Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100314950 | System and Method for Communicating Notice to Limit Degradation Within a Battery Pack - Systems and methods for communicating notice to limit battery degradation within a battery pack are disclosed. In one example, a signal is generated and passed between modules of a battery pack to provide notice to limit battery pack degradation. The system and method may be particularly useful for a battery pack with distributed battery modules. | 12-16-2010 |
20110309795 | System and Method for Balancing Voltage of Individual Battery Cells Within a Battery Pack - Systems and methods for actively balancing battery cells are disclosed. In one example, a charge is supplied to different battery cells at different times during a battery discharge cycle. The method may reduce instantaneous current draw within a battery pack. | 12-22-2011 |
20110309796 | System and Method for Managing Charge Within a Battery Pack - Systems and methods for a managing charge within a battery pack are disclosed. In one example, flyback transformers manage charge in a second current path. The system and method can improve battery efficiency and performance at least during some conditions. | 12-22-2011 |
20110309799 | System and Method for Extending the Usable Capacity of a Battery Pack - Systems and methods for extending the useable capacity of a battery pack are disclosed. In one example, flyback transformers supply charge to lower capacity battery cells to extend battery output. | 12-22-2011 |
20120274284 | System and Method for Controlling Voltage of Individual Battery Cells Within a Battery Pack - Systems and methods for detecting and managing a plurality of cells within a battery pack supplying power to propel a vehicle are disclosed. One example method comprises, monitoring voltage of a plurality of battery cells of a battery pack, activating a power supply when a voltage of at least one battery cell of the plurality of battery cells exceeds a threshold, and draining a portion of charge from the at least one battery cell. | 11-01-2012 |
20120286794 | System and Method for Monitoring and Balancing Voltage of Individual Battery Cells within a Battery Pack - Systems and methods for a scalable battery controller are disclosed. In one example, a circuit board coupled to a battery cell stack is designed to be configurable to monitor and balance battery cells of battery cell stacks that may vary depending on battery pack requirements. Further, the battery pack control module may configure software instructions in response to a voltage at a battery cell stack. | 11-15-2012 |
20120292987 | System and Method Providing Power Within a Battery Pack - A system for supplying power internal to a battery pack is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes a power supply that is powered by battery cells in the battery pack such that each battery cell supplies substantially the same amount of current to power the power supply. In this way, power can be distributed within the battery pack without causing imbalance between an amount of charge stored in different battery cells. | 11-22-2012 |
20120306503 | System and Method for Assessing Voltage Threshold Detecting Circuitry Within a Battery Pack - Systems and methods for assessing voltage threshold detection circuitry of individual battery cells within a battery pack supplying power to a vehicle are disclosed. One example system comprises, a plurality of battery cells within a battery pack, a plurality of voltage threshold detecting circuits detecting voltage of the plurality of battery cells, a voltage of a first battery cell of the plurality of battery cells coupled to a first voltage threshold detecting circuit of the plurality of voltage threshold detecting circuits, and a network that selectively couples a second battery cell to the first voltage detecting circuit while the first battery cell is coupled to the first voltage detecting circuit. | 12-06-2012 |
20130009464 | System and Method for Controlling a Battery Pack Output Contactor - Systems and methods for controlling a contactor of a battery pack are disclosed. In one embodiment, the coil of the contactor is controlled by a power supply. Further, the contactor coil holding current may be adjusted in response to vehicle drive mode. | 01-10-2013 |
20130119941 | System and Method for Assessing ADC Operation and Voltage of a Battery Pack - Systems and methods for assessing operation of ADCs of a battery pack supplying power to a vehicle are disclosed. One example system comprises, a first ADC for determining the voltage of at least one battery cell; a second ADC for determining the voltage of a plurality of battery cells; and a controller performing an action in response to comparing an output of said first ADC to an output of said second ADC. | 05-16-2013 |
20130265059 | System and Method for Verifying a Reference Voltage for Battery Cell Monitoring - Systems and methods for verifying a reference voltage within a battery pack are disclosed. In one example, an assessment of a reference voltage is made via a band-gap voltage of a microcontroller. The system and method may be particularly useful determining whether or not the reference voltage has drifted from a desired voltage. | 10-10-2013 |
20140042980 | System and Method for Balancing Charge Between Battery Cells - Systems and methods for balancing charge of battery cells of a battery pack are disclosed. In one example, battery cell balancing may be improved by balancing battery cells of a battery cell stack simultaneously. The system and method may be particularly useful battery packs that may be constructed with battery cell stacks that vary in a number of series battery cells. | 02-13-2014 |