IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,626,364
Granted Patent B2
US 7,626,364 · App. 10/536,265 · Granted Dec 1, 2009

Secondary battery replacement method

Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,626,364
App. No.
10/536,265
Granted
Dec 1, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A replacement method is provided for replacing a to-be-replaced battery module with a replacing fresh battery module in a battery assembly formed by electrically connecting a plurality of battery modules in series or parallel. The method includes the step (S 110 ) of charging the fresh battery module so that the quantity of charged electricity of the fresh battery module is 5 to 20% less than the quantity of charged electricity of a battery module other than the to-be-replaced battery module, and the step (S 120 ) of replacing the to-be-replaced battery module with the charged fresh battery module.

Claims (14)

1. A secondary battery replacement method for replacing a to-be-replaced secondary battery with a fresh secondary battery in a battery assembly formed by electrically connecting a plurality of secondary batteries in series or parallel, comprising the steps of:

purposely charging the fresh secondary battery so that a quantity of charged electricity of the fresh secondary battery differs from a quantity of charged electricity of not-replaced batteries present in the battery assembly, wherein the quantity of charged electricity of the fresh secondary battery is 5 to 20% less than the quantity of any charged electricity of not-replaced batteries present in the battery assembly; and

replacing the to-be-replaced secondary battery with the fresh secondary battery charged in the charging step.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the to-be-replaced secondary battery is a secondary battery having a reduced full-charged capacity or a secondary battery possessing a memory effect.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the replacing step includes the step of incorporating the charged fresh secondary battery into a portion of the battery assembly where temperature is high.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the secondary battery is a nickel-metal hydride battery.

5. A secondary battery replacement method comprising:

selecting a secondary battery as a to-be-replaced secondary battery in a battery assembly formed by electrically connecting a plurality of secondary batteries in series or parallel;

purposely charging the fresh secondary battery so that a quantity of charged electricity of the fresh secondary battery differs from a quantity of charged electricity of each not-replaced battery present in the battery assembly, wherein the quantity of charged electricity of the fresh secondary battery is 5 to 20% less than the quantity of charged electricity of any not-replaced battery present in the battery assembly; and

replacing the to-be-replaced secondary battery with the fresh secondary battery charged in the charging step.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

inserting the fresh secondary battery in a location in the battery assembly where temperature becomes highest, wherein the location in the battery assembly where temperature becomes highest is the location a battery module farthest away from the cooling air flow.

7. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

inserting the fresh secondary battery in a location in the battery assembly where temperature becomes highest, wherein the location in the battery assembly where temperature becomes highest is the location a battery module farthest away from the cooling air flow.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEES'S ADDRESS SHOULD BE TO 1,TOYOTA-CHO, TOYOTA-SHI, AICHI-KEN, JAPAN PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 017109 FRAME 0886. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE BRIEF: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST. Recorded Apr 5, 2006
From: OKUMURA, MOTOYOSHI; TAKAHASHI, YASUHIRO
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 017426/0848 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 22, 2005
From: OKUMURA, MOTOYOSHI; TAKASHI, YASUHIRO
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 017109/0886 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2002-350173 · Dec 2, 2002 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20060012330A1 · Jan 19, 2006