SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF ADAPTIVE BATTERY CHARGING

摘要

Systems and methods of charging battery power that can be selectively controlled by the overall voltage of a battery pack and specified voltages of battery cells within the battery pack, and that can selectively perform current-controlled and voltage-controlled battery charging (referred to herein as “adaptive battery cell charging”). The systems and methods employ a digital core for managing the charging of battery power provided by the battery pack. By using the overall voltage of the battery pack and specified voltages of battery cells to selectively control the charging of battery power, battery charging times can be reduced. By employing current/voltage sense amplifiers to monitor the battery pack voltage, the battery cell voltage(s), and a battery charging current, the effect of cable resistance to/from the battery pack can be reduced. By performing adaptive battery cell charging, battery charging times and battery stress can be reduced, while increasing battery charge/discharge life cycles.

主权项

1. A system for charging battery power in a battery pack, the battery pack including one or more battery cells, the system comprising:
a first voltage sense amplifier operative to sense a level of a battery pack voltage; at least one second voltage sense amplifier operative to sense at least one level of at least one battery cell voltage; a battery charging manager operative:
to set predetermined target voltage levels for the battery pack voltage and the at least one battery cell voltage; andto select one or more of the battery pack voltage and the at least one battery cell voltage to control the charging of the battery power in the battery pack; and a charging signal generator operative to generate a charging signal, the charging signal being operative to minimize error deviations in the levels of the selected one or more of the battery pack voltage and the at least one battery cell voltage from the respective predetermined target voltage levels.