A battery protection circuit is provided that includes current monitoring
circuit. The current monitoring circuit senses current flowing to or from
a rechargeable cell. When the current exceeds a maximum value, the
current monitoring circuit actuates, whereby opening a transistor. The
transistor has a resistor couple in parallel. When the transistor opens,
current is forced through the resistor coupled in parallel with the
transistor, thereby limiting the current to a maximum value. The current
monitoring circuit also simulates an overcurrent condition in the safety
circuit. The overcurrent condition causes a disconnect switch to open,
thereby disconnecting the cell(s) from the external terminals.