Methods and apparatuses for electrochemical cell monitoring and control
First Claim
1. A multi-cell battery, comprising:
- two or more electrochemical cell circuits operably coupled to form the multi-cell battery, wherein each of the two or more electrochemical cell circuits comprises;
a single electrochemical cell;
a bypass switch operably coupled to switch a first holder terminal to either a second holder terminal or a cell terminal of the single electrochemical cell; and
monitor and control circuitry operably coupled to the single electrochemical cell and the bypass switch and configured for;
monitoring a voltage across the single electrochemical cell; and
selectively operating the bypass switch to connect or disconnect the cell terminal from the second holder terminal responsive to the monitoring.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Battery sub-arrays are configured for electrical and mechanical coupling with each other to form a multi-cell battery. A sub-array may be an individual cell or a group of cells. Each sub-array includes a bypass switch to connect the sub-array within the multi-cell battery or bypass the sub-array. Monitor and control circuitry controls the bypass switch in response to voltage measurements, temperature measurements or a combination thereof for the sub-array. Each sub-array is contained in a holder including a housing and a thermal container encompassing a substantial portion of the housing. The housing includes a cell cavity, a sensor cavity, and a circuit cavity. Positive terminals and negative terminals are positioned on sides of the holder such that when holders are mechanically abutted in an array, various electrical connections can be made to connect the cells in series, parallel, or a combination thereof.
30 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A multi-cell battery, comprising:
two or more electrochemical cell circuits operably coupled to form the multi-cell battery, wherein each of the two or more electrochemical cell circuits comprises; a single electrochemical cell; a bypass switch operably coupled to switch a first holder terminal to either a second holder terminal or a cell terminal of the single electrochemical cell; and monitor and control circuitry operably coupled to the single electrochemical cell and the bypass switch and configured for; monitoring a voltage across the single electrochemical cell; and selectively operating the bypass switch to connect or disconnect the cell terminal from the second holder terminal responsive to the monitoring. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A multi-cell battery, comprising:
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a first electrochemical cell circuit, comprising; a first positive terminal; a first negative terminal; a first electrochemical cell including a first cell terminal; a first bypass switch; and first monitor and control circuitry operably configured to monitor a first voltage across the first electrochemical cell and to operate the first bypass switch responsive to the monitoring to couple the first positive terminal and the first negative terminal or couple the first cell terminal to one of the first positive terminal and the first negative terminal; and a second electrochemical cell circuit, comprising; a second positive terminal; a second negative terminal; a second electrochemical cell including a second cell terminal; a second bypass switch; and second monitor and control circuitry operably configured to monitor a second voltage across the first electrochemical cell and to operate the second bypass switch responsive to the monitoring to couple the second positive terminal and the second negative terminal or couple the second cell terminal to one of the second positive terminal and the second negative terminal; wherein the first positive terminal is operably coupled to the second positive terminal and the first negative terminal is operably coupled to the second negative terminal. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A multi-cell battery, comprising:
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a first electrochemical cell circuit, comprising; a first positive terminal; a first negative terminal; a first electrochemical cell including a first cell terminal; a first bypass switch; and first monitor and control circuitry operably configured to monitor a first voltage across the first electrochemical cell and to operate the first bypass switch responsive to the monitoring to couple the first positive terminal and the first negative terminal or couple the first cell terminal to one of the first positive terminal and the first negative terminal; and a second electrochemical cell circuit, comprising; a second positive terminal; a second negative terminal; a second electrochemical cell including a second cell terminal; a second bypass switch; and second monitor and control circuitry operably configured to monitor a second voltage across the first electrochemical cell and to operate the second bypass switch responsive to the monitoring to couple the second positive terminal and the second negative terminal or couple the second cell terminal to one of the second positive terminal and the second negative terminal; wherein the first positive terminal forms a positive battery terminal of the multi-cell battery, the second positive terminal is operably coupled to the first negative terminal, and the second negative terminal forms a negative battery terminal of the multi-cell battery. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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Specification