Self-discharge for high voltage battery packs
First Claim
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1. A self-dischargeable rechargeable high-voltage battery pack, comprising:
- a plurality of series-coupled energy storage elements;
a housing enclosing and sealing said plurality of series-coupled energy storage elements with a plurality of exterior walls;
an operational port coupled to a portion of a first particular one exterior wall of said plurality of exterior walls, said operational port providing an energy transfer with respect to said plurality of series-coupled energy storage elements;
a self-discharger, responsive to a self-discharge signal, initiating an internal dissipation of energy at an intentional self-discharge rate of at least 5 W from said plurality of series-coupled energy storage elements while said self-discharge signal is asserted without said energy transfer through said operational port, wherein said internal dissipation of energy is disabled when said self-discharge signal is not asserted; and
a battery precharger mechanism coupled to said plurality of series-coupled energy storage elements selectively limiting a current flow from said plurality of series-coupled energy storage elements in a first mode wherein said self-discharger includes said battery precharger mechanism in a second mode that constantly dissipates energy from all said series-coupled energy storage elements at once.
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Abstract
A system and method for providing energy management and maintenance of a high energy battery pack through use self-discharge features and processes. A battery pack is configured with self-discharger enabled-components that selectively discharge energy from the battery pack without the battery pack providing operational power.
28 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A self-dischargeable rechargeable high-voltage battery pack, comprising:
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a plurality of series-coupled energy storage elements; a housing enclosing and sealing said plurality of series-coupled energy storage elements with a plurality of exterior walls; an operational port coupled to a portion of a first particular one exterior wall of said plurality of exterior walls, said operational port providing an energy transfer with respect to said plurality of series-coupled energy storage elements; a self-discharger, responsive to a self-discharge signal, initiating an internal dissipation of energy at an intentional self-discharge rate of at least 5 W from said plurality of series-coupled energy storage elements while said self-discharge signal is asserted without said energy transfer through said operational port, wherein said internal dissipation of energy is disabled when said self-discharge signal is not asserted; and a battery precharger mechanism coupled to said plurality of series-coupled energy storage elements selectively limiting a current flow from said plurality of series-coupled energy storage elements in a first mode wherein said self-discharger includes said battery precharger mechanism in a second mode that constantly dissipates energy from all said series-coupled energy storage elements at once. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A self-dischargeable rechargeable high-voltage battery pack, comprising:
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a plurality of battery modules serially coupled to each other; inside each of the plurality of battery modules, a plurality of series-coupled energy storage elements; a housing enclosing and sealing said plurality of battery modules with a plurality of exterior walls; an operational port coupled to a portion of a first particular one exterior wall of said plurality of exterior walls, said operational port providing an energy transfer with respect to said pluralities of series-coupled energy storage elements; a self-discharger, responsive to a self-discharge signal, initiating an internal dissipation of energy at an intentional self-discharge rate of at least 5 W from said pluralities of series-coupled energy storage elements while said self-discharge signal is asserted without said energy transfer through said operational port, wherein said internal dissipation of energy is disabled when said self-discharge signal is not asserted; and a plurality of energy dissipative elements selectively functionally coupled to said pluralities of series-coupled energy storage elements, wherein each of the plurality of energy dissipative elements is installed at a respective one of the plurality of battery modules, wherein said self-discharger selectively enables said energy dissipative elements to dissipate energy from said pluralities of series-coupled energy storage elements in response to said assertion of said self-discharge signal, said plurality of energy dissipative elements not dissipating energy from said plurality of series-coupled energy storage elements when said self-discharge signal is not asserted. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 16)
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14. A computer-implemented method for managing a self-dischargeable rechargeable high-voltage battery pack, comprising:
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a) configuring the self-dischargeable rechargeable high-voltage battery pack for an energy transfer between the self-dischargeable rechargeable high-voltage battery pack and an exterior operational port, the self-dischargeable rechargeable high-voltage battery pack including a plurality of battery modules serially coupled to each other, and, inside each of the plurality of battery modules, a plurality of series-coupled energy storage elements; and b) self-discharging the self-dischargeable rechargeable high-voltage battery pack at an intentional self-discharge rate of at least 5 W using a processor in response to an assertion of a self-discharge signal, and using a plurality of energy dissipative elements selectively functionally coupled to said pluralities of series-coupled energy storage elements, wherein each of the plurality of energy dissipative elements is installed at a respective one of the plurality of battery modules, the self-dischargeable rechargeable high-voltage battery pack not self-discharging absent said assertion and not self-discharging using said energy transfer. - View Dependent Claims (15, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification