Patent ID: 8586256
Filing Date: 2013-11-19
Classification: H01M,H02J,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A power supply apparatus, comprising: a combined power source comprised of a plurality of power cells configured electrically independently; a switch connected to the combined power source and configured to arbitrarily change connection paths of the respective power cells by selectively connecting terminals of the plurality of power cells through switching elements; a voltage detector configured to detect differences in electrical potentials between the terminals of the plurality of power cells; and control means for controlling ON-OFF states of the switching elements by controlling the switch by a control signal generated based on voltage signals representing the differences in electrical potentials detected by the voltage detector so as to isolate a power cell from among the plurality of power cells to stop a supply of electric power from the isolated power cell when a voltage generated in the isolated power cell has dropped to a specified voltage or lower, and for restarting the supply of electric power from the isolated power cell whose power supply has been stopped when the duration of a down time of the power cell has reached a predetermined time or longer.