Patent ID: 8405350

Claim:
A battery management apparatus for an electric or a hybrid electric vehicle, comprising: a first battery module comprising: a switch configured to open or close a first current path from a first terminal of a battery to a second terminal of the battery when a second battery module is coupled to the first battery module; a current sensor configured to sense a current in a second current path that is different from the first current path; a first resistor coupled to the switch, wherein the first resistor is included in the first current path; a second resistor coupled to the current sensor, wherein the second resistor is included in the second path; and a local controller configured to control a state of the switch to open or close the switch, wherein the first current path is closed when the switch is closed, the local controller is further configured to detect the sensed current in the second current path, and the local controller is further configured to receive and store an identifier based at least in part on the current detected in the second current path.