Circuits and methods for protection of battery modules
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A circuit comprising:
- a plurality of battery modules; and
a plurality of protection circuits coupled to said battery modules respectively, said protection circuits each comprising;
a controller coupled to a battery module of said battery modules and operable for detecting a fault associated with said battery module; and
a shunt circuit coupled to said battery module and said controller and operable for shunting a current around said battery module if said fault associated with said battery module is detected by said controller, wherein said current flows from a negative terminal of said battery module to a positive terminal of said battery module through said shunt circuit if said fault occurs during a discharging process of said battery modules, and wherein said current flows from said positive terminal of said battery module to said negative terminal of said battery module through said shunt circuit if said fault occurs during a charging process of said battery modules.
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Abstract
A circuit includes multiple battery modules and protection circuits respectively coupled to the battery modules. Each protection circuit includes a controller and a shunt circuit. The controller is coupled to one of the battery modules and detects a fault associated with the battery module. The shunt circuit is coupled to the battery module and the controller, and shunts a current around the battery module if the fault associated with the battery module is detected by the controller.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A circuit comprising:
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a plurality of battery modules; and a plurality of protection circuits coupled to said battery modules respectively, said protection circuits each comprising; a controller coupled to a battery module of said battery modules and operable for detecting a fault associated with said battery module; and a shunt circuit coupled to said battery module and said controller and operable for shunting a current around said battery module if said fault associated with said battery module is detected by said controller, wherein said current flows from a negative terminal of said battery module to a positive terminal of said battery module through said shunt circuit if said fault occurs during a discharging process of said battery modules, and wherein said current flows from said positive terminal of said battery module to said negative terminal of said battery module through said shunt circuit if said fault occurs during a charging process of said battery modules. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method, implemented on a circuit having a plurality of battery modules, and a plurality of protection circuits coupled to said battery modules respectively, said protection circuits each comprising a controller coupled to a battery module of said battery modules, and comprising a shunt circuit coupled to said battery module and said controller, said method comprising:
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detecting, using said controller, a fault associated with said battery module; and shunting, using said shunt circuit, a current around said battery module if said fault associated with said battery module is detected by said controller, wherein said shunting comprises; controlling said current to flow from a negative terminal of said battery module to a positive terminal of said battery module through said shunt circuit if said fault occurs during a discharging process of said battery modules; and controlling said current to flow from said positive terminal of said battery module to said negative terminal of said battery module through said shunt circuit if said fault occurs during a charging process of said battery modules. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A circuit comprising:
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a battery pack having a plurality of battery modules; a plurality of shunt circuits coupled to said battery modules, respectively; and control circuitry coupled to said battery modules and said shunt circuits, and operable for detecting a fault and controlling a shunt circuit to shunt a current around a battery module if said fault occurs in said battery module, wherein said current flows from a negative terminal of said battery module to ,a positive terminal of said battery module through said shunt circuit if said fault occurs during a discharging process of said battery pack, and wherein said current flows from said positive terminal of said battery module to said negative terminal of said battery module through said shunt circuit if said fault occurs during a charging process of said battery pack. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification