JP2002291165A - Circuit and method for effectively utilizing battery - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain use of a battery until it is almost exhausted, eliminate waste by effectively using energy, and prolong the service life of the battery. SOLUTION: In this circuit 1 for effectively using battery which effectively uses batteries 2 to the n-th power (n: positive integer) connected in parallel, there are provided two-battery pack forming means S1, S2, S3, S4 which are provided for each of pairs P1 to P4 consisting of two of batteries 11 to 18 as one pair, and are formed by arranging the batteries as the pairs P1 to P4 in parallel and connecting the pairs of batteries in series by means of switching to form two-battery packs; and 2-to-the-m-th-power-batteries pack forming means S5, S6, S7 which are formed by arranging 2-to-the-(m-1)-th-power-batteries packs in parallel to each other, and connecting the 2-to-the-(m-1)-th-power- batteries packs in series by means of switching to form 2-to-the-m-th-power- battery packs under the assumption that n=m (m starts with 2 and sequentially in increment of one till n).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a battery effective utilization circuit and a battery effective utilization method for effectively utilizing 2 n (n: positive integer) batteries connected in parallel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a plurality of batteries or dry batteries are connected in parallel and used, for example, as a power source for a light source, when the batteries are exhausted, even when the capacity of each battery remains, the light source is turned on. In such a case, a plurality of batteries connected in parallel are conventionally discarded because it is assumed that the batteries have reached the end of their life.

[0003]

However, as described above, if a plurality of batteries connected in parallel were discarded because the light source could not be turned on, each of the batteries has not yet been turned on. Since the capacity remains, it cannot be said that the energy is effectively used, and waste occurs. In addition, at present, the life until battery replacement is not sufficient.

[0004] The present invention has been proposed in view of the above,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a battery effective use circuit and a battery effective use method that can use up a battery almost to the end, effectively use energy, reduce waste, and extend the life of the battery.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention as defined in claim 1 comprises two n connected in parallel.
In a battery effective use circuit that effectively uses the power of (n: a positive integer) batteries, 2 (n-1) powers when the above 2 n batteries are paired with two batteries A pair of batteries is provided for each pair, and the two batteries forming the pair are connected in parallel, and the two batteries forming the pair are connected in series by switching.
A two-pack battery forming means to be a single-pack battery, and n is m (m is 2
, The variable that sequentially increases to 1 starting from n) until n
(M-1) battery packs are arranged in parallel with each other, and the 2 (m-1) battery packs are connected in series by switching to form 2 m battery cells. And a battery pack forming means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect of the present invention, the above-mentioned m is a variable that starts at 2 and gradually increases by 1 to a value smaller than n. , Is characterized.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for effectively utilizing 2 n (n: a positive integer) number of batteries connected in parallel, wherein the 2 n number of batteries are effectively used. Of the two (n-1) power pairs when the two batteries are paired, the two batteries are switched to series connection to form a two-pack battery, and n is m (m Is a variable starting from 2 and sequentially increasing to 1), the 2 (m-1) th battery packs are connected in parallel, and the 2 (m-1) th battery packs are connected in series. To 2 m cells.
It is characterized by:

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the battery effective use circuit of the present invention. In the figure, a battery effective use circuit 1 of the present invention is a circuit for effectively using a plurality of batteries connected in parallel, and here, eight (two to the third power) batteries are used as the plurality of batteries. Batteries 11, 12,
, 17, 18 will be described.

The eight batteries 11 to 18 are paired with two batteries, and the batteries 11 and 12 are paired with the pair P1 and the battery 1
Pairs 3 and 14 form a pair P2, batteries 15 and 16 form a pair P3, and batteries 17 and 18 form a pair P4. Pairs P1 and P2 form an upper pair P5, and pairs P3 and P4 form a higher pair P6. are doing. And the pair P5 and P6 are the higher pair P
7.

P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6
P7 has switch mechanisms S1, S2, S3, S
4, S5, S6, and S7 are provided. The switching mechanism S1 has switching members S1a and S1b. The switching member S1a connects the positive electrodes of the batteries 11 and 12, and the switching member S1b connects the negative electrodes. Hereinafter, similarly, the switch mechanism S2 includes the switching members S2a,
S2b, and the switching member S2a is connected to the batteries 13, 1
4 and the switching member S2b connects the negative electrodes thereof. The switching mechanism S3 has switching members S3a and S3b. The switching member S3a connects the positive electrodes of the batteries 15 and 16, and the switching member S3b connects the negative electrodes. Also, the switch mechanism S4
Has switching members S4a and S4b, and the switching member S
4a connects the positive electrodes of the batteries 17 and 18, and the switching member S4b connects the negative electrodes thereof.

Further, the switching mechanism S5 has switching members S5a and S5b, and the switching member S5a is paired with a pair P1,
The positive electrodes of P2 are connected to each other, and the switching member S5b connects the negative electrodes thereof. The switching mechanism S6 has switching members S6a and S6b, and the switching member S6a
3, P4 are connected to each other, and the switching member S6b is connected to the negative electrodes. Then, the switch mechanism S7
Has switching members S7a and S7b, and the switching member S
7a connects the positive electrodes of the pair P5 and P6, and the switching member S7b connects the negative electrodes thereof.

[0013] Based on such a circuit configuration, the battery 11
18 are connected in parallel between the positive electrodes and the negative electrodes, and the load between the positive electrode and the negative electrode is the motor 2 here.
Is connected.

In the battery effective use circuit 1 having the above configuration,
In this embodiment, when the batteries 11 to 18 are exhausted and the motor 2 stops driving, the switch mechanisms S1 to S4 are switched as the second stage to form the circuit configuration of FIG. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the switching members S1a and S1b of the switching mechanism S1 are switched and connected to each other, and the switching members S2a and S2 of the switching mechanism S2 are switched.
b to be connected to each other, and a switch mechanism S3
The switching members S3a and S3b are switched and connected to each other, and the switching members S4a and S4b of the switch mechanism S4 are switched and connected to each other.

As described above, the switch mechanisms S1 to S4
By the switching, the two batteries in a pair are connected in series to form a two-pack battery, whereby the pair P
1, P2, P3, and P4 each change to a two-pack battery in a series configuration. For example, the switch mechanism S1
The two batteries 11 and 12 forming 1 are connected in parallel, and the two batteries 11 and 12 are connected in series by switching to form a two-pack battery.

A total of four pairs of batteries P1, P2, P3 and P4 are formed, which are connected in parallel with each other. Each two-pack battery adds and outputs two battery voltages based on the remaining capacity of one battery, so that the motor 2 can be driven again.

Next, when the batteries 11 to 18 are further consumed and the motor 2 stops operating under the circuit configuration of FIG. 2, in this embodiment, the switch mechanisms S5 and S6 are switched as a third step. 3 is formed.
That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the switching members S5a and S5b of the switch mechanism S5 are switched and connected to each other, and the switching members S6a and S6b of the switch mechanism S6 are switched and connected to each other.

As described above, the switch mechanism S5 connects the two battery packs of the pair P1 and the two battery packs of the pair P2, which were in parallel up to that point, in series by switching the four batteries. Battery set of four. Similarly, the switch mechanism S6 connects the two-pack battery of the pair P3 and the two-pack battery of the pair P4, which are in parallel up to that time, to connect them in series by four batteries. Assume a single-unit battery.

The four batteries P5 and P6 are connected in parallel with each other. Then, since each battery of four packs adds and outputs two battery voltages based on the remaining capacity of the two battery packs, the motor 2 can be driven again.

Next, under the circuit configuration of FIG. 3, when each of the batteries 11 to 18 further wears out and the motor 2 stops operating, in this embodiment, the switch mechanism S7 is switched as a fourth step, 4 is formed. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the switching members S7a and S7b of the switch mechanism S7 are switched and connected to each other.

As described above, the switch mechanism S7 connects the four battery packs of the pair P5 and the four battery packs of the pair P6, which are in parallel up to that point, in series by switching the eight batteries. Octet battery.

The eight-unit battery of the pair P7 has a configuration in which all the batteries 11 to 18 are connected in series, and outputs each battery voltage based on the remaining capacity of the four-unit battery by adding two battery voltages. , The motor 2 can be driven again.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a specific example of the switch mechanism. In this figure, the switch mechanism S1 is taken as an example. As the switch mechanism, for example, a six-point switch 20 may be employed as shown in FIG. The operation lever 21 of the six-point switch 20 is provided with switching members S1a, S2
b, when the operation lever 21 is tilted to one side, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5 (c), the batteries 11 and 12 of the pair P1 are in parallel, and when the battery is tilted to the other side, the batteries 11 and 12 of the pair P1 are in series as shown in FIG. Will be formed.

Here, a mechanical switch such as a six-point switch has been described as the switch mechanism.
Not only a mechanical switch but also an electrically operated switch such as a switching element may be used and incorporated in an electric circuit.

When a switching element is used as a switch mechanism, its operation is controlled using a microcomputer,
For example, a configuration may be adopted in which when the motor stops driving, the microcomputer recognizes this and activates the switching element to automatically shift to the next-stage battery parallel configuration. By doing so, it becomes possible to automatically use the battery until the battery is almost completely consumed without human intervention.

As described above, in the embodiment of the present invention, at first, all the batteries 11 to 18 are driven in parallel to drive the motor 2. Formed and then 4
Since an individual battery is formed, and finally, an eight-cell battery, that is, all the batteries 11 to 18 are connected in series, any of the batteries can be almost completely used up. In addition, energy can be effectively used, waste can be eliminated, and the life of the battery can be extended.

In the above description, the number of batteries is eight as an example, but the number of batteries is 2 n.
Any number of powers (n: positive integer) can be used.

In this case, the battery effective use circuit is provided for every 2 (n-1) pairs when 2 n batteries are paired, and 2 pairs forming the pair are used. A switch mechanism (two-pack battery forming means) in which the two batteries are connected in parallel and the two batteries forming the pair are connected in series by switching to form a two-pack battery, and n is m (m is 2 ), The 2 (m-1) battery packs are arranged in parallel,
A switching mechanism (2 m-th battery pack forming means) for connecting the (2 m) -th battery packs in series by switching to form a 2 m-th battery pack. .

In the above description, all the batteries are connected in series as the final stage, but a stage in the middle may be the final stage.

In the above description, a battery is used. However, the present invention is not limited to a battery, but may be a dry battery or other chemical energy, heat energy, nuclear energy,
Any DC voltage source (battery) for converting various energy such as solar energy into electric energy can be used. In this case, it is most preferable to use batteries of the same type and lot having the same electromotive force and the same output (decrease).

Further, although the motor is used as the load, various electric devices other than the motor may be used.

[0032]

As described above, in the battery effective use circuit and the battery effective use method of the present invention, at first, all the batteries are driven in parallel to drive the load. Forming an individual battery, then forming a quad battery in parallel with each other, and performing this step sequentially,
Finally, I connected all the batteries in series,
Both batteries can be used up almost to the end. In addition, energy can be effectively used, waste can be eliminated, and the life of the battery can be prolonged.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an example of a battery effective use circuit according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a circuit configuration in a second stage of the battery effective use circuit of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a circuit configuration in a second stage of the battery effective use circuit of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a circuit configuration in a second stage of the battery effective use circuit of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a specific example of a switch mechanism.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 battery effective use circuit 2 motor 11 battery 12 battery 13 battery 14 battery 15 battery 16 battery 17 battery 18 battery 20 6-point switch 21 operating lever P1: P1, P2: P3: P4: P5: P6: P7: S1, S2, S3 S4, S5, S6, S7 Switch mechanism S1a, S2a, S3a, S4a, S5a, S6a, S
7a Switching member S1b, S2b, S3b, S4b, S5b, S6b, S
7b Switching member

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A battery effective use circuit that effectively uses 2 n (n: positive integer) batteries connected in parallel, wherein the 2 n batteries are paired with two pairs. Are provided for each of the (n-1) power pairs, and the two batteries forming the pair are connected in parallel, and the two batteries forming the pair are connected in series by switching, and the two batteries are connected in series. Set as an individual battery 2
When n is m (m is a variable starting from 2 and sequentially increasing up to 1), 2 (m−1) th battery packs are arranged in parallel with each other and switched, and 2 (m-1) battery packs are connected in series to form a 2 m power battery pack.
And a m-th battery pack forming means. 2. The battery effective use circuit according to claim 1, wherein m is a variable that starts at 2 and gradually increases toward 1 to a value smaller than n. 3. A battery effective utilization method for effectively utilizing 2 n (n: a positive integer) batteries connected in parallel, wherein the 2 n batteries are paired with two pairs. In this case, the two parallel batteries in each of the 2 (n-1) pairs are switched to a series connection to form a two-pack battery, where n is m (m starts from 2 and is addressed to 1 until n. 2 (m-1) battery packs are set in parallel at the time of (variable that sequentially increases), and the above-mentioned 2 (m-1) battery packs are switched to series connection, and 2 m power battery packs are switched. A method for making effective use of a battery, comprising: a battery.