Apparatus and method for estimating available time of battery

• US 9,160,037 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2012
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Energy Solution Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Chem Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Park, Kyu-Ha
• Primary Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, ARUN C
• Application Number:
  US13/606,922
• Publication Number:
  US 20120326724A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 324/426
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/549 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/52 drive range estimation, e.g. of estimation of available travel distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/54 Energy consumption estimation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/12 Recording operating variables ; Monitoring of operating variables
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/52 characterised by DC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3647 for determining the ability of a battery to perform a critical function, e.g. cranking
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/367 Software therefor, e.g. for battery testing using modelling or look-up tables
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/382 Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• 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: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

Disclosed are an apparatus and method for estimating an available time of a battery relatively accurately in consideration of a driving pattern of a user. The apparatus for estimating an available time of a battery includes a current measuring unit for measuring an output current of the battery, a SOC estimating unit for estimating SOC (State Of Charge) of the battery, and a controller for estimating an available time of the battery by using a measured current value obtained by the current measuring unit, an estimated SOC value obtained by the SOC estimating unit and an entire capacity of the battery.

Claims

1. An apparatus for estimating an available time of a battery, comprising:

a current measuring unit configured to measure an output current of the battery;

a State Of Charge (SOC) estimating unit configured to estimate an SOC of the battery; and

a controller configured to estimate an available time of the battery by using the measured current value obtained by the current measuring unit, the estimated SOC value obtained by the SOC estimating unit and an entire capacity of the battery,

wherein the controller estimates the available time of the battery by multiplying the entire capacity of the battery by the estimated SOC value at a predetermined time to determine a resultant value, and dividing the resultant value by any one of an average value, a minimum value and a maximum value of currents measured during a predetermined period.

2. The apparatus for estimating an available time of a battery according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit for displaying the battery available time estimated by the controller to a user.

3. The apparatus for estimating an available time of a battery according to claim 2, wherein the display unit further displays the estimated SOC value.

4. The apparatus for estimating an available time of a battery according to claim 1, wherein the controller provides charge information of the battery to a user.

5. The apparatus for estimating an available time of a battery according to claim 4, wherein the charge information of the battery includes at least one of charge request information, charge station information, charge time information and charge price information.

6. The apparatus for estimating an available time of a battery according to claim 1, wherein the controller is implemented by a Battery Management System (BMS).

7. A battery pack, which comprises an apparatus for estimating an available time of a battery as defined in claim 1.

8. A vehicle, which comprises an apparatus for estimating an available time of a battery as defined in claim 1.

9. A method for estimating an available time of a battery, comprising:

measuring an output current of the battery;

estimating a State Of Charge (SOC) of the battery; and

estimating an available time of the battery by using the measured current value, the estimated SOC value and an entire capacity of the battery,

wherein estimating the available time of the battery includes multiplying the entire capacity of the battery by the estimated SOC value at a predetermined time to determine a resultant value, and dividing the resultant value by any one of an average value, a minimum value and a maximum value of currents during a predetermined period.

10. The method for estimating an available time of a battery according to claim 9, after the step of estimating an available time of the battery, further comprising displaying the estimated available time of a battery to a user.

11. The method for estimating an available time of a battery according to claim 10, wherein the step of displaying the estimated available time of a battery further displays the estimated SOC value together with the estimated battery available time.

12. The method for estimating an available time of a battery according to claim 9, further comprising providing charge information of the battery to a user.

13. The method for estimating an available time of a battery according to claim 12, wherein the charge information of the battery includes at least one of charge request information, charge station information, charge time information and charge price information.