Monitoring Apparatus For Secondary Battery

• US 20090125256A1
• Filed: 02/02/2007
• Published: 05/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Aridome, Koji
• Granted Patent: US 7,945,402 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/63
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3835 involving only voltage measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/396 Acquisition or processing of data for testing or for monitoring individual cells or groups of cells within a battery

Abstract

When the number of battery cells of a certain battery block is different from a reference number of cells, the inter-terminal voltage of the battery block is converted into the voltage corresponding to the reference number of cells. Thus, even when a plurality of battery blocks being different in the number of battery cells are included, a map for calculating the SOC may only be one. That is, since conventional software or calculation methods can be used, it is not necessary to increase the capacity of SOC calculation software or allowable battery output calculation software. As a result, a plurality of assembled batteries being different in the number of battery cells constituting each battery block can appropriately be monitored.

Claims

1. A monitoring apparatus for a secondary battery including a plurality of assembled batteries, wherein

each of said plurality of assembled batteries has a plurality of battery blocks, and

in at least one of said plurality of assembled batteries, number of battery cells constituting each of said plurality of battery blocks is different from a reference number of cells, said monitoring apparatus comprising:

a voltage detecting circuit detecting an inter-terminal voltage for each of said plurality of battery blocks; and

a processing unit calculating a state of charge for each of said plurality of battery blocks, based on said inter-terminal voltage, wherein

said processing unit converts said inter-terminal voltage into a voltage per said reference number of cells for a battery block having said battery cells in a number different from said reference number of cells among said plurality of battery blocks, and obtains said state of charge.

2. The monitoring apparatus for the secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein

said monitoring apparatus is shared by said plurality of assembled batteries.

3. The monitoring apparatus for the secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein

said voltage detecting circuit detects said inter-terminal voltage for each of said plurality of battery blocks over said plurality of assembled batteries.

4. The monitoring apparatus for the secondary battery according to claim 3, wherein

said monitoring apparatus is shared by said plurality of assembled batteries.

5. A monitoring apparatus for a secondary battery including a plurality of assembled batteries, wherein

each of said plurality of assembled batteries has a plurality of battery blocks, and

in at least one of said plurality of assembled batteries, number of battery cells constituting each of said plurality of battery blocks is different from a reference number of cells, said monitoring apparatus comprising:

a voltage detecting circuit detecting a plurality of inter-terminal voltages respectively corresponding to said plurality of battery blocks; and

a processing unit performing an abnormality determination of said secondary battery using said plurality of inter-terminal voltages detected by said voltage detecting circuit, wherein

said processing unit selects, out of said plurality of inter-terminal voltages, first and second inter-terminal voltages respectively corresponding to, among said plurality of battery blocks, first and second battery blocks being identical in number of said battery cells, and determines abnormality of said secondary battery by using said first and second inter-terminal voltages.

6. The monitoring apparatus for the secondary battery according to claim 5, wherein

said monitoring apparatus is shared by said plurality of assembled batteries.

7. The monitoring apparatus for the secondary battery according to claim 5, wherein

said voltage detecting circuit detects said inter-terminal voltage for each of said plurality of battery blocks over said plurality of assembled batteries.

8. The monitoring apparatus for the secondary battery according to claim 7, wherein

said monitoring apparatus is shared by said plurality of assembled batteries.