Patent ID: 6788027
Filing Date: 2004-09-07
Classification: B60K,B60L,B60W,F02N,H01G,H02J,Y02T

Abstract:
A system for storing electrical energy comprising:a storage module including a first capacitor connected in series with a second capacitor; a sensor to sense a temperature associated with the capacitor; a controller in communication with the sensor to control an input maximum charging voltage at the capacitor so that a maximum voltage associated with at least one of the storage module and the capacitor increases as the temperature sensed by the sensor decreases; and a balancing circuit including a first load resistor and a first controlled switch in circuit with the first capacitor, and a second load resistor and a second controlled switch in circuit with the second capacitor, wherein the first capacitor has a first voltage and the second capacitor has a second voltage, and a difference between the first and second voltages is compensated by controlling at least one of the first and second switches to respectively connect at least one of the first and second load resistors to at least one of the first and second capacitors to at least partially discharge the at least one of the first and second capacitors, respectively.