Patent ID: 8922167
Filing Date: 2014-12-30
Classification: H01M,H02J,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A rechargeable battery system comprising: a plurality of rechargeable battery cells coupled between a plurality of terminals; and shunting circuitry configured to selectively shunt charging electrical energy around respective ones of the rechargeable battery cells during charging of the rechargeable battery cells from substantially discharged states of charge of the rechargeable battery cells to substantially charged states of charge of the rechargeable battery cells; wherein the shunting circuitry is configured to shunt different amounts of the charging electrical energy around different ones of the respective rechargeable battery cells as a result of the different respective rechargeable battery cells having different states of charge; wherein the shunting circuitry comprises a plurality of shunting devices individually configured to shunt the charging electrical energy around a respective one of the rechargeable battery cells; control circuitry configured to control shunting of one of the shunting devices using a control signal within a first duty cycle range and to control shunting of another of the shunting devices using a control signal within a second duty cycle range which is different than the first duty cycle range; and wherein the control circuitry is configured to control shunting of the one and the another of the shunting devices corresponding to the states of charge of the respective rechargeable battery cells which are coupled with the one and the another shunting devices.