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US5875085A
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Lithium electronic-mechanical automatic protection system (LEAPS)
Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1996-02-23
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Granted: 1999-02-23
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Expires: 2016-02-23
Abstract
Abstract This device includes, connected in parallel with each of the elements (I, II), corresponding shunt regulators (S11, R11, S21, R21) linked together in series, and the control electrodes of which are connected to networks of resistors which represent voltages of the elements which can be applied to respective comparators (C11, C12, C21, C22) of the lower and upper threshold voltages (Vth11, Vth12, Vth21, Vth22) of the elements with a reference voltage delivered by a reference voltage source (Vref), a switching MOSFET transistor (4), with low conduction resistance and with defined off-state impedance, connected between the most negative terminal of the set of elements (II) in series and the negative terminal (Vbat-) of the protection device and means of control of the MOSFET transistor from output signals from the comparators (C11, C12, C21, C22) in order to alter the state of the said MOSFET transistor (4) for the purpose of regulating the state of charge and of discharge of the elements (I, II). It makes it possible to use a common charger for NiCd and NiMH elements.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph Farley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 08:11
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10D; H10D89/00; H10D89/60; H02; H02J; H02J7/00; H02J7/50; H02J7/52; H02J7/60; H02J7/61; H02J7/63; H02J7/65; H02J7/90; H02J7/94; H10D30/00; H10D30/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
200 words
A battery module, comprising: two rechargeable elements (I,II); a protection circuit for protecting the rechargeable elements, the protection circuit further comprising: connected in parallel with each of the elements (I; II), corresponding shunt regulators (S11, R11, S21, R21) linked together in series, and the control electrodes of which are connected to networks of resistors which represent voltages of the rechargeable elements which can be applied to respective comparators (C11, C12, C21, C22) of the lower and upper threshold voltages (Vth11, Vth12, Vth2l, Vth22) of the rechargeable elements with a reference voltage delivered by a reference voltage source (Vref), a bi-directional switching element (4) with low conduction resistance and with off-state impedance in one direction of a near-infinite ohmic value and a defined off-state impedance in the other direction, connected between a most negative terminal of the set of rechargeable elements (II) in series and a negative terminal (vbat-) of the battery module and means of control of the switching element from output signals from the comparators (C11, C12, C21, C22) in order to alter the state of the said switching element (4) for the purpose of regulating the rate of charge and of discharge of the rechargeable elements (I, II).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
200 words
A battery module, comprising: two rechargeable elements (I,II); a protection circuit for protecting the rechargeable elements, the protection circuit further comprising: connected in parallel with each of the elements (I; II), corresponding shunt regulators (S11, R11, S21, R21) linked together in series, and the control electrodes of which are connected to networks of resistors which represent voltages of the rechargeable elements which can be applied to respective comparators (C11, C12, C21, C22) of the lower and upper threshold voltages (Vth11, Vth12, Vth2l, Vth22) of the rechargeable elements with a reference voltage delivered by a reference voltage source (Vref), a bi-directional switching element (4) with low conduction resistance and with off-state impedance in one direction of a near-infinite ohmic value and a defined off-state impedance in the other direction, connected between a most negative terminal of the set of rechargeable elements (II) in series and a negative terminal (vbat-) of the battery module and means of control of the switching element from output signals from the comparators (C11, C12, C21, C22) in order to alter the state of the said switching element (4) for the purpose of regulating the rate of charge and of discharge of the rechargeable elements (I, II).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
Protection circuit according to claim 1, further comprising a constant gate-source voltage control means giving the MOSFET transistor (4) a resistance characteristic making it possible to use it as a current-detecting element in systems for measuring state of charge.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
The protection circuit according to claim 1, further comprising a selection logic circuit (20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30) for low- and high- voltage charge balancing, using the output signals from the comparators (C11, C12, C21, C22), which are driven logically in order to control the control electrodes of the shunt regulators (S11, S21).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
86 words
The battery module according to claim 1, further comprising a non-volatile memory (40) for storing time and date data corresponding to the state of charge of the elements (I, II), and other parameters of the elements (I, II) relative to the technology of the elements and to the charge and discharge characteristics, the said memory (40) being connected to a temperature sensor (42), the said memory (40) and the said temperature sensor (42) being supplied with voltage by a common source (Vcc) external to the device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The battery module of claim 1, further comprising an automatic charge control means making it possible to charge the battery module with a common charger for NiCd or NiMH rechargeable elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The battery module of claim 1, further comprising a thermal protection element (2) connected between a positive terminal (Vbat+) of the battery module and a positive terminal of the set of rechargeable elements (I, II).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The battery module of claim 6, wherein the thermal protection device is a bimetallic strip.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The battery module of claim 6, wherein the thermal protection device is a thermistor device with a positive temperature coefficient, made of polymer or ceramic.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
The battery module according to claim 6, further comprising an electronic protection circuit (10) connected to the power supply terminals (vbat+, vbat-) of the module, wherein the electronic protection circuit is operable to actuate the thermal protection device in response to a detected condition and thereby interrupt current flowing to or from the battery module.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The battery module according to claim 9, further comprising a device (46) for displaying the state of charge according to the data contained in the memory (40) under the control of a charge-state switch (48).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
88 words
The battery module according to claim 10, further comprising a voltage- and temperature-measuring circuit and a circuit with high time constant capable of being reset to zero which is comparable in time with the time for setting the oxidation-reduction potential, which can display the latter state of charge written into the memory (40) by an application, or after the recycling of the oxidation-reduction period, a state of charge corresponding to the voltage and to the temperature read when a charge changeover switch of the battery module is actuated.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
110 words
A battery module, comprising: one or more rechargeable elements; a protection circuit for protecting the rechargeable elements, the protection circuit further comprising: a bi-directional switching element with low conduction resistance and with off-state impedance in one direction of a near-infinite ohmic value and a defined off-state impedance in the other direction, connected in series with the one or more rechargable elements and a terminal of the battery module; and control circuitry connected to a control terminal of the bi-directional switching element operable to alter the state of the the switching element for the purpose of regulating the rate of charge and of discharge of the one or more rechargeable elements.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
110 words
A battery module, comprising: one or more rechargeable elements; a protection circuit for protecting the rechargeable elements, the protection circuit further comprising: a bi-directional switching element with low conduction resistance and with off-state impedance in one direction of a near-infinite ohmic value and a defined off-state impedance in the other direction, connected in series with the one or more rechargable elements and a terminal of the battery module; and control circuitry connected to a control terminal of the bi-directional switching element operable to alter the state of the the switching element for the purpose of regulating the rate of charge and of discharge of the one or more rechargeable elements.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The battery module of claim 12, further comprising an automatic charge control means making it possible to charge the battery module with a common charger for NiCd or NiMH rechargeable elements.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
58 words
The battery module of claim 12, wherein: the bidirectional switching element is a MOS device; and the protection circuit further comprises a constant gate-source voltage control circuit connected to a gate and source of the bi-directional switching element, the bi-directional switching element having a resistance characteristic such that the bi-directional switching element is operable as a current-detecting element.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
64 words
The battery module of claim 12, wherein the protection circuit further comprises a mechanical protection element connected in series with the one or more rechargeable elements and the terminal of the battery module, the mechanical protection element being operable to interrupt a current flowing through the one or more rechargeable elements in response to one of the rechargeable elements having an abnormally high temperature.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
58 words
The battery module of claim 15, wherein the protection circuit further comprises an electronic protection circuit connected to the mechanical protection element, the electronic protection circuit being operable to sense an abnormally high current flowing through the bi-directional switching element and to cause the mechanical protection element to interrupt current flowing through the one or more rechargeable elements.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
47 words
The battery module of claim 12, further comprising a non-volatile memory (40) for storing parameters relative to the technology of the one or more rechargeable elements and relative to the charge and discharge characteristics corresponding to the state of charge of the one or more rechargeable elements.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The battery module according to claim 17, further comprising a device for displaying a state of charge according to the data contained in the non-volatile memory.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The battery module of claim 18, further comprising a voltage- and temperature-measuring circuit.
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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) | 2002-02-22 | 2002-08-24 | 2003-02-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-02-22 | 2006-08-24 | 2007-02-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-02-22 | 2010-08-24 | 2011-02-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |