Method and modular system for charging a battery
First Claim
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1. A battery charging system, comprising:
- a plurality of power modules of a plurality of types coupled to a backplane, each of the plurality of power modules providing an electrical indication of the type of each power module to the backplane when coupled through module identification lines in the backplane, the power modules of each type providing one of a plurality of electrical functions associated with the type and associated with charging a particular type of battery consistent with the type of power module, at least one of the plurality of power modules being configured for charging a flow type battery; and
a controller that determines the number of power modules of a particular type from the cumulative effects of the electrical indications from each power module of the particular type and supplies control signals that allocate to each of the power modules of the particular type a portion of the electrical function.
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Abstract
A battery charging system according to some embodiments includes a plurality of power modules coupled to a backplane, each of the plurality of power modules providing an electrical indication of type of power module to the backplane, the power modules of each type providing an electrical function associated with charging a battery consistent with the type of power module; and a controller that determines the number of power modules of a particular type and supplies control signals that allocate to each of the power modules of the particular type a portion of the electrical function.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A battery charging system, comprising:
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a plurality of power modules of a plurality of types coupled to a backplane, each of the plurality of power modules providing an electrical indication of the type of each power module to the backplane when coupled through module identification lines in the backplane, the power modules of each type providing one of a plurality of electrical functions associated with the type and associated with charging a particular type of battery consistent with the type of power module, at least one of the plurality of power modules being configured for charging a flow type battery; and a controller that determines the number of power modules of a particular type from the cumulative effects of the electrical indications from each power module of the particular type and supplies control signals that allocate to each of the power modules of the particular type a portion of the electrical function. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of charging a battery, comprising:
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determining a number of charging modules that are coupled to a backplane, wherein determining the number of charging modules includes detecting an electrical indication from each charging module, and determining the number from cumulative effects of the electrical indication from each charging module; determining a number of power modules of each type of power module coupled to the backplane, the power modules of each type providing an electrical function associated with charging a particular type of battery; determining a charging current based on the number of charging modules and the number of power modules of each type coupled to the backplane; adjusting a current output of each of the charging modules to supply the charging current based on the determined number of charging modules and the determined charging current; and applying the charging current to a battery. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification