Electrochemical cell monitoring and balancing circuit with self-diagnostic feature
First Claim
1. A measurement system for a pack of electrochemical cells, the measurement system comprising:
- circuit elements individually electrically connected to respective electrochemical cells of the pack, the circuit elements having electrical characteristics that are different such that individual electrochemical cells can be distinguished from one another, wherein the circuit elements comprise a first circuit element and the electrochemical cells comprise a first electrochemical cell, wherein the first circuit element is connected to a terminal of the first electrochemical cell; and
a measurement circuit configured to identify an electrochemical cell being measured, the measurement circuit being configured to perform;
a first measurement of a series combination of the first circuit element and the first electrochemical cell when a first electrical signal is applied to the series combination of the first circuit element and the first electrochemical cell; and
a second measurement of the series combination of the first circuit element and the first electrochemical cell when the first electrical signal is not applied to the series combination of the first circuit element and the first electrochemical cell.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for measuring a voltage of electrochemical cells of a pack. The system includes circuit elements individually associated with respective electrochemical cells of the pack and having electrical characteristics that are different such that individual electrochemical cells can be distinguished from one another. The system also includes a measurement circuit configured to measure the voltage of the electrochemical cells and to identify an electrochemical cell being measured based on an electrical characteristic of a circuit element associated with the electrochemical cell. Various self-diagnostic techniques are described, as well as techniques for measuring sense resistance, reducing sense resistance, and measuring changes in voltage of a cell over time.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A measurement system for a pack of electrochemical cells, the measurement system comprising:
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circuit elements individually electrically connected to respective electrochemical cells of the pack, the circuit elements having electrical characteristics that are different such that individual electrochemical cells can be distinguished from one another, wherein the circuit elements comprise a first circuit element and the electrochemical cells comprise a first electrochemical cell, wherein the first circuit element is connected to a terminal of the first electrochemical cell; and a measurement circuit configured to identify an electrochemical cell being measured, the measurement circuit being configured to perform; a first measurement of a series combination of the first circuit element and the first electrochemical cell when a first electrical signal is applied to the series combination of the first circuit element and the first electrochemical cell; and a second measurement of the series combination of the first circuit element and the first electrochemical cell when the first electrical signal is not applied to the series combination of the first circuit element and the first electrochemical cell. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of measuring an electrochemical cell of a pack comprising a plurality of electrochemical cells, the method comprising:
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applying a first current to a series combination of the electrochemical cell and a circuit element; obtaining a measurement of the series combination of the electrochemical cell and the circuit element while the first current is applied; obtaining a second measurement of the series combination of the electrochemical cell and the circuit element while a second current flows through the series combination of the electrochemical cell and the circuit element; and determining diagnostic information related to the pack, a measurement circuit connected to the pack, and/or a balancing circuit connected to the pack based on the first and second measurements. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A measurement system for a pack of electrochemical cells, the measurement system comprising:
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circuit elements individually electrically connected to respective electrochemical cells of the pack, wherein the circuit elements comprise a first circuit element and the electrochemical cells comprise a first electrochemical cell, wherein the first circuit element is connected to the first electrochemical cell; and a measurement circuit configured to perform; a first measurement of the voltage across a series combination of the first circuit element and the first electrochemical cell when a first current flows through the series combination of the first circuit element and the first electrochemical cell; and a second measurement of the voltage across the series combination of the first circuit element and the first electrochemical cell when a second current flows through the series combination of the first circuit element and the first electrochemical cell, the second current being different from the first current.
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Specification