Secondary cell residual capacity calculation method and battery pack

• US 7,492,126 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2004
• Issued: 02/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co Limited
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ohta, Yoshinori, Nakanouchi, Atsushi, Hogari, Masaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Ullah; Akm Enayet
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIGGUSH, AARON C
• Application Number:
  US10/897,591
• Publication Number:
  US 20050024020A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,670 Days
• Field of Search: 320/132, 320/134, 324/431, 324/433, 324/434
• US Class Current: 320/132
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/367 Software therefor, e.g. for battery testing using modelling or look-up tables
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/374 with means for correcting the measurement for temperature or ageing
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3842 combining voltage and current measurements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A secondary cell residual capacity calculation method and a battery pack capable of calculating the secondary cell residual capacity is provided. The calculation method includes detecting a temperature of a plurality of secondary cells; detecting a current and a terminal voltage of the plurality of secondary cells; digitizing temperature, current, and terminal voltage; calculating a cell polarization voltage from the digitized temperature, current and terminal voltage; calculating an original cell voltage from both of the calculated cell polarization voltage and the detected terminal voltage; and calculating a residual capacity rate based on the calculated original cell voltage with reference to a prearranged residual capacity reference data table.

Claims

1. A secondary cell residual capacity calculation method, comprising:

detecting a temperature of a plurality of secondary cells;

detecting a current and a terminal voltage of each of the secondary cells;

digitizing the temperature, the current, and the terminal voltage;

calculating a cell polarization voltage from the digitized temperature, current and terminal voltage;

calculating an original cell voltage from both of the calculated cell polarization voltage and the detected terminal voltage;

calculating a temporary residual capacity rate based on the calculated original cell voltage with reference to a prearranged cell voltage-to-residual capacity reference data table, wherein the prearranged cell voltage-to-residual capacity reference data table may be used regardless of whether the cell is charging or discharging;

determining whether the secondary cell is charging or discharging; and

determining a relative residual capacity rate, wherein if the cell is discharging, the relative residual capacity rate is determined by;

calculating a final discharge prediction point;

obtaining a whole cell discharge capacity in a loaded condition thereof; and

calculating the relative residual capacity rate based on the temporary residual capacity rate, the final discharge prediction point and the whole cell discharge capacity,

wherein the step of determining the relative residual capacity rate involves reference to one data table, and wherein the one data table is the prearranged cell voltage-to-residual capacity reference data table.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the calculating of the cell polarization voltage includes treating both of a charging current and a discharging current in a same manner as a load fluctuation.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

calculating a cumulative discharge rate by integration of a residual capacity rate from the relative residual capacity rate; and

incrementing a charge-discharge count value whenever the calculated cumulative discharge rate reaches a predetermined value.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising incrementing a deterioration coefficient and subtracting a reference capacity whenever the charge-discharge count value reaches a prefixed value.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a dischargeable capacity rate is calculated by subtracting the final discharge prediction point from 100% of a no-loaded time cell capacity.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein a dischargeable residual capacity rate is calculated from the temporary residual capacity rate and the final discharge prediction point, and the relative residual capacity rate is calculated by dividing the dischargeable residual capacity rate by the dischargeable capacity rate.

6. A battery pack, comprising:

a plurality of secondary cells;

a cell temperature detector capable of detecting a temperature of the plurality of secondary cells;

a voltage current detector capable of detecting a current and a terminal voltage of each of the plurality of secondary cells; and

a controller capable of digitizing the temperature, the current and the terminal voltage, calculating a cell polarization voltage from the digitized temperature, current and terminal voltage, calculating an original cell voltage from both of the calculated cell polarization voltage and the detected terminal voltage, calculating a temporary residual capacity rate;

based on the calculated original cell voltage with reference to a prearranged cell voltage-to-residual capacity reference data table, wherein the prearranged cell voltage-to-residual capacity reference data table may be used regardless of whether the cell is charging or discharging, determining whether the secondary cell is charging or discharging, and determining a relative residual capacity rate, wherein if the cell is discharging, the relative residual capacity rate is determined by;

calculating a final discharge prediction point, obtaining a whole cell discharge capacity in a loaded condition thereof, and calculating the relative residual capacity rate based on the temporary residual capacity rate, the final discharge prediction point and the whole cell discharge capacity, wherein the step of determining the relative residual capacity rate involves reference to one data table, and wherein the one data table is the prearranged cell voltage-to-residual capacity reference data table.

7. The battery pack according to claim 6, wherein the controller treats both of a charging current and a discharging current in a same manner as a load fluctuation.

8. The battery pack according to claim 6, further comprising:

means for calculating a cumulative discharge rate by integration of a Δ

residual capacity rate from the relative residual capacity rate and for incrementing a charge-discharge count value whenever the calculated cumulative discharge rate reaches a predetermined value.

9. The battery pack according to claim 8, further comprising:

means for incrementing a deterioration coefficient, and subtracting a reference capacity whenever the charge-discharge count value reaches a prefixed value.

11. The battery pack according to claim 6, wherein the controller is capable of calculating a dischargeable capacity rate by subtracting the final discharge prediction point from 100% of a no loaded time cell capacity.

12. The battery pack of claim 11, wherein the controller is capable of calculating a dischargeable residual capacity rate from the temporary residual capacity rate and the final discharge prediction point, and calculating the relative residual capacity rate by dividing the dischargeable residual capacity rate by the dischargeable capacity rate.