Temperature/voltage detecting unit and battery element unit

• US 6,236,216 B1
• Filed: 01/15/1999
• Issued: 05/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Arai, Yoichi, Shimoyama, Kenichi, Maemoto, Toshifumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Metjahic, Safet
• Assistant Examiner(s): KERVEROS, DEMETRIOS C
• Application Number:
  US09/231,964
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 324/434, 324/431, 324/432, 324/433, 320/144, 320/153, 320/138
• US Class Current: 324/434
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 7/203 in an oscillator circuit
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/202 using Hall-effect devices Hall elements in arrangements for measuring electrical power G01R21/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/16542 for batteries charge condition monitoring in G01R31/36
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/374 with means for correcting the measurement for temperature or ageing
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3842 combining voltage and current measurements
• 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 10/48 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 2200/10 Temperature sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/569 Constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements G01R31/364
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A temperature/voltage detecting unit has a temperature detector and a voltage detector. The temperature detector has a light electric system stabilized power supply for stabilizing a light electric system power supply voltage, a temperature resistance element provided close to a corresponding battery element, for changing its resistance value based on a change in temperature, and a voltage-to-frequency converter operating based on a voltage from the light electric system stabilized power supply, for detecting a terminal voltage of the temperature resistance element to which a constant current flows from the light electric system stabilized power supply, converting this value into frequency information and outputting the frequency information. The voltage detector has a heavy electric system stabilized power supply for stabilizing a voltage supplied from the corresponding battery element, a voltage supply control section for inputting a signal to show whether or not the light electric system power supply voltage is being applied to the temperature detector, and, when this voltage is being supplied, for applying a voltage from the corresponding battery element to the heavy electric system stabilized power supply, and a voltage-to-frequency converter operating based on a voltage from the light electric system stabilized power supply, for detecting a terminal voltage of the corresponding battery element, converting this value into frequency information and outputting the frequency information.

Claims

1. A temperature and voltage detecting unit for detecting the temperature and voltage of each of a plurality of battery elements connected in series that constitute a heavy electric system power supply for an electric car, the temperature and voltage detecting unit comprising:

a temperature detector for detecting a temperature of a corresponding battery element when a voltage from a light electric system power supply is being applied; and

a voltage detector for inputting a signal to show whether or not the voltage from the light electric system power supply is being applied to the temperature detector, and, only when the voltage from the light electric system power supply is being applied, for detecting a terminal voltage of the corresponding battery element in a state electrically insulated from the signal.

2. The temperature and voltage detecting unit according to claim 1, wherein the temperature detector comprises:

a light electric system stabilized power supply for stabilizing the light electric system power supply voltage;

a temperature resistance element provided close to a corresponding battery element, for changing a resistance value thereof based on a change in the temperature of the battery element; and

a resistance terminal voltage detector operating based on a voltage from the light electric system stabilized power supply, for detecting a terminal voltage of the temperature resistance element to which a constant current flows from the light electric system stabilized power supply.

3. The temperature and voltage detecting unit according to claim 2, wherein the temperature detector further comprises a voltage-to-frequency converter for converting a value of the terminal voltage detected by the resistance terminal voltage detector into frequency information and outputting the frequency information.

4. The temperature and voltage detecting unit according to claim 1, wherein the voltage detector comprises:

a heavy electric system stabilized power supply for stabilizing a voltage supplied from a corresponding battery element;

a voltage supply control section for inputting a signal to show whether or not the light electric system power supply voltage is being applied to the temperature detector, and, when the light electric system power supply voltage is being supplied, for applying the voltage from the corresponding battery element to the heavy electric system stabilized power supply; and

a battery element terminal voltage detector operating based on a voltage from the light electric system stabilized power supply, for detecting the terminal voltage of the corresponding battery element.

5. The temperature and voltage detecting unit according to claim 4, wherein the voltage detector further comprises a voltage-to-frequency converter for converting a value of the terminal voltage detected by the battery element terminal voltage detector into frequency information and outputting the frequency information.

6. The temperature and voltage detecting unit according to claim 4, wherein the voltage supply control section comprises:

a light-emitting diode for inputting a signal to show whether or not the light electric system power supply voltage is being applied to the temperature detector, and for emitting light or non-emitting light depending on whether or not the light electric system power supply voltage is being applied;

a photo-transistor for being turned on/off according to light emission/non-light emission of the light-emitting diode;

and a transistor for applying the voltage from the corresponding battery element to the heavy electric system stabilized power supply according to on/off of the phototransistor.

7. A battery element unit, comprising:

the temperature and voltage detecting unit according to claim 1; and

a battery element body having a groove for accommodating the temperature and voltage detecting unit on an external wall thereof.

8. A battery element unit, comprising:

the temperature and voltage detecting unit according to claim 2; and

a battery element body having a groove for accommodating the temperature and voltage detecting unit on an external wall thereof.

9. A battery element unit, comprising:

the temperature and voltage detecting unit according to claim 4; and

a battery element body having a groove for accommodating the temperature and voltage detecting unit on an external wall thereof.