Patent ID: 8859119

Claim:
A heating system for a battery module, the battery module having first and second battery cell groups, comprising: a first resistor configured to be electrically coupled to the first battery cell group when a first switch has a first operational position; a second resistor configured to be electrically coupled to the second battery cell group when a second switch has a first operational position; a temperature sensor configured to generate a temperature signal indicative of a temperature level of at least one of the first battery cell group and the second battery cell group; a first voltage sensor electrically coupled to the first battery cell group, the first voltage sensor configured to generate a first signal indicative of a first voltage level of the first battery cell group; a second voltage sensor electrically coupled to the second battery cell group, the second voltage sensor configured to generate a second signal indicative of a second voltage level of the second battery cell group; a computer being operably coupled to the first voltage sensor, the second voltage sensor, and the temperature sensor such that the computer receives the first signal, the second signal, and the temperature signal, respectively; the computer being further operably coupled of the first switch and the second switch; the computer being further programmed to determine if the first voltage level is substantially equal to the second voltage level; the computer being further programmed to generate first and second control signals to induce the first and second switches, respectively, to each have the first operational position to at least partially discharge the first and second battery cell groups, respectively, through the first and second resistors, respectively, to generate heat energy in the first and second resistors, if both the temperature level is less than a threshold temperature level, and the first voltage level is substantially equal to the second voltage level; and the computer being further programmed to generate a third control signal to turn on a fan to distribute the heat energy in the battery module to increase the temperature level of the battery module.