Method for estimating SOC of a battery and battery management system using the same

• US 7,612,538 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2006
• Issued: 11/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Energy Solution Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Chem Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Jung, Do Yang, Kim, Do Youn, Cho, Il
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fantu; Yalkew
• Application Number:
  US11/479,560
• Publication Number:
  US 20070001649A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,222 Days
• Field of Search: 320/132, 320/133, 320/150, 324/429
• US Class Current: 320/150
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3647 for determining the ability of a battery to perform a critical function, e.g. cranking
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/374 with means for correcting the measurement for temperature or ageing
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3835 involving only voltage measurements

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for setting an initial SOC value, which initializes the SOC in consideration of not only the temperature change of the external environment of the battery but also the internal temperature change of the battery before the battery reaches a stable unloaded state, thereby enhancing the accuracy in the setup of the initial SOC value. The method includes: measuring internal temperatures of the battery and SOCs corresponding to voltages of the battery, which change according to the time passage after a loaded state is converted into an unloaded state, and constructing an SOC estimation table by using measured values, and storing the SOC estimation table; measuring the internal temperature and the voltage of the battery when estimation of an initial SOC value of the battery is required; and reading an SOC corresponding to the measured internal temperature and the voltage of the battery from the SOC estimation table.

Claims

1. A method for estimating an initial State Of Charge (SOC) of a battery, comprising the steps of:

(1) measuring internal temperatures of the battery according to a time passage after a loaded state is converted into an unloaded state, and SOCs corresponding to a plurality of voltages of the battery at each measured internal temperature of the battery, and constructing an SOC estimation table by using measured values, and storing the SOC estimation table;

(2) measuring the internal temperature and the voltage of the battery when estimation of the initial SOC value of the battery is required after a loaded state is converted into an unloaded state; and

(3) determining the initial SOC corresponding to the measured internal temperature and the voltage of the battery by referring to the SOC estimation table.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in step (2), an external temperature of the battery is measured together with the internal temperature of the battery, and the internal temperature of the battery is then compensated for in consideration of the external temperature of the battery.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in the SOC estimation table, the internal temperatures of the battery and the SOCs corresponding to the voltages of the battery are mapped based on a predetermined time interval.

4. A battery management system comprising:

a memory for storing an SOC estimation table which is constructed by measuring internal temperatures of the battery according to a time passage after a loaded state is converted into an unloaded state, and SOCs corresponding to a plurality of voltages of the battery at each measured internal temperature of the battery;

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

a temperature sensor for measuring an internal temperature of the battery; and

a controller for measuring the internal temperature and the voltage of the battery when estimation of an initial SOC value of the battery is required after a loaded state is converted into an unloaded state, and then determining the initial SOC corresponding to the measured internal temperature and the voltage of the battery by referring to the SOC estimation table.

5. The battery management system according to claim 4, wherein the temperature sensor measures the internal temperature and the external temperature of the battery, and the controller compensates for the internal temperature of the battery based on the external temperature of the battery.

6. The battery management system according to claim 4, wherein, in the SOC estimation table, the internal temperatures of the battery and the SOCs corresponding to the voltages of the battery are mapped based on a predetermined time interval.