METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MONITORING AT LEAST ONE TRACTION BATTERY OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

• US 20140210638A1
• Filed: 01/30/2014
• Published: 07/31/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: GUSSEN, Uwe, BUSCH, Rainer, RAMBOW, Thomas, WEGNER, Goetz-Philipp
• Granted Patent: US 10,024,926 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.09
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/50 by future state prediction
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/14 Preventing excessive discharging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/16 responding to battery ageing, e.g. to the number of charging cycles or the state of health [SoH]
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/371 with remote indication, e.g. on external chargers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/382 Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0047 with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/005 Detection of state of health [SOH]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A method for monitoring at least one traction battery of a motor vehicle includes the steps of determining basic data for the prediction of a deeply discharged state of the at least one traction battery by a battery monitoring system associated with the motor vehicle, transmitting the basic data to an external computer via a first communications link, determining an expected point in time of the deep discharge by the external computer, and transmitting a first warning signal to a first monitoring instantiation of the motor vehicle that can be specified if the determined point in time of the deep discharge is reached apart from an early warning time. A device for monitoring at least one traction battery of a motor vehicle is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring at least one traction battery of a motor vehicle comprising:

determining basic data for the prediction of a deeply discharged state of the at least one traction battery by a battery monitoring system associated with the motor vehicle;

transmitting the basic data to an external computer via a first communications link;

determining an expected point in time of the deep discharge by the external computer; and

transmitting a first warning signal to a first monitoring instantiation of the motor vehicle that can be specified if the determined point in time of the deep discharge is reached apart from an early warning time.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least when parking or leaving the motor vehicle, the determined basic data are transmitted via the first communications link to the external computer for determining the expected point in time of the deep discharge.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a quality of transmission of the first communications link is monitored and if there is a decrease of the quality of transmission, the basic data for determining the expected point in time of the deep discharge are transmitted to the external computer.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the basic data are transmitted to the external computer only when parking and/or leaving the motor vehicle or in the event of a decrease of the quality of transmission of the first communications link.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein determining the basic data and transmitting the basic data to the external computer are performed repeatedly and in each case the last transmitted basic data are used for determining the point in time of the deep discharge.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein during initial start-up of the motor vehicle and/or when the driver returns to the motor vehicle, a start signal is transmitted via the first communications link to the external computer.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the basic data comprise operating data of the motor vehicle.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the expected point in time of the deep discharge is determined based on a battery model that is stored in a memory that can be accessed by the external computer.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the early warning time is determined depending on a current location of the motor vehicle.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein following transmission of the first warning signal, the reception of a first confirmation signal is monitored and in the case in which no first confirmation signal is received within a reaction time, a second warning signal is transmitted to a second monitoring instantiation.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein following transmission of the second warning signal, the reception of a second confirmation signal is monitored and in the case in which reception of the second confirmation signal does not occur within a further reaction time, a third warning signal is transmitted to a third monitoring instantiation.

12. A device for monitoring at least one traction battery of a motor vehicle comprising:

a battery monitoring system of the motor vehicle and an external computer, wherein the battery monitoring system is configured for determining basic data for the prediction of a deeply discharged state of the at least one traction battery of the motor vehicle and for transmission of the basic data via a first communications link to the external computer, and the external computer is configured for determining an expected point in time of the deep discharge, for monitoring when the warning point in time, which is in advance of the expected point in time of the deep discharge by an early warning time, is reached, and for transmitting a first warning signal to a first monitoring instantiation that can be specified in advance if the warning point in time is reached.