Accumulator comprising a plurality of galvanic cells

• US 8,603,655 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2009
• Issued: 12/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Li-Tec Battery GmbH (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Li-Tec Battery GmbH (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Schfer, Tim, Gutsch, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): Kalafut, Stephen J.
• Application Number:
  US12/604,542
• Publication Number:
  US 20100112417A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,509 Days
• Field of Search: 429/50, 429/61, 429/62, 320/125, 320/155
• US Class Current: 429/61
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/052 Li-accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4207 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/441 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/443 in response to temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/482 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/63 Control systems charging or discharging in response to temperature H01M10/44 , H01M10/443; measurement of temperature H01M10/48 , H01M10/486
• 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 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0016 using shunting, discharge or bypass circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

In accordance with the invention, an accumulator comprises at least two galvanic cells that are electrically connected. The accumulator furthermore comprises a control device and at least one measuring device. The measuring device is suitable to determine at least one reading for at least one first functional parameter of a galvanic cell. The accumulator comprises a memory device which is assigned to the control device. The memory device is suitable for storing at least one target value of a first functional parameter. The accumulator furthermore comprises a computing unit. The computing unit is suitable for assigning at least two measured values and one pertinent target value to a first computed result. The measured values are the measured first functional parameters, respectively of at least two galvanic cells of the accumulator. The target value is a predetermined value in respect to the first functional parameter. The control device is suitable for initiating a predetermined action as a function of the first computed result.

Claims

1. An accumulator comprising:

at least two galvanic cells, wherein at least two galvanic cells are electrically interconnected,

a control device,

at least one measuring device, which is provided for determining a reading assigned to at least one first functional parameter of a galvanic cell,

a memory device, which is assigned to control device and is configured to store at least one target value of a first functional parameter, and

a computing unit, which is configured to associate at least one first reading of one first galvanic cell, a reading of a further galvanic cell and a target value leading to at least one first computed result,

wherein the control device is configured to (a) initiate a predetermined action as a function of the first computed result, (b) control the charging or the discharging, respectively, of a galvanic cell according to at least one predetermined instruction in regard to charging, and (c) switch on a cooling or heating device.

2. The accumulator according to claim 1, wherein the memory device is further configured to store a reading of a functional parameter and/or a quantity derived thereof, together with at least one first value that is representative for the point in time of the reading and/or together with at least one second value, which is representative for the galvanic cell pertaining to the reading.

3. The accumulator according to claim 1, wherein the control device is configured to, for at least parts of a time interval:

initiate the at least one measuring device,

initiate the computing unit,

and/or communicate a target value of a first functional parameter to the computing unit.

4. The accumulator according to claim 1, wherein the control device is further configured to control the charging or the discharging, respectively, of at least two galvanic cells in accordance with different predetermined instructions in regard to charging.

5. The accumulator according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined instruction in regard to charging comprises at least one loading pulse.

6. The accumulator according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is further configured to overwrite a predetermined instruction in regard to charging.

7. The accumulator according to claim 1, wherein the control device is configured to exchange a predetermined message with an independent control for at least parts of a time interval.

8. The accumulator according claim 1, wherein the heating or cooling device is adapted to equalize or to adjust different states of charging of a plurality of cells.

9. A process for operating an accumulator according to claim 1, wherein

the at least one measuring device measures a first functional parameter of at least two galvanic cells during at least parts of a time interval,

computing unit associates the readings of the first functional parameter for at least two galvanic cells with a target value of the first functional parameter leading to a first computed result,

computing unit transmits the first computed result to the control device,

the control device initiates a predetermined action while using a first computed result, and

the control device switches on a cooling or heating device.

10. The process according to claim 9, for operating an accumulator wherein at least one event relating to the charging and/or discharging processes of at least two galvanic cells is stored in memory device.

11. The process according claim 9 for operating an accumulator wherein the control device uses different instructions in regard to charging for each of the at least two galvanic cells while using a first computed result.

12. The process according to claim 9 for operating an accumulator, wherein the cooling or heating device equalizes or adjusts different states of charging of a plurality of cells.