Space Systems/loral, LLC

Volterra Semiconductor Corporation

Bradley J Suppanz

Ognjen Djekic

Michael J McVey

Aaron J Mendelsohn

Disclosed are devices, apparatus, circuitry, components, mechanisms, modules, systems, and processes for controlling a voltage regulator in response to information from a load. In some implementations, transient minimizer circuitry is coupled to receive a notification signal indicating a change or an anticipated change in an electrical characteristic of the load. The transient minimizer circuitry is configured to generate a state command signal responsive to the notification signal. The state command signal indicates a state of the voltage regulator. The switching control circuitry is coupled to receive the state command signal from the transient minimizer circuitry. The switching control circuitry is configured to operate switch circuitry to control the state of the voltage regulator in accordance with the state command signal.

Voltage regulator control using information from a load

A system for managing the operation of a battery such as a lithium ion battery having a plurality of serially connected individual cells comprises a bypass module electrically in parallel with each individual cell or, alternatively, with at least one of the cells or alternatively again with an individual cell and its associated grouping of one or more parallel cells. The module includes a sensor for detecting an operating condition of its associated cell and a charger operable for charging the cell. A charge controller is electrically connected with each bypass module and is operable in response to an operating condition of a cell detected by the sensor which is outside a predetermined range of magnitudes to change the bypass module to the conductive mode and thereby shunt current around the battery cell, while leaving unaffected each of the remaining cells. The charge controller includes a processor with mode selecting means for initiating operation of the charger for charging each of the plurality of cells, and a capability for establishing voltage and current set points for each of the bypass modules to thereby prevent overcharging of each associated cell. The processor is also operable for performing a multi step charge profile for each of the bypass modules such that when a predetermined voltage is achieved at the conclusion of a step, a subsequent step is performed at a reduced charge current until a final predetermined voltage is achieved at a charge current which has been reduced to zero.

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Mountain View, CA, United States of America

Bradley J Suppanz