Abstract:
Battery packs that include multiple battery cells that may be monitored using a reduced amount of circuitry and battery systems that may account for battery cell changes over aging and temperature.
Abstract:
In general, techniques are disclosed for providing short circuit protection to a battery pack having a number of battery cells, at least some of which are connected in parallel. Short circuit protection is provided by using pairs of electronic switches (e.g., integrated circuits consisting of a pair of transistors designed as battery charge/discharge switches) serially connected between one terminal of a battery cell and a battery pack's common node—a position which is upstream of conventional battery pack fault controllers. The state of all such switches may be controlled by a control unit that is also upstream of a conventional fault controller. The combination of switch pairs and control unit can provide a battery pack with over current (short circuit) protection without the use of thermal cutoff devises. The described devices and systems can also provide over voltage, under voltage and over temperature protection.
Abstract:
A system may include a plurality of units, wherein each unit has a respective common mode voltage terminal, communication up terminal, and communication down terminal. A first unit of the plurality of units may be configured to generate a first plurality of currents on its communication up terminal, wherein the first plurality of currents corresponds to a first plurality of bits. A second unit of the plurality of units may be configured to receive the first plurality of currents on its respective communication down terminal, and maintain a voltage level at its respective communication down terminal during reception of the first plurality of currents. The voltage level may be equal to a common mode voltage of the respective common mode voltage terminal of the second unit.
Abstract:
Battery packs that include multiple battery cells that may be monitored using a reduced amount of circuitry and battery systems that may account for battery cell changes over aging and temperature.
Abstract:
A portable communication device includes one or more sensors, a pair of electrodes associated with each sensor, and a processing circuit configured to apply a bias supply voltage to the pair of electrodes and to process output signals from the sensors. Each sensor is an ionic liquid sensor tuned for sensing a smell associated with a chemical species. The processing circuit further includes an artificial intelligence engine to enhance smell recognition capabilities of the device.
Abstract:
This disclosure relates generally to the field of providing highly accurate over current fault protection in charging systems and, more particularly, to systems in which the charge over current protection (COCP) and discharge over current protection (DOCP) circuitry in electronic devices are particularly resilient to variations in field-effect transistor (FET) resistance with temperature, gate drive, and/or process shift; variations in printed circuit board (PCB) resistance; and variations in integrated circuit (IC) trip voltages. Through the use of novel circuit designs disclosed herein that effectively “bypass” the traditional “power FETs” that control the current flow to the battery pack(s) of the electronic device using a novel “sense FET” concept, the major sources of error in current sensing may be eliminated without compromising any safety features of the electronic device, thus allowing for more accurate over current fault protection systems for battery packs across a wide range of operating conditions and temperatures.
Abstract:
This disclosure relates generally to the field of providing highly accurate over current fault protection in charging systems and, more particularly, to systems in which the charge over current protection (COCP) and discharge over current protection (DOCP) circuitry in electronic devices are particularly resilient to variations in field-effect transistor (FET) resistance with temperature, gate drive, and/or process shift; variations in printed circuit board (PCB) resistance; and variations in integrated circuit (IC) trip voltages. Through the use of novel circuit designs disclosed herein that effectively “bypass” the traditional “power FETs” that control the current flow to the battery pack(s) of the electronic device using a novel “sense FET” concept, the major sources of error in current sensing may be eliminated without compromising any safety features of the electronic device, thus allowing for more accurate over current fault protection systems for battery packs across a wide range of operating conditions and temperatures.
Abstract:
In general, techniques are disclosed for providing short circuit protection to a battery pack having a number of battery cells, at least some of which are connected in parallel. Short circuit protection is provided by using pairs of electronic switches (e.g., integrated circuits consisting of a pair of transistors designed as battery charge/discharge switches) serially connected between one terminal of a battery cell and a battery pack's common node—a position which is upstream of conventional battery pack fault controllers. The state of all such switches may be controlled by a control unit that is also upstream of a conventional fault controller. The combination of switch pairs and control unit can provide a battery pack with over current (short circuit) protection without the use of thermal cutoff devises. The described devices and systems can also provide over voltage, under voltage and over temperature protection.
Abstract:
This disclosure describes a battery pack that includes a plurality of asymmetrical banks, with different capacities and/or voltages, and multiple taps, coupled to the corresponding banks, to power electrical loads. The battery pack also comprise a balancing circuit and a battery management unit. The battery pack may regulate voltages among the banks and/or balance the states of charge among the asymmetrical banks, by moving charges among the banks, by controlling one or more converters. The battery pack monitors the status of its banks and communicate with a host system via the battery management unit. Based on the monitored information and/or communication, the battery management unit generates control signals to drive the one or more converters.
Abstract:
This disclosure describes a battery pack that includes a plurality of asymmetrical banks, with different capacities and/or voltages, and multiple taps, coupled to the corresponding banks, to power electrical loads. The battery pack also comprise a balancing circuit and a battery management unit. The battery pack may regulate voltages among the banks and/or balance the states of charge among the asymmetrical banks, by moving charges among the banks, by controlling one or more converters. The battery pack monitors the status of its banks and communicate with a host system via the battery management unit. Based on the monitored information and/or communication, the battery management unit generates control signals to drive the one or more converters.