Patent ID: 8288992
Filing Date: 2012-10-16
Classification: H02J

Abstract:
1. A cell management system for balancing energy across a plurality of cells coupled to a circuit bus, each cell of the plurality of cells including a positive terminal and a negative terminal, the cell management system comprising: a transformer coupling the circuit bus and the plurality of cells, the transformer comprising a first inductor and a second inductor, the first inductor being coupled to the circuit bus and the second inductor being coupled to the plurality of cells; a first transformer switch between the first inductor and the circuit bus; a second transformer switch between the second inductor and the plurality of cells; for each individual cell of the plurality of cells, a first cell switch pair and a second cell switch pair, the first cell switch pair of the individual cell allowing the transfer of energy between the transformer and the individual cell, and the second cell switch pair of the individual cell allowing the removal or inclusion of the individual cell in the serial connection of the plurality of cells; a connection between the circuit bus and a first cell in the serial connection of the plurality of cells, the first cell being one of the plurality of cells and being located at a first end of the serial connection of the plurality of cells; and a connection between the circuit bus and a last cell in the serial connection of the plurality of cells, the last cell being one of the plurality of cells and being located at a second end of the serial connection of the plurality of cells, the second end being opposite of the first end; wherein the first cell switch pair for an individual cell of the plurality of cells comprises: wherein the second cell switch pair for the individual cell of the plurality of cells comprises