POWER SOURCE WITH TEMPERATURE SENSING

• US 20090206798A1
• Filed: 08/21/2008
• Published: 08/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alexander Choi, Kwun Kin, Sunny Chan
• Original Assignee: Alexander Choi, Kwun Kin, Sunny Chan
• Inventors: Chan, Sunny, Kin, Kwun, Choi, Alexander
• Granted Patent: US 8,324,868 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/150
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/28 characterised by the electric energy storing means, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/405 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/445 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/13 in order to stay within battery power input or output limits; in order to prevent overcharging or battery depletion
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0604 Throttle position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0676 Engine temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/246 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/16 Ratio selector position
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/482 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A modular and scalable power source can be used to supplement and/or replace existing sources of power. In some embodiments, a DC source can be used to charge a battery in a host system, provide power as a back-up system, or be a primary source of power. The power source includes a set of battery units and one or more circuits that provide an alternative signal path around the battery units if the battery units are at a particular charge level. Temperature sensors are used to turn off or otherwise adjust the alternative signal paths if the temperatures of the alternative signal paths become too high.

Claims

1. An apparatus for managing a battery, comprising:

a voltage sensor connected to a battery unit to sense a voltage of said battery unit;

a alternative signal path around said battery unit, said voltage sensor adjusts said alternative path when said voltage sensor senses that said voltage of said battery unit is above a target level;

a temperature sensor positioned to sense a temperature data indicative of temperature of said alternative signal path; and

a comparator circuit in communication with said temperature sensor and said alternative signal path, said comparator circuit compares an output of said temperature sensor to a reference and adjusts said alternative signal path based on said comparison.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said alternative signal path is in communication with a source of charging for said battery unit and with a terminal of said battery unit.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

said alternative signal path provides a path for a portion of current for said battery unit from said source of charging;

said alternative signal path provides a path said to a second battery unit; and

said second battery unit is in series with said battery unit.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said voltage sensor adjusts said alternative path when said voltage sensor senses that said voltage of said battery unit is above a target level by enabling said alternative path; and

said comparator turns off said alternative signal if said output of said temperature sensor has reached a reference value.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said battery unit includes multiple battery cells in parallel.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said battery unit includes one battery cell.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said comparator circuit is connected to a circuit associated with said temperature sensor; and

said comparator circuit is in communication with said temperature sensor via said a circuit associated with said temperature sensor.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a heat sink, said alternative signal path is connected to a heat sink, said temperature sensor senses a temperature of said heat sink.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

a circuit board, said alternative signal path is positioned on a first side of a circuit board, said heat sink is positioned on a second side of said circuit board, said circuit board includes vias through said circuit board for conducting heat from said alternative signal path to said heat sink, said temperature sensor is in proximity to said heat sink.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said alternative signal path includes two transistors in a Darlington configuration.

11. An apparatus for managing a battery, comprising:

a set of connected battery units; and

a set of balancing circuits connected to said battery units, said balancing circuits each comprise;

a voltage sensor connected to a respective battery unit;

an alternative signal path in communication with a terminal of said respective battery unit and a terminal of a battery unit connected to said respective battery unit;

a temperature sensor positioned to sense temperature data indicative of temperature of said alternative signal path; and

a circuit in communication with said voltage sensor, said temperature sensor and said alternative signal path, said circuit adjusts said alternative signal path in response to said voltage sensor sensing a target voltage and adjusts said alternative signal path in response to said temperature sensor sensing a threshold temperature.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein:

said set of connected battery units are connected in series;

said set of connected battery units are connectable to a source of charging;

each alternative signal path is in communication with said source of charging; and

each alternative signal path provides conducts less than all current of said source of charging.

13. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein:

said circuit enables said alternative path when said voltage sensor senses that said voltage of said battery unit is above a target level; and

said circuit turns off said alternative signal if said output of said temperature data indicates said threshold temperature.

14. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein:

said comparator circuit is connected to a circuit associated with said temperature sensor; and

said comparator circuit is in communication with said temperature sensor via said a circuit associated with said temperature sensor.

15. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said balancing circuits further comprise:

a heat sink, said alternative signal path is connected to said heat sinks, said temperature sensor senses temperature of said heat sink; and

a circuit board, said alternative signal path is positioned on a first side of a circuit board, said heat sink is positioned on a second side of said circuit board, said circuit board includes vias through said circuit board for conducting heat from said alternative signal path to said heat sink.

16. A method for managing a battery, comprising:

monitoring voltages of a set of connected battery units;

providing one or more alternative signal paths around each of said battery units that reaches one or more target voltage levels;

monitoring temperatures of said alternative signal paths; and

adjusting alternative signal paths that have reached one or more threshold temperatures.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein:

said providing one or more alternative paths includes turning on a set of transistors in a Darlington configuration.

18. A method according to claim 16, wherein:

said battery units are connected in series;

providing one or more alternative signal paths around each of said battery units includes providing a conduction path to a next battery unit connected in series.

19. A method according to claim 16, further comprising:

charging said battery units, said monitoring voltages and said providing one or more alternative signal paths are performed while charging said battery units, said monitoring temperatures and said adjusting alternative signal paths are also performed while charging said battery units.

20. A method according to claim 16, wherein:

said adjusting alternative signal paths that have reached one or more threshold temperatures includes turning off said alternative signal paths that have reached a predetermined temperature.

21. A method for managing a battery, comprising:

monitoring a voltage of a battery unit while said battery unit receives a charging signal;

if said voltage reaches a target level, adjusting an alternative path around said battery unit for said charging signal to cause more of said charging signal to use said alternative path;

monitoring temperature for said alternative path; and

if said temperature reaches a threshold level, adjusting said alternative path to cause less of said charging signal to use said alternative path.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein:

said adjusting an alternative path around said battery unit for said charging signal to cause more of said charging signal to use said alternative path includes turning on said alternative path so that said alternative path provides a current path for said charging signal.

23. A method according to claim 21, wherein:

said adjusting said alternative path to cause less of said charging signal to use said alternative path includes turning off said alternative path so that said alternative path does not conduct current.

24. A method according to claim 21, wherein:

said alternative path conducts only a portion of current of said charging signal.