SYSTEM AND METHOD TO REDUCE DATA HANDLING ON LITHIUM ION BATTERY MONITORS

• US 20140129164A1
• Filed: 09/24/2013
• Published: 05/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Analog Devices International Unlimited Company (Analog Devices, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Analog Devices Technology (Analog Devices, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gorbold, Jeremy R.
• Granted Patent: US 10,365,332 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/63
• 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

Abstract

An example method to reduce data handling on lithium ion battery monitors is provided and includes receiving a request from a micro-controller for data associated with one or more cells, receiving signals corresponding to monitored properties from the cells, calculating derivative properties from the monitored properties, dividing a default data into a plurality of portions, and sending the derivative properties and one of the portions to the micro-controller according to at least a first compute logic option or a second compute logic option. The default data can include cell voltages, auxiliary inputs, stack voltage, reference output voltage, analog voltage output, analog voltage input, temperature, and reference buffer voltage. The default data is provided sequentially to the micro-controller in as many consecutive read backs as the number of portions, where each portion corresponds to the default data measured at a distinct time instant.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a request from a micro-controller for data associated with one or more cells;

receiving signals corresponding to monitored properties from the cells;

calculating derivative properties from the monitored properties;

dividing a default data into a plurality of portions; and

sending the derivative properties and one of the portions of the default data to the micro-controller according to at least a first compute logic option or a second compute logic option.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein substantially all the default data is provided sequentially to the micro-controller one portion at a time in as many consecutive read backs as a number of the portions, wherein each portion corresponds to the default data measured at a distinct time instant.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitored properties comprise cell voltages, auxiliary inputs, and cross-check parameters used to perform safety checks on the battery monitor, and wherein the derivative properties comprise a stack voltage, a minimum cell voltage, a maximum cell voltage, and an average cell voltage.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the cross-check parameters include reference output voltage (V_REF), analog voltage output (V_REGOUT), analog voltage input (V_REGIN), temperature of the battery monitor, and reference buffer voltage (V_REFBUF).

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the default data comprises:

the cell voltages, the auxiliary inputs, the stack voltage, V_REF, V_REGOUT, V_REGIN, the temperature of the battery monitor, and V_REFBUF.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the derivative properties according to the first compute logic option comprise:

minimum cell voltage, maximum cell voltage, average cell voltage, and the one of the portions comprises one of the default data.

7. The method of claim 1, according to the first compute logic option, the derivative properties and the portion of the default data are provided on four channels in two 64 bit frames.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein, the derivative properties according to the second compute logic option comprise one of minimum cell voltage, maximum cell voltage, and average cell voltage, and the one of the portions comprises one of the default data.

9. The method of claim 1, according to the second compute logic option, the derivative properties and the portion of the default data are provided on two channels in a single 64 bit frame.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the request from the micro-controller specifies at least the first compute logic option or the second compute logic option.

11. Logic encoded in non-transitory media that includes code for execution and when executed by a processor is operable to perform operations comprising:

receiving a request from a micro-controller for data associated with one or more cells;

receiving signals corresponding to monitored properties from the cells;

calculating derivative properties from the monitored properties;

dividing a default data into a plurality of portions; and

sending the derivative properties and one of the portions of the default data to the micro-controller according to at least a first compute logic option or a second compute logic option.

12. The logic of claim 11, wherein substantially all the default data is provided sequentially to the micro-controller one portion at a time in as many consecutive read backs as a number of the portions, wherein each portion corresponds to the default data measured at a distinct time instant.

13. The logic of claim 11, wherein the default data comprises:

cell voltages, auxiliary inputs, stack voltage, V_REF, V_REGOUT, V_REGIN, temperature of the battery monitor, and V_REFBUF.

14. The logic of claim 11, wherein the derivative properties according to the first compute logic option comprise:

minimum cell voltage, maximum cell voltage, average cell voltage, and the one of the portions comprises one of the default data.

15. The logic of claim 11, wherein the derivative properties according to the second compute logic option comprise one of minimum cell voltage, maximum cell voltage, and average cell voltage, and the one of the portions comprises one of the default data.

16. An apparatus, comprising:

data registers configured to store data;

an analog-to-digital converter;

a plurality of input pins configured to monitor cell voltages of one or more cells;

a plurality of auxiliary pins configured to monitor auxiliary inputs;

a multiplexer;

a compute logic configured with at least a first compute logic option and a second compute logic option; and

a communication channel configured to receive and transmit data from and to a micro-controller, such that the integrated circuit is configured for;

receiving a request over the communication channel from the micro-controller for data associated with the cells;

receiving signals on the input pins and the auxiliary pins corresponding to monitored properties;

calculating derivative properties from the monitored properties;

dividing a default data into a plurality of portions; and

sending the derivative properties and one of the portions of the default data to the micro-controller according to at least a first compute logic option or a second compute logic option.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein substantially all the default data is provided sequentially to the micro-controller one portion at a time in as many consecutive read backs as a number of the portions, wherein each portion corresponds to the default data measured at a distinct time instant.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the default data comprises:

cell voltages, auxiliary inputs, stack voltage, V_REF, V_REGOUT, V_REGIN, temperature of the battery monitor, and V_REFBUF.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the derivative properties according to the first compute logic option comprise:

minimum cell voltage, maximum cell voltage, average cell voltage, and the one of the portions comprises one of the default data.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the derivative properties according to the second compute logic option comprise one of minimum cell voltage, maximum cell voltage, and average cell voltage, and the one of the portions comprises one of the default data.