Patent ID: 8179650
Filing Date: 2012-05-15
Classification: H01M,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A power supply apparatus, comprising: a plurality of batteries which are formed by connecting a plurality of battery blocks in series each of which has n (n is an integer of at least two) batteries connected in parallel; a changeover portion switching the connection between the plurality of batteries; a short-circuit battery detection portion, if an internal short-circuit is produced in any of the plurality of batteries, detecting this internal short-circuit battery; a resistor portion which has a resistance value substantially equal to Ri×(n−1)/n if the internal resistance value of each of the plurality of batteries is Ri, the resistance value being variable; a resistance-value setting processing portion setting the resistance value of the resistor portion substantially to Ri×(n−1)/n; a changeover control portion, if the short-circuit battery detection portion detects the internal short-circuit produced in the batteries connected in parallel, allowing the changeover portion to switch the connection between the plurality of batteries and the resistor portion in such a way that the battery block including this internal short-circuit battery, one of the other battery blocks and the resistor portion are connected in series to thereby form a closed circuit; and a connection terminal for outputting output power of the plurality of batteries to the outside, wherein if the short-circuit battery detection portion detects the internal short-circuit produced in the batteries connected in parallel, the changeover control portion further allows the changeover portion to cut off the connection of the battery other than this internal short-circuit battery of the batteries connected in parallel and the internal short- circuit battery; the changeover portion includes a changeover switch switching the connection of the series circuit formed by connecting the plurality of battery blocks in series and the connection terminal; as the battery blocks, two are connected in series in such a way that the resistor portion is disposed between; if the short-circuit battery detection portion does not detect the internal short-circuit battery, the changeover control portion allows the changeover switch to connect both ends of the series circuit of the two battery blocks and the resistor portion to the connection terminal; and if the short-circuit battery detection portion detects the internal short-circuit battery, the changeover control portion allows the changeover switch to connect one end of the series circuit of the two battery blocks and the resistor portion to the other end of this series circuit to thereby form the closed circuit.