Integrated, self-powered battery monitoring device and system

• US 6,915,220 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2003
• Issued: 07/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: King, Robert Dean, Cardinal, Mark E., Lyons, James Patrick Francis
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoff, Marc S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Charioui, Mohamed
• Application Number:
  US10/249,327
• Publication Number:
  US 20040199343A1
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• Field of Search: 702/57, 702 62- 65, 702/80, 702/99, 702/104, 702/116, 702/118, 702/122, 702/130, 702/188, 702182-184, 702/193, 320/16, 320/122, 320118-120, 320/162, 320/116, 324/426, 324/433, 324/434, 324/429, 324/430
• US Class Current: 702/63
• 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 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0069 relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/10 for monitoring or controlling batteries
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/364 Battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/371 with remote indication, e.g. on external chargers
• 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 10/486 for measuring temperature
• 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: H02J 7/0025 Sequential battery discharge in systems with a plurality of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• 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

An integrated battery monitoring device includes a pair of input leads for coupling across the terminals of a battery cell to be monitored and a sensor for sensing a desired battery cell parameter. A self-contained power supply has the voltage across the battery cell terminals as an input thereto, the self-contained power supply being configured for providing power to the sensor. A pair of output leads communicates data generated by the sensor.

Claims

1. A battery monitoring system, comprising:

a central controller;

a plurality of integrated battery monitoring devices, each of said integrated battery monitoring devices having a pair of input leads coupled across the terminals of a corresponding battery cell included within a battery string; and

a communication bus between said central controller and said plurality of integrated battery monitoring devices;

wherein each of said integrated battery monitoring devices includes a sensor for sensing a desired battery cell parameter, and a self-contained power supply therein having the voltage across said battery cell terminals as an input thereto, said self-contained power supply configured for providing power to said sensor;

wherein each of said integrated battery monitoring devices further comprises a serial controller, said serial controller configured for transmitting said data generated by said sensor to said central controller through a pair of output leads coupled to said communication bus; and

an isolator for providing voltage isolation between said serial controller and said output leads, wherein said isolator is powered by said self-contained power supply.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each of said integrated battery monitoring devices further comprises a programmable load for selectively discharging said corresponding battery cell, said programmable load in communication with said serial controller.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein each of said integrated battery monitoring devices further comprises:

an analog/digital converter for converting analog input data received by said sensor to digital output data sent to said serial controller; and

a control bus for communicating data between said analog/digital converter and said serial controller, and between said serial controller and said programmable load.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein said serial controller engages said programmable load in response to a specific voltage reference command from said central controller.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said isolator further comprises an optically coupled isolator.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein a first side of said optically coupled isolator is powered by said self-contained power supply and a second side of said optically coupled isolator is powered through a voltage generated by said central controller and applied on said output leads.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said central controller communicates with each of said plurality of integrated battery monitoring devices through a master slave protocol.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said central controller communicates with each of said plurality of integrated battery monitoring devices through a half duplex serial protocol.

9. The battery monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said sensor further comprises at least one of a voltage monitoring device and a temperature sensing device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said serial controller is further configured to receive input commands from said central controller through said pair of output leads.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensor further comprises an earth ground sensing device.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein each of said integrated battery monitoring devices further comprises a manual switching device in communication with said serial controller, said manual switching device configured for enabling said serial controller to store an address therein corresponding to a particular battery cell associated therewith.

13. An integrated battery monitoring device, comprising:

a pair of input leads for coupling across the terminals of a battery cell to be monitored;

a sensor for sensing a desired battery cell parameter;

a self-contained power supply having the voltage across said battery cell terminals as an input thereto, said self-contained power supply configured for providing power to said sensor;

a pair of output leads for communicating data generated by said sensor;

a serial controller, said serial controller configured for externally transmitting said data generated by said sensor, and

an isolator for providing voltage isolation between said serial controller and said output leads, wherein said isolator is powered by said self-contained power supply.

14. The device of claim 13, further comprising a programmable load for selectively discharging said battery cell, said programmable load in communication with said serial controller.

15. The device of claim 14, further comprising:

an analog/digital converter for converting analog input data received by said sensor to digital output data sent to said serial controller; and

a control bus for communicating data between said analog/digital converter and said serial controller, and between said serial controller and said programmable load.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein said sensor further comprises at least one of a voltage monitoring device and a temperature sensing device.

17. The device of claim 13, wherein said serial controller is further configured to receive input commands through said pair of output leads.

18. The device of claim 13, wherein said isolator further comprises an optically coupled isolator.

19. The device of claim 13, wherein said sensor further comprises an earth ground sensing device.

20. The device of claim 13, further comprising a manual switching device in communication with said serial controller, said manual switching device configured for enabling said serial controller to store an address therein corresponding to a particular battery cell associated therewith.