Lenovo (singapore) Pte. Ltd.

International Business Machines Corporation

Yakup Bulur

Richard John Fishbune

Mark Edmund Maresh

Adam M Wheeler

Neil C Swenson

Marc Henri Coq

Eric B Swenson

A device may include an electronic component stack cover having an open end sized to receive a modular electronic component stack including a plurality of like modular electronic components, an at least partially closed end, and sides extending from the at least partially closed end toward the open end. The at least partially closed end and the at least one side may form a chamber. At least one electrically conductive probe may extend from the at least partially closed end into the chamber. The chamber may conform to an outer shape of at least a portion of the modular electronic component stack, and the electrically conductive probe may be configured to electrically interface with a first connector on the electronic component stack when the stack is within the chamber.

Modular battery cover

Embodiments of the invention relate to a multi-cell battery, with at least two cells electrically connected in a first parallel arrangement, which is connected in series to a second parallel arrangement of at least two additional cells. Each cell is locally connected to a sensor to sense and control current of each cell in parallel or parallel-series combination in the multi-cell battery. A control module is in communication with each sensor, and associated instructions electrically remove or disable a cell from the multi-cell battery determined to be defective based on measurements from the associated sensor. A configuration performs measurements and monitors a state of health of each cell in the multi-cell battery, the measurements including temperature, voltage and current sensing. Identifying one cell of the cells in the multi-cell battery as subject to a performance failure results in electrically switching the identified cell to an off position.

Modular battery cell architecture and control method

A method, apparatus, and computer program product for a dynamically configurable auto-healing battery are provided in the illustrative embodiments. Identification of a condition is performed within the battery. The battery comprises a set of cells a subset of which is electrically connected in a configuration such that the configuration delivers a first amount of electrical power from the battery. The battery further comprising a second set of spare cells. Responsive to the condition, a cell is selected from the subset. Responsive to the condition, a spare cell is selected from the set of spare cells. The selected cell in the subset is made electrically unavailable in the configuration. The selected spare cell is made electrically available in the configuration, resulting in eliminating an effect of the condition on a power output of the battery.

Dynamically configurable auto-healing battery

Embodiments of the invention relate to a multi-cell battery, and individual evaluation of the battery cells. Each cell is individually removed or disconnected from the battery. An adjustable cell charger and an adjustable cell load are mapped to the disconnected cell. As the charger charges the cell, an associated sensor validates acceptance of the charge. As the cell load discharges the cell, the sensor measures discharge characteristics. Operating efficiency of the selected cell is evaluated based on the measured charge acceptance and discharge characteristics.

Testing individual cells within multi-cell battery applications

Low-impedance pins are electrically connected to a set of corresponding nodes of a multi-phase VRM. The multi-phase VRM is activated. A failure condition is induced in a phase of the multi-phase VRM by modifying operating parameters of the phase of the multi-phase VRM using the set of low-impedance pins. The output signal of the multi-phase VRM is monitored in response to the induced failure condition.

Testing a multi-phase voltage regulator module

Embodiments of the invention relate to a configuration of a multi-cell battery pack, with at least two cells electrically connected in a first parallel arrangement, which is connected in series to a second parallel arrangement of at least two additional cells. Each cell is locally connected to a sensor to sense and control the current of the cells in parallel or parallel-series combination in the multi-cell battery pack. A control module is in communication with each sensor, and associated instructions electrically remove or disable a cell from the multi-cell battery pack determined to be defective based on measurements from an associated sensor. Accordingly, the configuration measures and monitors a state of health of each cell in the multi-cell battery pack, the measurements including temperature, voltage and current sensing.

A modular battery device may include a substantially planar dielectric substrate having a first major surface and a second major surface spaced from and opposite the first major surface. A plurality of conductive couplers may extend through the substrate from the first major surface to the second major surface at spaced locations. Each conductive coupler may have a first connector element disposed at the first major surface of the substrate electrically connected to an associated second connector element forming an extension extending from the second major surface of the substrate. The device may be selectively engageable with another such device by selectively mating the first connector element of a first conductive coupler on the device in mechanical and electrical engagement with the second connector element of a second conductive coupler on the other such device. Devices having batteries may be stacked to provide parallel and/or series connections.

Growing community of inventors

Rochester, MN, United States of America

Yakup Bulur