초록 ▼

An apparatus and method are disclosed for equalizing individual module voltages in a multiple module battery pack during recharging. Two individual module voltages are compared, and charge redistribution is caused to occur by way of switched mode converters when the voltages are not equivalent. Swit

An apparatus and method are disclosed for equalizing individual module voltages in a multiple module battery pack during recharging. Two individual module voltages are compared, and charge redistribution is caused to occur by way of switched mode converters when the voltages are not equivalent. Switched mode converters may be of unidirectional or bidirectional topologies.

대표청구항 ▼

In a rechargeable electrochemical battery system having a battery pack comprising a series arrangement of electrochemical modules including end modules at opposite ends of the series arrangement, each of said modules having a positive and a negative terminal and a respective module voltage thereacro

In a rechargeable electrochemical battery system having a battery pack comprising a series arrangement of electrochemical modules including end modules at opposite ends of the series arrangement, each of said modules having a positive and a negative terminal and a respective module voltage thereacross, said battery pack having an aggregate pack voltage terminal comprising the positive terminal of the one of the end modules with its respective negative terminal connected to an adjacent module and an aggregate pack ground terminal comprising the negative terminal of the other of the end modules with its positive terminal connected to an adjacent module, each module further having a corresponding pack node voltage across its respective positive terminal and the aggregate pack ground terminal, a module charge equalization apparatus comprising: a charging source coupled across the aggregate pack voltage terminal and aggregate pack ground terminal; and, a plurality of switched mode power converter means, each converter means coupled to a respective pair of said modules which are adjacent one another such that all pairs of adjacent modules have associated therewith one of the plurality of converter means, each of said converter means being responsive to the module voltages of the respective pair of adjacent modules coupled thereto to unidirectionally pump charge from the positive terminal of a first one of said respective pair of adjacent modules to the positive terminal of a second one of said respective pair of adjacent modules only when the module voltage of the first one of said pair of adjacent modules exceeds the module voltage of the second one of said pair of adjacent modules, the respective first and second ones of all pairs of adjacent modules having the same relative positions within the series arrangement.