A battery system includes: first and second battery modules connected between first and second system terminals in parallel; and a controller controlling the first and second battery modules. The first battery module includes a first battery and a first main switch, and a first balancing switch and a first balancing resistor, which are connected to the first main switch in parallel. The second battery module includes a second battery and a second main switch, and a second balancing switch and a second balancing resistor, which are connected to the second main switch in parallel. The controller is configured to detect a first battery voltage and a second battery voltage, and when an absolute value of a difference between the first and second battery voltages is greater than a first reference value, to open the first and second main switches and to close the first and second balancing switches.

Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product (computer readable medium) embodiments for extending battery longevity by improving partial-state-of-charge operation of batteries. An embodiment operates by determining, using at least one processor, that at least one first battery has stopped charging at a partial state of charge, in which the at least one first battery is associated with a first battery bank and is rechargeable, and charging, in response to receipt of a command issued from the at least one processor or another processor in response to the determining, the at least one first battery using at least one second battery, in which the at least one second battery belongs to a second battery bank that is not the first battery bank, by transferring charge from the at least one second battery to the at least one first battery.

Systems and methods are described for managing charging and discharging of battery packs. In one or more aspects, a system and method are provided to minimize overcharging of battery cells of specific battery chemistries while still enabling fast charging cycles. In other aspects, a buck converter may be used to reduce a voltage of power used to charge the cells. In further aspects, a fast overcurrent protection circuit is described to address situations involving internal short circuits of a battery cell or battery pack. In yet further aspects, a bypass circuit is provided in series-connected battery packs to improve the charging of undercharged battery packs while also increasing the efficiency of the overall charging process. In other aspects, a circuit is provided that permits a controller to determine a configuration of battery packs. In yet further aspects, a system may determine a discharge current for a collection of battery packs based on each battery pack's state of health (SOH) and forward that determination to an external device.

A cell balancing system includes sensing circuitry configured to sense a cell voltage of each of a plurality of cells of a battery. Cell balancing circuitry is configured to balance each of the plurality of cells in response to a respective cell balancing command for each of the plurality of cells. A comparison circuit configured to compare the sensed cell voltages for each of the plurality of cells to an adaptive threshold voltage. The comparison circuit generates a respective cell state for each of the plurality of cells to indicate a state of the respective cell voltage for each of the plurality of cells relative to the adaptive threshold voltage. A controller is configured to set the respective cell balancing command for each of the plurality of cells and to adjust the adaptive threshold voltage based on an evaluation of the cell states for the plurality of cells.

An advanced mobile energy storage device includes an energy storage component for the storage of electrical energy and characterized by a state of charge representative of an amount of energy stored within the energy component and by an energy storage rate into and out of the energy storage component. At least one power input transfers electrical energy into the device for storage in the energy storage component. At least one power output transfers electrical energy out of the device from the energy storage component. A processor determines, for indication to a user, an estimate of time until the state of charge at least reaches one or more particular levels, the estimate determined at least from the state of charge in conjunction with the energy storage rate. The device can network with an external computing device and can generate solar adjustment information.

A battery management system for integrated management of high and low voltage batteries may include: a control unit; a low voltage monitoring unit connected to the control unit, and configured to transmit a monitoring result for a low voltage battery to the control unit; and a high voltage monitoring unit including a plurality of sensing ICs connected to each other in a daisy chain manner, wherein at least one sensing IC of the plurality of sensing ICs is connected to the low voltage monitoring unit, and transmits a monitoring result for a high voltage battery to the control unit through the low voltage monitoring unit.

One or more of the present embodiments provide for a battery cell balancing system and strategy that delivers more efficient use of battery capacities as needed for different use cases. For example, a balancing circuit is provided to support targeted battery cell passive and active balancing according to a balancing strategy for the use cases. Further the balancing circuit allows for cell balancing to be performed while the battery cells are collectively being charged or discharged.

Systems and methods are provided for maintaining charge control of a battery array where a plurality of batteries is serially connected. Each of the battery has an odd switch and an even switch. A battery charge current and voltage for each of the battery is controlled by establishing a controlled charging for the batteries. The odd switch is controlled using a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) signal. An inductor coupled with the battery array supplies stored power to each of the battery of the plurality of batteries. The battery charge current and voltage is managed by either establishing a restricted battery charge current or battery voltage for one of the battery with high SOC or the battery that is to be charged with lower current rate is switched by a lower duty cycle PWM signal while the remaining batteries are charged with a higher duty cycle PWM signal.

Management system for a rechargeable energy storage device in an electric vehicle and corresponding method is disclosed. The rechargeable energy storage device has one or more battery packs each having a plurality of modules with one or more respective cells. A respective module management unit is embedded in each of the plurality of modules through respective microcircuits and configured to determine one or more local parameters. A supervisory controller is configured for two-way communication with the respective module management unit. The supervisory controller is configured to receive the local parameters, determine one or more global pack parameters based in part on the local parameters and transmit the global pack parameters back to the respective management unit. The supervisory controller is configured to control operation of the rechargeable energy storage device based in part on the global pack parameters and the local parameters.

Presented are traction battery pack balancing systems, methods for making/operating such systems, and multi-pack, electric-drive motor vehicles with battery pack balancing capabilities. A method for controlling operation of a motor vehicle includes a vehicle controller: receiving a key-off command signal to power off the motor vehicle; determining if a difference between corresponding electrical characteristics of first and second traction battery packs is greater than a calibrated characteristic differential threshold; determining if a difference between corresponding battery pack capacities of the first and second traction battery packs is greater than a calibrated capacity differential threshold; and, responsive to the characteristic difference not being greater than the calibrated characteristic differential threshold and the capacity difference being greater than the calibrated capacity differential threshold, transmitting a key-on command signal to power on the motor vehicle, and a pack balancing command signal to reduce the capacity difference to below the calibrated capacity differential threshold.