Battery equalization circuit with ramp converter
First Claim
1. An electronic battery equalization circuit for equalizing voltages of a plurality of batteries in a battery pack, comprising:
- a current source for supplying a charging current during a first half cycle and a second half cycle;
a transformer connected to said current source;
a primary circuit connected to said transformer, said primary circuit comprising a primary winding, an inductor connected in series to the primary winding, a current transformer connected in series to the inductor and a pair of semiconductor devices; and
at least one secondary circuit connected to said transformer comprising a secondary winding being coupled to a different pair of batteries of the plurality of batteries, a pair of diodes connected in series, each diode being connected to a different battery of the plurality of batteries, and a capacitor being connected across the different battery of the plurality of batteries,wherein the charging current from said current source is supplied to at least one battery in a first half of the battery pack during the first half cycle, andwherein a charging current from said current source is supplied to at least one battery in a second half of the battery pack during the second half cycle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic battery equalization circuit that equalizes the voltages of a plurality of series connected batteries in a battery pack. The current waveform is in the shape of a ramp for providing zero current switching. The ramp converter power circuit has at least one semiconductor device and a transformer coupled to the equalizing voltage supply source. The transformer has a primary winding circuit and at least one secondary winding circuit. In one embodiment, each secondary winding circuit is connected to a different pair of batteries. The equalizing current is provided to the lowest voltage batteries in one half of the battery pack during one half of the charging cycle. The equalizing current is then provided to the lowest voltage batteries in the other half of the battery pack during the other half of the charging cycle. In another embodiment, each secondary winding circuit is connected to a different single battery. The equalizing current is supplied to a lowest voltage battery in the battery pack during each half of the switching cycle. The electronic battery equalization circuit also includes a feedback control circuit coupled to the primary winding circuit for controlling the current from the equalizing current supply source.
87 Citations
28 Claims
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1. An electronic battery equalization circuit for equalizing voltages of a plurality of batteries in a battery pack, comprising:
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a current source for supplying a charging current during a first half cycle and a second half cycle; a transformer connected to said current source; a primary circuit connected to said transformer, said primary circuit comprising a primary winding, an inductor connected in series to the primary winding, a current transformer connected in series to the inductor and a pair of semiconductor devices; and at least one secondary circuit connected to said transformer comprising a secondary winding being coupled to a different pair of batteries of the plurality of batteries, a pair of diodes connected in series, each diode being connected to a different battery of the plurality of batteries, and a capacitor being connected across the different battery of the plurality of batteries, wherein the charging current from said current source is supplied to at least one battery in a first half of the battery pack during the first half cycle, and wherein a charging current from said current source is supplied to at least one battery in a second half of the battery pack during the second half cycle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An electronic battery equalization circuit, comprising:
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a supply source for supplying charging current; a plurality of batteries connected in series; and a transformer coupled to said supply source, said transformer having a primary circuit and at least one secondary circuit being connected to a different pair of batteries of said plurality of batteries. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An electronic battery equalization circuit for equalizing voltages of a plurality of batteries in a battery pack, comprising:
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a current source for supplying a charging current during a first half cycle and a second half cycle; a transformer connected to said current source; a primary circuit connected to said transformer, said primary circuit comprising a primary winding, an inductor connected in series to the primary winding, a current transformer connected in series to the inductor and a pair of semiconductor devices; and at least one secondary circuit connected to said transformer comprising a secondary winding being coupled to a battery of the plurality of batteries using a full wave rectifier and a capacitor being connected across the battery of the plurality of batteries, wherein the charging current is supplied to lowest voltage batteries in the battery pack during the first half cycle of said current source, and wherein the charging current is supplied to lowest voltage batteries in the battery pack during the second half cycle of said current source. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for equalizing voltages of a plurality of batteries in a battery pack using an electronic battery equalization circuit, the battery equalization circuit comprising a current source for supplying charging current during a first half cycle and a second half cycle, a transformer connected to the current source, a primary circuit connected to the transformer, and at least one secondary circuit connected to at least two different batteries of the plurality of batteries, the method comprising the steps of:
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supplying the charging current to a lowest voltage battery in one half of the battery pack during the first half cycle; and supplying the charging current to a lowest voltage battery in the other half of the battery pack during the second half cycle. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification