EP3991232A1

EP3991232A1 - Storage battery, contact element and method for operating a storage battery

Info

Publication number: EP3991232A1
Application number: EP20734696.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hans-Georg Hornung
Original assignee: Sensor Technik Wiedemann GmbH
Current assignee: Sensor Technik Wiedemann GmbH
Priority date: 2019-06-25
Filing date: 2020-06-23
Publication date: 2022-05-04
Also published as: DE102019117058A1; WO2020260231A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a storage battery (1) for providing electrical energy, comprising at least one rechargeable secondary cell (2) and at least one contact unit (3) for connecting the storage battery (1) to an external device (20; 21; 22), in particular a consumer device (22), a charging device (21) and/or an additional storage battery (1), wherein the contact unit (3) comprises at least two electrical contacts (4), at least two of the electrical contacts (4) being power contacts (5). The storage battery (1) is characterized in that the storage battery (1) comprises at least one electronic module (6), the electronic module (6) being connected to at least one of the secondary cells (2) and preferably to at least one of the contact units (3). The invention further relates to a contact element (23) for establishing an electrical contact with a contact unit (3) of a storage battery (1) according to the preceding description, and a method for operating a storage battery (1) according to the preceding description.

Description

ACCUMULATOR, CONTACT ELEMENT AND METHOD OF OPERATING A

ACCUMULATOR

Technical area

The invention relates to an accumulator for providing electrical energy having at least one rechargeable secondary cell and at least one contact unit for connecting the accumulator to an external device, to a contact element for making electrical contact with a

Contact unit of a battery according to the preamble of claim 11 and to a method for operating a battery, wherein a contact element of an external device is plugged into a contact unit of the battery.

State of the art

Accumulators for providing electrical energy are known in many ways. A special charger is required to charge these accumulators. In order to ensure a long service life of the accumulator, electronics are often provided in the device in which the accumulator is used, which, for example, limits the current output of the accumulator or switches off the device if the rechargeable secondary cells of the accumulator fall below a certain operating voltage. These accumulators are then often designed for a specific device which, in addition to the electronics for operating the device and the accumulator, often also has special charging electronics.

The disadvantage of the known prior art is that each such device the

Electronics for operating the device and the special charging electronics must have, the components for this usually having to be adapted to the respective device.

Furthermore, a large number of application devices are known from the prior art, which are supplied with electrical energy from an accumulator. These application devices have in addition to the specific for the application device

Electronics often use electronics for many other unspecific functions. Disadvantageous the reason for this is that the integration of the electronics for the unspecific functions in the application device is complex and therefore expensive.

Presentation of the invention

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide an accumulator which can be used universally and does not require a special charger or special electronics to operate the accumulator. Furthermore, it is the object of the present invention to provide a contact element for making electrical contact with such an accumulator and a method for operating such an accumulator. It is also the object of the present invention to improve the provision of non-specific functions for application devices.

This object is achieved by an accumulator for providing electrical energy according to claim 1, a contact element for making electrical contact with a contact unit of a accumulator according to claim 11, and a method for operating an accumulator according to claim 12.

An accumulator for providing electrical energy is proposed, having at least one rechargeable secondary cell. The accumulator preferably has a plurality of rechargeable secondary cells, so that a higher output voltage and a higher capacity of the accumulator can be achieved. The exact type of secondary cells is not essential for the present invention, although secondary cells are preferred which have no or only a very low memory effect.

Furthermore, the accumulator has at least one contact unit for connecting the accumulator to an external device. The contact unit is preferably a socket, a plug, or, for example, also a plurality of terminal contacts. The accumulator preferably has two or four such contact units for the simultaneous connection of up to two or four external devices to the accumulator. The external device is in particular an application device, a charger and / or a further accumulator. Application device is understood here to mean a device that is used by Accumulator is supplied with electrical energy. The charger can be any charger for charging accumulators, a conventional one

Power connection or some other source of electrical energy, for example a photovoltaic system. The contact unit is thus designed to be bidirectional, that is to say that electrical energy can both be emitted and received via it. The contact unit comprises at least two, preferably more than two, electrical contacts. At least two of these electrical contacts are power contacts, that is, contacts that are provided for the transport of electrical energy. The other contacts then serve for example

Communication or control.

The accumulator is characterized in that it comprises at least one electronics module, the electronics module being connected to at least one of the secondary cells, and preferably to at least one of the contact units. The

The electronics module provides functions that no longer have to be provided separately in the external device. The external device can therefore be constructed more simply and thus more cheaply, since some functions are already provided by the electronic module of the accumulator. Should one or more of these functions fail, be defective or faulty, this can be remedied simply by exchanging the defective accumulator for a functioning copy, which is even possible by untrained personnel. If the functions were integrated in the external device, this would have to be repaired by specialist staff at great expense, which is significantly more expensive and takes longer than replacing the battery.

The electronics module advantageously has a control unit for controlling, in particular for dynamically controlling, the electrical properties of the power contacts. The electrical properties of the power contacts are understood to mean, for example, the voltage applied to the power contacts, the current provided by the power contacts, or an internal resistance of the power contacts. For this purpose, the control unit in particular comprises at least one 2-quadrant DC-DC converter or 4-quadrant DC-DC converter. The control unit preferably comprises a 2-quadrant DC-DC converter or 4-quadrant DC-DC converter for each contact unit, that is to say the number of contact units and the number of 2-quadrant DC-DC converters or 4-quadrant DC DC converters are the same. In this way, the electrical properties of each contact unit can be controlled separately. 2-quadrant DC-DC converters are sufficient if the highest voltage required at the contact units is less than the voltage that can be achieved by connecting the secondary cells in series. However, 4-quadrant DC-DC converters are preferably used, as they offer a wide range of options for controlling the electrical properties of the

Provide power contacts.

It is particularly advantageous if the control of the electrical properties comprises one or more of the following variants. In particular, the control unit provides one or more nominal voltages at the power contacts. In particular, if several contact units and as many 2-

Quadrant DC-DC converters or 4-quadrant DC-DC converters are provided, provide a different nominal voltage at each contact unit, so that each application device is supplied with the voltage required by this application device. A single application device can also be connected to several

Contact units be connected if there are, for example, different

Nominal voltages or a higher amperage required at the same nominal voltage. In addition to providing a direct voltage, an alternating voltage between two channels or a 3-phase rotating field voltage between three channels can also be provided.

Furthermore, the control unit can activate and deactivate the power contacts individually, i. In other words, switch the power contacts on and off individually.

Should an application device require a predetermined, in particular constant, current source, the electronics module can also supply a constant current strength to the

Provide performance contacts. The provision of a voltage or a current at the power contacts is independent of the secondary cells as a result of the interposed electronics module, provided that the secondary cells can supply the required voltage or current intensity. A short-term provision of a higher current is also possible, for example, if this does not cause permanent damage to the secondary cells. Likewise, the electronics module can also provide constant electrical power to the power contacts, if

Application devices with a fluctuating internal resistance require constant electrical power.

By providing a current limitation at the power contacts, the external devices and also the secondary cells are protected against short circuits and longer permanent overload secured. As a result, it is even possible to dispense with fuses in the external devices to protect them against short circuits.

The control unit controls the networking of several accumulators

Power distribution of these accumulators. For a simplified parallel connection of accumulators, in particular without communication with one another, the electronics module also provides a virtual internal resistance at one or more of the power contacts. So is a parallel connection of two or more

Accumulators are possible without further effort, since the measures mentioned prevent, for example, vibrations between the accumulators.

This internal resistance is preferably adjustable so that it can be optimally adapted to different application devices.

Furthermore, the electronics module also controls the charging process of the secondary cells on unspecific charging devices, in particular even without communication with the charging device. For charging on specific chargers, the control unit provides an emulation of other rechargeable energy stores, i.e. the electrical properties of the accumulator then correspond to those of the accumulator for which the specific charger is designed, so that the specific charger also operates the charging process with the accumulator at hand. The secondary cells can in principle be charged with any charger.

To establish a charge balance between parallel-connected

The control unit provides accumulators with parameterizable virtual discharge characteristics at the power contacts.

In addition, the control unit can provide power management. This optimizes the use of electrical resources in particular, for example by choosing an output voltage that is optimal for the application device. At the operating limits of the secondary cells, the control unit also operates an active power reduction, for example the power is depending on

Application device prioritized so that application devices for which a power reduction has less severe consequences experience a power reduction first than application devices for which a power reduction has a

Damage the application device or even endanger people. The control unit also provides an active adaptation to different energy sources, for example the Maxirmurm power point tracking for photovoltaic systems. This can be controlled individually on each contact unit of the accumulator. The electronics module preferably also has an internal memory. Life cycle data of the secondary cells and / or configuration data, for example, can be stored in this internal memory. The electrical properties of the power contacts are then controlled taking this data into account. For example, the condition of the individual secondary cells can be taken into account and their service life extended.

It is advantageous if the electronics module has at least one functional unit. The functional unit can be a clock or a real-time clock, which enables, for example, a time-controlled wake-up of the accumulator or the assignment of events to real-time. Furthermore, the functional unit can be a satellite navigation module for determining the position of the accumulator and thus the external devices connected to the accumulator. The

Functional unit can also be a wireless network module for wireless

Communication with other devices or, for example, to access the Internet. Furthermore, the functional unit can be an inclination sensor, a gyro sensor and / or an inertial sensor which, for example, trigger an alarm if an unauthorized and / or dangerous position or movement of the accumulator is detected. In a particularly advantageous development of the invention, the accumulator has a communication unit for communication with the external device, so that in particular one or more of the functional units can be accessed from the external device. This means that the external device can use the

Communication unit to access the functional unit or functional units of the accumulator, for example the real-time clock

Satellite navigation module or the wireless network module. This has the advantage that the external device no longer needs the flardware for these functions and can thus be designed and manufactured more easily and more cost-effectively. The communication unit is in particular at least one communication pin assigned to the contact unit and / or a wireless communication module. The external device then only needs the corresponding communication pin (s) or the corresponding wireless one Communication module and can thus access all or the released functional units of the accumulator.

It is advantageous if the electronics module has a memory reading unit for wired and / or wireless reading and / or writing of a memory

Device memory of the external device. The memory reading unit represents a firmly defined primary control interface. The device memory is preferably located in a contact element of the external device, since this guarantees a short distance to the memory reading unit. For wired reading and / or writing, for example, a single-wire bus is suitable, which in addition to the ground connection only requires an electrical contact. For example, Near Field Communication (NFC) can be used for wireless reading and / or writing of the device memory, since a passive chip in the external device can also be used for this. However, other wireless transmissions are also conceivable. Writing to the device memory depends on whether the device memory or parts of it are write-protected or not. The data read from the device memory of the external device contain, for example, operating parameters for the external device, such as the voltage required by the external device and / or the maximum current strength allowed for the external device. Using these operating parameters, the electronic module controls the power contacts via the control unit in such a way that the external device receives the electrical values it needs.

It is advantageous if the electronics module has at least one

Wireless network unit, in particular for communication with a smart device, wherein in particular parameters of the electronics module and / or external devices can be edited via the smart device. The wireless network unit is preferably a Bluetooth low energy unit, which is characterized by particularly low energy consumption, but other wireless network protocols are also conceivable. Communication with the accumulator is preferably carried out with a smart device, such as a smartphone or a smart watch, but it is also, for example, communication via a

Computer conceivable. Communication between the smart device and the

Electronic module data from the electronic module can be read out via the smart device and parameters of the electronic module, for example relating to the control of the power contacts, can be edited. If the accumulator is also connected to one or more external devices via the communication unit, the smart device can use the wireless network unit and the Communication unit establish a connection with the external device, for example to read out data or to set parameters of the external device. The accumulator advantageously has at least one additional unit that controls the operation of the accumulator and / or the operation of the accumulator

improve or simplify connected external devices. Such

Additional unit is, for example, one assigned to the contact unit

Synchronization pin with which several contact units can be synchronized by an external device. Another additional unit is a switch, preferably a pushbutton switch, with which, for example, the accumulator can be switched on or off, individual power contacts of the accumulator can be switched on or off and / or a connection to a smart device can be established via the wireless network unit. Further possible additional units are an extra charging path, an auxiliary voltage contact that provides a low-power voltage source for external electronics, an activation contact for switching the accumulator on and off electronically, or power contacts of the accumulator, an emergency stop contact for switching off the accumulator in emergencies,

Display elements, for example for displaying the state of charge of the secondary cells or for displaying the operating status of the accumulator or individual functions of the accumulator and / or monitoring elements for monitoring the voltage and / or temperature of the secondary cells.

It is also advantageous if the accumulator is optical and / or acoustic

Has indication means, in particular for the physical identification of the accumulator controlled by a smart device. This means that if several accumulators are present, the accumulator currently connected to the smart device or the accumulator currently active in the smart device can be controlled via a control command in the smart device in such a way that it emits an optical and / or acoustic signal. This accumulator can thus be identified in a quick and simple manner.

It is also advantageous if the accumulator has a cooling surface, in particular with cooling fins. Over this cooling surface, which is enlarged by the cooling fins, heat generated during operation of the accumulator - both when providing electrical energy for application devices and during charging - is quickly released again, so that overheating of the secondary cells is avoided. Furthermore, a contact element for making electrical contact with a contact unit of a rechargeable battery according to the preceding

Description described. In the event that the contact unit of the accumulator is a socket, this is a plug and in the event that the contact unit of the accumulator is a plug, it is a

Socket. However, it is also conceivable that the contact element only has clamps or clamping elements. To establish the connection with the electrical contacts of the contact unit, the contact element has at least two electrical mating contacts.

According to the invention, the contact element also has a device memory and at least one memory output unit for wired and / or wireless output and / or writing of the device memory. In the device memory, for example, data about the electrical requirements of a

Contact element connected electrical device, e.g. one needed

Nominal voltage or a maximum current that must not be exceeded is saved. The data can be output in a wired and / or wireless manner and, if this is permitted, overwritten. For wired outputting and / or writing, for example, a single-wire bus is suitable, which in addition to the ground connection only requires an electrical contact. For wireless outputting and / or writing of the device memory, for example, Near Field Communication (NFC) comes into consideration, since a passive chip in the

Contact element can be used. However, other wireless transmissions are also conceivable. Through the device memory and the memory output unit, it is therefore easily possible to pass on the data necessary for the operation of the external device on the accumulator to the accumulator, so that the power contacts of the accumulator can be controlled accordingly.

Furthermore, a method for operating an accumulator according to FIG

previous description suggested. In this case, a contact element of an external device, in particular an application device, a charger and / or a further accumulator, is connected to a contact unit of the accumulator. An application device is understood here to be a device that is supplied with electrical energy from the accumulator. The charger can be any charger for charging accumulators, a conventional power connection or some other source of electrical energy, for example a photovoltaic system. Due to the functions provided by an electronic module of the accumulator, there is little or no need on the accumulator or on the external device Make settings that ensure proper operation of the battery and the external device. The connection of the external device to the accumulator is particularly simple and can also be carried out by untrained personnel.

A memory reading unit of an electronics module advantageously reads the

Accumulator from a device memory of the external device and controls,

especially dynamic, the electrical properties of power contacts of the contact unit as a function of the data read out. The device memory of the external device therefore contains the data required for operating the external device

Data is stored, for example the nominal voltage required by the external device or the maximum current strength permitted on the external device. The power contacts can thus be controlled in such a way that the external device is operated properly. Information about further communication interfaces of the external device can also be stored in the device memory, via which the electronic module of the accumulator is to establish communication with the external device.

The device memory can be read out in a wired and / or wireless manner. A single-wire bus, for example, which, in addition to the ground connection, only requires an electrical contact, is suitable for wired reading. With different voltage levels on the single-wire pin

different operating parameter sets can be selected in the device memory. For example, Near Field Communication (NFC) can be used for wireless reading, since a passive chip in the contact element can also be used for this.

When controlling the electrical properties of the power contacts, for example, one or more nominal voltages are provided at the power contacts. In particular, if the accumulator has several contact units and the same number of 2-quadrant DC-DC converters or 4-quadrant DC-DC converters, a different nominal voltage can be provided at each contact unit, so that each application device with the voltage required by this application device is supplied. A single application device can also be connected to several contact units if, for example, there are different nominal voltages or a higher current intensity for the same

Nominal voltage required. But it is also conceivable that an alternating voltage between two channels or a 3-phase rotating field voltage between three channels provided. In addition, the power contacts can be activated and deactivated individually, ie the power contacts can be switched on or off individually.

Should an application device require a predetermined, in particular constant, current source, the application device is supplied with a constant current strength

Performance contacts provided. A short-term provision of a higher current is also possible if this does not cause permanent damage to the secondary cells of the accumulator. Likewise, constant electrical power can also be provided at the power contacts when application devices with a fluctuating internal resistance require constant electrical power.

Furthermore, the flow of current at the power contacts can be limited so that the external devices and also the secondary cells are protected against short circuits and prolonged overload.

The power distribution of these accumulators is controlled for the networking of several accumulators. For simplified parallel connection of accumulators, in particular without communication with one another, a virtual one is used

Internal resistance provided at one or more of the power contacts. A parallel connection of two or more accumulators is thus possible without any further effort, since the measures mentioned prevent, for example, vibrations between the accumulators. This internal resistance is preferably set such that it is optimally adapted to the application devices currently in operation.

Furthermore, the charging process of the secondary cells is unspecific

Chargers controlled, especially without communication with the charger. For charging on specific chargers, other rechargeable energy storage devices are emulated; That is, the electrical properties of the accumulator then correspond to those of the accumulator for which the specific charger is designed, so that the specific charger also operates the charging process with the accumulator at hand. The secondary cells can in principle be charged with any charger.

For charging a charge equalization between parallel connected

Accumulators are parameterizable virtual discharge characteristics on the

Performance contacts provided. In addition, a power management can be operated. This optimizes the use of electrical resources in particular, for example by choosing an output voltage that is optimal for the application device. At the operational limits of the secondary cells, an active one is also used

Power reduction operated, for example, the power is depending on

Damage the application device or even endanger people.

The electrical properties of the power contacts are also actively adapted to various energy sources, for example with maximum power point tracking for photovoltaic systems. This can be controlled individually on each contact unit of the accumulator.

It is advantageous if a wireless network connection is established between a smart device and a wireless network unit of the electronics module of the accumulator and the smart device reads out and / or new accumulator-internal data via the wireless network connection

Operating parameter settings made and / or parameters in

Device memory of the external device can be read and / or written. Comfortable control via the smart device is therefore possible, whereby the

Control can also take place from a distance from the accumulator, in particular when the accumulator is difficult to access. Furthermore, the accumulator does not require any complex human-machine interface parts.

The establishment of the wireless network connection is particularly supported by the

Pressing a switch of the accumulator started. The electronic module of the accumulator does not have to constantly search for new wireless network connections, so that no energy is used for this either.

The operating parameters can also be set dynamically, reacting to read-out or external data and on the basis of this the setting of the operating parameters is made. Reading and / or writing, whereby writing is only permitted if there is no write protection, of parameters in the device memory of the external device via the electronic module and the smart device also makes an extra adapter or an extra connection between the smart device and the external device obsolete.

It is advantageous if the accumulator has a current flow to the

Contact unit, in particular at an activation contact of the contact unit, is switched on. The accumulator can be switched on by an external device if required. If this current flow is interrupted, the current flow at one or more power contacts is preferably terminated by one or more contact units. The interruption of the current flow on

Activation contact means that the corresponding power contacts are no longer required. The termination of the current flow at these power contacts saves electrical energy for the accumulator. The accumulator can preferably only be switched on via the current flow to the contact unit when the

State of charge of the secondary cells of the accumulator exceeds a predetermined value. This specified value is a nominal end of discharge and is greater than the state of charge at deep discharge. The fact that when the nominal end of discharge is reached, switching on via the current flow is prevented, and the control current required for this is also stopped, which slows down further discharge of the secondary cells, up to and including deep discharge.

The accumulator is advantageously switched off when a secondary cell of the accumulator falls below a predetermined state of charge. This prevents deep discharge of the secondary cells and thus the service life of the

Accumulator extended. The accumulator is preferably switched on again when a charging current is applied to a contact unit. The secondary cells can be charged again by the charging current, so that the risk of

Deep discharge no longer exists.

It is also advantageous if the accumulator is switched on and / or off with a switch, in particular a pushbutton switch. For example, accumulators in which it is no longer possible to switch on via a current flow due to the state of charge of the secondary cells falling below the specified value can be switched on again.

Finally, it is advantageous if the secondary cells of the accumulator are charged automatically and / or controlled by the smart device is, since it is advantageous for the operation of the battery if the

State of charge of the secondary cells is approximately the same. The charge equalization can be carried out automatically by the electronic module of the accumulator, for example when the secondary cells are currently not being loaded. Alternatively or in addition to this, the charge balancing can also be controlled manually using the smart device.

Developments, advantages and possible applications of the invention also emerge from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the figures. All of the features described and / or shown in the figures, individually or in any combination, are fundamentally the subject of the invention, regardless of how they are summarized in the claims or their

Back relationship. The content of the claims is also made part of the description.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention is to be explained in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments in connection with the drawings. Show it

Fig. 1 is a schematic drawing of an accumulator and

FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing of a typical application of FIG

Accumulators.

Ways of Carrying Out the Invention

Identical reference symbols are used in the figures for elements of the invention that are the same or have the same effect. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only reference symbols are shown in the individual figures that are necessary for the description of the respective figure. FIG. 1 shows a schematic drawing of an accumulator 1 for providing electrical energy. This accumulator 1 includes a plurality of

rechargeable secondary cells 2. The exact type of secondary cells 2 is not essential for the present invention, but secondary cells 2 are preferred which have no or only a very low memory effect.

Furthermore, the accumulator has four contact units 3, a different number of contact units 3 also being possible. The contact units 3 have a plurality of electrical contacts 4, two of the electrical contacts 4 being power contacts 5. The contact units 3 are indicated here in the form of a socket, but can also be a plug, clamp or

Be clamping elements.

The contact units 3 are used to electrically connect the accumulator 1 to an external device, the external device being a

Application device, a charger and / or a further accumulator 1 can act. Application device is understood here to mean a device that is used by

Accumulator 1 is supplied with electrical energy. The charger can be any charger for charging accumulators, a conventional one

Power connection or some other source of electrical energy, for example a photovoltaic system. The contact unit 3 is thus designed to be bidirectional, that is to say that electrical energy can both be emitted and also received via it. An electronics module 6 of the accumulator 1 is connected both to the secondary cells 2 and to the contact units 3. This electronics module 6 comprises a control unit 7 for dynamically controlling the electrical properties of the power contacts 5. Among the electrical properties of the power contacts 5, for example, those on the Power contacts 5 applied voltage, the current provided by the power contacts 5 or a virtual one

Internal resistance of the power contacts 5 understood. Flierzu includes the

Control unit 7 in particular four 4-quadrant DC-DC converters 8, for each

Contact unit 3 one. Instead of the 4-quadrant DC-DC converters 8, 2-quadrant DC-DC converters are also conceivable, but 4-quadrant DC-DC converters 8 are preferred, since these provide diverse options for controlling the electrical properties of the power contacts 5. Some of the many possibilities for controlling the electrical properties of the power contacts 5 are mentioned below. First of all, the

Power contacts 5 one or more rated voltages are provided. In particular, if a plurality of contact units 3 and just as many 4-quadrant DC-DC converters 8 are provided, the control unit 7 can be connected to each

Contact unit 3 provide a different nominal voltage, so that each application device is supplied with the voltage required by this application device. In addition to providing a direct voltage, an alternating voltage between two channels or a 3-phase rotating field voltage between three channels can also be provided. For this purpose, the control unit 7 has further converters not shown in the figure. Furthermore, the

Control unit 7 activate and deactivate the power contacts 5 individually, i.e. switch the power contacts 5 on and off individually. Should an application device require a predetermined, in particular constant, current source, the electronics module 6 can also provide a constant current strength at the power contacts 5. Through the interposed electronics module 6, the provision of a voltage or a current at the power contacts 5 is independent of the secondary cells 2, provided that the secondary cells 2 can supply the required voltage or current intensity. A short-term provision of a higher current is also possible, for example, if this does not cause permanent damage to the secondary cells 2. Likewise, the electronics module 6 can also provide constant electrical power at the power contacts 5 when application devices with a fluctuating internal resistance require constant electrical power.

By providing a current limitation at the power contacts 5, the external devices and also the secondary cells 2 are secured against short circuits and prolonged overload. As a result, it is even possible to dispense with fuses in the external devices that are supposed to protect them against short circuits.

For the networking of several accumulators 1, the control unit 7 controls the power distribution of these accumulators 1. For simplified parallel connection of accumulators 1, in particular without communication with one another, the electronics module 6 also provides a virtual internal resistance at one or more of the power contacts 5. Thus, a parallel connection of two or more accumulators 1 is possible without any further effort, since the aforementioned

Measures such as vibrations between the accumulators 1 avoided will. This internal resistance is preferably adjustable so that it can be optimally adapted to different application devices.

Furthermore, the electronics module 6 also controls the charging process

Secondary cells 2 on non-specific chargers, especially without

Communication with the charger. For charging on specific chargers, the control unit 7 provides an emulation of other rechargeable energy stores, ie the electrical properties of the accumulator 1 then correspond to those of the accumulator for which the specific charger is designed, so that the specific charger can also carry out the charging process with the accumulator at hand 1 operates. The secondary cells 2 can in principle be charged using any charger.

To establish a charge balance between parallel-connected

Accumulators 1, the control unit 7 provides parameterizable virtual ones

Discharge characteristics at the power contacts 5 ready.

In addition, the control unit 7 can provide power management. This optimizes the use of electrical resources in particular, for example by choosing an output voltage that is optimal for the application device. At the operating limits of the secondary cells 2, the control unit 7 also operates an active power reduction, for example the power is reduced with priority depending on the application device, so that application devices for which a power reduction has less serious consequences first experience a power reduction than application devices for which a power reduction a

Damage the application device or even endanger people.

The control unit 7 also provides an active adaptation to various energy sources, for example maximum power point racking for photovoltaic systems. This can be controlled individually on each contact unit 3 of the accumulator 1.

Furthermore, the electronics module 6 comprises a plurality of functional units, for example a real-time clock 9, a satellite navigation module 10 and a

Inertial sensor 11. The real-time clock 9 enables, for example, a time-controlled wake-up of the accumulator 1 or the assignment of events to real-time. With the satellite navigation module 10, the position of the accumulator can 1 can be determined and the inertial sensor 11 can, for example, trigger an alarm if an unauthorized or dangerous movement of the

Accumulator 1 is recognized. Alternatively or in addition to the functional units mentioned, this can be

Electronic module 6 also have further functional units, for example a wireless network module for wireless communication with other devices or for access to the Internet, an inclination sensor and / or a gyro sensor. A communication unit 12 of the electronics module 6 is designed for wired and / or wireless communication with the external device. If the communication unit 12 is wired, then at least one of the electrical contacts 4 of the contact unit 3 is a communication pin. In the wireless case, a large number of network protocols are possible, the communication unit 12 preferably supporting several network protocols for communication with various external devices.

One or more of the functional units 9, 10, 11 can be accessed from the external device via the communication unit 12. That is, the external device can access the functional units 9, 10, 11 of the accumulator 1 via the communication unit 12. This has the advantage that the external device no longer needs the flardware for these functions and can thus be designed and manufactured more easily and more cost-effectively. Even in the event that one of the

If functional units 9, 10, 11 fail, the accumulator 1 can simply be exchanged and there is no need to carry out an expensive and lengthy repair on the external device.

In addition, the electronics module 6 has a memory reading unit 13 for wired and / or wireless reading and / or writing of a

Device memory of the external device. The memory reading unit 13 represents a firmly defined primary control interface. The device memory is preferably located in a contact element of the external device, since this guarantees a short distance to the memory reading unit 13. For wired reading out and / or writing, for example, a single-wire bus is suitable, which, in addition to the ground connection, only requires an electrical contact 4. For example, Near Field Communication (NFC) can be used for wireless reading and / or writing of the device memory, since a passive chip in the external device can also be used for this. However, there are other wireless ones as well Transfers possible. Writing to the device memory depends on whether the device memory or parts of it are write-protected or not. The data read out from the device memory of the external device contain, for example, operating parameters for the external device, such as the voltage required by the external device and / or the maximum current strength allowed for the external device. Using these operating parameters, the electronic module 6 controls the power contacts 5 via the control unit 7 in such a way that the external device receives the electrical values it needs. A wireless network unit 14 of the electronics module 6 is designed in particular for communication with a smart device. In particular, parameters of the electronics module 6 and / or external devices can be edited via the smart device. The wireless network unit 14 is preferably a Bluetooth low energy unit, which is characterized by a particularly low

Energy consumption, but other wireless network protocols are also conceivable. Communication with the accumulator 1 takes place preferably with a smart device, such as a smartphone or a smart watch, but communication via a computer is also conceivable, for example. The communication of the smart device with the electronics module 6 allows data from the electronics module 6 to be read out via the smart device and parameters of the

Edit electronics module 6, for example concerning the control of the power contacts. If the accumulator 1 is also connected to one or more external devices via the communication unit 12, the smart device can use the wireless network unit 14 and the communication unit 12 to provide a

Establish a connection with the external device, for example to read out data or to set parameters of the external device.

Furthermore, the electronics module 6 has a switch 15, individual switches with which, for example, the accumulator 1 is switched on or off

Power contacts 5 of the accumulator 1 switched on or off and / or a

Connection with a smart device via the wireless network unit 14 can be established.

Further possible additional units 16 which improve or simplify the operation of the accumulator 1 and / or the operation of the external devices connected to the accumulator 1 are shown only schematically. Such an additional unit 16 is, for example, a synchronization pin assigned to the contact unit 3, by means of which several contact units 3 are synchronized by an external device can be. Further possible additional units 16 are an extra charging path, an auxiliary voltage contact which provides a low-power voltage source for external electronics, an activation contact for electronically switching the accumulator 1 or power contacts 5 on and off

Accumulator 1, an emergency stop contact for switching off the accumulator 1 in emergencies, display elements, for example to display the state of charge of the secondary cells 2 or to display the operating status of the accumulator 1 or individual functions of the accumulator 1 and / or monitoring elements for monitoring the voltage and / or temperature of the Secondary cells 2.

The physical identification of a rechargeable battery 1 can be carried out via a smart device using an indicator 17, which is shown here as a light source. That is, if several accumulators 1 are present, the one currently connected to the smart device or the one currently active in the smart device can be used

Accumulator 1 can be controlled via a control command in the smart device in such a way that the indication means 17 is switched on. This accumulator 1 can thus be identified in a quick and simple manner. As an alternative or in addition to a light source, an acoustic indicator 17, for example a buzzer, can also be provided.

Finally, the accumulator 1 has a cooling surface 18, the surface being enlarged by cooling fins 19. During operation of the accumulator 1 - both when providing electrical energy for application devices as well as during charging - generated heat is quickly given off again via this cooling surface 18, so that overheating of the secondary cells 2 is avoided.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic drawing of a typical application of FIG

Accumulators 1, as can occur, for example, in a mobile home or a houseboat. However, many more are within the scope of the claims

Possible applications are conceivable. There are two accumulators 1 with a plurality of external devices, namely a photovoltaic system 20, one

Charger 21, and two application devices 22 connected. In addition, the accumulators 1 are still connected to one another. The connecting lines are to be understood only schematically.

The connections are made via contact elements 23, which are designed here as plugs and which are connected to the contact units 3 of the accumulators 1. The contact elements 23 have at least two electrical Mating contacts with which a connection is established with the electrical contacts 4 of the contact unit 3 of the accumulator 1. In the event that the

Contact units 3 are plugs, terminals or clamping elements are the

Contact elements 23 sockets, clamping elements or terminals. Furthermore, the contact elements 23 have a device memory and a

Memory output unit so that communication with the memory reading unit 13 of the accumulator 1 can take place.

The communication of the accumulators 1 with the external devices 20, 21, 22 was shown in detail in the description of FIG. In addition, the accumulators 1 communicate with a smart device 24 via a

Wireless network unit 14, which was also shown in detail in the preceding description. In the present application, the upper accumulator 1 is charged by the photovoltaic system 20 and the charger 21. The appropriate electrical properties of the power contacts 5 are provided by the electronics module 6 and the control unit 7. The upper accumulator 1 also supplies an application device 22 with electrical energy, while the lower accumulator 1 supplies another application device 22 with electrical energy, which is connected to the accumulator 1 via three contact units 3.

In order to bring both accumulators 1 to the same state of charge, they are connected to one another. Controlled via the smart device 24, a

Charge exchange can be brought about.

List of reference symbols

1 accumulator

2 secondary cell

3 contact unit

4 electrical contact

5 power contact

6 electronics module

7 control unit

8 4-quadrant DC-DC converters

9 Real-time clock

10 satellite navigation module

11 inertial sensor

12 communication unit

13 Memory reader

14 Wireless Network Unit

15 switches

16 additional unit

17 means of indication

18 cooling surface

19 cooling fins

20 photovoltaic systems

21 charger

22 Application device

23 contact element

24 Smart Device

Claims

1. Accumulator for providing electrical energy, having at least one rechargeable secondary cell (2), at least one contact unit (3) for connecting the accumulator (1) to an external device (20; 21; 22), in particular an application device (22), a charger (21) and / or a further accumulator (1), wherein the contact unit (3) comprises at least two electrical contacts (4), at least two of the electrical

Contacts (4) are power contacts (5), and at least one electronics module (6), the electronics module (6) being connected to at least one of the secondary cells (2), and preferably to at least one of the contact units (3).

2. Accumulator according to claim 1, characterized in that the

Electronic module (6) has a control unit (7) for controlling, in particular for dynamic control, the electrical properties of the power contacts (5), with in particular the control unit (7) at least one

preferably comprises a 2-quadrant DC-DC converter or 4-quadrant DC-DC converter (8) for each contact unit.

3. Accumulator according to claim 2, characterized in that the control of the electrical properties of the power contacts (5) the provision of one or more nominal voltages, the provision of the activation and

Deactivating the power contacts (5), providing a

Current limitation of the power contacts (5), the provision of a

Power distribution when networking several accumulators (1), the

Provision of a preferably adjustable, virtual internal resistance for the simplified parallel connection of accumulators (1), the provision of an emulation of other rechargeable energy storage devices for charging on specific chargers (21), the provision of parameterizable virtual discharge characteristics for charge equalization between parallel-connected

Accumulators (1) comprising providing power management and / or providing maximum power point tracking.

4. Accumulator according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the electronic module (6) has at least one functional unit (9; 10; 11), in particular a clock, a real-time clock (9), a satellite navigation module (10), a wireless network module, a tilt sensor, a gyro sensor and / or an inertial sensor (11).

5. Accumulator according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the accumulator (1) has a communication unit (12), in particular at least one communication pin assigned to the contact unit (3) and / or a wireless communication module, for communication with the external device ( 20; 21; 22), so that in particular one or more of the functional units (9; 10; 11) can be accessed from the external device (20; 21; 22).

6. Accumulator according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the electronic module (6) has a memory reading unit (13) for wired and / or wireless reading and / or writing of a device memory of the external device (20; 21; 22).

7. Accumulator according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the electronic module (6) has at least one wireless network unit (14), in particular for communication with a smart device (24), wherein in particular parameters of the electronic module (6) and / or external devices (20; 21; 22) can be edited via the smart device (24).

8. Accumulator according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the accumulator (1) has at least one additional unit (15; 16), in particular a synchronization pin for synchronizing the contact units (3) by an external device (20; 21; 22) , a switch (15), preferably a pushbutton switch, in particular for switching the accumulator on and / or off

(1), an extra charging path, an auxiliary voltage contact, a

Activation contact, an emergency stop contact, display elements,

Monitoring elements for monitoring the voltage and / or temperature of the secondary cells (2).

9. Accumulator according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the accumulator (1) has optical and / or acoustic indication means (17), in particular for controlled via a smart device (24)

physical identification of the accumulator (1).

10. Accumulator according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the accumulator (1) has a cooling surface (18), in particular with cooling fins (19).

11. Contact element for making electrical contact with a

Contact unit (3) of a rechargeable battery (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 10, having at least two electrical mating contacts for establishing the connection with the electrical contacts (4) of the contact unit (3), characterized in that the contact element (23) has a device memory and has at least one memory output unit for wired and / or wireless output and / or writing of the device memory.

12. The method for operating a rechargeable battery (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein a contact element (23) of an external device (20; 21; 22), in particular an application device (22), a charger (21) and / or a further accumulator (1) is connected to a contact unit (3) of the accumulator (1).

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that a

Memory reading unit (13) of an electronic module (6) of the accumulator (1) reads a device memory of the external device (20; 21; 22) and the electrical properties of power contacts (5) of the contact unit (3) as a function of the data read out, in particular dynamically, controls.

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that,

in particular by pressing a switch (15) of the accumulator (1), a wireless network connection between a smart device (24) and a wireless network unit (14) of the electronic module (6) of the accumulator (1) is established and the smart device (24) over the wireless

Network connection Internal accumulator data read out and / or new operating parameter settings made and / or parameters in

Device memory of the external device (20; 21; 22) can be read and / or written.

15. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the accumulator (1) is switched on via a current flow to the contact unit (3), in particular to an activation contact of the contact unit (3), and preferably when this current flow is interrupted Current flow at one or more power contacts (5) is terminated by one or more contact units (3), and the accumulator (1) can only be switched on via the current flow at the contact unit (3) when the The state of charge of the secondary cells (2) of the accumulator (1) exceeds a predetermined value.

16. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 15, characterized in that the accumulator (1) is switched off when a secondary cell (2) of the

Accumulator (1) falls below a predetermined state of charge and the accumulator (1) is preferably switched on again when a charging current is applied to a contact unit (3).

17. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 16, characterized in that the accumulator (1) with a switch (15), in particular a push button switch, is switched on and / or off.

18. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 17, characterized in that automatically and / or controlled by the smart device (24)

Charge equalization of the secondary cells (2) of the accumulator (1) is carried out.