Patent ID: 6828757
Filing Date: 2004-12-07
Classification: H02J,Y02T

Abstract:
In a cell combination comprising a plurality of cell blocks each having a plurality of cell modules connected to one another in series, a charging rate adjusting circuit adapted to produce either a uniform charging rate or a uniform voltage to the cell modules, the circuit comprising:first connecting/disconnecting means for connecting or disconnecting the cell blocks in series, second connecting/disconnecting means for connecting or disconnecting in parallel the cell modules which correspond to one another in the cell blocks, a plurality of discharge circuits each being connected to opposite electrodes of each of the cell modules constituting at least one cell block and performing a discharge operation in response to a discharge command, a voltage detection circuit for detecting a voltage across each of the cell modules constituting at least one cell block, and a control circuit for setting the first connecting/disconnecting means into a connecting state and setting the second connecting/disconnecting means into a disconnecting state in normal operation when the cell combination is operated as a power supply source, and for setting the first connecting/disconnecting means into the disconnecting state and setting the second connecting/disconnecting means into the connecting state when the charging rate of the cell modules is adjusted, and giving the discharge command to one or a plurality of the discharge circuits based an a detection result of the voltage detection circuit.