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Voltage balance circuit to transfer energy between cells of a duel cell rechargeable battery

  • US 8,228,032 B2
  • Filed: 12/22/2008
  • Issued: 07/24/2012
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2007
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A voltage balance circuit for a dual cell rechargeable battery comprising:

  • a balancing circuit configured to charge and discharge current during a voltage balancing process for the rechargeable batterywherein the balancing circuit includes;

    an inductor;

    a resistor coupled to the inductor, the resistor capable of detecting an amount of current flow within the inductor; and

    PMOS and NMOS circuits coupled to the inductor and resistor, wherein the MOS circuits, inductor and resistor are capable of forming closed circuits during the voltage balancing process for the rechargeable battery; and

    an integrated control circuit adaptable to being turned on or off based on charging and discharging current and voltage generated by the balancing circuit during the voltage balancing process for the rechargeable battery;

    wherein the integrated control circuit includes;

    a voltage detection module capable of detecting voltage differences and outputting balancing activation and directional signals;

    a delay control module coupled to the voltage detection module, the delay control module configured to output a balancing timing control signal in response to the balancing activation signal;

    a direct current (DC) modulation module coupled to the voltage detection and delay control modules, the DC modulation module adaptable to being activated or deactivated by the balancing directional and timing control signals;

    wherein the DC modulation module includes;



    first and second error amplifiers, each amplifier operable to amplify voltage on the resistor, wherein activation of the amplifier depends on the balancing directional signal from the voltage detection module;



    fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh comparators, wherein the fourth and fifth comparators are coupled to the first error amplifier and the sixth and seventh comparators are coupled to the second error amplifier, the fourth comparator adaptable to compare the amplified signal from the first error amplifier with the minimum reference voltage, the fifth comparator adaptable to compare the amplified signal from first error amplifier with the maximum reference voltage, the sixth comparator adaptable to compare the amplified signal from the second error amplifier with the maximum reference voltage, the seventh comparator adaptable to compare the amplified signal from the second error amplifier with the minimum reference voltage; and



    a second logic controller coupled to the four comparators, the second logic controller configured to receive input from the comparators and output logic signals for activating and deactivating the voltage balancing process for the rechargeable battery;

    anda driver amplification module coupled to the DC modulation module, the driver amplification module operable to amplify signals from the DC modulation module without altering its logic state.

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