Patent ID: 8378632

Claim:
A circuit arrangement comprising: a plurality of rechargeable batteries each having at least one rechargeable electrochemical cell; and current-carrying members connecting the plurality of batteries such that when the plurality of batteries are charging the plurality of batteries are in a series electrical circuit arrangement and when the plurality of batteries are discharging the plurality of batteries are in a parallel electrical circuit arrangement, the current-carrying members including one or more unidirectional current-carrying members and one or more bi-directional current-carrying members; a first electrical terminal to direct power from the plurality of batteries to a load, the first electrical terminal being connected, either directly or through an electrical path that includes only one or more of the bi-directional current-carrying members, to an anode of each of the plurality of batteries; and a second electrical terminal to direct power from the plurality of batteries to the load, the second electrical terminal being connected, either directly or through an electrical path that includes only one or more of the bi-directional current-carrying members, to a cathode of each of the plurality of batteries.