Apparatus and switching method for improving cycle-life and capacity of a battery pack
US7642753B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 16, 2005 |
| Grant date | Jan 5, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 13, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02J7/0013
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A charging system (108) supplies a source voltage (Vco, FIG. 5) and a source current (Ico, FIG. 5) to a plurality of battery cells (110). The charging system operates according to a method (200) including the steps of determining (202) a capacity for each of the plurality of battery cells (120 and 130), determining (204) a desired cutoff current (Ico1, FIG. 5) for a select one of the plurality of battery cells (120) having the smallest capacity, determining (206) an optimal source cutoff current according to the capacity of the select one of the plurality of battery cells, adjusting (208) the source current according to the optimal source cutoff current, and upon the source current reaching the optimal source cutoff current, switching out the select one of the plurality of battery cells to allow continued charging of another cell until it is fully charged.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.