IDs are appropriately assigned to a plurality of slave devices.

A power storage system includes: a master device including a first controller, and a pair of first communication terminals; and a slave device including a second controller, a pair of second communication terminals, and a battery unit, wherein the slave device includes a pair of first switches series-connected to the pair of second communication terminals; the pair of first communication terminals and the pair of second communication terminals are connected to each other; when the slave device is notified of a predetermined communication signal from the master device, the second controller controls and turns the pair of first switch from on to off; and the first controller assigns an ID to the slave device.

A controller, a system including such a controller, and a method for controlling or managing discharge or charge of a plurality of battery packs are provided. The controller includes one or more processor and at least one tangible, non-transitory machine readable medium encoded with one or more programs configured to perform steps to determine a respective power discharge or charge for each battery packs based on characteristic data of each battery pack, a power demand, and the first weighting factor (a) and the second weighting factor (b) for power assignment based on voltage and state of charge of each battery pack. The controller provides signals with instructions to the plurality of battery packs and/or the one or more power converters for discharging power from or charging power to the plurality of battery packs.

Disclosed are an automobile, and a power battery pack equalization method and device, the method comprises the following steps: acquiring a high voltage inflection point of the charging curve of a battery cell of the power battery pack and acquiring the capacity of the battery cell according to the high voltage inflection point of the battery cell, and equalizing the battery cell according to the capacity of the battery cell. Hence, equalization management of the power battery pack can be realized, thereby improving the use ratio of the power battery pack and prolonging the service life of the power battery pack.

A battery management system for a plurality of battery modules, the battery management system including, for each battery module among the plurality of battery modules, a respective integrated circuit configured to perform a cell balancing control function of the battery module; and a battery controller in communication with the integrated circuits, the battery controller configured to control the integrated circuits according to a cycle that includes a first mode for sequentially activating cell balancing of the battery modules during a first period and a second mode for stopping the cell balancing of the battery modules during a second period that follows the first period, the battery controller repeating the cycle after the second period, repeating the cycle including changing an order in which the cell balancing of the battery modules is activated in the first mode.

A device for achieving dynamic charging and balance of battery cells is disclosed. The device is configured for monitoring a plurality of battery voltages from a plurality of battery cells in a multi-cell battery pack. In case of a battery voltage difference between two of the battery cells being greater than a pre-determined voltage difference, the device generates a plurality of balance charging currents for charging the battery cells. In which, each of the balance charging currents is calculated based on remaining charge time, measured battery voltage, and rated battery capacity. Thus, in a charge cycle, one balance charging current for charging the battery cell with low battery voltage is designed to be greater than another one balance charging current for charging the battery cell with high battery voltage. Consequently, elimination of the battery voltage difference existing between any two of the battery cells is achieved.

A charger integrated circuit for charging a battery device including a first battery and a second battery connected to each other in series. The charger integrated circuit includes a first charger to be connected to a connection node between the first and second batteries, a second charger to be connected between the input voltage terminal and a high voltage terminal of the battery device, and a balancing circuit to balance voltages of the first and second batteries. The first charger is to provide a first charge current to the connection node in a first charge mode. The second charger is to directly charge the battery device by providing a second charge current to the high voltage terminal in a second charge mode.

A battery management apparatus includes a sensor sensing an operating state of a target device, a power manager managing power supply from an auxiliary battery based on the operating state of the target device, and a controller performing a cell balancing operation for a plurality of battery cells according to an operating mode determined based on the operating state of the target device.

A system for suppressing inrush currents is described. The system may include a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistor and a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) thermistor arranged in series between a power source and a battery system to be charged. At a low temperature, while the PTC thermistor provides only minimal resistance to minimize an inrush current, the NTC thermistor provides increased resistance. As the temperature increases, the resistance provided by the PTC thermistor increases as the resistance from the NTC thermistor decreases. The system may be used in conjunction with a battery charging system has at least one current pathway from the power source to the battery system.

An apparatus for measuring the internal resistance of battery cells in a variable number unit in an online state is proposed. The apparatus may include a switch array, a variable resistor, a high-speed switch, a measurement sensor, and a controller. The switch array configures a measurement target battery cell by selecting at least one battery cell from among a plurality of battery cells included in a battery module. The variable resistor is connected to the measurement target battery cell via the switch array. The high-speed switch switches a connection between the measurement target battery cell and the variable resistor. The measurement sensor detects a measurement voltage of the measurement target battery cell and a measurement current of the measurement target battery cell in an online state of the battery module. The controller derives an internal resistance of the measurement target battery cell through the measurement voltage and the measurement current.

Disclosed embodiments involve a rechargeable lithium-ion battery module assembly for use as an auxiliary power unit (APU), particularly in commercial trucks. Battery module assembly is recharged through the semi-trailer truck's alternator during engine operation. Battery module assembly has active voltage control capabilities to reduce charge time. Each battery array has two collector plate printed circuit board assemblies (PCBA) and two banks of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cells. Individual battery cells are wire bonded to the collector plate PCBs, one of such PCBs incorporates a battery management system to monitor the electrical parameters and state of charge of the battery cells in the system. Battery cells are thermally coupled to an aluminum enclosure with a thermal gap filling material. Using different chemistries for the APU and the starting battery of the commercial truck, and methods of sequential charge and discharge cycles of each, without any other discrete device.