Patent ID: 7307402
Filing Date: 2007-12-11
Classification: H01M,H02J,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A method of charging an electrochemical generator connected to a load application having a pre-set voltage limit, the electrochemical generator having a plurality of electrochemical cells, each electrochemical cell being characterized by a respective voltage and including at least one cathode, at least one anode and at least one electrolyte separator therebetween, the electrochemical generator being characterized by a total voltage substantially corresponding to a sum of the voltages the plurality of electrochemical cells, each electrochemical cell being chargeable to a respective maximum voltage at which each of its at least one cathode is restored to a respective original chemical state, said method comprising: a) charging the plurality of electrochemical cells such that the total voltage of the electrochemical generator reaches a predetermined voltage level; b) selecting a particular electrochemical cell of the electrochemical generator; c) charging the particular electrochemical cell to its respective maximum voltage, thereby restoring each of the at least one cathode of the particular electrochemical cell to its respective original state; d) controllably discharging the particular electrochemical cell from its respective maximum voltage to a nominal voltage that is less than its respective maximum voltage to prevent the sum of the voltages of the plurality of electrochemical cells from exceeding the pre-set voltage limit of the load application; e) selecting a second particular electrochemical cell of the electrochemical generator and applying steps c) through d) to the second particular electrochemical cell; and f) applying steps b) and d) to each of the plurality of electrochemical cells of the generator in turn, according to a selection sequence, until each electrochemical cell of the generator has been restored.