Battery sleep mode management method and system

• US 9,692,240 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2014
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CPS Technology Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Brockman, Daryl C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, TOAN T
• Application Number:
  US14/266,587
• Publication Number:
  US 20150318723A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,154 Days
• Field of Search: 307117
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 11/01 electric
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• 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: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/488 Cells or batteries combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light density
• 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

Abstract

A method for managing a battery module includes receiving data relating to one or more operational parameters of the battery module. The method also includes determining whether a first operational parameter of the one or more operational parameters violates a first threshold. Additionally, the method includes transitioning the battery module from an operational mode to a sleep mode in response to a determination that the first operational parameter violates the first threshold.

Claims

1. A method for managing a battery module, comprising:

receiving data relating to one or more operational parameters of the battery module;

determining whether a first operational parameter of the one or more operational parameters violates a first threshold;

transitioning the battery module from an operational mode to a sleep mode in response to a determination that the first operational parameter violates the first threshold, wherein transitioning the battery module from the operational mode to the sleep mode comprises controlling an internal switch of the battery module to prevent current flow from the battery module;

receiving a signal from a state of charge indicator coupled to the battery module, wherein the state of charge indicator is configured to send the signal to the battery module in response to a change in state of a reset switch disposed on a housing of the state of charge indicator;

opening the internal switch of the battery module in response to the received signal if the internal switch is closed; and

closing the internal switch of the battery module in response to the received signal if the internal switch is open.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first operational parameter comprises any combination of a temperature of the battery module, a depth of discharge of the battery module, or an input current or an input voltage received by the battery module from a charging device.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising:

determining whether a second operational parameter of the one or more operational parameters is less than a second threshold; and

transitioning the battery module from the operational mode to the sleep mode in response to a determination that the second operational parameter is less than the second threshold.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the second operational parameter comprises a state of charge of the battery module.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving data relating to one or more operational parameters of the battery module comprises:

receiving a signal from a sensor disposed in the battery module, wherein the sensor is configured to measure an operational parameter of the battery module; and

determining a value of the operational parameter based at least in part upon the signal.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the sensor comprises a thermocouple, a voltmeter, or an ammeter.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the battery module comprises an array of battery cells, and wherein receiving data relating to one or more operational parameters of the battery module comprises:

receiving a signal from a sensor disposed in the battery module and associated with a battery cell of the array, wherein the sensor is configured to measure an operational parameter of the battery cell; and

determining a value of the operational parameter based at least in part upon the signal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the battery module comprises an array of battery cells, and wherein receiving data relating to one or more operational parameters of the battery module comprises:

receiving a signal from a sensor disposed in the battery module and associated with the array of battery cells, wherein the sensor is configured to measure an operational parameter of the array of battery cells; and

determining a value of the operational parameter based at least in part upon the signal.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether a first operational parameter of the one or more operational parameters is greater than a first threshold comprises:

accessing a memory of the battery module to determine the first threshold; and

comparing the first operational parameter to the first threshold.

10. The method of claim 1, comprising:

receiving a signal from a state of charge indicator externally coupled to the battery module, wherein the state of charge indicator is configured to send the signal to the battery module in response to a change in state of a reset switch disposed on the state of charge indicator; and

transitioning the battery module from the operational mode to the sleep mode in response to the signal from the state of charge indicator.

11. The method of claim 1, comprising:

receiving a signal from a state of charge indicator coupled to the battery module, wherein the state of charge indicator is configured to send the signal to the battery module in response to a change in state of a reset switch disposed on a housing of the state of charge indicator; and

transitioning the battery module from the sleep mode to the operational mode in response to the received signal if the battery module is in the sleep mode.

12. A system, comprising:

a battery management system disposed in a housing of a battery module and configured to;

analyze one or more operational parameters of the battery module; and

transition the battery module between an operational mode and a sleep mode based at least in part upon the analysis of the one or more operational parameters of the battery module;

an internal switch of the battery module electrically coupled to the battery management system, and wherein the battery management system is configured to transition the battery module between the operational mode and the sleep mode via the internal switch;

a state of charge indicator configured to provide an indication of a state of charge of the battery module, wherein the state of charge indicator is configured to couple to a multi-conductor connector disposed on an outer surface of the housing of the battery module, and wherein the state of charge indicator comprises a reset switch configured to be selectively transitioned between an on state and an off state; and

wherein the state of charge indicator is configured to transmit a signal to the battery management system via the multi-conductor connector of the battery module in response to a change in state of the reset switch, and wherein the battery management system is configured to transition the battery module between the operational mode and the sleep mode in response to the received signal.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the battery management system is configured to:

compare each operational parameter of the one or more operational parameters to a respective threshold; and

transition the battery module from the operational mode to the sleep mode in response to a determination that at least one operational parameter of the one or more operational parameters is greater than its respective threshold.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the battery management system comprises a memory configured to store the threshold for each operational parameter of the one or more operational parameters.

15. The system of claim 12, comprising one or more sensors electrically coupled to the battery management system, wherein each sensor is configured to generate a signal related to an operational parameter of the one or more operational parameters of the battery module, and wherein the battery management system comprises a processor configured to determine the one or more operational parameters of the battery module based at least in part upon the signals generated by the one or more sensors.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the battery management system is configured to:

transition the battery module from the operational mode to the sleep mode in response to the received signal if the battery module is in the operational mode; and

transition the battery module from the sleep mode to the operational mode in response to the received signal if the battery module is in the sleep mode.

17. A system, comprising:

a battery module comprising a battery management system disposed in a housing of the battery module; and

a state of charge indicator configured to couple to the battery module, wherein the state of charge indicator comprises a manually operated switch disposed on a housing of the state of charge indicator, wherein the switch is configured to transition between an on state and an off state, and wherein the state of charge indicator is configured to transmit a signal to the battery management system in response to a change in state of the switch; and

wherein the battery management system is configured to transition the battery module between an operational mode and a sleep mode in response to the received signal, wherein the battery module comprises an internal switch, and wherein the battery management system is configured to;

open the internal switch in response to the received signal if the internal switch is closed; and

close the internal switch in response to the received signal if the internal switch is opened.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the battery management system is configured to:

monitor an operational parameter of the battery module;

compare the operational parameter to a threshold; and

transition the battery module from the operational mode to the sleep mode in response to a determination that the operational parameter violates the threshold.