SECONDARY BATTERY SYSTEM AND CHARGING SYSTEM FOR SECONDARY BATTERY

• US 20120181988A1
• Filed: 01/12/2012
• Published: 07/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GS Yuasa International Ltd. (GS Yuasa Corporation)
• Original Assignee: GS Yuasa International Ltd. (GS Yuasa Corporation)
• Inventors: UCHIBORI, Takuji
• Granted Patent: US 8,981,726 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/134
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• 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 50/581 in response to temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00304 Overcurrent protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00308 Overvoltage protection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A secondary battery system includes a secondary battery, an abnormality detecting unit OC which detects whether the secondary battery has become abnormal, and a signal generating circuit which outputs a signal to an externally connected device based on detection information of the abnormality detecting unit OC. The signal generating circuit includes a circuit element that can be held at least in a first state and in a second state. The signal generating circuit is configured to change an output state of a signal to the externally connected device based on whether the circuit element is in the first state or in the second state. The signal generating circuit is configured to switch the circuit element from the first state to the second state when the abnormality detecting unit OC has detected the abnormal state, and not to return the circuit element to the first state.

Claims

1. A secondary battery system comprising:

a secondary battery;

an abnormality detecting unit that detects an abnormality of the secondary battery; and

a signal generating circuit that outputs a signal to an externally connected device for operating in cooperation with the secondary battery based on detection information of the abnormality detecting unit;

wherein

the signal generating circuit includes a circuit element that is held at least in a first state and in a second state,

the signal generating circuit changes an output state of a signal to the externally connected device based on whether the circuit element is in the first state or the second state, and

the signal generating circuit switches the circuit element from the first state to the second state when the abnormality detecting unit detects an abnormality of the secondary battery, and the circuit element does not return to the first state.

2. The secondary battery system according to claim 1, wherein the first state of the circuit element corresponds to a state where a part of an energizing path of the signal generating circuit is closed, and the second state of the circuit element corresponds a state where a part of the energizing path of the signal generating circuit is opened.

3. The secondary battery system according to claim 2, wherein the circuit element is a fuse, and the first state is switched to the second state by blowing out the fuse.

4. The secondary battery system according to claim 1, wherein the abnormality detecting unit detects an abnormality when a current or a voltage of the secondary battery reaches a set value that is set in advance.

5. The secondary battery system according to claim 3, wherein

the fuse is provided a thermal fuse, and

the abnormality detecting unit causes a current for blowing out the thermal fuse to pass to a heating element that heats the thermal fuse, upon detection of an abnormality of the secondary battery.

6. The secondary battery system according to claim 5, wherein

two thermal fuses configured identically with the thermal fuse are arranged so as to be connected in series at an intermediate position of a wiring that connects between a position at a higher potential side than a negative electrode of the secondary battery and a control output terminal that outputs the signal, and the heating element is arranged at an intermediate position of a wiring that connects between a connection position of the two thermal fuses and an output of the abnormality detecting unit, and

the two thermal fuses and the heating element are accommodated in one package.

7. The secondary battery system according to claim 1, wherein

the externally connected device is a charger that charges the secondary battery, and

the signal generating circuit outputs a signal that causes the charger to stop a charge operation, upon switching of the circuit element from the first state to the second state.

8. A charging system for a secondary battery, comprising the secondary battery system according to claim 7, and the charger that is detachably attached to the secondary battery system.