Secondary cell is with protective circuit and have the battery pack of this secondary cell with protective circuit
Technical field
The secondary cell that the present invention relates to prevent to flow through excessive discharging current or excessive charging current in secondary cell is with protective circuit and have the battery pack of this secondary cell with protective circuit.
Background technology
In recent years, along with the miniaturization of portable terminal and multifunction etc., the needs of the lithium rechargeable battery that the discharge capacity of unit volume is big increase.In described secondary cell, when flowing through excessive discharging current or excessive charging current, electrolyte decomposition and produce heat or gas, the result has the deterioration that battery performance takes place or the shortcomings such as damage of battery.
For it is tackled, for example consider to be connected (with reference to Fig. 2 of patent documentation 1) with secondary cell by the protective circuit that the PTC element constitutes.By this protective circuit, when in secondary cell, flowing through excessive electric current, cut off electric current by PTC element self-heating, can avoid the deterioration of secondary cell or damage etc.
In the protective circuit shown in Figure 2 of patent documentation 1, discharging current all flows through identical PTC element with charging current.In addition, just often, general discharging current is bigger than charging current.Therefore, the PTC element select to have can with the element of the permission current value (discharging current threshold) of the size of just often the corresponding degree of discharging current.But, when having selected to allow the big PTC element of current value, even because fault of charging device etc. and in secondary cell, flow through excessive charging current, when not reaching the permission current value of this PTC element, the PTC element might not worked yet.
In the protective circuit shown in Figure 1 of patent documentation 1; with respect to secondary cell; be connected in series the 1st diode and PTC element; and, dispose 2nd diode different with the 1st diode with respect to the series circuit parallel connection of PTC element and the 1st diode and in order to bring into play with the rectified action of the 1st diode reverse.According to this form, discharging current flows through the 2nd reverse diode, and on the other hand, charging current flows through described series circuit.Therefore, by the little PTC element of permission current value (charging current threshold value) selected and the charging current coupling, when in secondary cell, flowing through excessive charging current, can make the work of PTC element cut off charging current rightly.The protective circuit that fail safe in the time of can obtaining overcharging thus is good.
[patent documentation 1] spy opens 2004-152580 communique (Fig. 1, Fig. 2)
Summary of the invention
To the charging device of secondary cell charge,, for example when the cell voltage with secondary cell is set at 3.7V, export the voltage about 4.2V in order to carry out suitable charging.But, in the form of patent documentation 1, charging current flows into secondary cell via diode, therefore, the charging voltage that might can't avoid being applied on the secondary cell reduces with the amount (about 0.3V) of the forward drop of this diode, can't suitably charge to secondary cell.In addition, in patent documentation 1, discharging current does not flow through PTC element ground and flows into secondary cell, therefore when flowing through excessive discharging current, can't cut off this discharging current rightly, possible deterioration of secondary cell or damage etc.
The present invention proposes with the problem that protective circuit had in order to solve above secondary cell; its purpose is; a kind of secondary cell protective circuit that can prevent to flow through excessive discharging current or excessive charging current reliably and can apply suitable charging voltage in secondary cell on secondary cell is provided, and has the battery pack of this secondary cell with protective circuit.
The present invention has as shown in Figure 1: when the discharging current that flows through secondary cell 2 becomes bigger than predefined discharging current threshold, cut off the discharge protection component 3 of discharging current; And when the charging current that flows through secondary cell 2 becomes bigger than predefined charging current threshold value, cut off the charging protection component 5 of described charging current.Discharge is connected in series with respect to this secondary cell 2 with protection component 5 with protection component 3 and charging, and being connected in parallel with the flow direction of discharging current on charging with protection component 5 is the rectifier cell 6 of forward.Must be with the charging current threshold setting less than described discharging current threshold.
Particularly, can establish rectifier cell 6 is Schottky barrier diodes.
Discharge can be the PTC element with protection component 3 and charging with protection component 5.
On secondary cell 2, can connect current/voltage control circuit 7, this current/voltage control circuit 7, when discharge, cut off discharging current with the current value littler than discharging current threshold, when charging, cut off charging current with the current value littler than charging current, when the electric voltage exception of secondary cell 2, cut off discharging current or charging current.
Secondary cell 2 can constitute by series connection and/or a plurality of batteries that are connected in parallel.
And the present invention has the battery pack of the secondary cell of formation as above-mentioned with protective circuit 1.
With in the protective circuit, when charging, on rectifier cell 6, apply reverse voltage by charging voltage, so rectifier cell ends at secondary cell of the present invention.Therefore, charging current does not flow through rectifier cell 6, and flows through discharge protection component 3 and charging protection component 5.Therefore, unlike existing form (with reference to Fig. 1 of patent documentation 1), charging voltage is applied on the secondary cell 2 under the state of the degree of the forward voltage of the rectifier cell 6 that descended, can supply with suitable charging voltage to secondary cell 2, this secondary cell 2 be charged with suitable charge condition.In addition, when charging device breaks down etc., when flowing through than charging with the big charging current of the charging current threshold value of protection component 5, charging is cut off charging currents with protection component 5, and therefore, secondary cell 2 can deterioration or damage etc. owing to excessive charging current yet.
In addition, in when discharge, the cell voltage of secondary cell 2 is applied on the rectifier cell 6 rectifier cell 6 conductings as forward voltage via load etc.Therefore, discharging current flows through rectifier cell 6, and flows through charging hardly with protection component 5, even flow through protective circuit 1 than charging with the big discharging current of the charging current threshold value of protection component 5, charging is not worked with protection component 5 yet.Therefore, although be normal discharge, described discharging current than charging with the charging current threshold value of protection component 5 when big, charging is not also worked with protection component 5, can suitably supply with big discharging current from 2 pairs of loads of secondary cell.When flowing through than discharge with the big discharging current of the discharging current threshold of protection component 3, therefore discharge can prevent to flow through excessive discharging current with protection component 3 work, prevents the damage of secondary cell 2 etc.
When rectifier cell 6 is Schottky barrier diode, can suppress the forward voltage of discharge voltage, and the forward voltage of this Schottky barrier diode that descends is than the little amount of forward voltage of general PN junction type diode owing to rectifier cell 6.
When discharge is the PTC element with protection component 3 and charging with protection component 5, and discharges with protection component 3 by formation such as fuses and charge and compare, easy miniaturization with the situation of protection component 5.Therefore, discharge can be configured in narrow and small being provided with in the space with protection component 3 and charging with protection component 5.This means the densification of all structures that can realize protective circuit, the result helps the design freedom of configuration etc. of protective circuit and the raising of design freedom with equipment (battery pack etc.) of this protective circuit.
When on secondary cell 2, connecting current/voltage control circuit 7; can prevent from secondary cell 2, to flow through excessive discharging current or excessive charging current doubly by current/voltage control circuit 7 and protective circuit 1, can prevent to flow through excessive discharging current or excessive charging current more reliably and damage of secondary cell 2 etc. takes place.In addition,, when the electric voltage exception of secondary cell 2, cut off discharging current or charging current, can prevent that also electric voltage exception owing to secondary cell 2 from producing the damage of secondary cell 2 etc. by current/voltage control circuit 7.
When by series connection and/or a plurality of batteries that are connected in parallel when constituting secondary cell 2, even these a plurality of batteries also can prevent to flow through excessive discharging current or excessive charging current reliably and the damage etc. of each battery takes place.
By being equipped with the secondary cell that constitutes as mentioned above with protective circuit 1 in battery pack, the battery pack of the damage etc. of the secondary cell 2 that causes owing to excessive charging current or excessive charging current etc. can not taken place.That is, can obtain the high battery pack of reliability.
Description of drawings
Fig. 1 is the circuit diagram of secondary cell of the present invention with protective circuit.
Fig. 2 is the chart that is used to illustrate suitable charged state.
Fig. 3 is the chart of the charging current when being used for specification exception.
Symbol description
1: the secondary cell protective circuit; 2: secondary cell; 3: discharge PTC element; 5: charging PTC element; 6: Schottky barrier diode; 7: the current/voltage control circuit
Embodiment
Fig. 1 represents the execution mode of secondary cell of the present invention with protective circuit.Secondary cell has with protective circuit (below, note is made protective circuit simply) 1: when the discharging current that flows through secondary cell 2 became bigger than predefined discharging current threshold, the discharge of cutting off discharging current was with PTC element (discharge protection component) 3; When the charging current that flows through secondary cell 2 becomes bigger than predefined charging current threshold value, cut off the charging PTC element (charging protection component) 5 of charging current.Discharge is connected in series with respect to secondary cell 2 with PTC element 5 with PTC element 3 and charging, and being connected in parallel with the flow direction of discharging current on charging with PTC element 5 is the Schottky barrier diode (rectifier cell) 6 of forward.On the series circuit of forming by protective circuit 1 and secondary cell 2, connected current/voltage control circuit 7.Secondary cell 2 is equivalent to lithium rechargeable battery etc., and the cell voltage of this secondary cell 2 (nominal voltage) is 3.7V.
Discharge is generated heat according to the electric current that flows through respectively with PTC element 5 with PTC element 3 and charging, discharge is with PTC element 3, when flowing through than the big electric current of described discharging current threshold, because the heating corresponding with this electric current, resistance value sharply increases, and cuts off electric current (tripping operation (trip)).Similarly, charging is with PTC element 5, and when flowing through than the big electric current of described charging current threshold value, because the heating corresponding with this electric current, resistance value sharply increases, and cuts off electric current (tripping operation).
Charging for example is set to 1A with the charging current threshold value (tripping current value) of PTC element 5, sets forr a short time with the discharging current threshold (for example 6A) of PTC element 3 than discharge.Discharge has extremely low resistance value below 0.03 Ω with PTC element 3 under the normal condition of not tripping operation, charge with PTC element 5 in the lower resistance value that has under the described normal condition below 0.3 Ω.Therefore, the voltage drop in the PTC element under the normal condition 3,5 becomes minimum.The voltage drop of the forward of Schottky barrier diode 6, be that (0.2~0.4V), (0.5~0.7V) is little for the forward voltage than general PN junction type diode of becoming for positive direction voltage.
Current/voltage control circuit 7 when discharge, cuts off discharging current with the setting discharge current value littler than discharging current threshold, when charging, cuts off charging current with the setting charging current value littler than charging current threshold value.Promptly, it is discharge condition or charged state that current/voltage control circuit 7 is differentiated this secondary cell 2 according to the cell voltage of secondary cell 2, when discharge current value surpasses described setting discharge current value or charging current value work when surpassing described setting charging current value, cut off electric current.Thus, it is excessive that current/voltage control circuit 7 prevented to flow through the discharging current or the charging current of secondary cell 2 before protective circuit 1.And when owing to the fault of current/voltage control circuit 7 etc. this current/voltage control circuit 7 not being worked, electric current is cut off in protective circuit 1 work.
In addition, current/voltage control circuit 7 when the electric voltage exception of secondary cell 2, has for example applied excessive charging voltage, under the situation of cell voltage excessive descent, cut off discharging current or charging current when discharge when charging.In addition, current/voltage control circuit 7 under non operating state, becomes extremely low for the resistance value of discharging current and charging current.
Protective circuit 1 and current/voltage control circuit 7; under the state on the outer surface that is configured in secondary cell 2; cast (mold) or be capped by resin, formed thus secondary cell 2, protective circuit 1 and current/voltage control circuit 7 incorporate battery pack by outside cover plate (cover).In battery pack, be used for the positive terminal 10 and the negative terminal 11 of the outer portable terminal even load of outer charging device of connection layout or figure, expose by the window that on described resin cast or outside cover plate, forms.Positive terminal 10 links to each other with the positive pole of secondary cell 2, and negative terminal 11 links to each other with the negative pole of secondary cell 2 via current/voltage control circuit 7 and protective circuit 1.
The action of protective circuit 1 then, is described.In addition, for convenience of explanation, suppose that current/voltage control circuit 7 do not work.
At first, when the situation that secondary cell 2 is charged is described,, apply charging voltage 10,11 of two-terminal by on positive terminal 10 and negative terminal 11, connecting charging device.By this charging voltage, on the Schottky barrier diode 6 of protective circuit 1, oppositely apply voltage, Schottky barrier diode 6 ends.Thus, charging current is used the sequential flow mistake of PTC element 3 with PTC element 5 and discharge according to secondary cell 2, charging.In addition, charging device begins charging with the constant current (charging current I) of 190mA for example as shown in Figure 2, when beginning through charging interval of 4 hours from charging, charges with the constant voltage (charging voltage V) of 4.2V.
Yet, for example because the fault of charging device and when 10,11 of two-terminal apply excessive voltage, as shown in Figure 3, for example when the charging t0 zero hour flow through than charging with the big charging current I of the charging current threshold value I0 of PTC element 5, charging was worked with PTC element 5 and is cut off charging current I.Thus, prevent that excessive charging current from flowing through secondary cell 2 and damage secondary cell 2 etc.In addition, because discharge is bigger with the charging current threshold value I0 of PTC element 5 than charging with the discharging current threshold of PTC element 3, therefore discharge is not worked with PTC element 3.
Then, when the situation that secondary cell 2 is discharged is described,, on Schottky barrier diode 6, apply voltage, Schottky barrier diode 6 conductings by on positive terminal 10 and negative terminal 11, connecting load forward.Thus, discharging current flows with the order of PTC element 3 and Schottky barrier diode 6 according to secondary cell 2, load, discharge, flows through charging PTC element 5 hardly.Promptly, on charging, apply the voltage suitable with the forward voltage of Schottky barrier diode 6 with PTC element 5, flow through the electric current corresponding, but, therefore in charging, flow through electric current hardly with PTC element 5 because the forward voltage of Schottky barrier diode 6 is less with this voltage.
And for example in be short-circuited accident and flow through excessive discharging current in PTC element 3 in discharge of load-side, with the discharging current threshold of PTC element 3 when big, work with PTC element 3 and cut off discharging current by discharge than discharge for this discharging current.Thus, prevent that excessive discharging current from flowing through secondary cell 2 and damage secondary cell 2 etc.In addition, as previously mentioned, flow through discharging current hardly in charging with PTC element 5, therefore charging is not worked with PTC element 5.
As mentioned above, according to protective circuit 1 of the present invention, Schottky barrier diode 6 ends when charging, and charging current flows through charging with PTC element 5 and discharge PTC element 3, does not flow through Schottky barrier diode 6.That is, prevent that charging voltage under the state of the amount of the forward voltage of the Schottky barrier diode 6 that descended, is applied on the secondary cell 2.Thereby, on secondary cell 2, apply suitable charging voltage, suitably this secondary cell 2 is charged.And, even current/voltage control circuit 7 is because fault etc. and not working, when flowing through than charging with the big charging current of the charging current threshold value of PTC element 5, charging is worked reliably with PTC element 5, prevents to take place owing to excessive charging current the damage etc. of secondary cell 2 reliably.
Schottky barrier diode 6 conductings when discharge, discharging current flows through charging PTC element 5 hardly, even therefore flow through in protective circuit 1 than the charging current threshold value big discharging current of charging with PTC element 5, charging is not worked with PTC element 5 yet.Therefore, although be normal discharge, even discharging current than charging with the tripping current value of PTC element 5 when big, charging is not worked with PTC element 5 yet.Therefore, can suitably supply with bigger discharging current to load from secondary cell 2.And, even current/voltage control circuit 7 is because fault etc. and not working, when flowing through than discharge with the big discharging current of the discharging current threshold of PTC element 3, discharge is with PTC element 3 also action reliably, prevents owing to flowing through the damage etc. that excessive discharging current causes secondary cell 2.
As low more good more, also can replace Schottky barrier diode and use point-contact type germanium diode etc. with rectifier cell 6 forward voltages that are connected in parallel with PTC element 5 of charging.Discharge PTC element 3 and charging PTC element 5, temperature descends after cutting off discharging current or charging current, can flow through discharging current or charging current once more by self-recovery thus, but also can replace discharge with PTC element 3 or charging with PTC element 5, and the permanent fuse that cuts off this electric current etc. when using electric current more than flowing through the setting electric current that sets.
Secondary cell 2 can constitute by series connection and/or a plurality of batteries that are connected in parallel.