SECONDARY BATTERY, INSPECTION APPARATUS AND INSPECTION METHOD FOR SECONDARY BATTERY, AND BATTERY INSPECTION SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A secondary battery comprising:
- a plurality of battery cells connected in series; and
a plurality of detection units connected in parallel with said plurality of battery cells respectively,said plurality of detection units each including a reactor and a zener diode connected in series,each said zener diode having a breakdown voltage higher than an output voltage of a corresponding one of said battery cells in use, andrespective breakdown voltages of respective said zener diodes of said plurality of detection units being designed to have respective values different in a stepwise manner from each other.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A plurality of detection units are connected respectively in parallel with a plurality of battery cells connected in series. The detection units each include an inductor and a zener diode connected in series. A battery checker includes a plurality of detection inductors and a single voltmeter that form a closed circuit. A plurality of detection inductors are arranged so that they are magnetically coupled respectively with the inductors of the plurality of detection units. Each zener diode is connected with the polarity to be reverse biased by the output voltage of the battery cell. Respective breakdown voltages of the zener diodes are set higher than the output voltage of each battery cell in normal use and different in a stepwise manner from each other.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A secondary battery comprising:
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a plurality of battery cells connected in series; and a plurality of detection units connected in parallel with said plurality of battery cells respectively, said plurality of detection units each including a reactor and a zener diode connected in series, each said zener diode having a breakdown voltage higher than an output voltage of a corresponding one of said battery cells in use, and respective breakdown voltages of respective said zener diodes of said plurality of detection units being designed to have respective values different in a stepwise manner from each other. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An inspection apparatus for a secondary battery,
said secondary battery including: -
a plurality of battery cells connected in series; and a plurality of detection units connected in parallel with said plurality of battery cells respectively, and said plurality of detection units each including a reactor and a zener diode connected in series, said zener diode having a breakdown voltage higher than an output voltage of a corresponding one of said battery cells in use, said inspection apparatus comprising; a plurality of detection reactors connected in series; and a voltage detector connected in series with said plurality of detection reactors to constitute a closed circuit, and said plurality of detection reactors each being arranged so that, when said inspection apparatus is attached to said secondary battery for inspecting said secondary battery, each said detection reactor is magnetically coupled with said reactor in a corresponding one of said plurality of detection units in which respective breakdown voltages of respective said zener diodes are designed to have respective values different in a stepwise manner from each other. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A battery inspection system comprising:
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a secondary battery; and an inspection apparatus for said secondary battery, said secondary battery including; a plurality of battery cells connected in series; and a plurality of detection units connected in parallel with said plurality of battery cells respectively, said plurality of detection units each including a reactor and a zener diode connected in series, each said zener diode having a breakdown voltage higher than an output voltage of a corresponding one of said battery cells in use, and respective breakdown voltages of respective said zener diodes of said plurality of detection units being designed to have respective values different in a stepwise manner from each other, said inspection apparatus including; a plurality of detection reactors connected in series; and a voltage detector connected in series with said plurality of detection reactors to constitute a closed circuit, and said plurality of detection reactors each being arranged so that, when said inspection apparatus is attached to said secondary battery for inspecting said secondary battery, each said detection reactor is magnetically coupled with said reactor in a corresponding one of said plurality of detection units. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. An inspection method for a secondary battery including a plurality of battery cells connected in series, comprising the steps of:
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attaching an inspection apparatus to said secondary battery, said inspection apparatus having a closed circuit constituted of a plurality of detection reactors and a voltage detector connected in series, and said secondary battery having a plurality of detection units connected in parallel with said plurality of battery cells respectively, said plurality of detection units each including a reactor and a zener diode connected in series, each said zener diode having a breakdown voltage higher than an output voltage of a corresponding one of said battery cells in use, and respective breakdown voltages of respective said zener diodes of said plurality of detection units being designed to have respective values different in a stepwise manner from each other, and said plurality of detection reactors each being arranged so that, when said inspection apparatus is attached to said secondary battery, each said detection reactor is magnetically coupled with said reactor in a corresponding one of said plurality of detection units; supplying a charging voltage higher than a charging voltage supplied to said secondary battery in use, to said secondary battery to which said inspection apparatus is attached; measuring a parameter for determining, for each of said plurality of battery cells, whether said battery cell is degraded, based on a voltage waveform at said voltage detector after a test current is applied to said secondary battery; determining whether an abnormal cell having an increased internal resistance is present among said plurality of battery cells, based on said measured parameter; and identifying said abnormal cell among said plurality of battery cells based on said parameter, when it is determined that said abnormal cell is present. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification