Patent ID: 7772799

Claim:
A universal battery module configured as a generic building block for a battery pack, said battery pack including a plurality of universal battery modules, each universal battery module comprising: a plurality of electrically connected battery cells; sensor means coupled to the cells, the sensor means configured to transmit physical parameters of the cells; and a battery control unit in communication with the sensor means to control the cells based on physical parameters from the sensor means, the battery control unit configured in serial communication with other universal battery modules in the battery pack to provide control signals directly to the other universal battery modules and receive control signals directly from the other universal battery modules, the battery control unit further configured to be responsive to an input signal wherein the input signal is configured to assign system control of the battery pack to one universal battery module of the plurality of universal battery modules in the battery pack, and wherein the battery control unit is configured to control all of the plurality of universal battery modules of the battery pack when assigned system control of the battery pack; wherein the battery control unit, the sensor means and the cells are packaged together as a single integral module and wherein the universal battery module is configured for interchangeability within the battery pack.