Battery pack configuration management electronic circuit

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus are provided for providing power from a battery pack. An example method of connecting batteries in a battery pack includes providing a battery pack including a plurality of separate compartments, where each compartment is configured to receive at least one battery that is not in direct electrical contact with batteries in other compartments of the plurality of compartments, detecting an occurrence of battery placement while the battery is placed in the plurality of compartments, and operating an electronic circuit to connect the batteries in the plurality of compartments together according to a certain configuration regardless of the polarity direction of the batteries.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This patent document claims and relies on the priority of U.S. patent application No. 63 / 374,413, filed on September 2, 2022, entitled “Battery Pack Configuration Management Electronic Circuit” and U.S. patent application No. 18 / 146,631, filed on December 27, 2022. The entire contents of these applications are incorporated into this document by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present application relates to an electronic circuit, in particular to an electronic circuit for controlling battery operation. Background Art

[0004] Many electronic devices use a power source powered by one or more batteries. As the number of consumer electronics and automotive products using batteries increases, the need for error-free and easy installation and removal of batteries in battery packs also increases. Summary of the invention

[0005] The present application discloses a technique that allows polarity-independent placement of batteries in a battery pack, wherein an electronic circuit detects the placement of each battery and supplies power according to a configuration that can be series, parallel, or both.

[0006] In one example aspect, an example method of connecting batteries in a battery pack includes providing a battery pack including a plurality of independent compartments, wherein each compartment is configured to accommodate at least one battery that is not in direct electrical contact with batteries in other compartments of the plurality of compartments, detecting the occurrence of battery placement when the battery is placed in the plurality of compartments, and operating an electronic circuit such that the batteries in the plurality of compartments are connected together according to the configuration regardless of the polarity orientation of the battery placement.

[0007] In another aspect, an integrated circuit (IC) package is disclosed. The IC package includes one or more electronic circuits. The electronic circuit includes a plurality of transistors electronically coupled to a plurality of independent compartments of a battery pack, wherein each of the plurality of independent compartments is configured to allow insertion of at least one battery having any polarity orientation, and wherein the batteries inserted into the plurality of compartments are not in direct electrical contact with each other, wherein the electronic circuit is configured to operate by coupling the plurality of batteries according to the configuration to provide a voltage to a load; wherein the electronic circuit is integrated into the IC package.

[0008] These and other features are described throughout this application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Figure 1AIn one embodiment, two N-channel metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) and two P-channel MOSFETs are used to detect and switch the battery polarity.

[0010] Figure 1B An embodiment is shown to disclose Figure 1A A similar circuit with an added PTC for current limiting protection.

[0011] Figure 2 An embodiment is illustrated to disclose an equivalent circuit when transistors Q2 and Q4 are turned on and Q1 and Q3 are turned off. Here, arrowed line 200 shows the current flowing through the load when Q2 and Q4 are turned on.

[0012] Figure 3 An embodiment is illustrated, in which Q2 and Q4 are turned off, Q1 and Q3 are turned on, the battery polarity is reversed, and the load polarity remains unchanged.

[0013] Figure 4 An embodiment is shown, which discloses a circuit for realizing battery polarity detection and switching using four N-channel MOSFETs connected as diodes.

[0014] Figure 5 An embodiment is illustrated to disclose an equivalent circuit when transistors Q1 and Q3 are turned on and Q2 and Q4 are turned off.

[0015] Figure 6 An embodiment is shown, in which a circuit in which Q1 and Q3 are turned off and Q2 and Q4 are turned on, and the battery polarity is reversed.

[0016] Figure 7 An embodiment is illustrated, which discloses a circuit for detecting, switching and connecting four batteries in series using eight N-channel MOSFETs and eight P-channel MOSFETs.

[0017] Figure 8 An embodiment is illustrated to disclose an equivalent circuit using 8 N-channel MOSFETs and 8 P-channel MOSFETs to detect, switch and connect 4 batteries in series.

[0018] Fig. 9 An embodiment is shown, which discloses a circuit for detecting, switching and connecting four batteries in series using 16 MOSFETs connected as diodes.

[0019] Fig.10 An embodiment is illustrated to disclose an equivalent circuit using 16 MOSFETs connected as diodes to detect, switch and connect 4 batteries in series.

[0020] Here, arrow 1000 shows current flowing from the positive terminal of battery B1 through the load, into the negative terminal of battery B4, and then continued by arrow 1002, which shows current flowing through series connected batteries B4, B3, B2 and finally completing the series circuit at the negative terminal of battery B1.

[0021] The arrows inside the battery show the internal current flow as the battery discharges.

[0022] For simplicity, the transistor on-channel voltage is not shown in the VOUT equation.

[0023] Fig.11 An embodiment is shown, which discloses a circuit for detecting, switching and connecting four batteries in parallel using eight N-channel MOSFETs and eight P-channel MOSFETs.

[0024] Fig.12 An embodiment is illustrated to disclose an equivalent circuit using 8 N-channel MOSFETs and 8 P-channel MOSFETs to detect, switch and connect 4 batteries in parallel.

[0025] Fig.13 An embodiment is illustrated, which discloses a circuit using 8 N-channel MOSFETs and 8 P-channel MOSFETs to detect, switch and connect two groups of batteries in parallel, where each group consists of 2 batteries connected in series.

[0026] Note: There are 16 ways to connect 4 batteries in series and parallel. However, no matter how the 16 ways of connecting the 4 batteries are, the polarity of the output voltage remains the same.

[0027] Fig.14 An embodiment is illustrated, revealing an equivalent circuit for detecting, switching, and connecting four batteries in series and parallel using eight N-channel MOSFETs and eight P-channel MOSFETs. Here, arrow 1400 shows that the current flows from the positive electrode of each set of series-connected batteries through the load and returns to the negative electrode of each set of series-connected batteries, as shown by arrow 1402. IOUT shows the total parallel current of the two series-connected batteries. The arrow inside the battery shows the internal current when the battery is discharged. The dotted line represents the transistor gate control. To simplify the description, the transistor conduction channel voltage is not shown in the VOUT formula.

[0028] Fig.15 An example embodiment is shown, in which a battery pack includes 4 batteries, which can be connected in series, in parallel, or in series and parallel, with a total of 16 connection methods. The embodiment can ensure that all 16 combinations can output the correct voltage and polarity.

[0029] Fig.16 An example embodiment is shown, revealing polarity detection and switching of a 3.7V lithium-ion rechargeable battery in charging mode.

[0030] Fig.17 An equivalent circuit is revealed, showing Q2 and Q4 in the on state and Q1 and Q3 in the off state in the charging mode. When switch S is selected for charging, arrow 1700 shows that the power supply current flows from the positive terminal through switch S and Q2 to the positive terminal of the battery. The return current path of the power supply is shown by the gray arrow, flowing from the negative terminal of the battery through Q4 to the negative terminal of the power supply. The power supply voltage = 4.2V + Von, where Von = Q2 conduction channel voltage + Q4 conduction channel voltage.

[0031] Fig.18 An embodiment is illustrated showing detection, switching and connection of 4 series connected batteries in charging mode.

[0032] Fig.19 Revealed Figure 7 Equivalent circuit in charging mode. When switch S is selected for charging, arrow 1900 shows that the power supply current flows from the positive electrode through switch S, through the relevant transistor and battery. The return current path of the power supply is shown by arrow 1902, from the negative electrode of the B4 battery back to the negative electrode of the power supply. Power supply voltage = 4V charging + 4Von, where Von is the sum of the two conduction channel voltages.

[0033] Fig. 20 An example of integrated circuit design is disclosed.

[0034] Fig.21 A circuit example is revealed for detecting, switching, and connecting 4 batteries in series using 8 N-channel MOSFETs and 8 P-channel MOSFETs.

[0035] Fig. 22 One embodiment of a 4-cell battery configuration is disclosed.

[0036] Fig.23 An embodiment of low power detection is presented.

[0037] Fig.24 and Fig.25 is a flow chart of an example method. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] This application, including the appendix, uses section headings to improve the readability of the specification and does not limit the discussion to the corresponding section. The term "battery" and / or "cell" refers to a power unit that is usually encapsulated with positive and negative poles and is used to supply power. For example, batteries or cells currently sold on the market come in a variety of sizes, such as A, AA, AAA, D, etc.

[0039] Polarity detection and switching of batteries usually requires 4 MOSFETs, connected as transistors or diodes. When using low voltage batteries (such as 1.5V AA or AAA size). Due to the high forward diode voltage drop of 0.3V or more, it is impractical to use diodes, but it is more practical to use MOSFET transistors with gate control. When the gate-source threshold voltage Vgs is reached (usually 0.6V to 1.2V, depending on the polarity of the battery), the corresponding N-channel and P-channel MOSFET pairs turn on, connecting the drain to the source, establishing a low on-channel resistance and a low on-channel voltage drop. At the same time, the other pair of N-channel and P-channel MOSFETs are turned off. When using 1.5V batteries, MOSFETs are selected for low drain-source on-resistance.

[0040] Figure 1A The schematic shows four MOSFETs, two N-channel and two P-channel, connected to a 1.5V battery. As further explained in the text, the circuit can be used to detect battery polarity and perform switching.

[0041] Figure 1B The schematic diagram shows a similar Figure 1A The circuit has added positive temperature coefficient (PTC) current limiting protection.

[0042] exist Figure 1A-1B In the diagram, Q1 to Q4 represent MOSFETs and R represents the load of the device powered by the battery. Figure 1A-1B In the configuration shown, four transistors form a circuit in which the gates of a first N-channel MOSFET 102 and a first P-channel MOSFET 106 are connected to each other and to a node 110. This node 110 is connected to the negative terminal of a battery configuration containing one or more cells. The drains of a second N-channel MOSFET 104 and a second P-channel MOSFET 108 are also connected to the node 110. The drains of the first N-channel MOSFET 102 and the first P-channel MOSFET 106 are connected to another node 112, which is connected to the positive terminal of the battery configuration.

[0043] exist Figure 1A-1B In the circuit shown, power is provided to the load via a third node 116 (positive voltage side), which is connected to the source of P-channel MOSFET 106 and P-channel MOSFET 108. The negative terminal of the load is connected to a fourth node 114, which is connected to the source terminal of N-channel MOSFET 102 and N-channel MOSFET 104. Due to the structure of the MOSFET, the PN structure between the source and the drain forms a body diode, also known as an internal diode. Please note that this circuit configuration is used in many additional embodiments of this document (such as Figure 7 , 8, 11-14, 16-22).

[0044] Figure 2 Revealed Figure 1A-1B The equivalent circuit of the circuit configuration in Figure 1. When the battery is connected, Q2 and Q4 are turned on (Q1 and Q3 are turned off), allowing current to flow from the positive terminal of the battery through the load to the negative terminal. The arrows inside the battery show the internal current flow during the battery discharge process. Figure 2 In FIG. 1 , the dotted line is used to indicate the gate control of the transistor.

[0045] exist Figure 3 When the battery polarity is reversed, Q1 and Q3 turn on (while Q2 and Q4 turn off). Note that this time the current takes a different path from the positive battery terminal to the load and then back to the negative battery terminal. Figure 2 still Figure 3 Here, arrows 300 show how current flows through the load when Q1 and Q3 are on. The arrows inside the battery show the internal current flow during discharge, while the dotted lines show the gate control of the transistors.

[0046] In applications where the battery voltage is 3.7V, 9V, 12V or higher, and is significantly higher than the forward diode voltage drop, a simpler configuration can be used, using a diode or a MOSFET connected as a diode.

[0047] Figure 4 Four N-channel MOSFETs are shown connected as diodes with the input terminals connected to a battery. In the circuit configuration shown, the drains of MOSFETs 402, 404 are electrically coupled to the positive terminal of the load. The sources of MOSFETs 406, 408 are coupled to the negative terminal of the load. The negative terminal of the battery is electrically connected to the drain of transistor 406 and the source of transistor 404. The source of transistor 402 is connected to the drain of transistor 408, and the source of transistor 404 is connected to the drain of transistor 406. The gate and source terminals of each transistor are electrically connected to each other. Figure 4 The transistor configuration is used in several other embodiments disclosed in this application, for example Figures 9 and 10 .

[0048] Figure 5 Indicated Figure 4 When the battery is connected, Q1 and Q3 are turned on (while Q2 and Q4 are turned off), allowing current to flow from the positive terminal of the battery through the load and then back to the negative terminal of the battery. Arrow 500 shows the current flowing through the load when Q1 and Q3 are turned on. The arrows inside the battery show the internal current flow when the battery is discharged.

[0049] exist Figure 6In Figure 1, when the battery polarity is reversed, Q2 and Q4 turn on (while Q1 and Q3 turn off). Note that this time the current takes a different path from the positive battery terminal to the load and then back to the negative battery terminal. Figure 5 and 6 The load polarity remains the same in both configurations. Figure 6 The load polarity remains unchanged. Arrow 600 shows the current flowing through the load when Q2 and Q4 are on. The arrow inside the battery represents the current flow inside the battery.

[0050] Existing four-cell battery packs have a single column of four series-connected cells, two columns of four series-connected cells, or four columns of four series-connected cells. Each cell is directly connected in series with the next cell.

[0051] The four-cell battery pack described in this article requires that each of the four cells has its own compartment. None of the four cells is allowed to be directly connected to the adjacent cells. The polarity of each cell is independently detected and switched by four transistors, and finally interconnected with the other cells to provide an output voltage equal to the sum of the four cell voltages minus the two voltage drops on the two transistors of each cell.

[0052] Bipolar transistors are current-controlled transistors, while MOSFETs are voltage-controlled transistors. Unlike bipolar transistors, which require a small but sufficient current to flow through the base-emitter junction in order to turn on the collector-emitter channel, allowing a larger current to flow through the channel. However, MOSFETs require an appropriate charging voltage to be applied at the gate to turn on one polarity of the MOSFET and turn off the opposite polarity of the MOSFET. In order to turn on an N-channel MOSFET, the gate voltage must be higher than the source voltage. In order to turn on a P-channel MOSFET, the gate voltage must be lower than the source voltage. Due to this characteristic, the MOSFET can be turned on / off by applying only the charging voltage at the gate, so the battery pack described in this article does not consume current when no load is connected to its output.

[0053] Throughout the disclosure, the term "battery pack" is used for description, although other names (such as battery holder, battery box or battery compartment) have the same meaning.

[0054] MOSFET technology has improved significantly in recent years. The required low on-channel voltage drop and low on-channel resistance have decreased in recent years, making this practical.

[0055] Figure 7 The configuration of four batteries in series is revealed, and its equivalent circuit is as follows Figure 8Here, eight N-channel MOSFETs and eight P-channel MOSFETs are used. There are 16 possible connection combinations of four batteries connected in series. However, no matter how the four batteries are connected in 16 ways, the polarity of the output voltage remains the same.

[0056] Arrow 800 shows the current flowing from the positive electrode of battery B1 through the load to the negative electrode of battery B4, followed by arrow 802 showing the current continuing to flow through the series connected batteries B4, B3, B2, and finally completing the series circuit at the negative electrode of battery B1. The arrow inside the battery represents the internal current when the battery is discharged. The dotted line represents the transistor gate control. For simplicity, the transistor conduction channel voltage is not shown in the VOUT (output voltage) formula.

[0057] Fig. 9 The configuration of four batteries in series is revealed, where the MOSFET is connected as a diode, and its equivalent circuit is as follows Fig.10 As shown in Figure 1. There are 16 possible connection combinations of four batteries connected in series. However, no matter how the 16 connection methods of the four batteries are, the polarity of the output voltage remains unchanged.

[0058] Fig.11 The configuration of four batteries in parallel is revealed, and its equivalent circuit is as follows Fig.12 As shown. Note: There are 16 possible ways to connect the four batteries in parallel. However, the polarity of the output voltage remains the same regardless of the 16 ways the four batteries are connected. Arrow 1200 shows that the current flows from the positive terminal of batteries B1, B2, B3, B4 through the load and returns to their respective negative terminals as shown by arrow 1202. The arrows inside the battery represent the internal current when the battery is discharged. The dotted line represents the transistor gate control. To simplify the description, the transistor conduction channel voltage is not shown in the VOUT formula.

[0059] Fig.13 The configuration of 4 batteries in series and parallel is revealed, and its equivalent circuit is as follows Fig.14 shown.

[0060] Fig.15 Reveals all possible battery connection methods using 4 batteries in series.

[0061] The foregoing description and figures (Fig. 1 to Fig.14 ) are applicable to disposable batteries. However, only the descriptions related to the Figures (Figures 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18 and 19) are applicable to both disposable and rechargeable batteries. In other words, rechargeable batteries are Figure 4 , 5, 6, 9, and 10 do not work. These configurations, in which the MOSFET is connected in a diode manner, are only suitable for disposable batteries. This is because in the diode configuration, the gate and source are shorted together, which allows the battery current to flow in only one direction. In the transistor configuration, the battery current can flow out to the load in discharge mode, and the source current can flow back to the battery in charge mode (see Fig.16 , 17 , 18 and 19). The requirement of the charging mode is that each depleted cell must reach a minimum Vgs threshold that maintains conduction of the drain-source channel in order to allow charging current to flow into the cell.

[0062] Fig.16 : Polarity detection and switching of 3.7V lithium-ion rechargeable batteries in charging mode.

[0063] Fig.17 : Equivalent circuit with Q2, Q4 turned on and Q1, Q3 turned off in charging mode.

[0064] Note: When switch S is selected for charging, arrow 1700 shows that the power current flows from the positive terminal through switch S and Q2 to the positive terminal of the battery.

[0065] The return current path of the power supply is shown by the gray arrow, flowing from the negative terminal of the battery through Q4 back to the negative terminal of the power supply.

[0066] Fig.18 : In charging mode - detect, switch and connect 4 batteries in series.

[0067] Fig.19 : Figure 7 Equivalent circuit in charging mode.

[0068] Note: After selecting switch S for charging, arrow 1900 shows that the power current flows from the positive terminal through switch S and then through the corresponding transistor and battery.

[0069] The power supply return current path is shown by the gray arrow, returning from the negative terminal of the B4 battery to the negative terminal of the power supply.

[0070] Power supply voltage = 4V charge + 4Von, where Von = the sum of the 2 conduction channel voltages.

[0071] In a rechargeable battery configuration, the load is replaced by a DC power supply with a voltage higher than the total voltage of the batteries in the configuration, and additional voltage is required according to the chemical composition of the different batteries to drive the current into the battery, but the voltage cannot be too high to avoid damaging the battery. In charging mode, the remaining voltage of the charged battery is required to be equal to or greater than the Vgs threshold voltage of the MOSFET in order to maintain automatic polarity detection and ensure that a connection path is established to allow the DC supply current to flow into the battery. Fig.16 and17 As shown, a 3.7V lithium-ion battery requires a charging voltage of 4.2V plus 2 conduction channel voltage drops. The switch S can be a mechanical switch, a motor switch (relay), or an electronic switch controlled by a computer. Fig.18 and 19 Four rechargeable batteries connected in series are shown in charging mode. The switches can be replaced by a load sharing charging circuit in which an electronic switch disconnects the battery from the load and connects it to the power source when the power source is detected. At the same time, when the load is not powered, the battery is connected to the power source for charging. When the power source is not present, the electronic switch disconnects the load from the power source and connects it back to the battery.

[0072] By connecting a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) device or thermistor in series with each battery (see Figure 1B ), can add a safety feature. This device, or thermistor, has a low resistance to a certain range of current at room temperature. When too much current passes through the battery, the PTC activates by heating itself, causing the resistance to increase, thus limiting the current. In this application, the PTC acts as a resettable fuse.

[0073] A common safety hazard in lithium-ion battery packs is fire caused by thermal runaway. Overtemperature shutdown circuits can be deployed to detect overtemperature events and disconnect the load before thermal runaway occurs.

[0074] New nomenclature is needed to distinguish this new type of battery pack from existing ones. It will be called Smart-Battery-Pack, Auto-Polarity-Battery-Pack, Any-Way-Battery-Pack or No-Look-Battery-Pack.

[0075] Application: This solution can be implemented in many ways. Some typical application scenarios are listed below.

[0076] The 16 MOSFETs (eight N-channels and eight P-channels) required to automatically detect, switch, and connect four batteries can be integrated into a single integrated circuit that can be mass-produced, providing a compact and low-cost solution.

[0077] A new type of battery pack, either disposable or rechargeable, with individual compartments for each cell. The polarity of each cell is independently detected, switched, and interconnected with the other cells, with the output voltage determined by one of three configurations: series, parallel, or a combination of series and parallel.

[0078] Portable devices and equipment can be upgraded to have this solution built-in.

[0079] Portable devices using single or multiple batteries can quickly replace batteries without requiring the user to observe and follow the battery polarity markings.

[0080] Since battery polarity observation and handling are no longer a problem, batteries with a uniform appearance can be manufactured. For ease of manufacturing, both the positive and negative terminals can be made to look the same.

[0081] Electric vehicles (EVs), depending on their battery capacity, can have thousands of 3.7V Li-ion batteries connected in series and parallel to provide hundreds of volts of output DC voltage to drive the motor. This solution also serves as an extra layer of protection for automatic polarity correction.

[0082] On the battlefield, a soldier can change batteries in the dark, because turning on the flashlight to check the polarity of the battery would reveal his location to the enemy.

[0083] Fig. 20 Revealing an integrated circuit package, any of three configurations can be achieved by making appropriate external connections.

[0084] Fig.21 An example circuit is disclosed for detecting, switching, and connecting 4 batteries in series using 8 N-channel MOSFETs and 8 P-channel MOSFETs.

[0085] When four batteries are connected in series, there are 16 possible ways to connect the batteries. However, no matter how the four batteries are connected, the polarity of the output voltage remains the same.

[0086] Fig. 22 A complete assembly of an automatic polarity battery pack with 4 series connected cells is disclosed. The four cells are shown at the bottom of the figure in a conventional vertical double stack. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that any arrangement of cells may generally be used, such as a side-by-side or linear package. Each cell in the package is electrically isolated from the other cells and is not in direct electrical contact with adjacent cells. The anode and cathode leads of each cell are electrically connected to respective polarity circuits, which are numbered 1 to 8. These circuits may be implemented in an integrated circuit (IC) package. The IC package may be mounted on a circuit board. The outputs of the IC package, numbered 10 for positive voltage output and 9 for negative voltage output, are used to drive an external load when in use. Such loads may include electrical appliances, such as flashlight bulbs, wireless chargers, radios, and the like.

[0087] One beneficial aspect of the circuits disclosed in this application is that they can also be used to extend the useful life of batteries. Another beneficial aspect is that they can be used to reduce waste in battery replacement operations. For example, it is common for users to discard multiple batteries from an appliance when the battery power is low. Users are often unable to determine which of the multiple batteries to discard and end up throwing away all of them, which wastes resources and creates unnecessary poisons. Using the technology described in this application, an appliance can accurately locate which batteries need to be replaced for the user. This technology will lead to selective battery replacement, which is beneficial to both the environment and the economic operation of battery-powered devices.

[0088] Typically, when a 1.5V battery is used for a period of time, when its voltage drops to 1.2V or a drop of 20%, it is considered exhausted and discarded. When the battery voltage level drops below a certain threshold, electronic devices usually stop working. For example, in this case, the current drawn by the device drops below the current threshold, resulting in the total power provided to the device being less than its operating requirements.

[0089] Fig.23 An example scenario is shown where a load is connected to Fig.13 An automatic polarity battery pack with internal configurable connections is shown. The load is equipped with an internal battery controller and capacitor C, which is used as a power retention memory. The load may cease to operate when the 3V supply voltage discharges to less than 20% (i.e., drops to 80%) of the nominal 3V or 2.4V, or other specific threshold that may be applicable to the load. The internal battery controller of the load, when detecting 2.41V (0.01V or more above the threshold of 2.4V if necessary), sends a command signal to the automatic polarity circuit to disconnect batteries B3 and B4 from the series-parallel configuration, connect B3 in series with B2 and B1, and disconnect B4. This automatically changes the battery configuration from series-parallel to series configuration dynamically in real time while the load is operating without user intervention.

[0090] While reconfiguration is in progress, the load may be temporarily disconnected from the battery pack and kept running while being held by the charge held by capacitor C. Capacitor C is chosen to maintain the 2.4V threshold long enough to allow the battery reconfiguration to complete. For example, the Vishay MOSFET Si2302CDS (N-channel) and Si2301CDS (P-channel) each typically require 50 nanoseconds to complete switching.

[0091] When three batteries, B1, B2, and B3, are connected in series, each providing 1.2V, the total voltage after reconfiguration is 3.6V. Therefore, the load does not experience a loss of supply voltage and continues to operate until the next time the 2.4V threshold is reached. For example, this may mean that the voltage of each battery has now dropped to 0.8V. At this point, the battery controller issues a command to connect battery B4, which has a voltage of 1.2V, in series with B1, B2, and B3. The reconfiguration increases the total voltage to 3.6V, allowing the load to continue operating through two low-voltage events. After a period of additional use, the voltage of all four batteries may drop below 0.6V, or the total series voltage of the four batteries may drop below 2.4V.

[0092] All 4 cells are ultimately discarded at 0.6V instead of 1.2V, which means that in the existing design the battery was only using 20% ​​of its capacity, whereas in this application the battery is using 60% of its capacity, a 3x increase in battery usage, or a 200% increase in battery voltage drain.

[0093] In one example embodiment, the maximum voltage that the load can withstand may be 4 V. When an upper threshold of 4 V is detected (due to the installation of one or more new batteries), the controller may send a command to change the configuration from series to series-parallel or 3 V.

[0094] It will be appreciated that the above circuit operation saves costs by extracting more use value from the battery and protects the environment by reducing waste.

[0095] Some preferred embodiments implement the following technical solutions.

[0096] 1. A method for connecting batteries in a battery pack (e.g., Fig.24 The method 2200 shown in FIG. 2 comprises the following steps: providing (2202) a battery pack holder comprising a plurality of independent compartments, wherein each compartment is configured to accommodate at least one battery, wherein the battery has no direct electrical contact with batteries in other compartments of the plurality of compartments; automatically detecting (2204) the occurrence of battery placement when the battery is placed in the plurality of compartments, and operating an electronic circuit (2206) such that the batteries in the plurality of compartments are connected together according to the configuration, regardless of the polarity orientation of the battery placement.

[0097] 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the load connected to the battery pack receives the same voltage and polarity regardless of the polarity orientation of the batteries in the compartments.

[0098] 3. The method of options 1 to 2, wherein all batteries have the same physical shape and size.

[0099] 4. The method of scheme 1 to 2, wherein the battery is composed of a mixture of different physical shapes and sizes.

[0100] 5. The method of claim 1 to 4, wherein the electronic circuit comprises a network of four metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) for each battery.

[0101] 6. The method of claim 1 to 4, wherein the electronic circuit comprises a network of four diode-connected metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) for each battery.

[0102] 7. The method of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the electronic circuit comprises a network of four diodes for each battery.

[0103] 8. The method of schemes 1 to 7, wherein the batteries used are all rechargeable batteries.

[0104] 9. An electronic circuit comprising: a plurality of transistors electronically coupled to a plurality of independent compartments of a battery pack, wherein each of the plurality of independent compartments is configured to allow insertion of at least one battery having any polarity orientation, and wherein the batteries inserted into the plurality of compartments are not in direct electrical contact with each other, wherein the electronic circuit is configured to operate by coupling the plurality of batteries according to the configuration to provide a voltage to a load; wherein the electronic circuit is integrated into a single integrated circuit (IC) package.

[0105] Figure 1A and Figure 4 Two example circuits are disclosed. The first circuit ( Figure 1A ) of the plurality of transistors comprises two N-channel MOSFETs and two P-channel MOSFETs (or their equivalents). The second circuit configuration ( Figure 4 ) shows four N-channel MOSFETs (or their equivalents) coupled to each other, as described herein. In various embodiments, the above-mentioned MOSFET transistors can be replaced by other circuits that exhibit MOSFET-like behavior, which exhibits on and off positions (or electrically closed and opened) depending on the polarity and strength of the voltage applied to the positive node and the negative node.

[0106] 10. The IC package of Scheme 9 is a through-hole type package for printed circuit board mounting.

[0107] 11. The IC package of Scheme 9 is a surface mount package for printed circuit board mounting.

[0108] 12. The IC package of Scheme 9 is made using one of the standard IC packages.

[0109] 13. The IC package of Scheme 9 is made using a custom IC package.

[0110] 14. The IC package of Scheme 9 includes an overcurrent protection device and an overtemperature protection device.

[0111] 15. The IC package of Option 9 includes computer controlled enable and disable circuits.

[0112] 16. The IC package of Option 9 includes factory programmable control or field programmable control, wherein external connections for configuration are configured internally in the IC without the need for external connections.

[0113] 17. The IC package of Option 9 includes a factory-configurable one-time fuse or a field-configurable one-time fuse, wherein all battery configurations are manufactured in the IC and the final battery configuration is completed at the factory or in the field by melting or blowing the appropriate fuse.

[0114] 18. The IC package of any one of claims 9 to 17 comprising additional electronic circuits, each electronic circuit being configured for a battery connection configuration.

[0115] 19. The method of any one of schemes 1 to 8, wherein a plurality of batteries are connected in series.

[0116] 20. The method of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the plurality of batteries are connected in parallel.

[0117] 21. The IC package of any one of schemes 9 to 18, wherein a plurality of batteries are connected in series and parallel combinations.

[0118] 22. The IC package of any one of schemes 9 to 18, wherein the configuration connects a plurality of batteries in series.

[0119] 23. The IC package of any one of schemes 9 to 18, wherein the configuration connects a plurality of batteries in parallel.

[0120] 24. The method of any one of schemes 1 to 8, wherein a plurality of batteries are connected in series-parallel combinations.

[0121] In some embodiments, a method is provided by which an electronic circuit includes a transistor configured to detect individual cell voltages in a battery pack, wherein a plurality of cells are placed in an electrically isolated manner to provide a combined power of at least some of the plurality of cells to an external load. The detected individual cell voltages are used to identify cells to be replaced and / or cells to be bypassed by reorganizing the configuration of the plurality of cells using the electronic circuit to provide a nominal voltage to a target.

[0122] In some embodiments, an electronic circuit is disclosed, such as the circuit described with reference to Figures 1 to 23. The electronic circuit includes a configuration of at least four transistors. The electronic circuit is configured to detect the voltage output level of each battery of a plurality of batteries in a battery configuration in a battery pack. If the electronic circuit detects that the output voltage of a particular battery has dropped below a threshold, the electronic circuit reconfigures the order of the batteries in the battery pack so that the voltage level applied to the battery pack load is maintained at a fixed nominal voltage. In some embodiments, during the reconfiguration, switching glitches are avoided by operating a capacitor to provide power during the reconfiguration. In some embodiments, the electronic circuit can provide an indication signal to identify the battery whose voltage level has dropped below the threshold. For example, the indication signal can be in the form of lighting a light-emitting diode fixed to the battery pack. For example, in the case where the battery pack is designed to accommodate N batteries (N is a positive integer, with common values ​​of 2 to 4), the battery pack can include N LED lights. In one advantageous aspect, such an embodiment will help maximize the use of batteries, with a level of use higher than the level of discarding batteries in the past. In another advantageous aspect, such an embodiment will help to individually identify specific batteries to be replaced from the battery pack, rather than having to replace all batteries when the power level provided by the battery pack drops below the available threshold.

[0123] Therefore, in some embodiments, a method for extending the service life of a battery in a battery pack (e.g., Fig.25 The method 2500 shown in FIG. 2 includes the following steps: operating (2502) an electronic circuit to detect the voltage output level of a battery pack and individual batteries in the battery pack; and when it is detected that the voltage output level of the battery pack has dropped below a threshold, reconfiguring (2504) the configuration of the batteries in the battery pack by the electronic circuit so that the voltage output level is restored to a level above the threshold.

[0124] Here, the service life may refer to the use of the battery cell at a voltage level below which a typical user decides to discard the battery. The threshold for reconfiguring the use may depend on the nature of the load powered by the battery. For example, some electronic devices (such as lamps) may be more sensitive to the voltage level of the battery than other devices (such as analog circuits).

[0125] In some embodiments, the method includes operating a capacitor to provide power during reconfiguration to avoid switching glitches in the voltage output level. Generally, there is a trade-off between the size and capacity of the capacitor and the duration it can provide power to the load. For most consumer electronic products, in order to avoid switching glitches, the design target time is usually set between 20 microseconds and 20 milliseconds.

[0126] In some embodiments, the reconfiguration includes changing the series-parallel configuration of the battery. Some examples are disclosed in this application for illustrative purposes, but it is understood that the configuration of the series or parallel connection of N batteries can include up to 2N possibilities, or even more, depending on whether each battery is a series battery or a parallel battery, or can be electrically omitted from the power supply configuration.

[0127] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present application discloses a technology that allows a user to place batteries into a battery pack without considering the orientation of the batteries, so that an electronic circuit detects the polarity orientation of each battery and operates to establish an electrical connection to supply power to a load. Further, the present application also discloses an electronic circuit that can be configured to receive a feedback signal from a load, so that the electronic circuit can operate to adjust the battery configuration in the battery pack to maximize the service life of each battery.

[0128] The processes and logic flows described in this application can be performed by one or more programmable processors executing one or more computer programs to perform functions by operating on input data and generating output. These processes and logic flows can also be performed by special-purpose logic circuits, and the device can also be implemented as a special-purpose logic circuit, such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

[0129] Processors suitable for executing computer programs include general and special purpose microprocessors, and any one or more processors of any type of digital computer. Typically, the processor receives instructions and data from a read-only memory or a random access memory or both. The basic components of a computer include a processor for executing instructions and one or more storage devices for storing instructions and data. Typically, a computer will also include or be operatively connected to one or more large-capacity storage devices, which can receive data from these devices and can also transfer data to these devices, and these devices are used to store data, such as magnetic disks, magneto-optical disks or optical disks. However, a computer does not necessarily need to be equipped with these devices. Computer-readable media suitable for storing computer program instructions and data include all types of non-volatile memory, media and storage devices, including, for example, semiconductor memory devices (e.g., EPROM, EEPROM and flash memory devices), magnetic disks (such as internal hard disks or removable disks), magneto-optical disks, and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM optical disks. The processor and memory can be supplemented by or incorporated into dedicated logic circuits.

[0130] Although this patent document contains many details, these details should not be interpreted as limitations on the scope of the invention claimed or that may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particular embodiments. Certain features described in the context of separate embodiments of the present application may also be implemented in combination in one embodiment. Conversely, the various features described in the context of a single embodiment may also be implemented separately or in any suitable sub-combination in multiple embodiments. In addition, although features may be described above as working in certain combinations, or even initially claimed to be so, in some cases, one or more features may be deleted from the claimed combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a sub-combination or a variant of a sub-combination. Similarly, although the operations in the drawings are depicted in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that the operations be performed in the particular order or sequence shown, or that all of the operations shown be performed to achieve the desired result.

[0131] Only a few examples and implementations are disclosed. Variations, modifications, and enhancements may be made to the described examples and implementations and other implementations in light of what is disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for connecting batteries in a battery pack, comprising: providing a battery pack holder comprising a plurality of independent compartments, wherein each compartment is configured to accommodate at least one battery having no direct electrical contact with batteries in other compartments of the plurality of compartments; as well as Automatically detecting the occurrence of battery placement when each of the batteries is placed in the plurality of compartments, and operating the electronic circuit so that the batteries in the plurality of compartments are connected together according to the configuration regardless of the polarity orientation of the battery placement.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a load connected to the battery pack receives the same voltage and polarity regardless of the polarity orientation of the plurality of batteries in the plurality of compartments.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said electronic circuit comprises a network of four metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) for each of said cells.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein during operation of the electronic circuit, the current output of the battery pack flows through the first MOSFET and the second MOSFET in the closed mode and does not flow through the third MOSFET and the fourth MOSFET in the open mode.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said electronic circuit comprises a network of four metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors, each connected as a diode, for each of said cells.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said electronic circuit comprises a network of four diodes for each of said cells.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said configuration connects a plurality of said batteries in series.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said configuration connects a plurality of said batteries in parallel.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration connects a plurality of the batteries in series-parallel combinations.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein operating the electronic circuit comprises operating the electronic circuit to open a first plurality of switches and close a second plurality of switches to connect to a load of the battery pack.

11. An electronic circuit comprising: multiple transistors electronically coupled to multiple independent compartments of the battery pack, wherein each of said plurality of independent compartments is configured to allow insertion of at least one battery having any polarity orientation, and The plurality of batteries inserted into the plurality of compartments are not in direct electrical contact with each other, wherein the electronic circuit is configured to operate by coupling the plurality of batteries according to a configuration to provide a voltage to a load, wherein the electronic circuit is integrated into a single integrated circuit (IC) package.

12. The IC package of claim 11, being a surface mount type for printed circuit board mounting.

13. The IC package of claim 11, comprising an over-current protection device and an over-temperature protection device.

14. The IC package of claim 11 including computer controlled enabling and disabling circuitry.

15. The IC package of claim 11, comprising a factory programmable control or a field programmable control, wherein the configured external connections are configured internally to the IC without requiring external connections.

16. The IC package of claim 11, comprising a factory configurable one-time fuse or a field configurable one-time fuse, wherein all of the battery configurations are manufactured in the IC and the final battery configuration is completed in the factory or in the field by melting or blowing an appropriate fuse.

17. The IC package of claim 11, wherein the configuration connects a plurality of the batteries in series or parallel combinations.

18. A method for extending the service life of a battery in a battery pack, comprising: operating the electronic circuit to detect voltage output levels of a battery pack and individual cells in said battery pack; as well as When it is detected that the voltage output level of the battery pack has dropped below a threshold, the electronic circuit reconfigures the configuration of each of the batteries in the battery pack so that the voltage output level is restored to a level above the threshold.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising: The capacitor is operated to provide power when reconfiguration occurs, thereby avoiding switching glitches in the voltage output level.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein reconfiguring comprises changing a series-parallel configuration of each of the batteries.

Images