JP2002063944A - Charged battery, charged battery pack and calculation method of remaining capacity - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a charged battery or a charged battery pack with which it is possible to output the remaining capacity of the battery corresponding to the used state of the battery and which has an internal circuit capable of improving utilization efficiency of the charged battery. SOLUTION: Dispersion errors Δd of the total discharge capacity Qa in a real battery are stored as data. When compared with the errors of a integrated discharged amount Qn calculated by computation, and if the errors Δd by dispersions are larger than the errors of the integrated discharged amount Qn, a residual quantity is not calculated, so that a range of residual amount calculation is suppressed almost within the errors of the integrated discharged amount Qn, and the residual quantity of a large error is not outputted. Further, as another example, accumulated errors up to a certain voltage of discharge termination is calculated as the errors of the integrated discharge amount Qn, and this is not compared with dispersion errors Δd of the total discharge capacity Qa but compared with the dispersion errors Δdi at the time of the certain voltage of discharging end.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rechargeable battery, a rechargeable battery pack, and a method for calculating the remaining amount of a rechargeable battery, and more particularly, to a lithium-ion secondary storage battery (hereinafter referred to as a lithium battery) having a charge controller or a rechargeable battery pack thereof. The present invention relates to a rechargeable battery and a rechargeable battery pack having an internal circuit capable of outputting the remaining capacity of the battery according to the usage state of the battery to the outside.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a lithium battery or the like is charged at a constant current at first, and then substantially charged to almost full charge, assuming that the storage battery is in a discharged state. When it becomes, it switches to the charging mode with constant voltage,
Under the constant voltage charging, when the charging current becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value, or when the charging voltage becomes equal to or more than a predetermined value, it is determined that the charging has been sufficiently performed and the switch is turned off to terminate the charging. Has been done. A charge control controller (or a part thereof) is built in or integrated with the lithium ion battery or its rechargeable battery pack side to prevent overcharge.

[0003] Rechargeable batteries and rechargeable battery packs of this type (hereinafter referred to as rechargeable batteries) are incorporated in electronic devices such as portable computers and hand-held electronic devices. When the voltage of the rechargeable battery drops below a predetermined value, the electronic devices are recharged. The charging is performed by the charging circuit on the side, the charging current is received, the charging is terminated when the charging is completed, and the discharging is performed to supply power to the electronic device when the battery is driven. For this purpose, the controller of the charging control switches the current direction by providing a relay or a relay device that allows current to flow bidirectionally between the positive electrode side of the rechargeable battery and the charging terminal. In addition, there is a diode switching circuit that inserts a diode in series in each of the charging and discharging directions to select a current in one direction and block a current in the opposite direction. In an electronic device having this type of rechargeable battery, when the electronic device is connected to an AC power supply and the electronic device is not operating or is operating, the rechargeable battery is charged and the AC power supply is removed. When the electronic device is operated by operation, the electronic device is operated by electric power from the rechargeable battery.

[0004] Recently, a battery according to the smart battery standard has been developed and used as a battery built in this kind of electronic device. According to the smart battery standard, a processor (MPU) in an electronic device and a control circuit having a processor provided as an internal circuit in a rechargeable battery are connected by an SM bus to determine the state of the rechargeable battery in a processor (MPU) in the electronic device. ) Can be sent as data. One of the data transferred as the state of the battery is data indicating the remaining capacity (hereinafter referred to as remaining capacity) of the rechargeable battery. Normally, the remaining data of the rechargeable battery is used to determine whether data processing scheduled in the electronic device can be processed without malfunction due to the current remaining amount of the rechargeable battery.

[0005]

Conventionally, in a battery according to the smart battery standard, when the remaining amount of a rechargeable battery is sent to an electronic device, a discharge current value is detected each time the battery is used and the battery is fully charged. From the current value used up to the present, the used charge amount (used discharge capacity) is calculated, and the obtained used charge amount is calculated as a total discharge capacity up to a preset discharge stop voltage (for example, when the voltage of the rechargeable battery is 3.0 V). Is obtained by subtracting from the fixed total discharge capacity value Qo) when However, if the other discharge conditions, such as the discharge current value and the temperature at that time, are different, the total discharge capacity up to the stop of the discharge is accordingly different, so that the remaining amount also fluctuates. If this is not taken into account, it is necessary to calculate the remaining amount with a margin including the fluctuation of the discharge condition in the calculation of the remaining amount. For this reason, the calculated remaining amount becomes inaccurate, the remaining amount is output in a state where the rechargeable battery is not fully utilized, and charging is repeated many times, and the use efficiency of the rechargeable battery deteriorates. Also, at the actual charge stop voltage, about 10% of the discharge charge is left in the battery, from which recharging is performed. If the battery is recharged while maintaining about 10% of the discharge charge, the total discharge capacity (total discharge charge) up to the remaining 10% varies greatly depending on the characteristics of each battery. There is a problem that a high remaining amount cannot be obtained. Moreover, the actual charging / discharging is often performed before reaching the charging stop voltage, as shown in FIG. 10, and often starts discharging without waiting for full charge (full charge). FIG.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of variations in characteristics due to individual differences of batteries having the same total discharge capacity, and shows discharge stop voltages V1 to V5.
, The total discharge capacity differs. Note that the vertical axis is the voltage value, and the horizontal axis is the capacity. Therefore, when charging is performed in a state where the remaining amount exceeds 10%, the variation due to the battery characteristics is further increased. Even if the used charge amount is calculated from the current discharge current by the charge integration process, the charge and discharge are performed. As the number of repetitions increases, the integration accuracy decreases. An object of the present invention is to solve such a problem of the related art, and it is possible to output the remaining capacity of a battery according to the use state of the battery to the outside,
Another object of the present invention is to provide a rechargeable battery or a rechargeable battery pack having an internal circuit capable of improving the use efficiency of the rechargeable battery.

[0006]

The structure of a rechargeable battery or a rechargeable battery pack according to the present invention for achieving the above object has a structure from a full charge to a discharge stop voltage according to a discharge condition for discharging a charged charge. In a rechargeable battery of which total discharge capacity fluctuates, the battery body or an assembled battery in which a plurality of battery bodies are connected in series, and the integration of the amount of discharge charge from the start of discharge after charging to the present according to the discharge current value Means, the total discharge capacity when discharging from a full charge to a discharge stop voltage at a specific discharge current value is uniquely associated with the total discharge capacity up to the discharge stop voltage for a plurality of specific discharge current values. A first data storage means of the stored discharge current value versus the total discharge capacity, or a number of battery bodies when discharging from a full charge to a predetermined discharge voltage at another specific discharge current value. Or the second of the discharge current value and the accumulated discharge amount stored in association with the variation error of the accumulated discharge amount due to the variation of the characteristics of the battery body or the assembled battery from the average value of the accumulated discharge capacity of the assembled battery. Data storage means, and an error storage means for storing a calculation error of the integrated value of the integrating means under predetermined conditions from the average characteristics when the integrated discharge amount of a large number of battery bodies or assembled batteries is collected under predetermined conditions, Voltage value detection means for detecting the current voltage value of the battery body, current value detection means for detecting the current discharge current value, and the voltage value obtained from the voltage value detection means substantially matches the predetermined discharge voltage Determining means for determining whether or not the current value is equal to a predetermined discharge voltage. A total discharge capacity up to a discharge stop voltage corresponding to or closest to the current discharge current value is obtained from data obtained by the first data storage means based on the current value, and an integrated discharge amount obtained by the integration means And a remaining capacity calculating means for calculating the remaining capacity of the discharge charge from the total discharge capacity and the integrated discharge amount, and comparing the calculation error with the variation error of the integrated discharge amount, when the calculation error is large. The remaining capacity calculation by the remaining capacity calculation means is not performed.

A feature of the method for calculating the remaining amount of a rechargeable battery or a rechargeable battery pack according to the present invention is that a total discharge capacity when discharging from a full charge to a discharge stop voltage at a specific discharge current value is calculated by a plurality of specific discharge current values. With respect to the discharge current value and the first data storage means of the total discharge capacity stored in a manner uniquely associated with the total discharge capacity up to the discharge stop voltage, or from the full charge at another specific discharge current value Uniquely associating the dispersion error of the accumulated discharge amount due to the dispersion of the characteristics of the battery body or the assembled battery from the average value of the accumulated discharge capacity for a large number of battery bodies or assembled batteries when discharged to a predetermined discharge voltage Second data storage means for storing the stored discharge current value versus the integrated discharge amount, and the average data when the integrated discharge amounts of a large number of battery bodies or assembled batteries are collected under predetermined conditions. Error storage means for storing a calculation error of the integrated value of the integrating means under predetermined conditions from the viewpoint of characteristics, and integrates the amount of discharge charge from the start of discharge after charging to the present according to the discharge current value. Detecting the current voltage value of the battery body, detecting the current discharge current value, and determining whether the voltage value obtained from the voltage value detection means substantially matches the predetermined discharge voltage. The data obtained by the first data storage means based on the current discharge current value obtained from the current value detection means when the voltage value substantially matches the predetermined discharge voltage according to the determination result. The total discharge capacity corresponding to the current discharge current value or up to the closest discharge stop voltage is obtained, and the integrated discharge amount obtained by the integrating means is obtained, and the discharge charge is calculated from the total discharge capacity and the integrated discharge amount. Calculate the remaining capacity and calculate When calculating the error by comparing the variation error of the error and the accumulated discharge amount is large it is not conducted residual calculation.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The calculation of the remaining amount Qr is based on the equation Qr = Qa-Qn. Here, Qa is the total discharge capacity up to the discharge stop voltage (total discharge charge), and Qn is the integrated discharge charge up to the present (hereinafter, integrated discharge amount). Then, the remaining amount Q
Considering the accuracy of r from this equation, it depends on the accuracy of the total discharge capacity Qa and the integrated discharge amount Qn. Total discharge capacity Qa
Depends on the characteristics of the battery body, and the integrated discharge amount Qn
Is calculated in accordance with the discharge current value, especially when it is calculated by calculation, this also differs from the actual battery characteristics. In particular, regarding the total discharge capacity Qa, since the remaining amount is calculated based on the average total discharge capacity Qa stored in the data storage means, the actual total discharge amount of the battery main body or the assembled battery is considered. Appear as an accuracy error in calculating the actual remaining amount of the battery body or the assembled battery. This accuracy error can be handled as an error due to battery characteristic variation (hereinafter, variation error). Therefore, if the remaining amount is simply calculated by the equation Qr = Qa−Qn, the difference between the actual remaining amount and the calculated remaining amount based on the characteristics of each battery loaded in the apparatus becomes large, and the remaining amount is calculated. May deteriorate the calculation accuracy.

For this reason, in the present invention, the variation error Δd of the total discharge capacity Qa in the actual battery is stored as data, and is compared with the calculation error of the integrated discharge amount Qn calculated by the calculation. When the calculation error is larger than the variation error Δd of the total discharge capacity Qa, the remaining amount calculation is not performed. As a result, the range of the remaining amount calculation error is suppressed to about the variation error Δd, and the remaining amount having a large error is not output. Also, here
Instead of the variation error Δd of the total discharge capacity Qa, as a variation error Δdi on the characteristic of the integrated discharge amount Qn up to the voltage at which a certain discharge is completed, the calculation error of the integrated discharge amount Qn calculated by the calculation is calculated. The cumulative error is calculated in accordance with the repetition of, and when the cumulative error of the integrated discharge amount Qn is larger than the variation error Δdi, the remaining amount calculation is not performed. Here, the variation error Δd of the discharge capacity Qa corresponds to the variation error Δdi of the integrated discharge amount Qn when the voltage at which the discharge is completed is the discharge stop voltage. As a result, the accuracy of the calculated remaining amount output to the outside does not need to be reduced, and the use efficiency of the rechargeable battery can be improved. Also, in actual use of the battery, for example, at a charge stop voltage, about 10% of the discharge charge is left in the battery, and the battery is recharged therefrom or recharged while maintaining about 10% of the discharge charge. Also, since the remaining amount calculation error can be suppressed from expanding, the rechargeable battery can be used efficiently.

[0010]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram mainly showing a lithium rechargeable battery according to an embodiment of the prior invention relating to the rechargeable battery of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the remaining amount calculation process, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of the total discharge capacity table corresponding to the degree of deterioration, and FIG.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a characteristic of a total discharge capacity at the specific current value, FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a current value vs. integrated discharge amount value table at the specific voltage, and FIG. 6 is an electronic device of a rechargeable battery according to an embodiment of the present invention. And FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a remaining amount calculation process for determining the accuracy of the remaining amount calculation. In FIG.
Reference numeral 20 denotes an electronic device, in which a rechargeable battery 10 having a rechargeable in-battery control circuit is detachably mounted. The rechargeable battery 10 includes a plurality of lithium battery cells (hereinafter referred to as battery bodies) 1a, 1b,.
It has an assembled battery connected in series, and is charged from a power supply circuit 22 provided in the apparatus main body 21 via a charge / discharge terminal 14a, a charge / discharge power supply line + Vcc (hereinafter, power supply line + Vcc), and a charge / discharge changeover switch circuit 13. Receiving electric current, device body 2
1 is supplied with electric power by a discharge current from the battery body via the charge / discharge terminal 14a. Also, the rechargeable battery 10
The SM bus 1 is provided by the MPU 23 provided in the device main body 21.
2, the current remaining battery level of the rechargeable battery 10 is read. The power supply line + Vcc is connected to the charging / discharging terminal 14a, and is connected to the apparatus main body 21 via this.
In addition, the ground line GNDL is connected to the ground terminal 14b, and is connected to the ground GND of the device main body 21 via this.

The built-in circuit built in the rechargeable battery 10 described here is usually composed of CMOS or the like.
A low power consumption type circuit with a low clock frequency is used. The operating power is very small, and the built-in circuit here operates on the power from the rechargeable battery except when it is in a charged state. Further, the full charge detection when the rechargeable battery 10 is fully charged is performed when the terminal voltage of the battery main body becomes a predetermined value corresponding to the full charge or more, for example,
Detected when it reaches 4.3V. The power supply circuit 22
A switching circuit for switching between the rechargeable battery 10 and the commercial AC power supply is provided. Normally, power from the commercial AC power supply is supplied to operate the apparatus main body 21. The charge / discharge changeover switch circuit 13 provided between the positive electrode of the battery body 1a of the rechargeable battery 10 and the power supply line + Vcc has a charge side switch and a discharge side switch. The switch and the discharge side switch are turned ON and O
FF control is performed. The charge / discharge changeover switch circuit 1
3, the charge / discharge power supply line + Vcc may be directly connected to the positive electrode side of the battery body 1a. Rechargeable battery 10
Is provided with a voltage value detection circuit 3, a current value detection circuit 4, and a temperature detection circuit 5 in addition to the controller 2 described above.

The voltage value detection circuit 3 comprises a battery body 1a, 1
b,..., 1n are respectively connected to the positive electrode side and the negative electrode side, and detect the respective terminal voltages and output the current voltage value of the battery body to the controller 2 according to the control signal from the controller 2. The controller 2 causes the MPU 9 to execute an integrated amount calculation voltage determination program 7a, which will be described later, to generate the above-described control signal, and to control each battery main body 1a, 1
, 1n are obtained from the voltage value detection circuit 3 for each battery body, and one of the voltages is 3.
It is determined whether it is 4V or 3.2V. Apart from this, the battery bodies 1a, 1
When any one of b,..., 1n is overcharged or overdischarged, the charge / discharge switch circuit 13 is controlled to turn off the charge-side switch when overcharged, and to turn off the discharge-side switch when overdischarged. Are turned off to stop the charge / discharge operation respectively. The current value detection circuit 4 includes a detection resistor R
s, and the detection resistor Rs is inserted in series between the negative electrode of the battery body 1n and the ground line GNDL. Then, according to a control signal from the controller 2, the current value of the current charge / discharge is output to the controller 2. Note that whether the charge current or the discharge current is detected by the detection resistor R
It depends on the polarity of the terminal voltage of s.

The temperature detection circuit 5 has a temperature sensor (not shown), and receives a signal from the temperature sensor and outputs a current temperature value to the controller 2 according to a control signal from the controller 2. The controller 2 has an MPU 6
, A memory 7, an A / D conversion circuit (A / D) 8, and a display device 9, and these circuits are interconnected via a bus 11. Further, each control signal is sent to each circuit via the bus 11. Then, the detection signal values of the voltage value detection circuit 3, the current value detection circuit 4, and the temperature detection circuit 5 are passed to the MPU 6 via the A / D 8.
The memory 7 includes an integrated amount calculation voltage determination program 7a,
Battery deterioration detection program 7b, remaining amount calculation program 7
c, a usable remaining time calculation output program 7d, a deterioration degree correspondence total discharge capacity table 7e, a current value at a specific voltage vs. an integrated discharge amount value table 7f, and a parameter storage area 7g are provided. The parameter storage area 7g stores a count value N of the number of times of charging and a reference total discharge capacity value Qo (described later).
Etc. are stored.

Here, the integrated amount calculation voltage determination program 7
a is periodically called at a predetermined cycle (every time Δt) and executed by the MPU 6. When this is executed, the current voltage value V of each battery body 1a, 1b,.
Is obtained from the voltage value detection circuit 4 according to the control signal, and any one of the voltage values V of the battery bodies 1a, 1b,.
It is determined whether the two voltage values are predetermined monitor voltage values, here, any of 3.4V and 3.2V, and when there is one of them, the current discharge of the battery is performed. The current value i is obtained from the current value detection circuit 4 according to the control signal, the discharge current value i is stored in the memory 7, and the current temperature value T of the rechargeable battery 10 is obtained from the temperature detection circuit 5. When the battery voltage is 3.4 V in the current value-to-integrated discharge amount table 7f, the battery voltage is set to 3.2 V with reference to the table 75 in FIG.
In the case of, the integrated discharge amount Qn corresponding to the current discharge current value i and the current temperature value T is referred to the table 76 in FIG.
(This is the integrated value of the amount of discharge from the time of full charge to the current voltage of the battery body from the viewpoint of discharge characteristics, and corresponds to the total amount of discharge up to the current voltage of the battery body.) Is stored in the memory 7. Then, the battery deterioration degree detection program 7b is called as the remaining amount calculation processing. If not, this process is terminated and the process waits until the next interrupt process.

The battery deterioration degree detection program 7b is for making a judgment according to the charge / discharge cycle deterioration. When this program is called and executed by the MPU 6, the charge count count value stored in the parameter storage area 7g is stored. N, when it is 1 to 100, the deterioration degree L = 1, and when it is 101 to 200, the deterioration degree L
= 2, 201 to 300, the degree of deterioration L = 3,
If it is equal to or greater than 301, it is determined whether the deterioration degree L is 4 or any of the four levels, and the deterioration degree L at that time is stored in the memory 7. Then, the remaining amount calculation program 7c is called. The number-of-charges count value N stored in the parameter storage area 7g is incremented by the controller 2 each time charging is performed, and the initial value is "0".

In general, a rechargeable battery is deteriorated by repeating charge / discharge cycles, and the total discharge capacity is gradually reduced due to the deterioration of the battery. Therefore, the number of times of recharging is used as a factor for determining deterioration. However, the degree of deterioration L can also be determined based on a decrease in the actual total discharge capacity. That is, at the time of the previous full charge, a total discharge capacity when the battery is discharged from the time of the full charge to the discharge stop voltage is provided with an integrated discharge amount calculation program, and is integrated by executing this program. The total discharge capacity at the time
The total discharge capacity is divided into four ranges with respect to the total discharge capacity decreasing in the same manner as described above, and the degree of deterioration is determined to determine the degree of deterioration.
Also, this is stored in the parameter storage area 7g in place of the count value N of the number of times of charging, and is read out at the time of discharging from the next full charge, and the degree of deterioration is determined to determine the degree of deterioration at the next step. It may be determined in discharging. The following processing is performed using the battery deterioration degree L determined in this way.

When the remaining amount calculation program 7c is called and executed by the MPU 6, the remaining amount calculation program 7c degrades from the current current value i and the current temperature value T stored in the memory 7 and the detected deterioration degree L. The table corresponding to the degree of deterioration L is selected with reference to the total discharge capacity table 7e corresponding to the temperature, and the correction corresponding to the discharge current value and the temperature closest to these from the current discharge current value i and the current temperature value T is selected. The coefficient Ki is obtained, and the total discharge capacity Qa up to the discharge stop voltage according to the deterioration of the rechargeable battery is calculated by Qa = reference total discharge capacity Qo × Ki (the relationship between the total discharge capacity Qa and the reference total discharge capacity Qo is See below). Then, the remaining amount Qr is calculated from Qr = Qa-Qn based on the accumulated discharge amount Qn up to the present and the total discharge capacity Qa.
Then, the available remaining time calculation output program 7d is called.

A usable remaining time calculation output program 7d
When this is called and executed by the MPU 6, the remaining time TL is calculated from the current discharge current value i of the battery to TL =
It is determined by Qr / i. Then, the remaining time TL is displayed on the display device 9.
And outputs the remaining time TL to the MPU 23 of the apparatus main body 21 by interruption via the SM bus 12. The data to be output may be the remaining amount Qr, or both the remaining time TL and the remaining amount Qr data may be output. In this case, the remaining time TL or the remaining amount Qr is stored in the memory 7, and when a request for transmitting the remaining time TL or the remaining amount Qr from the MPU 23 of the apparatus main body 21 is within a predetermined time from the calculation time. In response to this request, the MPU
9 may be output to the apparatus main body 21 side. Here, the predetermined time from the calculation time point is set as an average time until the battery voltage decreases within a range where the calculation error does not increase from the battery voltage of 3.4 V or 3.2 V at the average discharge current. Also, the MP of the device body 21 side
When there is a request to send the remaining time TL or the remaining amount Qr from U23, the charging voltage value is 3.4 V or more and the remaining time T
When the calculation of L or the remaining amount Qr has not been performed yet, or when it is out of a predetermined time range from the time of calculation, a response indicating that the calculation cannot be performed is provided.
The remaining amount can be calculated and responded by another method (for example, the above-described conventional technology).

Total discharge capacity characteristic table 7e corresponding to the degree of deterioration
Is, as shown in FIG. 3, a four-stage battery deterioration degree L (=
1 to 4), four tables 71, 72, 73,
Consists of 74. Each table includes specific discharge current values 0.2c, 0.5c,... Obtained corresponding to the degree of deterioration.
For 2.0c, the total discharge capacity (as a correction coefficient Ki) from the time of full charge to the discharge stop voltage is stored separately for each predetermined temperature. The vertical axis is a specific discharge current value,
The horizontal axis is temperature. The temperature is data collected every 5 ° C. Of these data, temperature 2
FIG. 4 shows the relationship of the total discharge capacity when discharging at a specific discharge current value from a full charge at 5 ° C. to a discharge stop voltage. The vertical axis represents the voltage value of one battery body (cell), and the horizontal axis represents the discharge capacity (mAh). Qo, Q1,
Q2 is current value = 0.2c, current value = 0.5c,
This is the total discharge capacity up to a discharge stop voltage of 3.0 V at a current value of 1.0 c. Note that 1.0c is a current value at which all the design capacities can be discharged in one hour.
For a battery of 00 mAh, 1.0c is 1200 mA. 0.5c is 600 mA, and 0.2c is 24 mA.
0 mA. It is Qo, Q1, Q2 that obtained the total discharge capacity using these current values as specific current values.

FIG. 5 shows a current value-to-accumulated discharge amount value table 7f at a specific voltage. This table corresponds to the battery body 1 (battery bodies 1a, 1b,
, 1n), the integrated discharge amount up to a voltage of 3.4 V is calculated for each specific current value of 0.2c, 0.5c,
1.0c,... Corresponding to Qno, Qn1, Qn2,.
Qn1, Qn2,... The integrated discharge amount obtained in this way is stored as a table as Qn corresponding to each specific discharge current value 0.2c, 0.5c,... 2.0c at a temperature of 25 ° C. The same applies to other temperatures. Is obtained by calculating and storing the integrated discharge amount.
The table 75 stores the integrated discharge amount Qn for each temperature corresponding to the voltage of 3.4 V, and the table 76 stores the integrated discharge amount for each temperature corresponding to the voltage of 3.2 V. Qn is stored. In addition, the discharge characteristic graph of FIG. 4 shows the characteristic of the average value when many battery bodies are measured. The current value-to-integrated discharge amount value table 7f corresponds to the integrated amount calculation voltage determination program 7 described above.
This is referred to by the MPU 9 when executing a. That is, it is determined whether the current voltage V of the battery body 1 collected by the MPU 6 is 3.4 V or 3.2 V, and if it is determined to be 3.4 V, the table 75 is referred to and the corresponding current discharge is performed. In the row of the current value i, the integrated discharge amount Qn corresponding to or closest to the current temperature value T is read out and stored in the parameter storage area 7g of the memory 7. When it is determined that the current voltage of the battery body 1 is 3.2 V, the integrated discharge amount Qn is read out in the same manner as described above with reference to the table 76, and stored in the parameter storage area 7g of the memory 7.

By the way, as can be understood from the graph of FIG. 4, in the characteristics from the voltage of 3.4 V to the voltage of 3.0 V, the slope of the characteristic curve is steep and the respective intervals are wide. In this regard, in the characteristics from a voltage of 4.2 V to a voltage of about 3.6 V, the characteristic curve is relatively linear, the inclination thereof is small, and the interval between them is narrow. Based on such characteristics, a specific voltage is set in a range from a voltage around 3.4 V to a lower voltage 3.0 V than the voltage detection with a characteristic higher than the voltage around 3.4 V, and the voltage at that time is set. It is possible to obtain a more accurate integrated amount by obtaining the integrated discharge amount Qn with reference to the table. Also, in particular,
The remaining amount becomes a problem when the voltage of the battery body 1 is lower than or equal to about 3.4 V than when the voltage of the battery body 1 is higher. In this regard, it is extremely important to obtain a highly accurate integrated amount near 3.4 V and 3.2 V.

FIG. 3 shows the total discharge capacity table 7e corresponding to the degree of deterioration.
Is a table provided with four sheets corresponding to the degree of deterioration L, and the correction coefficient Ki of each table is shown in FIG.
Battery body 1 (battery body 1
a, 1b,..., 1n) at a terminal voltage of 3.0 V, a discharge capacity Qo of 25 ° C. is taken as 1 as a reference of the total discharge capacity, and a characteristic Q1 at a temperature of 25 ° C. , Q2,... The ratio Q1 / Qo, Q2 / Qo.
The correction coefficient Ki at ゜ C is obtained and the correction coefficient Ki is obtained and stored for other temperatures. Thus, without directly storing the total discharge capacity, the discharge capacity Q
By storing o separately as the reference discharge capacity and storing the correction coefficient Ki in the table, the data storage capacity can be reduced. As shown in FIG. 3, the total discharge capacity characteristic table 7e corresponding to the degree of deterioration indicates that the temperature range from -20.degree. C. to 55.degree.
Since Qo of the current value = 0.2c at the time of {25} every {C} is taken as the reference total discharge capacity (stored in the parameter storage area 7f), the total discharge capacity of each specific discharge current value is sampled as a ratio. When this is referred to, the one corresponding to the current temperature value T and the current current value i, or if not, the closest ratio is referred to as the correction coefficient Ki.

Next, the remaining amount calculation process will be described with reference to FIG. First, it is determined whether or not discharging is being performed by the periodic interruption and the start (step 101). If the battery is being charged at the time of NO, a voltage monitoring process or the like is performed on the terminal voltages of the battery bodies 1a, 1b,..., 1n in order to prevent overcharging. When the battery is not used while the charging / discharging terminals 14a and 14b are not connected,
The processing corresponding thereto is performed. If the answer is YES, and the battery is discharging, the integrated amount calculation voltage determination program 7a executes the MPU 9
Is executed by Thus, the current battery bodies 1a, 1
, 1n, and detects the respective voltage values V of the memory 7
(Step 102), and the battery main bodies 1a,
It is determined whether the voltage value of any of 1b,..., 1n is 3.4V or 3.2V (step 103).
If “NO” here, this process ends. If "YES" here, the current discharge current value i and the current temperature value T are detected (step 104), and the current value vs. the integrated discharge amount value table 7f is referred to as 3.4 V or 3.2.
The integrated discharge amount Qn at V is obtained and the parameter storage area 7 is obtained.
g (step 105). Step 10
In the determination of 3, 3.4 V, 3.
2V each has a range, 3.4V ± α, 3.2
It may be determined as V ± α. By doing this,
Even if there is some voltage fluctuation in the battery body 1, the remaining amount can be calculated reliably. Also, when there is a request (request) for the remaining amount from the main device 21, the range of responding to the request becomes large.

Next, the battery deterioration degree detection program 7b
This is executed by the PU 9 to determine the current degree of deterioration L with reference to the number-of-times-of-charging count value N (step 106).
From the obtained deterioration degree L, the temperature value T, and the discharge current value i, the current deterioration degree L, the current temperature value T, and the current discharge current value are referred to by referring to the total discharge capacity table 7e corresponding to the deterioration degree. A correction coefficient Ki corresponding to (or closest to) i is obtained (step 107). Therefore, next, the remaining amount calculation program 7c is executed by the MPU 9, and the reference total discharge capacity Qo stored in the parameter storage area 7g is stored in the memory 7.
And the total discharge capacity Qa (dischargeable capacity) when the terminal voltage is 3.0 V, which is the discharge stop voltage, is Qa = Qo × K
It is determined by i (step 108). Then, the remaining amount Qr is calculated from the integrated discharge amount Qn and the total discharge capacity Qa by Qr = Qa-Qn (step 109). Further, the usable remaining time calculation output program 7d is executed by the MPU 6 to calculate the remaining time TL = Qr from the current discharge current value i of the battery.
/ I (step 110), which is
The data is transferred to the MPU 23 on the first side.

The correction coefficient Ki of the total discharge capacity table 7e corresponding to the degree of deterioration in this embodiment is obtained by measuring a large number of batteries and collecting an average reference value. on the other hand,
In actual batteries for which the remaining amount is actually calculated, there are variations in the respective characteristics. Therefore, the remaining amount calculated based on the correction coefficient Ki and the actual battery There is a gap with the remaining amount. As a result, the calculation accuracy differs for each battery. In addition, the deterioration degree-corresponding total discharge capacity table 7e is configured based on the total discharge capacity Qo at the time when the battery completely reaches the discharge stop voltage. However, as described in the related art, in practice, charging is often started without reaching a discharge stop voltage, or discharging is often started without reaching full charge. In such a case, in particular, the accuracy of the calculated remaining amount decreases. When the remaining amount calculation with low accuracy is performed, the use efficiency of the battery is rather deteriorated. In the embodiment of the present invention, which will be described next, the remaining amount is not calculated using the total discharge capacity table 7e corresponding to the degree of deterioration when the accuracy is reduced. This is because the calculated remaining amount with a large error is not output.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.
“a” is replaced with the integrated amount calculation accuracy determination program 70a, a deterioration degree corresponding total discharge capacity table 70e is provided instead of the deterioration degree corresponding total discharge capacity table 7e, and the current value vs. integrated discharge amount value table 7f is deleted. Other configurations are the same as those in FIG. 1, and the description thereof is omitted. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the remaining amount calculation process as described above. FIG.
It is explanatory drawing of 0e. In this embodiment, the detection voltage for calculating the remaining amount in FIG.
3 has been deleted. Instead, the remaining amount calculation accuracy determination is performed, and the remaining amount calculation is not performed when the accuracy decreases by a predetermined value or more.

First, the total discharge capacity table 70 corresponding to the deterioration degree
e, the total discharge capacity table 7e corresponding to the degree of deterioration
Of the correction coefficient Ki is divided into two, and the correction coefficient K
i, followed by an average total discharge amount Qa (= K) of the total discharge capacities measured for a number of batteries corresponding to each temperature and discharge current value corresponding to the correction coefficient Ki.
i × Qo) is represented by, for example, Ki
(Or Qa). In this case, the range in which the correction coefficient Ki varies is the correction coefficient Ki ×
The range is from (1−Δd) to the correction coefficient Ki × (1 + Δd). As a result, the total discharge capacity Qa calculated in step 108 of FIG. 2 is changed from Qo × Ki × (1−Δd) to Qo × Ki.
× (1 + Δd). Each of the tables 71 to 7 of the total discharge capacity table 7e corresponding to the deterioration degree
The tables 711 to 774 are provided in the total discharge capacity table 70e corresponding to the deterioration degree corresponding to No. 4.

In the above embodiment, the integrated discharge amount Qn is calculated from the discharge current value at that time without calculation.
V and 3.4 V, and the remaining amount is calculated by calculating the integrated discharge amount Qn from the characteristics of the battery body at that time. However, in practice, there are many cases where the integrated discharge amount Qn is obtained by calculation from the discharge current value at that time. In this case, the error of the integrated discharge amount Qn obtained by the calculation becomes a problem in calculating the remaining amount. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a calculation error (ratio error) for determining a decrease in the accuracy of the remaining amount calculation. First, in the characteristic diagram of FIG.
Is the discharge amount (discharge charge) corresponding to the discharge current value from 25 ° C to the total discharge capacity Qo (reference total discharge capacity value) at a current value of 0.2c when the battery is discharged from the full charge to the discharge stop voltage. Is a characteristic of the integrated discharge amount Qn calculated by the charge integration process. The vertical axis represents the integrated capacity, and the horizontal axis represents the discharge time. Graph B shows the integrated discharge amount Qn up to the total discharge capacity Qo of 25 ° C. at the current value = 0.2 c.
7 is a characteristic graph obtained by measuring a number of batteries in accordance with actual use states of charge and discharge, and linearly approximating an average value. The graph A representing the calculated integrated value is a straight line having a gradient θ1, and the graph B representing the measured integrated value is a graph having a gradient θ2. Here, the calculation error of the integrated value of the integrating means, which is calculated based on the actual current value under the predetermined condition from the average characteristic when the actual integrated discharge amount of a large number of battery bodies or assembled batteries is collected under the predetermined condition, is represented by k And k = (θ
1−θ2) / θ2 is calculated. Alternatively, the calculation error k is calculated from the integrated capacities Qd1 and Qd2 after the time T by k = (Qd1−
Qd2) / Qd2. From the calculation of the remaining amount, this calculation error k with respect to the actual battery body or the assembled battery is
The ratio is an error corresponding to the variation error Δd of the actual battery body or the assembled battery with respect to the average total discharge amount Qa.

That is, the calculation error k at this time represents the average value of the error of the calculated integrated discharge amount with respect to the actual integrated discharge amount of the battery. On the other hand, the variation error Δd corresponds to an error of the total discharge capacity of the actual battery from the correction coefficient Ki of the total discharge capacity Qa by referring to the table. The calculation of the remaining amount Qr includes these errors, and is calculated by the equation Qr = Qa-Qn. The variation error Δd and the calculation error k are both errors from the viewpoint of the calculation of the remaining amount, and thus are related to the accuracy of calculating the remaining amount. Variation error Δd than average calculation error k
Is large, even if the integrated discharge amount Qn is calculated and the remaining amount is further calculated from the total discharge capacity Qa, there is a possibility that the calculation accuracy of the actual remaining amount Qr of the battery is deteriorated because the total discharge capacity Qa itself largely varies. Is high. Therefore, in such a case, the remaining amount is not calculated here. Thus, with some exceptions, the accuracy of the remaining amount calculation can be suppressed to about an error based on the calculation of the calculated integrated discharge amount. With a few exceptions,
This is when the error direction of the variation error Δd and the polarity of the error of the calculation error k are opposite. If the errors have the same polarity, the remaining amount calculation error is reduced accordingly. The calculation error k is measured in advance and stored in the parameter storage area 7g.

The remaining amount calculating process will be described with reference to FIG. 7. In order to make an accuracy determination according to the accuracy of calculating the integrated discharge amount Qn, steps 102 to 105 in FIG. 2 are replaced with steps 102a to 105a. These are different from FIG. The detection of the current voltage value in step 102 and the voltage detection of 3.4 V and 3.2 V in step 103 are not performed here. The integrated amount calculation accuracy determination program 70a is executed by the MPU 6 to detect the detection (i) of the current value, and to calculate ΔQd = i × Δt and Qn = Qn-1 +
After calculating ΔQd, the correction coefficient Ki and the variation error Δd are referred to by referring to the total discharge capacity table 70e corresponding to the degree of deterioration.
Is read, and the variation error Δd is calculated as
(Accuracy). Then, when the calculation error k is larger than the variation error Δd, the remaining amount calculation process is stopped.

A specific description will be given below focusing on differences from the processing of FIG. 2. First, in step 102a, instead of step 102, the integrated amount calculation program 70a is called and executed by the MPU 6, and the MPU 6 (I) is detected. Then, in step 103a, ΔQd = i × Δt and ΔQd
Is calculated. Δt is a time difference from the immediately preceding calculation time point determined according to the interrupt cycle to the current calculation time. Next, a process of calculating the integrated discharge amount Qn is performed as step 104a. The integrated discharge amount Qn is based on Qn = Qn-1 + ΔQd.
Here, Qn-1 is the previous accumulated discharge amount, and ΔQd is
This is the current discharge amount calculated in step 102a. The initial value is Qn = 0. The calculated Qn is stored in the memory 7.

In the next step 105a, the current temperature value T is detected as in step 104 of FIG.
Then, based on the current discharge current value i and the current temperature value T detected in step 102a, step 10 in FIG.
The same process as that after the deterioration degree determination of No. 6 is performed. Next Step 1
07a is substantially the same as step 107 in FIG. 2 except that the correction coefficient Ki and the variation error Δd are obtained from the total discharge capacity table 70e. Then, it is determined in step 107b whether Δd ≧ k. Where Y
When ES is reached, the same processing as in step 108 and subsequent steps in FIG. 2 is performed to calculate the remaining amount Qr from the above equation Qr = Qa-Qn and output it to the outside. If NO here, the accuracy of the remaining amount calculation is reduced, and the process is terminated.

In the above embodiment, both the variation error Δd and the integrated value calculation error k for the total discharge amount are ratios, and the ratios are compared. that is,
This is because, assuming that the integrated value calculation error k is a ratio, the error of the integrated discharge amount obtained by the calculation becomes the same ratio error even at the discharge stop voltage. The next explanation is that the discharge has ended,
This is an example in which the accumulated error of the integrated discharge amount obtained by the calculation at a certain voltage is directly compared with the error of the characteristic variation of the integrated discharge amount at the voltage. The cumulative error is the integrated amount calculation accuracy determination program 70a up to the discharge stop voltage of 3.0 V or the voltage when the discharge is terminated at a voltage before the discharge stop voltage.
This is an error accumulated when charge / discharge is repeated with respect to the calculated value of the amount of discharge charge integrated by the (integration means). This accumulated error is calculated and compared with a variation error in the current voltage of the battery main body at the time of calculating the remaining amount from the viewpoint of the battery discharge characteristics. When the accumulated error is larger than the error from the viewpoint of the discharge characteristics, the remaining amount calculation is stopped because the accuracy of the remaining amount calculation is poor. Here, an example of an IC circuit that calculates an integrated value will be described as an example of the accumulated error. This IC circuit divides a small current of a part of the discharge current from the battery body or the assembled battery, charges a small-capacity capacitor, and calculates an integrated capacity from the amount of charge. A calculation error k is calculated, and a cumulative error is calculated from the calculation error k and the amount of repeated discharge charges. In this embodiment, FIG.
A step 105b (not shown) for determining a voltage of 3.2 V is inserted between the steps 105a and 106a. When the answer is NO in Step 105b, the process proceeds to Step 107a in FIG. Here, when the determination is YES, a variation error Δdi is obtained from the discharge characteristics of the integrated discharge amount described below.

FIG. 12 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 9, in which the vertical axis represents the integrated capacity and the horizontal axis represents time. However, FIG.
Unlike this, the relationship between the slope θ1 of the graph A representing the calculated integrated value and the slope θ2 of the graph B representing the measured integrated value is θ1 <θ2. The calculation error k as the ratio in this case is k
= (Qd1-Qd2) / Qd2, which is a negative value. FIG.
Since the ratio error k is known from the characteristic graph of (1), if the accumulated discharge amount Qd at that time is known, the error can be known by multiplying the ratio error k by the accumulated discharge amount Qd. That is, the error A is calculated by A = k × Qd. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 13, the discharge is stopped at a discharge stop voltage of 3.0 V or a voltage before the discharge stop voltage, and the cumulative error A when the discharge is repeated is A = k × ΣQd. However, in FIG. 13, Qd is the accumulated discharge charge amount Qda, Qdb,... Qdn from the full charge at that time to the voltage at which the discharge is completed. As the processing, first, when the voltage of the battery body is determined to be 3.2 V in the voltage determination step of step 105b added this time in the flowchart of FIG. 7, it is assumed that the correction point P1 in FIG. At this time, the table 76 of the integrated discharge amount Qn for correction is referred to. However, in this embodiment, the integrated discharge amount Qn of the table 76 is unnecessary because the integrated discharge amount Qn is obtained by the calculation of the IC circuit. It is. The table 76 further stores a variation error Δdi corresponding to the integrated discharge amount Qn stored as a correction value. Alternatively, a table in which only the variation error Δdi is stored instead of the integrated discharge amount Qn.

At this time, the integrated discharge amount Q at 3.2 V
The variation error Δdi viewed from the discharge characteristic of n is shown in FIG. In FIG. 14, the vertical axis represents the correction voltage, and the horizontal axis represents the total discharge capacity. This is a partially enlarged view of a certain discharge current value in the discharge characteristic graph shown in FIG. 4, in which discharge characteristics are actually taken for a certain discharge current value of a large number of battery bodies, and a variation error Δdi is obtained from the characteristic data. The variation error Δdi may be statistically obtained as 3σ. The center characteristic graph Co is the average value, and FIG.
Corresponds to one of the discharge characteristic graphs. Integrated discharge amount Q in the figure
ni corresponds to the integrated discharge amounts Qno, Qn1, Qn2,... in the discharge characteristic of the 3.4v integrated discharge amount Qn in FIG.
It is one of the integrated discharge amounts Qno, Qn1, Qn2,. That is, only the variation error Δdi is stored in the table 76 of FIG. 5 together with or instead of the variation error Δdi. Then, when a voltage of 3.2 V is detected, the temperature T in the table 76 at that time is detected.
And the variation error Δdi stored in the column corresponding to the discharge current value at that time. Read error Δ
For di, in step 107b of FIG.
The determination of A is performed. If the determination is YES, the processing after step 108 in FIG. 7 is performed, and if the determination is NO, the remaining amount calculation processing ends. In the above case, it is not necessary to obtain the variation error Δd from the tables 771 to 774 in FIG. 8 in step 107a. Therefore,
In step 107a, tables 71 to 74 in FIG. 3 are referred to instead of the tables 77 to 774 in FIG. By the way, the table 76 is 3.2V, but it goes without saying that the similar variation error Δdi may be stored in the 3.4V table 75. As the detection voltage, a discharge stop voltage of 3.0 V and other various voltages can be adopted, and many similar tables can be prepared.

As described above, in the embodiment, a plurality of total discharge capacity tables are provided according to the degree of deterioration.
This may be one without corresponding to the degree of deterioration.
The correction coefficient value is stored in the data of the table using the temperature and the current value as parameters, but the total discharge capacity may be directly stored. Further, even if there is only one table storing the total discharge capacity obtained from the characteristic corresponding to the specific current value of about 20 ° C. to about 25 ° C. without being provided in accordance with the temperature, for example, even in a steady state temperature. Good. In addition, in the current value-to-accumulated discharge amount value table 7f at the specific voltage in the embodiment, the specific voltage is provided with the table of the battery body voltage of 3.4V and 3.2V. It is needless to say that by providing the above table, a more accurate integrated discharge amount can be obtained. Further, in the embodiment, the battery deterioration degree L in four stages is determined.
Since (= 1 to 4) is detected, a plurality of tables of the integrated discharge amount Qn shown in FIG. 5 can be provided in correspondence with the degree of deterioration. In such a case, the tables 75, 7
6 is a number corresponding to the battery deterioration degree L (= 1 to 4),
For example, the number of sheets becomes four, and the deterioration degree detection in step 106 in FIG. 2 comes before the integrated discharge amount Qn in step 105 and corresponds to the battery deterioration degree L according to the battery deterioration degree L (= 1 to 4). Referring to the table, the integrated discharge amount Qn corresponding to the degree of deterioration is obtained, and the remaining amount is calculated in step 109 in FIG.

Further, in the embodiments, a rechargeable battery in which a circuit including a battery main body and a controller is integrated as a rechargeable battery is described. However, in the present invention, the rechargeable battery pack and the rechargeable battery pack are individually separated in advance. It is needless to say that the present invention can be applied as it is to a rechargeable battery pack formed integrally with the battery pack. In the embodiment,
Although the calculation error k is compared with the variation error Δd using the ratio as the ratio, the variation error Δd may be a difference value. In this case, the calculation error k takes the difference value as the maximum error, and the difference values are compared with each other in step 107b. In the embodiment, since the battery bodies 1a, 1b, and 1c are in series, the remaining battery capacity is calculated as the remaining battery capacity of one battery body, but the battery bodies 1a, 1b, and 1c are connected in parallel. If so, the value obtained by multiplying the number of parallels is the remaining battery power. However, it is needless to say that the battery remaining amounts may be individually calculated and the sum thereof may be used as the battery remaining amount in the parallel operation. Furthermore, although the present invention describes only a rechargeable battery or a rechargeable battery pack, it goes without saying that a part of the controller and the function of calculating the remaining amount can be assigned to the device main body side. Can be regarded as an invention of a method for calculating the remaining amount.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention, the variation error Δd of the total discharge capacity Qa in the actual battery is stored as data, and the calculation error of the integrated discharge amount Qn calculated by the calculation is stored. When the calculation error of the integrated discharge amount Qn is larger than the variation error Δd of the total discharge capacity Qa, the remaining amount calculation is not performed, so that the range of the remaining amount calculation error is suppressed to about the variation error Δd. Is not output. Also,
Instead of the variation error Δd of the total discharge capacity Qa, as a variation error Δdi on the characteristic of the integrated discharge amount Qn up to the voltage at which a certain discharge is completed, the calculation error of the integrated discharge amount Qn calculated by the calculation is calculated. The cumulative error is calculated in accordance with the repetition of, and when the cumulative error of the integrated discharge amount Qn is larger than the variation error Δdi, the remaining amount calculation is not performed. As a result, the accuracy of the calculated remaining amount output to the outside does not need to be reduced, and the use efficiency of the rechargeable battery can be improved. Also, in actual use of the battery, for example, at a charge stop voltage, about 10% of the discharge charge is left in the battery, and the battery is recharged therefrom or recharged while maintaining about 10% of the discharge charge. Also, since the remaining amount calculation error can be suppressed from expanding, the rechargeable battery can be used efficiently.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram mainly showing a lithium rechargeable battery according to an embodiment of the prior invention relating to the rechargeable battery of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a remaining amount calculation process.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a total discharge capacity table corresponding to the degree of deterioration.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a characteristic of a total discharge capacity at a specific current value.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a current value vs. integrated discharge amount value table at the specific voltage.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram mainly showing a lithium rechargeable battery built in the electronic device of one embodiment of the rechargeable battery of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a remaining amount calculation process for determining the remaining amount calculation accuracy.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a deterioration degree-corresponding total discharge capacity table that stores error data due to the variation.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of an integrated amount calculation error in order to determine a decrease in accuracy of the remaining amount calculation.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of actual charging / discharging.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of variations in characteristics due to individual differences of batteries having the same total discharge capacity.

FIG. 12 is another explanatory diagram of an integrated amount calculation error in order to determine a decrease in accuracy of the remaining amount calculation.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a cumulative error when charging and discharging are repeated.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of errors due to variations in characteristics due to individual differences of batteries having the same total discharge capacity.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 1a, 1b, 1n: lithium battery body (battery body), 2: controller, 3: voltage value detection circuit, 4, current value detection circuit, 5: temperature detection circuit, 6, 23: MPU,
7: memory, 7a: integrated amount calculation voltage determination program, 7
b: battery deterioration degree detection program, 7c: remaining amount calculation program, 7d: usable remaining time calculation output program, 7
e, 77: Deterioration degree-corresponding total discharge capacity table, 7f: Current value vs. integrated discharge amount value table, 7g: Parameter storage area, 8: A / D conversion circuit (A / D), 9: Display device, 1
0: rechargeable battery, 11: bus, 12: SM bus, 13: charge / discharge changeover switch circuit, 20: electronic device, 21: device body, 22: power supply circuit, 23: MPU.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Masato Suzuki 1-88 Ushitora, Ibaraki-shi, Osaka F-term in Hitachi Maxell, Ltd. (reference) 2G016 CA00 CB12 CB22 CB33 CC01 CC03 CC04 CC12 CC13 CC16 CC27 CC28 5G003 AA01 BA03 CA03 CB01 CC02 EA05 GC05 5H030 AS11 BB01 FF41 FF42 FF44

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A rechargeable battery in which the total discharge capacity from a full charge to a discharge stop voltage fluctuates according to a discharge condition for discharging a charged charge, comprising: a battery body or an assembled battery in which a plurality of battery bodies are connected in series. Integration means for integrating the amount of discharge charge from the start of discharge after charging to the present according to the discharge current value; and the total discharge capacity when discharging from the full charge to the discharge stop voltage at a specific discharge current value A first data storage means of a discharge current value vs. a total discharge capacity in which the specific discharge current values are stored in association with the total discharge capacity up to the discharge stop voltage for the plurality of specific discharge current values, and The battery body as viewed from the average value of the integrated discharge capacity of a large number of the battery bodies or the battery pack when the battery is discharged from the full charge to a predetermined discharge voltage at a specific discharge current value Alternatively, a second data storage means of a discharge current value vs. an integrated discharge amount, which uniquely stores a variation error of the integrated discharge amount due to a variation in the characteristics of the battery pack, and a large number of the battery bodies or the battery packs Error storage means for storing a calculation error of an integrated value of the integrating means under the predetermined condition, based on an average characteristic when the integrated discharge amount is sampled under the predetermined condition; and a voltage for detecting a current voltage value of the battery body. Value detecting means, current value detecting means for detecting a current discharge current value, and whether or not the voltage value obtained from the voltage value detecting means substantially matches the predetermined discharge voltage. Determining means for determining, and the current discharge obtained from the current value detecting means when the voltage value substantially matches the predetermined discharge voltage according to the determination result from the determining means. A total discharge capacity corresponding to the current discharge current value or up to the nearest discharge stop voltage is obtained from data obtained by the first data storage means based on the flow value, and obtained by the integrating means. And a remaining capacity calculating means for calculating the remaining capacity of the discharge charge from the total discharge capacity and the integrated discharge quantity, and comparing the calculation error with the variation error of the integrated discharge quantity. The remaining capacity calculation means does not calculate the remaining capacity when the calculation error is large. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined discharge voltage is a predetermined discharge stop voltage, and the variation error is a variation error with respect to a total discharge amount at the discharge stop voltage. 2. A rechargeable battery according to claim 1, wherein said first data storage means is stored in said first data storage means in correspondence with said total discharge amount, and said second data storage means is not provided. 3. The rechargeable battery according to claim 2, wherein the calculation error is a ratio. 4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising calculating an amount of the discharge charge integrated by said integration means from said full charge to said discharge stop voltage or a voltage at which the previous discharge is terminated and a calculation error stored in said error storage means. Having means for calculating the cumulative error up to the discharge stop voltage after repeated charge / discharge or the voltage at which the discharge before this is completed,
2. The rechargeable battery according to claim 1, wherein the accumulated error is compared with a variation error of the integrated discharge amount, and when the accumulated error is large, the remaining amount calculation unit does not calculate the remaining amount. 3. 5. A rechargeable battery having a total discharge capacity varying from a full charge to a discharge stop voltage depending on a discharge condition for discharging a charged charge, wherein the battery body or an assembled battery in which a plurality of the battery bodies are connected in series. Integration means for integrating the amount of discharge charge from the start of discharge after charging to the present according to the discharge current value; and the total discharge capacity when discharging from the full charge to the discharge stop voltage at a specific discharge current value The average value of the total discharge capacity of a large number of the battery bodies or the assembled batteries up to the discharge stop voltage for the plurality of the specific discharge current values and the characteristics of the battery body or the assembled battery viewed from the average value A discharge current value-to-total discharge capacity data storage means that uniquely associates a variation error of the total discharge capacity with a variation error of the total discharge capacity, and detects a current discharge current value. Current value detecting means, and a calculation error of an integrated value of the integrating means under the predetermined condition based on an average characteristic when the integrated discharge amounts of a large number of the battery main bodies or the assembled batteries are collected under the predetermined condition. Error storage means, determining means for comparing the variation error and the calculation error to determine whether the calculation error is large, and based on the current discharge current value obtained from the current value detection means. The data obtained by the data storage means obtains the total discharge capacity corresponding to the current discharge current value or up to the nearest discharge stop voltage, and calculates the total discharge capacity and the discharge charge integrated by the integration means. And a remaining capacity calculating means for calculating the remaining capacity of the discharge charge from the amount and when the calculation error is determined to be large in the determination by the determining means. Rechargeable battery, characterized in that does not perform the remaining amount calculated by the chopped capacity calculating means. 6. The data storage means has a table in which the total discharge capacity up to the discharge stop voltage and the variation error are associated with a predetermined temperature and the discharge current value. The table stores the total discharge capacity up to the discharge stop voltage at another specific discharge current value as a ratio based on the total discharge capacity up to the discharge stop voltage at a specific temperature for the total discharge capacity. Item 6. The rechargeable battery according to item 5. 7. A battery pack or a battery pack in which a plurality of battery bodies are connected in series, wherein a total discharge capacity from a full charge to a discharge stop voltage fluctuates according to a discharge condition for discharging a charged charge. A battery; integrating means for integrating the amount of discharge charge from the start of discharge after charging to the present according to the discharge current value; and a total discharge when discharging from the full charge to the discharge stop voltage at a specific discharge current value. The capacity is the average value of the total discharge capacity of a large number of the battery bodies or the battery packs up to the discharge stop voltage for the plurality of the specific discharge current values and the battery body or the battery pack viewed from the average value. A discharge current value vs. a total discharge capacity data storage means which uniquely associates a variation error of the total discharge capacity with a variation error of the characteristic due to a variation in characteristics; A current value detecting means to be detected, and a calculation error of an integrated value of the integrating means under the predetermined condition based on an average characteristic when an integrated discharge amount of a large number of the battery main bodies or the battery pack is collected under a predetermined condition is stored. An error storage unit that performs a comparison between the variation error and the calculation error to determine whether the calculation error is large, and a current discharge current value obtained from the current value detection unit. The data obtained by the data storage means obtains the total discharge capacity corresponding to the current discharge current value or the closest to the discharge stop voltage, and calculates the total discharge capacity and the discharge charge integrated by the integration means. And the remaining capacity calculating means for calculating the remaining capacity of the discharge charge from the amount of the discharge charge, and when the calculation error is determined to be large in the determination by the determining means, Charging the battery pack, characterized in that does not perform the remaining amount calculated by the remaining capacity calculating means for. 8. The data storage means has a table in which a total discharge capacity up to the discharge stop voltage and the variation error are associated with a predetermined temperature and the discharge current value. The table stores the total discharge capacity up to the discharge stop voltage at another specific discharge current value as a ratio based on the total discharge capacity up to the discharge stop voltage at a specific temperature for the total discharge capacity. Item 7. The rechargeable battery pack according to item 7. 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein said integrating means is performed by a circuit that shunts the discharge current value, accumulates the value in a capacitor, and integrates the divided value. 10. A rechargeable battery in which the total discharge capacity from a full charge to a discharge stop voltage varies according to a discharge condition for discharging a charged charge, wherein the battery body or an assembled battery in which a plurality of battery bodies are connected in series Integration means for integrating the amount of discharge charge from the start of discharge after charging to the present according to the discharge current value; and the total discharge capacity when discharging from the full charge to the discharge stop voltage at a specific discharge current value A first data storage means of a discharge current value vs. a total discharge capacity in which the specific discharge current values are stored in association with the total discharge capacity up to the discharge stop voltage for the plurality of specific discharge current values, and The average value of the integrated discharge capacity of a large number of the battery bodies or the battery packs when the battery is discharged from the full charge to a predetermined discharge voltage at a specific discharge current value, and the average value of the integrated discharge capacity. A second data storage means of a discharge current value vs. an integrated discharge amount, which uniquely stores a variation error of an integrated discharge amount due to a variation in characteristics of the battery body or the assembled battery as viewed from a value, and An error storage unit that stores a calculation error of an integrated value of the integrating unit under the predetermined condition as viewed from an average characteristic when the integrated discharge amount of the battery body or the assembled battery is collected under the predetermined condition; and The discharge stop voltage after being repeatedly charged and discharged from the discharge stop voltage or the amount of discharge charge integrated by the integration unit up to the voltage at which the previous discharge has ended and the calculation error stored in the error storage unit. Or means for calculating a cumulative error up to a voltage at which the discharge is terminated before this, and comparing the variation error with the cumulative error to calculate the cumulative error. First determining means for determining whether or not the difference is large; voltage value detecting means for detecting a current voltage value of the battery body; current value detecting means for detecting a current discharge current value; Second determining means for determining whether or not the voltage value obtained from the detecting means is substantially equal to the predetermined discharge voltage; and in accordance with a determination result from the second determining means. When the voltage value substantially matches the predetermined discharge voltage, the current value is obtained by the data obtained by the first data storage means based on the current discharge current value obtained from the current value detection means. The total discharge capacity corresponding to the discharge current value or up to the discharge stop voltage closest to the discharge current value is obtained, and the integrated discharge amount or the integrated value corresponding to the current discharge current value obtained by the second data storage means. hand And the remaining capacity calculating means for calculating the remaining capacity of the discharge charge from the total discharge capacity and the integrated discharge quantity obtained when the accumulated error is large by the first determining means. A rechargeable battery, wherein the remaining capacity is not calculated by the remaining capacity calculator when the determination is made. 11. A battery pack or a battery pack in which a plurality of battery bodies are connected in series, wherein a total discharge capacity from a full charge to a discharge stop voltage fluctuates according to a discharge condition for discharging a charged charge. A battery; integrating means for integrating the amount of discharge charge from the start of discharge after charging to the present according to the discharge current value; and a total discharge when discharging from the full charge to the discharge stop voltage at a specific discharge current value. A first data storage means of a discharge current value vs. a total discharge capacity in which the capacity is uniquely associated with the total discharge capacity up to the discharge stop voltage for the plurality of specific discharge current values, and The average value of the integrated discharge capacity of a large number of the battery bodies or the battery packs when the battery is discharged from the full charge to a predetermined discharge voltage at the specific discharge current value of A second data storage means of a discharge current value versus an integrated discharge amount, which uniquely stores the integrated discharge amount variation error due to the characteristic variation of the battery body or the assembled battery as viewed from an average value, Error storage means for storing a calculation error of an integrated value of the integrating means under the predetermined condition, viewed from an average characteristic when the integrated discharge amounts of a large number of the battery bodies or the assembled batteries are collected under the predetermined condition; From the charge to the discharge stop voltage or the voltage at which the previous discharge was terminated, the amount of discharge charge integrated by the integration means and the calculation error stored in the error storage means, Means for calculating a cumulative error up to a discharge stop voltage or a voltage at which the discharge is terminated before the voltage, and comparing the variation error with the cumulative error to calculate First determining means for determining whether or not the calculation error is large; voltage value detecting means for detecting a current voltage value of the battery body; current value detecting means for detecting a current discharge current value; Second determining means for determining whether or not the voltage value obtained from the value detecting means is substantially equal to the predetermined discharge voltage; and responding to a determination result from the second determining means. The data value obtained by the first data storage means based on the current discharge current value obtained from the current value detection means when the voltage value substantially matches the predetermined discharge voltage. To obtain the total discharge capacity corresponding to the discharge current value or up to the closest discharge stop voltage, and the integrated discharge amount or the integrated discharge amount corresponding to the current discharge current value obtained by the second data storage means. Calculating the remaining discharge capacity obtained from the total discharge capacity and the cumulative discharge amount by obtaining the integrated discharge amount obtained by the calculating means, wherein the accumulated error is calculated by the first determination means. A rechargeable battery pack wherein the remaining capacity calculation means does not calculate the remaining capacity when it is determined to be large. 12. A method for calculating a remaining amount of a charged battery in which a total discharge capacity from a full charge to a discharge stop voltage fluctuates according to a discharge condition for discharging a charged charge, the method comprising the steps of: The total discharge capacity when discharging to the discharge stop voltage is defined as the discharge current value vs. the total discharge capacity, which is stored for each of the plurality of specific discharge current values and uniquely associated with the total discharge capacity up to the discharge stop voltage. A first data storage means, and the above-mentioned or other specific discharge current value, from the average value of the integrated discharge capacity of a large number of battery bodies or assembled batteries when discharged from the full charge to a predetermined discharge voltage. Second data storage means of a discharge current value and an integrated discharge amount which uniquely stores a variation error of an integrated discharge amount due to a variation in characteristics of a battery body or the assembled battery. And an error storage means for storing a calculation error of the integrated value of the integrating means under the predetermined condition as viewed from an average characteristic when the integrated discharge amounts of a large number of the battery bodies or the assembled batteries are collected under the predetermined condition. Has an amount of discharge charge from the start of discharge after charging to the present according to a discharge current value, detects a current voltage value of the battery body, detects a current discharge current value, and detects the voltage value. It is determined whether or not the voltage value obtained from the detecting means is substantially equal to the predetermined discharge voltage, and the voltage value is substantially changed to the predetermined discharge voltage according to a result of the determination. When the values match, the data obtained by the first data storage means based on the current discharge current value obtained from the current value detection means and correspond to or closest to the current discharge current value by the data obtained by the first data storage means. Obtaining the total discharge capacity up to the stop voltage, and obtaining the integrated discharge amount obtained by the integrating means, calculating the remaining capacity of the discharge charge from the total discharge capacity and the integrated discharge amount, and calculating the calculation error and A method for calculating the remaining amount of the rechargeable battery, wherein the remaining amount is not calculated when the calculated error is large by comparing the variation error of the integrated discharge amount. 13. The rechargeable battery according to claim 12, wherein the integration of the discharge charge amount according to the discharge current value is performed by a circuit that shunts the discharge current value, accumulates it in a capacitor, and integrates it. How to calculate the remaining amount. 14. A method for calculating the remaining capacity of a charged battery in which a total discharge capacity from a full charge to a discharge stop voltage fluctuates according to a discharge condition for discharging a charged electric charge, comprising the steps of: From the average value of the total discharge capacity and the average value of the total discharge capacity for a large number of battery bodies or assembled batteries up to the discharge stop voltage for a plurality of the specific discharge current values when discharging to the discharge stop voltage, A discharge current value-to-total discharge capacity data storage means that uniquely associates the error of the total discharge capacity due to variations in the characteristics of the battery body or the assembled battery with a large number of the battery bodies or the assembled batteries Error storage for storing a calculation error of an integrated value of the integrating means under the predetermined condition, based on an average characteristic when the integrated discharge amount is sampled under the predetermined condition. Means for accumulating the amount of discharge charge from the start of discharge after charging to the present according to the discharge current value, detecting the current discharge current value, and calculating the data based on the current discharge current value. The total discharge capacity corresponding to the current discharge current value or up to the nearest discharge stop voltage is obtained from the data obtained by the storage means, and the discharge charge is calculated from the total discharge capacity and the integrated amount of the discharge charge. Calculating the remaining capacity of the battery and comparing the error due to the variation with the calculation error, and determining that the remaining error is not calculated when the calculation error is determined to be large. . 15. A method for calculating a remaining amount of a rechargeable battery pack in which a total discharge capacity from a full charge to a discharge stop voltage fluctuates according to a discharge condition for discharging a charged charge, wherein the full charge is performed at a specific discharge current value. From the total discharge capacity when discharging to the discharge stop voltage, the average value of the total discharge capacity and the average value of the total discharge capacity for a large number of battery bodies or assembled batteries up to the discharge stop voltage for the plurality of specific discharge current values. A discharge current value vs. a total discharge capacity data storage unit that uniquely associates a variation error of a total discharge capacity due to a variation in characteristics of the battery body or the assembled battery as viewed from the viewpoint, and a large number of the battery bodies or The calculation error of the integrated value of the integrating means under the predetermined condition is described based on the average characteristic when the integrated discharge amount of the battery pack is collected under the predetermined condition. Error storage means for storing the amount of discharge charge from the start of discharge after charging to the present in accordance with the discharge current value, detecting the current discharge current value, and calculating the current discharge current value. And obtaining the total discharge capacity corresponding to the current discharge current value or up to the closest discharge stop voltage based on the data obtained by the data storage means based on the total discharge capacity and the amount of the discharge charge integrated with the total discharge capacity. And calculating the remaining capacity of the discharge charge from the above, and when the calculation error is determined to be large by comparing the variation error and the calculation error, the remaining amount calculation is not performed. How to calculate the remaining amount.