BATTERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND BATTERY PACK COMPRISING THE SAME

• US 20120229288A1
• Filed: 03/12/2012
• Published: 09/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Inventors: Kim, Youngbok
• Granted Patent: US 9,372,238 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/636.17
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/16542 for batteries charge condition monitoring in G01R31/36
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3646 for indicating electrical conditions or variables, e.g. visual or audible indicators
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3835 involving only voltage measurements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery management system and a battery pack are disclosed. The battery management system determines that a battery is in a non-use state, and thereafter, detects a battery voltage of the battery. If the battery voltage is less than an over-discharge reference voltage, the system generates a warning signal.

Claims

1. A battery management system comprising:

a recognition unit configured to determine that a battery is in a non-use state if the battery is not in use for a period of time;

a detection unit configured to detect a battery voltage of the battery while the battery is in the non-use state; and

an indicating unit configured to compare the battery voltage detected by the detection unit with an over-discharge reference voltage and, if the battery voltage is less than the over-discharge reference voltage, to generate a warning signal.

2. The battery management system of claim 1, further comprising a memory unit configured to store the battery voltage and a duration of the non-use state.

3. The battery management system of claim 1, wherein the indicating unit further comprises a display configured to generate a visible indication of the warning signal.

4. The battery management system of claim 1, wherein the indicating unit further comprises a speaker configured to generate an audible indication of the warning signal.

5. The battery management system of claim 1, wherein the detection unit is configured to detect current and temperature of the battery while the battery is in the non-use state.

6. The battery management system of claim 1, wherein the recognition unit is configured to determine that a battery is in the non-use state if the battery is not connected to an external system.

7. The battery management system of claim 1, wherein the recognition unit is configured to determine that a battery is in the non-use state if the battery current is below a threshold.

8. A battery pack comprising:

a battery including at least one battery cell; and

a battery management unit configured to identify a non-use state of the battery if the battery is not used for a period of time,

wherein the battery management unit comprises;

a recognition unit configured to determine that a battery is in a non-use state if the battery is neither being charge or discharged for a period of time;

a detection unit configured to detect a battery voltage of the battery while the battery is in the non-use state; and

an indicating unit configured to compare the battery voltage detected by the detection unit with an over-discharge reference voltage and, if the battery voltage is less than the over-discharge reference voltage, to generate an over-discharge warning signal.

9. The battery pack of claim 8, further comprising a memory unit configured to store the battery voltage and a duration of the non-use state.

10. The battery pack of claim 8, wherein the indicating unit further comprises a display configured to generate a visible indication of the warning signal.

11. The battery pack of claim 8, wherein the indicating unit further comprises a speaker configured to generate an audible indication of the warning signal.

12. The battery pack of claim 8, wherein the detection unit is configured to detect current and temperature of the battery while the battery is in the non-use state.

13. The battery pack of claim 8, wherein the recognition unit is configured to determine that a battery is in the non-use state if the battery is not connected to an external system.

14. The battery pack of claim 8, wherein the recognition unit is configured to determine that a battery is in the non-use state if the battery current is below a threshold.

15. A method of protecting a battery, the method comprising:

while a battery is not in use for more than a predetermined period of time, detecting a battery voltage of the battery;

comparing the battery voltage with an over-discharge reference voltage; and

,

if the battery voltage is less than the over-discharge reference voltage, generating a warning signal.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising storing the battery voltage and a duration of non-use in a memory.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising generating a visibk indication of the warning signal.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising generating an audible indication of the warning signal.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining that a battery is not in use as a result of the battery not being connected to an external system.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining that a battery is not in use as a result of the battery current being below a threshold.