Patent ID: 8791667
Filing Date: 2014-07-29
Classification: G01R,H01M,H02J,Y02E,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A method for charge balancing in a charge storage arrangement having a plurality of charge storage cells connected in series, the method comprising: providing a first inductive storage element configured to be selectively coupled with the storage arrangement; providing at least one second inductive storage element configured to be selectively coupled with a first one of the storage cells and inductively coupled to the first inductive storage element; during a first time period, taking energy from one of the storage arrangement or the first one of the storage cells by coupling an associated inductive storage element with the storage arrangement or the first one of the storage cells, respectively; during a second time period subsequent to the first time period, feeding back at least a part of the taken energy into the other one of the storage arrangement or the first one of the storage cells by coupling the associated inductive storage element with the other one of the storage arrangement or the first one of the storage cells, respectively; evaluating at least one of a first voltage and/or a second voltage at least at one time in the first time period to provide a first evaluation result and at least at one time in the second time period to provide a second evaluation result, wherein the first voltage is dependent on the voltage across the first inductive storage element and the second voltage is dependent on the voltage across one of the storage cells; and detecting a fault in circuitry coupled to the charge storage cells based on the first and the second evaluation result.