Data Processing System, Electronic Vehicle and Maintenance Service System

• US 20110066309A1
• Filed: 09/01/2010
• Published: 03/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
• Inventors: Yamazaki, Akira, Hirokawa, Masayuki, Matsuoka, Kazunari, Miyake, Jun
• Granted Patent: US 8,536,826 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/70 Interactions with external data bases, e.g. traffic centres
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/40 related to technical updates when adding new parts or software
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/04 Cutting off the power supply under fault conditions protective devices and circuit arrangements in general H01H; H02H
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/12 Recording operating variables ; Monitoring of operating variables
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/18 Cables specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/62 in response to charging parameters, e.g. current, voltage or electrical charge
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/68 Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/14 Preventing excessive discharging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/16 responding to battery ageing, e.g. to the number of charging cycles or the state of health [SoH]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/18 of two or more battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/007 using microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/371 with remote indication, e.g. on external chargers
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/482 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3271 using challenge-response
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/167 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing

Abstract

An electric vehicle information system prevents circulation of non-authentic batteries and battery components for electric vehicles. An electric vehicle data processing system is employed that performs, on an electric vehicle battery module having a plurality of battery cells installed therein, authentication of individual battery cells and the battery module itself in a hierarchical manner using a microcomputer. An electric vehicle is configured so as to cause the microcomputer of the data processing system to accumulate voltage history and charge history of the batteries in a nonvolatile storage circuit. The history information and the electric vehicle ID can be gathered by a maintenance device and a data server via an electronic control unit of the electric vehicle. A maintenance service system may thus be provided.

Claims

1. An electric vehicle data processing system mounted on an electric vehicle battery module having a plurality of battery cells installed in a module case, wherein:

the module case includes a first microcomputer coupled to each battery cell and an interface terminal that allows the first microcomputer to interface with an outside of the module case;

each battery cell includes an electronic circuit that outputs a response signal, in response to a first signal from the first microcomputer;

the first microcomputer, upon receiving a battery authentication instruction from the interface terminal, causes the electronic circuit of each battery cell to output a response signal;

if the response signal of any of the battery cells is invalid, the first microcomputer notifies the outside that at least one of the battery cells is not authentic; and

if the response signals of all battery cells are valid, the first microcomputer notifies the outside that the first microcomputer is authentic.

2. The electric vehicle data processing system according to claim 1, wherein:

the electronic circuit comprises a second microcomputer;

the first microcomputer performs, upon receiving a battery authentication instruction from the interface terminal, battery cell authentication using each second microcomputer;

if an authentication result of any of the battery cells is invalid, the first microcomputer notifies the outside that at least one of the battery cells is not authentic; and

if authentication results of all battery cells are valid, the first microcomputer computer notifies the outside that the first microcomputer is authentic.

3. The electric vehicle data processing system according to claim 2, further comprising:

a battery monitoring circuit that monitors the output voltage of each battery cell and the voltage of a voltage terminal of the battery module, wherein;

the first microcomputer has a nonvolatile storage circuit that stores the history of the voltage monitored by the battery monitoring circuit.

4. The electric vehicle data processing system according to claim 3, wherein:

the first microcomputer stores a charge history of the battery module in the nonvolatile storage circuit.

5. The electric vehicle data processing system according to claim 4, wherein:

the charge history includes a voltage applied to the voltage terminal of the battery module and an application time thereof, for each charging operation.

6. The electric vehicle data processing system according to claim 5, wherein:

the first microcomputer outputs the voltage history and the charge history stored in the nonvolatile storage circuit from the interface terminal to the outside, in response to an instruction from the interface terminal.

7. The electric vehicle data processing system according to claim 6, wherein:

the first microcomputer is a microcomputer that has been certified by the evaluation/certification authority of ISO/IEC15408.

8. The electric vehicle data processing system according to claim 7, wherein:

the second microcomputer is a microcomputer that has been certified by the evaluation/certification authority of ISO/IEC15408.

9. The electric vehicle data processing system according to claim 2, wherein:

the first microcomputer and the second microcomputer share an encryption key; and

battery cell authentication comprises encryption and decryption of a challenge code.

10. The electric vehicle data processing system according to claim 9, wherein:

the first microcomputer provides an encrypted challenge code to each battery cell; and

the second microcomputer notifies the outside that the first microcomputer is authentic, only if each of the plurality of battery cells successfully decrypts the encrypted challenge code.

11. The electric vehicle data processing system according to claim 2, wherein:

the battery authentication instruction from the interface terminal comprises an encrypted challenge code; and

the first microcomputer notifies the outside that the first microcomputer is authentic, only if the first microcomputer is able to decrypt the encrypted challenge code.

12. An electric vehicle including a plurality of battery modules mounted thereon, each battery module having a data processing system installed in a module case together with a plurality of battery cells, the electric vehicle comprising:

an electronic control unit coupled to each of the battery modules, wherein;

each battery module has a first microcomputer coupled to each battery cell and an interface terminal that allows the first microcomputer to interface with an outside of the module case, and each battery cell has an electronic circuit that outputs a response signal in response to a first signal from the first microcomputer;

the first microcomputer of a given battery module causes, upon receiving a battery authentication instruction from the electronic control unit, the electronic circuit of each associated battery cell to output a response signal;

if the response signal of any of the battery cells is invalid, the first microcomputer notifies the electronic control unit that at least one of the battery cells is not authentic; and

if the response signals of all battery cells are valid, the first microcomputer notifies the electronic control unit that the first microcomputer is authentic; and

the electronic control unit permits starting an electric motor only upon receiving notification that the first microcomputers of all the battery modules are authentic.

13. The electric vehicle according to claim 12, further comprising:

a communication unit coupled to the electronic control unit, and wherein;

each battery module includes a battery monitoring circuit which monitors an output voltage of each battery cell and a voltage of a voltage terminal of the battery module; and

the first microcomputer includes a nonvolatile storage circuit that stores a history of the voltages monitored by the battery monitoring circuit.

14. The electric vehicle according to claim 13, wherein:

the first microcomputer stores a charge history of the battery module in the nonvolatile storage circuit.

15. The electric vehicle according to claim 14, wherein:

the charge history includes a voltage applied to the voltage terminal of the battery module and an application time thereof, for each charging operation.

16. The electric vehicle according to claim 15, wherein:

the electronic control unit causes the communication unit to transmit the voltage history and the charge history stored in the nonvolatile storage circuit together with vehicle ID information, in response to an instruction received from the communication unit.

17. An electric vehicle maintenance service system comprising a maintenance device that supports maintenance of a plug-in type electric vehicle and a data server that manages performance information of the electric vehicle, wherein:

the electric vehicle includes a plurality of battery modules each having a plurality of battery cells, an electronic control unit coupled to each of the battery modules, and a communication unit coupled to the electronic control unit;

each battery module includes a first microcomputer and a battery monitoring circuit that monitors an output voltage of each battery cell and a voltage of a voltage terminal of that battery module;

the first microcomputer includes a nonvolatile storage circuit that stores voltage history of the voltages monitored by the battery monitoring circuit; and

the electronic control unit causes the communication unit to transmit the voltage history stored in the nonvolatile storage circuit together with vehicle ID information to the maintenance device, in response to an instruction from the maintenance device.

18. The maintenance service system according to claim 17, wherein:

the first microcomputer stores a charge history of the battery module in the nonvolatile storage circuit; and

the electronic control unit causes the communication unit to transmit the charge history stored in the nonvolatile storage circuit together with the vehicle ID information to the maintenance device, in response to the instruction from the maintenance device.

19. The maintenance service system according to claim 18, wherein:

the charge history includes a voltage applied to the voltage terminal of the battery module and an application time thereof, for each charging operation.

20. The maintenance service system according to claim 19, wherein:

the electric vehicle includes a charger that charges the battery module with power supplied via a power supply cable;

the charger is capable of power line communication using the power supply cable, and is configured to interface with the electronic control unit; and

the electronic control unit causes the charger to transmit the voltage history stored in the nonvolatile storage circuit together with the vehicle ID information to the data server via power line communication, in response to an instruction that the charger received from the data server via power line communication.

21. The maintenance service system according to claim 20, wherein:

the electronic control unit causes the charger to transmit the charge history stored in the nonvolatile storage circuit together with the vehicle ID information to the data server via power line communication, in response to the instruction that the charger received from the data server via power line communication.

22. The maintenance service system according to claim 21, wherein:

the data server is coupled to a plurality of charging stations; and

each charging station is capable of power line communication with the charger, when the charger is coupled to each such charging station.

23. An electric vehicle battery module comprising:

a plurality of battery cells; and

an integrated battery module authentication system comprising;

a first microcomputer configured to receive and respond to a battery module authentication instruction; and

an electronic circuit associated with each battery cell, the electronic circuit of each battery cell being coupled to said first microcomputer;

wherein;

in response to said battery module authentication instruction, the first microcomputer is configured to;

determine whether at least one of the battery cells is not authentic;

output a first signal representing that the battery module is not authentic, if at least one of the battery cells is determined to be not authentic; and

output a second signal representing that the battery module is authentic, if none of the battery cells are determined to be not authentic.

24. The electric vehicle battery module according to claim 23, wherein:

the electronic circuit associated with each battery cell comprises a second microcomputer; and

the first microcomputer and each battery cell'"'"'s second microcomputer share an encryption key.

25. An electric vehicle battery authentication system for an electric vehicle having a plurality of battery modules, comprising:

a system microcomputer connected to each of said plurality of battery modules and configured to;

determine whether at least one of the battery modules is not authentic by sending and receiving a response to at least one battery module authentication instruction;

output a first signal, if at least one of the battery modules is determined to be not authentic; and

output a second signal, if none of the battery modules is determined to be not authentic;

wherein each battery module comprises;

a plurality of battery cells; and

an integrated battery module authentication system comprising;

a first microcomputer configured to receive and respond to said battery module authentication instruction; and

an electronic circuit associated with each battery cell, the electronic circuit of each battery cell being coupled to said first microcomputer;

wherein;

in response to said battery module authentication instruction, the first microcomputer is configured to;

determine whether at least one of the battery cells is not authentic;

output a first signal, if at least one of the battery cells is determined to be not authentic; and

output a second signal, if none of the battery cells is determined to be not authentic.

26. An electric vehicle maintenance history information system comprising:

a data server coupled to at least one electric vehicle charging station configured to communicate with a charger of an electric vehicle via power line communication, when the electric vehicle is connected to the electric vehicle charging station for a charging operation;

wherein the data server is configured to;

send, via the electric vehicle charging station and to the electric vehicle, a first instruction to gather maintenance information; and

in response to the first instruction, receive from the electric vehicle'"'"'s charger via power line communication with the electric vehicle charging station, voltage and charge history about each of plurality of battery modules belonging to a battery of the electric vehicle.

27. The electric vehicle maintenance history information system according to claim 26,

wherein each battery module comprises:

a plurality of battery cells; and

an integrated battery module authentication system comprising;

a first microcomputer configured to receive and respond to said battery module authentication instruction; and

an electronic circuit associated with each battery cell, the electronic circuit of each battery cell being coupled to said first microcomputer;

wherein;

in response to said battery module authentication instruction, the first microcomputer is configured to;

determine whether at least one of the battery cells is not authentic;

output a first signal, if at least one of the battery cells is determined to be not authentic; and

output a second signal, if none of the battery cells is determined to be not authentic.

28. An electric vehicle maintenance history information system configured to receive and store voltage and charge history of a plurality of electric vehicles, comprising:

a data server; and

at least one electric vehicle charging station coupled to the data server, the electric vehicle charging station being configured to communicate, via power line communication, with a charger of an electric vehicle that has been connected to the electric vehicle charging station for a charging operation;

wherein the data server is configured to;

send, via the electric vehicle charging station and to the electric vehicle, a first instruction to gather maintenance information; and

in response to the first instruction, receive from the electric vehicle'"'"'s charger via power line communication with the electric vehicle charging station, voltage and charge history about each of plurality of battery modules belonging to an battery of the electric vehicle; and

wherein each battery module comprises;

a plurality of battery cells; and

an integrated battery module authentication system comprising;

a first microcomputer configured to receive and respond to said battery module authentication instruction; and

an electronic circuit associated with each battery cell, the electronic circuit of each battery cell being coupled to said first microcomputer;

wherein;

in response to said battery module authentication instruction, the first microcomputer is configured to;

determine whether at least one of the battery cells is not authentic;

output a first signal, if at least one of the battery cells is determined to be not authentic; and

output a second signal, if none of the battery cells is determined to be not authentic.

29. An electric vehicle maintenance data server, comprising:

a storage configured to store prior voltage history and prior charging history of a plurality of battery modules for each of a plurality of electric vehicles;

a communication link to a charging station over which the data server is configured to receive a current voltage history of a plurality of battery modules in a given electric vehicle that is coupled to said charging station; and

a comparator configured to compare the retrieved current voltage history with prior stored voltage history of said given electric vehicle.