Battery pack

• US 20050168192A1
• Filed: 01/28/2005
• Published: 08/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NEC TOKIN Tochigi, Ltd., NEC Tokin Corporation (Yageo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NEC TOKIN Tochigi, Ltd., NEC Tokin Corporation (Yageo Corporation)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Shin, Takahashi, Shingo, Nagase, Kazuhisa, Shibata, Shuji
• Application Number:
  US11/044,563
• Publication Number:
  US 20050168192A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/132
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

The invention provides a battery pack 2 operatively associated with a main system 1 for charge-level data sharing between them for recording and management. The battery pack 2 includes recorder means 22 that is connected to the main system 1 for writing to and reading out of the main system 1. Charge-level data measured (12, 14) and calculated (13) at at least the main system 1 are written to and read out of the recorder means 22 by way of signal lines. The battery pack 2 is not provided with any means for management of the charge-level data, making cost and size reductions possible.

Claims

1. A battery pack used with a main system for charge-level data sharing therebetween for recording and management, comprising recorder means connected to said main system by way of a plurality of communication lines for writing to and reading out of said main system, wherein charge-level data measured and calculated at at least said main system are written to and read out of said recorder means.

2. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein said charge-level data as well as associated data about management information on said battery pack are recorded in said recorder means.

3. The battery pack according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the number of charge/discharge cycles, ID, lot and serial number of said battery pack is included as said management information.

4. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein said charge-level data are sent out of said main system each time changes occur depending on fluctuations based on charge/discharge.

5. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein said charge-level data are written to at least three addresses.

6. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein a power source necessary for operation of said recorder means is supplied from said main system by way of a power source line.

7. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein said recorder means includes a charge-level indicator.

8. The battery pack according to claim 7, wherein said charge-level indicator portion includes latch means for holding said charge-level data and LED indicator means, wherein said LED indicator means is put on by way of a signal from an indicator switch or said main system.

9. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the amount of discharge is subtracted from said charge-level data upon discharging from said battery pack to said main system, and the amount of charge is added to said charge-level data upon charging from said main system to said battery pack.