Battery module and charge and discharge method thereof

• US 7,986,130 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2007
• Issued: 07/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quanta Computer
• Original Assignee: Quanta Computer
• Inventors: Yen, Wei-Ting
• Primary Examiner(s): Muralidar; Richard V
• Application Number:
  US12/000,488
• Publication Number:
  US 20090027008A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,321 Days
• Field of Search: 320/150, 320/134, 320/135, 320/136, 320/152, 320/153
• US Class Current: 320/150
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/443 in response to temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/106 PTC
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007194 of the battery
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery module and a charge/discharge method thereof are provided. The battery module comprises a cell, a charge/discharge circuit, a temperature sensing circuit and a charge/discharge speed controlling circuit. The charge/discharge circuit is coupled to the cell. The temperature sensing circuit further comprises a temperature coefficient (PTC) device used for sensing a temperature of the cell, so that the temperature sensing circuit outputs a first analog signal according to the temperature of the cell. The charge/discharge speed controlling circuit, according to the first analog signal, outputs a control signal to the charge/discharge circuit to adjust a charge/discharge speed of the cell.

Claims

1. A battery module, comprising:

a cell;

a charge/discharge circuit coupled to the cell;

a temperature sensing circuit used for outputting a first analog signal according to a temperature of the cell, wherein the temperature sensing circuit comprises;

a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) device used for sensing a temperature of the cell; and

a charge/discharge speed controlling circuit used for outputting a control signal to the charge/discharge circuit to adjust a charge/discharge speed of the cell according to the first analog signal, wherein the charge/discharge speed controlling circuit comprises;

a sensing module used for converting the first analog signal into a second analog signal, wherein the sensing module comprises;

a voltage follower used for receiving the first analog signal and accordingly outputting a third analog signal;

an inverse adder used for outputting a fourth analog signal according to the third analog signal and a reference signal; and

an inverse amplifier used for inversing and amplifying the fourth analog signal to output the second analog signal;

an analog/digital converter used for converting the second analog signal into a digital signal; and

a micro-controller used for outputting the control signal according to the digital signal.

2. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the analog/digital converter is disposed on the micro-controller.

3. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the sensing module and the analog/digital converter are disposed on the micro-controller.

4. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the inverse adder comprises:

an operation amplifier;

a first resistor whose two ends are respectively coupled to an inverse input end and an output end of the operation amplifier;

a second resistor whose one end is coupled to the inverse input end of the operation amplifier;

a third resistor; and

a first variable resistor coupled to the inverse input end of the operation amplifier via the third resistor.

5. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the sensing module comprises:

a zener diode; and

a first resistor via which the inverse amplifier is coupled to the zener diode.

6. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the temperature sensing circuit further comprises:

a first resistor; and

a first variable resistor, wherein the first resistor, the first variable resistor and the positive temperature coefficient (PTC) device are connected in serial.

7. A method of charging/discharging battery module, wherein the battery module comprises a cell, a charge/discharge circuit, a temperature sensing circuit and a charge/discharge controlling circuit, the charge/discharge method comprises:

providing a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) device for sensing a temperature of the cell;

outputting a first analog signal by the temperature sensing circuit according to the temperature of the cell; and

outputting a control signal to the charge/discharge circuit to adjust a charge/discharge speed of the cell by the charge/discharge controlling circuit according to the first analog signal, wherein the charge/discharge speed controlling circuit comprises;

a sensing module used for converting the first analog signal into a second analog signal, an analog/digital converter used for converting the second analog signal into a digital signal, and a micro-controller used for outputting the control signal according to the digital signal, wherein the sensing module comprises;

a voltage follower used for receiving the first analog signal and accordingly outputting a third analog signal, an inverse adder used for outputting a fourth analog signal according to the third analog signal and a reference signal, and an inverse amplifier used for inversing and amplifying the fourth analog signal and accordingly outputting the second analog signal.

8. The charge/discharge method according to claim 7, wherein the analog/digital converter is disposed on the micro-controller.

9. The charge/discharge method according to claim 7, wherein the sensing module and the analog/digital converter are disposed on the micro-controller.

10. The charge/discharge method according to claim 7, wherein the inverse adder comprises:

an operation amplifier;

a first resistor whose two ends respectively coupled to an inverse input end and an output end of the operation amplifier;

a second resistor whose one end is coupled to the inverse input end of the operation amplifier;

a third resistor; and

a first variable resistor coupled to the inverse input end of the operation amplifier via the third resistor.

11. The charge/discharge method according to claim 7, wherein the sensing module comprises:

a zener diode; and

a first resistor via which the inverse amplifier is coupled to the zener diode.

12. The charge/discharge method according to claim 7, wherein the temperature sensing circuit further comprises:

a first resistor; and

a first variable resistor, wherein the first resistor, the first variable resistor, and the PTC device are connected in serial.