Patent ID: 7705491
Filing Date: 2010-04-27
Classification: B60L,Y02T

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for automatically displacing a faulty in-use battery in an electric equipment, such as electric vehicle, powered by an array of member batteries, the apparatus comprising: a charged spare battery connectable to said battery array in series electrically, said spare battery configured to have electric characteristics like those of the member batteries; a spare relay switch coupled to said spare battery and said battery array, while normally deactivated, the spare relay switch configured to have said spare battery electrically bypassed by said battery array, and upon activation, the activated spare relay switch configured to electrically connect said spare battery in series with said battery array; a plurality of member relay switches corresponding in number to the member batteries and coupled to the corresponding member batteries, each member battery configured to detect fault conditions therein and output a control signal upon such detection, the member relay switches while normally deactivated configured to electrically interconnect corresponding member batteries in series to output a predetermined voltage, and upon individual activation, the activated member relay switch configured to have the corresponding member battery electrically bypassed by said battery array; and a battery fault handler module responsive to said control signal from a member battery configured to initiate the activation of the spare relay switch and the member relay switch corresponding to the member battery.