The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 18, 2013
Filed:
Oct. 31, 2008
Robert N. Buono, Ringwood, NJ (US);
Philipe H. Gow, Woodstock, NY (US);
Robert N. Buono, Ringwood, NJ (US);
Philipe H. Gow, Woodstock, NY (US);
Bren-Tronics Batteries International, L.L.C., Commack, NY (US);
Abstract
A charge balancing circuit implemented within a charge storage device (cell) in a series connected charge storage unit (battery) made up of a plurality of cells. The charge balancing circuit may utilize a controller to sense the voltage in the cell it is implemented therein and the cells adjacent thereto. If the voltage of the current cell exceeds a threshold voltage and is greater than at least one adjacent cell the current cell can transfer charge to the adjacent cell having the lowest voltage. The transfer of the charge is done with a switching network that extracts current from the current cell and then transfers the current to the adjacent cell having the lowest voltage. The switching network may utilize switches and a current storage device (inductor) to transfer the charge. The controller may activate different switches based on which adjacent cell has the lowest voltage.