Device and method for controlling rechargeable battery, including warning a user to subject the rechargeable battery to a diagnosis

• US 9,073,437 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2010
• Issued: 07/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Matsumoto, Junichi, Kaita, Keiji, Tezuka, Takayoshi, Ishishita, Teruo
• Primary Examiner(s): RUSHING, MARK S
• Application Number:
  US13/640,582
• Publication Number:
  US 20130049973A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,880 Days
• Field of Search: 702/63
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/20 for control of the vehicle or its driving motor to achieve a desired performance, e.g. speed, torque, programmed variation of speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/549 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/80 Time limits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/04 Cutting off the power supply under fault conditions protective devices and circuit arrangements in general H01H; H02H
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/14 Preventing excessive discharging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/15 Preventing overcharging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/16 responding to battery ageing, e.g. to the number of charging cycles or the state of health [SoH]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/18 of two or more battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0014 Circuits for equalisation of charge between batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00302 : Overcharge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00308 : Overvoltage protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/005 : Detection of state of health [SOH]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• 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 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

The calculation unit converts into a battery age each parameter calculated for a different factor of degradation of a battery. If at least one of the battery ages has reached an upper limit age, the determination unit determines that it is necessary to conduct a battery diagnosis. Once it has been determined that it is necessary to conduct the battery diagnosis, the display control unit causes a display device to display a diagnosis request message. After displaying the diagnosis request message has started if there is no result of the battery diagnosis received the electric power limiter unit limits electric power charged to and discharged from the battery. After the electric power charged to/discharged from the battery is limited if there is no result of the battery diagnosis received the start-up prohibition unit prohibits starting a system driving the vehicle.

Claims

1. A device for controlling a rechargeable battery which can be subjected to a diagnosis of a degraded state by a diagnostic device, comprising:

a determination unit that determines, from a history of how the rechargeable battery has been used, whether it is necessary to conduct said diagnosis;

a warning unit that warns a user to subject the rechargeable battery to said diagnosis when said determination unit determines that it is necessary to conduct said diagnosis; and

a restriction unit that restricts an output of the rechargeable battery if said warning unit warns the user to subject the rechargeable battery to said diagnosis and thereafter a predetermined period of time elapses, and despite that said diagnosis is still not conducted,

wherein said determination unit determines whether it is necessary to conduct said diagnosis for each of a plurality of parameters including at least two of;

a period for which the rechargeable battery is used;

an integrated value of a period of time for which the rechargeable battery has voltage exceeding a reference value;

an integrated value of a portion of a current charged to the rechargeable battery that exceeds a predetermined value; and

an integrated value of a current discharged from the rechargeable battery.

2. The device for controlling the rechargeable battery according to claim 1, wherein said determination unit calculates a plurality of battery ages for said plurality of parameters, respectively, said battery age indicating an extent of how the rechargeable battery is degraded, and when at least one of said plurality of battery ages calculated reaches an upper limit age, said determination unit determines that it is necessary to conduct said diagnosis.

3. The device for controlling the rechargeable battery according to claim 2, further comprising a modification unit that modifies said battery age in accordance with a result of said diagnosis when said diagnosis is conducted.

4. The device for controlling the rechargeable battery according to claim 3, wherein if said result of said diagnosis indicates that the rechargeable battery can continue to be used, said modification unit returns said battery age that has reached said upper limit age to a predetermined age smaller than said upper limit age.

5. The device for controlling the rechargeable battery according to claim 4, wherein if said result of said diagnosis indicates that the rechargeable battery can continue to be used, said modification unit returns said battery age that has reached said upper limit age to said predetermined age, and said modification unit also sets at said predetermined age any other said battery age that has not reached said upper limit age.

6. The device for controlling the rechargeable battery according to claim 3, wherein if said result of said diagnosis indicates that the rechargeable battery can continue to be used, and when at least one of said plurality of battery ages is larger than a predetermined age smaller than said upper limit age, then said modification unit sets said plurality of battery ages at said predetermined age, whereas if said result of said diagnosis indicates that the rechargeable battery can continue to be used, and when said plurality of battery ages are all smaller than said predetermined age, then said modification unit does not modify said plurality of battery ages.

7. The device for controlling the rechargeable battery according to claim 3, wherein:

when said result of said diagnosis indicates that the rechargeable battery can no longer continue to be used, said modification unit sets said plurality of battery ages at said upper limit age;

when said result of said diagnosis indicates that the rechargeable battery can no longer continue to be used, said warning unit warns the user that the rechargeable battery cannot be used; and

when said result of said diagnosis indicates that the rechargeable battery can no longer continue to be used, said restriction unit prohibits electrically charging and discharging the rechargeable battery.

8. A device for controlling a rechargeable battery which can be subjected to a diagnosis of a degraded state by a diagnostic device, comprising:

a determination unit that determines, from a history of how the rechargeable battery has been used, whether it is necessary to conduct said diagnosis;

a warning unit that warns a user to subject the rechargeable battery to said diagnosis when said determination unit determines that it is necessary to conduct said diagnosis; and

a restriction unit that restricts an output of the rechargeable battery if said warning unit warns the user to subject the rechargeable battery to said diagnosis and thereafter a predetermined period of time elapses, and despite that said diagnosis is still not conducted,

wherein said restriction unit restricts the output of the rechargeable battery by applying at least any one of a first control applied to decrease an upper limit value of electric power charged to the rechargeable battery and an upper limit value of electric power discharged from the rechargeable battery and a second control applied to prohibit electrically charging and discharging the rechargeable battery.

9. The device for controlling the rechargeable battery according to claim 8, wherein:

if said determination unit has determined that it is necessary to conduct said diagnosis and thereafter a first period of time elapses, and despite that said diagnosis is still not conducted, then, said restriction unit applies said first control; and

if said determination unit has determined that it is necessary to conduct said diagnosis and thereafter a second period of time longer than said first period of time elapses, and despite that said diagnosis is still not conducted, then, said restriction unit applies said second control.

10. A device for controlling a rechargeable battery which can be subjected to a diagnosis of a degraded state by a diagnostic device, comprising:

a determination unit that determines, from a history of how the rechargeable battery has been used, whether it is necessary to conduct said diagnosis;

a warning unit that warns a user to subject the rechargeable battery to said diagnosis when said determination unit determines that it is necessary to conduct said diagnosis;

a restriction unit that restricts an output of the rechargeable battery if said warning unit warns the user to subject the rechargeable battery to said diagnosis and thereafter a predetermined period of time elapses, and despite that said diagnosis is still not conducted;

a display device that displays information for the user; and

an electric power controller that controls electric power charged to and discharged from the rechargeable battery, wherein;

said warning unit warns the user to subject the rechargeable battery to said diagnosis by causing said display device to display a message to urge the user to subject the rechargeable battery to said diagnosis; and

said restriction unit restricts the output of the rechargeable battery by controlling said electric power controller.

11. A device for controlling a rechargeable battery which can be subjected to a diagnosis of a degraded state by a diagnostic device, comprising:

a determination unit that determines, from a history of how the rechargeable battery has been used, whether it is necessary to conduct said diagnosis;

a warning unit that warns a user to subject the rechargeable battery to said diagnosis when said determination unit determines that it is necessary to conduct said diagnosis; and

a restriction unit that restricts an output of the rechargeable battery if said warning unit warns the user to subject the rechargeable battery to said diagnosis and thereafter a predetermined period of time elapses, and despite that said diagnosis is still not conducted,

wherein said determination unit determines whether it is necessary to conduct said diagnosis, based on at least one parameter of;

a period for which the rechargeable battery is used;

an integrated value of a period of time for which the rechargeable battery has voltage exceeding a reference value;

an integrated value of a portion of a current charged to the rechargeable battery that exceeds a predetermined value; and

an integrated value of a current discharged from the rechargeable battery.

12. A method performed by a device for controlling a rechargeable battery which can be subjected to a diagnosis of a degraded state by a diagnostic device, comprising the steps of:

determining, from a history of how the rechargeable battery has been used, whether it is necessary to conduct said diagnosis;

warning a user to subject the rechargeable battery to said diagnosis when it is determined that it is necessary to conduct said diagnosis;

restricting an output of the rechargeable battery if the user has been warned to subject the rechargeable battery to said diagnosis and thereafter a predetermined period of time elapses, and despite that said diagnosis is still not conducted; and

determining whether it is necessary to conduct said diagnosis for each of a plurality of parameters including at least two of;

a period for which the rechargeable battery is used;

an integrated value of a period of time for which the rechargeable battery has voltage exceeding a reference value;

an integrated value of a portion of a current charged to the rechargeable battery that exceeds a predetermined value; and

an integrated value of a current discharged from the rechargeable battery.

13. A method performed by a device for controlling a rechargeable battery which can be subjected to a diagnosis of a degraded state by a diagnostic device, comprising the steps of:

determining, from a history of how the rechargeable battery has been used, whether it is necessary to conduct said diagnosis;

warning a user to subject the rechargeable battery to said diagnosis when it is determined that it is necessary to conduct said diagnosis;

restricting an output of the rechargeable battery if the user has been warned to subject the rechargeable battery to said diagnosis and thereafter a predetermined period of time elapses, and despite that said diagnosis is still not conducted; and

wherein the output of the rechargeable battery is restricted by applying at least any one of a first control applied to decrease an upper limit value of electric power charged to the rechargeable battery and an upper limit value of electric power discharged from the rechargeable battery and a second control applied to prohibit electrically charging and discharging the rechargeable battery.

14. A method performed by a device for controlling a rechargeable battery which can be subjected to a diagnosis of a degraded state by a diagnostic device, comprising the steps of:

determining, from a history of how the rechargeable battery has been used, whether it is necessary to conduct said diagnosis;

warning a user to subject the rechargeable battery to said diagnosis when it is determined that it is necessary to conduct said diagnosis;

restricting an output of the rechargeable battery if the user has been warned to subject the rechargeable battery to said diagnosis and thereafter a predetermined period of time elapses, and despite that said diagnosis is still not conducted;

displaying information for the user; and

controlling electric power charged to and discharged from the rechargeable battery, wherein;

the user is warned to subject the rechargeable battery to said diagnosis by causing said display device to display a message to urge the user to subject the rechargeable battery to said diagnosis; and

the output of the rechargeable battery is restricted by controlling said electric power controller.

15. A method performed by a device for controlling a rechargeable battery which can be subjected to a diagnosis of a degraded state by a diagnostic device, comprising the steps of:

determining, from a history of how the rechargeable battery has been used, whether it is necessary to conduct said diagnosis;

warning a user to subject the rechargeable battery to said diagnosis when it is determined that it is necessary to conduct said diagnosis;

restricting an output of the rechargeable battery if the user has been warned to subject the rechargeable battery to said diagnosis and thereafter a predetermined period of time elapses, and despite that said diagnosis is still not conducted; and

determining whether it is necessary to conduct said diagnosis, based on at least one parameter of;

a period for which the rechargeable battery is used;

an integrated value of a period of time for which the rechargeable battery has voltage exceeding a reference value;

an integrated value of a portion of a current charged to the rechargeable battery that exceeds a predetermined value; and

an integrated value of a current discharged from the rechargeable battery.