Electro Source, Inc.

Jose T Baer

Richard J Blanyer

Bill C Davis

A battery management system for management and control of a plurality of rechargeable batteries connected in series. A programmed central processing unit communicates with a plurality of battery modules and a bulk charger. Each of the battery modules includes a rechargeable battery, a sensor node including a plurality of battery sensors and a microcontroller that processes signals generated by the battery sensors, and a direct current charger. During a charging cycle the bulk charger provides a variable bulk charging current to the rechargeable batteries connected in series and each of the rechargeable batteries receive a charging current from individual direct current chargers positioned at each rechargeable battery. During the charging cycle, the voltage and temperature of the rechargeable batteries are monitored by the programmed central processing unit by means of the sensor nodes and the bulk charging current reduced by one half when any battery voltage reaches a predetermined clamping voltage. Once the bulk charging current is reduced to approximately 1 to 2 percent of the 3-hour discharge capacity for the rechargeable batteries, the bulk charger is turned off and the direct current chargers finish each battery charge independently.

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Sacramento, CA, United States of America

Jose T Baer