Patent ID: 7516726
Filing Date: 2009-04-14
Classification: B60R,H02J

Abstract:
1. A battery device that includes multiple battery modules, where each of the multiple battery modules has plural cells connected in series, said battery device further comprising: multiple voltage equalization circuits that are provided corresponding to the multiple battery modules and respectively equalize voltages of the plural cells included in each of the multiple battery modules; a connection switchover structure that switches over a connection state of the multiple battery modules between serial connection and parallel connection; and a voltage equalization control module that, upon satisfaction of a predetermined voltage equalization condition, controls the connection switchover structure and the multiple voltage equalization circuits to respectively equalize voltages of the plural cells included in each of the multiple battery modules in the state of serial connection of the multiple battery modules, and on completion of the voltage equalization of the respective cells in each of the multiple battery modules, controls the connection switchover structure and the multiple voltage equalization circuits to connect the multiple battery modules in parallel and equalize voltages of the respective battery modules.