Battery power control
A system and method for digital management and control of power conversion from battery cells. The system utilizes a power management and conversion module that uses a CPU to maintain a high power conversion efficiency over a wide range of loads and to manage charge and discharge operation of the battery cells. The power management and conversion module includes the CPU, a current sense unit, a charge/discharge unit, a DC-to-DC conversion unit, a battery protection unit, a fuel gauge and an internal DC regulation unit. Through intelligent power conversion and charge/discharge operations, a given battery type is given the ability to emulate other battery types by conversion of the output voltage of the battery and adaptation of the charging scheme to suit the battery.
1. A system, comprising:
one or more battery cells;
a direct-current (DC) to DC converter comprising:
input terminals connected to the one or more battery cells;
output terminals configured to provide power to one or more loads;
a capacitor connected to at least one of the output terminals; and
an inductor; and
a processor connected to the DC to DC converter, wherein the processor is configured to control a converter output voltage and a converter output current at the output terminals based on an input voltage of the one or more loads and an input current of the one or more loads, and wherein the processor is configured to control a converter input voltage and a converter input current at the input terminals based on one or more types and one or more capacities of the one or more battery cells.
2. The system of claim 1 , comprising an integrated circuit that comprises:
a battery protection unit configured to determine a hazardous condition of the one or more battery cells by monitoring at least one of a temperature or a pressure of the one or more battery cells.
3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising telemetry terminals configured to communicate operation data of the DC to DC converter or the one or more battery cells to a central processor of the DC to DC converter.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the processor is configured to use the telemetry terminals to receive:
data indicating the one or more types of the one or more battery cells;
requests for setting the converter output voltage;
requests for setting the converter output current; or
charge parameters.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the processor is configured to control charging of the one or more battery cells based on the charge parameters.
6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a casing, wherein the DC to DC converter and the one or more battery cells are housed within the casing.
7. The system of claim 1 , comprising a current sensor configured to sense a current of the one or more battery cells, wherein the processor is configured to monitor a state of charge of the one or more battery cells using the current sensor.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to determine the one or more types of the one or more battery cells.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
sense a battery output voltage of the one or more battery cells,
determine a maximum current of the one or more battery cells, and
determine the one or more types of the one or more battery cells based on the battery output voltage and the maximum current.
10. The system of claim 9 , comprising a short circuit circuitry across the input terminals, and wherein the processor is configured to create a short circuit across the input terminals using the short circuit circuitry to determine the maximum current of the one or more battery cells.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more types of the one or more battery cells comprise an alkaline battery type, a Lithium ion battery type, a Nickel-Cadmium battery type, a Nickel-Metal-Hydride battery type, or a Lithium polymer battery type.
12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to determine the one or more types of the one or more battery cells by (a) sensing a battery output voltage of the one or more battery cells, (b) determining a maximum current of the one or more battery cells, or (c) determining the one or more capacities of the one or more battery cells.
13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the DC to DC converter comprises a buck converter and a boost converter, and wherein one of the buck converter and the boost converter is engaged depending on the one or more types of the one or more battery cells.
14. An apparatus, comprising:
a direct-current (DC) to DC converter comprising:
input terminals configured to connect to one or more battery cells;
output terminals configured to provide power to one or more loads;
a capacitor connected to at least one of the output terminals; and
an inductor; and
a processor connected to the DC to DC converter, wherein the processor is configured to control a converter output voltage and a converter output current at the output terminals based on an input voltage of the one or more loads and an input current of the one or more loads, and wherein the processor is configured to control a converter input voltage and a converter input current at the input terminals based on one or more types and one or more capacities of the one or more battery cells.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 , comprising an integrated circuit that comprises:
a battery protection unit configured to determine a hazardous condition of the one or more battery cells by monitoring at least one of a temperature or a pressure of the one or more battery cells.
16. The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising telemetry terminals configured to communicate operation data of the DC to DC converter or the one or more battery cells to a central processor of the DC to DC converter.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the processor is configured to use the telemetry terminals to receive:
data indicating the one or more types of the one or more battery cells;
requests for setting the converter output voltage;
requests for setting the converter output current; or
charge parameters.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the processor is configured to control charging of the one or more battery cells based on the charge parameters.
19. The apparatus of claim 14 , comprising a current sensor configured to sense a current of the one or more battery cells, wherein the processor is configured to monitor a state of charge of the one or more battery cells using the current sensor.
20. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the processor is configured to:
sense a battery output voltage of the one or more battery cells,
determine a maximum current of the one or more battery cells, and
determine the one or more types of the one or more battery cells based on the battery output voltage and the maximum current.
21. The apparatus of claim 20 , comprising a short circuit circuitry across the input terminals, and wherein the processor is configured to create a short circuit across the input terminals using the short circuit circuitry to determine the maximum current of the one or more battery cells.
22. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the processor is configured to determine the one or more types of the one or more battery cells by (a) sensing a battery output voltage of the one or more battery cells, (b) determining a maximum current of the one or more battery cells, or (c) determining the one or more capacities of the one or more battery cells.
23. A method, comprising:
providing, using a direct-current (DC) to DC converter, an output voltage to output terminals, wherein the DC to DC converter comprises input terminals connected to one or more battery cells, an inductor, a capacitor connected to at least one of the output terminals, and the output terminals connected to one or more loads;
controlling, using a processor connected to the DC to DC converter, a converter output voltage and a converter output current at the output terminals based on an input voltage of the one or more loads and an input current of the one or more loads; and
controlling a converter input voltage and a converter input current at the input terminals based on one or more types and one or more capacities of the one or more battery cells.
24. The method of claim 23 , further comprising:
determining the one or more types of the one or more battery cells.