BATTERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

• US 20170104353A1
• Filed: 12/21/2016
• Published: 04/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd. (d/b/a DJI) (iFlight Technology Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd. (d/b/a DJI) (iFlight Technology Company Limited)
• Inventors: Zhan, Juncheng, Liu, Yuancai, Wang, Wentao, Zhao, Tao, Wang, Lei
• Granted Patent: US 10,797,499 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/00 Type of UAV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/18 for batteries; for accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0016 using shunting, discharge or bypass circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0025 Sequential battery discharge in systems with a plurality of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0029 with safety or protection devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0063 with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0069 Charging or discharging for charge maintenance, battery initiation or rejuvenation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00714 in response to battery charging or discharging current
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007182 in response to battery voltage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices of managing a battery assembly used to power an object are provided to discharge a battery assembly for a safe and long-term storage. A controlled self-discharge of the battery assembly may be initiated when the power to the object is turned off for a certain length of time or the battery assembly is not in use for a threshold length of time. The controlled self-discharge may be terminated if the battery assembly reaches a threshold voltage value or the battery is in use again during the self-discharge.

Claims

1. An apparatus for discharging a battery assembly used to power at least part of an object, said apparatus comprising:

a timer configured to;

(1) receive a signal when the power to the object is turned off and initiate timing in response thereto and (2) detect an amount of time elapsed since the power to the object is turned off; and

one or more processors individually or collectively configured to;

(1) receive a signal from the timer indicative of the amount of time elapsed and (2) generate a signal that initiates a controlled self-discharge of the battery assembly when the amount of time elapsed exceeds a threshold length of time.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors individually or collectively are further configured to receive a signal indicative of a voltage of the battery assembly during the controlled self-discharge of the battery assembly, and generate a signal that terminates the controlled self-discharge of the battery assembly when the voltage reaches a threshold voltage value.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the threshold voltage is configured to enable safe long-term storage of the battery assembly.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the one or more processors individually or collectively are further configured to generate a signal that enters the battery assembly into a hibernation mode subsequent to terminating the controlled self-discharge of the battery assembly.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors individually or collectively are further configured to receive a signal indicative of when the power to the object is turned on, and generate a signal that terminates the controlled self-discharge of the battery assembly when the power to the object is turned on.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, the one or more processors individually or collectively are further configured to receive a signal indicative of the battery assembly powering the at least the part of the object, and generate a signal that terminates the controlled self-discharge of the battery assembly if the battery assembly powers the at least the part of the object.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a self-discharging circuit electrically coupled to the battery assembly.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the self-discharging circuit comprises a self-discharging resistor and a control switch connected in parallel with positive and negative terminals of the battery assembly, the controlled self-discharge is initiated when the control switch is switched to a closed state and is terminated when the control switch is switched to an open state.

9. An unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising a battery assembly and the apparatus of claim 1 operably coupled to the battery assembly.

10. An apparatus for discharging a battery assembly, said apparatus comprising:

a timer configured to detect an amount of time that the battery assembly is not in use; and

one or more processors individually or collectively configured to;

receive a signal from the timer indicative of the amount of time, and

generate a signal that initiates a controlled self-discharge of the battery assembly when the amount of time exceeds a threshold length of time.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the one or more processors individually or collectively are further configured to generate a signal that terminates the controlled self-discharge of the battery assembly when (1) the battery assembly is in use, or (2) the battery assembly voltage reaches a threshold voltage value.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the threshold voltage is configured to enable safe long-term storage of the battery assembly.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the one or more processors individually or collectively are further configured to generate a signal that enters the battery assembly into a hibernation mode subsequent to terminating the controlled self-discharge of the battery assembly when the battery assembly voltage reaches the threshold voltage value.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a self-discharging circuit electrically coupled to the battery assembly.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the battery assembly is used to power a propulsion system of the UAV.

10-1.

16. An unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising a battery assembly and the apparatus of claim

17. A method of discharging a battery assembly, said method comprising:

detecting, with aid of a timer, when the battery assembly is not in use for a threshold length of time; and

initiating a controlled self-discharge of the battery assembly when the battery assembly is not in use for the threshold length of time.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising terminating the controlled self-discharge of the battery assembly when (1) the battery assembly is in use, or (2) the battery assembly voltage reaches a threshold voltage value.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the threshold voltage is configured to enable safe long-term storage of the battery assembly.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising entering a hibernation mode subsequent to terminating the controlled self-discharge of the battery assembly when the battery assembly voltage reaches the threshold voltage value.