BATTERY VOLTAGE MONITOR CIRCUIT

• US 20130234720A1
• Filed: 02/25/2013
• Published: 09/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd. (Minebea Mitsumi, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd. (Minebea Mitsumi, Inc.)
• Inventors: TANAKA, Hidenori
• Granted Patent: US 9,500,712 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/434
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/2503 for measuring voltage only, e.g. digital volt meters (DVM's) G01R19/2506 - G01R19/257 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/382 Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3835 involving only voltage measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48247 connecting the wire to a bond pad of the item
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48465 the other connecting portion not on the bonding area being a wedge bond, i.e. ball-to-wedge, regular stitch
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0019 using switched or multiplexed charge circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A battery voltage monitor circuit for monitoring a voltage of plural secondary batteries includes first and second logic circuit parts that select first and second secondary batteries from the plural secondary batteries according to first and second command signals supplied from an external device, first and second reference voltage generation parts that generate first and second reference voltages, first and second AD conversion parts that digitalize a voltage of both ends of the first and second secondary batteries into first and second digital signals by using the first and second reference voltages, first and second communication parts that transmit the first and second digital signals to the external device.

Claims

1. A battery voltage monitor circuit for monitoring a voltage of a plurality of secondary batteries, the battery voltage monitor circuit comprising:

a first logic circuit part that selects a first secondary battery from the plural secondary batteries according to a first command signal supplied from an external device;

a first reference voltage generation part that generates a first reference voltage;

a first AD conversion part that digitalizes a voltage of both ends of the first secondary battery into a first digital signal by using the first reference voltage;

a first communication part that transmits the first digital signal to the external device;

a second logic part that selects a second secondary battery from the plural secondary batteries according to a second command signal supplied from the external device;

a second reference voltage generation part that generates a second reference voltage;

a second AD conversion part that digitalizes a voltage of both ends of the second secondary battery into a second digital signal by referring to the second reference voltage; and

a second communication part that transmits the second digital signal to the external device.

2. The battery voltage monitor circuit as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the first logic circuit part includes a first storage part for storing a first reference value therein,

wherein the first logic part is configured to select a voltage of a first predetermined part according to the first command signal supplied from the external device,

wherein the first AD conversion part is configured to digitalize the voltage of the first predetermined part into the first digital signal, and

wherein the first logic part is configured to determine whether an operation of the first predetermined part is normal by comparing the first digital signal with the first reference value.

3. The battery voltage monitor circuit as claimed in claim 2,

wherein the second logic circuit part includes a second storage part for storing a second reference value therein,

wherein the second logic part is configured to select a voltage of a second predetermined part according to the second command signal supplied from the external device,

wherein the second AD conversion part is configured to digitalize the voltage of the second predetermined part into the second digital signal, and

wherein the second logic part is configured to determine whether an operation of the second predetermined part is normal by comparing the second digital signal with the second reference value.

4. The battery voltage monitor circuit as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the first logic circuit part, the first reference voltage generation part, the first AD conversion part, and the first communication part are formed in a first semiconductor chip, and

wherein the second logic circuit part, the second reference voltage generation part, the second AD conversion part, and the second communication part are formed in a second semiconductor chip.

5. The battery voltage monitor circuit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first and second semiconductor chips are formed one on top of the other and encapsulated by an encapsulating material.

6. The battery voltage monitor circuit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first and second semiconductor chips are formed on a same plane and encapsulated by an encapsulating material.

7. The battery voltage monitor circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plural secondary batteries are connected in series.