Electrochemical cell recharging system

Abstract

A rechargeable electrochemical cell system is provided. The system includes a plurality of cells, wherein each cell is comprised of a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode electrically isolated from the second electrode. The cell system may be discharged upon application of a load across a discharge circuit, which is formed from the first electrodes and the second electrodes. The cell may be recharged upon application of a voltage across a recharging circuit, which is formed of at least one of the first electrodes and at least one of the third electrodes.

1 - 37 . (canceled)  
     
     
         38 . A rechargeable electrochemical cell system comprising: 
 a plurality of rechargeable cells, each rechargeable cell including 
 a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode electrically isolated from the second electrode;  
   wherein the plurality of cells are configured for being discharged upon application of a load across the first electrodes and the second electrodes, and    wherein each cell is configured for being independently recharged upon application of the voltage across the first electrode and the third electrode of each cell in isolation from the other cells.    
     
     
         39 . The rechargeable electrochemical cell system as in  claim 38 , wherein each second electrode is in isolation from the voltage across each corresponding first electrode and third electrode when the cell is recharged.  
     
     
         40 . The rechargeable electrochemical cell as in  claim 38 , wherein the isolation is effectuated by a transformer, a power supply, a capacitor, a switch, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.  
     
     
         41 . The rechargeable electrochemical system as in  claim 38 , wherein the voltage for recharging is applied by one or more transformers.  
     
     
         42 . In the rechargeable electrochemical cell system as in  claim 41 , wherein the transformer comprises a single primary winding and a plurality of secondary windings, each secondary winding associated with a third electrode of a corresponding cell.  
     
     
         43 . The rechargeable electrochemical cell system as in  claim 42 , further comprising a switching power converter coupled to a power source in operable connection with the primary winding.  
     
     
         44 . The rechargeable electrochemical cell system as in  claim 43 , wherein the switching power converter comprises a MOSFET device.  
     
     
         45 . The rechargeable electrochemical cell system as in  claim 43 , wherein the power source is controlled by a control unit.  
     
     
         46 . The rechargeable electrochemical cell system as in  claim 45 , wherein the control unit comprises an oscillator.  
     
     
         47 . The rechargeable electrochemical cell system as in  claim 42 , further comprising a diode between at least one pair of the secondary windings and the third electrode.  
     
     
         48 . The rechargeable electrochemical cell system as in  claim 42 , further comprising a rectifier between at least one pair of the secondary winding and the third electrode.  
     
     
         49 . The rechargeable electrochemical cell system as in  claim 38 , wherein the voltage across the first electrode and the third electrode is provided from a power supply.  
     
     
         50 . The rechargeable electrochemical cell system as in  claim 49 , further comprising a cell conditioning unit between the power supply, and the recharging circuit of each cell in the system.  
     
     
         51 . The rechargeable electrochemical cell system as in  claim 50 , wherein the cell conditioning unit comprises a device selected from the group consisting of a switching power converter, a battery parameter monitor, a signal conditioning system, a rectifier, a filter, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing devices.  
     
     
         52 . The rechargeable electrochemical cell system as in  claim 38 , wherein the voltage is applied across the recharging circuit with a capacitor.  
     
     
         53 . The rechargeable electrochemical cell system as in  claim 52 , wherein the capacitor is connected across the recharging circuit via a switch between the capacitor and the first electrode and the switch between the capacitor and the third electrode.  
     
     
         54 . The rechargeable electrochemical cell system as in  claim 38 , wherein the cell is recharged upon application of a selective voltage across one or more selected recharging circuits.  
     
     
         55 . The rechargeable electrochemical cell system as in  claim 38 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of cells are arranged in series.  
     
     
         56 . The rechargeable electrochemical cell system as in  claim 38 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of cells are arranged in parallel.