Control system for a vehicle-mounted battery

• US 5,955,865 A
• Filed: 02/13/1998
• Issued: 09/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HINO Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: HINO Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Masuda, Satoshi, Koike, Tetsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Application Number:
  US09/023,076
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 320/104, 320/119, 320/123, 320/128, 320/134, 320/FOR 114, 320/FOR 129, 320/FOR 138, 320/FOR 148, 320/FOR 157, 320/FOR 160, 322/10, 322/11, 322/39, 322/44, 180/65.1, 180/65.3
• US Class Current: 320/104
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/28 characterised by the electric energy storing means, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/485 Motor-assist type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/549 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/14 Preventing excessive discharging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/15 Preventing overcharging
• 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: B60L 58/20 having different nominal voltages
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/21 having the same nominal voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/364 Battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements
• 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 31/3828 : using current integration
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3842 : combining voltage and current measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/386 : using test-loads
• 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 10/4257 : Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• 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: H02J 7/0013 : acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0047 : with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/005 : Detection of state of health [SOH]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/907 : Electricity storage, e.g. battery, capacitor

Abstract

The state of charging and discharging of a secondary cell circuit varies with battery deterioration and with the margin for charging and discharging. The state of charging and discharging is detected accurately without coming into contact with any unit cells, and maintenance and inspection can be performed efficiently. Charging and discharging characteristics of the battery are held in a memory, and charging current and discharging current are controlled by comparing measured voltage and current values with the charging and discharging characteristics held in the memory. Furthermore, battery information relating to each unit cell is transmitted by radio signals and the substance of this information is displayed at the driver'"'"'s seat.

Claims

1. A control system for a vehicle-mounted battery, comprising:

a polyphase alternating current rotating machine coupled to a driving gear of a vehicle,

an inverter circuit provided between said polyphase alternating current rotating machine and a battery mounted on the vehicle,

said inverter performing at least one of AC-to-DC and DC-to-AC conversion,

a program control circuit for controlling said inverter circuit; and

means for measuring the current and voltage of said battery during discharge and during charging;

wherein said program control circuit comprises means for controlling, via said inverter and on the basis of the voltage and current information measured by said means, the current at least during one of the charging and discharging of the battery,

wherein said battery is provided with battery sensors for detecting terminal voltage of unit cells;

the detection output of said battery sensors being supplied to the program control circuit;

the program control circuit comprising means for adjusting at least one of the charging and discharging current in accordance with the unit cell terminal voltage, and

wherein the unit cells are each provided with an aforesaid battery sensor and with a transmitter for transmitting radio signals which has been modulated by the output of said battery sensor; and

a receiver for receiving said radio signals is disposed in or in the vicinity of the battery compartment which houses the unit cells; and

separate information relating to each unit cell is received at said receiver.

2. A control system for a vehicle-mounted battery according to claim 1, wherein the program control circuit comprises memory means for holding information regarding current and voltage during discharge (discharge IV characteristics) and current and voltage during charging (charging IV characteristics).

3. A control system for a vehicle-mounted battery according to claim 1, wherein the radio signals contain identification codes which have been respectively set for each unit cell.

4. A control system for a vehicle-mounted battery according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the battery sensor includes a current sensor for detecting information relating to the current of the unit cells.

5. A control system for a vehicle-mounted battery according to claim 2, 1 or 3, wherein the battery sensor includes temperature sensors for detecting information relating to the temperature of the unit cells.

6. A control system for a vehicle-mounted battery according to claim 2, 1 or 3, which has a program control circuit for processing the aforementioned information.