Patent ID: 8427105

Claim:
A method for equalizing a battery pack during a battery pack charging process, comprising: receiving a battery cell total capacity estimate indicative of a total capacity of a battery cell for all battery cells in the battery pack; receiving a battery cell state-of-charge estimate indicative of a state-of-charge of a battery cell for all battery cells in the battery pack; computing the residual charge capacity of the battery pack based on the present state-of-charge of the battery cell having lowest total capacity estimate and on the lowest total capacity estimate; computing goal end-of-charge state-of-charge values for all battery cells in the battery pack based on an equalization metric, the total capacity estimates, the state-of-charge estimates, and the residual charge capacity of the battery pack; computing predicted end-of-charge state-of-charge values for all battery cells in the battery pack based on the state-of-charge estimates, the total capacity estimates, and the residual charge capacity of the battery pack; computing a state-of-charge mismatch value for all battery cells in the battery pack as the goal end-of-charge state-of-charge value minus the predicted end-of-charge state-of-charge value for that battery cell; initiating an equalization action for zero or more battery cells in the battery pack, based on the state-of-charge mismatch value for the battery cells in the battery pack; and executing a battery pack charging step.