Battery monitoring, charging and balancing apparatus
US5498950A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 29, 1994 |
| Grant date | Mar 12, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 29, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T10/70
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Battery charging apparatus comprising a power source coupled to a battery pack comprising a series connected plurality of batteries, and a charge controller and battery balancer coupled to the battery pack that monitors, controls the charging of, and balances the plurality of batteries of the battery pack. The power source is used to charge all of the batteries under control of a controller. The controller is coupled to an isolated current source in the battery balancer and to a battery voltage sensor. The controller is coupled to a plurality of sensors that monitor predetermined battery conditions. The isolated current source and battery voltage sensor are coupled to each battery of the battery pack by way of a monitoring bus and a plurality of controlled switches. The controller monitors the individual battery voltages using the battery voltage sensor and controls the isolated current source to individually balance low-voltage batteries based upon voltages sensed by the battery voltage sensor.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.