Multi-series battery control system
First Claim
1. A multi-series battery control system comprising:
- a plurality of unit battery cells each comprised of multiple battery cells connected in series;
a plurality of control ICs each comprising a control circuit for controlling a corresponding one of the unit battery cells;
a main controller configured to send and receive signals to/from the control ICs via an insulation;
abnormality sensing means for sending an abnormality signal, which represents the existence or the absence of abnormality of the control ICs or the battery cells, to the main controller from the control ICs, responding to an abnormality sensing command outputted from the main controller via the insulation;
voltage sensing means for sending voltage signals of the battery cells, to the main controller from the control ICs, responding to a voltage sensing command outputted from the main controller via the insulation; and
a plurality of balancing switches, each respectively connected to one of the battery cells of the corresponding unit battery cell,wherein the main controller includes means for sending a battery cell voltage reading command to one of the control ICs to request the control IC to read the battery cell voltages of each of the battery cells of the unit battery cell corresponding to the control IC,wherein said one of the control ICs includes means for reading the voltage of each battery cell of the corresponding unit battery cell and for sending battery cell voltage data based on the reading to the main controller and,wherein the main controller includes means for calculating a discharging time of each of the battery cells of the unit battery cell corresponding to said one of the control ICs to control the ON time of each of the balancing switches coupled to the battery cells of the corresponding unit battery cell to balance the voltages in the battery cells of the unit battery cell, and means for providing commands to said one control IC to control the ON time of each of the balancing switches in accordance with the calculated discharging time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-series battery control system comprises a plurality of unit battery cell of which unit consists of multiple battery cells connected in series; a plurality of control IC comprising a control circuit for controlling the unit battery cell; a main controller that sends and receives signal to/from the control ICs via an insulation; means for sending an abnormality signal, which represents the existence or the absence of abnormality of the control ICs or the battery cells, to the main controller from the control ICs, responding to the first signal outputted from the main controller via the insulation; and means for searching contents of the abnormality in the control ICs or the battery cells and sending the abnormality contents signal based on the search, to the main controller from the control ICs, responding to the second signal outputted from the main controller via the insulation.
52 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A multi-series battery control system comprising:
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a plurality of unit battery cells each comprised of multiple battery cells connected in series; a plurality of control ICs each comprising a control circuit for controlling a corresponding one of the unit battery cells; a main controller configured to send and receive signals to/from the control ICs via an insulation; abnormality sensing means for sending an abnormality signal, which represents the existence or the absence of abnormality of the control ICs or the battery cells, to the main controller from the control ICs, responding to an abnormality sensing command outputted from the main controller via the insulation; voltage sensing means for sending voltage signals of the battery cells, to the main controller from the control ICs, responding to a voltage sensing command outputted from the main controller via the insulation; and a plurality of balancing switches, each respectively connected to one of the battery cells of the corresponding unit battery cell, wherein the main controller includes means for sending a battery cell voltage reading command to one of the control ICs to request the control IC to read the battery cell voltages of each of the battery cells of the unit battery cell corresponding to the control IC, wherein said one of the control ICs includes means for reading the voltage of each battery cell of the corresponding unit battery cell and for sending battery cell voltage data based on the reading to the main controller and, wherein the main controller includes means for calculating a discharging time of each of the battery cells of the unit battery cell corresponding to said one of the control ICs to control the ON time of each of the balancing switches coupled to the battery cells of the corresponding unit battery cell to balance the voltages in the battery cells of the unit battery cell, and means for providing commands to said one control IC to control the ON time of each of the balancing switches in accordance with the calculated discharging time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 13)
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4. A multi-series battery control system comprising:
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a plurality of unit battery cells each comprised of multiple battery cells connected in series; a plurality of control ICs each comprising a control circuit for controlling a corresponding one of the unit battery cells; a main controller configured to send and receive signals to/from the control ICs via an insulation; means for sending an abnormality signal, which represents the existence or the absence of abnormality of the control ICs or the battery cells, to the main controller from the control ICs, responding to a first signal outputted from the main controller via the insulation; means for sending an abnormality contents signal of the control ICs or the battery cells, to the main controller from the control ICs, responding to a second signal outputted from the main controller via the insulation; a plurality of balancing switches, each respectively connected to one of the battery cells of the corresponding unit battery cell, wherein the main controller includes means for sending a battery cell voltage reading command to one of the control ICs to request the control IC to read the battery cell voltages of each of the battery cells of the unit battery cell corresponding to the control IC, wherein said one of the control ICs includes means for reading the voltage of each battery cell of the corresponding unit battery cell and for sending battery cell voltage data based on the reading to the main controller and, wherein the main controller includes means for calculating a discharging time of each of the battery cells of the unit battery cell corresponding to said one of the control ICs to control the ON time of each of the balancing switches coupled to the battery cells of the corresponding unit battery cell to balance the voltages in the battery cells of the unit battery cell, and means for providing commands to said one control IC to control the ON time of each of the balancing switches in accordance with the calculated discharging time. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 14)
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8. A multi-series battery control system comprising:
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a plurality of unit battery cells each comprised of multiple battery cells connected in series; a plurality of control IC chips each comprising a control circuit for controlling a corresponding one of the unit battery cells; a plurality of cell monitor IC chips each monitoring the voltage of one of the unit battery cell; a plurality of control ICs each including the control IC chip and the cell monitor IC chip; a main controller configured to send and receive signals to/from the control IC chips via an insulation; means for sending an abnormality signal, which represents the existence or the absence of abnormality of the control IC chips or the battery cells, to the main controller from the control IC chips, responding to the first signal outputted from the main controller via the insulation; means for sending the abnormality contents signal of the control IC chip or the battery cells, to the main controller from the control IC chips, responding to the second signal outputted from the main controller via the insulation; and a plurality of balancing switches, each respectively connected to one of the battery cells of the corresponding unit battery cell, wherein the main controller includes means for sending a battery cell voltage reading command to one of the control ICs to request the control IC to read the battery cell voltages of each of the battery cells of the unit battery cell corresponding to the control IC, wherein said one of the control ICs includes means for reading the voltage of each battery cell of the corresponding unit battery cell and for sending battery cell voltage data based on the reading to the main controller and, wherein the main controller includes means for calculating a minimum battery cell voltage out of the battery cell voltage data received from the control IC, means for calculating a discharging time of each of the battery cells of the unit battery cell corresponding to said one of the control ICs to control the ON time of each of the balancing switches coupled to the battery cells of the corresponding unit battery cell to balance the voltages in the battery cells of the unit battery cell, and means for providing commands to said one control IC to control the ON time of each of the balancing switches in accordance with the calculated discharging time. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 15)
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16. A multi-series battery control system comprising:
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a plurality of unit battery cells each comprised of multiple battery cells connected in series; a plurality of first controllers each comprising a control circuit for controlling a corresponding one of the unit battery cells; a second controller configured to send and receive signals to/from the first controllers via an insulation; voltage sensing means for sending voltage signals of the battery cells, to the second controller from the first controllers, responding to a voltage sensing command outputted from the main controller via the insulation; and a plurality of balancing switches, each respectively connected to one of the battery cells of the corresponding unit battery cell, wherein the second controller includes means for sending a battery cell voltage reading command to one of the first controllers to request the first controller to read the battery cell voltages of each of the battery cells of the unit battery cell corresponding to the first controller, wherein said one of the first controllers includes means for reading the voltage of each battery cell of the corresponding unit battery cell and for sending battery cell voltage data based on the reading to the second controller and, wherein the second controller includes means for calculating a discharging time of each of the battery cells of the unit battery cell corresponding to said one of the first controllers to control the ON time of each of the balancing switches coupled to the battery cells of the first corresponding unit battery cell to balance the voltages in the battery cells of the unit battery cell, and means for providing commands to said one first controller to control the ON time of each of the balancing switches in accordance with the calculated discharging time. - View Dependent Claims (17, 22)
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18. A multi-series battery control system comprising:
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a plurality of unit battery cells each comprised of multiple battery cells connected in series; a plurality of first controllers each comprising a control circuit for controlling a corresponding one of the unit battery cells; a second controller configured to send and receive signals to/from the first controllers via an insulation; a plurality of balancing switches, each respectively connected to one of the battery cells of the corresponding unit battery cell, wherein the second controller includes means for sending a battery cell voltage reading command to one of the first controllers to request the first controller to read the battery cell voltages of each of the battery cells of the unit battery cell corresponding to the first controller, wherein said one of the first controllers includes means for reading the voltage of each battery cell of the corresponding unit battery cell and for sending battery cell voltage data based on the reading to the second controller and, wherein the second controller includes means for calculating a discharging time of each of the battery cells of the unit battery cell corresponding to said one of the first controllers to control the ON time of each of the balancing switches coupled to the battery cells of the corresponding unit battery cell to balance the voltages in the battery cells of the unit battery cell, and means for providing commands to said one first controller to control the ON time of each of the balancing switches in accordance with the calculated discharging time. - View Dependent Claims (19, 23)
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20. A multi-series battery control system comprising:
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a plurality of unit battery cells each comprised of multiple battery cells connected in series; a plurality of first controllers each comprising a control circuit for controlling a corresponding one of the unit battery cells; a second controller configured to send and receive signals to/from the first controllers via an insulation; abnormality sensing means for sending an abnormality signal, which represents the existence or the absence of abnormality of the first controllers or the battery cells, to the second controller from the first controllers, responding to an abnormality sensing command outputted from the second controller via the insulation; voltage sensing means for sending voltage signals of the battery cells, to the second controller from the first controllers, responding to a voltage sensing command outputted from the second controller via the insulation; and a plurality of balancing switches, each respectively connected to one of the battery cells of the corresponding unit battery cell, wherein the second controller includes means for sending a battery cell voltage reading command to one of the first controllers to request the first controller to read the battery cell voltages of each of the battery cells of the unit battery cell corresponding to the first controllers, wherein said one of the first controllers includes means for reading the voltage of each battery cell of the corresponding unit battery cell and for sending battery cell voltage data based on the reading to the second controller and, wherein the second controller includes means for calculating a discharging time of each of the battery cells of the unit battery cell corresponding to said one of the first controllers to control the ON time of each of the balancing switches coupled to the battery cells of the corresponding unit battery cell to balance the voltages in the battery cells of the unit battery cell, and means for providing commands to said one first controller to control the ON time of each of the balancing switches in accordance with the calculated discharging time. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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21. A multi-series battery control system comprising:
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a plurality of unit battery cells each comprised of multiple battery cells connected in series; a plurality of first controllers each comprising a control circuit for controlling a corresponding one of the unit battery cells; a second controller configured to send and receive signals to/from the first controllers via an insulation; means for sending an abnormality signal, which represents the existence or the absence of abnormality of the first controllers or the battery cells, to the second controller from the first controllers, responding to a first signal outputted from the second controller via the insulation; means for sending an abnormality contents signal of the first controllers or the battery cells, to the second controller from the first controllers, responding to a second signal outputted from the second controller via the insulation; a plurality of balancing switches, each respectively connected to one of the battery cells of the corresponding unit battery cell, wherein the second controller includes means for sending a battery cell voltage reading command to one of the first controllers to request the first controller to read the battery cell voltages of each of the battery cells of the unit battery cell corresponding to the first controller, wherein said one of the first controllers includes means for reading the voltage of each battery cell of the corresponding unit battery cell and for sending battery cell voltage data based on the reading to the second controller and, wherein the second controller includes means for calculating a discharging time of each of the battery cells of the unit battery cell corresponding to said one of the first controllers to control the ON time of each of the balancing switches coupled to the battery cells of the corresponding unit battery cell to balance the voltages in the battery cells of the unit battery cell, and means for providing commands to said one first controllers to control the ON time of each of the balancing switches in accordance with the calculated discharging time. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification