Patent ID: 7018731

Claim:
Apparatus for controlling the end of discharge of a battery (B), the battery comprising at least one module ( 1 - i ) made up of at least two secondary electrochemical cells ( 2 j ) connected in series, said apparatus comprising control means ( 4 ) arranged to act at the end of discharge of said battery (B) to compare an end-of-discharge voltage (VFD-i) measured across the terminals of each module ( 1 - i ) with a module threshold voltage value (TS 1 - i ) so as to interrupt operation of said battery when at least one measured end-of-discharge voltage (VFD-i) is less than said module threshold voltage value (TS 1 - i ), wherein said control means ( 4 ) are arranged, at the end of charging said battery (B), to determine the number of cells ( 1 - i ) that are in working condition in each module ( 2 - j ), and then to determine each module threshold voltage value (TS 1 - i ) for use in performing said comparison as a function of said number of cells ( 2 j ) in working condition.