Battery apparatus for controlling plural batteries and control method of plural batteries

• US 8,896,273 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2012
• Issued: 11/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd., Shin-Kobe Electric Machinery Company Limited (Resonac Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Miyazaki, Hideki, Emori, Akihiko, Kai, Tsuyoshi, Kudo, Akihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIGGUSH, AARON C
• Application Number:
  US13/557,342
• Publication Number:
  US 20120286734A1
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 320/116, 320/118, 320/163, 324/434
• US Class Current: 320/163
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/11 DC charging controlled by the charging station, e.g. mode 4
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/19 Switching between serial connection and parallel connection of battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/21 having the same nominal voltage
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/052 Li-accumulators
• 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 10/482 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• 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: H01M 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/569 Constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements G01R31/364
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0016 using shunting, discharge or bypass circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0019 using switched or multiplexed charge circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00302 Overcharge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00306 Overdischarge protection
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

Lower order control devices control plural battery cells configuring plural battery modules. An input terminal of the low order control device in the highest potential, an output terminal of the low order control device in the lowest potential, and a high order control device are connected by isolating units, photocouplers. Diodes which prevent a discharge current of the battery cells in the battery modules are disposed between the output terminal of the low order control device and the battery cells in the battery module on the low potential side. Terminals related to input/output of a signal are electrically connected without isolating among the plural low order control devices.

Claims

1. A battery apparatus comprising:

a plurality of battery modules each having a plurality of battery cells being electrically connected in series, the plurality of battery modules being electrically connected in series;

a plurality of first control devices provided in correspondence with the plurality of battery modules, respectively, each of the plurality of first control devices detecting a terminal voltage of each of the plurality of battery cells contained in a corresponding one of the plurality of battery modules;

a first signal transmission path which is configured by electrically connecting the plurality of first control devices in series;

a second control device; and

a second signal transmission path configured for isolating electrical connection, a signal being transmitted between the second control device and the plurality of first control devices electrically connected in series via the second signal transmission path,

wherein each of the first control devices includes;

an analog to digital converter which receives the terminal voltages of the plurality of battery cells contained in the corresponding one of the plurality of battery modules and converts into digital values, respectively;

a signal input circuit for receiving an electric signal being transmitted;

a signal output circuit for outputting an electric signal; and

a logic circuit,

the first signal transmission path is configured in a manner that the signal output circuit of one of the plurality of first control devices is operated by a signal outputted from the logic circuit of the one of the plurality of first control devices and to be transmitted to the logic circuit of next one of the plurality of first control devices connected in series to the one of the plurality of first control devices to thereby transmit the signal outputted from the logic circuit of the one of the plurality of first control devices to the signal input circuit of the next one of the plurality of first control devices in a state of an electric signal, then the signal input circuit of the next one of the plurality of first control devices is operated by the electric signal thus transmitted to thereby transmit the signal outputted from the logic circuit of the one of the plurality of first control devices to the logic circuit of the next one of the plurality of first control devices, and the signal transmitted in the state of the electric signal through the first signal transmission path being transmitted to the second signal transmission path,

the second signal transmission path is configured to transmit the received signal to the second control device, and

each of signals representing the terminal voltages of the plurality of battery cells, that are converted into the digital values by the analog to digital converter, respectively, is transmitted in a state of an electrical signal in the first signal transmission path and transmitted to the second signal transmission path, then transmitted within the second signal transmission path to the second control device.

2. The battery apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of first control devices constituting the first signal transmission path are operated by the plurality of battery modules acting as a power supply, and the second control device is operated by a power supply electrically isolated from the plurality of battery modules.

3. The battery apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of first control devices includes a plurality of signal input terminals and a plurality of signal output terminals, the plurality of signal output terminals of the one of the plurality of first control devices are electrically connected in series with the plurality of signal input terminals of the next one of the plurality of first control devices, respectively, to thereby constitute a plurality of the first signal transmission paths, a plurality of the second signal transmission paths each configured for isolating electrical connection, the plurality of first signal transmission paths and the plurality of second signal transmission paths are electrically connected in series to thereby form a plurality of serial transmission paths, respectively, and the plurality of first control devices are connected to the plurality of second control devices via the plurality of serial transmission paths, respectively.

4. The battery apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second signal transmission path includes a photo coupler.

5. The battery apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the analog to digital converter has an error compensation circuit.

6. The battery apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the analog to digital converter has a compensation logic circuit and compensates the received terminal voltage based on an operation of the compensation logic circuit.

7. The battery apparatus according to claim 5, wherein each of the first control devices includes a compensation terminal for receiving information for compensating an error of the analog to digital converter, and the analog to digital converter outputs a compensated terminal voltage based on the received information via the compensation terminal.

8. The battery apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each of the first control devices is supplied with, and operated by, electric power from the corresponding one of the plurality of battery modules.

9. The battery apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the first control devices is configured by an integrated circuit, each of the integrated circuits includes therein a power supply circuit for generating a constant voltage, each of the integrated circuits further includes:

a plurality of voltage input terminals for receiving the terminal voltages of the plurality of battery cells contained in the corresponding one of the plurality of battery modules; and

a VDD terminal (a reference voltage output terminal) electrically connected to an output side of the power supply circuit, wherein the plurality of voltage input terminals are electrically connected to the plurality of battery cells contained in the corresponding one of the plurality of battery modules, respectively, and a capacitor is electrically connected to the VDD terminal.

10. The battery apparatus according to claim 9, wherein each of the integrated circuits further includes a GND terminal for determining a reference voltage of each of the integrated circuits.

11. The battery apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the capacitor is connected between the VDD terminal and the GND terminal in each of the integrated circuits.

12. The battery apparatus according to claim 10, wherein a zener diode is connected between the VDD terminal and the GND terminal in each of the integrated circuits.

13. The battery apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a voltage detection circuit for detecting a terminal voltage of a series circuit configured by the plurality of battery modules; and

a photo coupler provided between the voltage detection circuit and the second control device, wherein the voltage detected by the voltage detection circuit is inputted into the second control device via the photo coupler.

14. The battery apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of resistor elements provided in correspondence with the plurality of battery cells contained in the plurality of battery modules, respectively, wherein each of the resistor elements is used for adjusting a charging state of a corresponding one of the plurality of battery cells contained in the plurality of battery modules, each of the first control devices is configured by an integrated circuit, each of the plurality of integrated circuits includes;

a plurality of voltage input terminals for receiving the terminal voltages of the plurality of battery cells contained in the corresponding one of the plurality of battery modules; and

a plurality of capacitance adjusting terminals which are provided in correspondence with the resistor elements provided in correspondence with the plurality of battery cells contained in the corresponding one of the plurality of battery modules, respectively, wherein each of the plurality of capacitance adjusting terminals is used for adjustment of a capacitance of a corresponding one of the plurality of battery cells performed by the corresponding one of the plurality of resistor elements, and in each of the plurality of integrated circuits, the plurality of voltage input terminals and the plurality of capacitance adjusting terminals are disposed alternatively.

15. The battery apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of resistor elements provided in correspondence with the plurality of battery cells contained in the plurality of battery modules, respectively, wherein each of the resistor elements is used for adjusting a charging state of a corresponding one of the plurality of battery cells contained in the plurality of battery modules, each of the first control devices is configured by an integrated circuit, each of the plurality of integrated circuits includes;

a plurality of voltage input terminals for receiving the terminal voltages of the plurality of battery cells contained in the corresponding one of the plurality of battery modules; and

a plurality of capacitance adjusting terminals which are provided in correspondence with the resistor elements provided in correspondence with the plurality of battery cells contained in the corresponding one of the plurality of battery modules, respectively, wherein the plurality of capacitance adjusting terminals and the resistor elements are provided in a manner in each of the plurality of integrated circuits that each of the plurality of capacitance adjusting terminals, used for adjustment of a capacitance of a corresponding one of the plurality of battery cells contained in the corresponding one of the plurality of battery modules performed by the corresponding one of the plurality of resistor elements, is disposed between the voltage input terminal electrically connected to a positive pole of the corresponding one of the plurality of battery cells contained in the corresponding one of the plurality of battery modules and the voltage input terminal electrically connected to a negative pole of the corresponding one of the plurality of battery cells contained in the corresponding one of the plurality of battery modules.

16. The battery apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of resistor elements provided in correspondence with the plurality of battery cells contained in the plurality of battery modules, respectively, wherein each of the resistor elements is used for adjusting a charging state of a corresponding one of the plurality of battery cells contained in the plurality of battery modules, each of the first control devices is configured by an integrated circuit, each of the plurality of integrated circuits includes;

a plurality of voltage input terminals for receiving the terminal voltages of the plurality of battery cells contained in the corresponding one of the plurality of battery modules; and

a plurality of capacitance adjusting terminals which are provided in correspondence with the resistor elements provided in correspondence with the plurality of battery cells contained in the corresponding one of the plurality of battery modules, respectively, wherein the plurality of capacitance adjusting terminals and the resistor elements are provided in a manner in each of the plurality of integrated circuits that each of the plurality of capacitance adjusting terminals, used for adjustment of a capacitance of a corresponding one of the plurality of battery cells contained in the corresponding one of the plurality of battery modules performed by the corresponding one of the plurality of resistor elements, is disposed between the voltage input terminal electrically connected to a positive pole of the corresponding one of the plurality of battery cells contained in the corresponding one of the plurality of battery modules and the voltage input terminal electrically connected to a negative pole of the corresponding one of the plurality of battery cells contained in the corresponding one of the plurality of battery modules, and wherein in each of the plurality of integrated circuits, a plurality of terminal sets, each including a corresponding one of the voltage input terminals electrically connected to the positive pole, a corresponding one of the voltage input terminals electrically connected to the negative pole and the corresponding one of the plurality of capacitance adjusting terminals, are disposed in a connection order of the plurality of battery cells contained in the corresponding one of the plurality of battery modules.

17. The battery apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second control device compares the signal transmitted to the first signal transmission path via the second signal transmission path with the signal returned from the first signal transmission path via the second signal transmission path to thereby determine whether or not the returned signal has an error.

18. The battery apparatus according to claim 17, wherein when the second control device determines that the returned signal has an error, the second control device transmits a signal same as the returned signal to the first signal transmission path via the second signal transmission path.

19. The battery apparatus according to claim 17, wherein when the determination that the returned signal has an error is continued for a predetermined number of times, the second control device determines that an abnormal condition has occurred and transmits an abnormal signal to a high order system.

20. The battery apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each of the first signal transmission path and the second signal transmission path has a clock signal transmission path for transmitting a clock signal, and each of the signals representing the terminal voltages of the plurality of battery cells, that are converted into the digital values by the analog to digital converter, respectively, is transmitted in synchronism with the clock signal to the second control device via the first signal transmission path and the second signal transmission path.

21. The battery apparatus according to claim 3, wherein one of the plurality of serial transmission paths is a clock signal transmission path for transmitting a clock signal, and each of the signals representing the terminal voltages of the plurality of battery cells, that are converted into the digital values by the analog to digital converter, respectively, is transmitted in synchronism with the clock signal to the second control device via another one of the plurality of serial transmission paths.

22. The battery apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the clock signal transmission path is configured by a single signal transmission path which is configured by electrically connecting in series one of the plurality of the first signal transmission paths and one of the plurality of the second signal transmission paths.

23. A battery apparatus comprising:

a plurality of battery modules each having a plurality of battery cells, the plurality of battery modules being electrically connected in series;

a plurality of first control devices provided in correspondence with the plurality of battery modules, respectively, each of the plurality of first control devices detecting a terminal voltage of each of the plurality of battery cells contained in a corresponding one of the plurality of battery modules;

a second control device;

a first signal transmission path which is configured by electrically connecting the plurality of first control devices in series; and

a second signal transmission path, including an isolator, configured for isolating electrical connection, wherein a signal is transmitted through the isolator of the second signal transmission path, such that the signal is transmitted through the second signal transmission path from the second control device to the plurality of first control devices, and wherein the isolator of the second signal transmission path electrically isolates the second control device from the first control devices,

wherein the first signal transmission path is configured in a manner that the signal is transmitted in a state of an electric signal from one of the plurality of first control devices to another one of the plurality of first control devices connected in series to the one of the plurality of first control devices.