Apparatus and method for locating and isolating failed cells in a battery
US5227259A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 24, 1991 |
| Grant date | Jul 13, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 24, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/10
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus and method for locating and electrically isolating failed cells in a network of cells is disclosed. The apparatus includes a device for sampling voltage and current levels of each of the cells of the battery. Another device compares the sampled voltage and current levels to voltage and current limits to determine whether a cell has failed. If a cell has failed, control circuitry produces an activation signal which is conveyed to a switch associated with the failed cell. The activation signal drives a heating element of the switch. The heating element, which surrounds a fusible link of the switch, melts the fusible link. The fused link congregates at the base of the switch. In the case of a parallel network of cells, the fused link forms an open circuit, while in the case of a series network of cells, the fused link forms a bypass circuit. Consequently, the switch isolates the failed cell from the good cells remaining in the battery.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.