

37. The system of claim 35 wherein the device external of the battery assembly comprises the electrical entity.

38. The system of claim 33 wherein the storage circuitry stores the status information comprising capacity information of the rechargeable electrochemical device.

39. The system of claim 33 wherein the battery assembly comprises a plurality of the rechargeable electrochemical devices individually configured to store the electrical energy, and wherein the storage circuitry stores the status information comprising capacity information of individual ones of the rechargeable electrochemical devices.

40. The system of claim 33 wherein the storage circuitry stores the status information comprising state of charge information of the rechargeable electrochemical device.

41. The system of claim 33 wherein the battery assembly comprises a plurality of the rechargeable electrochemical devices individually configured to store the electrical energy, and wherein the storage circuitry stores the status information comprising state of charge information of individual ones of the rechargeable electrochemical devices.

42. The system of claim 33 wherein the storage circuitry stores the status information comprising charge/discharge cycle information of the rechargeable electrochemical device.

43. The system of claim 33 wherein the battery assembly comprises a plurality of the rechargeable electrochemical devices individually configured to store the electrical energy, and wherein the storage circuitry stores the status information comprising charge/discharge cycle information of individual ones of the rechargeable electrochemical devices.

44. The system of claim 33 wherein the storage circuitry stores the status information comprising charging current information of the rechargeable electrochemical device.

45. The system of claim 33 wherein the battery assembly comprises a plurality of the rechargeable electrochemical devices individually configured to store the electrical energy, and wherein the storage circuitry stores the status information comprising charging current information of individual ones of the rechargeable electrochemical devices.

46. The system of claim 33 wherein the storage circuitry stores the status information comprising discharging current information of the rechargeable electrochemical device.

47. The system of claim 33 wherein the battery assembly comprises a plurality of the rechargeable electrochemical devices individually configured to store the electrical energy, and wherein the storage circuitry stores the status information comprising discharging current information of individual ones of the rechargeable electrochemical devices.

48. The system of claim 33 wherein the storage circuitry stores the status information comprising temperature information of the battery assembly.

49. The system of claim 33 wherein the storage circuitry stores the status information comprising a history of operations of the battery assembly including temporal information of the status information at a plurality of moments in time.

50. The system of claim 33 wherein the storage circuitry stores the status information determined at a plurality of moments in time according to a period.

51. The system of claim 33 wherein the storage circuitry stores the status information comprising a length of time of use of the battery assembly.

52. The system of claim 33 wherein the power supply apparatus further comprises a plurality of the battery assemblies.

53. The system of claim 33 wherein the battery assembly further comprises a housing configured to house the rechargeable electrochemical device and the storage circuitry, and wherein the power terminal is configured to conduct the electricity from the rechargeable electrochemical device externally of the housing.

54. The system of claim 33 wherein the first and the second periods of time comprise periods of time to implement the electrical isolation by the switching device using respective ones of the processing circuitry and backup circuitry as a result of the detecting the triggering event.

55. A battery assembly comprising:

a rechargeable electrochemical device configured to store electrical energy;

a power terminal configured to electrically couple with an electrical entity configured to utilize the electrical energy and to provide the electrical energy from the battery assembly to the electrical entity;

storage circuitry comprising status information regarding the battery assembly;

a switching device configured to selectively electrically isolate the rechargeable electrochemical device from the electrical entity;

processing circuitry configured to monitor at least one operation of the battery assembly and to control operation of the switching device to implement the electrical isolation of the rechargeable electrochemical device responsive to the monitoring by the processing circuitry detecting a triggering event;

backup circuitry configured to monitor at least one operation of the battery assembly and to control operation of the switching device to implement the electrical isolation of the rechargeable electrochemical device responsive to the monitoring by the backup circuitry detecting the triggering event independent of the monitoring by the processing circuitry; and

wherein the processing circuitry is configured to utilize a first period of time to implement the control of the operation of the switching device and the backup circuitry is configured to utilize a second period of time less than the first period of time to implement the control of the operation of the switching device.

56. The assembly of claim 55 wherein the battery assembly further comprises:

a communications interface configured to output the status information externally of the battery assembly and to receive a command from externally of the battery assembly; and

control circuitry configured to control an operation of the battery assembly responsive to the command.

57. The assembly of claim 55 wherein the storage circuitry stores the status information comprising capacity information of the rechargeable electrochemical device.

58. The assembly of claim 55 wherein the storage circuitry stores the status information comprising state of charge information of the rechargeable electrochemical device.

59. The assembly of claim 55 wherein the storage circuitry stores the status information comprising charge/discharge cycle information of the rechargeable electrochemical device.

60. The assembly of claim 55 wherein the storage circuitry stores the status information comprising charging current information of the rechargeable electrochemical device.

61. The assembly of claim 55 wherein the storage circuitry stores the status information comprising discharging current information of the rechargeable electrochemical device.

62. The assembly of claim 55 wherein the storage circuitry stores the status information comprising temperature information of the battery assembly.

63. The assembly of claim 55 wherein the storage circuitry stores the status information comprising a length of time of use of the battery assembly.

64. The assembly of claim 55 wherein the battery assembly further comprises a housing configured to house the rechargeable electrochemical device and the storage circuitry, and wherein the power terminal is configured to conduct the electricity from the rechargeable electrochemical device externally of the housing.

65. The assembly of claim 55 wherein the first and the second periods of time comprise periods of time to implement the electrical isolation by the switching device using respective ones of the processing circuitry and backup circuitry as a result of the detecting the triggering event.

66. A battery assembly operational method comprising:

storing electrical energy using a rechargeable electrochemical device of a battery assembly;

supplying the electrical energy from the battery assembly to an electrical entity configured to utilize the electrical energy;

storing status information regarding the battery assembly using the battery assembly;

communicating the status information regarding the battery assembly externally of the battery assembly after the storing;

electrically isolating the rechargeable electrochemical device of the battery assembly from the electrical entity;

using processing circuitry of the battery assembly, monitoring at least one operation of the battery assembly and controlling the electrically isolating responsive to the monitoring by the processing circuitry detecting a triggering event;

using backup circuitry of the battery assembly, monitoring at least one operation of the battery assembly and controlling the electrically isolating responsive to the monitoring by the backup circuitry detecting the triggering event independent of the monitoring by the processing circuitry; and

wherein the processing circuitry utilizes a first period of time to implement the electrically isolating and the backup circuitry utilizes a second period of time less than the first period of time to implement the electrically isolating.

67. The method of claim 66 wherein the first and the second periods of time comprise periods of time to control the electrically isolating using respective ones of the processing circuitry and the backup circuitry as a result of the detecting the triggering event.