Module interface device for battery modules featuring cell balancing and isolation.

Abstract

We provide a module interface device and battery management system equipped with a cell balancing circuit. [Solution] The module interface device 122-1 includes a cathode bus 226 connectable to the cathode terminal and an anode bus 228 connectable to the anode terminal of the battery module 112-1, and a set of one or more inter-cell taps connectable to each inter-cell electrical interconnect that interconnects adjacent pairs of cells of the battery module. The cell balancing circuit 246 includes a conductive path 314 connecting the cathode bus to the anode bus, a set of multiple resistive-capacitive elements 310 arranged along the conductive path, and a set of one or more switches 320, each switch arranged along each inter-cell tap. Each inter-cell tap 224 connects to the conductive path at each position between different adjacent pairs of resistive-capacitive elements.

Description

Technical Field

[0001]

[0001] The disclosed invention broadly relates to managing battery modules of a battery system.

Background Art

[0002]

[0002] Battery systems are used in connection with mobile platforms and stationary facilities to provide energy storage and supply power to electrical loads. Damage or loss of mobile platforms or stationary facilities can result from failures of battery systems. Some battery systems may include one or more battery modules to provide a desired level of battery function and performance. Individual battery modules may include a plurality of battery cells. Voltage imbalance among cells within a battery module can lead to failures and performance degradation of the battery module or a battery system incorporating the battery module.

Summary of the Invention

[0003]

[0003] A module interface device for a battery module including a set of a plurality of cells interconnected in series in cell order between a cathode terminal and an anode terminal of the battery module is disclosed. The module interface device includes a cathode bus having a battery-side cathode interface connectable to the cathode terminal of the battery module and an anode bus having a battery-side anode interface connectable to the anode terminal of the battery module. The module interface device further includes a set of one or more inter-cell taps connectable to respective inter-cell electrical interconnects that interconnect adjacent pairs of cells in series in cell order within the battery module.

[0004]

[0004] The module interface device further comprises a cell balancing circuit including a set of multiple resistive-capacitive elements arranged in series in element order along a conductive path of the cell balancing circuit. The conductive path connects the cathode bus to the anode bus. Each inter-cell tap connects to a conductive path between corresponding adjacent pairs of resistive-capacitive elements in series in element order. The module interface device further comprises a set of switches, each switch arranged along each inter-cell tap.

[0005]

[0005] The set of switches in the cell balancing circuit is operable between an open state during the charging portion of the duty cycle in which the set of resistive-capacitive elements is charged by electrical energy supplied via the cathode bus and anode bus, and a closed state during the cell balancing portion of the duty cycle in which the set of resistive-capacitive elements discharges electrical energy to the set of cells of the battery module connected to the module interface device in order to reduce voltage imbalance among the sets of cells.

[0006]

[0006] In another embodiment, a method is disclosed for controlling a module interface device connected to a battery module, which includes a set of cells interconnected in series in cell order between the cathode terminal and anode terminal of the battery module. The method includes supplying electrical energy from a source to a cathode bus and an anode bus of the module interface device during the charging portion of the duty cycle. The cathode bus has a battery-side cathode interface connected to the cathode terminal of the battery module, and the anode bus has a battery-side anode interface connected to the anode terminal of the battery module. A first portion of the electrical energy supplied during the charging portion of the duty cycle charges the set of cells of the battery module via the cathode terminal and anode terminal. A second portion of the electrical energy supplied during the charging portion of the duty cycle charges a set of resistive-capacitive elements of the module interface device.

[0007]

[0007] The method further includes, during the cell balancing portion of the duty cycle, ceasing the supply of electrical energy from the source to the cathode bus and anode bus of the module interface device, and supplying the electrical energy discharged from the set of resistive-capacitive elements of the module interface device to the set of cells of the battery module. The set of inter-cell taps is connected to one or more sets of inter-cell electrical interconnects that interconnect adjacent pairs of cells in series in the cell sequence of the battery module.

[0008]

[0008] In another embodiment, a battery management system for managing a battery module is disclosed, which includes a set of cells interconnected in series in cell order between the cathode terminal and anode terminal of the battery module. The battery management system includes a module interface device which includes a cathode bus having a battery-side cathode interface connected to the cathode terminal of the battery module, an anode bus having a battery-side anode interface connected to the anode terminal of the battery module, and a set of one or more inter-cell taps connected to each inter-cell electrical interconnect that interconnects adjacent pairs of cells in series in cell order of the battery module.

[0009]

[0009] The module interface device further includes a conductive path connecting a cathode bus to an anode bus, a set of multiple resistive-capacitive elements arranged in series in element order along the conductive path, wherein each inter-cell tap of a set of inter-cell taps connects to the conductive path at each position between different adjacent pairs of resistive-capacitive elements in series in element order, and a set of one or more switches, each switch of a set of switches, arranged along the inter-cell tap for each inter-cell tap of the set of inter-cell taps.

[0010]

[0010] The battery management system further comprises a control system configured to operate a set of switches to the open position during the charging portion of the duty cycle, thereby supplying electrical energy from a source to the cathode bus and anode bus. A portion of the electrical energy supplied during the charging portion of the duty cycle charges a set of resistive-capacitive elements. The control system is further configured to operate a set of switches to the closed position during the cell balancing portion of the duty cycle, thereby supplying the electrical energy discharged from the set of resistive-capacitive elements to a set of cells in the battery module. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1]

[0011] This is a schematic diagram showing an example of a battery management system. [Figure 2]

[0012] This is a schematic diagram showing several embodiments of an exemplary module interface device. [Figure 3]

[0013] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing a first embodiment of the module interface device. [Figure 4]

[0014] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing a second embodiment of the module interface device. [Figure 5]

[0015] This is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method for managing battery modules. [Figure 6]

[0016] This is a schematic diagram showing an exemplary computing system that may form part of the control system shown in Figure 1. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012]

[0017] In short, battery systems are used in conjunction with mobile platforms and stationary equipment to provide energy storage and power electrical loads. Damage or loss to mobile platforms or stationary equipment can result from failure of the battery system.

[0013]

[0018] As an exemplary embodiment, some battery systems include multiple 40V lead-acid batteries in high-voltage (240V) installations. The use of lead-acid batteries can have a significant weight impact, particularly for mobile platforms. Using lithium-ion batteries or other battery technologies instead of lead-acid batteries may be problematic due to the risk of overheating, arc discharge, or other failure modes compared to lead-acid batteries. In some cases, multiple lithium-ion battery modules can be used to replace larger lead-acid battery modules, provided that the lithium-ion battery modules are mechanically isolated from each other and each battery module falls below a threshold energy storage capacity or a specified rated voltage.

[0014]

[0019] The disclosed battery module architecture, battery management system, and method for battery management offer the potential to reduce battery failures by isolating individual battery modules and by reducing voltage imbalances among battery cells within a battery module.

[0015]

[0020] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing an exemplary battery management system 100 for managing a battery system including one or more battery modules. In Figure 1, the exemplary battery system 110 includes at least a first battery module 112-1 and a second battery module 112-2. The battery system 110 may further include one or more additional battery modules, shown in Figure 1 as battery module 112-N, where the term "N" may represent any appropriate number of battery modules.

[0016]

[0021] Each battery module of the battery system 110 may include a set of battery cells 114. One example is shown in Figure 1 as battery cell 116-1. The set of battery cells 114 of a battery module may include, as many examples, two, three, four, five, or more, dozens, hundreds, or more battery cells.

[0017]

[0022] Multiple battery modules of the battery system 110 may be arranged in series, parallel, or a combination of series and parallel configurations with respect to the electrical load 130 and / or power source 132. In one embodiment of Figure 1, battery modules 112-1 to 112-N are arranged in series to form battery group 118-1. In an exemplary embodiment, battery module 112-1 has a specified rated voltage of 16 volts, battery module 112-2 has a specified rated voltage of 12 volts, different from battery module 112-1, and battery module 112-N has a specified rated voltage of 12 volts, with a combined total voltage of 40 volts for battery group 118-1.

[0018]

[0023] The battery system 110 may include multiple battery groups arranged in parallel and / or series configurations with respect to the electrical load 130 and the power supply 132. In this case, each battery group includes one or more battery modules. For example, in Figure 1, battery groups 118-2 to 118-M are schematically shown in parallel with battery group 118-1. In this case, the item "M" may represent any appropriate number of battery groups.

[0019]

[0024] In another embodiment, battery modules 112-2 to 112-N may be included in different battery groups arranged in parallel with battery group 118-1 including battery module 112-1. For example, battery module 112-2 may form part of battery group 118-2, and battery module 112-N may form part of battery group 118-M. Thus, it will be appreciated that the plurality of battery modules of battery system 100 may include any suitable arrangement with respect to electrical load 130 and power source 132.

[0020]

[0025] Battery management system 100 further includes a control system 120 and a plurality of module interface devices 122-1 to 122-N operably coupled to the control system via electrical connections 124-1 to 124-N, respectively. The plurality of aspects of control system 120 are described in more detail herein while referring to computing system 600 of FIG. 6.

[0021]

[0026] As will be described in more detail while referring to FIG. 2, in each battery module of battery system 110, each module interface device (e.g., 122-1 to 122-N) of battery management system 100 is connected to or connectable to the battery module. Thus, battery management system 100 may include a module interface device for each battery module of battery system 110. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, battery management system 100 includes a first module interface device 122-1 operably coupled to battery module 112-1 and a second module interface device 122-2 operably coupled to battery module 112-2. In each further battery module of battery system 110 represented by battery module 112-N, battery management system 110 may include a further module interface device operably coupled to the battery module, as represented by module interface device 122-N.

[0022]

[0027] Each module interface device of the battery management system 100, including module interface devices 122-1 to 122-N, can be electrically coupled to the electrical load 130 and / or the power source 132 via the electrical transmission circuit 136 of the battery management system 100. The electrical transmission circuit 136 schematically shown in FIG. 1 can include various electrical paths that electrically couple the electrical load 130 and / or the power source 132 to the module interface devices (e.g., 122-1 to 122-N) of the battery management system 100 according to any suitable series and / or parallel configuration. The module interface devices are in turn electrically coupled to their respective battery modules (e.g., 112-1 to 112-N).

[0023]

[0028] In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the battery management system 100 includes one or more switches (e.g., 138-1, 138-2) arranged along the electrical transmission circuit 136. The one or more switches enable the electrical load 130 and the power source 132 to be selectively connected and disconnected between the module interface devices (e.g., 122-1 to 122-N) of the battery management system by the control system 120. For example, during a first operating state in which electrical energy stored in the battery modules of the battery system 100 can be used to power the electrical load, the power source 132 is disconnected from the module interface device while the electrical load 130 can be connected to the module interface device of the battery management system 100. As another example, during a second operating state in which the battery modules can be charged using the electrical energy provided by the power source 132, the electrical load 130 is disconnected from the module interface device of the battery system 100 while the power source 132 can be connected to the module interface device.

[0024]

[0029] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing several further embodiments of the module interface device and battery module of Figure 1, described with reference to the module interface device 122 connected to the battery module 112. Module interface devices 122-1 to 122-N, described above with reference to Figure 1, are several embodiments of the module interface device 122 of Figure 2. Battery modules 112-1 to 112-N of Figure 1 are several embodiments of the battery module 112 of Figure 2.

[0025]

[0030] In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the battery module 112 includes a cathode terminal 210 and an anode terminal 212. Each battery module in the battery system 110 of Figure 1, including battery modules 112-1 to 112-N, similarly includes a cathode terminal and an anode terminal.

[0026]

[0031] The battery module 112 further includes a set of cells 114. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the set of cells 114 includes cells 116-1, 116-2, 116-3, and 116-4 through 116-X, where "X" can represent any suitable number of cells. The set of cells 114 are interconnected in series in cell order between the cathode terminal 210 and the anode terminal 212 of the battery module 112.

[0027]

[0032] In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, one or more sets of inter-cell electrical interconnects 250 of the battery module 112 interconnect adjacent pairs of cells in a series 216 of cell sequence. For example, cells 116-1 and 116-2 are interconnected as a first adjacent pair of cells by their respective inter-cell electrical interconnects 214-1, cells 116-2 and 116-3 are interconnected as a second adjacent pair of cells by their respective inter-cell electrical interconnects 214-2, and cells 116-3 and 116-4 are interconnected as a third adjacent pair of cells by their respective inter-cell electrical interconnects 214-3.

[0028]

[0033] Cell 116-1, representing the first cell in the series 216 in cell order relative to the cathode terminal 210, is electrically coupled to the cathode terminal. Cell 116-X, representing the last cell in the series 216 in cell order relative to the cathode terminal 210, is electrically coupled to the anode terminal 212. In this configuration, the series 216 in cell order has the following cell sequence: starting from the cathode terminal 210, then 116-1, 116-2, 116-3, 116-4, then 116-X, and ending at the anode terminal 212.

[0029]

[0034] As a set of cells 114, interconnected as a series 216 in cell sequence in the embodiment of Figure 2, the rated voltage of the set of cells is accumulated between the cathode terminal 210 and the anode terminal 212. For example, the set of cells 114 includes four cells 116-1, 116-2, 116-3, and 116-4. Each of them has a rating of 4 volts interconnected in series in cell sequence, and the battery module 112 may present 16 volts between the cathode terminal 210 and the anode terminal 212. In another embodiment, the set of cells 114 includes three cells 116-1, 116-2, and 116-3. Each of them has a rating of 4 volts interconnected in series in cell sequence, and the battery module 112 may present 12 volts between the cathode terminal 210 and the anode terminal 212.

[0030]

[0035] In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the module interface device 122 includes a cathode bus 226 having a battery-side cathode interface 220 connected to the cathode terminal 210 of the battery module 112. The module interface device 122 further includes an anode bus 228 having a battery-side anode interface 222 connected to the anode terminal 212 of the battery module 112.

[0031]

[0036] The module interface device 122, shown in Figure 2, is electrically coupled to the battery module 112 via a battery-side cathode interface 220 and a battery-side anode interface 222. It will be understood that the module interface devices disclosed herein, including the exemplary module interface device 122, can be isolated from the battery module. In this configuration, the battery-side cathode interface 220 is connectable to the cathode terminal 210, and the battery-side anode interface 222 is connectable to the anode terminal 212. Each of the module interface devices 122-1 to 122-N in Figure 1 similarly includes an instance of the battery-side cathode interface 220 and an instance of the battery-side anode interface 222. Through these instances, the module interface device can be connected to the respective cathode and anode terminals of the battery module.

[0032]

[0037] The module interface device 122 further includes a set of inter-cell taps 260 connected to or connectable to each inter-cell electrical interconnection (e.g., 214-1, 214-2, 214-3, etc.). The inter-cell electrical interconnection interconnects adjacent pairs of cells in a series 216 of cell sequence of the set of cells 114. The battery module 112 may include each inter-cell tap for each inter-cell electrical interconnection of the battery module. For example, if the battery module 112 includes three electrical interconnections 214-1, 214-2, and 214-3, the module interface device 122 may include three inter-cell taps 224-1, 224-2, and 224-3. The three inter-cell taps are connected to inter-cell electrical interconnections 214-1, 214-2, and 214-3, respectively.

[0033]

[0038] In some embodiments where the battery module 112 contains X cells, the number of adjacent pairs of cells interconnected in a series 216 of cell sequence can be represented by the expression X-1. For example, if the set of cells 114 contains four cells interconnected in a series 216 of cell sequence, then there are three adjacent pairs of cells. Thus, in this embodiment, the set of inter-cell taps 260 of the module interface device 122 includes three inter-cell taps for three adjacent pairs of cells. For example, in Figure 2, inter-cell tap 224-1 is electrically coupled to inter-cell electrical interconnection 214-1. Inter-cell electrical interconnection 214-1 interconnects adjacent pairs of cells 116-1 and 116-2 in a series 216 of cell sequence. The set of inter-cell taps 260 further includes inter-cell tap 224-2 which is electrically coupled to inter-cell electrical interconnection 214-2. Inter-cell electrical interconnection 214-2 interconnects adjacent pairs of cells 116-2 and 116-3 within a series 216 in cell sequence. The set of inter-cell taps 260 further includes inter-cell taps 224-3 electrically coupled to inter-cell electrical interconnection 214-3. Inter-cell electrical interconnection 214-3 interconnects adjacent pairs of cells 116-3 and 116-4 within a series 216 in cell sequence.

[0034]

[0039] The cathode bus 226 has a system-side cathode interface 230 connected to an electrical load and / or power supply, such as the electrical load 130 and power supply 132 in Figure 1. The anode bus 228 has a system-side anode interface 232 connected to an electrical load and / or power supply. The module interface devices 122-1 to 122-N in Figure 1 similarly include instances of the system-side cathode interface 230 and instances of the system-side anode interface 232. Through these instances, the module interface devices can be connected to an electrical load and / or power supply.

[0035]

[0040] The module interface device 122 further includes a circuit 240 electrically coupled to the cathode bus 226 and the anode bus 228. The circuit 240 may include a module isolation circuit 244 and a cell balancing circuit 246, schematically shown in Figure 2. Multiple embodiments of the module isolation circuit 244 and the cell balancing circuit 246 will be described in more detail with reference to Figures 3 and 4. Each of the module interface devices 122-1 to 122-N in Figure 1 may similarly include an instance of the circuit 240, which includes the module isolation circuit 244 and the cell balancing circuit 246.

[0036]

[0041] The module isolation circuit 244 of each module interface device is operable by the control system 120 of Figure 1 to disconnect the battery module 112 from the system-side cathode interface 230 and / or system-side anode interface 232, thereby isolating the battery module from the electrical loads, power supplies, and other module interface devices of the battery management system 100 connected to interfaces 230 and 232. The cell balancing circuit 246 of each module interface device is operable by the control system 120 of Figure 1 to balance the voltage of the set of cells 114 by reducing or eliminating voltage imbalances among the sets of cells of the battery module. The control system 120 of Figure 1 can control the module isolation circuit 244 and the cell balancing circuit 246 via electrical connections 124, which is one embodiment of electrical connections 124-1 to 124-N in Figure 1.

[0037]

[0042] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing the module interface device 122-1 in Figure 1 as a first embodiment of the module interface device 122 in Figure 2 described above. In Figure 3, the module interface device 122-1 is connected to the battery module 112-1 in Figure 1 as an embodiment of the battery module 112 in Figure 2 described above.

[0038]

[0043] In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the set of cells 114 of the battery module 112-1 includes four cells 116-1, 116-2, 116-3, and 116-4, and the set of inter-cell electrical interconnects includes three inter-cell electrical interconnects 214-1, 214-2, and 214-3. These inter-cell electrical interconnects interconnect adjacent pairs of cells in series 216 in cell order, as previously described with reference to Figure 2. The module interface device 122-1 further includes three inter-cell taps 224-1, 224-2, and 224-3 that are connected to or connectable to each of the inter-cell electrical interconnects 214-1, 214-2, and 214-3 of the battery module 112-1. The system-side cathode interface 230 ("V+") of the cathode bus 226 and the system-side anode interface 232 ("V-") of the anode bus 228 are also shown in Figure 3.

[0039]

[0044] In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the cell balancing circuit 246 of the module interface device 122-1 includes a conductive path 314 connecting the cathode bus 226 to the anode bus 228. The cell balancing circuit 246 of the module interface device 122-1 further includes a set 310 of resistor-capacitance elements arranged in a series 316 along the conductive path 314. For each cell of the battery module, the cell balancing circuit 246 may include a corresponding resistor-capacitance element. For example, the number of resistor-capacitance elements in the set 310 of elements in a series 316 may correspond to the number of cells in a set 114 of interconnected cells in a series 216. In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the set 310 of resistor-capacitance elements further includes four resistor-capacitance elements 312-1, 312-2, 312-3, and 312-4 in a series 316. These correspond to four cells 116-1, 116-2, 116-3, and 116-4 of battery module 112-1, which are interconnected within a series of 216 cells in cell order.

[0040]

[0045] Each inter-cell tap in the set of inter-cell taps (e.g., 224-1 to 224-3) connects to a conductive path 314 between different adjacent pairs of resistive-capacitive elements in a set of elements 310 within a series of elements 316 in element sequence. In the embodiment of Figure 3, inter-cell tap 224-1 connects to a conductive path 314 between corresponding adjacent pairs of resistive-capacitive elements 312-1 and 312-2, inter-cell tap 224-2 connects to a conductive path 314 between corresponding adjacent pairs of resistive-capacitive elements 312-2 and 312-3, and inter-cell tap 224-3 connects to a conductive path 314 between corresponding adjacent pairs of resistive-capacitive elements 312-3 and 312-4.

[0041]

[0046] Each resistive-capacitive element (e.g., 312-1 to 312-4) in the set of elements 310 exhibits electrical resistance and capacitance. In at least some embodiments, each resistive-capacitive element (e.g., 312-1 to 312-4) in the set of elements 310 may include one or more passive elements. As schematically shown in Figure 3 by a detailed view 300 of resistive-capacitive element 312-1, each resistive-capacitive element (e.g., 312-1 to 312-4) in the set of elements 310 may include a resistor 302 exhibiting electrical resistance, placed in parallel with a capacitor 304 exhibiting capacitance between interfaces 306 and 308 on both sides of the element connected to a conductive path 314.

[0042]

[0047] The capacitance value of capacitor 304 may be selected to provide a desired voltage imbalance correction for the set of cells 114 of the battery module. For example, as will be described in more detail with reference to Figure 5, capacitor 304 may be discharged as part of the cell balancing portion of the duty cycle. The amount of electrical energy discharged by the capacitor may be specified, for example, through the selection of a capacitance value to achieve a target voltage increase in the deficient cells of the battery.

[0043]

[0048] Each resistive-capacitive element (e.g., 312-1 to 312-4) in the element set 310 may similarly be configured to have the same specified electrical resistance and capacitance values ​​as other resistive-capacitive elements in the element set 316 in series 316. This configuration of the cell balancing circuit 246 can be used to balance the cell voltages between similarly configured rated cells (e.g., 116-1 to 116-4) of a battery module interconnected in series 216 in cell sequence. For example, the conductive path 314 and the resistive-capacitive element set 310 may form a voltage divider for a set of inter-cell taps.

[0044]

[0049] The cell balancing circuit 246 further includes one or more sets of switches 320. At each inter-cell tap, each switch of the set of switches 320 is positioned along the inter-cell tap. In the embodiment of Figure 3, the set of switches 320 includes switch 322-1 positioned along inter-cell tap 224-1, switch 322-2 positioned along inter-cell tap 224-2, and switch 322-3 positioned along inter-cell tap 224-3.

[0045]

[0050] Each switch in the set of switches 320 includes an electrical contact. A control signal applied to this electrical contact changes the operation of the switch between an open state and a closed state. For example, switch 322-1 includes an electrical contact 324-1, switch 322-2 includes an electrical contact 324, and switch 322-3 includes an electrical contact 324-3. A control signal can be applied to these electrical contacts to change the operation of the switch between an open state and a closed state. The control system 120 in Figure 1 can be operably coupled to electrical contacts 324-1 through 324-3 via an electrical connection 124-1 schematically shown in Figure 1. In one embodiment, each switch in the set of switches 320 may take the form of a field-effect transistor (FET).

[0046]

[0051] In at least some embodiments, the conductive path 314 may be electrically coupled to the cathode bus 226 via a first resistor 330 and to the anode bus 228 via a second resistor 332. Resistors 330 and 332 are included in this embodiment to balance the impedance of the circuit. Since the switch (e.g., as a FET) has impedance, the resistance values ​​of resistors 330 and 332 may be selected such that the impedance presented to each battery cell is matched or equal among sets of battery cells in order to shuttle current within the circuit and among the battery cells and balance the battery cells. In this embodiment, impedance matching may be within a threshold difference such as less than a threshold % (e.g., an impedance difference of 3% or less, or other appropriate value).

[0047]

[0052] Figure 3 further illustrates an embodiment of the module isolation circuit 244 of Figure 2. The module isolation circuit 244 is operable to disconnect the battery module from one or both of the system-side cathode interface 230 and / or system-side anode interface 232. For example, a switch 360 positioned along the anode bus 228 is configured as a series switch that allows charging and discharging, enabling current to flow in and out of the set of battery cells 114. The switch 360 may take the form of a FET, as an example. In the embodiment of Figure 3, the first and second terminals of the switch 360 are joined to the anode bus 228 on both sides of the switch between the set of battery cells and the cell balancing circuit 246, and the third terminal of the switch 360 is connected to a conductive path 362 of the module isolation circuit 244 connected to the cathode bus 226 between the set of battery cells 114 and the cell balancing circuit 246. The module isolation circuit 244 further includes a resistor in parallel with the switch 360 between the conductive path 362 and the anode bus 228, at a position between the set of battery cells 114 and the switch 360. When the switch 360 is switched to the open state, the set of battery cells 114 is disconnected from the system-side cathode interface 230 and the system-side anode interface 232 (e.g., disconnected from V+ and V-). When the switch 360 is switched to the closed state, the set of battery cells 114 is connected to the system-side cathode interface 230 and the system-side anode interface 232 (e.g., connected to V+ and V-). The switch 360 can be controlled between the open and closed states by the control system 120 in Figure 1.

[0048]

[0053] The module isolation circuit 244 further includes a switch 370 positioned along a conductive path 372 of the module isolation circuit that connects the cathode bus 226 and the anode bus 228. In this embodiment, the conductive path 372 is positioned between the set of battery cells 114 and the cell balancing circuit 246. The switch 370 may take the form of a FET, for example. In the embodiment of Figure 3, the first and second terminals of the switch 370 connect to the conductive path 372 on both sides of the switch, and the third terminal connects to a resistor 374 of the module isolation circuit 244 connected to the anode bus 228 between the set of battery cells 114 and the cell balancing circuit 246. In this embodiment, the switch 370 acts as an isolation / bypass switch that can be switched to the open state during charging of the set of battery cells 114 and the set of resistive-capacitive elements 310, and during discharging of the set of battery cells 114 and the set of resistive-capacitive elements 310. Switch 370 can be switched to a closed state to provide circuit protection when the battery cell set and the resistor-capacitance element set 310 are not being charged or discharged. Switch 370 can be controlled between the open and closed states by the control system 120 in Figure 1.

[0049]

[0054] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing the module interface device 122-2 of Figure 1 as a second embodiment of the module interface device 122 of Figure 2 described above. In Figure 4, the module interface device 122-2 is connected to the battery module 112-2 of Figure 1 as another embodiment of the battery module 112 of Figure 2 described above.

[0050]

[0055] The module interface device 122-2 in Figure 4 includes many of the components described above with reference to the module interface device 122-1 in Figure 3. However, in the embodiment of Figure 4, the set of cells 114 of the battery module 112-2 includes three cells 116-1, 116-2, and 116-3, in contrast to the four cells of the battery module 112-1. Thus, the set of resistive-capacitive elements 310 of the cell balancing circuit 246 in the embodiment of Figure 4 includes three elements 312-1, 312-2, and 312-3. In the three cells of the battery module 112-2, the set of inter-cell electrical interconnects includes two inter-cell electrical interconnects 214-1 and 214-2 that interconnect adjacent pairs in series 216 in cell sequence. Therefore, in the embodiment of Figure 4, the module interface device 122-2 includes two inter-cell taps 224-1 and 224-2 that are joined to or can be joined to the respective inter-cell electrical interconnects 214-1 and 214-2 of the battery module 112-2. Furthermore, since the module interface device 122-2 includes two inter-cell taps 224-1 and 224-2 in this embodiment, the cell balancing circuit 246 includes two switches 324-1 and 324-2, respectively, arranged along the inter-cell taps 224-1 and 224-2.

[0051]

[0056] Figure 5 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method 500 for controlling a module interface device connected to a battery module. Method 500 can be performed by the control system 120 in Figure 1, for example, using any of the module interface devices described above in Figures 1 to 4.

[0052]

[0057] In 510, the method may include connecting a module interface device to a battery module. As previously stated, the battery module may include a set of cells interconnected in series in cell order between the cathode terminal and the anode terminal of the battery module.

[0053]

[0058] As part of connecting the module interface device to the battery module in 510, the method may include, in 512, connecting the battery-side cathode interface of the module interface device's cathode bus to the cathode terminal of the battery module. Furthermore, as part of connecting the module interface device to the battery module in 510, the method may include, in 514, connecting the battery-side anode interface of the module interface device's anode bus to the anode terminal of the battery module.

[0054]

[0059] As part of connecting the module interface device to the battery module in 510, the method may include, in 516, connecting the inter-cell taps of the module interface device to the electrical interconnects of the battery module that interconnect the adjacent pairs of cells in series in the cell sequence of the battery module.

[0055]

[0060] In 520, the method may include performing a duty cycle that includes a charging portion and a cell balancing portion. In 522, the method may include performing the charging portion of the duty cycle. During the charging portion of the duty cycle performed in 522, the method may include in 524 supplying electrical energy from a source (e.g., power supply 132 in Figure 1) to the cathode bus and anode bus of the module interface device. For example, electrical energy may be supplied from the source to the cathode bus via the system-side cathode interface 230 and to the anode bus via the system-side anode interface 232.

[0056]

[0061] As described above in 512 and 514, the battery-side cathode interface of the cathode bus is connected to the cathode terminal of the battery module, and the battery-side anode interface of the anode bus is connected to the anode terminal of the battery module. As shown in 526, the first portion of electrical energy supplied in 524 during the charging portion of the duty cycle charges a set of cells in the battery module via the cathode and anode terminals.

[0057]

[0062] Furthermore, as shown in 528, a second portion of the electrical energy supplied during the charging portion of the duty cycle charges a set of multiple resistive-capacitive elements of the module interface device (e.g., 310 in Figures 3 and 4) in 524. As previously stated with reference to Figures 3 and 4, each resistive-capacitive element in the set of resistive-capacitive elements may include a resistor and a capacitor arranged in parallel. In this embodiment, a second portion of the electrical energy supplied during the charging portion of the duty cycle charges the capacitor of each resistive-capacitive element in the set of resistive-capacitive elements.

[0058]

[0063] Following the charging portion of the duty cycle performed in 522, the method may include performing the cell balancing portion of the duty cycle in 530. During the cell balancing portion of the duty cycle in 532, the method may include ceasing the supply of electrical energy from the source to the cathode and anode terminals of the module interface device.

[0059]

[0064] Furthermore, during the cell balancing portion of the duty cycle, the method may include, in 534, supplying electrical energy discharged from a set of resistive-capacitive elements of a module interface device to a set of cells in the battery module via a set of one or more inter-cell taps (e.g., 260 in Figure 2) connected to a set of one or more inter-cell electrical interconnects (e.g., 250 in Figure 2) that interconnects the cathode terminals, anode terminals, and adjacent pairs of cells in series in the cell sequence of the battery module (e.g., 260 in Figure 2). As shown in 536, the electrical energy (e.g., charge) is shuttled between the cells of the battery module to reduce or eliminate voltage imbalances among the sets of cells in the battery module.

[0060]

[0065] Supplying electrical energy discharged from the set of resistive-capacitive elements in 534 may involve closing a switch (e.g., of the set of switches 320 in Figures 3 and 4) located along the inter-cell tap to establish an electrical connection between the set of resistive-capacitive elements and the set of cells in the battery module, for each inter-cell tap in the set of inter-cell taps. As previously described with reference to several embodiments in Figures 3 and 4, the conductive path of the module interface device connects the cathode bus to the anode bus, and the set of resistive-capacitive elements is arranged in sequential series along the conductive path. Furthermore, each inter-cell tap in the set of inter-cell taps is electrically connected to the conductive path at each position between different adjacent pairs of the set of resistive-capacitive elements in sequential series, as previously described with reference to Figures 3 and 4. In this configuration, the conductive path and the set of resistive-capacitive elements form a voltage divider for the set of inter-cell taps.

[0061]

[0066] At 540, the method may include determining whether to repeat the duty cycle. If the duty cycle is to be repeated ("YES" in Figure 5), the method returns to 520, and the duty cycle may be executed again. In at least some embodiments, the method may include repeatedly executing the duty cycle at 520 over a period of time, including a charging portion performed at 522 and a cell balancing portion performed at 530. For example, the duty cycle may be repeated until a set of cells in the battery module is fully charged or reaches a threshold charge level. If the duty cycle is not to be repeated ("NO" in Figure 5), the method may terminate or proceed to another appropriate process.

[0062]

[0067] In at least some embodiments, the cell balancing portion of the duty cycle performed at 530 has a shorter duration than the charging portion of the duty cycle performed at 522. For example, the charging portion of the duty cycle may be performed for most of the duty cycle's duration, while the cell balancing portion may be performed for a shorter duration than the charging portion. The ratio of the duty cycle's duration in which the charging portion and the cell balancing portion are performed can be expressed as a fraction or percentage of the total duty cycle's duration. For example, the cell balancing portion may represent 5% (or another appropriate value) of the duty cycle's duration, while the charging portion may represent 95% (or another appropriate value) of the duty cycle's duration.

[0063]

[0068] In at least some embodiments, the methods and operations described herein may be performed by a computing system of one or more computing devices. More specifically, such methods and processes may be implemented as a computer application program or service, as an application programming interface (API), as a library, and / or as other computer program products.

[0064]

[0069] Figure 6 schematically shows an exemplary computing system 600 configured to perform the methods and operations described herein. In one embodiment, the computing system 600 may form part of the control system 120 shown in Figure 1. The computing system 600 may take the form of one or more personal computers, server computers, network computers, mobile computers, and / or other computing devices.

[0065]

[0070] The computing system 600 includes a logic machine 610, a storage machine 612, and one or more input / output (I / O) interface devices 614. The computing system 600 may include other components not shown in Figure 6.

[0066]

[0071] The logic machine 610 includes one or more physical logic devices configured to execute multiple instructions. For example, the logic machine 610 may be configured to execute multiple instructions 620 for performing methods and operations described herein, including method 500 in Figure 5. The multiple instructions 620 may take the form of one or more applications, services, programs, routines, libraries, objects, components, data structures, or other logical configurations. Such multiple instructions may be implemented to perform work, implement data types, transform the state of one or more components, realize technical effects, or otherwise achieve desired results.

[0067]

[0072] The logic machine 610 may include one or more processor devices configured to execute multiple software instructions. Furthermore, or alternatively, the logic machine 610 may include one or more hardware or firmware logic machines configured to execute multiple hardware or firmware instructions. The processor devices of the logic machine may be single-core or multi-core, and the multiple instructions executed therein may be configured for sequential, parallel, and / or distributed processing. Individual components of the logic machine may optionally be distributed across two or more separate devices. These devices may be remotely located and / or configured for coordinated processing. Multiple embodiments of the logic machine 610 may be executed by remotely accessible network computing devices that are virtualized and configured as cloud computing configurations.

[0068]

[0073] The storage machine 612 includes one or more physical storage devices configured to hold a plurality of instructions 620 and other data 622 that can be executed by the logic machine 610 in order to perform or otherwise carry out the methods and operations described herein. When such methods and operations are performed or otherwise carried out, the state of the storage machine 612 may be transformed, for example, to hold different data.

[0069]

[0074] The storage machine 612 may include removable and / or built-in storage devices. The storage machine 612 may include, among other things, optical memory, semiconductor memory (e.g., RAM, EPROM, EEPROM, etc.), and / or magnetic memory (e.g., hard disk drives, floppy disks, tape drives, MRAM, etc.). The storage machine 612 may include volatile devices, non-volatile devices, dynamic devices, static devices, read / write devices, read-only devices, random access devices, sequential access devices, location addressable devices, file addressable devices, and / or content addressable devices.

[0070]

[0075] It will be understood that the storage machine 612 includes one or more physical storage devices. However, some aspects of the instructions 620 described herein may, alternatively, be propagated by a communication medium (e.g., electromagnetic signals, optical signals, etc.) that is not held by a physical device for a finite duration, under certain conditions or circumstances.

[0071]

[0076] Multiple embodiments of the logic machine 610 and the storage machine 612 may be integrated into one or more hardware logic components. Such hardware logic components may include, for example, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), program-specific integrated circuits / application-specific integrated circuits (PASICs / ASICs), program-specific standard products / application-specific standard products (PSSPs / ASSPs), systems-on-a-chip (SOCs), and complex-programmable logic devices (CPLDs).

[0072]

[0077] The terms “module,” “program,” and “engine” may be used to describe multiple embodiments of a computing system 600 implemented to perform a particular function. In some cases, a module, program, or engine may be instantiated via a logic machine 610 that executes multiple instructions 620 held by a storage machine 612. It will be understood that various modules, programs, and / or engines may be instantiated from the same application, service, code block, object, library, routine, API, function, etc. Similarly, the same module, program, and / or engine may be instantiated by various applications, services, code block, object, routine, API, function, etc. The terms “module,” “program,” and “engine” may encompass individual or grouped executable files, data files, libraries, drivers, scripts, database records, etc.

[0073]

[0078] Figure 6 further illustrates multiple embodiments of the multiple instructions 620. In the embodiment of Figure 6, the multiple instructions 620 may define multiple embodiments of a duty cycle 630 that can be executed by the computing system 600, such as the duty cycle executed in 520 of method 500 in Figure 5. For example, the duty cycle 630 may include a charging portion 632 that may refer to a charging portion executed in 522 of method 500, and a cell balancing portion 634 that may refer to a cell balancing portion executed in 530 of method 500.

[0074]

[0079] The input / output device 614 may include a device that operably connects the computing system to the circuit 240 of each module interface device, including the various switches shown in Figures 3 and 4. Thus, the input / output interface device 614 can be used by the control system 110 to communicate with the battery interface modules 122-1, 122-2 to 122-N shown in Figures 1 to 4 via electrical connections 124-1 and 124-2 to 124-N. The input / output interface device 614 may include a device that operably connects the computing system to other devices (e.g., peripheral devices, computing devices, or other remote devices) or communication networks (e.g., the Internet and / or a local area network). In at least some embodiments, the input / output interface device 614 may include peripheral devices such as a graphical display, a user input device (e.g., a keyboard, mouse, etc.), other input devices, and / or other output devices.

[0075]

[0080] Furthermore, this disclosure includes multiple configurations, which are based on the following multiple embodiments.

[0076]

[0081] Example 1. A module interface device for a battery module, comprising a set of battery cells interconnected in series in cell order between the cathode terminal and anode terminal of the battery module, the device comprising: a cathode bus having a battery-side cathode interface connectable to the cathode terminal of the battery module; an anode bus having a battery-side anode interface connectable to the anode terminal of the battery module; a set of one or more inter-cell taps connectable to each inter-cell electrical interconnection that interconnects adjacent pairs of cells in series in cell order of the battery module; and a cell balancing circuit, wherein the A modular interface device comprising: a conductive path connecting the cathode bus to the anode bus; a set of multiple resistive-capacitive elements arranged in series in element order along the conductive path, wherein each inter-cell tap of the set of inter-cell taps connects to the conductive path at each position between different adjacent pairs of resistive-capacitive elements in series in element order; and a set of one or more switches, wherein for each inter-cell tap of the set of inter-cell taps, each switch of the set of switches is arranged along the inter-cell tap.

[0077]

[0082] Example 2. The module interface device according to Embodiment 1, wherein each set of switches is operable between an open state during the charging portion of a duty cycle in which the set of resistive-capacitive elements are charged by electrical energy supplied via the cathode bus and the anode bus, and a closed state during the cell balancing portion of the duty cycle in which the set of resistive-capacitive elements discharge electrical energy to the set of cells of the battery module connected to the module interface device in order to reduce voltage imbalance among the sets of cells.

[0078]

[0083] Example 3. Each resistive-capacitive element comprises one or more passive elements, as described in Example 1 or 2, for the module interface device.

[0079]

[0084] Example 4. Each resistive-capacitive element is a module interface device as described in any one of Examples 1 to 3, including a resistor and a capacitor.

[0080]

[0085] Example 5. The resistor and the capacitor are arranged in parallel in the module interface device according to Embodiment 4.

[0081]

[0086] Example 6. The module interface device according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 5, wherein the cathode bus further comprises a system-side cathode interface configured to be electrically coupled to an electrical load and / or power supply, and the anode bus further comprises a system-side anode interface configured to be electrically coupled to the electrical load and / or power supply.

[0082]

[0087] Example 7. The module interface device according to Embodiment 6, further comprising a module isolation circuit capable of disconnecting the battery module from at least one of the system-side cathode interface and / or the system-side anode interface.

[0083]

[0088] Example 8. A method for controlling a module interface device connected to a battery module, which includes a set of cells interconnected in series in cell order between the cathode terminal and anode terminal of the battery module, comprising supplying electrical energy from a source to a cathode bus and an anode bus of the module interface device during the charging portion of a duty cycle, wherein the cathode bus has a battery-side cathode interface connected to the cathode terminal of the battery module, and the anode bus has a battery-side anode interface connected to the anode terminal of the battery module, and a first portion of the electrical energy supplied during the charging portion of the duty cycle is supplied to the battery module via the cathode terminal and the anode terminal. A method comprising charging the set of cells of a battery module, wherein a second portion of the electrical energy supplied during the charging portion of the duty cycle charges a set of multiple resistive-capacitive elements of the module interface device, the method further comprising ceasing to supply electrical energy from the source to the cathode bus and the anode bus of the module interface device during the cell balancing portion of the duty cycle, and supplying the electrical energy discharged from the set of resistive-capacitive elements of the module interface device to the set of cells of the battery module via the cathode terminal, the anode terminal, and a set of one or more inter-cell taps connected to a set of one or more inter-cell electrical interconnects that interconnect adjacent pairs of cells in series in the cell sequence of the battery module.

[0084]

[0089] Example 9. The method according to Embodiment 8, wherein supplying the electrical energy discharged from the set of resistive-capacitive elements includes, for each inter-cell tap of the set of inter-cell taps, closing a switch located along the inter-cell tap to establish an electrical connection between the set of resistive-capacitive elements and the set of cells of the battery module.

[0085]

[0090] Example 10. The method according to Embodiment 9, wherein the conductive path of the module interface device connects the cathode bus to the anode bus, the set of resistive-capacitive elements are arranged in series in elemental order along the conductive path, and each inter-cell tap of the set of inter-cell taps connects to the conductive path at the respective positions between different adjacent pairs of resistive-capacitive elements in the series in elemental order.

[0086]

[0091] Example 11. The method according to Embodiment 10, wherein the conductive path and the set of resistive-capacitive elements form a voltage divider for the set of inter-cell taps.

[0087]

[0092] Example 12. The method according to any one of Examples 8 to 11, wherein each resistive-capacitive element comprises a resistor and a capacitor arranged in parallel, and the second portion of the electrical energy supplied during the charging portion of the duty cycle charges the capacitor of each resistive-capacitive element in the set of resistive-capacitive elements.

[0088]

[0093] Example 13. The method according to any one of Examples 8 to 12, wherein the cell balancing portion of the duty cycle has a shorter duration than the charging portion of the duty cycle.

[0089]

[0094] Example 14. The method according to Example 13, further comprising repeatedly performing the duty cycle including the charging portion and the cell balancing portion.

[0090]

[0095] Example 15. A battery management system for managing a battery module, which includes a set of cells interconnected in series in cell order between the cathode terminal and anode terminal of the battery module, comprising: a module interface device, a cathode bus having a battery-side cathode interface connected to the cathode terminal of the battery module; an anode bus having a battery-side anode interface connected to the anode terminal of the battery module; a set of one or more inter-cell taps connected to each inter-cell electrical interconnect that interconnects adjacent pairs of cells in series in cell order of the battery module; and a cell balancing circuit, a conductive path connecting the cathode bus to the anode bus; a set of multiple resistive-capacitive elements arranged in series in element order along the conductive path, wherein at each position between different adjacent pairs of resistive-capacitive elements in series in element order, each inter-cell tap of the set of inter-cell taps connects to the conductive path, A battery management system comprising: a module interface device including a cell balancing circuit, which includes a set of resistive-capacitive elements and a set of one or more switches, wherein for each inter-cell tap of the set of inter-cell taps, each switch of the set of switches is positioned along the inter-cell tap; and a control system configured to operate the set of switches to an open state during the charging portion of a duty cycle, supplying electrical energy from a source to the cathode bus and the anode bus, a portion of which is supplied during the charging portion of the duty cycle to charge the set of resistive-capacitive elements, and to operate the set of switches to a closed state during the cell balancing portion of the duty cycle, supplying the electrical energy discharged from the set of resistive-capacitive elements to the set of cells of the battery module via the cathode terminal, the anode terminal and the set of inter-cell taps.

[0091]

[0096] Example 16. The battery management system according to Embodiment 15, wherein each set of switches is operable between an open state during the charging portion of a duty cycle in which the set of resistive-capacitive elements are charged by electrical energy supplied via the cathode bus and the anode bus, and a closed state during the cell balancing portion of the duty cycle in which the set of resistive-capacitive elements discharge electrical energy to the set of cells of the battery module connected to the module interface device in order to reduce voltage imbalance among the sets of cells.

[0092]

[0097] Example 17. Each resistive-capacitive element includes one or more passive elements, as described in Example 15 or 16 of the battery management system.

[0093]

[0098] Example 18. Each resistive-capacitive element includes a resistor and a capacitor, as described in any one of Examples 15 to 17 of the battery management system.

[0094]

[0099] Example 19. The battery management system according to any one of Embodiments 15 to 18, wherein the cathode bus further comprises a system-side cathode interface configured to be electrically coupled to an electrical load and / or a power source, and the anode bus further comprises a system-side anode interface configured to be electrically coupled to the electrical load and / or the power source.

[0095]

[0100] Example 20. The battery management system according to Embodiment 19, further comprising a module isolation circuit capable of disconnecting the battery module from at least one of the system-side cathode interface and / or the system-side anode interface.

[0096]

[0101] The configurations and / or approaches described herein are substantially illustrative, and it should be understood that these particular embodiments or examples should not be considered restrictive, as numerous variations are possible. A particular routine or method described herein may represent one or more of any number of processing strategies. Thus, the various actions illustrated and / or described may be performed in the illustrated and / or described order, or in a different order, or simultaneously, or omitted. Similarly, the order of the processes described above may be changed.

[0097]

[0102] The subject matter of this disclosure includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various processes, systems, and configurations disclosed herein, as well as other features, functions, operations, and / or characteristics, and any and all equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A module interface device (122-1) for a battery module (112-1), comprising a set of battery cells (114) interconnected in cell-sequential series (216) between the cathode terminal (210) and anode terminal (212) of the battery module (112-1), A cathode bus (226) having a battery-side cathode interface (220) that can be connected to the cathode terminal (210) of the battery module (112-1), an anode bus (228) having a battery-side anode interface (222) that can be connected to the anode terminal (212) of the battery module (112-1), A set of one or more inter-cell taps (260) that can be connected to each inter-cell electrical interconnect (250) that interconnects adjacent pairs of cells (116-1, 116-2) within the series (216) of the cell order of the battery module (112-1), and The system includes a cell balancing circuit (246), and the cell balancing circuit (246) is A conductive path (314) connects the cathode bus (226) to the anode bus (228), A set (310) of multiple resistive-capacitive elements arranged in series (316) in element order along the conductive path (314), wherein each inter-cell tap (224-1) of the set (260) of inter-cell taps connects to the conductive path (314) at the respective positions between different adjacent pairs (312-1, 312-2) of resistive-capacitive elements in the series (316) in element order, and A module interface device (122-1) comprising one or more sets of switches (320), wherein for each inter-cell tap (224-1) of the set of switches (320), each switch (322-1) of the set of switches (320) is arranged along the inter-cell tap (224-1) of the set of inter-cell taps (260).

2. Each of the switch set (320) has an open state during the charging portion (632) of the duty cycle (630) in which the resistive-capacitive element set (310) is charged by electrical energy supplied via the cathode bus (226) and the anode bus (228), The module interface device (122-1) according to claim 1, wherein the set of resistive-capacitive elements (310) is operable between a closed state and a closed state in the cell balancing portion (634) of the duty cycle (630) that discharges electrical energy to the set of cells (114) of the battery module (112-1) connected to the module interface device (122-1).

3. Each resistive-capacitive element (312-1, 312-2) includes one or more passive elements (302, 304), wherein the module interface device (122-1) is as described in claim 1.

4. Each resistive-capacitive element (312-1, 312-2) includes a resistor (302) and a capacitor (304), wherein the module interface device (122-1) is as described in claim 1.

5. The module interface device (122-1) according to claim 4, wherein the resistor (302) and the capacitor (304) are arranged in parallel.

6. The cathode bus (226) further includes a system-side cathode interface (230) configured to be electrically coupled to an electrical load (130) and / or a power supply (132), The module interface device (122-1) according to claim 1, wherein the anode bus (228) further comprises a system-side anode interface (232) configured to be electrically coupled to the electrical load (130) and / or the power supply (132).

7. The module interface device (122-1) according to claim 6, further comprising a module isolation circuit (244) operable to disconnect the battery module (112-1) from at least one of the system-side cathode interface (230) and / or the system-side anode interface (232).

8. A method (500) for controlling a module interface device (122-1) connected to a battery module (112-1), which includes a set of cells (114) interconnected in series (216) in cell order between the cathode terminal (210) and anode terminal (212) of the battery module (112-1), During the charging portion (632) of the duty cycle (630), electrical energy is supplied from a power source (132) to the cathode bus (226) and anode bus (228) of the module interface device (122-1), wherein the cathode bus (226) has a battery-side cathode interface (220) connected to the cathode terminal (210) of the battery module (112-1), and the anode bus (228) has a battery-side anode interface (222) connected to the anode terminal (212) of the battery module (112-1), and the supply of electrical energy is provided. The first portion of the electrical energy supplied during the charging portion (632) of the duty cycle (630) charges the set of cells (114) of the battery module (112-1) via the cathode terminal (210) and the anode terminal (212). The second portion of the electrical energy supplied during the charging portion (632) of the duty cycle (630) charges the set of resistor-capacitance elements (310) of the module interface device (122-1), The above method (500) further includes, During the cell balancing portion (634) of the duty cycle (630), To cease supplying electrical energy from the power source (132) to the cathode bus (226) and anode bus (228) of the module interface device (122-1), and A method (500) comprising supplying electrical energy discharged from the resistive-capacitive element set (310) of the module interface device (122-1) to the set of cells (114) of the battery module (112-1) via the cathode terminal (210) of the battery module (112-1), the anode terminal (212), and one or more sets of cell taps (260) connected to one or more sets of cell electrical interconnects (250) that interconnect adjacent pairs (114) of cells in the cell sequence series (216).

9. The method according to claim 8 (500), wherein supplying the electrical energy discharged from the set of resistive-capacitive elements (310) includes, for each inter-cell tap (224-1) of the set of inter-cell taps (260), closing a switch (322-1) positioned along the inter-cell tap (224-1) to establish an electrical connection between the set of resistive-capacitive elements (310) and the set of cells (114) of the battery module (112-1).

10. The conductive path (314) of the module interface device (122-1) connects the cathode bus (226) to the anode bus (228), The resistor-capacitor set (310) is arranged in series (316) along the conductive path (314) in the order of the elements. The method according to claim 9 (500), wherein each inter-cell tap (224-1) of the set of inter-cell taps (260) is joined to the conductive path (314) at the respective positions between different adjacent pairs (312-1, 312-2) of resistive-capacitive elements (310) in the series (316) of the element order.

11. The method according to claim 10 (500), wherein the conductive path (314) and the set of resistive-capacitive elements (310) form a voltage divider for the set of inter-cell taps (260).

12. Each resistive-capacitive element (312-1, 312-2) includes a resistor (302) and a capacitor (304) arranged in parallel. The method according to claim 8 (500), wherein the second portion of the electrical energy supplied during the charging portion (632) of the duty cycle (630) charges the capacitor (304) of each resistor-capacitance element (312-1, 312-2) of the resistor-capacitance element set (310).

13. The method according to claim 8 (500), wherein the cell balancing portion (634) of the duty cycle (630) has a shorter duration than the charging portion (632) of the duty cycle (630).

14. The method according to claim 13 (500), further comprising repeatedly performing the duty cycle (630) which includes the charging portion (632) and the cell balancing portion (634).

15. A battery management system (100) for managing a battery module (112-1), which includes a set of multiple cells (114) interconnected in cell-order series (216) between the cathode terminal (210) and anode terminal (212) of the battery module (112-1), A module interface device (122-1), A cathode bus (226) having a battery-side cathode interface (220) connected to the cathode terminal (210) of the battery module (112-1), an anode bus (228) having a battery-side anode interface (222) connected to the anode terminal (212) of the battery module (112-1), A set of one or more inter-cell taps (260) connected to each inter-cell electrical interconnect (250) that interconnects adjacent pairs of cells (114) within the series (216) of the cell order of the battery module (112-1), and A cell balancing circuit (246), A conductive path (314) connects the cathode bus (226) to the anode bus (228), A set of multiple resistor-capacitor elements (310) arranged in series (316) in element order along the conductive path (314), wherein at each position between different adjacent pairs (312-1, 312-2) of each resistor-capacitor element (310) in the series (316) in element order, each inter-cell tap (224-1) of the inter-cell tap set (260) is joined to the conductive path (314), and A module interface device (122-1) includes a cell balancing circuit (246) which includes one or more sets of switches (320), wherein for each inter-cell tap (224-1) of the set of switches (260), each switch (322-1) of the set of switches (320) is arranged along the inter-cell tap, A control system (120), During the charging portion (632) of the duty cycle (630), the switch set (320) is opened to supply electrical energy from the power source (132) to the cathode bus (226) and the anode bus (228), and a portion of the electrical energy supplied during the charging portion (632) of the duty cycle (630) charges the resistor-capacitance element set (310). A battery management system (100) comprising a control system (120) configured to operate the set of switches (320) to a closed state during the cell balancing portion (634) of the duty cycle (630) to supply the electrical energy discharged from the set of resistive-capacitive elements (310) to the set of cells (114) of the battery module (112-1) via the cathode terminal (210), the anode terminal (212), and the set of inter-cell taps (260).

16. Each of the switch set (320) has an open state during the charging portion (632) of the duty cycle (630) in which the resistive-capacitive element set (310) is charged by electrical energy supplied via the cathode bus (226) and the anode bus (228), The battery management system (100) according to claim 15, wherein the set of resistive-capacitive elements (310) is operable between a closed state in the cell balancing portion (634) of the duty cycle (630) that discharges electrical energy to the set of cells (114) of the battery module (112-1) connected to the module interface device (122-1).

17. Each resistive-capacitive element (312-1) includes one or more passive elements (302, 304), the battery management system (100) according to claim 15.

18. Each resistive-capacitive element (312-1) includes a resistor (302) and a capacitor (304), the battery management system (100) according to claim 15.

19. The cathode bus (226) further includes a system-side cathode interface (230) configured to be electrically coupled to an electrical load (130) and / or a power supply (132), The battery management system (100) according to claim 15, wherein the anode bus (228) further comprises a system-side anode interface (232) configured to be electrically coupled to the electrical load (130) and / or the power supply (132).

20. The battery management system (100) according to claim 19, further comprising a module isolation circuit (244) that can operate to disconnect the battery module (112-1) from at least one of the system-side cathode interface (230) and / or the system-side anode interface (232).

Images