Battery monitoring circuit and battery monitoring system

• US 8,680,867 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2011
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Nakagawara, Chikashi
• Primary Examiner(s): DIAO, M BAYE
• Application Number:
  US13/232,783
• Publication Number:
  US 20120182019A1
• Time in Patent Office: 923 Days
• Field of Search: 324/426, 324/433, 320/116, 320/120, 320/134
• US Class Current: 324/426
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3835 involving only voltage measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/396 Acquisition or processing of data for testing or for monitoring individual cells or groups of cells within a battery

Abstract

A battery monitoring circuit monitors voltages of a plurality of secondary cells connected in series. The battery monitoring circuit comprises a first switch element, a second switch element, a third switch element, and a first capacitor. The battery monitoring circuit comprises an operational amplifier of which an inverting input terminal is connected to a second end of the first capacitor, a non-inverting input terminal is connected to a fixed potential, and an output is connected to the second end of the first capacitor. The battery monitoring circuit comprises an A/D converter which performs analog-to-digital conversion on a signal output by the operational amplifier and outputs an obtained digital signal. The battery monitoring circuit comprises a control circuit which performs on/off control on the first to third switch elements and controls operations of the operational amplifier and the A/D converter.

Claims

1. A battery monitoring circuit that monitors voltages of a plurality of secondary cells connected in series, the battery monitoring circuit comprising:

a first switch element with a first end connected to a first terminal, the first terminal connected to a first potential line and connected to a negative electrode of a first secondary cell;

a second switch element with a first end connected to a second terminal and a second end connected to a second end of the first switch element, the second terminal connected to a positive electrode of the first secondary cell and a negative electrode of a second secondary cell;

a third switch element with a first end connected to a third terminal and a second end connected to the second end of the first switch element, the third terminal connected to a second potential line and connected to a positive electrode of the second secondary cell;

a first capacitor with a first end connected to the second end of the first switch element;

an operational amplifier with an inverting input terminal connected to a second end of the first capacitor, a non-inverting input terminal connected to a fixed potential, and an output connected to the second end of the first capacitor;

an A/D converter configured to perform analog-to-digital conversion of a signal output by the operational amplifier to obtain a digital signal, and to output the digital signal; and

a control circuit configured to control an on state and an off state of the first, the second, and the third switch elements and to control operation of the operational amplifier and the A/D converter.

2. The battery monitoring circuit of claim 1, wherein

to detect a first voltage of the first secondary cell from a state in which the first, the second, and the third switch elements are turned off while operation of the operational amplifier and the A/D converter is stopped, the control circuit turns on the first switch element and operates the operational amplifier, then the control circuit turns off the first switch element and stops operation of the operational amplifier, then the control circuit turns on the second switch element, and then the control circuit operates the A/D converter, wherein the A/D converter outputs a first digital signal based on the first voltage of the first secondary cell;

and

to detect a second voltage of the second secondary cell, the control circuit operates the operational amplifier, then the control circuit turns off the second switch element and stops operation of the operational amplifier, then the control circuit turns on the third switch element, and then the control circuit operates the A/D converter, wherein the A/D converter outputs a second digital signal based on the second voltage of the second secondary cell.

3. The battery monitoring circuit of claim 1, wherein

to detect a first voltage of the first secondary cell from a state in which the first, the second, and the third switch elements are turned off while operation of the operational amplifier and the A/D converter are stopped, the control circuit turns on the first switch element and operates the operational amplifier and the A/D converter, wherein the A/D converter outputs a first digital signal, then the control circuit turns off the first switch element and stops operation of the operational amplifier, then the control circuit turns on the second switch element, then the control circuit operates the A/D converter, wherein the A/D converter outputs a second digital signal based on the first voltage of the first secondary cell;

and

to detect a second voltage of the second secondary cell, the control circuit operates the operational amplifier and the A/D converter, wherein the A/D converter outputs a third digital signal, then the control circuit turns off the second switch element and stops the operation of the operational amplifier, then the control circuit turns on the third switch element, then the control circuit operates the A/D converter, wherein the A/D converter outputs a fourth digital signal based on the second voltage of the second secondary cell.

4. The battery monitoring circuit of claim 1,

wherein the operational amplifier includes an operation control switch element configured to control operation of the operational amplifier, and wherein the control circuit is further configured to control an on state and an off state of the control switch element;

and

when the operational amplifier is operated, the control circuit turns on the operation control switch element, and when the operational amplifier is stopped, the control circuit turns off the operation control switch element.

5. The battery monitoring circuit of claim 2,

wherein the operational amplifier includes an operation control switch element configured to control operation of the operational amplifier, and wherein the control circuit is further configured to control an on state and an off state of the control switch element;

wherein the control circuit is further configured to turn on the operation control switch element in response to operation of the operational amplifier, and

wherein the control circuit is further configured to turn off the operation control switch element in response to operation of the operational amplifier being stopped.

6. The battery monitoring circuit of claim 3,

wherein the operational amplifier includes an operation control switch element configured to control operation of the operational amplifier, and wherein the control circuit is further configured to control an on state and an off state of the control switch element;

wherein the control circuit is further configured to turn on the operation control switch element in response to operation of the operational amplifier, and

wherein the control circuit is further configured to turn off the operation control switch element in response to operation of the operational amplifier being stopped.

7. The battery monitoring circuit of claim 1, further comprising:

a first discharging switch element connected in series to a first resistor, between the first terminal and the second terminal, and controlled by the control circuit; and

a second discharging switch element connected in series to the first resistor and a second resistor, between the second terminal and the third terminal, and controlled by the control circuit,

wherein, when the voltage of the first secondary cell is to be decreased based on the digital signal, the control circuit turns on the first switch element from a state in which the first discharging switch element and the second discharging switch element are turned off, and

wherein, when the voltage of the second secondary cell is to be decreased, the control circuit turns on the second switch element from a state in which the first discharging switch element and the second discharging switch element are turned off.

8. The battery monitoring circuit of claim 2, further comprising:

a first discharging switch element connected in series to a first resistor, between the first terminal and the second terminal, and controlled by the control circuit; and

a second discharging switch element connected in series to the first resistor and a second resistor, between the second terminal and the third terminal, and controlled by the control circuit,

wherein, when the voltage of the first secondary cell is to be decreased based on the digital signal, the control circuit turns on the first switch element from a state in which the first discharging switch element and the second discharging switch element are turned off, and

wherein, when the voltage of the second secondary cell is to be decreased, the control circuit turns on the second switch element from a state in which the first discharging switch element and the second discharging switch element are turned off.

9. The battery monitoring circuit of claim 3, further comprising:

a first discharging switch element connected in series to a first resistor, between the first terminal and the second terminal, and controlled by the control circuit; and

a second discharging switch element connected in series to the first resistor and a second resistor, between the second terminal and the third terminal, and controlled by the control circuit,

wherein, when the voltage of the first secondary cell is to be decreased based on the digital signal, the control circuit turns on the first switch element from a state in which the first discharging switch element and the second discharging switch element are turned off, and

wherein, when the voltage of the second secondary cell is to be decreased, the control circuit turns on the second switch element from a state in which the first discharging switch element and the second discharging switch element are turned off.

10. The battery monitoring circuit of claim 3, wherein the control circuit is further configured to acquire the voltage of the first secondary cell based on the difference between the second digital signal and the first digital signal, and to acquire the voltage of the second secondary cell based on the difference between the fourth digital signal and the third digital signal.

11. A battery monitoring circuit that monitors voltages of a plurality of secondary cells connected in series, the battery monitoring circuit comprising:

a first switch element with a first end connected to a first terminal, the first terminal connected to a first potential line and connected to a negative electrode of a first secondary cell;

a second switch element with a first end connected to a second terminal and a second end connected to a second end of the first switch element, the second terminal connected to a positive electrode of the first secondary cell and a negative electrode of a second secondary cell;

a third switch element with a first end connected to a third terminal and a second end connected to the second end of the first switch element, the third terminal connected to a second potential line and connected to a positive electrode of the second secondary cell;

a first capacitor with a first end connected to the second end of the first switch element;

an operational amplifier with an inverting input terminal connected to a second end of the first capacitor and a non-inverting input terminal connected to a fixed potential;

a second capacitor connected between the inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier and an output of the operational amplifier;

a refresh switch element connected in parallel to the second capacitor, between the inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier and the output of the operational amplifier;

an A/D converter configured to perform analog-to-digital conversion of a signal output by the operational amplifier to obtain a digital signal, and to output the digital signal; and

a control circuit configured to control an on state and an off state of the first, the second, and the third switch elements and the refresh switch element and to control operation of the A/D converter.

12. The battery monitoring circuit of claim 11, wherein,

to detect a first voltage of the first secondary cell, from a state in which the first, the second, and the third switch elements and the refresh switch element are turned off while operation of the A/D converter is stopped, the control circuit turns on the second switch element and the refresh switch element, then the control circuit turns off the second switch element and the refresh switch element, then the control circuit turns on the first switch element, and then the control circuit operates the A/D converter, wherein the A/D converter outputs a first digital signal based on the first voltage of the first secondary cell, and

to detect a second voltage of the second secondary cell, the control circuit turns off the first switch element, the control circuit turns on the third switch element and the refresh switch element, then the control circuit turns off the third switch element and the refresh switch element, then the control circuit turns on the second switch element, and then the control circuit operates the A/D converter, wherein the A/D converter outputs a second digital signal based on a second voltage of the second secondary cell.

13. The battery monitoring circuit of claim 11, wherein,

to detect a first voltage of the first secondary cell from a state in which the first, the second, and the third switch elements and the refresh switch element are turned off while operation of the A/D converter is stopped, the control circuit turns on the second switch element and the refresh switch element, then the control circuit operates the A/D converter, wherein the A/D converter outputs a first digital signal, then the control circuit turns off the second switch element and the refresh switch element, then the control circuit turns on the first switch element, then the control circuit operates the A/D converter, wherein the A/D converter outputs a second digital signal based on the first voltage of the first secondary cell, and

to detect a second voltage of the second secondary cell, the control circuit turns off the first switch element, then the control circuit turns on the third switch element and the refresh switch element, then the control circuit operates the A/D converter, wherein the A/D converter outputs a third digital signal, then the control circuit turns off the third switch element and the refresh switch element, then the control circuit turns on the second switch element, then the control circuit operates the A/D converter, wherein the A/D converter outputs a fourth digital signal based on a second voltage of the second secondary cell.

14. The battery monitoring circuit of claim 11, further comprising:

a first discharging switch element connected in series to a first resistor, between the first terminal and the second terminal, and controlled by the control circuit; and

a second discharging switch element connected in series to the first resistor and a second resistor, between the second terminal and the third terminal, and controlled by the control circuit,

wherein, when the voltage of the first secondary cell is to be decreased based on the digital signal, the control circuit turns on the first switch element from a state in which the first discharging switch element and the second discharging switch element are turned off, and

wherein, when the voltage of the second secondary cell is to be decreased, the control circuit turns on the second switch element from a state in which the first discharging switch element and the second discharging switch element are turned off.

15. The battery monitoring circuit of claim 12, further comprising:

a first discharging switch element connected in series to a first resistor, between the first terminal and the second terminal, and controlled by the control circuit; and

a second discharging switch element connected in series to the first resistor and a second resistor, between the second terminal and the third terminal, and controlled by the control circuit,

wherein, when the voltage of the first secondary cell is to be decreased based on the digital signal, the control circuit turns on the first switch element from a state in which the first discharging switch element and the second discharging switch element are turned off, and

wherein, when the voltage of the second secondary cell is to be decreased, the control circuit turns on the second switch element from a state in which the first discharging switch element and the second discharging switch element are turned off.

16. The battery monitoring circuit of claim 13, further comprising:

a first discharging switch element connected in series to a first resistor, between the first terminal and the second terminal, and controlled by the control circuit; and

a second discharging switch element connected in series to the first resistor and a second resistor, between the second terminal and the third terminal, and controlled by the control circuit,

wherein, when the voltage of the first secondary cell is to be decreased based on the digital signal, the control circuit turns on the first switch element from a state in which the first discharging switch element and the second discharging switch element are turned off, and

wherein, when the voltage of the second secondary cell is to be decreased, the control circuit turns on the second switch element from a state in which the first discharging switch element and the second discharging switch element are turned off.

17. The battery monitoring circuit of claim 13, wherein the control circuit is further configured to acquire the voltage of the first secondary cell based on the difference between the second digital signal and the first digital signal, and to acquire the voltage of the second secondary cell based on the difference between the fourth digital signal and the third digital signal.

18. A battery monitoring system that monitors voltages of a plurality of secondary cells connected in series, the battery monitoring system comprising:

a first secondary cell;

a second secondary cell, the first secondary cell and the second secondary cell connected in series; and

a battery monitoring circuit configured to monitor voltages of the first secondary cell and the second secondary cell,

wherein the battery monitoring circuit comprises;

a first switch element with a first end connected to a first terminal, the first terminal connected to a first potential line and connected to a negative electrode of the first secondary cell;

a second switch element with a first end connected to a second terminal and a second end connected to a second end of the first switch element, the second terminal connected to a positive electrode of the first secondary cell and a negative electrode of the second secondary cell;

a third switch element with a first end connected to a third terminal and a second end connected to the second end of the first switch element, the third terminal connected to a second potential line and connected to a positive electrode of the second secondary cell;

a first capacitor with a first end connected to the second end of the first switch element;

an operational amplifier with an inverting input terminal connected to a second end of the first capacitor and a non-inverting input terminal connected to a fixed potential;

a second capacitor connected between the inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier and an output of the operational amplifier;

a refresh switch element connected in parallel to the second capacitor, between the inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier and the output of the operational amplifier;

an A/D converter configured to perform analog-to-digital conversion of a signal output by the operational amplifier to obtain a digital signal and to output the digital signal; and

a control circuit configured to control an on state and an off state of the first, the second, and the third switch elements and the refresh switch element and to control operation of the A/D converter.

19. The battery monitoring system of claim 18, wherein,

to detect a first voltage of the first secondary cell, from a state in which the first, the second, and the third switch elements and the refresh switch element are turned off while operation of the A/D converter is stopped, the control circuit turns on the second switch element and the refresh switch element, then the control circuit turns off the second switch element and the refresh switch element, then the control circuit turns on the first switch element, and then the control circuit operates the A/D converter, wherein the A/D converter outputs a first digital signal based on the first voltage of the first secondary cell, and

to detect a second voltage of the second secondary cell, the control circuit turns off the first switch element, the control circuit turns on the third switch element and the refresh switch element, then the control circuit turns off the third switch element and the refresh switch element, then the control circuit turns on the second switch element, and then the control circuit operates the A/D converter, wherein the A/D converter outputs a second digital signal based on the second voltage of the second secondary cell.

20. The battery monitoring system of claim 18, wherein,

to detect a first voltage of the first secondary cell from a state in which the first, the second, and the third switch elements and the refresh switch element are turned off while operation of the A/D converter is stopped, the control circuit turns on the second switch element and the refresh switch element, then the control circuit operates the A/D converter, wherein the A/D converter outputs a first digital signal, then the control circuit turns off the second switch element and the refresh switch element, then the control circuit turns on the first switch element, then the control circuit operates the A/D converter, wherein the A/D converter outputs a second digital signal based on the first voltage of the first secondary cell, and

to detect a second voltage of the second secondary cell, the control circuit turns off the first switch element, then the control circuit turns on the third switch element and the refresh switch element, then the control circuit operates the A/D converter, wherein the A/D converter outputs a third digital signal, then the control circuit turns off the third switch element and the refresh switch element, then the control circuit turns on the second switch element, then the control circuit operates the A/D converter, wherein the A/D converter outputs a fourth digital signal based on the second voltage of the second secondary cell.