Abstract:
A battery pack enclosure for holding a stack of batteries is disclosed. The battery pack enclosure comprises a lid section and a base section configured to hold a plurality of wall sections therebetween to encapsulate the stack of batteries. The sections comprise mutually complementary mating portions for mating with adjacent sections of the battery pack enclosure. The number of wall sections can be chosen to adjust the dimensions of the battery pack enclosure.
Abstract:
A battery module controller configured to cooperate with other similar battery module controllers to provide a self-organising array of battery modules is disclosed herein. Each battery module comprises at least one energy storage cell. The battery module controller comprises a unique identifier and is configured to (i) send a network message comprising its unique identifier; (ii) receive one or more network messages each comprising a unique identifier of a respective other controller of a battery module in the array; and (iii) identify, based on the received one or more messages, one of the controllers of the array as a master controller.
Abstract:
Disclosed herein is an apparatus comprising a signal interface for obtaining: a temperature signal indicative of temperature of at least one cell of a battery; an energy signal indicative of energy stored in the at least one cell; and a signal indicative of an internal resistance of the at least one cell. The apparatus also comprises a characteristic determiner configured to determine a relation between temperature, an indicator of the internal resistance, and stored energy to characterise the at least one cell, and a data store for storing data indicating the relation.
Abstract:
A battery management system for use in charging a rechargeable battery is disclosed. The battery management system comprises a controller and a temperature sensor, wherein the temperature sensor is configured to provide a temperature signal based on a temperature of the rechargeable battery, and wherein the controller is configured to control a charging current for charging the rechargeable battery based on the temperature signal. In response to the temperature signal indicating that the temperature exceeds a first threshold temperature signal value the charging current is tapered down as a function of increasing temperature.
Abstract:
A state of charge indicator apparatus configured to provide an indication of state of charge of a battery module is disclosed herein, wherein the battery module(100) comprises a battery (108) comprising at least one battery cell. The apparatus comprises a charge determiner (102) configured to determine the state of charge of the battery, a data store (106). The apparatus may also comprise a controller (104) arranged to obtain an indication of state of charge from the charge determiner (102), store the indication in the data store (106) in the event that the charge determiner (102) is powered down, and to determine a substitute indication of the state of charge based on the stored indication in the event that the charge determiner (102) is powered up.
Abstract:
A battery management system for use in charging a rechargeable battery is disclosed. The battery management system comprises a controller powered by a first power supply, at least one sensor for providing a sensor signal relating to at least one parameter of the rechargeable battery to the controller, and a data store. The controller is configured to write data to the data store based on the sensor signal. The data store is coupled to a data reader. The data reader is operable to be powered by an auxiliary power supply to read data held by the data store.
Abstract:
Disclosed herein is an apparatus comprising a signal interface for obtaining: a temperature signal indicative of temperature of at least one cell of a battery; an energy signal indicative of energy stored in the at least one cell; and a signal indicative of an internal resistance of the at least one cell. The apparatus also comprises a characteristic determiner configured to determine a relation between temperature, an indicator of the internal resistance, and stored energy to characterise the at least one cell, and a data store for storing data indicating the relation.
Abstract:
A battery safety apparatus for safety protection of a battery, said battery comprising a plurality of energy storage cells,is disclosed herein. The battery safety apparatus comprises a signal interface comprising signal connections for obtaining a plurality of cell voltage signals, each cell voltage signal indicating a voltage provided by a corresponding one of the energy storage cells, a disconnector coupled to a conductive link connected in series with the cells and a terminal of the battery, wherein, the disconnector is configured to disconnect the conductive link in the event that one of the cell voltages is outside of a selected voltage range.
Abstract:
An apparatus for assembling battery packs, each battery pack comprising a plurality of batteries and each battery having a hole extending therethrough is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a cassette for holding a plurality of batteries in at least one stack, an aligner arranged to hold the at least one stack of batteries in a configuration where the respective hole of each battery is aligned, and an indexer arranged to release the aligned at least one stack of batteries from the cassette for assembly of the battery pack.