Battery pack

• US 20070013341A1
• Filed: 07/05/2006
• Published: 01/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Godo Kaisha IP Bridge 1 (IP Bridge, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamaguchi, Masao, Hitomi, Kazuhiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,589,495 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/112
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2010/4271 Battery management systems including electronic circuits, e.g. control of current or voltage to keep battery in healthy state, cell balancing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2010/4278 Systems for data transfer from batteries, e.g. transfer of battery parameters to a controller, data transferred between battery controller and main controller
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

The battery pack is provided with communication lines that connect with attached electrical equipment, a temperature-sensing element that connects with a communication line, a switching device that connects with the temperature-sensing element, and a control section to control the switching device. The control section puts the switching device in the open state when the communication lines are being used and puts the switching device in the closed state when the communication lines are not being used to output temperature-sensing element voltage to the electrical equipment-side via the communication lines.

Claims

1. A battery pack comprising:

communication lines that connect with attached electrical equipment,

a temperature-sensing element that connects with a communication line,

a switching device that connects with the temperature-sensing element, and

a control section to control the switching device;

wherein the control section puts the switching device in the open state when the communication lines are being used; and

the control section puts the switching device in the closed state when the communication lines are not being used to output temperature-sensing element voltage to the electrical equipment-side via the communication lines.

2. A battery pack as recited in claim 1 wherein the battery pack is provided with a positive terminal and a GND terminal, and the series connected temperature-sensing element and switching device circuit is connected between a communication line and the GND terminal.

3. A battery pack as recited in claim 2 wherein the switching device is connected between the temperature-sensing element and the GND terminal.

4. A battery pack as recited in claim 1 wherein the battery pack is provided with communication lines, which are a data line and a clock line, and the temperature-sensing element is connected to the data line.

5. A battery pack as recited in claim 1 wherein the battery pack is provided with a remaining capacity integration section to compute remaining battery capacity, and remaining capacity computed by that remaining capacity integration section is transmitted to the electrical equipment via the communication lines.

6. A battery pack as recited in claim 1 wherein the battery pack is provided with a control device, which is controlled by the control section, and the control section puts the control device in the cut-off state when abnormal battery current, temperature, or voltage is detected.

7. A battery pack as recited in claim 1 wherein the battery pack has a communication data generation section to construct data signals for transmission of battery information to the electrical equipment.

8. A battery pack as recited in claim 1 wherein the temperature-sensing element is thermistor in thermal contact with the batteries.

9. A battery pack as recited in claim 1 wherein the battery pack is provided with memory to store ID information, and that ID information, which is stored in memory, is output to the electrical equipment on communication lines when prompted by a request signal from the electrical equipment.

10. A battery pack as recited in claim 9 wherein the ID information is information that indicates the battery pack manufacturer.

11. A battery pack as recited in claim 1 wherein the control section receives a request signal from the electrical equipment, and outputs an information signal to the electrical equipment on the communication lines.