Balancing voltages between battery banks
First Claim
1. A system that balances voltages between battery banks, comprising:
- a plurality of battery banks comprising a first bank, a second bank, and a third bank;
a plurality of capacitors comprising a first capacitor and a second capacitor;
a first set of switching devices coupled between to the plurality of battery banks and the plurality of capacitors; and
a clocking circuit coupled to the first set of switching devices, the clocking circuit configured to generate a first phase output and a second phase output that control the first set of switching devices so that the plurality of capacitors alternate between being coupled to a first subset of the plurality of battery banks and a second subset of the plurality of battery banks;
wherein the clocking circuit comprises;
a first inductor coupled between a voltage source and the first phase output;
a third capacitor coupled to the first phase output;
a second inductor coupled between the voltage source and the second phase output;
a fourth capacitor coupled to the second phase output;
a first transistor with a source terminal coupled to a base voltage, a drain terminal coupled to the first phase output, and a gate terminal coupled to the second phase output; and
a second transistor with a source terminal coupled to the base voltage, a drain terminal coupled to the second phase output, and a gate terminal coupled to the first phase output;
wherein the clocking circuit is configured to oscillate energy between the first inductor and the third capacitor and between the second inductor and the fourth capacitor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system that balances voltages between battery banks. The system includes battery banks, including a first bank and a second bank, and a first capacitor. The system also includes a first set of switching devices which selectively couple first and second terminals of the first capacitor to first and second terminals of the first bank, and to first and second terminals of the second bank. The system includes a clocking circuit which generates clock signals with substantially non-overlapping first and second clock phases. This clocking circuit is configured so that during the first phase the first and second terminals of the first capacitor are coupled to the first and second terminals of the first bank, respectively, and during the second phase the first and second terminals of the first capacitor are coupled to the first and second terminals of the second bank, respectively.
50 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A system that balances voltages between battery banks, comprising:
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a plurality of battery banks comprising a first bank, a second bank, and a third bank; a plurality of capacitors comprising a first capacitor and a second capacitor; a first set of switching devices coupled between to the plurality of battery banks and the plurality of capacitors; and a clocking circuit coupled to the first set of switching devices, the clocking circuit configured to generate a first phase output and a second phase output that control the first set of switching devices so that the plurality of capacitors alternate between being coupled to a first subset of the plurality of battery banks and a second subset of the plurality of battery banks; wherein the clocking circuit comprises; a first inductor coupled between a voltage source and the first phase output; a third capacitor coupled to the first phase output; a second inductor coupled between the voltage source and the second phase output; a fourth capacitor coupled to the second phase output; a first transistor with a source terminal coupled to a base voltage, a drain terminal coupled to the first phase output, and a gate terminal coupled to the second phase output; and a second transistor with a source terminal coupled to the base voltage, a drain terminal coupled to the second phase output, and a gate terminal coupled to the first phase output; wherein the clocking circuit is configured to oscillate energy between the first inductor and the third capacitor and between the second inductor and the fourth capacitor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A battery pack that balances voltages between battery banks, comprising:
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a plurality of battery banks, comprising a first bank, a second bank, and a third bank, wherein the plurality of battery banks are electrically coupled in series, wherein each battery bank comprises one or more battery cells, wherein if a battery bank comprises multiple battery cells, the multiple battery cells are electrically coupled in parallel; a plurality of capacitors comprising a first capacitor and a second capacitor; a first set of switching devices coupled between to the plurality of battery banks and the plurality of capacitors; and a clocking circuit coupled to the first set of switching devices, the clocking circuit configured to generate a first phase output and a second phase output that control the first set of switching devices so that the plurality of capacitors alternate between being coupled to a first subset of the plurality of battery banks and a second subset of the plurality of battery banks; wherein the clocking circuit comprises; a first inductor coupled between a voltage source and the first phase output; a third capacitor coupled to the first phase output; a second inductor coupled between the voltage source and the second phase output; a fourth capacitor coupled to the second phase output; a first transistor with a source terminal coupled to a base voltage, a drain terminal coupled to the first phase output, and a gate terminal coupled to the second phase output; and a second transistor with a source terminal coupled to the base voltage, a drain terminal coupled to the second phase, and a gate terminal coupled to the first phase output; wherein the clocking circuit is configured to oscillate energy between the first inductor and the third capacitor and between the second inductor and the fourth capacitor. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for balancing voltages between a plurality of battery banks, the plurality of battery banks comprising a first bank, a second bank, and a third bank, wherein the first bank, second bank, and third bank are electrically coupled in series, the method comprising:
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connecting a clocking circuit to the plurality of battery banks, the clocking circuit configured to generate a first phase output and a second phase output; and controlling, using the clocking circuit, a first set of switching devices so that a plurality of capacitors comprising a first capacitor and a second capacitor alternates between being coupled to a first subset of the plurality of battery banks and a second subset of the plurality of battery banks; wherein the clocking circuit comprises; a first inductor coupled between a voltage source and the first phase output; a third capacitor coupled to the first phase output; a second inductor coupled between the voltage source and the second phase output; a fourth capacitor coupled to the second phase output; a first transistor with a source terminal coupled to a base voltage, a drain terminal coupled to the first phase, and a gate terminal coupled to the second phase; and a second transistor with a source terminal coupled to the base voltage, a drain terminal coupled to the second phase, and a gate terminal coupled to the first phase output; wherein the clocking circuit is configured to oscillate energy between the first inductor and the third capacitor and between the second inductor and the fourth capacitor. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification