System and method for balancing charge within a battery pack
First Claim
1. A system for balancing charge within a battery pack comprising:
- a plurality of cells connected in series, wherein the plurality of cells comprise a first portion of cells and a second portion of cells;
a capacitor;
a processor operable between;
(1) a first mode, wherein the processor selects a combination of donor and receiver cells from the first portion of cells, the combination comprising equal numbers of donor cells and receiver cells; and
(2) a second mode, wherein the processor selects a combination of donor and receiver cells from the first portion of cells, the combination comprising more donor cells than receiver cells;
a plurality of switches transiently coupling the plurality of cells to the capacitor, the plurality of switches operable between;
a first configuration, wherein the switches simultaneously electrically connect the capacitor to the donor cells of the combination of the first or second modes; and
a second configuration, wherein the switches simultaneously electrically connect the capacitor to the receiver cells of the combination of the first or second modes;
a second capacitor;
wherein the processor is further operable between;
(1) a third mode, wherein the processor selects a second combination of donor cells and receiver cells from the second portion of cells, the second combination comprising an equal number of donor cells and receiver cells; and
(2) a fourth mode, wherein the processor selects a second combination of donor cells and receiver cells from the second portion of cells, the second combination comprising more donor cells than receiver cells;
a second plurality of switches transiently coupling the second portion of cells to the second capacitor, the second plurality of switches operable between;
a first configuration, wherein the switches simultaneously electrically connect the second capacitor to the donor cells of the second combination of the third or fourth modes; and
a second configuration, wherein the switches simultaneously electrically connect the second capacitor to the receiver cells of the second combination of the third or fourth modes;
wherein charge is transferred between the first and second portions of the plurality of cells.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for balancing charge within a battery pack with a plurality of cells connected in series, including a capacitor; a processor configured to select a combination of donor cells and receiver cells from the plurality of cells in one of the following two modes: (1) a first mode where the number of donor cells is equal to the number of receiver cells, and (2) a second mode where the number of donor cells is greater than the number of receiver cells; and a plurality of switches that electrically connect the capacitor to the donor cells to charge the capacitor, and that electrically connected the capacitor to the receiver cells to discharge the capacitor. The transfer of charge between cells in the plurality of cells through the capacitor balances the charge within the battery pack.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A system for balancing charge within a battery pack comprising:
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a plurality of cells connected in series, wherein the plurality of cells comprise a first portion of cells and a second portion of cells; a capacitor; a processor operable between; (1) a first mode, wherein the processor selects a combination of donor and receiver cells from the first portion of cells, the combination comprising equal numbers of donor cells and receiver cells; and (2) a second mode, wherein the processor selects a combination of donor and receiver cells from the first portion of cells, the combination comprising more donor cells than receiver cells; a plurality of switches transiently coupling the plurality of cells to the capacitor, the plurality of switches operable between; a first configuration, wherein the switches simultaneously electrically connect the capacitor to the donor cells of the combination of the first or second modes; and a second configuration, wherein the switches simultaneously electrically connect the capacitor to the receiver cells of the combination of the first or second modes; a second capacitor; wherein the processor is further operable between; (1) a third mode, wherein the processor selects a second combination of donor cells and receiver cells from the second portion of cells, the second combination comprising an equal number of donor cells and receiver cells; and (2) a fourth mode, wherein the processor selects a second combination of donor cells and receiver cells from the second portion of cells, the second combination comprising more donor cells than receiver cells; a second plurality of switches transiently coupling the second portion of cells to the second capacitor, the second plurality of switches operable between; a first configuration, wherein the switches simultaneously electrically connect the second capacitor to the donor cells of the second combination of the third or fourth modes; and a second configuration, wherein the switches simultaneously electrically connect the second capacitor to the receiver cells of the second combination of the third or fourth modes; wherein charge is transferred between the first and second portions of the plurality of cells. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for balancing charge within a battery pack with a plurality of cells connected in series, wherein the plurality of cells comprise a first portion of cells and a second portion of cells, the method comprising the steps of:
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selecting a combination of donor cells and receiver cells from the first portion of cells, comprising selecting between; (1) a first combination comprising an equal number of donor cells and receiver cells; and (2) a second combination comprising more donor cells than receiver cells; selecting a combination of donor cells and receiver cells from the second portion of cells, comprising selecting between; (1) a third combination of donor cells and receiver cells comprising an equal number of donor cells and receiver cells; and (2) a fourth combination of donor cells and receiver cells comprising more donor cells than receiver cells; charging a first capacitor by simultaneously electrically connecting the first capacitor to the donor cells of the selected first or second combination of the first portion of cells; discharging the first capacitor by simultaneously electrically connecting the first capacitor to the receiver cells of the selected first or second combination of the first portion of cells; charging a second capacitor by simultaneously electrically connecting the second capacitor to the donor cells of the selected third or fourth combination of the second portion of cells; discharging the second capacitor by simultaneously electrically connecting the second capacitor to the receiver cells of the selected third or fourth combination of the second portion of cells; and transferring charge between the first and second portions of cells. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification