Method and apparatus for managing energy in plural energy storage units
US7615966B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 28, 2002 |
| Grant date | Nov 10, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 31, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02J7/0048
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system for managing energy stored in a plurality of series connected energy storage units has a plurality of energy storage unit controllers, each controller being associated with one of the plurality of energy storage units, a balancing circuit between two of the energy storage units, the balancing circuit being controlled by at least one of the energy storage unit controllers, a serial electrical interface between the energy storage unit controllers for providing voltage isolated bi-directional communication, and a central controller in electrical communication with the energy storage unit controllers. A method for managing charge in a plurality of series connected energy storage units forming an energy storage device includes monitoring a current supplied to the energy storage device, determining at least one of a charging rate and a capacity of a first energy storage unit and a second energy storage unit in the energy storage device, and diverting current from the first energy storage unit to the second energy storage unit in response to the steps of monitoring and determining.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.