Method for monitoring a battery

• US 9,958,506 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2013
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Henrici, Fabian, Steinlechner, Siegbert
• Primary Examiner(s): QUIGLEY, KYLE ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US14/378,555
• Publication Number:
  US 20150025824A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,937 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• 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 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/482 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2010/4278 Systems for data transfer from batteries, e.g. transfer of battery parameters to a controller, data transferred between battery controller and main controller
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/10 using a centralized architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/30 using a wired architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/82 where the sensing device takes the initiative of sending data
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A method is described for monitoring a battery, and a battery and a system for carrying out the method in connection with such a battery. A number of sensors are assigned to the battery, the sensors being connected serially to one another and to a control unit via a data line; at least one of the sensors putting in each case at least one data word on the data line.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring a battery, the method comprising:

transmitting, by a first sensor of a plurality of serially connected sensors configured to monitor the battery, a first data word to at least one further sensor of the plurality of serially connected sensors via a forward channel on a first data line;

receiving, by the at least one further sensor, the first data word, forming by the at least one further sensor a data packet including the first data word and a further data word, and transmitting by the at least one further sensor the data packet to a control unit separate from the plurality of serially connected sensors; and

receiving, by the first sensor from the control unit, the data packet including the first and further data words via a reverse channel on a second data line.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the data words are linked together to form one overall data packet, and the overall data packet is sent to the control unit via the data line.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein a first data word is sent by a sensor via the data line to a next sensor, an additional data word is joined to the first data word by the next sensor, and this is carried on until one overall data packet, which includes data words of all the sensors, reaches the control unit.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a first data word is put by a sensor on the data line and this is transmitted to the control unit, and after a predetermined time period, a next sensor puts a second data word on the data line.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the control unit evaluates the overall data packet and in this context assigns individual data words to the respective sensors.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein an individual sensor is identified with respect to its mechanical location.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the data words are able to get to the sensors again via the reverse channel and are able to be overwritten in each case by the associated sensor.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a single bit is transmitted as the data word.

9. A battery, comprising:

a plurality of cells;

a plurality of sensors, which are serially connected to one another and to a control unit separate from the plurality of sensors via a forward data channel over a first data line, including a first sensor to transmit a first data word to at least one further sensor via the forward channel, and the at least one further sensor to form a data packet including the first data word and a further data word and transmit the data packet via the forward channel to the control unit; and

a reverse channel on a second data line to transmit the data packet including the first and further data words from the control unit to the first sensor.

10. The battery of claim 9, further comprising:

current rails to supply the sensors.

11. The battery of claim 9, wherein the supplying of the sensors takes place from a respective cell or from a dedicated supply line.

12. A system for monitoring a battery, comprising:

a plurality of sensors, which are serially connected to one another and to a control unit separate from the plurality of sensors via a forward data channel over a first data line, including a first sensor to transmit a first data word to at least one further sensor via the forward channel, and the at least one further sensor to form a data packet including the first data word and a further data word and transmit the data packet via the forward channel to the control unit; and

a reverse channel on a second data line to transmit the data packet including the first and further data words from the control unit to the first sensor.