Temperature manager
First Claim
Patent Images
14. Apparatus in accordance with claim 14, wherein;
- said substrate is disposed in proximity to a plurality of batteries.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A temperature manager, in accordance with the principles of the invention provides for comparing the temperatures at a plurality of zones of an apparatus with at least one predetermined temperature level. An output indication of the temperatures is provided on a single line output.
131 Citations
63 Claims
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14. Apparatus in accordance with claim 14, wherein;
said substrate is disposed in proximity to a plurality of batteries. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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21. A method for monitoring temperature for apparatus having a plurality of thermal zones, said method comprising:
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providing a plurality of temperature sensors, each temperature sensor being operable to generate a signal representative of the temperature of said temperature sensor;
disposing each temperature sensor in a corresponding one thermal zone of a plurality of thermal zones;
providing temperature monitoring apparatus;
operating said temperature monitoring apparatus at periodic intervals and turning said temperature monitoring apparatus off intermediate said periodic intervals;
energizing said temperature sensors during said periodic intervals and de-energizing said temperature sensors intermediate said periodic intervals;
selectively coupling each of said temperature sensors during said periodic intervals to a comparator;
comparing temperature sensor temperature signals to at least one predetermined level representative of a predetermined temperature. - View Dependent Claims (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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33-1. A method in accordance with claim 21, comprising:
disposing each of said temperature sensors proximate a battery cell of a battery pack.
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39. A lithium ion battery pack with thermal protection, comprising:
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a plurality of battery cells;
a plurality of temperature sensors each temperature sensor being operable to generate a signal representative of the temperature of said temperature sensor, each said temperature sensor being disposed proximate a corresponding one of said battery cells;
a comparator circuit, said comparator circuit being operable to compare a temperature sensor temperature signal to at least one predetermined level representative of a predetermined temperature;
a selector circuit coupled to each of said plurality of temperature sensors and to said comparator circuit, said selector circuit adapted to selectively activate said temperature sensors, said circuit further adapted to couple outputs from each said selectively activated temperature sensor to said comparator circuit;
a control circuit coupled to said selector circuit, said control circuit adapted to energize said selector circuit at predetermined intervals, and said control circuit adapted to cause said selector to selectively activate each of said temperature sensors one at a time during said predetermined intervals and to cause said selector to couple each selected temperature sensor to said comparator circuit;
an interface circuit coupled to said control circuit for generating output signals representative of the thermal condition of said battery pack and a battery circuit, said battery circuit coupled to said interface circuit for controlling operation of said battery pack. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. Apparatus, comprising:
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a circuit board carrying a plurality of components and having a plurality of thermal zones;
a plurality of temperature sensors each temperature sensor being operable to generate a signal representative of the temperature of said temperature sensor, each said temperature sensor being disposed proximate a corresponding one of said thermal zones;
a comparator circuit, said comparator circuit being operable to compare a temperature sensor temperature signal to at least one predetermined level representative of a predetermined temperature;
a selector circuit coupled to each of said plurality of temperature sensors and to said comparator circuit, said selector circuit adapted to selectively activate said temperature sensors, said circuit further adapted to couple outputs from each said selectively activated temperature sensor to said comparator circuit;
a control circuit coupled to said selector circuit, said control circuit adapted to energize said selector circuit at predetermined intervals, and said control circuit adapted to cause said selector to selectively activate each of said temperature sensors one at a time during said predetermined intervals and to cause said selector to couple each selected temperature sensor to said comparator circuit; and
a circuit coupled to said comparator circuit for controlling operation of one or more of said components. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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Specification