Method and apparatus for performing battery cell control with aid of virtual battery mechanism

Abstract

A method for performing battery cell control with aid of virtual battery mechanism is provided. The method is applied to a power supply device. The method includes the steps of: generating a virtual total output voltage level according to a total output voltage level of a set of battery cells connected in series within the power supply device, where the virtual total output voltage level simulates an output voltage level of connecting the set of battery cells and at least one virtual battery cell in series; and utilizing a battery cell control chip within the power supply device to control operations of the set of battery cells according to the virtual total output voltage level. An associated apparatus is further provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for performing battery cell control with aid of virtual battery mechanism, the method being applied to a power supply device, the method comprising:
 generating a virtual total output voltage level according to a total output voltage level of a set of battery cells connected in series within the power supply device, wherein the virtual total output voltage level simulates an output voltage level of connecting the set of battery cells and at least one virtual battery cell in series; and   utilizing a battery cell control chip within the power supply device to control operations of the set of battery cells according to the virtual total output voltage level.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of generating the virtual total output voltage level according to the total output voltage level of the set of battery cells connected in series within the power supply device comprises:
 dynamically adjusting the virtual total output voltage level to maintain a ratio of the virtual total output voltage level to the total output voltage level in order to simulate a voltage across the virtual battery cell, wherein the simulated voltage across the virtual battery cell approaches an average value of voltages across individual battery cells in the set of battery cells.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of generating the virtual total output voltage level according to the total output voltage level of the set of battery cells connected in series within the power supply device comprises:
 using a virtual battery cell simulation circuit to convert the total output voltage level into the virtual total output voltage level, wherein the virtual battery cell simulation circuit comprises an operational amplifier and a plurality of resistors, a first input terminal of the operational amplifier is coupled to the total output voltage level, and an output terminal is used to output the virtual output voltage level.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of utilizing the battery cell control chip within the power supply device to control the operations of the set of battery cells according to the virtual total output voltage level comprises:
 inputting the virtual total output voltage level to one of a plurality of battery control terminals of the battery cell control chip.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 electrically connecting a terminal of each battery cell in the set of battery cells to at least a portion of others of the battery control terminals.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 utilizing another battery cell control chip within the power supply device to control operations of another set of battery cells connected in series within the power supply device according to an output voltage level of a specific battery cell in the set of battery cells, wherein a predetermined number of battery cells supported by the another battery cell control chip is greater than a number of battery cells of the another set of battery cells.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 connecting the set of battery cells and the another set of battery cells in series; and   selecting a battery cell in the set of battery cells as the specific battery cell, wherein the battery cell is directly connected in series with the another set of battery cells.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a predetermined number of battery cells supported by the battery cell control chip is greater than a number of battery cells of the set of battery cells. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for performing battery cell control with aid of virtual battery mechanism, the apparatus comprising at least a portion of a power supply device, the apparatus comprising:
 a virtual battery cell simulation circuit, for generating a virtual total output voltage level according to a total output voltage level of a set of battery cells connected in series within the power supply device, wherein the virtual total output voltage level simulates an output voltage level of connecting the set of battery cells and at least one virtual battery cell in series; and   a battery cell control chip, electrically connected to the virtual battery cell simulation circuit, the battery cell control chip arranged for controlling operations of the set of battery cells according to the virtual total output voltage level.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the virtual battery cell simulation circuit comprises:
 an operational amplifier, wherein the virtual battery cell simulation circuit converts the total output voltage level into the virtual total output voltage level with aid of operations of the operational amplifier; the operational amplifier comprises a first input terminal, a second input terminal and an output terminal; the first input terminal is coupled to the total output voltage level; and the output terminal is used to output the virtual output voltage level; and   a plurality of resistors, electrically connected to the operational amplifier, the resistors arranged for determining a ratio of the virtual total output voltage level to the total output voltage level in order to simulate a voltage across the virtual battery cell, wherein the simulated voltage across the virtual battery cell approaches an average value of voltages across individual battery cells in the set of battery cells.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the resistors comprises:
 a first resistor, wherein two terminals of the first resistor are electrically connected to the second input terminal and the output terminal of the operational amplifier, respectively; and   a second resistor, wherein two terminals of the second resistor are electrically connected to the second input terminal and a reference voltage level of the operational amplifier, respectively.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the apparatus inputs the virtual total output voltage level to one of a plurality of battery control terminals of the battery cell control chip. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein a terminal of each battery cell in the set of battery cells is electrically connected to at least a portion of others of the battery control terminals. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 another battery cell control chip, for controlling operations of another set of battery cells connected in series within the power supply device according to an output voltage level of a specific battery cell in the set of battery cells, wherein a predetermined number of battery cells supported by the another battery cell control chip is greater than a number of battery cells of the another set of battery cells.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the set of battery cells is connected in series with the another set of battery cells, and the specific battery cell is directly connected in series with the another set of battery cells. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein a predetermined number of battery cells supported by the battery cell control chip is greater than a number of battery cells of the set of battery cells. 
     
     
         17 . A method for performing battery cell control with aid of virtual battery mechanism, the method being applied to a power supply device, the method comprising:
 utilizing breakdown voltage characteristics of a Zener diode to generate a virtual total output voltage level, wherein the virtual total output voltage level simulates an output voltage level of connecting a set of virtual battery cells in series; and   utilizing a battery cell control chip within the power supply device to control operations of the set of virtual battery cells according to the virtual total output voltage level.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 using a voltage divider circuit to perform voltage division according to the virtual total output voltage level in order to generate a voltage level required by at least one control terminal of the battery cell control chip, wherein the voltage level is provided for simulating the operations of the set of virtual battery cells.