DE102010046881A1 - Battery arrangement for e.g. electrically propelled motor vehicle, has data processing device and universal mobile telecommunication system modem arranged in housing and connected with each other for long-distance data transmission - Google Patents

Abstract

The arrangement (1) has rechargeable secondary cells (3a-3c) arranged on an outer surface (6) of a hollow cylindrical housing (2) such that the secondary cells are accessed from outside the housing. The secondary cells are electrically connected with electrical contacts (4, 5). A data processing device (7) e.g. embedded system, and a universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS)modem (8) are arranged in the housing and connected with each other for long-distance data transmission. The modem is designed as a mobile telephone unit or a radio network unit. An independent claim is also included for a battery arrangement system comprising a central data processing unit.

Description

The present invention relates to an accumulator arrangement comprising a housing, at least one rechargeable secondary cell arranged in the housing, and at least two contacts electrically connected to the rechargeable secondary cells, which are arranged on an outer surface of the housing such that they are accessible from outside the housing.

Such accumulator arrangements are known in the prior art in multiple embodiments. These range from small cells, such as those used in mobile telephones or multimedia devices, to large accumulator arrangements used in motor vehicles or aircraft.

Accumulator arrangements of the type mentioned are becoming increasingly important in connection with the concepts of electric mobility, d. H. for driving motor vehicles, air showers and ships with the help of electric motors. In particular, motor vehicles include not only conventional cars, but also trucks and especially the increasingly popular two-wheelers with electric motor or electric motor support.

Most known from the prior art concepts for electric mobility resort to accumulator, which are permanently installed in the motor vehicle and can only be replaced with the help of trained for this purpose technicians. Although there are systems for the electrically driven two-wheeled vehicles in which the accumulator arrangement can be exchanged by the driver himself, these systems also assume that the accumulator arrangement is and will remain in the driver's possession.

A disadvantage has been found in the systems of the prior art that the loading of the corresponding accumulator assembly takes a long time. In particular, in the case of the accumulator arrangements permanently installed in the motor vehicles, this leads to the electrically operated motor vehicle, after complete or partial discharging of the accumulator arrangement supplying it with electrical energy, for a longer time, ie. H. for a period of several hours must remain in one place to be connected there to the mains, so that the accumulator assembly can be loaded.

This represents a significant limitation on mobility over conventional combustion-powered automobiles. In these, the consumer is accustomed to within minutes of the energy storage, i. H. in particular the gasoline, diesel or gas tank, replenish at a corresponding gas station.

In contrast, it is an object of the present invention to provide an accumulator, which allows a rapid filling of the energy storage of the motor vehicle by replacing the accumulator assembly at a corresponding gas station.

To solve this problem, it is proposed that an accumulator arrangement of the type mentioned above with a housing, at least one arranged in the housing rechargeable secondary cell and at least two electrically connected to the rechargeable secondary cells contacts, which are arranged on an outer surface of the housing that they from outside the housing are accessible to improve it by having in the housing a data processing device and connected to the data processing device modem for remote data transmission.

Such a supplement to an accumulator arrangement around a data processing device as well as a modem connected to it makes it possible to process information about the accumulator arrangement, in particular its charge level, to store it and to exchange it with other data processing devices via the modem.

Thus, in one embodiment, it can be ensured, in particular, that the user of a motor vehicle receives an accumulator arrangement at a loading location whose operating data are transmitted from the charging station to the motor vehicle user by the data processing device integrated in the accumulator arrangement via the modem to a central administrative unit , In one embodiment, the data transmitted in this case comprise, in particular, the current state of charge when transferring from the charging point to the user of the motor vehicle and / or the date and / or time of transfer and / or a unique identifier of the transferred accumulator arrangement.

If, in one embodiment, the accumulator arrangement is returned to a further loading location after a certain period of use or exchanged for an already charged accumulator arrangement, the current data of the returned accumulator arrangement is again transmitted from the integrated data processing device via the modem to a central data processing device. In particular, the data transmitted by the accumulator arrangement again include the current one Charge level, so can the amount of energy removed determine and settle with the owner or user of the motor vehicle.

For the purposes of the present application, a secondary cell is a storage device for electrical energy, in particular based on an electrochemical system. The individual secondary cells are galvanic cells, which convert chemical energy into electrical energy and vice versa.

In one embodiment of the invention, the accumulator assembly is a traction accumulator assembly, i. H. to an accumulator assembly for supplying an electric motor as a drive in a land vehicle, a ship or an aircraft.

The provided on the outside of the housing contacts, which are electrically connected to the secondary cell, serve to charge the secondary cell and / or to remove electrical energy from the secondary cell.

A data processing device in the sense of the present invention is, for example, an embedded system, also known as an embedded system. H. an electronic computer or computer integrated into the accumulator assembly and configured to perform the specific tasks associated with the accumulator assembly. Such embedded systems are known, for example, in consumer electronics, where today they provide a low-cost way to provide a large number of functionalities, with the functionalities being implemented on a standard operating system.

An outer surface of the housing according to the present invention is each surface of the housing, which from the outside, d. H. accessible from outside the housing. This applies regardless of where the outer surface is arranged on the housing. In particular, a surface of a hollow cylinder which points radially inward is an outer surface in the sense of the present invention.

In one embodiment of the invention, the modem is a mobile telephone unit or a radio network unit. These enable a wireless exchange of data between the data processing device integrated in the accumulator arrangement and a central data processing device. Possible standards which can be operated by the modem are, for example, UMTS, GSM, satellite telephony or also W-LAN.

The accumulator arrangements according to the invention described here have a considerable value. Therefore, it is necessary for the companies operating and issuing the accumulator to be able to understand where the individual accumulator arrangements are located in order to prevent theft or other misuse.

Therefore, in one embodiment of the invention, the accumulator assembly further comprises a position determining unit. Such a position determination unit is for example a satellite navigation unit according to one of the known standards, such. GPS, Glonas or Gallileo.

In an alternative embodiment, the position determination unit is arranged to determine the current position of the accumulator arrangement from data received by the modem, for example by triangulation. If, for example, the modem is a GSM modem for the use of conventional mobile radio standards, then the exact coordinates of the battery arrangement can be determined with relatively simple and inexpensive means from the signal propagation times between the modem and a plurality of spatially separated base stations of the mobile radio network.

In one embodiment of the invention, the current coordinates of the accumulator arrangement determined by the position determination unit are also transmitted by the data processing unit to a central data processing unit with the aid of the modem.

Even if systems are conceivable with which each motor vehicle owner or user has his own accumulator arrangement belonging to him, a deposit system in which the accumulator devices belong to a single issuer or issuing company has the advantage that when exchanging two accumulator devices none of the users of the system is over-advantaged. None of the users of the system can take advantage of, for example, exchanging an accumulator assembly with an already heavily aged secondary cell for an accumulator assembly having a brand new secondary cell.

In one embodiment of the invention, the accumulator arrangement has a measuring device for detecting the charge level of the rechargeable secondary cell.

As a rule, it will be necessary to detect the charge level, to detect the voltage of the secondary cell or the discharge current or the discharge voltage in the load case.

In one embodiment, the measuring device is in particular connected to the data processing unit unit of the accumulator arrangement and via this to the modem for transmitting the acquired measured values.

In a further alternative embodiment, the accumulator arrangement has a measuring device, which is preferably likewise connected to the data processing device and which is set up in such a way that it detects the charging current or the charging voltage during charging of the rechargeable secondary cell. In this way, it can be determined effectively with which state of charge an accumulator arrangement has been transferred to the vehicle user or owner.

In a further embodiment, the accumulator arrangement has a unique identification designating the accumulator arrangement. Such an identifier may be stored in the form of an alphanumeric or numerical value in the data processing device or a memory associated therewith. This identifier can then be transferred from the data processing device with the aid of the modem to a central data processing unit, for example, the petrol station operator or the issuer of the accumulator arrangements.

Alternatively or additionally, the identifier can be arranged on an outer surface of the housing so that the identifier can be read out with the aid of a reading device, for example if the accumulator arrangement is to be exchanged at a loading location. For example, the identifier is then present on an outer surface of the housing as a barcode and can be read out with the aid of a barcode reader. Alternatively, the identifier can also be implemented as a circuit that can be read with high-frequency electrical signals, a so-called "RFID tag".

In one embodiment of the invention, the accumulator arrangement has a switching device connected to the data processing unit, which can switch the secondary cell such that the user can not remove any energy from it. In combination with the communication capability of the data processing unit, the functionality of the accumulator arrangement can thus be remotely controlled. In particular, it is possible to prevent misuse of the accumulator arrangement by switching off the arrangement.

The accumulator assembly can be in one embodiment of the invention, both stationary, especially in a dedicated charging device, such. B. an electric filling station, as well as a mobile charge while driving a motor vehicle, in particular by energy recovery during braking. In one embodiment, a plurality of the accumulator arrangements according to the invention may for example be received on the trailer of a truck and loaded there while driving.

The accumulator arrangements according to the invention present a considerable value, so that in their entirety they can form a kind of currency or substitute currency system. For this purpose, the value of the individual accumulator arrangements can be saved by an institution having the accumulator arrangements and issuing them to the users, for example a company, with a correspondingly stored countervalue.

In one embodiment of the invention, the housing has a substantially cylindrical shape, preferably a substantially hollow cylindrical shape. Such forms of accumulator arrangements are particularly suitable for the traction accumulator arrangements in question here, since they can fill installation spaces on existing motor vehicles which are present anyway. This is, for example, the space for a spare wheel provided in many motor vehicles.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the housing of the accumulator assembly is at least partially formed by the carcass of a car tire.

Car tires are, when their profile is worn, fed in large numbers of retreading. In this case, the rubber composition is peeled off the carcass, recycled and re-vulcanized in the manufacture of the car tire, the rubber composition on the existing carcass. However, a shelled carcass can also be used as a housing base for the accumulator arrangement according to the invention, since it already provides a hollow-cylindrical basic structure which is optimally adapted to the existing installation spaces of a motor vehicle.

In one embodiment of the invention, the secondary cell, the data processing device and the modem are inserted into the carcass and then potted with the carcass with the aid of rubber compound.

The above object is further achieved by a road vehicle having an accumulator arrangement as described above.

Moreover, it is expedient to integrate the accumulator arrangement, as described above, into a system with a central data processing unit, which is connectable to the modem for remote data transmission of the accumulator assembly for data exchange.

In one embodiment, such a system additionally has at least one charging station for the accumulator arrangement.

Further advantages, features and applications of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments and the associated figures.

1 schematically shows a first embodiment of the inventive accumulator assembly.

2 shows an accumulator assembly according to the invention in tire form.

1 schematically shows an accumulator assembly according to the invention 1 with a housing 2 as well as three secondary cells 3a . 3b . 3c , The secondary cells 3a . 3b . 3c are using electrical wiring with electrical contacts 4 . 5 connected, which on an outer surface 6 of the housing 2 are arranged. There are the contacts 4 . 5 for connection to an electrical consumer or with an electric charging device accessible from the outside.

Central element of the accumulator arrangement 1 is the data processing device 7 , In the present embodiment, this is a computer operated as an embedded system, the central control and communication tasks in the accumulator arrangement 1 Fulfills.

In the illustrated embodiment, the data processing device 7 continue with a UMTS modem 8th , a satellite navigation unit 9 , a measuring device 10 for detecting the charge level of the secondary cells 3a . 3b . 3c and a switching device 11 connected.

The interaction of the individual components will be described below with reference to an exemplary deposit system for a traction battery 1 described for the operation of electrically powered vehicles. It is assumed that the traction battery 1 is received or receivable in a motor vehicle.

The user of the motor vehicle has the secondary cells 3a . 3b . 3c the accumulator arranged empty, so he controls a loading point 12 or electric filling station, in order to be supplied there with new energy. Since the conventional charging of motor vehicles with electric drive takes a long time, the system according to the invention operates with a deposit system for the accumulator assembly 1 ,

The holder exchanges at the loading point 12 his empty driven accumulator assembly 1 against an at least partially charged accumulator assembly 1 so he stops at the loading station after a short stay 12 , which also corresponds to the time required for refueling a conventional fossil fuel-powered motor vehicle, can continue its journey.

In this case, the accumulator assembly 1 in the possession of an issuer or publisher of the batteries, which they themselves or through partners load and have issued to the motor vehicle users. Once the accumulator assembly at the loading point 12 is handed over to a motor vehicle user, so detects the accumulator assembly 1 with the aid of the data processing device 7 and the associated with this measuring device 10 the current charge level of the secondary cells 3a . 3b . 3c , This charge level of the cells is from the data processing device 7 with the help of the UMTS modem 8th via a UMTS mobile channel 14 to the operator 13 the accumulator device 1 transmitted.

In an alternative embodiment, not shown here, the modem 8th a radio network unit, for example for a short-range W-LAN module, which transfers the data to a corresponding W-LAN base station of the loading station 12 transmitted when the accumulator device 1 near the W-LAN module of the loading point 12 located.

Does the motor vehicle user the accumulator assembly 1 for example, after a prolonged motor vehicle ride in the nearly discharged state at a loading point 12 returns or exchanges them there against an already recharged accumulator 1 a, so the data processing device detects 7 the accumulator arrangement 1 again via the measuring device 10 the charge level of the secondary cells 3a . 3b . 3c , This charge level is as before with the help of the UMTS modem to the owner of the accumulator 1 transmitted. This then becomes the accumulator device 1 extracted amount of energy using a central data processing unit 13 from the shop stands of the accumulator device 1 determine on pickup or return. The motor vehicle user is only charged the amount of energy taken plus a lump-sum user charge for Akkumulatoranordung. Here, a payment either as usual from conventional petrol stations bar at the loading point 12 done or also cashless, for example by a direct debit.

As in the system according to the invention all accumulator devices 1 are in the hands of a single issuer or holder, aging state of the accumulator devices 1 for the operation of the system only a minor role, since no motor vehicle user can achieve a profit from the fact that it exchanges an old accumulator device by one with only a few hours of operation.

The accumulator devices discussed according to the invention 1 not only due to the value of the secondary cells they contain 3a . 3b . 3c , but also due to the electronics also included 7 . 8th . 9 . 10 . 11 a significant value to be secured.

To misuse the accumulator device 1 To prevent or at least aggravate, has the accumulator assembly 1 continue the satellite navigation unit 9 as well as the switching device 11 on. In particular, an operation of the accumulator device 1 be effectively avoided outside the supply system maintained by the issuer. With the help of the satellite navigation unit 9 can the data processing device 7 at any time the exact position of the accumulator assembly 1 determine and this with the help of the UMTS modem 8th to the central data processing unit 13 the issuer. Thus, in case of abuse, the whereabouts of the accumulator arrangement can be determined 1 determine without doubt.

The switching device 11 allows the data processing device 7 in addition, in the abuse case, the removal of additional energy from the secondary cells 3a . 3b . 3c by breaking the wires between the terminals 4 . 5 and the secondary cells 3a . 3b . 3c to prevent.

In addition, the switching device can 11 be used as a breaker unit, the operation of the accumulator assembly 1 to commit to a loan commitment. This is particularly advantageous because the amount of energy removed in the proposed inventive concept only in hindsight, ie after the return of the empty accumulator assembly 1 at a loading point 12 can be determined exactly. This distinguishes the illustrated system considerably from the purchase of fossil fuels at a conventional gas station, where the principle of goods against money applies.

In terms of in 1 illustrated embodiment, this means that when picking up a battery assembly 1 at a loading point 12 the loading point 12 first, for example via the central data processing device 13 , asks if the picker is also creditworthy. Only if it receives a confirmation, is the removal of electrical energy via the contacts 4 . 5 from the secondary cells 3a . 3b . 3c with the help of the switching device 11 unlocked. A corresponding control pulse is from the central data processing device 13 over the UMTS channel 14 to the UMTS modem 8th the accumulator arrangement 1 sent and from the connected to the UMTS modem data processing device 7 processed.

2 shows a preferred construction of an accumulator assembly 1' , In this case, the accumulator device contains 1' all elements, including in the accumulator arrangement 1 of the 1 are included.

At the in 2 The illustrated design, the secondary cells and the electronics are installed in the peeled carcass of a used tire and poured into it. The accumulator arrangement thus provided 1' can be arranged in particular in the conventional Ersatzreifenaufnehmung a motor vehicle and roll during transport to the vehicle. The tire forms the housing in this embodiment 2 ' the accumulator arrangement.

All components in the accumulator assembly 1 out 1 are included in the embodiment 2 poured into the tire carcass. The electrical contacts 4 ' . 5 ' are on the outside surface 6 ' of the tire housing 2 ' arranged so that they are accessible from outside the housing to allow an electrical connection to a consumer or a charging device.

In a particular, not shown embodiment, the tire-like accumulator assembly has a rim, wherein an axis is guided by the rim, which in turn allows the two contacts for charging or for removing electrical energy from the secondary cells.

The encapsulation or pouring of the secondary cells of the tire carcass can in particular take place together with the inclusion of a fire-extinguishing agent, so that in the case of overheating of the secondary cells, a possibly resulting fire is extinguished immediately.

For purposes of the original disclosure, it is to be understood that all such features as will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the present description, drawings, and claims, even if concretely described only in connection with certain other features, both individually and separately any combinations with other features or groups of features disclosed herein are combinable, unless it has been expressly excluded or technical conditions make such combinations impossible or pointless. On the comprehensive, explicit representation of all conceivable combinations of features is omitted here only for the sake of brevity and readability of the description.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are exemplary only and are not intended to limit the scope of the protection as defined by the claims. The invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments.

Variations of the disclosed embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the drawings, the description and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain features are claimed in different claims does not exclude their combination. Reference signs in the claims are not intended to limit the scope of protection.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1, 1 '

accumulator

2, 2 '

casing

3a, 3b, 3c

secondary cells

4, 4 ', 5, 5'

Contact

6, 6 '

Outside surface of the housing 2 . 2 '

7

Data processing device

8th

UMTS modem

9

Satellite navigation unit

10

measuring device

11

switching device

12

Loading Station

13

central data processing unit

14

UMTS channel

Claims (15)

Accumulator arrangement ( 1 ) with a housing ( 2 ), at least one in the housing ( 2 ) arranged rechargeable secondary cell, at least two electrically connected to the rechargeable secondary cell contacts, which on an outer surface ( 6 ) of the housing ( 2 ) are arranged to be accessible from outside the housing, characterized in that they further comprise in the housing a data processing device ( 7 ) and one with the data processing device ( 7 ) connected modem ( 8th ) for remote data transmission. Accumulator arrangement ( 1 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the modem is a mobile telephone unit ( 8th ) or a wireless network unit. Accumulator arrangement ( 1 ) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a position determining unit ( 9 ) to record their current location. Accumulator arrangement ( 1 ) according to claim 3, characterized in that the position determination unit is a satellite navigation unit ( 9 ). Accumulator arrangement ( 1 ) according to claim 3, characterized in that the position determination unit is arranged to determine the position of the accumulator arrangement from data received from the modem. Accumulator arrangement ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises a measuring device ( 10 ) for detecting the charge level of the rechargeable secondary cell. Accumulator arrangement ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises a measuring device which is adapted to detect the discharge current or the discharge voltage during discharge of the rechargeable secondary cell. Accumulator arrangement ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises a measuring device which is adapted to detect the charging current or the charging voltage during charging of the rechargeable secondary cell. Accumulator arrangement ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it has a unique identifier designating the accumulator arrangement. Accumulator arrangement ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the housing ( 2 ) has a substantially cylindrical shape. Accumulator arrangement ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the housing ( 2 ) has a substantially hollow cylindrical shape. Accumulator arrangement ( 1 ) according to claim 11, characterized in that the housing ( 2 ) is at least partially formed by the carcass of a car tire. Accumulator arrangement ( 1 ) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that it is connected to the data processing unit ( 7 ) connected switching device ( 11 ), which is adapted to switch the secondary cell so that it can not be taken out of energy. Road vehicle with an accumulator arrangement ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 12. System with at least one accumulator arrangement ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 12 and a central data processing unit ( 13 ) connected to the modem ( 8th ) for remote data transmission of the accumulator arrangement ( 1 ) is connectable.

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