CN111751736A

CN111751736A - Charge/discharge test device, recording medium, and charge/discharge test method

Info

Publication number: CN111751736A
Application number: CN202010179239.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 笹部尚孝; 栗谷聡一
Original assignee: Espec Corp
Current assignee: Espec Corp
Priority date: 2019-03-27
Filing date: 2020-03-13
Publication date: 2020-10-09
Anticipated expiration: 2040-03-13
Also published as: JP2020161386A; KR102650804B1; KR20200115146A; JP7116701B2

Abstract

The invention provides a charge and discharge test device, a recording medium and a charge and discharge test method. The charge and discharge test device includes: a receiving unit for receiving information on a plurality of test schedules; a test execution unit for performing charging and discharging of the battery; a detection unit that detects a state of the battery; and a changing unit that causes the test execution unit to start charging and discharging of the battery in a first test schedule of the plurality of test schedules, and causes the test execution unit to perform charging and discharging of the battery in a second test schedule of the plurality of test schedules instead of the first test schedule if a state of the battery detected by the detecting unit satisfies a predetermined change condition during charging and discharging of the battery in the first test schedule. Accordingly, the charge and discharge test of the battery can be performed in a plurality of charge and discharge schedules.

Description

Charge/discharge test device, recording medium, and charge/discharge test method

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a charge/discharge test apparatus, a recording medium, and a charge/discharge test method for performing a charge/discharge test of a battery.

Background

Conventionally, a technique is known in which an increase in internal pressure due to internal short-circuiting or the like of a secondary battery is detected from a change in shape of the secondary battery during charging and discharging, and an abnormal state of the secondary battery is detected.

As such a technique, for example, japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2002-289265 discloses a technique of detecting a pressure in an inner space of a secondary battery or a strain in a container of the secondary battery, and determining that an abnormality has occurred in the secondary battery when the pressure or the strain exceeding a reference value is detected. Further, japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2002-289265 discloses that when it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the secondary battery, a safety operation such as an alarm is issued, a circuit for shutting off the secondary battery is interrupted, or a fire is started by a fire extinguisher.

However, the conventional technology merely stops charging and discharging by issuing an alarm or the like when an abnormality occurs during charging and discharging, and is not a technology for testing what behavior a secondary battery shows in a plurality of charging and discharging schedules.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a charge/discharge test device, a recording medium, and a charge/discharge test method capable of performing a charge/discharge test of a battery in a plurality of charge/discharge schedules.

A charge/discharge test apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes: a receiving unit configured to receive information on a plurality of test schedules; a test execution unit that performs charging and discharging of the battery; a detection unit that detects a state of the battery; and a changing unit configured to cause the test execution unit to start charging and discharging of the battery in a first test schedule of the plurality of test schedules, and to cause the test execution unit to perform charging and discharging of the battery in a second test schedule of the plurality of test schedules instead of the first test schedule if a state of the battery detected by the detecting unit satisfies a predetermined changing condition during the charging and discharging of the battery in the first test schedule.

A recording medium according to an aspect of the present invention is a computer-readable non-transitory recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to control a charge/discharge test apparatus including a test execution unit configured to perform charge/discharge of a battery and a detection unit configured to detect a state of the battery, the program causing the computer to execute a process of causing the charge/discharge test apparatus to operate as follows: accepting information relating to a first test schedule and information relating to a second test schedule; performing, by the test execution unit, first charge and discharge of the battery in the first test schedule; changing the first test schedule to the second test schedule if the state of the battery detected by the detection unit satisfies a predetermined change condition during the first charge/discharge process; the battery is charged and discharged by the test execution unit in the second test schedule.

A charge/discharge test method according to an aspect of the present invention is a charge/discharge test method executed by a computer controlling a charge/discharge test apparatus including a test execution unit configured to perform charge/discharge of a battery and a detection unit configured to detect a state of the battery, the computer executing: accepting information relating to a first test schedule and information relating to a second test schedule; performing, by the test execution unit, first charge and discharge of the battery in the first test schedule; changing the first test schedule to the second test schedule if the state of the battery detected by the detection unit satisfies a predetermined change condition during the first charge/discharge process; the battery is charged and discharged by the test execution unit in the second test schedule.

In addition, a charge/discharge test apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention includes: a receiving unit configured to receive information on a plurality of test schedules; a test execution unit that performs charging and discharging of the battery; a detection unit that detects a state of the battery; and a changing unit configured to cause the test execution unit to start charging and discharging of the battery in a first test schedule of the plurality of test schedules, wherein in a process of charging and discharging the battery in the first test schedule, if the state of the battery detected by the detecting unit satisfies a predetermined stop condition, the test execution unit is configured to stop charging and discharging of the battery in the first test schedule, and when the charging and discharging of the battery are stopped, the test execution unit is configured to cause the test execution unit to perform the charging and discharging of the battery in a second test schedule of the plurality of test schedules instead of the first test schedule if the state of the battery detected by the detecting unit satisfies the predetermined change condition.

A recording medium according to another aspect of the present invention is a computer-readable non-transitory recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to control a charge/discharge test apparatus including a test execution unit configured to perform charge/discharge of a battery and a detection unit configured to detect a state of the battery, the program causing the computer to execute a process of causing the charge/discharge test apparatus to operate as follows: accepting information relating to a first test schedule and information relating to a second test schedule; performing, by the test execution unit, first charge and discharge of the battery in the first test schedule; stopping the first charge and discharge if the state of the battery detected by the detection unit satisfies a predetermined stop condition during the first charge and discharge; changing the first test schedule to the second test schedule if the state of the battery detected by the detection unit satisfies a predetermined change condition while the first charge and discharge is stopped; the battery is charged and discharged by the test execution unit in the second test schedule.

A charge/discharge test method according to another aspect of the present invention is a charge/discharge test method executed by a computer controlling a charge/discharge test apparatus including a test execution unit configured to perform charge/discharge of a battery and a detection unit configured to detect a state of the battery, the computer executing: accepting information relating to a first test schedule and information relating to a second test schedule; performing, by the test execution unit, first charge and discharge of the battery in the first test schedule; stopping the first charge and discharge if the state of the battery detected by the detection unit satisfies a predetermined stop condition during the first charge and discharge; changing the first test schedule to the second test schedule if the state of the battery detected by the detection unit satisfies a predetermined change condition while the first charge and discharge is stopped; the battery is charged and discharged by the test execution unit in the second test schedule.

According to the charge/discharge test apparatus, the recording medium, and the charge/discharge test method, the charge/discharge test of the battery can be performed in a plurality of charge/discharge schedules.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of a charge/discharge test apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the test execution instruction table.

Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the charge/discharge test apparatus.

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in the storage unit during the charge/discharge test.

Fig. 5(a) is a graph showing an example of a value indicating a change in shape of the secondary battery detected during the charge/discharge test of the secondary battery shown in fig. 5(B), and fig. 5(B) is a graph showing an example of the charge/discharge amount of the battery during the charge/discharge test of the secondary battery.

Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a test execution instruction table in the second embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the charge and discharge test apparatus according to the second embodiment.

Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the charge and discharge test apparatus according to the modified embodiment.

Detailed Description

(first embodiment)

Hereinafter, a charge/discharge test apparatus for performing a test of charge/discharge characteristics of a secondary battery will be described as an embodiment of the charge/discharge test apparatus according to the present invention.

(Structure of Charge/discharge test device 1)

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of a charge/discharge test apparatus 1. As shown in fig. 1, the charge/discharge test device 1 includes a test material tank 70 and a device main body 100.

The test cell tank 70 accommodates a test target secondary battery L. Specifically, the sample tank 70 is provided with a support 71 and a detection unit 60. The support 71 fixes the secondary battery L (battery) to be tested by restraining the secondary battery L with a predetermined pressure. The sample tank 70 includes an unillustrated open/close door and an unillustrated air conditioner that adjusts the air temperature in the sample tank 70. The opening/closing door and the air conditioner operate under the control of a control unit 10 described later.

The detection unit 60 detects the state of the secondary battery L. The state of the secondary battery L includes a change in shape of the secondary battery L, the internal pressure of the secondary battery L, and the surface temperature of the secondary battery L. Specifically, the detection unit 60 includes a shape sensor 61, a load cell 62, and a temperature sensor 63. The detection unit 60 may not include all of the shape sensor 61, the load cell 62, and the temperature sensor 63, and may include at least one of them.

The shape sensor 61 detects a change in the shape of the secondary battery L. The shape sensor 61 includes a detection pin 611 that can extend and contract with respect to the main body in the direction of the double-headed arrow in fig. 1. The sensing pin 611 is forced in a direction toward its distal end. The shape sensor 61 is provided after the secondary battery L to be tested is restrained by the support 71, with the distal end of the detection pin 611 being in contact with the surface of the secondary battery L.

For example, when the secondary battery L swells due to being charged after the shape sensor 61 starts detecting the change in shape of the secondary battery L, the detection pin 611 is pushed up by the surface of the secondary battery L. Accordingly, the detection pin 611 moves (contracts) upward in the direction of the double-headed arrow in fig. 1 in accordance with the amount of expansion of the secondary battery L. Thereafter, when the discharge of the secondary battery L is started and the secondary battery L contracts, the detection needle 611 is biased in the direction toward the distal end thereof. Accordingly, the detection pin 611 moves (extends) downward in the direction of the double-headed arrow in fig. 1 in accordance with the amount of shrinkage of the secondary battery L.

Thus, the shape sensor 61 detects the amount of movement of the detection pin 611 from the position at the time of starting the detection of the shape change of the secondary battery L due to the shape change of the secondary battery L as the value T indicating the shape change of the secondary battery L. Specifically, the shape sensor 61 outputs a detection signal, which indicates that the amount of movement of the detection pin 611 to move upward from the position at the time when the detection of the shape change of the secondary battery L is started, is + (plus), to the control unit 10 described later. On the other hand, the shape sensor 61 outputs a detection signal, which indicates that the movement amount of the detection pin 611 moving downward from the position at the time of starting the detection of the shape change of the secondary battery L is negative (negative), to the control unit 10 described later.

The shape sensor 61 is not limited to this, and may output a detection signal indicating a movement amount of a positive or negative polarity opposite to that described above. The shape sensor 61 may be configured by using a distance measuring sensor for measuring a distance from the surface of the secondary battery L. In this case, the distance measuring sensor may output a detection signal indicating the distance to the control unit 10 as a detection signal indicating the shape of the secondary battery L. In this case, the control unit 10 may use a result of subtracting the distance indicated by the detection signal input from the distance measuring sensor from the distance indicated by the detection signal input when the detection by the distance measuring sensor starts, as the value T indicating the change in shape of the secondary battery L.

The load cell 62 detects the internal pressure of the secondary battery L. The load cell 62 is attached to the support 71 so that a pressure detection surface faces the surface of the secondary battery L. The load cell 62 is restrained by the support body 71 via the secondary battery L, and the detection surface is brought into contact with the surface of the secondary battery L, thereby measuring the pressure applied to the detection surface. The load cell 62 detects a measurement value of the pressure applied to the detection surface as a value P representing the internal pressure of the secondary battery L.

For example, after the start of the test, the internal pressure of the secondary battery L during charging becomes high, and the secondary battery L swells as compared with before the start of the test. At this time, the force with which the support 71 restrains the secondary battery L becomes high, and the pressure applied to the detection surface of the load cell 62 increases. As a result, the load cell 62 outputs a detection signal indicating a measurement value higher than the pressure before the start of the test to the control unit 10 described later. After the charging of the secondary battery L is completed, the discharging of the secondary battery L is started. Accordingly, the internal pressure of the secondary battery L is lower than the pressure at the end of charging, and the secondary battery L contracts as compared to the time at the end of charging. At this time, the force with which the support 71 restrains the secondary battery L is weaker than when the charging is completed, and the pressure applied to the detection surface of the load cell 62 is smaller than when the charging is completed. As a result, the load cell 62 outputs a detection signal indicating a measurement value lower than the pressure at the end of charging to the control unit 10 described later.

The temperature sensor 63 detects the surface temperature of the secondary battery L. The temperature sensor 63 is mounted on the surface of the secondary battery L and measures the surface temperature of the secondary battery L. The temperature sensor 63 detects the measurement value of the surface temperature of the secondary battery L as a value Z indicating the surface temperature of the secondary battery L. Specifically, the temperature sensor 63 outputs a detection signal indicating a measurement value of the surface temperature of the secondary battery L to the control unit 10 described later.

The apparatus main body 100 is communicably connected to an external apparatus such as the personal computer 90 via a network 99 such as a lan (local area network) or the internet. The apparatus main body 100 is detachably connected to the secondary battery L in the sample tank 70 via an electric wire PL. Specifically, the apparatus main body 100 includes an operation display unit 20, an interface unit 30, a storage unit 40, a power supply unit 50 (test execution unit), and a control unit 10.

The operation display unit 20 includes a display unit 21 such as a liquid crystal display and an operation unit 22 for allowing the tester to operate the charge/discharge test apparatus 1. The operation unit 22 includes a touch panel device, not shown, for performing a touch operation on a soft key displayed on the display unit 21.

The interface unit 30 includes a communication interface circuit, not shown, for the control unit 10 to communicate with an external device such as the personal computer 90 via a network 99 such as a lan (local Area network) or the internet. The interface unit 30 includes a connector, not shown, to which an external storage device such as a usb (universal Serial bus) memory can be attached and detached, and an external interface circuit, not shown, to communicate with the external storage device attached to the connector by the control unit 10.

The storage unit 40 is constituted by a storage device such as an hdd (hard Disk drive) or ssd (solid State drive). The storage unit 40 stores information and the like used by the control unit 10 in controlling the charge/discharge test of the secondary battery L in advance. The storage unit 40 stores, for example, a value indicating the state of the secondary battery L detected during a charge/discharge test of the secondary battery L under the control of the control unit 10.

The power supply unit 50 performs charging and discharging of the secondary battery L under the control of the control unit 10. Specifically, the power supply unit 50 inputs a test current to the secondary battery L or outputs the test current to the secondary battery L according to the conditions specified by the control unit 10. The power supply unit 50 charges the secondary battery L by inputting a test current to the secondary battery L. On the other hand, the power supply unit 50 discharges the secondary battery L by causing the secondary battery L to output the test current.

The control unit 10 includes a cpu (central Processing unit), not shown, for executing predetermined arithmetic Processing, a non-volatile memory, not shown, such as an EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read-only memory) for storing a predetermined control program, a ram (random Access memory), not shown, for temporarily storing data, a timer circuit, not shown, for counting the current date and time, and peripheral circuits thereof.

The control unit 10 controls the operations of the respective units of the charge and discharge test apparatus 1 by causing the CPU to execute a control program stored in the nonvolatile memory or the like. Specifically, the control unit 10 includes a reception unit 11 and a test control unit 12 (changing unit).

The reception unit 11 receives, from the operation display unit 20, each time information (hereinafter, execution instruction information) on an execution instruction of a test input by a tester using the operation display unit 20 is received, the received execution instruction information. The reception unit 11 receives the received execution instruction information from the interface unit 30 and receives the received execution instruction information every time the interface unit 30 receives the execution instruction information input by the tester using the personal computer 90 via the network 99.

Specifically, the reception unit 11 stores the execution instruction information received from the operation display unit 20 and the interface unit 30 in the RAM provided in the control unit 10, and thereby receives the received execution instruction information. When a plurality of pieces of execution instruction information are received at the same time, the reception unit 11 stores all of the received pieces of execution instruction information in the RAM, thereby simultaneously receiving the pieces of execution instruction information.

The execution instruction information contains test schedule information on a schedule of a test of the secondary current L (hereinafter, test schedule). The execution instruction information includes condition information indicating a condition (change condition) that the state of the secondary battery L should satisfy when the test schedule of the secondary battery L is changed.

The test schedule information includes test condition information indicating test conditions relating to charge and discharge of the secondary battery L. For example, the test conditions include a ratio of a current value indicating a test current per hour at the time of charge and discharge, a cycle (hereinafter, charge and discharge cycle) in which charge and discharge of the secondary battery L are repeated, a period (hereinafter, test period) in which charge and discharge of the secondary battery L are performed, information (hereinafter, charge and discharge procedure) indicating whether the test is performed from the start of charge of the secondary battery L or from the start of discharge of the secondary battery L, and the like. These test conditions may be omitted, and predetermined test conditions may be applied to the omitted test conditions.

The test schedule information may include state change instruction information indicating an instruction to change the state of the test (hereinafter, state change instruction). For example, the state change instruction includes a stop instruction as an instruction to stop the test, a restart instruction as an instruction to restart the test under the same test conditions as before the stop, a forced end instruction as an instruction to forcibly end the test, a safety operation instruction as an instruction to forcibly end the test and perform a safety operation, and the like.

The test schedule information may include one or more test pattern information indicating a combination of a plurality of test conditions, a combination of a plurality of state change instructions, or a combination of one or more test conditions and one or more state change instructions (hereinafter, these 3 combinations are collectively referred to as a test pattern).

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the test execution instruction table TB 1. A RAM included in the control unit 10 is provided with a test execution instruction table TB1 shown in fig. 2 as a storage area for storing execution instruction information. Fig. 2 shows an example in which the reception unit 11 receives three pieces of execution instruction information and stores the three pieces of execution instruction information in the test execution instruction table TB 1.

When receiving execution instruction information including only the test schedule information "E1" without including condition information, as shown in the first row record in fig. 2, for example, the reception unit 11 stores only the test schedule information "E1" included in the execution instruction information in the test execution indicator TB 1. The test schedule information "E1" is test schedule information indicating test condition information including a ratio "R1", a charge/discharge cycle "Tcd 1", a test period "AT", and a charge/discharge order "positive order (charge → discharge)".

The acceptance unit 11 receives execution instruction information including a combination of condition information "C2" and test schedule information "E3" as shown in, for example, the third row record of fig. 2. At this time, the reception unit 11 stores the condition information "C2" included in the execution instruction information and the test schedule information "E3" combined with the condition information "C2" in the test execution instruction table TB1 in association with each other.

Further, the condition information "C2" indicates that the value T indicating the change in the shape of the secondary battery L indicated by the detection signal output from the shape sensor 61 is greater than the threshold value "TH 2" (T > TH 2). Test schedule information "E3" is test schedule information including state change instruction information (forcible termination, safety operation) indicating that a safety operation for forcibly terminating a test and performing a safety operation is to be performed.

Reference is made back to fig. 1. The test control unit 12 controls the power supply unit 50 to perform a test of charging and discharging the secondary battery L in accordance with the execution instruction information received by the receiving unit 11. The test control unit 12 stores a value (information) indicating the state of the secondary battery L indicated by the detection signal input from the detection unit 60 during the test of charging and discharging of the secondary battery L in the storage unit 40 in association with the test conditions related to the test under execution included in the test condition information. Details of the test control unit 12 will be described later.

(operation of Charge/discharge test device 1)

Next, the operation of the charge and discharge test apparatus 1 will be described. In this description, the details of the test control unit 12 will be described. Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the charge/discharge test apparatus 1.

As shown in fig. 3, the reception unit 11 receives one or more pieces of execution instruction information (step S1). At this time, the test controller 12 performs a test (hereinafter, a first test) of charging and discharging the secondary battery L at a test schedule indicated by the test schedule information included in the execution instruction information received at step S1 (step S21).

Here, in step S1, the reception unit 11 receives three pieces of execution instruction information at the same time, and stores the three pieces of execution instruction information in the test execution instruction table TB1 as shown in fig. 2. At this time, in step S21, the test control unit 12 performs the first test on a test schedule indicated by the test schedule information "E1" that does not correspond to the condition information in the test execution indicator TB1 (fig. 2).

Specifically, the test control unit 12 causes the power supply unit 50 to charge and discharge the secondary battery L under the test conditions (the ratio "R1", the charge and discharge cycle "Tcd 1", the test period "AT", and the charge and discharge sequence "positive order (charge → discharge)") indicated by the test condition information included in the test schedule information "E1". Specifically, the test control unit 12 causes the power supply unit 50 to charge the secondary battery L with the test current of the ratio "R1" and the period "Tcd 1/2" of the half cycle of the charge-discharge cycle "Tcd 1" in the charge-discharge sequence "positive sequence (charge → discharge)". Thereafter, the test control unit 12 discharges the secondary battery L with a test current of a ratio "R1" and a period "Tcd 1/2" of a half cycle of the charge and discharge cycle "Tcd 1". The test control unit 12 repeats the charge and discharge processes until the test period "AT" elapses.

After the first test is started in step S21, the detection unit 60 starts a process of periodically detecting the state of the secondary battery L. Then, the test control unit 12 starts a process of storing the state of the secondary battery L detected by the detection unit 60 in the storage unit 40 or displaying the state on the display unit 21 or the personal computer 90 (step S31).

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in the storage unit 40 during the charge/discharge test. Specifically, at step S31, the test control unit 12 starts a process of storing, in the storage unit 40, test schedule information "E1" relating to the test schedule of the first test started at step S21, date and time information (for example, "T10") indicating the date and time at which the detection unit 60 detected the change in the state of the secondary battery L during the first test, a value CV (for example, "CV 10") indicating the charge/discharge amount of the secondary battery L, a value T (for example, "T10") indicating the change in the shape of the secondary battery L detected by the detection unit 60, a value P (for example, "P10") indicating the internal pressure of the secondary battery L, and a value Z (for example, "Z10") indicating the surface temperature of the secondary battery L in association with each other, as shown in fig. 4.

Fig. 5(B) is a graph showing an example of the charge/discharge amount CV of the battery during the charge/discharge test of the secondary battery L. In step S31, the test control unit 12 displays a graph (hereinafter, charge/discharge amount graph) showing the current value of the current charged in the secondary battery L or the current discharged from the secondary battery L (hereinafter, charge/discharge amount CV of the secondary battery L) in time series as shown in fig. 5B, for example, on the display unit 21. Then, the test control unit 12 transmits (returns) a display instruction for displaying the charge/discharge amount graph together with the image of the charge/discharge amount graph to the personal computer 90 (fig. 1) of the transmission source of the execution instruction information received in step S1, by using the interface unit 30. Further, if the personal computer 90 receives the signal indicating the display instruction and the image of the charge/discharge amount graph from the charge/discharge test apparatus 1, the personal computer 90 displays the received image of the charge/discharge amount graph on a display device such as a liquid crystal display provided in the personal computer 90.

For example, the charge/discharge amount map shown in fig. 5B shows an example in which the secondary battery L is discharged during a half cycle of the charge/discharge cycle "Tcd 1" (fig. 2) (during a period from the date and time "t 10" to the date and time "t 11)", at the ratio "R1", during a half cycle of the charge/discharge cycle "Tcd 1" (fig. 2) (during a period from the date and time "t 11" to the date and time "t 12)", at the ratio "R1".

Fig. 5(a) is a graph showing an example of the value T indicating the change in the shape of the secondary battery L detected during the charge/discharge test of the secondary battery L shown in fig. 5 (B). In step S31, the test control unit 12 displays a graph (hereinafter, a shape graph) showing the value T indicating the change in the shape of the secondary battery L detected by the shape sensor 61 in time series, for example, as shown in fig. 5a, on the display unit 21. Then, the test control unit 12 transmits (returns) a display instruction for displaying the shape coordinate graph and the image of the shape coordinate graph to the personal computer 90 (fig. 1) of the transmission source of the execution instruction information received in step S1, using the interface unit 30. Further, if the personal computer 90 receives the signal indicating the display instruction and the image of the shape coordinate map from the charge/discharge test apparatus 1, the personal computer 90 displays the received image of the shape coordinate map on a display device such as a liquid crystal display provided in the personal computer 90.

For example, as shown in fig. 5(a), the value T indicating the change in shape of the secondary battery L gradually increases during the charging period of the secondary battery L and gradually decreases if the discharge of the secondary battery L starts. Further, the peak value of the value T indicating the change in the shape of the secondary battery L gradually increases as the cycle of charging and discharging is repeated.

After the process of detecting, storing, and displaying the state of the secondary battery L is started at step S31, the test control unit 12 determines whether or not the value indicating the state of the secondary battery L detected by the detection unit 60 satisfies the change condition (hereinafter, the first change condition) indicated by the first condition information included in the execution instruction information received at step S1 (step S41).

Specifically, in step S41, the test control unit 12 refers to the first change condition "TH 2 ≧ T > TH 1" indicated by the condition information "C1" first stored in the test execution indicator TB1 (fig. 2). The first change condition "TH 2 ≧ T > TH 1" indicates a case where the value T indicating the change in the shape of the secondary battery L detected by the shape sensor 61 is greater than the first threshold TH1 and equal to or less than the second threshold TH2 which is greater than the first threshold TH 1. The test controller 12 determines whether or not the value T indicating the change in shape of the secondary battery L detected by the shape sensor 61 satisfies the first change condition "TH 2 ≧ T > TH 1" for the reference.

It is assumed that the test control unit 12 determines in step S41 that the value T indicating the change in shape of the secondary battery L does not satisfy the first change condition (no in step S41). At this time, the test control unit 12 determines whether or not the value T indicating the state of the secondary battery L detected by the detection unit 60 satisfies the condition (hereinafter, second change condition) indicated by the second condition information included in the execution instruction information received at step S1 (step S42).

Specifically, in step S42, the test controller 12 refers to the second change condition "T > TH 2" indicated by the condition information "C2" stored second in the test execution indicator table TB1 (fig. 2) in the same manner as in step S41. The second change condition "T > TH 2" indicates that the value T indicating the change in the shape of the secondary battery L detected by the shape sensor 61 is greater than the second threshold value TH 2. Then, the test control unit 12 determines whether or not the value T indicating the change in the shape of the secondary battery L detected by the shape sensor 61 satisfies the second change condition "T > TH 2" for the reference.

When the test controller 12 determines in step S42 that the value T indicating the change in shape of the secondary battery L does not satisfy the second change condition (no in step S42), it determines whether or not the test end condition is satisfied (step S61).

Specifically, in step S61, the test control unit 12 determines whether or not the elapsed time from the start of the first test in step S21 is equal to or longer than the test period "AT" (fig. 2) determined in the test schedule information "E1" relating to the test schedule of the first test. When the elapsed time is less than the test period "AT" (fig. 2), the test control unit 12 determines that the test termination condition is not satisfied (no AT step S61). On the other hand, when the elapsed time is equal to or longer than the test period "AT", the test control unit 12 determines that the test termination condition is satisfied (yes AT step S61).

In step S61, the test control unit 12 determines that the test end condition is satisfied even when the tester inputs the test end instruction through the operation display unit 20 and when the interface unit 30 receives information indicating the test end instruction from the personal computer 90 via the network 99 (yes in step S61).

When the test control unit 12 determines in step S61 that the test termination condition is satisfied (yes in step S61), the first test is terminated. Specifically, when the first test is ended, the test control unit 12 ends the control of the power supply unit 50, and ends the processing of storing and displaying the state of the secondary battery L, which is started at step S31.

On the other hand, when the test control unit 12 determines in step S61 that the test end condition is not satisfied (no in step S61), the process from step S41 is repeated. Accordingly, the test control unit 12 continues the first test started at step S21.

In step S41, the test control unit 12 determines that the value T indicating the change in shape of the secondary battery L satisfies the first change condition (yes in step S41). At this time, the state of the secondary battery L satisfies the first change condition. Therefore, the test control unit 12 displays a message for changing the test schedule to the content of the second test schedule on the display unit 21 and the personal computer 90 (step S52).

Specifically, in step S52, the test control unit 12 refers to the test schedule information "E2" corresponding to the condition information "C1" indicating the first change condition "TH 2 ≧ T > TH 1" in the test execution indicator TB1 (fig. 2). Since the state of the secondary battery L satisfies the first change condition "TH 2 ≧ T > TH 1", the test controller 12 displays a message for changing the test schedule to the content of the test schedule indicated by the test schedule information "E2" on the display unit 21 and the personal computer 90 in the same manner as in step S31.

The message is set to, for example, "the secondary battery has swollen more than the first threshold TH 1. The test schedule may be changed to the second test schedule "ratio R2, charge-discharge cycle Tcd2, test period AT, reverse order (discharge → charge)". However, the message is not limited to this, and may be a message including information of the first change condition "TH 2 ≧ T > TH 1" and trial schedule information "E2".

After step S52, test controller 12 performs a charge/discharge test (hereinafter, a second test) of secondary battery L on a second test schedule corresponding to the first changing condition (step S22).

Specifically, in step S22, the test control unit 12 performs the second test on the test execution indicator TB1 (fig. 2) at the second test schedule indicated by the test schedule information "E2" corresponding to the condition information "C1" indicating the first change condition "TH 2 ≧ T > TH 1".

That is, the test control unit 12 causes the power supply unit 50 to charge and discharge the secondary battery L in accordance with the test conditions (the ratio "R2", the charge and discharge cycle "Tcd 2", the test period "AT", and the charge and discharge sequence "reverse (discharge → charge)") indicated by the test condition information included in the test schedule information "E2". Specifically, the test control unit 12 causes the power supply unit 50 to discharge the secondary battery L with a test current of a ratio "R2" during a period "Tcd 2/2" of a half cycle of the charge-discharge cycle "Tcd 2" in the charge-discharge order "reverse order (discharge → charge)". Thereafter, the test control unit 12 charges the secondary battery L with a test current of a ratio "R2" and a period "Tcd 2/2" of the half cycle of the charge-discharge cycle "Tcd 2". The test control unit 12 repeats the discharge and charge processes until the test period "AT" elapses.

In this specific example, the ratio "R2" (e.g., 5mAh) is set to a ratio (R2 < R1) smaller than the ratio "R1" (e.g., 10mAh) indicated by the test condition information included in the test schedule information "E1". Note that the charge-discharge cycle "Tcd 2" is set to be longer than the charge-discharge cycle "Tcd 1" indicated by the test condition information included in the test schedule information "E1" (Tcd2 > Tcd 1). The charge/discharge sequence "reverse (discharge → charge)" is the reverse of the "positive (charge → discharge)" shown in the test condition information included in the test schedule information "E1". That is, it is assumed that the test schedule shown in the test schedule information "E2" is a test schedule in which the load applied to the secondary battery L is smaller than the test schedule shown in the test schedule information "E1".

Therefore, when the state of the secondary battery L satisfies the first change condition during the first test, the second test from the start of discharge of the secondary battery L can be performed on the second test schedule in which the load applied to the secondary battery L is smaller than that of the first test. With this, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the first test is continued even though the secondary battery L swells to a degree exceeding the first threshold value TH1, and the state is brought into a state where the risk of explosion or rupture of the secondary battery L occurs. Accordingly, the charge and discharge tests of the secondary battery L can be performed in different test schedules without stopping the test. Therefore, it is possible to grasp the state change of the secondary battery L in each test schedule in the charge and discharge test in the different test schedules.

After executing step S22, test control unit 12 continues the process of storing and displaying the state of secondary battery L started at step S31. For example, fig. 4 shows an example in which, after step S22 is executed, the test control unit 12 stores, in the storage unit 40, test schedule information "E2" relating to the test schedule of the second test started at step S22, date and time information "T21" indicating the date and time at which the detector 60 detected the state of the secondary battery L during charging and discharging of the secondary battery L in the test schedule, a value CV "CV 21" indicating the charge and discharge amount of the secondary battery L, a value T "T21" indicating the change in the shape of the secondary battery L detected by the detector 60, a value P "P21" indicating the pressure applied to the secondary battery L, and a value Z "Z21" indicating the surface temperature of the secondary battery L in association with each other. Therefore, by referring to the information stored in the storage unit 40, it is possible to grasp the state of the secondary battery L when the secondary battery L is charged and discharged for each of the plurality of test schedules.

For example, the information stored in the storage unit 40 can be referred to by the display unit 21 and the personal computer 90 as a shape coordinate diagram shown in fig. 5(a), for example. In the example shown in fig. 5(a), it is possible to grasp a case where the value T indicating the change in shape of the secondary battery L gradually increases during the charging period of the secondary battery L in the first test after the first time starts at the date and time "T10", and gradually decreases if the discharge of the secondary battery L starts. It can be understood that the peak value of the value T indicating the change in the shape of the secondary battery L gradually increases as the cycle of charging and discharging is repeated.

The date and time "T14" at which the one-charge period of the secondary battery L ended in the first test can be grasped, and the value T indicating the change in shape of the secondary battery L exceeds the first threshold TH1, and the first change condition is satisfied. With this, it is possible to grasp that the test schedule is changed to the second test schedule indicated by the test schedule information "E2" (fig. 2), and the second test is started. In the second test, it is possible to grasp that if the date and time "T21" at which the first discharge period ended is reached, the value T indicating the change in shape of the secondary battery L is greater than the date and time "T10" at which the first test was started despite the end of the discharge period.

Reference is made back to fig. 3. After step S22, the test controller 12 determines whether or not the end condition of the second test is satisfied in the same manner as step S61 (step S62). The test control unit 12 continues the second test while determining at step S62 that the termination condition of the second test is not satisfied (no at step S62). When it is determined at step S62 that the second test termination condition is satisfied (yes at step S62), the test control unit 12 terminates the second test. In conjunction with this, the test control unit 12 ends the process of storing and displaying the state of the secondary battery L started at step S31.

Further, it is assumed that the test control unit 12 determines in step S42 that the state of the secondary battery L satisfies the second change condition (yes in step S42). At this time, the state of the secondary battery L satisfies the second change condition. Therefore, the test controller 12 displays a message for changing the test schedule to the content of the third test schedule on the display unit 21 and the personal computer 90 in the same manner as in step S52 (step S53).

After step S53, test controller 12 performs a charge/discharge test (hereinafter, a third test) of secondary battery L on a third test schedule corresponding to the second changing condition (step S23).

Specifically, in step S23, the test control unit 12 performs the third test on the third test schedule indicated by the test schedule information "E3" corresponding to the condition information "C2" indicating the second change condition "T > TH 2" in the test execution indicator TB1 (fig. 2).

Here, the test schedule information "E3" includes state change instruction information "forced end, safety operation" indicating that the test is forcibly ended and a stable operation instruction of the safety operation is performed. Therefore, the test control unit 12 forcibly ends the first test and executes a predetermined safe operation as a third test in accordance with the safe operation instruction indicated by the state change instruction information.

Specifically, the test control unit 12 forcibly ends the first test by stopping the input/output of the test current by the power supply unit 50. The test control unit 12 controls an air conditioner, not shown, provided in the sample tank 70 to cool the air in the sample tank 70 for a predetermined time, for example, as a predetermined safety operation. Alternatively, the test control unit 12 sets, for example, an opening/closing door, not shown, provided in the test tank 70 to a state in which the door cannot be opened or closed for a predetermined time period as a predetermined safety operation. The safe operation is not limited to these, and may be any operation as long as the secondary battery L housed in the sample cell 70 is safely removed.

After executing step S23, test controller 12 continues the process of storing and displaying the state of secondary battery L started at step S31. For example, fig. 4 shows an example in which, after step S23 is executed, test schedule information "E3" concerning the test schedule of the third test started at step S23, date and time information "T31" indicating the date and time at which detector 60 detected the state of secondary battery L during the third test, value T "T31" indicating the change in shape of secondary battery L detected by detector 60, value P "P31" indicating the pressure applied to secondary battery L, and value Z "Z31" indicating the surface temperature of secondary battery L are stored in storage unit 40 in association with each other by test control unit 12.

After step S23, the test control unit 12 determines whether or not the end condition of the third test is satisfied (step S63). Specifically, as shown in the specific example, the test control unit 12 performs the third test in accordance with the state change instruction information included in the test schedule information at step S23. In this case, the test schedule information does not include information indicating the test period of the third test. Therefore, when the tester inputs an instruction to end the test through the operation unit 22, or when the interface unit 30 receives information indicating an instruction to end the test from the personal computer 90 through the network 99, the test control unit 12 determines that the test end condition is satisfied (yes at step S63).

The test schedule information may include end condition information indicating an end condition for ending the test (safe operation) instead of the test period. For example, the end condition includes a case where the execution time of the safety operation reaches a predetermined time, and a case where a value indicating the state of the secondary battery L (for example, at least one of a value T indicating a change in the shape of the secondary battery L, a value P indicating an internal pressure, and a value Z indicating a surface temperature) reaches a predetermined value. In contrast, in step S63, when the test schedule information includes the end condition information, the test control unit 12 may determine that the end condition of the third test (safe operation) is satisfied when the value indicating the state of the secondary battery L (for example, at least one of the value T indicating the change in the shape of the secondary battery L, the value P indicating the internal pressure, and the value Z indicating the surface temperature) detected by the detection unit 60 satisfies the end condition indicated by the end condition information.

The test control unit 12 continues the third test (safety operation) while determining at step S63 that the termination condition of the third test is not satisfied (no at step S63). When it is determined at step S63 that the conditions for terminating the third test (safety operation) are satisfied (yes at step S63), the test control unit 12 terminates the third test (safety operation). In conjunction with this, the test control unit 12 ends the process of storing and displaying the state of the secondary battery L started at step S31.

In addition, unlike the specific example described above, in step S23, the third test for charging and discharging the secondary battery L by the power supply unit 50 is performed under the test conditions indicated by the test condition information included in the test schedule information, similarly to the specific example described above in step S22. In this case, in step S63, the test control unit 12 may determine whether or not the termination condition of the third test is satisfied, similarly to the specific examples of step S61 and step S62 described above.

The test schedule information stored in the test execution indicator TB1 may include one or more test pattern information. In this case, in steps S21, S22, and S23, the test controller 12 may sequentially refer to the test pattern information included in the test schedule information, and sequentially perform the test according to the test conditions and the state change instructions indicated by the referred test pattern information. Specifically, the test control unit 12 may perform the test under each test condition indicated by the reference test pattern information, similarly to the specific example of step S22. Similarly to the specific example of step S23, the test control unit 12 may perform a test in accordance with each state change instruction indicated by the reference test pattern information.

In this case, in steps S61, S62, and S63, the test control unit 12 may determine whether or not the end condition is satisfied using the last information included in the last test pattern information. Specifically, the last information included in the last test pattern information is assumed to be test condition information. In this case, the test control unit 12 may determine whether or not the termination condition is satisfied, based on whether or not an elapsed time from the execution of the test according to the test condition indicated by the test condition information is equal to or longer than the test period included in the test condition, or whether or not an instruction to terminate the test is input or received, as in the specific example of steps S61 and S62 described above. On the other hand, the last information included in the test mode information is assumed to be the state change instruction information. In this case, the test control unit 12 may determine whether or not the termination condition is satisfied, based on whether or not the termination condition of the test (safety operation) is satisfied after the test (safety operation) is executed in accordance with the state change instruction indicated by the state change instruction information, or whether or not the termination instruction of the test is input or received, as in the specific example of step S63 described above.

According to the configuration of the embodiment, the first test is started in the first test schedule indicated by the first test schedule information "E1" which does not correspond to the conditional information among the plurality of execution instruction information received by the receiving unit 11. Then, in the first test procedure, when the value T indicating the change in shape of the secondary battery L satisfies the first change condition "TH 2 ≧ T > TH 1" indicated by the condition information "C1", the test schedule at the time of charging and discharging the secondary battery L is changed to the second test schedule indicated by the test schedule information "E2" corresponding to the condition information "C1".

Therefore, the tester may arbitrarily determine the value T indicating the change in shape of the secondary battery L at the time when the test schedule at the time of charging and discharging the secondary battery L is changed from the first test schedule to the second test schedule. The tester may determine the first threshold TH1 and the second threshold TH2 included in the first changing condition so as to include a case where the value T indicating the change in the shape of the secondary battery L is the determined value. The tester may input execution instruction information including a combination of condition information indicating the first changed condition and test schedule information "E2" indicating the second test schedule. Accordingly, the tester can appropriately determine the timing of changing the test schedule when charging and discharging the secondary battery L from the first test schedule to the second test schedule according to the type of the secondary battery L and the like.

For example, the value T indicating the change in shape of the secondary battery L at the time when the test schedule for charging and discharging the secondary battery L is changed from the first test schedule to the second test schedule may be set to the value T indicating the change in shape of the secondary battery L when the secondary battery L has a sign of abnormality. The lower limit of the value T indicating the change in shape of the secondary battery L when the secondary battery L is in the abnormal state may be set to the first threshold TH1, and the lower limit of the value T indicating the change in shape of the secondary battery L when the secondary battery L is in the abnormal state may be set to the second threshold TH 2.

At this time, when the value T indicating the change in shape of the secondary battery L detected by the shape sensor 61 does not exceed the first threshold value TH1, the charge and discharge of the secondary battery L in the first test schedule can be continued. Then, the detected value T indicating the shape change is a value exceeding the first threshold value TH1 and not exceeding the second threshold value TH2, and the secondary battery L is in a state where there is a sign of an abnormality but no abnormality occurs. In this case, it is considered that the secondary battery L is also in a state of reversibly changing between the time of charge and the time of discharge, and therefore, the charge and discharge of the secondary battery L can be performed in the second test schedule instead of the first test schedule.

In addition, as shown in the above-described specific example, a second test schedule shown by the test schedule information "E2" is determined as a test schedule in which the load applied to the secondary battery L is smaller than the first test schedule shown by the test schedule information "E1". At this time, if the secondary battery L has a sign of abnormality, the secondary battery L can be charged and discharged in the second test schedule in which the load applied to the secondary battery L is reduced. In this case, it was found that there was a sign of abnormality in the test in the first test schedule, but there was no sign of abnormality in the second test schedule.

(second embodiment)

Next, a second embodiment of the charge and discharge test apparatus according to the present invention will be described.

In the second embodiment, the test control unit 12 performs the first charge and discharge of the secondary battery L in the first test schedule, and stops the first charge and discharge if the state of the secondary battery L detected by the detection unit 60 satisfies the predetermined stop condition in the first charge and discharge process. Then, during the stop of the first charge and discharge, if the state of the secondary battery L detected by the detection unit 60 satisfies a predetermined restart condition (change condition), the test control unit 12 changes the first test schedule to the second test schedule.

Next, the operation of the charge and discharge test device 1 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 6 and 7. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the test execution instruction table TB1 according to the second embodiment. Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the charge and discharge test device 1 according to the second embodiment. Among the steps shown in fig. 7, the steps having the same reference numerals as those in fig. 3 are the same as those described with reference to fig. 3, and therefore, the description thereof is omitted.

In the following description, at step S1 shown in fig. 7, the receiving unit 11 receives three pieces of execution instruction information at the same time, and stores the three pieces of execution instruction information in the test execution instruction table TB1 as shown in fig. 6. Specifically, the reception unit 11 receives, at step S1 shown in fig. 7, execution instruction information including only the same test schedule information "E1" as shown in fig. 2, without including condition information. At this time, the reception unit 11 stores only the test schedule information "E1" included in the execution instruction information in the test execution instruction table TB1, as shown in the first row record of fig. 6, for example.

In step S1, the reception unit 11 is configured to receive execution instruction information including a combination of stop condition information "ST" indicating a stop condition that the state of the secondary battery L should satisfy and test schedule information "EST" including state change instruction information "stop" indicating the stop instruction, when the test is stopped before the test schedule of the secondary battery L is changed. At this time, the reception unit 11 stores the stop condition information "ST" included in the execution instruction information and the test schedule information "EST" combined with the stop condition information "ST" in the test execution instruction table TB1 in association with each other, as shown in, for example, the second row record of fig. 6. As shown in the second record in the row of fig. 6, the stop condition information "ST" indicates that "T > TH 2" indicates that the value T indicating the change in the shape of the secondary battery L detected by the shape sensor 61 is greater than the second threshold value TH 2.

In step S1, the acceptance unit 11 is configured to receive, when the test is restarted after the test is stopped, execution instruction information including a combination of restart condition information indicating a restart condition to be satisfied by the state of the secondary battery L and test schedule information relating to a test schedule (hereinafter, restart test schedule) to be restarted when the state of the secondary battery L satisfies the restart condition. Here, the restart condition information is information indicating "TH 2 ≧ T". Note that the trial schedule information combined with the restart condition information is the same information as the trial schedule information "E2" shown in fig. 2. At this time, the reception unit 11 stores, for example, as shown in the third row record of fig. 6, the restart condition information "C3" included in the execution instruction information and the test schedule information "E2" combined with the restart condition information "C3" in the test execution instruction table TB1 in association with each other.

At this time, after step S31, the test controller 12 determines whether or not the state of the secondary battery L detected by the detector 60 satisfies the stop condition indicated by the stop condition information "ST" included in the execution instruction information received at step S1, in the same manner as step S41 (fig. 3) (step S4 a).

When it is determined in step S4a that the stop condition is satisfied (yes in step S4a), the test controller 12 displays a message indicating that the charge/discharge test of the secondary battery L is stopped on the display unit 21 and the personal computer 90 (step S5a) in the same manner as in step S52 (fig. 3) because the state of the secondary battery L is the state satisfying the stop condition. In addition, the message is set to "the secondary battery is larger than the second threshold TH2 and swells, for example. Therefore, the test in execution may be stopped. However, the message is not limited to this, and may include a message that the state of the secondary battery L satisfies the stop condition "T > TH 2" and stops the content of the test under execution.

After step S5a, the test control unit 12 stops the first test started at step S21 in accordance with the stop instruction indicated by the state change instruction information included in the test schedule information "EST" corresponding to the stop condition information "ST" (step S2 a). Specifically, in step S2a, the test control unit 12 stops the power supply unit 50 from inputting and outputting the test current.

After step S2a, the test controller 12 determines whether or not the state of the secondary battery L detected by the detector 60 satisfies the resume condition indicated by the resume information included in the execution instruction information received at step S1, in the same manner as in step S41 (fig. 3) (step S4 b).

When the test controller 12 determines in step S4b that the restart condition is not satisfied (no in step S4b), it determines whether or not the test end condition is satisfied (step S6a) in the same manner as in step S63 (fig. 3). When the test controller 12 determines in step S4a that the stop condition is not satisfied (no in step S4a), it determines whether or not the test end condition is satisfied in the same manner as in step S63 (fig. 3) (step S6 a).

When the test control unit 12 determines in step S6a that the test termination condition is satisfied (yes in step S6a), the first test is terminated. Specifically, the test control unit 12 ends the control of the power supply unit 50 and ends the processing of storing and displaying the state of the secondary battery L started at step S31.

On the other hand, when the test control unit 12 determines in step S6a that the test end condition is not satisfied (no in step S6a), the process from step S4a is repeated. Accordingly, the test control unit 12 continues to execute or stop the first test started at step S21.

In step S4b, when it is determined that the restart condition is satisfied (yes in step S4b), the test controller 12 displays a message for changing the test schedule to the content of the second test schedule corresponding to the restart condition on the display unit 21 and the personal computer 90 in the same manner as in step S52 (fig. 3) because the state of the secondary battery L is the state satisfying the restart condition (step S5 b). In addition, the second trial schedule here is a trial schedule shown by trial schedule information "E2" corresponding to the restart condition information "C3" in the trial execution indicator TB1 (fig. 6). After step S5b, the test controller 12 performs a charge/discharge test (hereinafter, referred to as a second test) of the secondary battery L on a second test schedule in the same manner as step S22 (fig. 3) (step S2 b).

After step S2b, the test controller 12 determines whether or not the end condition of the second test is satisfied (step S6b) in the same manner as step S62 (fig. 3). Then, in step S6b, the test controller 12 continues the second test while determining that the termination condition of the second test is not satisfied (no in step S6b), and if determining that the termination condition of the second test is satisfied (yes in step S6b), terminates the second test. In conjunction with this, the test control unit 12 ends the process of storing and displaying the state of the secondary battery L started at step S31.

In the configuration of the second embodiment, in the first test process, if the value T indicating the change in shape of the secondary battery L satisfies the stop condition "T > TH 2", the first test is stopped. When the value T indicating the change in shape of the secondary battery L satisfies the restart condition "TH 2 ≧ T" when the first test is stopped, the secondary battery L is charged and discharged in a test schedule indicated by test schedule information "E2" corresponding to restart condition information "C3" indicating the restart condition.

Therefore, the tester may arbitrarily determine the value T indicating the change in shape of the secondary battery L at the time when the charging and discharging of the secondary battery L are stopped in the first test schedule. The tester may determine the second threshold TH2 included in the stop condition so as to include a case where the value T indicating the change in shape of the secondary battery L is the determined value. Accordingly, the tester can appropriately determine the timing of stopping the charge and discharge of the secondary battery L in the first test schedule according to the type of the secondary battery L and the like.

The tester may arbitrarily determine the value T indicating the change in shape of the secondary battery L at the time when the charge and discharge of the secondary battery L are restarted after the charge and discharge of the secondary battery L are stopped. The tester may determine the threshold value of the restart condition so as to include a case where the value T indicating the change in the shape of the secondary battery L is the determined value. Accordingly, the tester can appropriately determine the timing to restart the charge and discharge of the secondary battery L according to the type of the secondary battery L and the like.

For example, the value T indicating the change in shape of the secondary battery L at the time when the charge and discharge of the secondary battery L in the first test schedule are stopped may be set to the value T indicating the change in shape of the secondary battery L when the abnormality occurs in the secondary battery L. The value T indicating the change in shape of the secondary battery L at the time of restarting the charge and discharge of the secondary battery L may be a value T indicating the change in shape of the secondary battery L when there is a sign of abnormality in the secondary battery L or a value T indicating the change in shape of the secondary battery L when there is no sign of abnormality in the secondary battery L. The lower limit value of the value T indicating the change in shape of the secondary battery L when an abnormality occurs in the secondary battery L may be determined as the second threshold TH 2.

As shown in the above-described specific example, the second test schedule indicated by the test schedule information "E2" may be determined as a test schedule in which the load applied to the secondary battery L is smaller than the first test schedule indicated by the test schedule information "E1".

At this time, when the value T indicating the change in shape of the secondary battery L detected by the shape sensor 61 exceeds the second threshold value TH2 and the secondary battery L becomes abnormal, the charge and discharge of the secondary battery L in the first test schedule can be stopped. Then, the value T indicating the change in shape of the secondary battery L detected by the shape sensor 61 is equal to or less than the second threshold TH2, and the state of the secondary battery L is restored to such a degree that there is a sign of abnormality or no sign of abnormality. At this time, it is considered that the secondary battery L is in a state of reversibly changing between the time of charge and the time of discharge, and therefore, the charge and discharge of the secondary battery L can be performed in the second test schedule in which the load applied to the secondary battery L is reduced as compared with the first test schedule, instead of the first test schedule. As a result, it is possible to grasp the state change of the secondary battery L in each test schedule in the charge and discharge test in the different test schedules.

The restart condition is not limited to the above example, and may be, for example, a condition in which the value T indicating the change in shape of the secondary battery L detected by the shape sensor 61 is equal to or less than the second threshold value TH2 (e.g., "TH 2 ≧ T") and the test is stopped and the test is waited for a time or more specified by the user. The restart condition may be, for example, a condition indicating that the value T indicating the change in shape of the secondary battery L detected by the shape sensor 61 is equal to or less than a value (e.g., TH2-D1) smaller than the second threshold value TH2 by a predetermined value (e.g., D1) (e.g., TH2-D1 ≧ T).

(modified embodiment)

The above embodiments are merely illustrative of the embodiments according to the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, the following modified embodiments are also possible.

(1) In the first embodiment, the value T indicating the change in shape of the secondary battery L detected by the shape sensor 61 satisfies the first changing condition in step S41 (fig. 3), and after the second test is performed in step S22 (fig. 3), it is not determined whether the value T indicating the change in shape of the secondary battery L detected by the shape sensor 61 satisfies the second changing condition.

However, the present invention is not limited to this, and after the second test is performed in step S22 (fig. 3), in the second test process, the test control unit 12 may further determine whether or not the value T indicating the change in the shape of the secondary battery L detected by the shape sensor 61 satisfies the second change condition, in the same manner as in step S42 (fig. 3). In addition, the test control unit 12 may execute step S53 (fig. 3) when determining that the value T indicating the change in the shape of the secondary battery L detected by the shape sensor 61 satisfies the second change condition, and execute step S62 (fig. 3) when determining that the second change condition is not satisfied.

(2) The first and second changing conditions in the first embodiment and the restart condition in the second embodiment are not limited to the conditions "TH 2 ≧ T > TH 1", "T > TH 2", and "TH 2 ≧ T". For example, only a case where the value T indicating the change in the shape of the secondary battery L detected by the shape sensor 61 exceeds the first threshold value TH1 (T > TH1) may be described.

Although the example in which the lower limit value of the value T indicating the change in shape of the secondary battery L detected by the shape sensor 61 when the secondary battery L indicates a sign of abnormality has been described above is set as the first threshold value TH1, the first threshold value TH1 may be set to a value different from this. For example, after the test of the secondary battery L is started, the minimum value of the value T indicating the change in the shape of the secondary battery L may be updated every time the value T is detected by the shape sensor 61, and the updated minimum value may be set as the first threshold TH 1.

(3) In each of the above embodiments, it is determined whether or not a so-called instantaneous value of the value T indicating the change in shape of the secondary battery L detected by the shape sensor 61 satisfies predetermined conditions such as the first changing condition, the second changing condition, the stop condition, and the restart condition. At this time, when the so-called instantaneous value of the value T indicating the change in the shape of the secondary battery L detected by the shape sensor 61 satisfies predetermined conditions such as the first changing condition, the second changing condition, the stop condition, and the restart condition, the test schedule can be changed quickly.

Alternatively, however, it may be determined whether or not the value T (instantaneous value) indicating the change in shape of the secondary battery L detected by the shape sensor 61 satisfies predetermined conditions such as the first changing condition, the second changing condition, the stop condition, and the restart condition continuously a predetermined number of times or more. Alternatively, it may be determined whether or not the value T (instantaneous value) indicating the change in shape of the secondary battery L detected by the shape sensor 61 continuously satisfies predetermined conditions such as the first changing condition, the second changing condition, the stop condition, and the restart condition for a predetermined time.

In this case, it is possible to prevent the test schedule from being changed (noise) when the shape sensor 61 erroneously detects a change in the shape of the secondary battery L. Alternatively, in order to prevent the test schedule from being changed when the shape sensor 61 erroneously detects a change in the shape of the secondary battery L, it may be determined whether or not the moving average value of the value T indicating the change in the shape of the secondary battery L detected by the shape sensor 61 satisfies the conditions such as the first change condition, the second change condition, the stop condition, and the restart condition.

(4) In each of the above embodiments, in step S1 (fig. 3 and 7), the reception unit 11 simultaneously receives execution instruction information including test schedule information on a test schedule of a first test and two pieces of execution instruction information including a combination of condition information (stop condition information, restart condition information) and the test schedule information, and automatically changes the test schedule when the state of the secondary battery L satisfies a condition indicated by the condition information (stop condition information, restart condition information).

However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the reception unit 11 may first receive test schedule information and condition information on a test schedule of the first test and start the first test. Thereafter, in the first test process, when the state of the secondary battery L satisfies the condition indicated by the condition information, test schedule information (hereinafter, change schedule information) regarding the changed test schedule (hereinafter, change schedule) may be received. In this case, the tester can appropriately determine the schedule of change according to the state of the secondary battery L in the first test.

Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the charge and discharge test device 1 according to the modified embodiment. Among the steps shown in fig. 8, the steps denoted by the same reference numerals as those in fig. 3 are the same as those described in fig. 3, and therefore, the description thereof is omitted. Specifically, as shown in fig. 8, in step S1x, the reception unit 11 stores test schedule information on the test schedule of the first test and condition information indicating conditions for changing the test schedule, which are input by the tester from the operation display unit 20 or the personal computer 90, in the RAM provided in the control unit 10, and receives the test schedule information and the condition information (step S1 x).

Then, in step S21x, the test controller 12 refers to the test schedule information stored in the RAM, and performs a first test according to the test schedule indicated by the referred test schedule information in the same manner as in step S21 (fig. 3) (step S21 x). In the first test, step S31 was performed (step S31).

After step S31, the test controller 12 determines whether or not the state of the secondary battery L satisfies the condition indicated by the condition information stored in the RAM, in the same manner as step S41 (fig. 3) (step S4 x).

When the test controller 12 determines in step S4x that the condition is satisfied (yes in step S4x), the operation display unit 20 and the personal computer 90 are displayed with a screen for prompting the user to input and change schedule information (step S8). Accordingly, the tester can input appropriate change schedule information regarding the change schedule according to the change in the state of the secondary battery L during the first test displayed on the display unit 21 or the personal computer 90.

After step S8, the reception unit 11 stores the change schedule information input by the tester from the operation display unit 20 or the personal computer 90 in the RAM, and receives the change schedule information (step S9).

Upon receiving the change schedule information in step S9, the test controller 12 displays a message for changing the test schedule to the contents of the change schedule on the display unit 21 and the personal computer 90 in the same manner as in step S52 (fig. 3) (step S5 x). Thereafter, in the same manner as in step S22 (fig. 3), the test controller 12 performs a charge/discharge test (hereinafter, a change test) of the secondary battery L at a change schedule indicated by the change schedule information stored in the RAM (step S2 x).

On the other hand, in step S4x, when it is determined that the state of the secondary battery L does not satisfy the condition indicated by the condition information stored in the RAM (no in step S4x) and when step S2x is executed (step S2x), the test control unit 12 determines whether or not the test end condition is satisfied (step S6 x).

Specifically, in step S6x, when a test period is defined in the test schedule information on the current test schedule, the test control unit 12 determines whether or not the test end condition is satisfied, as in the specific example of step S61 (fig. 3) described in the first embodiment. On the other hand, when the test period is not defined in the test schedule information on the current test schedule, the test control unit 12 determines whether or not the test end condition is satisfied, as in the specific example of step S63 (fig. 3) described in the first embodiment.

When the test control unit 12 determines in step S6x that the test termination condition is satisfied (yes in step S6x), the test is terminated. Specifically, the test control unit 12 ends the control of the power supply unit 50 and ends the processing of storing and displaying the state of the secondary battery L started at step S31. On the other hand, when the test control unit 12 determines in step S6x that the test end condition is not satisfied (no in step S6x), the process from step S4x is repeated. Accordingly, the test controller 12 continues the test started at step S21x or step S2 x.

As described above, according to the configuration of the modified embodiment, the tester can appropriately determine the schedule of change according to the state of the secondary battery L during the test.

In the present modified embodiment, the condition information is received in step S1x, but the condition information may be received by the receiving unit 11 after step S31. In contrast, after step S31, step S6x may be performed while the reception unit 11 is not receiving the condition information, and step S4x may be performed if the reception unit 11 receives the condition information. In this case, the tester can appropriately determine the conditions to be satisfied by the state of the secondary battery L when the test schedule is changed, based on the state of the secondary battery L during the test.

(5) In the above-described embodiments and the above-described modified embodiments, the change conditions, the stop conditions, and the restart conditions are determined only by the value T indicating the change in the shape of the secondary battery L detected by the shape sensor 61. However, the changing condition, the stopping condition, and the restarting condition may be determined by one or more values indicating the state of the secondary battery L that can be detected by the detecting unit 60. Specifically, the change condition, the stop condition, and the restart condition may be determined using one or more values among the value T indicating the change in the shape of the secondary battery L detected by the shape sensor 61, the value P indicating the internal pressure of the secondary battery L detected by the load cell 62, and the value Z indicating the surface temperature of the secondary battery L detected by the temperature sensor 63.

(6) In step S31 (fig. 3, 7, and 8), the test control unit 12 may simply not start the process of storing the state of the secondary battery L. Similarly, in step S31 (fig. 3, 7, and 8), the test control unit 12 may simply not start the process of displaying the state of the secondary battery L.

(7) One or more of the first changing condition, the second changing condition, the stop condition, and the restart condition may be determined in advance, and condition information indicating the one or more conditions may be stored in the test execution instruction table TB1 in advance. Accordingly, the time required for the tester to input the condition information indicating the one or more conditions is saved.

The embodiments are described in general terms as follows.

A charge/discharge test apparatus according to an aspect of the embodiment includes: a receiving unit configured to receive information on a plurality of test schedules; a test execution unit that performs charging and discharging of the battery; a detection unit that detects a state of the battery; and a changing section. The changing unit causes the test execution unit to start charging and discharging of the battery in a first test schedule of the plurality of test schedules. And the changing unit may cause the test execution unit to perform the charge and discharge of the battery in a second test schedule of the plurality of test schedules instead of the first test schedule if the state of the battery detected by the detecting unit satisfies a predetermined change condition during the charge and discharge of the battery in the first test schedule.

In the present configuration, in the charge and discharge of the battery in the first test schedule of the plurality of test schedules indicated by the information received by the receiving unit, if the state of the battery satisfies the predetermined change condition, the charge and discharge of the battery are performed in the second test schedule of the plurality of test schedules instead of the first test schedule. Therefore, it is possible to grasp the state change of the battery in each test schedule in the charge and discharge test in the different test schedules.

A recording medium according to an aspect of the above-described embodiment is a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to control a charge/discharge test apparatus including a test execution unit configured to perform charge/discharge of a battery and a detection unit configured to detect a state of the battery. The program causes the computer to receive information on a first test schedule and information on a second test schedule, and the test execution unit performs a first charge/discharge process of the battery in the first test schedule. The program causes the computer to execute a process of operating the charge and discharge test apparatus as follows: stopping the first charge and discharge if the state of the battery detected by the detection unit satisfies a predetermined stop condition during the first charge and discharge; changing the first test schedule to the second test schedule if the state of the battery detected by the detection unit satisfies a predetermined change condition while the first charge and discharge is stopped; the battery is charged and discharged by the test execution unit in the second test schedule.

In addition, a charge/discharge test method according to an aspect of the above embodiment is a charge/discharge test method executed by a computer controlling a charge/discharge test apparatus including a test execution unit configured to perform charge/discharge of a battery and a detection unit configured to detect a state of the battery. The computer receives information on a first test schedule and information on a second test schedule, and the test execution unit performs a first charge and discharge of the battery in the first test schedule. And the computer changes the first test schedule to the second test schedule and performs the charge and discharge of the battery in the second test schedule through the test implementation unit if the state of the battery detected by the detection unit satisfies a predetermined change condition during the first charge and discharge process.

In these configurations, during the charge and discharge of the battery in the first test schedule indicated by the received information, if the state of the battery satisfies the predetermined change condition, the charge and discharge of the battery are performed in the second test schedule instead of the first test schedule. Therefore, it is possible to grasp the state change of the battery in each test schedule in the charge and discharge test in the different test schedules.

In addition, a charge and discharge test apparatus according to another aspect of the above embodiment includes: a receiving unit configured to receive information on a plurality of test schedules; a test execution unit that performs charging and discharging of the battery; a detection unit that detects a state of the battery; and a changing section. The changing unit causes the test execution unit to start charging and discharging of the battery in a first test schedule of the plurality of test schedules. The changing unit may stop the charge and discharge of the battery in the first test schedule if the state of the battery detected by the detecting unit satisfies a predetermined stop condition during the charge and discharge of the battery in the first test schedule. Accordingly, when the charging and discharging of the battery are stopped, if the state of the battery detected by the detection unit satisfies a predetermined change condition, the test execution unit is caused to perform the charging and discharging of the battery in a second test schedule of the plurality of test schedules instead of the first test schedule.

In the present configuration, during the charge and discharge of the battery in the first test schedule of the plurality of test schedules indicated by the information received by the receiving unit, if the state of the battery satisfies the stop condition, the charge and discharge of the battery in the first test schedule are stopped. When the charging and discharging of the battery in the first test schedule are stopped, if the state of the battery satisfies a predetermined change condition, the charging and discharging of the battery are performed in the second test schedule instead of the first test schedule. Therefore, it is possible to grasp the state change of the battery in each test schedule in the charge and discharge test in the different test schedules.

A recording medium according to another aspect of the above-described embodiment is a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to control a charge/discharge test apparatus including a test execution unit configured to perform charge/discharge of a battery and a detection unit configured to detect a state of the battery. The program causes the computer to receive information on a first test schedule and information on a second test schedule, and the test execution unit performs a first charge/discharge process of the battery in the first test schedule. The program causes the computer to execute a process of causing the charge and discharge test apparatus to operate as follows: stopping the first charge and discharge if the state of the battery detected by the detection unit satisfies a predetermined stop condition during the first charge and discharge; changing the first test schedule to the second test schedule if the state of the battery detected by the detection unit satisfies a predetermined change condition while the first charge and discharge is stopped; the battery is charged and discharged by the test execution unit in the second test schedule.

In addition, a charge/discharge test method according to another aspect of the above embodiment is a charge/discharge test method executed by a computer controlling a charge/discharge test apparatus including a test execution unit configured to perform charge/discharge of a battery and a detection unit configured to detect a state of the battery. The computer receives information on a first test schedule and information on a second test schedule, and the test execution unit performs a first charge and discharge of the battery in the first test schedule. The computer stops the first charge and discharge if the state of the battery detected by the detection unit satisfies a predetermined stop condition during the first charge and discharge. Then, the computer changes the first test schedule to the second test schedule and performs the charge and discharge of the battery in the second test schedule through the test implementation unit if the state of the battery detected by the detection unit satisfies a predetermined change condition while the first charge and discharge are stopped.

In these configurations, during the charge and discharge of the battery in the first test schedule indicated by the received information, if the state of the battery satisfies the stop condition, the charge and discharge of the battery in the first test schedule is stopped. When the state of the battery satisfies a predetermined change condition while the charge and discharge of the battery in the first test schedule are stopped, the charge and discharge of the battery are performed in the second test schedule instead of the first test schedule. Therefore, it is possible to grasp the state change of the battery in each test schedule in the charge and discharge test in the different test schedules.

Further, the receiving unit may further receive information on the stop condition.

According to this configuration, when the state of the battery during the charge and discharge of the battery satisfies the stop condition indicated by the information received by the receiving unit, the charge and discharge of the battery in the first test schedule is stopped. Therefore, the tester can arbitrarily determine the state of the battery at the time of stopping the charge and discharge of the battery in the first test schedule. Accordingly, the tester can appropriately determine the timing of stopping the charge and discharge of the battery in the first test schedule according to the type of the battery and the like.

The receiving unit may further receive information on the change condition.

According to this configuration, when the state of the battery during the charge and discharge of the battery satisfies the change condition indicated by the information received by the receiving unit, the test schedule for charging and discharging the battery is changed from the first test schedule to the second test schedule. Therefore, the tester can arbitrarily determine the state of the battery at the time when the test schedule for charging and discharging the battery is changed from the first test schedule to the second test schedule. Accordingly, the tester can appropriately determine the timing of changing the test schedule when charging and discharging the battery from the first test schedule to the second test schedule according to the type of the battery and the like.

Further, the charge/discharge test apparatus may further include: and a storage unit configured to store information on the first test schedule in association with information indicating a state of the battery detected by the detection unit during charge and discharge of the battery in the first test schedule, and to store information on the second test schedule in association with information indicating a state of the battery detected by the detection unit during charge and discharge of the battery in the second test schedule.

According to this configuration, by referring to the information stored in the storage unit, it is possible to grasp the state of the battery when the battery is charged and discharged in each of the first test schedule and the second test schedule.

Preferably, the state of the battery detected by the detection unit includes one or more of a change in shape of the battery, an internal pressure of the battery, and a surface temperature of the battery.

According to this configuration, if one or more of the change in shape of the battery, the internal pressure of the battery, and the surface temperature of the battery detected by the detection unit satisfy the change condition, the test schedule at the time of charging and discharging the battery is changed from the first test schedule to the second test schedule. Therefore, the test schedule at the time of charging and discharging the battery can be changed from the first test schedule to the second test schedule at a timing based on one or more changes in the shape of the battery, the internal pressure of the battery, and the surface temperature of the battery.

Preferably, the change condition is a value indicating a state of the battery detected by the detection unit, which is within a range exceeding a first threshold value and not exceeding a second threshold value.

According to this configuration, when the value indicating the state of the battery (hereinafter, state value) detected by the detection unit becomes a value that exceeds the first threshold value and does not exceed the second threshold value, the test schedule at the time of charging and discharging the battery is changed from the first test schedule to the second test schedule.

For example, the state value when there is a sign of abnormality in the battery may be set as a first threshold value, the state value when abnormality occurs in the battery may be set as a second threshold value, and a test schedule in which a load applied to the battery is smaller than that of the first test schedule may be determined as the second test schedule. At this time, when the state value does not exceed the first threshold value, the charge and discharge of the battery in the first test schedule are continued. Then, if the state value becomes a value exceeding the first threshold value and not exceeding the second threshold value, the charge and discharge of the battery are performed in the second test schedule instead of the first test schedule. When the abnormality of the battery does not occur yet, although the abnormality of the battery is indicated, for example, the battery can be charged and discharged in the second test schedule in which the load applied to the battery is reduced. In this case, it is found that there is a sign of abnormality in the test in the first test schedule, but there is no sign of abnormality in the second test schedule.

Claims

1. A charge and discharge test device is characterized by comprising:

a receiving unit configured to receive information on a plurality of test schedules;

a test execution unit that performs charging and discharging of the battery;

a detection unit that detects a state of the battery; and the number of the first and second groups,

and a changing unit configured to cause the test execution unit to start charging and discharging of the battery in a first test schedule of the plurality of test schedules, and to cause the test execution unit to perform charging and discharging of the battery in a second test schedule of the plurality of test schedules instead of the first test schedule if a state of the battery detected by the detecting unit satisfies a predetermined changing condition during the charging and discharging of the battery in the first test schedule.

2. A charge and discharge test device is characterized by comprising:

a test execution unit that performs charging and discharging of the battery;

and a changing unit configured to cause the test execution unit to start charging and discharging of the battery in a first test schedule of the plurality of test schedules, cause the test execution unit to stop charging and discharging of the battery in the first test schedule if the state of the battery detected by the detecting unit satisfies a predetermined stop condition during charging and discharging of the battery in the first test schedule, and cause the test execution unit to perform charging and discharging of the battery in a second test schedule of the plurality of test schedules instead of the first test schedule if the state of the battery detected by the detecting unit satisfies the predetermined change condition when charging and discharging of the battery are stopped.

3. The charge and discharge test device according to claim 2,

the receiving unit further receives information on the stop condition.

4. The charge and discharge test device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

the receiving unit further receives information on the change condition.

5. The charge and discharge test device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by further comprising:

and a storage unit configured to store information on the first test schedule in association with information indicating a state of the battery detected by the detection unit during charge and discharge of the battery in the first test schedule, and to store information on the second test schedule in association with information indicating a state of the battery detected by the detection unit during charge and discharge of the battery in the second test schedule.

6. The charge and discharge test device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

the state of the battery detected by the detection unit includes one or more of a change in shape of the battery, an internal pressure of the battery, and a surface temperature of the battery.

7. The charge and discharge test device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

the change condition is a range in which a value indicating the state of the battery detected by the detection unit exceeds a first threshold value and does not exceed a second threshold value.

8. A computer-readable non-transitory recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to control a charge/discharge test apparatus including a test execution unit for performing charge/discharge of a battery and a detection unit for detecting a state of the battery, the program causing the computer to execute a process for causing the charge/discharge test apparatus to operate as follows:

accepting information relating to a first test schedule and information relating to a second test schedule;

performing, by the test execution unit, first charge and discharge of the battery in the first test schedule;

changing the first test schedule to the second test schedule if the state of the battery detected by the detection unit satisfies a predetermined change condition during the first charge/discharge process;

the battery is charged and discharged by the test execution unit in the second test schedule.

9. A computer-readable non-transitory recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to control a charge/discharge test apparatus including a test execution unit for performing charge/discharge of a battery and a detection unit for detecting a state of the battery, the program causing the computer to execute a process for causing the charge/discharge test apparatus to operate as follows:

stopping the first charge and discharge if the state of the battery detected by the detection unit satisfies a predetermined stop condition during the first charge and discharge;

changing the first test schedule to the second test schedule if the state of the battery detected by the detection unit satisfies a predetermined change condition while the first charge and discharge is stopped;

10. A charge/discharge test method for controlling a charge/discharge test apparatus including a test execution unit for executing charge/discharge of a battery and a detection unit for detecting a state of the battery, the charge/discharge test method being executed by a computer, the computer executing:

11. A charge/discharge test method for controlling a charge/discharge test apparatus including a test execution unit for executing charge/discharge of a battery and a detection unit for detecting a state of the battery, the charge/discharge test method being executed by a computer, the computer executing: