Passively protected battery pack with on load charge and on load conditioning-discharge capability and charging system

• US 6,392,387 B1
• Filed: 03/14/2000
• Issued: 05/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Voltaic LLC (Woodside Capital Management LLC)
• Original Assignee: Sage Electronics And Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Sage, George E., Fuhr, Jay A.
• Primary Examiner(s): TOATLEY, GREGORY J
• Application Number:
  US09/524,795
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 320/128, 320/130, 320/131, 320/132, 320/134, 320/136, 320/139, 320/162, 320/150, 361/82, 361/84
• US Class Current: 320/136
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00302 Overcharge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00306 Overdischarge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00309 Overheat or overtemperature protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0031 using battery or load disconnect circuits H02J9/002 takes precedence

Abstract

A new type of passive battery pack short circuit protection is provided in a battery pack consisting of one or more battery cells, with on load charge and on load conditioning-discharge capability, having a minimum of only 2 terminals. At least one voltage clamping device is included in the charge path of the battery to provide both charge and conditioning-discharge capability. A charging system provides both charging and discharging controls so that current can be either charged to or discharged from the battery through the voltage clamping device. The breakdown voltage of the voltage clamping device is selected to be equal to or greater than the maximum battery voltage, thus providing short circuit protection of the battery pack while still allowing a discharge function with a minimum of 2 terminals. The charging system provides a positive charge current to charge the battery through the voltage clamping device and a negative voltage potential equal to or greater than the reverse breakdown voltage of the voltage clamping device, in conjunction with a current control, to discharge the battery.

Claims

1. A passively protected battery pack with on load charge and on load conditioning-discharge capability, comprising:

positive and negative charge terminals;

one battery cell operatively coupled between the positive and negative charge terminals; and

one voltage clamping device having a reverse voltage breakdown threshold operatively coupled for conducting current to and discharging current from the battery cell and within the charge path of the battery cell, wherein the voltage clamping device provides passive protection for the battery pack by preventing a reverse current flow in the event of a short circuit of the charge terminals, wherein further the voltage clamping device allows on load conditioning discharge capability when a negative voltage higher than the reverse voltage breakdown threshold is applied; and

wherein further the battery pack is adapted to be charged and discharged using the positive and negative terminals while the battery pack is operably connected to a load.

2. A passively protected battery pack with on load charge and on load conditioning-discharge capability as claimed in claim 1 wherein one Schottky Diode operatively coupled for conducting current to the battery cell is used in parallel with the voltage clamping device.

3. A passively protected battery pack with on load charge and on load conditioning-discharge capability as claimed in claim 1 wherein one conventional blocking diode operatively coupled for conducting current to the battery cell is used in parallel with the voltage clamping device.

4. A passively protected battery pack with on load charge and on load conditioning-discharge capability as claimed in claim 1 wherein one resistor operatively coupled in series with one voltage clamping device coupled for conducting current to and discharging current from the battery cell.

5. A passively protected battery pack with on load charge and on load conditioning-discharge capability as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a temperature detection means within the battery pack for detecting temperature and a temperature detection terminal that transmits temperature information indicating the temperature detected by temperature detection means to a charging/discharging device which provides a means for interrupting the charging or conditioning discharging of the battery pack when the temperature information transmitted through the temperature detection terminal on the battery pack exceeds the baseline battery pack temperature criteria.

6. A passively protected battery pack with on load charge and on load conditioning-discharge capability as claimed in claim 5 wherein the temperature detection means is operatively coupled to a thermally conductive material which is operatively coupled to a battery cell in the battery pack and the voltage clamping device for detecting a substantially average temperature within the battery pack.

7. A passively protected battery pack with on load charge and on load conditioning-discharge capability as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a passive temperature protection means is operatively coupled to the battery cell and the voltage clamping device in the battery pack.

8. A passively protected battery pack with on load charge and on load conditioning-discharge capability as claimed in claim 1, further comprising one voltage clamping device in the charge path of the battery pack located outside the battery pack for conducting current to and discharging current from the battery pack.

9. A passively protected battery pack with on load charge and on load conditioning-discharge capability as claimed in claim 1, further comprising one electrochemical device.

10. A passively protected battery pack with on load charge and on load conditioning-discharge capability, comprising:

positive and negative charge terminals;

more than one battery cell operatively coupled between the positive and negative charge terminals in one string of battery cells, wherein the more than one battery cells are operatively coupled between the positive and negative charge terminals, wherein the more than one battery cells are adapted to be charged using a combination of pulse charging and pulse discharging; and

at least one voltage clamping device having a reverse voltage breakdown threshold operatively coupled for conducting current to and discharging current from the battery cells and within the charge path of the battery cells, wherein the voltage clamping device provides passive protection for the battery pack by preventing a reverse current flow in the event of a short circuit of the charge terminals, wherein further the voltage clamping service allows on load conditioning discharge capability when a negative voltage higher than the reverse voltage breakdown threshold is applied, and wherein further the battery pack is adapted to be charged and discharged using the positive and negative terminals while the battery pack is operably connected to a load.

11. A passively protected battery pack with on load charge and on load conditioning-discharge capability as claimed in claim 10 further comprising at least one Schottky Diode operatively coupled for conducting current to the battery cells is used in parallel with the voltage clamping device.

12. A passively protected battery pack with on load charge and on load conditioning-discharge capability as claimed in claim 10 further comprising at least one conventional blocking diode operatively coupled for conducting current to the battery cells is used in parallel with the voltage clamping device.

13. A passively protected battery pack with on load charge and on load conditioning-discharge capability as claimed in claim 10 further comprising at least one resistor operatively coupled in series with at least one voltage clamping device coupled for conducting current to and discharging current from the battery cells.

14. A passively protected battery pack with on load charge and on load conditioning-discharge capability as claimed in claim 10 further comprising a temperature detection means within the battery pack for detecting temperature and a temperature detection terminal that transmits temperature information indicating the temperature detected by temperature detection means to a charging/discharging device which provides a means for interrupting the charging or conditioning discharging of the battery pack when the temperature information transmitted through the temperature detection terminal on the battery pack exceeds the baseline battery pack temperature criteria.

15. A passively protected battery pack with on load charge and on load conditioning-discharge capability as claimed in claim 14 wherein the temperature detection means is operatively coupled to a thermally conductive material which is operatively coupled to each of the battery cells in the battery pack and the at least one voltage clamping device for detecting a substantially average temperature within the battery pack.

16. A passively protected battery pack with on load charge and on load conditioning-discharge capability as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a passive temperature protection means is operatively coupled to a plurality of the battery cells and voltage clamping devices in the battery pack.

17. A passively protected battery pack with on load charge and on load conditioning-discharge capability as claimed in claim 10, further comprising at least one voltage clamping device in the charge path of the battery pack located outside the battery pack for conducting current to and discharging current from the battery pack.

18. A passively protected battery pack with on load charge and on load conditioning-discharge capability as claimed in claim 10, further comprising more than one battery cell operatively coupled between the positive and negative charge terminals in more than one string of battery cells.

19. A passively protected battery pack with on load charge and on load conditioning-discharge capability as claimed in claim 10, further comprising at least one electrochemical device operatively coupled between the positive and negative charge terminals in at least one string of electrochemical devices.

20. A passively protected battery pack with on load charge and on load conditioning-discharge capability, comprising

positive and negative charge terminals;

more than one battery cell operatively coupled between the positive and negative charge terminals in more than one parallel string of battery cells; and

at least one voltage clamping device having a reverse voltage breakdown threshold operatively coupled to each parallel string of battery cells in a battery pack for conducting current to and discharging current from the battery cells and within the charge path of the battery cells, wherein the at least one voltage clamping device provides passive protection for the battery pack by preventing a reverse current flow in the event of a short circuit of the charge terminals, and wherein further the voltage clamping device allows on load conditioning discharge capability when a negative voltage higher than the reverse voltage breakdown threshold is applied.

21. A passively protected battery pack with on load charge and on load conditioning-discharge capability as claimed in claim 20 further comprising at least one Schottky Diode operatively coupled for conducting current to the battery cells in used in parallel with at least one voltage clamping device.

22. A passively protected battery pack with on load charge and on load conditioning-discharge capability as claimed in claim 20 further comprising at least one conventional blocking diode operatively coupled for conducting current to the battery cells is used in parallel with at least one voltage clamping device.

23. A passively protected battery pack with on load charge and on load conditioning-discharge capability as claimed in claim 20 further comprising at least one resistor operatively coupled in series with at least one voltage clamping device coupled for conducting current to and discharging current from the battery cells.

24. A passively protected battery pack with on load charge and on load conditioning-discharge capability as claimed in claim 20 further comprising a temperature detection means within the battery pack for detecting temperature and a temperature detection terminal that transmits temperature information indicating the temperature detected by temperature detection means to a charging/discharging device and which provides a means for interrupting the charging or conditioning discharging of the battery pack when the temperature information transmitted through the temperature detection terminal on the battery pack exceeds the baseline battery pack temperature criteria.

25. A passively protected battery pack with on load charge and on load conditioning-discharge capability as claimed in claim 24 wherein the temperature detection means is operatively coupled to a thermally conductive material which is operatively coupled to a plurality of battery cells in the battery pack and the at least one voltage clamping device for detecting a substantially average temperature within the battery pack.

26. A passively protected battery pack with on load charge and on load conditioning-discharge capability as claimed in claim 20, further comprising a passive temperature protection means operatively coupled to the battery cells and the voltage clamping device in the battery pack.

27. A passively protected battery pack with on load charge and on load conditioning-discharge capability as claimed in claim 20, further comprising at least one voltage clamping device in the charge path of the battery pack located outside the battery pack for conducting current to and discharging current from the battery pack.

28. A passively protected battery pack with on load charge and on load conditioning-discharge capability as claimed in claim 20, further comprising at least one electrochemical device operatively coupled between the positive and negative charge terminals in at least one string of electrochemical devices.

29. A passively protected battery pack with on load charge and on load conditioning-discharge capability, comprising:

positive and negative charge terminals;

one battery cell; and

one voltage clamping device in the charge path of the battery pack located outside the battery pack operatively coupled for conducting current to and discharging current from the battery pack, wherein the voltage clamping device is a transient voltage suppressor.

32. A passively protected battery pack with on load charge and on load conditioning-discharge capability as claimed in claims 29, 30, or 31, further comprising at least one Schottky Diode operatively coupled for conducting current to the battery cells is used in parallel with the voltage clamping device.

33. A passively protected battery pack with on load charge and on load conditioning-discharge capability as claimed in claims 29, 30, or 31, further comprising at least one conventional blocking diode operatively coupled for conducting current to the battery cells is used in parallel with the voltage clamping device.

34. A passively protected battery pack with on load charge and on load conditioning-discharge capability as claimed in claims 29, 30, or 31, further comprising at least one resistor operatively coupled in series with the voltage clamping device coupled for conducting current to and discharging current from the battery cells.

30. A passively protected battery pack with on load charge and on load conditioning-discharge capability, comprising:

positive and negative charge terminals;

more than one battery cell operatively coupled between the positive and negative charge terminals in one string of battery cells; and

at least one voltage clamping device in the charge path of the battery pack located outside the battery pack operatively coupled for conducting current to and discharging current from the battery pack, wherein the voltage clamping device is a transient voltage suppressor.

31. A passively protected battery pack with on load charge and on load conditioning-discharge capability, comprising:

positive and negative charge terminals;

more than one battery cell operatively coupled between the positive and negative charge terminals in more than one parallel string of battery cells; and

at least one voltage clamping device in the charge path of the battery pack located outside the battery pack operatively coupled for conducting current to and discharging current from the battery pack, wherein the voltage clamping device is a transient voltage suppressor.

35. A battery charging system, comprising:

A passively protected battery pack with on load charge and on load conditioning-discharge capability, comprising;

positive and negative charge terminals;

one or more battery cells operatively coupled between the positive and negative charge terminals; and

a voltage clamping device having a reverse voltage breakdown threshold for conducting current to and discharging current from the one or more battery cells and within the charge path of the battery cells, wherein the voltage clamping device provides passive protection for the battery pack by preventing a reverse current flow in the event of a short circuit of the charge terminals, and wherein further the voltage clamping device allows on load conditioning discharge capability when a negative voltage higher that the reverse voltage breakdown threshold is applied; and

A charger, comprising;

positive and negative charging terminals for mating respectively with the positive and negative charge terminals of the battery pack;

a negative voltage power source having a negative voltage potential, wherein the negative voltage potential is larger than the reverse voltage breakdown threshold;

a charging control circuit for charging the battery pack through the positive charging terminal, wherein the charging control circuit charges the one or more battery cells using pulse charging; and

a discharging control circuit for discharging the battery pack through the positive charging terminal, wherein the discharging control circuit discharges the one or more battery cells using pulse discharging.

36. A battery charging system as claimed in claim 35, wherein the charger monitors the battery pack voltage, charges the battery pack and determines when the battery pack is substantially fully charged.

37. A battery charging system as claimed in claim 35 wherein the charger conditions the battery in conjunction with charging the battery pack.

38. A battery charging system as claimed in claim 35, wherein the charger monitors the battery pack voltage, pulse charges the battery pack and determines when the battery pack is substantially fully charged.

39. A battery charging system as claimed in claim 35, wherein the charger monitors the battery pack voltage, pulse charges the battery pack and determines when the battery pack is substantially fully charged and discharges the battery for battery cell conditioning.

40. A battery charging system as claimed in claim 35, wherein the charger monitors the battery pack voltage, pulse charges and pulse discharges the battery pack and determines when the battery pack is substantially fully charged.

41. A battery charging system, comprising:

A passively protected battery pack with on load charge and on load conditioning-discharge capability, comprising;

positive and negative charge terminals;

one or more battery cells operatively coupled between the positive and negative charge terminals; and

a voltage clamping device having a reverse voltage breakdown threshold for conducting current to and discharging current from the one or more battery cells and within the charge path of the battery cells, wherein the voltage clamping device provides passive protection for the battery pack by preventing a reverse current flow in the event of a short circuit of the charge terminals, and wherein further the voltage clamping device allows on load conditioning discharge capability when a negative voltage higher than the reverse voltage breakdown threshold is applied; and

A charger, comprising;

positive and negative charging terminals for mating respectively with the positive and negative charge terminals of the battery pack;

a negative voltage power source having a negative voltage potential, wherein the negative voltage potential is larger than the reverse voltage breakdown threshold;

a charging control circuit for charging the battery pack through the positive charging terminal, wherein the charging control circuit charges the one or more battery cells using pulse charging; and

a discharging control circuit for discharging the battery pack through the positive charging terminal, wherein the discharging control circuit discharges the one or more battery cells using pulse discharging; and

a means for interrupting the charging or conditioning discharging of the battery pack when the temperature information transmitted through the temperature detection terminal on the battery pack exceeds the baseline battery pack temperature criteria.

42. A battery charging system as claimed in claim 41, wherein the charger monitors the battery pack voltage, charges the battery pack and determines when the battery pack is substantially fully charged.

43. A battery charging system as claimed in claim 41 wherein the charger conditions the battery in conjunction with charging the battery pack.

44. A battery charging system as claimed in claim 41, wherein the charger monitors the battery pack voltage, pulse charges the battery pack and determines when the battery pack is substantially fully charged.

45. A battery charging system as claimed in claim 41, wherein the charger monitors the battery pack voltage, pulse charges the battery pack and determines when the battery pack is substantially fully charged and discharges the battery for battery cell conditioning.

46. A battery charging system as claimed in claim 41, wherein the charger monitors the battery pack voltage, pulse charges and pulse discharges the battery pack and determines when the battery pack is substantially fully charged.