Modular battery controller
First Claim
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a plurality of master-less controllers not controlled by a master controller, each controller operatively connected to a corresponding cell in a string of cells, each controller is operatively connected to a neighboring controller;
wherein each controller is configured to bypass a fraction of current around the corresponding cell and locally decides to bypass current when the corresponding cell has a higher voltage than one or more other cells in the string of cells; and
wherein the neighboring controller is configured to manage a cell of another controller connected to the neighboring controller through a direct physical connection to that cell when the other controller fails to broadcast data.
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Abstract
Some embodiments of the present invention describe a battery including a plurality of master-less controllers. Each controller is operatively connected to a corresponding cell in a string of cells, and each controller is configured to bypass a fraction of current around the corresponding cell when the corresponding cell has a greater charge than one or more other cells in the string of cells.
36 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of master-less controllers not controlled by a master controller, each controller operatively connected to a corresponding cell in a string of cells, each controller is operatively connected to a neighboring controller; wherein each controller is configured to bypass a fraction of current around the corresponding cell and locally decides to bypass current when the corresponding cell has a higher voltage than one or more other cells in the string of cells; and wherein the neighboring controller is configured to manage a cell of another controller connected to the neighboring controller through a direct physical connection to that cell when the other controller fails to broadcast data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An apparatus, comprising:
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a string of cells; a plurality of master-less controllers not controlled by a master controller, each controller connected to an assigned cell in the string of cells and connected to one neighboring controller; wherein each controller is configured to bypass a fraction of current around the assigned cell and locally decides to bypass current when the assigned cell has a higher voltage compared to other cells in the string of cells; and wherein the controller is further configured to maintain or bypass a current of a neighboring cell through a direct physical connection to that cell when the neighboring controller fails to broadcast data to the controller. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
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assigning a master-less controller to a cell in a string of cells wherein the master-less controller is not controlled by a master controller; and wherein the master-less controller decides locally to bypass a fraction of current around the assigned cell when the assigned cell has a higher voltage compared to other cells in the string of cells; and wherein the master-less controller maintains or bypasses a current of a neighboring cell through a direct physical connection with that cell when a neighboring controller fails to broadcast data to the assigned controller. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification