Patent ID: 9318779
Filing Date: 2016-04-19
CPC Classification: H01M,H02J,Y02E

Claim Text:
1. An electric energy storage system comprising: an electric energy storage module having a plurality of electric energy storage units connected in series, each of the plurality of electric energy storage units having one electric energy storage bank or a plurality of electric energy storage banks connected in series; a charger configured to charge at least one of the electric energy storage banks; a balancing circuit connected to the electric energy storage module to correct a variation in charged/discharged state between the electric energy storage banks; a voltage detection section configured to detect a voltage across the electrical energy storage module, across one or more of the electric energy storage banks, or across the charger; a plurality of taps led out, respectively, from one of opposite terminals of the electric energy storage module, from the other terminal of the electric energy storage module and from one or more of a plurality of series-connection points between the electric energy storage units; and a switch control section configured to switch switches, wherein at least one of the switches is connected to one of the opposite terminals of the electric energy storage module, to the other terminal of the electric energy storage module, or to at least one of the plurality of series-connection points, the switch control section configured to allow one of the plurality of taps to be connected to one of opposite terminals of the charger, the switch control section being operable, during a charging period, to sequentially switch the switches according to progress of the charging, based on a detection result from the voltage detection section, the switch control section configured to control a first number of at least one of the plurality of electric energy storage units to bypass the charger and be charged via the balancing circuit when a second number of at least one of the plurality of electric energy storage units bypasses the balancing circuit and is charged directly from the charger.