WIRELESS BATTERY MANAGEMENT CONTROL AND MONITORING SYSTEM

• US 20150338470A1
• Filed: 08/04/2015
• Published: 11/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Zumstein, James M., Chang, John T., Farmer, Joseph C., Kovotsky, Jack, Lavietes, Anthony, Trebes, James Edward
• Granted Patent: US 9,869,726 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: 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: H01M 10/052 Li-accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/119 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/204 Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/22 of the casings or racks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/569 Constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements G01R31/364
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery management system using a sensor inside of the battery that sensor enables monitoring and detection of various events in the battery and transmission of a signal from the sensor through the battery casing to a control and data acquisition module by wireless transmission. The detection of threshold events in the battery enables remedial action to be taken to avoid catastrophic events.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring battery parameters of a battery having a casing, comprising:

a sensor located inside of the casing that senses at least one battery parameter and provides a battery parameter signal;

a data collection and storage unit located outside of the casing;

a RF transmitter and receiver located outside of the casing and operatively connected to said data collection and storage unit; and

a magnetic induction communication system operatively connected to said sensor that transmits said battery parameter signal from said sensor to said RF transmitter and receiver wherein said RF transmitter and receiver provides said battery parameter signal to said data collection and storage unit, said magnetic induction communication system including

a first induction coil located inside of the casing and

a second induction coil located outside of the casing.

2. The system for monitoring battery parameters of a battery of claim 1 wherein said RF transmitter and receiver includes a wireless RF transmission system and wherein said RF transmitter and receiver provides said battery parameter signal to said data collection and storage unit using said wireless RF transmission system.

3. The system for monitoring battery parameters of a battery of claim 1 wherein said sensor located inside of the casing that senses at least one battery parameter and provides a battery parameter signal is a temperature sensor that senses temperature and provides a temperature signal.

4. The system for monitoring battery parameters of a battery of claim 1 wherein said sensor located inside of the casing that senses at least one battery parameter and provides a battery parameter signal is a voltage sensor that senses voltage and provides a voltage signal.

5. The system for monitoring battery parameters of a battery of claim 1 wherein said sensor located inside of the casing that senses at least one battery parameter and provides a battery parameter signal is a current sensor that senses current and provides a current signal.

6. A system for monitoring battery parameters of a battery that includes

a battery housing made of a material that does not block RF transmission,

a battery pack within said battery housing having structure and material that does not block RF transmission, and

a multiplicity of individual batteries in said battery pack wherein each individual battery has a casing made of a material that blocks RF transmission, comprising:

a sensor located inside of the casing of the individual battery that senses at least one battery parameter of said individual battery and provides a battery parameter signal;

a magnetic induction communication system including

a first induction coil located inside of the casing of the individual battery and operatively connected to said sensor to receive said battery parameter signal,

a second coil located outside of the casing of the individual battery wherein said magnetic induction communication system transmits said battery parameter signal from said first induction coil to said second induction coil;

a data collection and storage unit;

a RF transmitter and receiver that receives said battery parameter signal from said magnetic induction communication system and provides said battery parameter signal to said data collection and storage unit.

7. The system for monitoring battery parameters of a battery of claim 6 further comprising additional coils wherein coil located outside of the casing of the individual battery wherein said magnetic induction communication system transmits said battery parameter signal from and to said additional coils.

8. The system for monitoring battery parameters of a battery of claim 6 wherein said RF transmitter and receiver includes a wireless RF transmission system and wherein said RF transmitter and receiver provides said battery parameter signal to said data collection and storage unit using said wireless RF transmission system.

9. The system for monitoring battery parameters of a battery of claim 6 wherein said sensor located inside of the battery casing that senses at least one battery parameter of said battery and provides a battery parameter signal is a temperature sensor that senses temperature and provides a temperature signal.

10. The system for monitoring battery parameters of a battery of claim 6 wherein said sensor located inside of the battery casing that senses at least one battery parameter of said battery and provides a battery parameter signal is a voltage sensor that senses voltage and provides a voltage signal.

11. The system for monitoring battery parameters of a battery of claim 6 wherein said sensor located inside of the battery casing that senses at least one battery parameter of said battery and provides a battery parameter signal is a current sensor that senses current and provides a current signal.

12. A method of monitoring battery parameters of a battery that includes a battery casing made of a material that blocks RF transmission, comprising the steps of:

sensing at least one battery parameter inside the battery and providing a battery parameter signal;

transmitting said battery parameter signal from inside the battery through the battery casing; and

receiving said battery parameter signal outside of the battery casing and transmitting said battery parameter signal for data collection and storage.

13. The method of monitoring battery parameters of a battery of claim 12 wherein said step of transmitting said battery parameter signal from inside the battery through the battery casing includes using a first induction coil located inside of the battery casing operatively connected to said sensor and a second induction coil located outside of the battery casing to transmit said battery parameter signal from inside the battery through the battery casing.

14. The method of monitoring battery parameters of a battery of claim 12 wherein said step of receiving said battery parameter signal outside of the battery casing and transmitting said battery parameter signal for data collection and storage includes transmitting said battery parameter signal by RF transmission for data collection and storage.

15. The method of monitoring battery parameters of a battery of claim 12 wherein said step of sensing at least one battery parameter inside the battery and providing a battery parameter signal comprises sensing a temperature battery parameter inside the battery and providing a battery temperature battery parameter signal.

16. The method of monitoring battery parameters of a battery of claim 12 wherein said step of sensing at least one battery parameter inside the battery and providing a battery parameter signal comprises sensing a voltage battery parameter inside the battery and providing a battery voltage battery parameter signal.

17. The method of monitoring battery parameters of a battery of claim 12 wherein said step of sensing at least one battery parameter inside the battery and providing a battery parameter signal comprises sensing a current battery parameter inside the battery and providing a battery current battery parameter signal.

18. A method of monitoring battery parameters of a battery that includes a battery housing made of a material that does not block RF transmission,

a battery pack within said battery housing having structure and material that does not block RF transmission, and

a multiplicity of individual batteries in said battery pack wherein each individual battery has a battery casing made of a material that blocks RF transmission, comprising the steps of:

sensing at least one battery parameter inside the battery casing and providing a battery parameter signal;

transmitting said battery parameter signal from inside the battery casing through the battery casing; and

receiving said battery parameter signal outside of the battery casing and transmitting said battery parameter signal through the battery housing for data collection and storage.

19. The method of monitoring battery parameters of a battery of claim 18 wherein said step of receiving said battery parameter signal outside of the battery casing and transmitting said battery parameter signal through the battery housing for data collection and storage includes receiving said battery parameter signal outside of the battery casing and transmitting said battery parameter signal through the battery housing and the battery pack for data collection and storage.

20. The method of monitoring battery parameters of a battery of claim 18 wherein said step of sensing at least one battery parameter inside the battery casing and providing a battery parameter signal comprises sensing a temperature battery parameter inside the battery casing and providing a battery temperature battery parameter signal.

21. The method of monitoring battery parameters of a battery of claim 18 wherein said step of sensing at least one battery parameter inside the battery casing and providing a battery parameter signal comprises sensing a voltage battery parameter inside the battery casing and providing a battery voltage battery parameter signal.

22. The method of monitoring battery parameters of a battery of claim 18 wherein said step of sensing at least one battery parameter inside the battery casing and providing a battery parameter signal comprises sensing a current battery parameter inside the battery casing and providing a battery current battery parameter signal.