Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for battery charge balancing

US5764027A · kind A · utility

28Cited by
14References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJun 21, 1996
Grant dateJun 9, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 21, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02T10/70
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

In the embodiment of the present invention, a method for balancing charges of a plurality of batteries coupled in series includes determining actual or estimated rates of self-discharge of the batteries and individually shunting across one or more of the batteries to cause shunt currents which at least partially compensate for differences in the rates of self-discharge between batteries. In a second embodiment of the present invention, a method for balancing charges of a plurality of batteries coupled in series comprises measuring temperatures of the batteries and individually shunting across one or more of the batteries to cause shunt currents from those batteries which are functions of the temperatures of those batteries. A third embodiment of the present invention provides a method for balancing charges of a plurality of batteries coupled in series, the batteries furnished to store and provide energy for use in propelling an electrically-propelled vehicle. This method includes determining actual or relative states of charge of the batteries when the batteries are providing energy for propelling the electrically-propelled vehicle. The method also comprises individually shunting a…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.