Storage system and output controller

• US 9,698,449 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2011
• Issued: 07/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co Limited
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kumagai, Eiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Douyette, Kenneth
• Application Number:
  US13/879,780
• Publication Number:
  US 20130202930A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,092 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/19 Switching between serial connection and parallel connection of battery modules
• 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 10/0525 Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4207 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 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0014 Circuits for equalisation of charge between batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0024 Parallel/serial switching of connection of batteries to charge or load circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0031 using battery or load disconnect circuits H02J9/002 takes precedence
• 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

Abstract

A connection mode of a plurality of arbitrarily connected storage units is detected and the plurality of storage units is controlled according to the detected connection mode.

Six storage modules MOD1 to MOD6 are connected in series. A total voltage V(Total) and individual output voltages V(1) to V(6) of respective storage modules are supplied to an output controller ICNT. A controller PR of the output controller ICNT determines the connection mode depending on whether a determination equation is satisfied. When the number of storage modules is set to N, the total output voltage is set to V(Total), the individual output voltages are set to V(1), V(2), . . . , and V(N), and the number of parallels of the connection mode is set to M, (determination equation: V(1)=V(2)= . . . =V(N)=(1/M)×V(Total)) is used. When the determination equation is satisfied, (N/M) parallel M series is determined.

Claims

1. A storage system, comprising:

a plurality of storage units separated from each other and connected to each other in series and/or in parallel; and

an output controller programmed to;

receive information of a total output voltage of the plurality of storage units, wherein the output controller is connected to the plurality of storage units through a communication path;

receive information of individual output voltages of each of the plurality of storage units as a result of communication through the communication path;

where a number of the plurality of storage units is set to N, the total output voltage is set to V(Total), the individual output voltages are set to V(1), V(2), . . . , and V(N), and a number of series connections of a connection mode is set to M, determine whether a determination equation is satisfied;

determine the connection mode as (N/M) parallel M series in an event the determination equation is satisfied, wherein the determination equation is represented by;

V(1)=V(2)= . . . =V(N)=(1/M)×

V(Total); and

execute a balance operation on the plurality of storage units based on the determined connection mode of the plurality of storage units.

2. The storage system according to claim 1, wherein the output controller is further programmed to control the plurality of storage units based on the determined connection mode of the plurality of storage units.

3. The storage system according to claim 1, wherein

each of the plurality of storage units includes a plurality of storage devices in a storage case, and

an external electrode terminal connected to an electrode terminal of each of the plurality of the storage devices and a communication terminal connected to a storage unit controller to manage the plurality of storage devices are provided on the storage case.

4. The storage system according to claim 1, wherein the output controller is further programmed to display at least one of (sum of voltage values)/M and (sum of current values)/(N/M) on a display device.

5. The storage system according to claim 1, wherein the output controller is further programmed to:

set a value of M to 1 and determine whether the determination equation is satisfied while the value of M is sequentially incremented by 1 until (M=N) is satisfied in an event the determination equation unsatisfied, and

execute error handling in an event (M>

N) is satisfied.

6. The storage system according to claim 2, wherein based on a determination of a series connection in the connection mode of the plurality of storage units, the output controller is further programmed to control the plurality of storage units so as to make output voltages in the series connection substantially the same based on the balance operation.

7. The storage system according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of storage units is configured to communicate with one or more storage units among the plurality of storage units through photo couplers.

8. The storage system according to claim 1, wherein the output controller is further programmed to display a current value in an event M=1 is satisfied, and display a voltage value in an event M≠

1.

9. The storage system according to claim 1, wherein the output controller is programmed to execute the balance operation to determine whether a difference in the individual output voltages between the plurality of storage units is greater than a threshold, and to make the individual output voltages the same.

10. The storage system according to claim 9, wherein the output controller is further programmed to cause one or more of the plurality of storage units to be discharged so as to make the individual output voltages of the plurality of storage units same.

11. An output controller connected to a plurality of storage units separated from each other and connected to each other in series and/or in parallel, wherein information of a total output voltage of the plurality of storage units is configured to be supplied to the output controller, wherein

the output controller is connected to the plurality of storage units through a communication path, information of individual output voltages of the plurality of storage units is configured to be input to the output controller as a result of communication through the communication path, and

the output controller is programmed to:

determine whether a determination equation is satisfied, wherein a number of the plurality of storage units is set to N, the total output voltage is set to V(Total), the individual output voltages are set to V(1), V(2), . . . , and V(N), and a number of series connections of a connection mode is set to M; and

determine the connection mode as (N/M) parallel M series in an event the determination equation is satisfied, wherein the determination equation is represented by;

V(1)=V(2)= . . . =V(N)=(1/M)×

V(Total); and

execute a balance operation on the plurality of storage units based on the determined connection mode of the plurality of storage units.

12. The output controller according to claim 11, wherein the output controller is further programmed to control the plurality of storage units based on the determined connection mode of the plurality of storage units.

13. The output controller according to claim 11, wherein the output controller is further programmed to display a voltage value of (V(Total)/M) on a display device.

14. A storage system, comprising:

a plurality of storage units separated from each other and connected to each other in series and/or in parallel; and

an output controller programmed to;

receive information of a total output voltage of the plurality of storage units, wherein the output controller is connected to the plurality of storage units through a communication path;

receive information of individual output voltages of the plurality of storage units as a result of communication through the communication path;

determine whether a determination equation is satisfied, wherein a number of the plurality of storage units is set to N, the total output voltage is set to V(Total), the individual output voltages are set to V(1), V(2), . . . , and V(N), and a number of series connections of a connection mode is set to M; and

determine the connection mode as (N/M) parallel M series in an event the determination equation is satisfied, wherein the determination equation is represented by;

V(1)=V(2)= . . . =V(N)=(1/M)×

V(Total); and

control a charge or discharge of one or more of the plurality of storage units based on the determined connection mode of the plurality of storage units.