Patent ID: 8541980
Filing Date: 2013-09-24
Classification: H02J,Y02E

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for charging and balancing a plurality of series-coupled battery cells, the apparatus comprising: first and second input terminals for providing a charging voltage to the plurality of series-coupled battery cells; a transformer including a primary side associated with the charging voltage and a secondary side including a plurality of portions each coupled across a respective at least two of the plurality of series-coupled battery cells; a plurality of first switches each coupled between a respective single portion of the secondary side and a corresponding first battery cell of the at least two of the plurality of series-coupled battery cells and configured to provide a charging current to the first battery cell during a first half of a cycle of a current in the primary side of the transformer; a plurality of second switches, each coupled between the respective single portion of the secondary side and a corresponding second battery cell of the at least two of the plurality of series-coupled battery cells and configured to provide a charging current to the second battery cell during a second half of a cycle of a current in the primary side of the transformer; and wherein each of the plurality of portions of the secondary side is configured to have a first polarity during the first half of the cycle of the current and a second polarity opposite the first polarity during the second half of the cycle of the current.