Automatic charge equalization method and apparatus for series connected battery string

1. A charge equalization apparatus for a series-connected battery string, comprising:

a battery string comprised of k batteries connected in series;

a battery string of m which is one portion of the battery string of k batteries, wherein the battery string of m has m battery cells including an nth battery cell connected in series;

an automatic PWM generating means connected in parallel to each of the batteries comprising the battery string; and

a charge equalizer connected in parallel to each of the batteries comprising the battery string, wherein:

3≦m≦k; and

each automatic PWM generating means comprises:

a comparator and a PWM generator automatically generating a PWM signal in response to an output of the comparator,

the comparator generates the output by comparing a potential of the nth battery cell with an average potential of the battery string of m, and

the charge equalizer is automatically controlled to charge or discharge the nth battery cell according to the PWM signal automatically generated by the PWM generator.

2. The charge equalization apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein two inputs of the comparator are at the potential of the nth battery cell and the average potential of the batteries composing the battery string of m.

3. The charge equalization apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the average potential of the battery string of m is determined using a resistor coupled to one of the inputs to the comparator.

4. The charge equalization apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the charge equalizer connected in parallel to each battery of the battery string comprises a DC/DC converter.

5. The charge equalization apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the DC/DC converter is a charge-type converter and has a total potential of the potential of the battery string of m as an input.

6. The charge equalization apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the automatic PWM generating means generates the PWM signal if the potential of the nth battery cell is lower than the average potential of the battery string of m.

7. The charge equalization apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the DC/DC converter is a discharge-type DC/DC converter.

8. The charge equalization apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the automatic PWM generating means generates the PWM signal if the potential of the nth battery cell is higher than the average potential of the battery string of m.

9. The charge equalization apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the DC/DC converter is operated under a control of the automatic PWM generating means.

10. The charge equalization apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the nth battery cell belongs to each of the battery string of m in a range of at least 1 to up to m.

11. The charge equalization apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein two inputs of the comparator provided in a battery cell located in an end portion of the battery string are at a potential of the battery cell and an average potential of the batteries comprising the battery string.

12. A charge equalization method for a charge equalization apparatus for a series-connected battery string comprising a battery string that includes k batteries connected in series, an automatic PWM generating means including a comparator connected in parallel to each of the batteries comprising the battery string, and a charge equalizer including a DC/DC converter connected in parallel to each of the batteries comprising the battery string, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) automatically generating a PWM signal by comparing a potential of the nth battery cell comprising the battery string with an average potential of a battery string of m which is one portion of the battery string and has m battery cells connected in series including the nth battery cell; and

(b) controlling the charge equalizer to charge or discharge the nth battery cell according to the PWM signal, wherein 3≦m≦k.

13. The charge equalization method according to claim 12 , wherein the operation of the DC/DC converter is controlled to be started and stopped according to the PWM signal in the step (b).

14. The charge equalization method according to claim 13 , wherein the nth battery cell is charged or discharged by operating a charge-type DC/DC converter or a discharge-type DC/DC converter.

15. The charge equalization method according to claim 14 , wherein an input or an output of the DC/DC converter is connected to the battery string of m so that charging energy of the nth battery cell is caused by a total potential of the battery string of m and discharging current of the nth battery cell charges the battery cells of the battery string of m.

16. The charge equalization method according to claim 12 , wherein the PWM signal generated by the automatic PWM generating means is controlled according to an output of the comparator in the step (a).

17. The charge equalization method according to claim 12 , wherein two inputs of the comparator are at the potential of the nth battery cell and an the average potential of the batteries comprising the battery string of m respectively, and the average potential of the battery string of m is determined using resistors.

18. The charge equalization method according to claim 17 , wherein the automatic PWM generating means generates the PWM signal in step (a) if a potential of the nth battery cell is higher than an average potential of the battery string of m.

19. The charge equalization method according to claim 17 , wherein the automatic PWM generating means generates the PWM signal in step (a) if a potential of the nth battery cell is lower than an average potential of the battery string of m.