BATTERY PACK MANAGER UNIT AND METHOD FOR USING SAME TO EXTEND THE LIFE OF A BATTERY PACK

• Main Authors: HARTLEY THOMAS T, CLESTER RICK, GRAS COURTNEY A, MAGISTRO BENJAMIN W, FAULSTICK ANDREW
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 10.05.2012
• Subjects: CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTINGELECTRIC POWER; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER; ELECTRICITY; GENERATION; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY

The present invention generally relates to a device and method for the management of a collection of battery cells. In one embodiment, the present invention permits the management of a collection of battery cells composed of an overall battery pack manager unit, individual cell manager units, and wireless communication links between these units. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a device and method for the management of a collection of battery cells in the field of rechargeable batteries, such as batteries based on lithium-based chemistries, nickel-based chemistries, and lead-acid chemistries. In still another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a method that permits the maximization of battery pack capacity during a charge-discharge cycle and/or permits the maximization of the total number of charge-discharge cycles.