Battery pack circuit design for safety and protection

Do our fast-paced lifestyles drive new technology, or is new technology partly to blame for continuing to increase the pace of our lifestyles? We want to be connected and productive - or entertained - even during our traditional times of leisure and recreation. Our tools for connectivity and productivity - and our toys for entertainment - support us by continuing to become smaller, lighter and more mobile, even as functionality increases. This drive toward increasing portability, mobility and functionality has had many interesting results. One result is that high-energy battery packs are becoming pervasive in our professional and personal lives. But the high power-delivery and energy-storage capabilities of packs for these power-hungry devices generally remain invisible to end-users. In reality, most packs have the potential not only for damaging themselves, but also for imposing damage on their surroundings, even if used exclusively in accordance with manufacturers` instructions. And newer battery technologies that offer longer runtimes or less weight can pose higher risks. This paper compares and contrasts the characteristics of various safety practices and devices used in designing and assembling high-energy battery packs.