Balancing series-connected electrical energy units
US9484754B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 15, 2015 |
| Grant date | Nov 1, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 15, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T10/70
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus and methods to fabricate the apparatus for balancing a string of N series-connected electrical energy units (such as battery cells or modules) comprising: a transformer with a magnetic core and N windings; N switch circuits; N driver circuits, each driver circuit operable to turn ON/OFF a respective switch circuit in a charging or discharging or idling configuration; and a controller circuit. In a novel way, the controller circuit selects each electrical energy unit for charging or discharging or idling, and controls simultaneously coupling all selected-for-discharging electrical energy unit(s) to respective winding(s) in discharging configuration(s) for a first period of time to simultaneously energize the respective winding(s); then immediately or after a short delay, the controller circuit controls simultaneously coupling all selected-for-charging electrical energy unit(s) to respective winding(s) in charging configuration(s) for a second period of time to be charged with respective induced current(s).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.