Patent ID: 8786261

Claim:
A distributed battery management system having a plurality of cells comprising: a cell module comprising: a connector tab that is adapted to be connected to a first terminal of a first cell of said plurality of cells so that a solid connection is created between said connector tab and said first terminal that provides electrical and thermal conductivity between said first terminal and said connector tab and structural support for said connector tab, and provides a first voltage signal from said first terminal of said first cell, provides a first voltage level sample of said first voltage signal from said first terminal, and provides a temperature level of said first terminal; electrical components connected to said connector tab that detect said temperature level of said first terminal of said first cell and generate a temperature data signal indicative of said temperature level of said first terminal, and that detect a first voltage level on said first terminal from said first voltage level sample; a module housing that is structurally supported by said connector tab that surrounds and protects said electrical components; a first wire connected to a previous cell module of said distributed battery management system and said electric components that provides a second voltage level signal to said electrical components from a second terminal of said first cell that, together with said first voltage signal, provides power to said electrical components, and that provides a second voltage level sample of a second voltage from said second terminal of said first cell so that said electrical components can generate a voltage level signal indicative of a voltage level of said first cell, said first wire further connected to conduct a discharge current between said first terminal and said second terminal of said first cell, and transmit data representative of a voltage level and temperature of said previous cell; a second wire connected to said electrical components that transmits said first voltage signal and said first voltage sample signal from said first terminal of said first cell, and said temperature data signal and said voltage level signal to a subsequent cell module.