US6043629A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Modular control electronics for batteries
Assignee: The AT&T MVPD Group LLC
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Filing: 1998-11-03
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Granted: 2000-03-28
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Expires: 2018-11-03
Abstract
Abstract A power system includes at least two battery cell modules. Each battery cell module has a lithium-ion battery cell, and a battery cell controller operably connected to the lithium-ion battery to control the charging and discharging of the lithium-ion battery cell. A central charge/discharge controller is operably connected to each of the battery cell controllers, allowing the charging and discharging of each lithium-ion battery cell to be individually controlled.
Inventors
- 👤 Christopher R. Ashley
- 👤 Craig H. Becker-Irvin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 22:56
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02J; H02J7/00; H02J7/50; H02J7/575; H02J1/00; H02J1/10; H02J1/102; H01; H01M; H01M10/00; H01M10/05; H01M10/052; H01M10/0525; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A power system, comprising: at least two battery cell modules, each battery cell module comprising: a battery cell; and a battery cell controller operably connected to the battery cell to control the charging and discharging of the battery cell; and a central charge/discharge controller operably connected to each of the battery cell controllers of the at least two battery cell modules, wherein the central charge/discharge controller is operable to individually command the charging current and the discharging current of the battery cell modules.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
83 words
A power system, comprising: at least two battery cell modules, each battery cell module comprising: a battery cell; and a battery cell controller operably connected to the battery cell to control the charging and discharging of the battery cell; and a central charge/discharge controller operably connected to each of the battery cell controllers of the at least two battery cell modules, wherein the central charge/discharge controller is operable to individually command the charging current and the discharging current of the battery cell modules.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The power system of claim 1, wherein each of the battery cell controllers comprises at least one dc-to-dc power converter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The power system of claim 2, wherein the at least one dc-to-dc converter comprises one dc-to-dc bidirectional power converter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The power system of claim 2, wherein the at least one dc-to-dc converter comprises two dc-to-dc unidirectional power converters.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The power system of claim 1, wherein each module has a power output, and wherein the power outputs of the at least two battery cell modules are electrically connected in parallel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The power system of claim 1, wherein each module has a negative-polarity power output and a positive-polarity power output, and wherein the negative-polarity power output is electrically connected to a system ground.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The power system of claim 1, wherein the power system further includes a power bus to which each of the battery cell controllers is operably connected; a power source controllably connected to the power bus; and a power-consuming device controllably connected to the power bus.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The power system of claim 1, wherein each battery cell is a lithium-ion battery cell.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
158 words
A method for supplying power, comprising the steps of providing at least two battery cell modules, each battery cell module comprising: a lithium-ion battery cell; and a battery cell controller operably connected to the lithium-ion battery cell to control the charging and discharging of the lithium-ion battery cell; providing a central charge/discharge controller operably connected to each of the battery cell controllers of the at least two battery cell modules; individually charging each battery cell through its respective battery cell controller at a controlled current until a preselected voltage is reached across the battery cell, and thereafter maintaining the preselected voltage and continuing to charge the battery cell with a decreasing current; and thereafter individually discharging each battery cell through its respective battery cell controller at a controlled output voltage until a preselected cell voltage is reached across the cell, and thereafter maintaining the preselected cell voltage and continuing to discharge the battery cell with a decreasing current.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
158 words
A method for supplying power, comprising the steps of providing at least two battery cell modules, each battery cell module comprising: a lithium-ion battery cell; and a battery cell controller operably connected to the lithium-ion battery cell to control the charging and discharging of the lithium-ion battery cell; providing a central charge/discharge controller operably connected to each of the battery cell controllers of the at least two battery cell modules; individually charging each battery cell through its respective battery cell controller at a controlled current until a preselected voltage is reached across the battery cell, and thereafter maintaining the preselected voltage and continuing to charge the battery cell with a decreasing current; and thereafter individually discharging each battery cell through its respective battery cell controller at a controlled output voltage until a preselected cell voltage is reached across the cell, and thereafter maintaining the preselected cell voltage and continuing to discharge the battery cell with a decreasing current.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 9, wherein each of the battery cell controllers comprises at least one dc-to-dc power converter.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one dc-to-dc converter comprises one dc-to-dc bidirectional power converter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one dc-to-dc converter comprises two dc-to-dc unidirectional power converters.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 9, wherein each module has a power output, and wherein the power outputs of the at least two battery cell modules are electrically connected in parallel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 9, wherein each module has a negative-polarity power output and a positive-polarity power output, and wherein, the negative-polarity power output is electrically connected to a system ground.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the power system further includes a power bus to which each of the battery cell controllers is operably connected; a power source controllably connected to the power bus; and a power-consuming device controllably connected to the power bus.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the step of discharging discontinuing the discharging of one of the battery cells while continuing the discharging of the remaining battery cells.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
102 words
The power system of claim 1, wherein the central charge/discharge controller is operable to individually charge each battery cell through its respective battery cell controller at a controlled current until a preselected voltage is reached across the battery cell, and thereafter maintain the preselected voltage and continue to charge the battery cell with a decreasing current, and thereafter individually discharge each battery cell through its respective battery cell controller at a controlled output voltage until a preselected cell voltage is reached across the cell, and thereafter maintain the preselected cell voltage and continue to discharge the battery cell with a decreasing current.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
81 words
A power system, comprising: at least two battery cell modules, each battery cell module comprising: a battery cell; and a battery cell controller operably connected to the battery cell to control the charging and discharging of the battery cell, wherein each of the battery cell controllers comprises at least one dc-to-dc power converter including a transformer isolation buck converter; and a central charge/discharge controller operably connected to each of the battery cell controllers of the at least two battery cell modules.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
81 words
A power system, comprising: at least two battery cell modules, each battery cell module comprising: a battery cell; and a battery cell controller operably connected to the battery cell to control the charging and discharging of the battery cell, wherein each of the battery cell controllers comprises at least one dc-to-dc power converter including a transformer isolation buck converter; and a central charge/discharge controller operably connected to each of the battery cell controllers of the at least two battery cell modules.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The power system of claim 18, wherein the at least one dc-to-dc converter comprises one dc-to-dc bidirectional power converter.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
The power system of claim 18, wherein the at least one dc-to-dc converter comprises two dc-to-dc unidirectional power converters.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The power system of claim 18, wherein the central charge/discharge controller is operable to individually control the charging and the discharging of each battery.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
78 words
A power system, comprising: at least two battery cell modules, each battery cell module comprising: a battery cell; and a battery cell controller operably connected to the battery cell to control the charging and discharging of the battery cell; and a central charge/discharge controller operably connected to each of the battery cell controllers of the at least two battery cell modules, wherein the central charge/discharge controller is operable to protect the battery cell modules against overcharging and overdischarging.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
78 words
A power system, comprising: at least two battery cell modules, each battery cell module comprising: a battery cell; and a battery cell controller operably connected to the battery cell to control the charging and discharging of the battery cell; and a central charge/discharge controller operably connected to each of the battery cell controllers of the at least two battery cell modules, wherein the central charge/discharge controller is operable to protect the battery cell modules against overcharging and overdischarging.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-03-28 | 2003-09-27 | 2004-03-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-03-28 | 2007-09-27 | 2008-03-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-03-28 | 2011-09-27 | 2012-03-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |