Importance

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Abstract

A battery array is provided for connection to an electric load as well as to a battery charger. A process for controlling the state of charge of a battery array is also provided. The energy needed to supply an electric device not connected to the electric network is taken from a battery, which is composed of a plurality of galvanic cells connected in series. The energy that can be supplied by such a series-connected array, a so-called battery line, is limited for safety reasons. Moreover, it is difficult to determine the state of charge, because the calibration points necessary for the determination of the state of charge, namely, the two states of charge 'full' and 'empty,' are reached by such a series-connected array only rarely if ever. A battery array that has a plurality of series-connected arrays connected in parallel, whose states of charge are estimated separately is provided. The corresponding process controls the state of charge of the battery array, in which the individual series-connected arrays are charged and discharged in a preset sequence.

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First Claim