Rechargeable battery controller and method for controlling output of rechargeable battery

• US 7,570,021 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2006
• Issued: 08/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic EV Energy Company, Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic EV Energy Company, Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Togashi, Kouta, Iida, Takuma, Nakanishi, Toshiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Ullah; Akm E
• Assistant Examiner(s): DIAO, M BAYE
• Application Number:
  US11/535,970
• Publication Number:
  US 20070075686A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: 320/103, 320/104, 320/106, 320/107, 320/128, 320/130, 320/132, 320/134, 320/136, 320/149, 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/10.7, 318/139, 180/65.3, 701/22, 340/636.12, 340/636.13
• US Class Current: 320/130
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/662 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/20 Inrush current reduction, i.e. avoiding high currents when connecting the battery
• 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 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/18 of two or more battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/21 having the same nominal voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/13 in order to stay within battery power input or output limits; in order to prevent overcharging or battery depletion
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0814 comprising means for controlling automatic idle-start-stop
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/061 Battery state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/063 Battery voltage
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/064 Battery temperature
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A rechargeable battery controller for controlling output of a rechargeable battery mounted on a vehicle having a power source including an internal combustion engine, a starter motor for starting the internal combustion engine, and a vehicle controller. The rechargeable battery controller includes a control circuit for setting an upper limit for discharge power output by the rechargeable battery in a set period of time and providing the upper limit to the vehicle controller. The control circuit is programmed to reset the upper limit to a value greater than or equal to a power value required to drive the starter motor when a first requirement in which power supply from the rechargeable battery to the starter motor is scheduled and a second requirement in which the upper limit is less than the power value required to drive the starter motor are both satisfied.

Claims

1. A rechargeable battery controller for controlling output of a rechargeable battery mounted on a vehicle having a power source including an internal combustion engine, a starter motor for starting the internal combustion engine, and a vehicle controller, the rechargeable battery controller comprising:

a control circuit connectable in communication with the vehicle controller, in which the control circuit sets an upper limit for discharge power output by the rechargeable battery in a set period of time and communicates the upper limit to the vehicle controller;

wherein the control circuit resets the upper limit to a value greater than or equal to a power value required to drive the starter motor when a first requirement in which power supply from the rechargeable battery to the starter motor is scheduled and a second requirement in which the upper limit is less than the power value required to drive the starter motor are both satisfied.

2. The-rechargeable battery controller according to claim 1, further comprising:

a voltage measurement unit for measuring terminal voltage of the rechargeable battery;

wherein the control circuit resets the upper limit to a value greater than or equal to the power value required to drive the starter motor when a third requirement in which the terminal voltage measured by the voltage measurement unit is greater than or equal to a reference voltage.

3. The rechargeable battery controller according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit:

estimates a state of charge of the rechargeable battery; and

resets the set upper limit to a value greater than or equal to the power value required to drive the starter motor when a fourth requirement in which the estimated state of charge of the rechargeable battery is greater than or equal to a preset reference state of charge is satisfied.

4. The rechargeable battery controller according to claim 1, wherein the power source further includes a motor, and the rechargeable battery is adapted to supply power to at least the starter motor and the motor.

5. The rechargeable battery controller according to claim 1, further comprising:

a voltage measurement unit for measuring terminal voltage of the rechargeable battery;

wherein the control circuit lowers the upper limit when the terminal voltage measured by the voltage measurement unit decreases to a relatively low reference voltage.

6. The rechargeable battery controller according to claim 5, wherein the control circuit:

sets, as the upper limit, a first upper limit, which is associated with a relatively short set time, and a second upper limit, which is associated with a relatively long set time and is less than the first upper limit;

sets the relatively low reference voltage as each of the first upper limit and the second upper limit; and

lowers one of the first and second upper limits when the terminal voltage measured by the voltage measurement unit decreases to the relatively low reference voltage associated to the one of the first and second upper limits; and

resets the first upper limit to a value greater than or equal to the power value required to drive the starter motor when the first requirement and a second requirement, in which the first upper limit is less than the power value required to drive the starter motor, are both satisfied.

7. The rechargeable battery controller according to claim 1, further comprising:

a memory for storing an upper limit set for at least one of a number of occurrences of power supply to the starter motor, time for each power supply occurrence, and time elapsed from when power supply to the starter motor starts to occur for the first time;

wherein the control circuit is controlled to;

measure at least one of the power supply occurrences, the power supply time, and the elapsed time; and

suspend power supply from the rechargeable battery to the starter motor when the measured value exceeds the associated upper limit stored in the memory.