Charge and discharge monitoring device for serially connected electric storage cells

• US 5,652,498 A
• Filed: 02/07/1996
• Issued: 07/29/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Micro Compact Car Smart GmbH
• Original Assignee: Micro Compact Car GmbH
• Inventors: de Santo, Antonio, Reghenzi, Paolo, Edye, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): TSO, EDWARD H
• Application Number:
  US08/598,052
• Time in Patent Office: 538 Days
• Field of Search: 320/5, 320/6, 320/15, 320/16, 320/17, 320/18, 320/39, 320/48
• US Class Current: 702/63
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/006 on road vehicles, e.g. automobiles or trucks testing of ignition installations peculiar to internal combustion engines F02P17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/379 for lead-acid batteries
• 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: H02J 7/0014 Circuits for equalisation of charge between batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 320/21 State of charge of battery

Abstract

The invention provides an electronic monitoring device for a battery which is constructed from a plurality of units. A separate measuring circuit module is provided for each unit, and a serial databus connects the respective measuring circuit modules to one another. A central data processing unit arranged outside the battery is connected to the serial databus. Data acquisition and storage electronics are thus integrated in the battery, while the electronics for evaluating the data are arranged external to the battery, and remain when the battery is changed.

Claims

1. Electronic battery monitoring device for a battery, constructed from a plurality of blocks which are physically separated from one another, said monitoring device comprising:

a separate measuring circuit module, arranged on each respective battery block, for acquiring and communicating data concerning charging and discharging of said battery block;

a serial databus which connects the measuring circuit modules to one another; and

a central digital data processing unit arranged outside the battery and connected to the serial databus, the central data processing unit and the measuring circuit modules being configured for communication via the databus; and

a central data memory element physically linked to one of the battery blocks and connected to the serial databus.

2. Electronic battery monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein said battery is a traction battery for an electric vehicle.

4. Electronic battery monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the measuring circuit modules are capacitively coupled to one another.

5. Electronic battery monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein operating current required by the measuring circuit modules is fed to them by means of the serial databus.

6. Electronic battery monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the measuring circuit modules draw operating current from respective associated battery blocks.

7. Electronic battery monitoring device according to claim 6, wherein each measuring circuit module has a controllable resistor, connected in parallel with the poles of a respectively assigned battery block, for controlling an equalizing current, whereby the respectively assigned battery block is protected against overcharging.

3. Electronic battery monitoring device for a battery constructed from a plurality of blocks which are physically separated from one another, said monitoring device comprising:

separate measuring circuit modules, one such measuring circuit module being arranged on each respective battery block, for acquiring and communicating data concerning charging and discharging of said battery block;

a serial databus which connects the measuring circuit modules to one another; and

a central data processing unit arranged outside the battery and connected to the serial databus, the central data processing unit and the measuring circuit modules being configured for communication via the databus;

wherein

all measurement data of all of said measuring circuit modules are transmitted via the serial databus in packets of measurement data, to which all the measuring circuit modules have access.