BATTERY CELL MONITORING CIRCUIT, BATTERY CELL MODULE, AUTOMOBILE WITH BATTERY CELL MODULE

• US 20130026994A1
• Filed: 03/15/2012
• Published: 01/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: MORIKAWA, Masaaki
• Application Number:
  US13/421,822
• Publication Number:
  US 20130026994A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/134
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/22 Balancing the charge of battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/16542 for batteries charge condition monitoring in G01R31/36
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/54 Testing for continuity
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/482 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• 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 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0019 using switched or multiplexed charge circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0047 with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a battery cell monitoring circuit detects an abnormity in the cell balancing and terminals of each battery cell. One end of the first switch is connected to the first cell balancing terminal, and the other end of the first switch is connected to the second cell balancing terminal, so that the first switch is turned on/off based on a first control signal to perform cell balancing. The current source and the second switch are arranged in parallel with the first switch, and are connected in series between the one end and the other end of the first switch. The current source supplies a current. The second switch is turned on/off based on a second control signal. The first detection unit receives a first cell voltage measuring terminal voltage and a first cell balancing terminal voltage, and detects a terminal open state. The second detection unit receives a second cell voltage measuring terminal voltage and a second cell balancing terminal voltage, and detects a terminal open state.

Claims

1. A battery cell monitoring circuit for detecting an abnormity in cell balancing and a terminal of a battery cell, the battery cell monitoring circuit comprising:

a first cell voltage measuring terminal configured to be connected to a positive electrode side of the battery cell;

a first cell balancing terminal configured to be connected to the positive electrode side of the battery cell, and configured to be arranged in parallel with the first cell voltage measuring terminal;

a second cell voltage measuring terminal configured to be connected to a negative electrode side of the battery cell;

a second cell balancing terminal configured to be connected to the negative electrode side of the battery cell, and configured to be arranged in parallel with the second cell voltage measuring terminal;

a first switch having one end connected to the first cell balancing terminal, and the other end connected to the second cell balancing terminal, the first switch configured to perform cell balancing by being turned on/off based on a first control signal;

a current source and a second switch which are arranged in parallel with the first switch and are connected in series between the one end and the other end of the first switch, the current source configured to supply a current, the second switch configured to be turned on/off based on a second control signal;

a first detection unit configured to receive a first cell voltage measuring terminal voltage and a first cell balancing terminal voltage, and configured to detect a terminal open state; and

a second detection unit configured to receive a second cell voltage measuring terminal voltage and a second cell balancing terminal voltage, and configured to detect a terminal open state.

2. The battery cell monitoring circuit according to claim 1, wherein

the first detection unit is a first comparator configured to receive the first cell voltage measurement terminal voltage at a first input side, to receive the first cell balancing terminal voltage at a second input side, and to compare the first cell voltage measuring terminal voltage with the first cell balancing terminal voltage, and

the second detection unit is a second comparator configured to receive the second cell voltage measurement terminal voltage at a first input side, to receive the second cell balancing terminal voltage at a second input side, and to compare the second cell voltage measuring terminal voltage with the second cell balancing terminal voltage.

3. The battery cell monitoring circuit according to claim 1, wherein

the first detection unit is a first P-channel MOS transistor having a first terminal to which the first cell voltage measurement terminal voltage is applied, and a control terminal to which the first cell balancing terminal voltage is applied and a second terminal configured to output a first detection signal indicating detection of an terminal open state, and

the second detection unit is a second P-channel MOS transistor having a first terminal to which the second cell voltage measurement terminal voltage is applied, and a control terminal to which the second cell balancing terminal voltage is applied and a second terminal configured to output a second detection signal indicating detection of an terminal open state.

4. The battery cell monitoring circuit according to claim 3, wherein

when the first and second switches are off and the first detection signal at a high level is outputted, it is determined that the first switch has a short-circuit failure.

5. The battery cell monitoring circuit according to claim 1, wherein

the first switch is an N-channel MOS transistor.

6. The battery cell monitoring circuit according to claim 1, wherein

a positive electrode voltage of the battery cell is applied via a filter to the first cell voltage measuring terminal and the first cell balancing terminal, and

a negative electrode voltage of the battery cell is applied via a filter to the second cell voltage measuring terminal and the second cell balancing terminal.

7. The battery cell monitoring circuit according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first resistance configured to set a discharge current, and configured to be provided between the positive electrode side of the battery cell and the first cell voltage measuring terminal,

a second resistance configured to set a discharge current, and configured to be provided between the positive electrode side of the battery cell and the first cell balancing terminal,

a third resistance configured to set a discharge current, and configured to be provided between the negative electrode side of the battery cell and the second cell voltage measuring terminal, and

a fourth resistance configured to set a discharge current, and configured to be provided between the negative electrode side of the battery cell and the second cell balancing terminal.

8. The battery cell monitoring circuit according to claim 1, wherein

the battery cell monitoring circuit is applied to an EV, an HEV, a fuel cell vehicle, smart grid, energy harvesting and a mobile.

9. A battery cell monitoring circuit for detecting an abnormity in cell balancing and a terminal of a battery cell, the battery cell monitoring circuit comprising:

a first cell voltage measuring terminal configured to be connected to a positive electrode side of the battery cell;

a first cell balancing terminal configured to be connected to the positive electrode side of the battery cell, and configured to be arranged in parallel with the first cell voltage measuring terminal;

a second cell voltage measuring terminal configured to be connected to a negative electrode side of the battery cell;

a second cell balancing terminal configured to be connected to the negative electrode side of the battery cell, and configured to be arranged in parallel with the second cell voltage measuring terminal;

a first switch having one end configured to be connected to the first cell balancing terminal, the first switch configured to perform cell balancing by being turned on/off based on a first control signal;

a first resistance having one end connected to the other end of the first switch, and the other end connected to the second cell balancing terminal; and

a detection circuit having a first input side connected to the one end of the first resistance, and a second input side connected to the other end of the first resistance, the detection circuit configured to detect a current flowing through the first resistance.

10. The battery cell monitoring circuit according to claim 9, wherein

the detection circuit is a comparator.

11. The battery cell monitoring circuit according to claim 9, wherein

the first switch is an N-channel MOS transistor.

12. The battery cell monitoring circuit according to claim 9, wherein

a positive electrode voltage of the battery cell is applied via a filter to the first cell voltage measuring terminal and the first cell balancing terminal, and

a negative electrode voltage of the battery cell is applied via a filter to the second cell voltage measuring terminal and the second cell balancing terminal.

13. The battery cell monitoring circuit according to claim 9, further comprising:

a second resistance configured to set a discharge current, and configured to be provided between the positive electrode side of the battery cell and the first cell voltage measuring terminal,

a third resistance configured to set a discharge current, and configured to be provided between the positive electrode side of the battery cell and the first cell balancing terminal,

a fourth resistance configured to set a discharge current, and configured to be provided between the negative electrode side of the battery cell and the second cell voltage measuring terminal, and

a fifth resistance configured to set a discharge current, and configured to be provided between the negative electrode side of the battery cell and the second cell balancing terminal.

14. The battery cell monitoring circuit according to claim 9, wherein

the battery cell monitoring circuit is applied to an EV, an HEV, a fuel cell vehicle, smart grid, energy harvesting and a mobile.

15. A battery cell module comprising:

a battery cell unit in which battery cells are stacked or arranged in parallel; and

a battery cell monitoring circuit for detecting an abnormity in cell balancing and a terminal of the battery cell, wherein

the battery cell monitoring circuit includes;

a first cell voltage measuring terminal configured to be connected to a positive electrode side of the battery cell,

a first cell balancing terminal configured to be connected to the positive electrode side of the battery cell, and configured to be arranged in parallel with the first cell voltage measuring terminal,

a second cell voltage measuring terminal configured to be connected to a negative electrode side of the battery cell,

a second cell balancing terminal configured to be connected to the negative electrode side of the battery cell, and configured to be arranged in parallel with the second cell voltage measuring terminal,

a first switch having one end connected to the first cell balancing terminal, and the other end connected to the second cell balancing terminal, the first switch configured to perform cell balancing by being turned on/off based on a first control signal,

a current source and a second switch which are arranged in parallel with the first switch and are connected in series between the one end and the other end of the first switch, the current source configured to supply a current, the second switch configured to be turned on/off based on a second control signal;

a first detection unit configured to receive a first cell voltage measuring terminal voltage and a first cell balancing terminal voltage, and configured to detect a terminal open state, and

a second detection unit configured to receive a second cell voltage measuring terminal voltage and a second cell balancing terminal voltage, and configured to detect a terminal open state.

16. The battery cell module according to claim 15, wherein

the battery cell module is applied to an EV, an HEV, and a fuel cell vehicle.