Battery temperature control device

• US 8,738,210 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2012
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Sato, Shinya, Kojima, Takao, Kobayashi, Hitoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheung, Mary
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAZZARA, ANNE MARIE
• Application Number:
  US13/658,885
• Publication Number:
  US 20130103240A1
• Time in Patent Office: 580 Days
• Field of Search: 701/22
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/25 by controlling the electric load
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007192 in response to temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 Regulation of charging current or voltage
• 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

A battery temperature control device for an electric vehicle is provided which is capable of maintaining both the range of the electric vehicle and the battery life at a high level without drastically reducing either of them. A recommended temperature range suitable for battery use and a usable temperature range in which a battery is usable and which is wider than the recommended temperature range are included, and while the battery temperature is basically controlled to converge to the recommended temperature range to maintain the battery life, in a situation where the power consumption necessary for controlling the battery temperature to converge to the recommended temperature is increased, making it difficult to travel a desired travelling distance, the recommended temperature range is switched to the usable temperature range and the battery temperature is controlled to converge to the usable temperature range, and the power consumption necessary for controlling the battery temperature is suppressed and the range of the vehicle is maintained.

Claims

1. A battery temperature control device for controlling a battery temperature such that the battery temperature converges to a predetermined temperature range, comprising:

a battery module having a plurality of connected battery cells and a cell controller,

a battery temperature adjustment device including a warming device for warming the battery module and a cooling device for cooling the battery module,

an integrated ECU to which various signals associated with vehicle operation are input and in which a recommended temperature range, suitable for battery use, and a usable temperature range, in which a battery is usable are stored, the usable temperature range being wider than the recommended temperature range, and

a battery ECU, receiving input from the integrated ECU, by which the predetermined temperature range is set to the recommended temperature range or the usable temperature range, according to at least one of an outside environment, a state of a vehicle, and an intention of a driver, based on input from the integrated ECU.

2. The battery temperature control device according to claim 1, wherein the battery ECU includes a power supply limiter with a limiting threshold, for limiting energy from a battery, that is used to converge the battery temperature to the predetermined temperature range, and wherein the power supply limiter sets the limiting threshold according to at least one of the outside environment, the state of a vehicle, and the intention of a driver.

3. The battery temperature control device according to claim 2, wherein the limiting threshold is set based on a difference between a target battery temperature within the predetermined temperature range and a real battery temperature.

4. The battery temperature control device according to claim 3, wherein the limiting threshold becomes greater as an absolute value of the difference becomes greater.

5. The battery temperature control device according to claim 2, wherein the limiting threshold is set based further on an expected vehicle travelling distance and/or a vehicle travelling route.

6. The battery temperature control device according to claim 2, wherein the energy includes remaining energy of the battery and/or energy regenerated to the battery.