Energy storage system and method of sequentially charging a first and second battery cell based on voltage potential
First Claim
1. An energy storage system comprising:
- a plurality of battery cells configured to be electrically connected to a power source, said plurality of battery cells comprising;
a first battery cell; and
a second battery cell; and
a controller in communication with said first and second battery cells, said controller controls an electrical current supplied to said first and second battery cells, such that a first charging method is utilized when a voltage potential of said first and second battery cells is less than a first voltage potential threshold, respectively, and a second charging method is utilized when said voltage potential of said first and second battery cells is equal to or greater than said first voltage potential threshold, wherein said first charging method charges at least one of said first and second battery cells at a greater rate than said second charging method, and said first charging method is utilized to charge said first battery cell prior to being utilized to charge said second battery cell when said voltage potential of said first battery cell is below said first voltage potential threshold and greater than said voltage potential of said second battery cell, and wherein the second charging method charges one of the first and second battery cells having the lowest voltage potential equal to or greater than the first voltage potential threshold prior to charging the other of the first and second battery cells.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A lighting system is provided that includes at least one lighting device, at least one connector, and a plurality of external power sources. The external power sources are adapted to be electrically connected to the lighting device by the connector. One of the external power sources is an energy storage system having a plurality of battery cells. A first charging method is utilized when a voltage potential of first and second battery cells is less than a voltage potential threshold, a second charging method is utilized when the voltage potential of the first and second battery cells is equal to or greater than the voltage potential threshold, and the first charging method is utilized to charge the first battery cell prior to charging the second battery cell when the first battery cell voltage potential is below the voltage potential threshold and greater than the second battery cell voltage potential.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. An energy storage system comprising:
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a plurality of battery cells configured to be electrically connected to a power source, said plurality of battery cells comprising; a first battery cell; and a second battery cell; and a controller in communication with said first and second battery cells, said controller controls an electrical current supplied to said first and second battery cells, such that a first charging method is utilized when a voltage potential of said first and second battery cells is less than a first voltage potential threshold, respectively, and a second charging method is utilized when said voltage potential of said first and second battery cells is equal to or greater than said first voltage potential threshold, wherein said first charging method charges at least one of said first and second battery cells at a greater rate than said second charging method, and said first charging method is utilized to charge said first battery cell prior to being utilized to charge said second battery cell when said voltage potential of said first battery cell is below said first voltage potential threshold and greater than said voltage potential of said second battery cell, and wherein the second charging method charges one of the first and second battery cells having the lowest voltage potential equal to or greater than the first voltage potential threshold prior to charging the other of the first and second battery cells. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An energy storage system comprising:
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a plurality of battery cells configured to be electrically connected to a power source, said plurality of battery cells comprising; a first battery cell; and a second battery cell; and a controller in communication with said first and second battery cells, said controller controls an electrical current supplied to said first and second battery cells, such that a substantially constant electrical current is supplied to said first and second battery cells for a period of time when a voltage potential of said first and second battery cells is less than a first voltage potential threshold, respectively, and controlling an electrical current at a substantially constant voltage potential that is supplied to said first and second battery cells when said voltage potential of said first and second battery cells is equal to or greater than said first voltage potential threshold, said substantially constant electrical current is supplied to said first battery cell prior to providing an electrical current to said second battery cell, wherein said voltage potential of said first battery cell is below said first voltage potential threshold, and said voltage potential of said first battery cell is greater than said voltage potential of said second battery cell, and wherein the electrical current at a substantially constant voltage potential is supplied to one of the first and second battery cells having the lowest voltage potential equal to or greater than the first voltage potential threshold prior to charging the other of the first and second battery cells. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of charging a plurality of battery cells in an energy storage system, said method comprising the steps of:
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charging one of a first battery cell and a second battery cell utilizing a first charging method when at least one of said first and second battery cells have a voltage potential less than a first voltage potential threshold; charging one of said first battery cell and second battery cell utilizing a second charging method when said first and second battery cells have a voltage potential equal to or greater than said first voltage potential threshold, wherein said first charging method charges said first and second battery cells at a quicker rate than said second charging method; charging one of said first and second battery cells having the greatest voltage potential that is below the first voltage potential utilizing said first charging method prior to charging the other of said first and second battery cells; and wherein the second charging method charges one of the first and second battery cells having the lowest voltage potential equal to or greater than the first voltage potential threshold prior to charging the other of the first and second battery cells. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of charging a plurality of battery cells in an energy storage system, said method comprising the steps of:
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charging one of a first battery cell and a second battery cell by supplying a substantially constant electrical current when at least one of said first and second battery cells have a voltage potential less than a first voltage potential threshold; charging one of said first and second battery cells by supplying an electrical current at a substantially constant voltage potential when said first and second battery cells have a voltage potential equal to or greater than said first voltage potential threshold; charging one of said first and second battery cells having the greatest voltage potential that is below the first voltage potential by supplying said substantially constant electrical current prior to charging the other of said first and second battery cells; and wherein the electrical current supplied at a substantially constant voltage potential is supplied to one of the first and second battery cells having the lowest voltage potential equal to or greater than the first voltage potential threshold prior to charging the other of the first and second battery cells. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification