Battery assembly system and electric-motor vehicle system using the same

• US 7,091,700 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2005
• Issued: 08/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Takada, Kanji, Kadouchi, Eiji
• Primary Examiner(s): TIBBITS, PIA FLORENCE
• Application Number:
  US11/194,869
• Publication Number:
  US 20050266303A1
• Time in Patent Office: 379 Days
• Field of Search: 320/132
• US Class Current: 320/132
• 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 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/14 Preventing excessive discharging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/15 Preventing overcharging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/18 of two or more battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/22 Balancing the charge of battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0019 using switched or multiplexed charge circuits
• 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

Abstract

The battery assembly system 100 includes a battery assembly including a plurality of storage batteries C1 to Cn connected in series, a voltage detector 3 for detecting respectively voltages generated in the storage batteries, a current detector 4 for detecting a current flowing in the plurality of storage batteries, a state-of-charge (SOC) calculator 2 for calculating the state of charge (SOC) of the storage batteries, respectively, based on the voltages detected respectively by the voltage detectors 3 and the current detected by the current detector 4, and a charging/discharging unit 1 for charging or discharging at least one of the plurality of storage batteries so as to equalize the SOC of the storage batteries calculated respectively by the SOC calculator 2.

Claims

1. An electric-motor vehicle system comprising

a battery assembly system, comprising

a battery assembly comprising a plurality of storage batteries connected in series,

a voltage detector for detecting respective voltages generated in the storage batteries constituting the battery assembly,

a current detector for detecting a current flowing in the plurality of storage batteries,

a state-of-charge (SOC) calculator for calculating the state of charge (SOC) of the storage batteries, respectively, based on the voltages detected by the voltage detectors, respectively and the current detected by the current detector,

a charging/discharging unit for charging or discharging at least one of the plurality of storage batteries so as to equalize the SOC of the storage batteries calculated by the SOC calculator, respectively, and

a deviation judging unit for judging whether a maximum value of the deviation of the SOC of each storage battery calculated by the SOC calculator exceeds a predetermined value,

wherein the charging/discharging unit is capable of being connected selectively to each of the plurality of storage batteries, and

when the deviation judging unit judges that the maximum value of the deviation of the SOC of each storage battery exceeds the predetermined value, the charging/discharging unit charges or discharges at least one of the plurality of storage batteries,

an engine for generating power to be transmitted to wheels,

a motor provided for assisting the power generated by the engine to be transmitted to the wheels at the time of acceleration of the engine, and

an inverter for supplying the motor with electric power obtained by discharging the battery assembly of the battery assembly system at the time of acceleration of the engine.

2. The electric-motor vehicle system according to claim 1, wherein the motor generates electric power while generating a braking power of the engine at the time of the deceleration of the engine, and the inverter charges the battery assembly with the electric power generated by the motor.

3. The electric-motor vehicle system according to claim 1, wherein the voltage detector detects the voltages while the wheels are moving by the power of engine.

4. The electric-motor vehicle system according to claim 1, further comprising a multiplexer for connecting any one of the plurality of storage batteries to the voltage detector, wherein the voltage detector detects the voltages by switching the multiplexer at a speed of several millisecond/channel or less when the wheels are moving by the power of engine.

5. The electric-motor vehicle system according to claim 1, wherein the voltage detector finishes detecting voltages of the plurality of storage batteries in a time that the load fluctuation of the storage battery falls within 5% or less.

6. The electric motor vehicle system according to claim 1, wherein the voltage detector detects the voltages, respectively, when the wheels are stopping.