Battery pack and eletrical transfer apparatus including same

• US 8,907,597 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2011
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Inventors: Kim, Jin-Wan, Yang, Jong-Woon, Segawa, Susumu, Hwang, Eui-Jeong, Sim, Se-Sub, Yun, Han-Seok, Kim, Beom-Gyu
• Primary Examiner(s): Ip, Paul
• Assistant Examiner(s): AGARED, GABRIEL T
• Application Number:
  US13/020,756
• Publication Number:
  US 20120025744A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,405 Days
• Field of Search: 318/139, 320124-126
• US Class Current: 318/139
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/18 of two or more battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0031 using battery or load disconnect circuits H02J9/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A battery pack includes: a first battery cell group including at least one high capacity battery cell; and a second battery cell group including at least one high output battery cell and being coupled in parallel to the first battery cell group, wherein the high output battery cell is configured to output a greater current than the high capacity battery cell, the high capacity battery cell is configured to store a greater amount of electric energy compared to the high output battery cell, and the battery pack is configured to operate in one of operational modes including: a high capacity mode for outputting electric energy stored in the first battery cell group; a high output mode for outputting electric energy stored in the second battery cell group; and a mutual charge mode for charging the first battery cell group or the second battery cell group.

Claims

1. A battery pack comprising:

a first battery cell group comprising at least one high capacity battery cell; and

a second battery cell group comprising at least one high output battery cell and being coupled in parallel to the first battery cell group,

wherein the high output battery cell is configured to have a relatively greater current output value in comparison to the high capacity battery cell to output a greater current than the high capacity battery cell, the high capacity battery cell has a capacity to store a greater amount of electric energy compared to the high output battery cell, and

wherein the battery pack further comprises;

a battery management system configured to operate in one of operational modes comprising;

a high capacity mode for outputting electric energy stored in the first battery cell group;

a high output mode for outputting electric energy stored in the second battery cell group;

an idle mode in which a charging and discharging operation is not performed when both a charge of the first battery cell group and a charge of the second battery cell group is greater than a reference value; and

a mutual charge mode for charging the first battery ceil group or the second battery cell group when the charge of the first battery cell group or the charge of the second battery cell group is less than the reference value.

2. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein in the mutual charge mode, the first battery cell group and the second battery cell group are enabled to be mutually charged.

3. The battery pack of claim 2, further comprising a battery management unit for determining a state &

charge (SOC) of the first battery cell group and the second battery cell group.

4. The battery pack of claim 3, wherein when the SOC of the first battery cell group or the second battery cell group is below a reference value, the first battery cell group or the second battery cell group is charged.

5. The battery pack of claim 3, further comprising a charge circuit unit coupled between the first battery cell group and the second battery ceil group.

6. The battery pack of claim 5, wherein the charge circuit unit comprises a first switching device for controlling a current flowing in the second battery cell group.

7. The battery pack of claim 6, wherein the charge circuit unit further comprises a second switching device for controlling a current flowing in the first battery cell group.

8. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the battery pack is configured to operate in the mutual charge mode when the electric energy stored in the first battery cell group or the second battery cell group is not output to the outside of the battery pack.

9. An electrical transfer apparatus comprising:

a wheel;

an electric motor for driving the wheel; and

a battery pack for applying electric energy to the electric motor,

wherein the battery pack comprises;

a first battery cell group comprising at least one high capacity battery cell; and

a second battery cell group comprising at least at least one high output battery cell and being coupled in parallel to the first battery cell group, the high output battery cell is configured to have a relatively greater current output value in comparison to the high capacity battery cell to output a greater current than the high capacity battery cell, the high capacity battery cell has a capacity to store a greater amount of electric energy compared to the high output battery cell, and

wherein the battery pack further comprises;

a battery management system configured to operate in one of operational modes comprising;

a high capacity mode for outputting electric energy stored in the first battery cell group;

a high output mode for outputting electric energy stored in the second battery cell group;

an idle mode in which a charging and discharging operation is not performed when both a charge of the first battery cell group and a charge of the second battery cell group is greater than a reference value; and

a mutual charge mode for charging the first battery cell group or the second battery cell group when the charge of the first battery cell group or the charge of the second battery cell group is less than the reference value.

10. The electrical transfer apparatus of claim 9, wherein the electrical transfer apparatus is configured to operate in one of operational modes comprising:

an auto mode for driving the wheel by using electric energy stored in the battery pack;

an assist mode for driving the wheel by using electric energy stored in the battery pack and torque applied from a user; and

a passive mode for driving the wheel by using only the torque applied from the user.

11. The electrical transfer apparatus of claim 10, wherein the battery pack is configured to operate in the mutual charge mode in the passive mode of the electrical transfer apparatus.

12. The electrical transfer apparatus of claim 11, wherein in the mutual charge mode, the first battery cell group and the second battery cell group in the battery pack are enabled to be mutually charged.

13. The electrical transfer apparatus of claim 9, wherein the battery pack further comprises a battery management unit for determining a state of charge (SOC) of the first battery cell group and the second battery cell group.

14. The electrical transfer apparatus of claim 13, wherein when the SOC of the first battery cell group or the second battery ceil group is below a reference value, the first battery cell group or the second battery cell group is charged.