Systems and methods for balancing battery cells
First Claim
1. A cell balancing system for balancing a plurality of battery cells, comprising:
- a plurality of bypass paths coupled in parallel to said battery cells;
a battery management circuit coupled to said bypass paths and operable for monitoring cell voltages of said battery cells in a charging mode, operable for comparing said cell voltages with a reference voltage to determine which bypass path of said bypass paths to enable, operable for setting said reference voltage to a first reference voltage in a first stage of said charging mode, operable for enabling a first bypass path of said bypass paths in said first stage if a first battery cell in parallel with said first bypass path has a cell voltage at said first reference voltage in said first stage, operable for, if the minimum cell voltage of said cell voltages in said first stage increases to said first reference voltage, then disabling said first bypass path and entering a second stage of said charging mode, and operable for, in said second stage, setting said reference voltage to a second reference voltage that is greater than said first reference voltage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A cell balancing system includes multiple bypass paths and a battery management circuit. The multiple bypass paths are coupled in parallel to the battery cells. The battery management circuit is coupled to the bypass paths and monitors cell voltages of the battery cells, compares the cell voltages with a first reference voltage for a first stage, enables a bypass path in the first stage if a battery cell in parallel with the bypass path has a cell voltage at the first reference voltage, and compares the cell voltages of the battery cells with a second reference voltage for a second stage if a specified cell voltage in the first stage is at the first reference voltage.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A cell balancing system for balancing a plurality of battery cells, comprising:
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a plurality of bypass paths coupled in parallel to said battery cells; a battery management circuit coupled to said bypass paths and operable for monitoring cell voltages of said battery cells in a charging mode, operable for comparing said cell voltages with a reference voltage to determine which bypass path of said bypass paths to enable, operable for setting said reference voltage to a first reference voltage in a first stage of said charging mode, operable for enabling a first bypass path of said bypass paths in said first stage if a first battery cell in parallel with said first bypass path has a cell voltage at said first reference voltage in said first stage, operable for, if the minimum cell voltage of said cell voltages in said first stage increases to said first reference voltage, then disabling said first bypass path and entering a second stage of said charging mode, and operable for, in said second stage, setting said reference voltage to a second reference voltage that is greater than said first reference voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A cell balancing circuit for balancing a plurality of battery cells, comprising:
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a comparison circuit operable for receiving cell voltages of said battery cells in a charging mode, and for comparing said cell voltages with a reference voltage to determine which bypass path of a plurality of bypass paths coupled in parallel with said battery cells to enable; and a balancing controller coupled to said comparison circuit, and operable for setting said reference voltage to a first reference voltage in a first stage of said charging mode, and operable for enabling a first bypass path of said bypass paths in said first stage if a first battery cell in parallel with said first bypass path has a cell voltage at said first reference voltage in said first stage, operable for, if the minimum cell voltage of said cell voltages in said first stage increases to said first reference voltage, disabling said first bypass path and entering a second stage of said charging mode, and operable for, in said second stage, setting said reference voltage to a second reference voltage that is greater than said first reference voltage. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for balancing a plurality of battery cells, comprising:
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monitoring cell voltages of said battery cells in a charging mode; comparing, using a comparison circuit, said cell voltages with a reference voltage to determine which bypass path of a plurality of bypass paths coupled in parallel with said battery cells is to be enabled; setting said reference voltage to a first reference voltage in a first stage of said charging mode; enabling a first bypass path of said bypass paths in said first stage if a first battery cell in parallel with said first bypass path has a cell voltage at said first reference voltage; disabling said first bypass path and controlling said comparison circuit to enter a second stage of said charging mode, if the minimum cell voltage of said cell voltages in said first stage increases to said first reference voltage; and setting said reference voltage to a second reference voltage that is greater than said first reference voltage, in said second stage. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification