Patent ID: 9667073
Date: 2017-05-30
CPC Classifications: G01R,H02J

Claim:
1. A device, comprising: a transformer having a primary coil and a secondary coil; a controller for: receiving an indication of a metric of a cell of a battery; and, in response thereto, outputting at least one signal to select a polarity of a balancing current for balancing the cell; and at least one polarity switch, coupled between the transformer and the controller, for: receiving the at least one signal from the controller; and, in response thereto, selectively coupling a received current to a selected terminal of the primary coil for causing the transformer to generate a primary current through the primary coil, wherein the selected terminal is one of a first terminal and a second terminal of the primary coil; wherein the transformer is for: generating the balancing current through the secondary coil by inductively coupling the primary coil to the secondary coil; and outputting the balancing current having the selected polarity for balancing the cell; wherein: if the selected terminal is the first terminal of the primary coil, then the primary current has a first polarity; and if the selected terminal is the second terminal of the primary coil, then the primary current has a second polarity that is opposite the first polarity.