An equalizer circuit provides both passive and active cell voltage equalization in a battery pack to improve charge and discharge capacity at a low cost. The equalizer circuit is a bilevel circuit that uses both passive equalizers and active equalizers to balance cell voltage. The cells may be grouped into size limited sections which are balanced by passive equalizers. The sections are balanced by active equalizers to promote increased pack charge and discharge capacity. The equalizer circuit can use a current detector or a voltage controlled oscillator to assist in closed loop current control to reduce switching losses and permit use of smaller transistors. The equalizer circuit can use open line protection with capacitors to store excess charge and prevent voltage overload of the switching devices.

Provided are a charge equalization apparatus for a battery string. According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the charge equalization apparatus are modularized by being divided into the master unit and the slave unit, such that the charge equalization apparatus may be expanded and contracted independent of the number of batteries, the circuits are separated for each module, such that the circuits may be easily implemented, and when the circuits are damaged, only the damaged module is replaced, such that the effective countermeasure may be performed.

Methods of charging a vehicle battery pack are disclosed. Example methods may include determining a voltage imbalance between at least two parallel strings of a battery pack exceeds a threshold magnitude. Methods may further include electrically reducing the voltage imbalance between the at least two parallel strings using a series circuit including a first group of one or more of the battery cells of a first one of the parallel strings, and reconnecting the parallel strings in an electrical circuit in parallel to each other, in which configuration the strings of the battery pack may supply power to the vehicle.

A control apparatus includes: an interface part to which a second connector part of a cable is connectable, wherein the cable includes a first connector part that is connected to an information processing apparatus and the second connector part provided on the opposite side of the first connector part, the first connector part is provided with a first indicator lamp; and a control circuit that acquires, from the information processing apparatus via the cable and the interface part, first information indicating a state related to charging of the information processing apparatus, and perform light control of the first indicator lamp in accordance with the first information.

According to one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide a UPS comprising a plurality of inputs, a PFC converter configured to convert 3-phase input power into DC power, an inverter coupled to a positive DC bus and a negative DC bus and configured to convert the DC power received from the positive DC bus and the negative DC bus into output AC power, a first output configured to provide a first portion of the output AC power from the inverter to a load, a second output configured to provide a second portion of the output AC power from the inverter to the load, a third output configured to be selectively coupled to a neutral line via the inverter, and a controller configured to operate the inverter to generate current between the load and the neutral line via the third output and the inverter.

A control device of a power supply system includes a stopping process unit. The stopping process unit is configured to operate a switching element when connection between a power system and a main line is cut off by a system breaker and to perform a stopping process of sequentially switching battery modules which are connected to the main line such that the number of battery modules which are connected to the main line decreases gradually.

The control device controls an adjusting unit that adjusts current flowing between an electric storage unit of an electric storage device configured such that the electric storage device can be connected in parallel with a distinct power supply device, and a wire that electrically connects the electric storage device and the distinct power supply device. The control device includes a current detecting unit that detects (i) current flowing between the wire and the electric storage unit in the second direction or (ii) current flowing between the wire and the electric storage unit when the first current adjusting unit electrically disconnects the wire and the electric storage unit, and an operation control unit that controls operation of the first current adjusting unit based on (i) voltage or SOC of the electric storage unit and (ii) a detection result of the current detecting unit.

The claimed system relates to electrical equipment and comprises a module that includes a module docking unit (16), a remote control device (1), electrical connectors (2, 3) for connection to sources of alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC), and electrical connectors (4, 5) for connection to an AC load and to a DC load. The electrical connector (2) for connection to an AC source is connected, via a unit (6) for switching a supply of electrical energy from an AC source, to the electrical connectors (4) for connection to an AC load and to an AC/DC converter (7), and the electrical connector (3) for connection to a DC source is connected, via a unit (8) for selecting a maximum output from solar panels and a unit (9) for determining a drop in voltage from the DC source, which are connected in series, and by a storage battery charging unit (10), to a first DC converter (11) which steps up and stabilizes the voltage. The storage battery charging unit (10) is connected, via a battery management system unit (12), to a storage battery unit (13) connected to the first DC converter (11), the latter being connected to the electrical connectors (4) for connection to an AC load via an inverter (14) having the function of switching off the supply of DC electrical energy thereto, and to the electrical connectors (5) for connection to a DC load via a second DC converter (15) which steps down the voltage. The invention allows more stable and reliable functioning of the power supply system and could be used as independent power supply system with combination of photovoltaic panels.

A modularization system and a method for battery equalizers based on multi-winding transformers. By the inverse-parallel connection of the secondary sides of the odd and the even multi-winding transformers, the balancing in battery modules and between the odd and the even groups is realized based on forward conversion, and the balancing between the odd and the even groups and the automatic demagnetization for the transformers are realized based on flyback conversion. By only using a pair of complementary control signals, the direct, automatic and simultaneous balancing from any battery cell to any battery cell in the battery strings can be realized, thereby greatly improving the balancing efficiency and speed, and effectively improving the consistencies between the battery cells. The system has the advantages of high balancing efficiency, fast balancing speed, small size, low cost, high reliability, easy modularization, simple control, and nonuse of voltage detection circuits and demagnetizing circuits, etc.

A battery module including a plurality of battery cells and a cell balancing system having a respective battery cell monitoring module attached to each battery cell and a module carrier having second connection means for connection of a positive terminal of the battery cell to a negative terminal of an adjacent battery cell and for an electrical connection of a negative terminal of the battery cell to a positive terminal of another adjacent battery cell. The battery cell monitoring modules are connected to one another by a balancing bus for transmitting data and electrical current. The electronic battery cell monitoring modules are connected to the positive and negative terminals of the battery cell. The module carrier has two electrical lines and an energy storage module for storing electrical energy. The energy storage module is connected to the two electrical lines to take up or output electrical energy over them.