Alpha Technologies Inc.

Alpha Technologies Services, Inc.

Seth William Jennings

Thanh Le

James Joseph Heidenreich

Michael A Haass

René Spée

Thanh Quoc Le

A battery system a plurality of battery strings, a charge equalization circuit, a relay matrix, and a balance controller. The plurality of battery strings comprises at least three batteries connected in series, where the battery strings are connected in parallel. The charge equalization circuit is capable of transferring charge between a pair of series connected batteries. The relay matrix is operatively connected between the charge equalization circuit and the plurality of battery strings. The balance controller operates the relay matrix based on at least one of a voltage and a current of any one of the batteries such that the charge equalization circuit is connected across any one of the pairs of series connected batteries in any one of the plurality of battery strings such that the charge equalization circuit transfers charge between the batteries in the pair of series connected batteries to which the charge equalization circuit is connected.

Charge equalization systems and methods for battery systems and uninterruptible power supplies

A battery system comprising a plurality of battery strings, a charge equalization circuit, a relay matrix, and a balance controller. The plurality of battery strings comprises at least three batteries connected in series, where the battery strings are connected in parallel. The charge equalization circuit is capable of equalizing the charge on any pair of series connected batteries in any one of the plurality of battery strings. The relay matrix is operatively connected between the charge equalization circuit and the plurality of battery strings. The balance controller operates the relay matrix based on at least one of a voltage and a current of any one of the batteries such that the charge equalization circuit is connected across any one of the pairs of series connected batteries in any one of the plurality of battery strings.

A battery system having at least one battery string of more than two batteries connected in series, a charge equalization circuit, and a relay matrix. The plurality of battery strings each comprise more than two batteries connected in series and are connected in parallel. The charge equalization circuit is capable of equalizing the charge on any pair of series connected batteries in any one of the plurality of battery strings. The relay matrix is operatively connected between the charge equalization circuit and the plurality of battery strings. Based on at least one of a voltage and a current of any one of the batteries, the relay matrix is operated such that the charge equalization circuit is connected across any one of the pairs of series connected batteries in any one of the plurality of battery strings.

A battery system having at least one battery string of more than two batteries connected in series, a charge equalization circuit, a relay matrix, and a balance controller. The charge equalization circuit is capable of equalizing the charge on any pair of series connected batteries in the at least one battery string. The relay matrix is operatively connected between the charge equalization circuit and the at least one battery string. The balance controller controls the relay matrix such that at least one to battery characteristic of at least one battery is sensed. Based on at least one sensed battery characteristic, the balance controller controls the relay matrix such that the charge equalization circuit is connected across at least one pair of series connected batteries in the at least one battery string.

A system for equalizing the voltages across first and second batteries coupled in series at a common terminal comprising a capacitive storage element, first and second inductive storage elements, first and second switch circuits, and a control unit. The capacitive storage element is coupled to first and second nodes. The first inductive storage element is coupled between the first node and the first battery. The second inductive storage element is coupled between the second node and the second battery. The first switch circuit is coupled between the first node and the common terminal. The second switch circuit is coupled between the second node and the common terminal. The control circuit operates the first and second switch circuits to control current flow to the first and second batteries.

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Ferndale, WA, United States of America

Seth William Jennings