Dynamically configurable auto-healing battery
First Claim
1. A method for dynamically configuring a battery, the method comprising:
- monitoring, within the battery, a condition, wherein the battery comprises a set of cells a subset of which is electrically connected in a configuration such that the configuration delivers a first amount of electrical power from the battery, the battery further comprising a second set of spare cells;
selecting, responsive to the condition, a cell from the subset;
selecting, responsive to the condition, a spare cell from the set of spare cells;
making the selected cell in the subset electrically unavailable in the configuration;
making the selected spare cell electrically available in the configuration, resulting in eliminating an effect of the condition on a power output of the battery;
identifying, within the battery, a second condition at a time after monitoring the condition, wherein the second condition is indicative of a change in a state of the selected cell in the subset;
selecting, responsive to the second condition the selected s are cell in the configuration;
making the selected spare cell in the configuration electrically unavailable in the configuration; and
making the selected cell in the subset electrically available in the configuration again at a second time after the time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method, apparatus, and computer program product for a dynamically configurable auto-healing battery are provided in the illustrative embodiments. Identification of a condition is performed within the battery. The battery comprises a set of cells a subset of which is electrically connected in a configuration such that the configuration delivers a first amount of electrical power from the battery. The battery further comprising a second set of spare cells. Responsive to the condition, a cell is selected from the subset. Responsive to the condition, a spare cell is selected from the set of spare cells. The selected cell in the subset is made electrically unavailable in the configuration. The selected spare cell is made electrically available in the configuration, resulting in eliminating an effect of the condition on a power output of the battery.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for dynamically configuring a battery, the method comprising:
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monitoring, within the battery, a condition, wherein the battery comprises a set of cells a subset of which is electrically connected in a configuration such that the configuration delivers a first amount of electrical power from the battery, the battery further comprising a second set of spare cells; selecting, responsive to the condition, a cell from the subset; selecting, responsive to the condition, a spare cell from the set of spare cells; making the selected cell in the subset electrically unavailable in the configuration; making the selected spare cell electrically available in the configuration, resulting in eliminating an effect of the condition on a power output of the battery; identifying, within the battery, a second condition at a time after monitoring the condition, wherein the second condition is indicative of a change in a state of the selected cell in the subset; selecting, responsive to the second condition the selected s are cell in the configuration; making the selected spare cell in the configuration electrically unavailable in the configuration; and making the selected cell in the subset electrically available in the configuration again at a second time after the time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A computer usable program product comprising a computer readable storage device including computer usable code for dynamically configuring a battery, the computer usable code comprising:
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computer usable code for monitoring, within the battery, a condition, wherein the battery comprises a set of cells a subset of which is electrically connected in a configuration such that the configuration delivers a first amount of electrical power from the battery, the battery further comprising a second set of spare cells; computer usable code for selecting, responsive to the condition, a cell from the subset; computer usable code for selecting, responsive to the condition, a spare cell from the set of sp re cells; computer usable code for making the selected cell in the subset electrically unavailable in the configuration; computer usable code for making the selected spare cell electrically available in the configuration, resulting in eliminating an effect of the condition on a power output of the battery; computer usable code for identifying, within the battery, a second condition at a time after monitoring the condition, wherein the second condition is indicative of a change in a state of the selected cell in the subset; computer usable code for selecting, responsive to the second condition, the selected spare cell in the configuration; computer usable code for making the selected spare cell in the configuration electrically unavailable in the configuration; and computer usable code for making the selected cell in the subset electrically available in the configuration again at a second time after the time. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A dynamically configurable battery, comprising:
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a set of cells, a subset of which is electrically connected in a configuration such that the configuration delivers a first amount of electrical power from the battery; a second set of spare cells; a monitoring component within the battery configured to monitor a condition; and select, responsive to the condition, a cell from the subset; and a multiplexing component configured to select, responsive to the condition, a spare cell from the set of spare cells; make the selected cell in the subset electrically unavailable in the configuration; make the selected spare cell electrically available in the configuration, resulting in eliminating an effect of the condition on a power output of the battery identify a second condition at a time after monitoring the condition, wherein the second condition is indicative of a change in the state of the selected cell in the subset; select, responsive to the second condition, the selected spare cell in the set of spare cells; make the selected spare cell electrically unavailable in the configuration; and make the selected cell in the subset electrically available in the configuration again at a second time after the time.
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Specification