Multi-series connection type battery cell pack for reducing self-consumption over a long period of time

• US 6,930,467 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2002
• Issued: 08/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Envision AESC Energy Devices Ltd.
• Original Assignee: NEC TOKIN Tochigi, Ltd. (Yageo Corporation)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Shin
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Application Number:
  US10/300,588
• Publication Number:
  US 20040101744A1
• Time in Patent Office: 999 Days
• Field of Search: 320/116, 320/118, 320/119, 320/134, 320/136
• US Class Current: 320/134
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4207 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

The invention provides a multi-series connection type battery cell pack, characterized by comprising a plurality of series-connected battery cells 1, a charge/discharge control switch 2 for performing charge/discharge control, a plurality of protective circuits 3-1 and 3-2 for dividing the plurality of battery cells 1 into a plurality of blocks to detect at least the voltage of each battery cell, a computing circuit 5 for performing computation of pack detection signals and a level conversion circuit 4 for unifying voltages references of the detection signals between the plurality of protective circuits 3-1 and 3-2 and the computing circuit 5, wherein the plurality of protective circuits 3-1 and 3-2 are joined in parallel with the battery cells 1 in a multistage fashion. It is thus possible to unify the voltage references while computation and communication are executed irrespective of control. It is then possible to manage the battery cell pack in a unified manner using a microcomputer or the like and, hence, to determine management specific to batteries and operational criteria specific to battery products at users'"'"' disposal. It is also possible to make a switching between a mode wherein current consumption in the pack minimizes and a normal operation mode and, hence, switch the pack over to the minimum current consumption mode when it is not in use, thereby reducing the failure rate during long-term storage.

Claims

1. A multi-series connection type battery cell pack, characterized by comprising a plurality of series-connected battery cells, a charge/discharge control switch connected between said plurality of battery cells and an output terminal to perform charge/discharge control, a plurality of protective circuits for dividing said plurality of battery cells into a plurality of blocks to detect at least the voltage of each battery cell, a computing circuit for computation of pack detection signals including detection signals of said plurality of protective circuits and a level conversion circuit for unifying voltages references of said detection signals between said plurality of protective circuits and said computing circuit, wherein said plurality of protective circuits are joined in parallel with said battery cells in a multistage fashion.

2. The multi-series connection type battery cell pack according to claim 1, characterized in that said computing circuit has a function capable of communicating with external equipment, wherein a charge/discharge control signal is sent out to the uppermost-stage protective circuit of said plurality of protective circuits on the basis of an order from said external equipment or computation of said pack detection signals, so that said uppermost-stage protective circuit controls said charge/discharge control switch.

3. The multi-series connection type battery cell pack according to claim 1, characterized in that one of said plurality of protective circuits includes as detection signals a detection signal for charging/discharging currents which is detected by a voltage across a current detection resistance connected between said plurality of battery cells and said output terminal.

4. The multi-series connection type battery cell pack according to claim 1, characterized in that said pack detection signal includes a temperature detection signal detected by a temperature detection thermistor located in a pack.

5. A multi-series connection type battery cell pack, characterized by comprising a plurality of series-connected battery cells, a charge/discharge control switch connected between said plurality of battery cells and an output terminal to perform charge/discharge control, a protective circuit for detecting at least the voltage of each of said plurality of battery cells and a control circuit for communicating with external equipment to manage and control signals in said pack, inclusive of detection signals, wherein said control circuit has a switching function of making a switching between a mode wherein current consumption in said pack minimizes and a normal operation mode.

6. The multi-series connection type battery cell pack according to claim 5, characterized in that said protective circuit comprises a plurality of protective circuits for dividing said plurality of batteries into a plurality of blocks to detect at least the voltages of the respective battery cells.

7. The multi-series connection type battery cell pack according to claim 5, characterized in that between said protective circuit and said control circuit there is positioned a level conversion circuit to unify voltage references of detection signals, wherein said plurality of protective circuits are joined in parallel with said battery cells in a multistage manner.

8. A charger that makes use of a battery cell pack function, characterized by comprising therein a plurality of series-connected battery cells, a detection circuit for detecting at least the voltages and charging currents of said plurality of battery cells and a control circuit having a communication function capable of communicating with external equipment and for managing and controlling detection signals, which comprises a charging unit for charging said battery cell pack from a charging power source and a charge control means for communicating with said control circuit in said battery cell pack to acquire and compute said detection signals thereby controlling said charging unit.

9. The charger that makes use of a battery cell pack function according to claim 8, characterized in that said detection signals acquired at said charge control means are digital data converted at said control circuit of said battery cell pack.