Rechargeable battery assembly and power system using same

• US 8,217,625 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2010
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Changs Ascending Enterprise Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Chun-Chieh Chang, Olivia Pei-Hua Lee, Tsun-Yu Chang
• Inventors: Chang, Chun-Chieh, Chang, Tsun-Yu, Lee, Olivia Pei-Hua
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMADAN, RAMY O
• Application Number:
  US12/835,060
• Publication Number:
  US 20100270972A1
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• Field of Search: 320/135
• US Class Current: 320/118
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/00 Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/15 Preventing overcharging
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/10 Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/24 Energy storage means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/24 Energy storage means
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/12 Motorcycles, Trikes; Quads; Scooters
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/441 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• 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: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A rechargeable battery, battery set or battery pack having a circuit or a plurality of circuits for providing self-discharging thereof electrically connected in parallel are used to form rechargeable battery assemblies and electric power supply systems for use in electric and hybrid vehicles and the like.

Claims

1. A method for charging a plurality of rechargeable battery assemblies electrically connected in series with a battery charger, each battery assembly comprising a rechargeable battery having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, and means for self-discharging the rechargeable battery electrically connected in parallel with the battery terminals, said method comprising

continually determining a voltage across the positive and negative terminals of each battery, then

if the voltage is ≧

a preset voltage, self-discharge the battery until the voltage is less than the preset voltage, then

further self-discharge the battery for a predetermined period of time (t), wherein time (t) provides a discharge of the battery charge of only an amount corresponding to a preset percentage of the battery'"'"'s charge capacity.

2. The method for charging of claim 1, wherein the preset percentage of the battery'"'"'s capacity being further discharged when voltage goes below the preset voltage is in the range of 0.1% to 20%.

3. The method for charging of claim 1, further including providing at least one integrated circuit for controlling the self-discharging of the batteries.

4. The method for charging of claim 3, wherein the at least one integrated circuit performs functions of voltage detection and time control for monitoring the conditions for self-discharging.