Patent ID: 8816639
Filing Date: 2014-08-26
Classification: H02J

Abstract:
1. A rechargeable battery assembly comprising: a plurality of series-connected battery cell assemblies connected between an input terminal and an output terminal of the rechargeable battery assembly, each battery cell assembly including a battery cell and a charge bypass load connected in parallel with the battery cell; a plurality of cell supervisory circuits (CSCs), each of the plurality of CSCs being in communication with one of the plurality of series-connected battery cells to monitor a voltage associated with each series-connected battery cell and provide commands to selectively activate the charge bypass load; and a battery interface unit (BTU) connected to receive voltages monitored by each of the plurality of CSCs and to provide charge bypass commands to each of the plurality of CSCs, wherein the BIU compares the monitored voltages received from each of the plurality of CSCs to an end of charge voltage (EOCV) threshold and in response to the monitored voltage equaling the EOCV threshold issues a charge bypass command to the associated CSC that activates the charge bypass load to limit voltage on the corresponding battery cell, wherein at least one of the plurality of CSCs is configured to monitor a temperature associated with a corresponding battery cell assembly, and wherein at least one of the plurality of series-connected battery cell assemblies further includes a full bypass relay having an active state and an inactive state, wherein in the active state the full bypass relay creates a short-circuit path between an input terminal and an output terminal of the series-connected battery cell assembly that bypasses the battery cell and the charge bypass load.