Patent ID: 7969119
Filing Date: 2011-06-28
Classification: H02J

Abstract:
1. An apparatus, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of series-connected battery cells; a battery charger; a protection voltage measurement portion configured to measure a cell voltage of each of the battery cells; a computation portion configured to calculate an open circuit voltage appearing between opposite terminals of the battery set from the cell voltage of each of the battery cells to output the calculated voltage as a measurement voltage; an overvoltage setting portion configured to output a first stop signal capable of stopping charging of the battery set when the value of the cell voltage of any one of the battery cells reaches a threshold value; a diagnostic voltage measurement portion configured to measure the open circuit voltage of the battery set to thereby output the measured voltage as a diagnostic voltage; and a comparing portion configured to output a second stop signal capable of stopping charging of the battery set based on a comparison result of a value of the measurement voltage and a value of the diagnostic voltage.