Battery pack with switching device

• US 7,589,495 B2
• Filed: 07/05/2006
• Issued: 09/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Godo Kaisha IP Bridge 1 (IP Bridge, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Hitomi, Kazuhiro, Yamaguchi, Masao
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, ARUN C
• Application Number:
  US11/480,356
• Publication Number:
  US 20070013341A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,168 Days
• Field of Search: 320/154, 320/112, 320/144, 320/150, 324/426, 324/431
• US Class Current: 320/112
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2010/4271 Battery management systems including electronic circuits, e.g. control of current or voltage to keep battery in healthy state, cell balancing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2010/4278 Systems for data transfer from batteries, e.g. transfer of battery parameters to a controller, data transferred between battery controller and main controller
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

The battery pack is provided with communication lines that connect with attached electrical equipment, a temperature-sensing element that connects with a communication line, a switching device that connects with the temperature-sensing element, and a control section to control the switching device. The control section puts the switching device in the open state when the communication lines are being used and puts the switching device in the closed state when the communication lines are not being used to output temperature-sensing element voltage to the electrical equipment-side via the communication lines.

Claims

1. A battery pack comprising:

a battery;

communication lines capable of connecting with an electrical device that is attachable to the battery pack;

a temperature-sensing element that is connected with one of the communication lines and detects temperature of the battery as a voltage;

a switching device that connects with the temperature-sensing element; and

a control section connected externally with the switching device to control the switching device;

positive terminal and a GND terminal; and

a communication section for processing communications with the electrical device (P), the communication section comprising a communication data generation section for constructing data signals that can be received by the electrical device, a communication driver section for executing actual communication with the electrical device via the communication lines, and a memory for storing data including parameters for computing remaining battery capacity,

wherein the control section puts the switching device in the open state when the communication lines are being used, and the control section puts the switching device in the closed state to connect the temperature-sensing element with the one communication line so as to output the voltage sensed by the temperature-sensing element to the electrical device via the one communication line when the communication lines are not being used,

wherein the temperature-sensing element and the switching device are connected in series between one of the communication lines and the GND terminal,

wherein the switching device is connected between the temperature-sensing element and the GND terminal, and

wherein the communication lines comprise a data line and a clock line, and the temperature-sensing element is connected to the data line.

2. A battery pack as recited in claim 1 wherein the battery pack is provided with a remaining capacity integration section for computing remaining battery capacity, and remaining capacity computed by that remaining capacity integration section is transmitted to the electrical equipment via the communication lines.

3. A battery pack as recited in claim 1 wherein the battery pack is provided with a control device, which is controlled by the control section, and the control section puts the control device in the cut-off state when abnormal battery current, temperature, or voltage is detected.

4. A battery pack as recited in claim 1, wherein the battery pack has a communication data generation section to construct data signals for transmission of battery information to the electrical device.

5. A battery pack as recited in claim 1, wherein the temperature-sensing element is a thermistor in thermal contact with the battery.

6. A battery pack as recited in claim 1, wherein the battery pack is provided with memory to store ID information, and that ID information, which is stored in memory, is output to the electrical equipment on communication lines when prompted by a request signal from the electrical device.

7. A battery pack as recited in claim 6 wherein the ID information is information that indicates the battery pack manufacturer.

8. A battery pack as recited in claim 1 wherein the control section is operable to receive a request signal from the electrical device, and output an information signal to the electrical device on the communication lines.

9. A battery pack as recited in claim 1, wherein the temperature detection section includes an upper terminal side and a lower terminal side, and the upper terminal side is connected to the data line, and the lower terminal side is connected to the switching device.

10. A battery pack comprising:

a battery;

communication lines capable of outputting and receiving information signals to an electrical device when attached to the battery pack;

a temperature-sensing element that directly connects with at least one of the communication lines and detects temperature of the battery as a voltage;

a switching device that connects with the temperature-sensing element;

a control section connected externally with the switching device to control the switching device;

a positive terminal and a GND terminal; and

a communication section that is operable to respond to an information request signal sent from the electrical device via the communication lines, the communication section comprising a communication data generation section for constructing data signals that can be received by the electrical device, a communication driver section for executing actual communication with the electrical device via the communication lines, and a memory for storing data including parameters for computing remaining battery capacity,

wherein the control section puts the switching device in the open state when the communication lines are being used, and the control section puts the switching device in the closed state to connect the temperature-sensing element with the communication lines so as to output the voltage sensed by the temperature-sensing element to the electrical device via the communication lines when the communication lines are not being used

wherein the temperature-sensing element and the switching device are connected in series between one of the communication lines and the GND terminal,

wherein the switching device is connected between the temperature-sensing element and the GND terminal, and

wherein the communication lines comprise a data line and a clock line, and the temperature-sensing element is connected to the data line.

11. A battery pack as recited in claim 10, wherein the communication lines comprise a data line and a clock line, and the temperature-sensing element is connected to the data line.

12. A battery pack as recited in claim 10, wherein the battery pack is provided with a remaining capacity integration section for computing remaining battery capacity, and remaining capacity computed by that remaining capacity integration section is transmitted to the electrical equipment via the communication lines.

13. A battery pack as recited in claim 10, wherein the battery pack is provided with a control device, which is controlled by the control section, and the control section puts the control device in the cut-off state when abnormal battery current, temperature, or voltage is detected.

14. A battery pack as recited in claim 10, wherein the battery pack has a communication data generation section to construct data signals for transmission of battery information to the electrical equipment.

15. A battery pack comprising:

a battery;

communication lines capable of connecting with an electrical device attachable to the battery pack;

a temperature-sensing element that directly connects with a communication line and detects temperature of the battery as a voltage;

a switching device that connects with the temperature-sensing element;

a control section connected externally with the switching device to control the switching device;

a positive terminal and a GND terminal; and

a communication section that periodically receives a request signal from the electrical device, and outputs an information signal to the electrical device on the communication lines, the communication section comprising a communication data generation section for constructing data signals that can be received by the electrical device, a communication driver section for executing actual communication with the electrical device via the communication lines, and a memory for storing data including parameters for computing remaining battery capacity,

wherein the control section puts the switching device in the open state when the communication lines are being used, and the control section puts the switching device in the closed state to connect the temperature-sensing element with the communication lines so as to output the voltage sensed by the temperature-sensing element to the electrical device via the communication lines when the communication lines are not being used,

wherein the temperature-sensing element and the switching device are connected in series between one of the communication lines and the GND terminal,

wherein the switching device is connected between the temperature-sensing element and the GND terminal, and

wherein the communication lines comprise a data line and a clock line, and the temperature-sensing element is connected to the data line.