Distributed converter and method for equalizing lithium-ion batteries
US6369546B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 23, 2001 |
| Grant date | Apr 9, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 23, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02J7/0014
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system and method for charging a lithium-ion battery in which the battery is charged by a bulk charger at a high rate until one or more of the cells reaches a predetermined series threshold voltage. When a predetermined cell threshold voltage is reached, the controller provides instructions as to whether to reduce or terminate the cell charging by the bulk charger. At this point in time, the redundant power supplies begin charging each cell individually through balancing switches. The balancing switches will turn off as their respective cells reach a predetermined cell threshold voltage. Ultimately, each cell will be fully charged to an identical high charge state.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.