Patent US5744936A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5744936A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electric power accumulating apparatus and electric power system
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1997-01-24
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Granted: 1998-04-28
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Expires: 2017-01-24
Abstract
Abstract In an electric power accumulating apparatus utilizing a parallel arrangement of plural groups of secondary batteries in which the secondary batteries of each group are arranged in series, an abnormality in each of the secondary batteries is detected. The output terminals of the secondary battery showing abnormality are electrically detached and the detached terminals to which the secondary battery showing abnormality have been connected are shortcircuited. An auxiliary power source or a DC/DC converter compensates for the voltage corresponding to the detached battery to provide improved safety, stable output and extended service life.
Inventors
- 👤 Soichiro Kawakami
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 14:12
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02J; H02J7/00; H02J7/50; H02J7/575; H01; H01M; H01M10/00; H01M10/42; H01M10/4207; H02J7/60; H02J7/65; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 51
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
An electric power accumulating apparatus provided with a parallel arrangement of plural groups each of which includes at least one secondary battery, comprising: means for detecting an abnormality in each secondary battery of said plural groups; means for electrically disconnecting one of at least three terminals connecting a secondary battery showing abnormality to the group from the secondary battery showing abnormality, and for connecting the other two terminals to shunt said secondary battery showing abnormality; and one of an auxiliary power source and DC/DC converter for compensating the voltage corresponding to said detached battery, wherein at least one diode is provided at least at one end of each group to prevent reverse current flow.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
An electric power accumulating apparatus provided with a parallel arrangement of plural groups each of which includes at least one secondary battery, comprising: means for detecting an abnormality in each secondary battery of said plural groups; means for electrically disconnecting one of at least three terminals connecting a secondary battery showing abnormality to the group from the secondary battery showing abnormality, and for connecting the other two terminals to shunt said secondary battery showing abnormality; and one of an auxiliary power source and DC/DC converter for compensating the voltage corresponding to said detached battery, wherein at least one diode is provided at least at one end of each group to prevent reverse current flow.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary power source has a secondary battery.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for detaching of the secondary battery showing abnormality, eventually with shortcircuiting of the terminals includes a switching element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for detecting abnormality of said secondary batteries is means adapted to measure the state of at least one of the voltage, current, temperature and strain of each of the secondary batteries.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for requesting replacement of the secondary battery showing abnormality.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for connecting, after said secondary battery showing abnormality is replaced by a normal one, the output terminals of the normal one to the battery array thereby restoring the apparatus.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for informing the timing of replacement of the secondary batteries constituting said apparatus.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
10 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising rectifying means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising stabilizing means for providing a stable constant voltage.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for controlling charging and discharging of the apparatus.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an inverter for elevating the output voltage and converting the output current into an AC current.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
11 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising noise eliminating means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for displaying the amount of accumulated electricity.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
11 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a DC-DC converter.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said secondary batteries are selected from a group consisting of lithium battery, nickel-zinc battery, air-zinc battery, bromine-zinc battery and silver oxide-zinc battery.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said secondary batteries are unit batteries of a substantially same capacity.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
133 words
An electric power system including a power source apparatus provided with a parallel arrangement of groups each of which includes at least one secondary battery, and a load electrically connected to said power source apparatus, wherein said power source apparatus comprises: means for detecting an abnormality in each secondary battery of the groups; means for electrically disconnecting one of at least three terminals connecting a secondary battery showing abnormality to the group from the secondary battery showing abnormality and, for connecting the other two terminals to shunt said secondary battery showing abnormality; and one of an auxiliary power source and a DC/DC converter for compensating the voltage corresponding to said detached battery, and wherein at least one diode is provided at least at one end of each group to prevent reverse current flow.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
133 words
An electric power system including a power source apparatus provided with a parallel arrangement of groups each of which includes at least one secondary battery, and a load electrically connected to said power source apparatus, wherein said power source apparatus comprises: means for detecting an abnormality in each secondary battery of the groups; means for electrically disconnecting one of at least three terminals connecting a secondary battery showing abnormality to the group from the secondary battery showing abnormality and, for connecting the other two terminals to shunt said secondary battery showing abnormality; and one of an auxiliary power source and a DC/DC converter for compensating the voltage corresponding to said detached battery, and wherein at least one diode is provided at least at one end of each group to prevent reverse current flow.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
An electric power system according to claim 17, wherein said auxiliary power source has a secondary battery.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
An electric power system according to claim 17, wherein said means for detaching the secondary battery showing abnormality, eventually with shortcircuiting of the terminals includes a switching element.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
42 words
An electric power system according to claim 17, wherein said means for detecting abnormality of said secondary batteries is means adapted to measure the state of at least one of the voltage, current, temperature and strain of each of the secondary batteries.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
An electric power system according to claim 17, further comprising means for requesting replacement of the secondary battery showing abnormality.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
40 words
An electric power system according to claim 17, further comprising means for connecting, after said secondary battery showing abnormality is replaced by a normal one, the output terminals of the normal one to the battery array thereby restoring the apparatus.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
An electric power system according to claim 17, further comprising means for informing the timing of replacement of the secondary batteries constituting said apparatus.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
12 words
An electric power system according to claim 17, further comprising rectifying means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
An electric power system according to claim 17, further comprising stabilizing means for providing a stable constant voltage.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electric power system according to claim 17, further comprising means for controlling charging and discharging of said apparatus.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
An electric power system according to claim 17, further comprising an inverter for elevating the output voltage and converting the output current into an AC current.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
13 words
An electric power system according to claim 17, further comprising noise eliminating means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
An electric power system according to claim 17, further comprising means for displaying the amount of accumulated electricity.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
13 words
An electric power system according to claim 17, further comprising a DC-DC converter.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
31 words
An electric power system according to claim 1, wherein said secondary batteries are selected from a group consisting of lithium battery, nickel-zinc battery, air-zinc battery, bromine-zinc battery and silver oxide-zinc battery.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
20 words
An electric power system according to claim 17, wherein said secondary batteries are unit batteries of a substantially same capacity.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said DC/DC converter is a booster circuit.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein plural secondary batteries are arranged in series in each of said groups.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
53 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one diode comprises a diode connected so as to be forwardly biased by a discharge current for each group at a discharge mode, and a diode connected so as to be forwardly biased by charging current for each group at a charging mode.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the DC-DC converter has a voltage elevating circuit.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for electrically disconnecting includes a switching element of a relay.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for electrically disconnecting comprises a latching relay.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for electrically disconnecting includes a two-coil type latching relay.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for electrically disconnecting includes a switching element comprising a transistor.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for electrically disconnecting includes a switching element comprising a thyristor.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein plural secondary batteries are arranged in series in each of said groups.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
53 words
An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said at least one diode comprises a diode connected so as to be forwardly biased by a discharge current for each group at a discharge mode, and a diode connected so as to be forwardly biased by charging current for each group at a charging mode.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the DC-DC converter has a voltage elevating circuit.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said means for electrically disconnecting comprises a switching element of a relay.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said means for electrically disconnecting includes a latching relay.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said means for electrically disconnecting includes a two-coil type latching relay.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said means for electrically disconnecting includes a switching element comprising a transistor.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said means for electrically disconnecting includes a switching element comprising thyristor.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-04-27 | 2001-10-27 | 2002-04-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-04-27 | 2005-10-27 | 2006-04-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-04-27 | 2009-10-27 | 2010-04-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |