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:
Aug. 25, 2015
Filed:
Aug. 29, 2011
Li-yan Zhu, San Jose, CA (US);
Jei Wei Chang, Cupertino, CA (US);
Ping Hua Deng, Guangdong, CN;
Amperex Technology Limited, Hong Kong, CN;
Abstract
A battery pack has series-parallel connected battery cells. An inrush current limiting circuit has current limiting devices and a current limiting tracking means limits inrush current from shorted battery cells. Each current limiting tracking means is coupled to the current limiting devices such that they limit an inrush current from parallel neighbor battery cells when one battery cell on the column shorts. The current limiting devices are variable buffer resistors with a positive temperature coefficient. The current limiting tracking means are heat sinks that thermally couples the buffer resistors together such that the buffer resistors increase in resistance with a temperature increase caused by current flowing through the buffer resistor associated with the shorted battery cell. Current regulating elements are in series with columns of battery cells for preventing inrush current to the columns of the battery cells.