Battery system monitoring apparatus

• US 9,340,122 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2011
• Issued: 05/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Astemo Ltd. (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yamauchi, Tatsumi, Machida, Akihiro, Kudo, Akihiko, Emori, Akihiko, Kikuchi, Mutsumi
• Primary Examiner(s): LIN, SUN J
• Application Number:
  US14/122,463
• Publication Number:
  US 20140152261A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,734 Days
• Field of Search: 320/118
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• 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 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 characterised by AC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/14 Preventing excessive discharging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/15 Preventing overcharging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/22 Balancing the charge of battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/24 for controlling the temperature of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3835 involving only voltage measurements
• 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 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4264 with capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/441 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• 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 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/48 for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0016 using shunting, discharge or bypass circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0047 : with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
• 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 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A battery system monitoring apparatus that monitors a battery system is provided having a cell group having a plurality of unit cells connected in series, including: a first control device that controls the cell group; and a plurality of voltage detection lines that connect positive electrodes and negative electrodes of the unit cells to the first control device, for measuring inter-terminal voltages of the unit cells. The first control device includes a balancing switch connected between the voltage detection line connected to the positive electrode of each unit cell and the voltage detection line connected to the negative electrode thereof for conducting balancing discharge of the unit cell, for each of the unit cells. A first resistor is disposed in series with each of the voltage detection lines, a first capacitor is connected between the voltage detection line, and a GND which is a lowest-level potential of the cell group.

Claims

1. A battery system monitoring apparatus for a battery system having a cell group having a plurality of unit cells connected in series, the battery system monitoring apparatus comprising:

a first control device that is disposed in correspondence with the cell group;

a plurality of voltage detection lines that are disposed to connect a positive electrode and a negative electrode of each unit cell of the unit cells to the first control device, and input an inter-terminal voltage of each unit cell of the unit cells to the first control device;

a first resistor disposed in series with each of the voltage detection lines;

a first capacitor connected to each of the voltage detection lines; and

a balancing discharge circuit disposed in correspondence with each unit cell of the unit cells and discharging said each unit cell when said each unit cell is discharged,

wherein the first capacitor is connected between the voltage detection lines in a position between the first resistor and the first control device, and the first capacitor is connected to a part which is a lowest-level potential of the cell group on a side opposite to a side connected to the voltage detection line,

wherein the balancing discharge circuit includes a balancing switch turned on or off when the unit cell is discharged, and a second resistor connected in series with the balancing switch, and

wherein the balancing discharge circuit is connected to the voltage detection line connected to the positive electrode of the unit cell and the voltage detection line connected to the negative electrode of the unit cell in a position on a side of the cell group with respect to the first resistor.

2. The battery system monitoring apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the first control device includes:

a selection unit that selects the positive electrode and the negative electrode of one unit cell of the plurality of unit cells to be measured for an inter-terminal voltage, and outputs a potential of each of the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the one unit cell;

a voltage measurement unit that measures the inter-terminal voltage of the one unit cell according to the potential of each of the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the one unit cell, which is output from the selection unit;

a voltage comparison unit that compares the inter-terminal voltage of the one unit cell, which is measured by the voltage measurement unit, with a given voltage threshold value;

a first storage unit that stores a comparison result of the voltage comparison unit therein;

a determination unit that determines a disconnection of the voltage detection line based on the comparison result stored in the first storage unit; and

a second storage unit that stores a determination result of the determination unit therein.

3. The battery system monitoring apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein the determination unit determines whether the voltage detection line connected to the one unit cell is disconnected or not based on the inter-terminal voltage of the one unit cell, which is detected when the first balancing switch corresponding to the one unit cell, and a second balancing switch corresponding to a unit cell connected adjacent to and in series with the one unit cell are turned on or off, and

wherein the determination result of the disconnection of the voltage detection line connected to the one unit cell is stored in the second storage unit.

4. The battery system monitoring apparatus according to claim 3,

wherein the first control device sequentially measures the inter-terminal voltages with respect to all of the unit cells in the cell group,

wherein the determination unit determines whether the disconnection is present in all of the voltage detection lines that connect the cell group to the first control device or not based on a measurement result of the inter-terminal voltages of all of the unit cells, and

wherein the determination results of the disconnection of all of the voltage detection lines are stored in the second storage unit.

5. The battery system monitoring apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the first control device further includes:

a balancing current detection unit that is disposed in correspondence to each of the unit cells and detects whether a balancing current flowing into the balancing discharge circuit corresponding to the unit cell is present or not when the balancing switch corresponding to the unit cell is turned on,

a first storage unit that stores a detection result detected by the balancing current detection unit,

a determination unit that determines a disconnection of the voltage detection line based on the detection result stored in the first storage unit, and

a second storage unit that stores a determination result of the determination unit therein,

wherein the determination unit determines whether the voltage detection line connected to one unit cell of the plurality of unit cells is disconnected or not on the basis of the presence or absence of the balancing current flowing into the balancing discharge circuit corresponding to the one unit cell when the first balancing switch corresponding to the one unit cell is turned on, and the second balancing switch corresponding to a unit cell connected adjacent to and in series with the one unit cell is turned off, and

wherein a determination result of the disconnection of the voltage detection line connected to the one unit cell is stored in the second storage unit.

6. The battery system monitoring apparatus according to claim 5,

wherein the first control device sequentially detects whether the balancing current is present in correspondence with all of the unit cells in the cell group or not,

wherein the determination unit determines whether the disconnection is present in all of the voltage detection lines that connect the cell group to the first control device or not based on detection results of whether the balancing current is present in correspondence with all of the unit cells or not, and

wherein all of the determination results are stored in the second storage unit.

7. The battery system monitoring apparatus according to claim 5,

wherein the balancing current detection unit includes:

a reference voltage source;

a comparator that compares the inter-terminal voltage of the balancing switch corresponding to the unit cell with a reference voltage output from the reference voltage source to detect whether the balancing current flowing into the balancing discharge circuit corresponding to the unit cell is present or not; and

an input switching unit that reverses inputs of the reference voltage and a terminal voltage of the balancing switch to the comparator and inputs the reference voltage and the terminal voltage of the balancing switch to the comparator,

wherein an output value of the comparator is switched to the same output value as that when the voltage detection line connected with the balancing switch corresponding to the unit cell is disconnected when input of the reference voltage and the inter-terminal voltage of the balancing switch to the comparator is reversed by the input switching unit, and

wherein the determination result of the determination unit based on the output value of the comparator when input of the reference voltage and the inter-terminal voltage of the balancing switch to the comparator is reversed by the input switching unit is stored in the second storage unit.

8. The battery system monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising

an short-circuiting switch that is disposed in correspondence with each unit cell of said each unit cells and short-circuits the voltage detection lines connected to the unit cell,

wherein the first control device includes:

a selection unit that selects the positive electrode and the negative electrode of one unit cell of the plurality of unit cells to be measured for an inter-terminal voltage, and outputs a potential of each of the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the one unit cell;

a voltage measurement unit that measures the inter-terminal voltage of the one unit cell according to the potential of each of the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the one unit cell, which is output from the selection unit;

a voltage comparison unit that compares the inter-terminal voltage of the one unit cell, which is measured by the voltage measurement unit, with a given voltage threshold value; and

a determination unit that conducts determination based on a comparison result;

wherein the voltage measurement unit measures 0V or the inter-terminal voltage of the unit cell connected to the voltage detection lines as a voltage based on a potential difference between the voltage detection lines selected and output by the selection unit by turning on or off the short-circuiting switch,

wherein the voltage comparison unit compares the voltage measured by the voltage measurement unit with a given voltage threshold value, and

wherein the determination unit determines whether the selection unit operates normally or not based on a comparison result of the voltage comparison unit.

9. The battery system monitoring apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the cell group includes N (N≧

1) of the cell groups that are connected in series with each other,

wherein M (M≧

1) of the first control devices are disposed so as to provide the first control device for each of the N cell groups, and the M first control devices are connected in series with each other through a communication line,

wherein a second control device is disposed to the M first control devices, and each of a highest-level first control device and a lowest-level first control device among the M first control devices and the second control device are connected through a communication line provided with an insulating element, and

wherein the M first control devices serially transmit a signal transmitted from the second control device through the communication line provided with the insulating element and transmit a signal to the second control device through the communication line provided with the insulating element.

10. The battery system monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second capacitor which is connected in parallel to the balancing switch.

11. The battery system monitoring apparatus according to claim 10,

wherein a time constant of the first filter circuit including the first resistor and the first capacitor is larger than a time constant of the second filter including the second resistor and the second capacitor.

12. A battery system monitoring apparatus for a battery system having a cell group having a plurality of unit cells connected in series, the battery system monitoring apparatus comprising:

a first control device that is disposed in correspondence with the cell group;

a plurality of voltage detection lines that are disposed to connect a positive electrode and a negative electrode of each unit cell of the unit cells to the first control device, and input an inter-terminal voltage of each unit cell of the unit cells to the first control device; and

a power supply line that applies the inter-terminal voltage of the cell group to the first control device,

wherein the first control device includes;

a power supply unit;

a voltage input unit that inputs the inter-terminal voltage of the cell group;

a voltage measurement unit that measures the voltage; and

a selection unit that selects an output from the inter-terminal voltage input unit, and inputs the output to the voltage measurement unit,

wherein the power supply line is connected to the positive electrode of a highest-level unit cell of the cell group,

wherein the inter-terminal voltage of the cell group is input to the power supply unit through the power supply line, and

wherein the power supply unit includes an energization switch that applies the inter-terminal voltage of the cell group to the voltage input unit.

13. The battery system monitoring apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising

a first resistor connected in series to each of the voltage detection lines;

and

a balancing discharge circuit disposed in correspondence with each unit cell of said each unit cells and discharging said each unit cell when the unit cell is balanced,

wherein the balancing discharge circuit including;

a balancing switch turned on or off when said each unit cell is balanced, and

a second resistor connected in series with the balancing switch, and

wherein the balancing discharge circuit is connected the voltage detection line connected to the positive electrode of said each unit cell, and the voltage detection line connected to the negative electrode thereof in a position on a side of the cell group with respect to the first resistor.

14. The battery system monitoring apparatus according to claim 12,

wherein the power supply unit turns on the energization switch to apply the inter-terminal voltage of the cell group to the voltage input unit when the first control device starts according to a start signal received from an external.

15. The battery system monitoring apparatus according to claim 12,

wherein the voltage input unit includes:

a voltage divider circuit that divides the inter-terminal voltage of the cell group; and

a sample and hold circuit that holds a divided voltage divided by the voltage divider circuit.

16. The battery system monitoring apparatus according to claim 15,

wherein the voltage input unit further includes a filter circuit that removes noise of the inter-terminal voltage of the cell group, which is input from the power supply unit,

wherein the filter includes a capacitor installed outside the first control device,

wherein the first control device further includes a filter connection terminal for connecting the capacitor, and

wherein the capacitor is connected to the voltage divider circuit through the filter connection terminal.

17. The battery system monitoring apparatus according to claim 16,

wherein the voltage divider circuit includes a voltage divider resistor installed outside the first control device,

wherein the first control device includes a voltage divider resistor connection terminal for connecting the voltage divider resistor, and

wherein the voltage divider resistor is connected to the power supply unit and the sample and hold circuit through the voltage divider resistor connection terminal.

18. The battery system monitoring apparatus according to claim 15,

wherein the voltage divider circuit includes a voltage divider resistor installed outside the first control device,

wherein the first control device includes a voltage divider resistor connection terminal for connecting the voltage divider resistor, and

wherein the voltage divider resistor is connected to the power supply unit and the sample and hold circuit through the voltage divider resistor connection terminal.

19. The battery system monitoring apparatus according to claim 12,

wherein the cell group includes N (N≧

1) of the cell groups that are connected in series with each other,

wherein M (M≧

1) of the first control devices are disposed so as to provide the first control device for each of the N cell groups, and the M first control devices are connected in series with each other through a communication line,

wherein a second control device is disposed to the M first control devices, and each of a highest-level first control device and a lowest-level first control device among the M first control devices and the second control device are connected through a communication line provided with an insulating element,

wherein the M first control devices serially transmit a signal transmitted from the second control device through the communication line provided with the insulating element and transmit a signal to the second control device through the communication line provided with the insulating element,

wherein the second control device transmits voltage measurement instruction signals for allowing the M first control devices to measure the inter-terminal voltages of the corresponding cell groups substantially at the same time to the M first control devices, and calculates a total voltage of the battery system according to the inter-terminal voltages of the corresponding cell groups, which are transmitted from the M first control devices.

20. A battery system monitoring apparatus for a battery system having a cell group having a plurality of unit cells connected in series, the battery system monitoring apparatus comprising:

a first control device that is disposed in correspondence with the cell group and measures an inter-terminal voltage of each unit cell of the unit cells;

a second control device that is disposed in correspondence with the cell group and controls discharge of the unit cells when charge states between the unit cells are balanced;

a plurality of voltage detection lines that connect a positive electrode and a negative electrode of each unit cell of the unit cells to the first control device, and are disposed to input the inter-terminal voltage of each unit cell of the unit cells to the first control device;

a first resistor disposed in series with each of the voltage detection lines;

a first capacitor connected to the positive electrode and the negative electrode of each unit cell of the unit cells;

a plurality of balancing lines branched from the respective voltage detection lines and connected to the second control device;

a second resistor connected in series with each of the balancing lines;

a second capacitor connected between the balancing lines branched from the voltage detection lines connected, respectively, to the positive electrode and the negative electrode of each unit cell of the unit cells; and

a balancing switch that is disposed in correspondence with each unit cell of the unit cells, connected between the balancing lines branched from the voltage detection lines connected, respectively, to the positive electrode and the negative electrode of each unit cell of the unit cells, and turned on or off when said each unit cell is discharged,

wherein the first capacitor is connected to the voltage detection lines in a position between the first resistor and the first control device, and

wherein the second capacitor is connected to the balancing lines in a position between the second resistor and the second control device.

21. The battery system monitoring apparatus according to claim 20,

wherein the cell group includes N (N≧

1) of the cell groups that are connected in series with each other,

wherein M (M≧

1) of the first control devices and M (M≧

1) of the second control devices are disposed so as to provide the first control device and the second control device for each of the N cell groups, the M first control devices are connected in series with each other through a communication line and the M second control devices are connected in series with each other through a communication line,

wherein a third control device is provided to the M first control devices and the M second control devices, a highest-level first control device and a lowest-level first control device among the M first control devices and the third control device are connected through a communication line provided with an insulating element, and a highest-level second control device and a lowest-level second control device among the M second control devices and the third control device are connected through a communication line provided with an insulating element,

wherein the M first control devices serially transmit a signal transmitted from the third control device through the communication line provided with the insulating element and transmit a signal to the third control device through the communication line provided with the insulating element, and

wherein the M second control devices serially transmit a signal transmitted from the third control device through the communication line provided with the insulating element and transmit a signal to the third control device through the communication line provided with the insulating element.

22. The battery system monitoring apparatus according to claim 20,

wherein a time constant of a first filter circuit including the first resistor and the first capacitor is larger than a time constant of a second filter circuit including the second resistor and the second capacitor.