Battery pack and remaining battery power calculation method

• US 7,425,814 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2004
• Issued: 09/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Tsuchiya, Yukio, Sato, Hideyuki, Nawa, Kazuyasu
• Primary Examiner(s): Laxton; Gary L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fantu; Yalkew
• Application Number:
  US10/983,396
• Publication Number:
  US 20050189919A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,408 Days
• Field of Search: 320/132, 320/112, 320/133, 320/110
• US Class Current: 320/132
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/374 with means for correcting the measurement for temperature or ageing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4207 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

The temperature of a battery cell measured by a temperature measurement means is stored into a measured temperature history storage means for storing a history of temperature. An in-cell temperature inference means extracts a minimum temperature from the history of a predetermined time from the measured temperature history storage means, and infers the minimum temperature as a current temperature within the battery cell. A remaining power calculation means calculates remaining battery power based on the inferred temperature within the battery cell. Instead of directly using the measured temperature for the calculation of the remaining battery power, the inferred temperature within the battery cell is used, whereby even if the measured temperature rises rapidly, it is possible to prevent the phenomenon instantaneous increase of the calculated remaining battery power.

Claims

1. A battery pack capable of calculating remaining battery power according to temperature of the battery pack during use, comprising:

temperature measurement means for measuring a temperature of a battery cell;

measured temperature history storage means for storing a history of measured temperature;

temperature inference means for extracting a minimum temperature from the history within a time interval, and setting the minimum temperature as a current temperature within the battery cell; and

remaining power calculation means for calculating remaining battery power based on the set temperature within the battery cell.

2. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the time interval is determined according to time elapsed until the temperature within the battery cell reaches a temperature measured at a given instant.

3. The battery pack according to claim 1, further comprising notifying means for notifying the calculated remaining battery power amount to a connecting device.

4. A remaining power calculating method for calculating remaining battery power according to temperature of the battery pack during use, the method comprising the steps of:

measuring a temperature of a battery cell;

storing a history of measured temperature;

extracting a minimum temperature from the history within a time interval, and setting the minimum temperature as a current temperature within the battery cell; and

calculating the remaining battery power based on the set temperature within the battery cell.