BATTERY MANAGEMENT APPARATUS AND METHOD

摘要

A battery management apparatus and method for use in an electrical vehicle has a plurality of individual batteries 34 provided within a battery pack 10. The battery pack is coupled to power vehicle traction 12 and a plurality of individually connectable vehicle appliances 18-26. A monitor keeps track of charge state by means of a battery monitor 44 on each battery relaying instant current to a processor 27. In a first embodiment, a charge allocation profile for the whole battery pack 10 is used where different appliances 18-26 have different amounts of charge capacity allocated to them and are disconnected when discharge exceeds their allocation and are reconnected during charging when their charge is again found. In a second embodiment, individual batteries 34 and appliances 18-26 are connected within a network configuration allowing anything to be connected to anything else. Battery 10 segments can be created, each having one or more allocated individual batteries and each segment connected to selectable services 12 18-26 within the electric vehicle. Segmentation patterns can be changed. A segment charge allocation profile can be used within each segment in much the same way that the charge allocation profile can be used and changed for the first embodiment. Progressive charging and discharging of the battery is the end result.

主权项

1. An apparatus operable to control charge and discharge of a storage battery, the apparatus comprising:
a battery pack; means selectably operable to connect the battery pack to one or more of a plurality of power consuming items according to a charge allocation profile; means operable to monitor the state of charge of the battery pack; means operable to compare the state of charge of the battery pack with the charge allocation profile; means operable to determine when the difference between the monitored state of charge and the profile passes a threshold amount; and means operable to adjust the state of connection of at least one of the plurality of power consuming items in response to the threshold being passed.