| Boston-Power, Inc. Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20110213509 | Large scale battery systems and method of assembly - The methods in this disclosure allow for the identification, selection, and arrangement of cells, blocks, and modules in large scale battery systems, such as electric vehicle battery systems. An example embodiment of the present invention allows for the identification of the cells, blocks, and modules with a unique identifier or associated parameter (e.g., internal resistance contributions or capacity). Additionally, to form a block, cells may be selected from a group of capacity-range sorting bins. Based on a parameter of the cell, a pseudo-number generator may be also be used to select cells from an available inventory of cells as maintained in a cell database based. Cells may also be placed in a block for uniform effective cell impedance and even cell aging while minimizing overall block capacity degradation caused by cycling. Block capacities may also be computed based on a known average temperature gradient during operation. | 09-01-2011 |
| 20110210703 | Thermal Sensor Device With Average Temperature And Hot Spot Feedback - A battery system employs a plurality of PTC devices and an additional temperature sensor to provide safety and optimization features in a multi-cell battery system. The system provides both temperature fault detection and information that may be used for battery system performance optimization. A single negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistor and multiple PTC thermal protection devices are integrated into a battery block, and can be implemented as a single sensor package that is in thermal contact with each of the battery cells in the battery block. | 09-01-2011 |
| 20110189512 | CID Retention Device for Li-Ion Cell - A low pressure current interrupt device (CID) activates at a minimal threshold internal gauge pressure in a range of, for example, between about 4 kg/cm | 08-04-2011 |
| 20110115434 | ELECTRONICS WITH MULTIPLE CHARGE RATE - One or more buttons, located either on a battery pack or on an electronic device powered by the battery pack, that allow the user to charge the battery of a portable device faster than normal. Electronic circuitry is provided for activating the charge mode choices. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110059349 | LITHIUM-ION SECONDARY BATTERY - A lithium-ion battery includes a cathode that includes an active cathode material. The active cathode material includes a cathode mixture that includes a lithium cobaltate and a manganate spinel a manganate spinel represented by an empirical formula of Li | 03-10-2011 |
| 20110052966 | LITHIUM-ION SECONDARY BATTERY - In one embodiment, an active cathode material comprises a mixture that includes: at least one of a lithium cobaltate and a lithium nickelate; and at least one of a manganate spinel represented by an empirical formula of Li | 03-03-2011 |
| 20110049977 | SAFETY AND PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZED CONTROLS FOR LARGE SCALE ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERY SYSTEMS - An electric vehicle power system including a battery system, a bus configured to transfer power to a motor drive, and a control circuit to selectively couple the battery to the bus. The control circuit is discharges capacitance of the bus to a chassis in response to a disconnect between the battery and the bus. Further, the control circuit measures impedance across the bus. As a result, the control circuit can monitor integrity of the bus and detect a fault, such as a short circuit or degraded bus insulation. | 03-03-2011 |
| 20110033734 | Prismatic Storage Battery Or Cell With Flexible Recessed Portion - A battery includes a cell casing that has recessed portion on a major surface of the casing, the recessed portion being substantially planar and bordering a remainder of the major surface at a ridge portion on each of one or two sides of the recessed portion, whereby the recessed portion, the ridge portions, and the remainder of the major surface cooperate under an increase of gauge pressure to cause a plane defined by a boundary between the ridge portions and the remainder of the major surface to move. | 02-10-2011 |
| 20100289457 | ENERGY EFFICIENT AND FAST CHARGE MODES OF A RECHARGEABLE BATTERY - A method of providing power to an electronic device in an energy-efficient manner includes transitioning between power states corresponding to charging and discharging a battery. The state of charge of the battery is detected. Upon detecting a high threshold state of charge, an external power source such as an AC-to-DC adapter is disabled, and the battery to provides primary power to the electronic device. Upon a low threshold state of charge, the AC-to-DC adapter is controlled to provide a high current output to charge the battery and provide primary power to the electronic device. The power states, when cycled over time based on the state of the battery, provide for an energy-efficient method of powering the electronic device. | 11-18-2010 |
| 20100178539 | Modular CID Assembly for a Lithium Ion Battery - A modular current interrupt device includes an electrically-conductive rupture disc, an electrically-conductive pressure disc attached to the rupture disc to form an electrical pathway. An electrically-insulating ring partitions a perimeter of the rupture disc from a perimeter of the pressure disc, and a seating element secures the electrically-insulated ring to the pressure disc. At least one of the rupture disc and electrically-insulating ring defines a conduit, whereby exposure of one side of the pressure disc to sufficient force through the conduit causes the pressure disc to separate from the rupture disc to thereby sever the electrical pathway. A low pressure current interrupt device (CID) activates at a minimal threshold internal gauge pressure in a range of, for example, between about 4 kg/cm | 07-15-2010 |
| 20100164436 | Control Electronics for Li-ion Batteries - A storage voltage of a battery pack is controlled with control electronics. The storage voltage of a battery pack is sensed, and a discharge mechanism is triggered if the storage voltage is within a predetermined range of voltage, to thereby adjust the storage voltage of the battery pack to below the predetermined range of voltage, or if the storage voltage is at or above a predetermined voltage, to thereby adjust the storage voltage of the battery pack to below the predetermined voltage. Control electronics sense a storage voltage of a battery pack and trigger a discharge mechanism if the storage voltage is within a predetermined range of voltage, to thereby adjust the storage voltage of the battery pack to below the predetermined range of voltage, or if the storage voltage is at or above a predetermined voltage, to thereby adjust the storage voltage of the battery pack to below the predetermined voltage. The control electronics are coupled to an electronic device and a battery pack. The control electronics are either implemented into the electronic device or the battery pack, or in a separate control electronic device. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100121511 | LI-ION BATTERY ARRAY FOR VEHICLE AND OTHER LARGE CAPACITY APPLICATIONS - A large battery array, particularly for use in an electric vehicle, is formed of multiple modules, each containing plural battery cells and module management electronics. Each battery module has a nominal output voltage in the range of about 5 volts to about 17 volts. A controller communicates with individual battery modules in the array and controls switching to connect the modules in drive and charging configurations. The module management electronics monitor conditions of each battery module, including the cells it contains, and communicates these conditions to the controller. The module management electronics may place the modules in protective modes based upon the performance of each module in comparison to known or configurable specifications. The modules may be pluggable devices so that each module may be replaced if the module is in a permanent shutdown protective mode or if a non-optimal serviceable fault is detected. | 05-13-2010 |
| 20100108291 | Method and apparatus for embedded battery cells and thermal management - Battery cells are embedded in a device to control thermal management of the device. One embodiment includes an embedded battery arrangement that improves thermal management of a portable computer, such as heat transfer and dissipation from heat generating components of the portable computer (including, for example, central processing unit chips or graphics processing unit chips). In one specific embodiment, a printed circuit board is mounted to a battery pack to cause improved radiation of heat from heat generating components of the portable computer to outside of the portable computer housing. In another embodiment, battery cells are distributed within the housing of a portable computer that improves thermal management. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20090291330 | Battery with enhanced safety - A battery includes a cell casing; a first terminal; a second terminal in electrical communication with the cell casing and electrically insulated from the first terminal; an electrode assembly in the cell casing; a current interrupt device (CID) in electrical communication with the first terminal and the first electrode or with the second terminal and the second electrode; and insulation that interrupts potential electrochemical communication between the first electrode and the second terminal or between the second electrode and the first terminal. The electrode assembly includes a first electrode in electrical communication with the first terminal, a second electrode in electrical communication with the second terminal, and an electrolyte between the first and second electrodes. The insulation interrupts potential electrochemical communication between the first electrode and the second terminal or between the second electrode and the first terminal when under a charging or overcharging condition and when the CID is activated, thereby interrupting the electrical communication between the first terminal and the first electrode or between the second terminal and the second electrode. | 11-26-2009 |
| 20090269654 | Prismatic Storage Battery Or Cell With Flexible Recessed Portion - A battery includes a cell casing that has recessed portion on a major surface of the casing, the recessed portion being substantially planar and bordering a remainder of the major surface at ridge portions on at least three sides of the recessed portion, whereby the recessed portion, the ridge portions, and the remainder of the major surface cooperate under an increase of gauge pressure to cause a plane defined by a boundary between the ridge portions and the remainder of the major surface to move. | 10-29-2009 |
| 20090181296 | Lithium-Ion secondary battery - A lithium-ion battery includes a cathode that includes an active cathode material. The active cathode material includes a cathode mixture that includes a lithium cobaltate and a manganate spinel a manganate spinel represented by an empirical formula of Li | 07-16-2009 |
| 20090029193 | CID retention device for Li-ion cell - A low pressure current interrupt device (CID) activates at a minimal threshold internal gauge pressure in a range of, for example, between about 4 kg/cm | 01-29-2009 |
