Multi-cell battery protection system
First Claim
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1. A protection system for a battery having a plurality of cells, said system comprising:
- a plurality of protective circuits equal in number to the number of said cells, each said circuit being associated with an individual cell and each said circuit comprising solid state comparator means, connected across the corresponding cell, for continuously sensing and comparing the cell voltage with a predetermined upper voltage level and a predetermined lower voltage and for generating an output signal when said cell voltage is above said upper level or below said lower level, a normally open bypass circuit for bypassing said cell, control means responsive to said output signal for completing said bypass circuit to cause bypassing of said cell when the cell voltage is above said upper level or below said lower level, said bypass circuit comprising oppositely poled diodes connected in parallel and a resistor connected in series with one of said diodes.
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Abstract
A multi-cell battery protection system is provided wherein each cell has its own individual protective circuit. The protective circuits each comprise a solid state comparator unit and a high current switching device such as a relay. The comparator units each continuously monitor the associated cell and when the cell voltage either exceeds a predetermined "high" level or falls below a predetermined "low" level, the relay is actuated whereby a bypass circuit is completed across the cell thereby effectively removing the cell from the series of cells.
57 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A protection system for a battery having a plurality of cells, said system comprising:
a plurality of protective circuits equal in number to the number of said cells, each said circuit being associated with an individual cell and each said circuit comprising solid state comparator means, connected across the corresponding cell, for continuously sensing and comparing the cell voltage with a predetermined upper voltage level and a predetermined lower voltage and for generating an output signal when said cell voltage is above said upper level or below said lower level, a normally open bypass circuit for bypassing said cell, control means responsive to said output signal for completing said bypass circuit to cause bypassing of said cell when the cell voltage is above said upper level or below said lower level, said bypass circuit comprising oppositely poled diodes connected in parallel and a resistor connected in series with one of said diodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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