JP2007333572A - Quality guarantee system for battery - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a quality guarantee system for a battery, retaining inspection data without losing even in the case of a sudden system down. <P>SOLUTION: This quality guarantee system for a battery includes: a battery inspection means to which batteries 108, 109 as an inspection object are connected and which is constructed by a measuring device 101, a control device 102, a load 107 and a switching device 103; and a computer 104 connected to the control device 102 by an information transmitting means. The inspection data on the batteries by the inspection means are stored in the computer 104. The inspection data are transmitted to the computer while the inspection data of the battery inspection means are stored using the memory holding part 106 connected to the battery inspection means and the computer 104 by the information transmitting means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention connects a battery to be inspected to a battery inspection apparatus connected to a computer having a function of connecting to a communication network, and transmits inspection data inspecting an operating state as a battery performance to the computer. The present invention relates to a battery quality assurance system.

  In recent years, portable and cordless electronic devices such as AV devices or portable telephones, portable computers, portable audio devices, video cameras, and digital cameras have been rapidly promoted, and batteries are used as power sources for driving these electronic devices. The number of devices that operate in the field is increasing, and even in silver salt film cameras, which have conventionally been mechanically operated, batteries are used as a drive source, and electronic control and electrification of portable devices are progressing.

  Not only such portable devices but also electronic devices used indoors, batteries are used as power sources for remote controllers, cordless telephones, and the like. In addition to such consumer electronic devices, batteries are also used in industrial electronic devices such as electronic measuring instruments and gas meters.

  The primary battery is a consumable item, and when the capacity of the primary battery is reduced, the electronic device using the primary battery as a driving power source is suspended. In the case of a secondary battery, it can be used repeatedly by charging, but the deterioration progresses by repeated charging and discharging, and it becomes unusable soon. Decreasing the capacity of primary batteries and secondary batteries not only stops the use of electronic devices, but also destroys data in computers and causes serious damage. That is, it is necessary to accurately check the operation state of the primary battery and the secondary battery.

  A battery checker is known as a device for checking the operation state of a primary battery, and the operation state of the primary battery is evaluated by measuring the internal resistance of the primary battery from a simple device that evaluates the operation state of the battery from the terminal voltage. There are things to do.

  FIG. 11 is a system block diagram of a conventional battery quality assurance system 510. In FIG. 11, the battery 506 to be inspected is attached to the switch 503, and the inspection program for the battery 506 is installed in the controller 502 from the computer 504. The controller 502 switches the switch 503 according to the installed inspection program, and measures the battery 506 with the measuring device 501. The inspection data read by the controller 501 is transmitted to and stored in the computer 504, and then recorded in the quality database 505 at the timing when the inspection ends.

  The inspection process of the battery 506 having the above configuration will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In the flowchart, S41, S42,... Are step numbers indicating processing procedures, and coincide with the numbers appended in the following text.

  11 and 12, the controller 502 and the computer 504 are connected and activated, and the battery 506 to be inspected is connected to the switch 503 (S41). It is determined whether or not the information on the type of the connected battery 506 is stored in the controller 502 (S42). If the information on the type of the battery 506 is not stored, the information on the type indicated on the battery 506 is used as a key. Input (S43).

When the product type information is stored in step S42 or when the product type information is keyed in step S43, the product type of the battery 506 is determined, and the inspection procedure program corresponding to this product type is stored in the controller 502. It is determined whether it is stored (S44). If there is no inspection procedure program corresponding to the product type in the controller 502, the product type information is transmitted from the computer 504 to the controller 502 (S45).

  The controller 502 stores the transmitted inspection procedure program (S46). The controller 502 executes inspection of the battery 506 using the transmitted inspection procedure program (S47). The inspection data of the battery 506 at the time of this inspection is acquired by the controller 502 by the measuring device 501 (S48). The acquired inspection data is transmitted from the controller 502 to the computer 504. At this time, it is determined whether or not the inspection is completed by the inspection procedure program stored in the controller 502 (S49). When it is determined that the inspection is completed, the result is stored in the quality database 505 (S50).

  An example of a quality assurance system for a primary battery having the above primary battery evaluation means will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, in the manufacturing process 303 using the material 302 in the primary battery manufacturing factory 301, a product of the same lot as the battery 305 manufactured in accordance with the production order 304 is extracted and inspected by the quality control department 308. The inspection data inspected in 309 is stored in the recording unit 310.

At this time, when the battery 305 shipped to the market 307 has a defect and the claim 311 is received, the inspection data of the battery 305 stored in the recording means 310 is used to deal with the claim 311. A battery quality assurance system has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent No. 3549817

  However, in the above-described prior art of the patent document, it operates on a general-purpose general computer operation system, and there are bugs in the internal operation system, and unexpected operations and causes of other applications operating on the operation system. There has been a problem that valuable inspection data is lost during transmission due to an unknown system malfunction or operator error.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems.By transmitting the inspection data of the battery obtained by the inspection means to the computer while storing the inspection data by the information transmission means having the memory holding function, It is an object of the present invention to provide a battery quality assurance system that can retain test data and store the results even when the computer becomes unable to receive the test data.

  In order to achieve the above object, a battery quality evaluation system according to the present invention comprises an inspection means for inspecting a connected battery to be inspected, a computer for storing inspection data of the battery, and a memory holding unit. The inspection data obtained by the inspection means is stored in the information transmission means provided with and transmitted to the computer.

According to the present invention, the battery test data is stored by using the memory holding function in which the battery inspecting unit and the computer for storing the inspection data are connected by the information transmission unit. When the system is down due to a malfunction of the unknown system when the computer system is operating or an operator error, it is possible to retain the inspection data when the system is down without being lost.

  In the first invention of the present invention, the inspection means for inspecting the connected battery to be inspected and the computer for storing the inspection data of the battery are provided as the inspection means by the information transmission means having the memory holding unit. By storing the inspection data obtained in this way and transmitting it to the computer, it is possible to prevent the battery inspection data from being lost when the computer system is down.

  In the second aspect of the present invention, by using a non-volatile semiconductor memory as the memory holding unit, it is possible to prevent loss of inspection data due to damage to the memory holding unit itself, for example, physical damage due to the mechanical life of the hard disk device. It is possible.

  In the third aspect of the present invention, by using a communication network as information transmission means, it is possible to transmit inspection data to a remote place or to transmit inspection data at a plurality of places.

  In the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the computer is restarted from when the system is down, it has the function of automatically returning the inspection means for inspecting the connected battery to be inspected, thereby remaining in the memory holding function. It is possible to continue the inspection from the state where it is.

  In the fifth aspect of the present invention, the function of allowing access to the memory holding unit only when the collection of inspection data is necessary can reduce the traffic on the communication network and reduce the load on the computer. It is possible to reduce the frequency of system down.

  In the sixth aspect of the present invention, by providing the function of contacting the progress of the contents of the inspection to the operator who performs the inspection, the inspection progress status and the confirmation of the progress of the inspection are in a remote place. Even an operator is possible.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a system block diagram of a battery quality assurance system according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, a load 107 and a battery 108 to be inspected are connected to a switch 103 having a function of switching control over the battery 108 and a load, and the battery 108 to be inspected is attached from the computer 104 to the battery 108 to be inspected. The inspection program is set in the controller 102 that controls the connection between the load 107 and the battery 108.

  The controller 102 inspects the battery 108 with the measuring device 101 that measures the voltage value, current value, and resistance value of the battery while switching the switch 103 and connecting the battery 108 and the load 107 according to the set inspection program. . The inspection data read by the controller 102 is transmitted to the memory holding unit 106 having a function of transmitting the inspection data to the computer 104 in response to a request from the connected computer 104 while holding the inspection data. Is transmitted to the computer 104 at the timing. The inspection data transmitted to the computer 104 is recorded in the quality database 105.

  In this embodiment, a programmable controller is used as the memory holding unit 106. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a data logger may be used. Similarly, the Internet is used as the information transmission means of the memory holding unit 106 and the computer 104. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and serial communication may be used.

  With reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 2, a description will be given below of the inspection process of the continuous discharge test in which the fixed resistance of the primary battery 108, which is an LR-6F AA alkaline manganese dry battery having the above configuration, is connected to measure the change in battery voltage. To do. In the flowchart, S01, S02,... Are step numbers indicating processing procedures, and coincide with the numbers appended in the following text.

  LR-6F AA alkaline manganese dry batteries (hereinafter referred to as primary batteries) were subjected to continuous discharge inspection. Here, the continuous discharge test is to connect a constant resistance to the battery and measure the time until it reaches 0.8V.

  1 and 2, the controller 102, the memory holding unit 106, and the computer 104 are connected and started by an information transmission unit, and the voltage of the primary battery is measured while the switch 103 is discharging the primary battery 108 to be inspected. Connect as possible (S01). An operator who conducts an inspection inputs to the computer 104 whether or not the controller 102 has information on the type of resistance for which the connected primary battery 108 is subjected to a continuous discharge test and the reference discharge duration is set. Judging from the contents (S02), when there is no product information, the product information written in the primary battery 108 is key-inputted (S03).

  When the product type information is stored in step S02 or the product type information is key-input in step S03, the product type of the primary battery 108 is determined. Therefore, the value of the load 107 and the battery 108 corresponding to this product type are determined. It is determined whether or not an inspection procedure program describing a timing value for switching the load 107 and a condition for terminating the inspection is stored in the controller 102 (S04). When there is no inspection procedure program corresponding to the product type in the controller 102, the product type information is transmitted from the computer 104 to the controller 102 (S05).

  The controller 102 stores the transmitted inspection procedure program (S06). The controller 102 performs inspection of the primary battery 108 using the transmitted inspection procedure program (S07). Inspection data of the primary battery 108 at the time of this inspection is acquired by the controller 102 by the measuring device 101 (S08). The acquired inspection data is transferred from the controller 102 to the memory holding unit 106 by parallel communication using the GP-IB interface (S09).

  At this time, it is determined whether or not the voltage of the primary battery 108 has reached the voltage for ending the inspection based on the product type information set by the inspection procedure program stored in the controller 102 (S10). When it is determined that the voltage has reached the condition for ending the process, the test data is transmitted from the memory holding unit 106 to the computer 104, and based on the set product information, the reference discharge duration, the time of the test data, Are stored in the quality database 105 (S11). Thus, Example 1 in which the discharge duration was inspected in the continuous discharge test of the primary battery 108 in accordance with the flowchart of FIG.

  The inspection process of the cylindrical lithium ion secondary battery 109 having a diameter of 18 mm and a height of 65 mm will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  An initial characteristic inspection of a cylindrical lithium ion secondary battery (hereinafter referred to as a secondary battery) having a diameter of 18 mm and a height of 65 mm was performed. Here, the initial characteristic inspection calculates the battery capacity with the current value and time by measuring the time until the secondary battery is set to 4.2 V with constant current and constant voltage charge and then to 3.0 V with constant current discharge. It is inspection to do.

3 and 4, the controller 102, the memory holding unit 106, and the computer 104 are connected and started by the information transmission means, and the secondary battery 109 is discharged while the secondary battery 109 to be inspected is discharged to the switch 103. Is connected so that it can be measured (S21). Whether the controller 102 has information on the type of the connected secondary battery 109 is determined from the contents input to the computer 104 by the operator who performs the inspection (S22). Information on the product type indicated on the battery 109 is key-inputted (S23).

  When the product type information is stored in step S22 or when the product type information is key-input in step S23, the product type of the secondary battery 109 is determined. It is determined whether or not an inspection procedure program describing a timing value for switching the secondary battery 109 and the load 107 and a condition for terminating the inspection is stored in the controller 102 (S24). If there is no inspection procedure program corresponding to the product type in the controller 102, the product type information is transmitted from the computer 104 to the controller 102 (S25).

  The controller 102 stores the transmitted inspection procedure program (S26). At this time, the controller 102 stores the number of times of charging / discharging of the secondary battery 109 (S27).

  The controller 102 performs the inspection of the secondary battery 109 using the transmitted inspection procedure program (S28). Inspection data of the secondary battery 109 at the time of this inspection is acquired by the controller 102 by the measuring instrument 101 (S29). The acquired inspection data is transferred from the controller 102 to the memory holding unit 106 by parallel communication using the GP-IB interface (S30).

  At this time, it is determined whether or not the voltage of the secondary battery 109 has reached the voltage for ending the inspection for one charge / discharge, based on the product type information set by the inspection procedure program stored in the controller 102. (S31) When it is determined that the test is finished, the test data is transmitted from the memory holding unit 106 to the computer 104, and the reference discharge battery capacity is compared with the battery capacity of the test data based on the set product information. If the result is within the standard, the inspection data is stored in the quality database 10 (S32).

  Further, it is determined whether or not the number of times of charging / discharging stored in step S27 has been performed (S33), and charging / discharging and inspection are performed for the stored number of times. Thus, in FIG. 1, an example in which the battery capacity is inspected in the initial characteristic test of the secondary battery 109 according to the flowchart of FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a system block diagram of a battery quality evaluation system in the case where inspection is performed via a remote place of the present invention. In FIG. 4, the battery inspection unit 202 is the left part of the drawing including the memory holding unit 106 of the first and second embodiments, and has the same function. The inspection instruction unit 203 is a portion on the right side of the drawing that does not include the memory holding unit 106 of the first and second embodiments, and has the same function.

  Each of the memory holding unit 106 of the battery inspection unit 202 and the computer 104 of the inspection instruction unit 203 is connected to the Internet, which is an information transmission unit. By using the connection method via the Internet 201 in this manner, the battery inspection unit 202 and the inspection instruction unit 203 can take a one-to-one or more connection form, and at the same time, separate from the inspection at a remote place. A mode in which the inspection data can be stored at the location is designated as Example 3.

In FIG. 1, when the computer 104 is down, the memory holding unit 106 is referred to when the computer 104 is restarted, and the mode of Embodiments 1 and 2 is added. Example 4 is assumed.

  In FIG. 1, the state of the memory holding unit 106 is referred to at a time interval set in advance in the computer 104, and other times, the inquiry to the memory holding unit of the computer 104 is stopped to inquire about the progress of the inspection. An example in which the primary battery is inspected with the function of reducing the load of the computer and making it difficult to cause the malfunction of the computer will be referred to as Example 5. The inspection procedure is the same as in Example 1, and there is no problem even if the secondary battery is inspected.

  As shown in FIG. 5, Embodiment 6 is a form of Embodiments 1 and 2 having a function of notifying the inspection operator of the state by an e-mail contact means 110 during and at the end of the inspection.

(Comparative Example 1)
For comparison with the example of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 11, an example in which the primary battery 108 was inspected with the same operation content as that of the example 1 in the state without the memory holding unit was set as the comparative example 1.

(Comparative Example 2)
In Example 2, the example in which the secondary battery 109 was inspected with the same operation content as that in Example 2 without the memory holding unit as shown in FIG.

  The inspection result of the LR-6F AA alkaline manganese dry battery of Example 1 is shown in FIG. In FIG. 7, the vertical axis represents the battery voltage, and the horizontal axis represents the time from the start of the inspection, indicating the relationship between the discharge time and the voltage. Moreover, the test result in the cylindrical lithium ion secondary battery of diameter 18mm of Example 2 and height 65mm is set to FIG. In FIG. 8, the vertical axis indicates the battery voltage, and the horizontal axis indicates the time from the start of the inspection, indicating the relationship between the discharge time and the voltage.

  FIG. 9 shows the inspection result when the LR-6F AA alkaline manganese dry battery was inspected in Comparative Example 1 and the computer was stopped during the inspection. Further, in Comparative Example 2, an initial characteristic inspection of a cylindrical lithium ion secondary battery having a diameter of 18 mm and a height of 65 mm is performed, and an inspection result when the computer is stopped halfway due to a system down due to failure or mistake is shown. FIG.

  From the comparison of FIG. 7 showing the test result of Example 1 and FIG. 9 showing the test result of Comparative Example 1, in FIG. 9 showing the test result of Comparative Example 1, acquisition of test data is stopped when the computer is stopped. I understand that. Moreover, in FIG. 10 which shows the test result of Comparative Example 2 from the comparison of FIG. 8 which shows the test result of Example 2 and FIG. 10 which shows the test result of Comparative Example 2, acquisition of test data is stopped when the computer is stopped. I understand that.

  When the computer stops, the inspection stops and the inspection data cannot be acquired until the end. In particular, in the primary battery, since the discharge is completed once, retesting is impossible, and it is difficult to reproduce the initial characteristics even in the secondary battery. According to the embodiment of the present invention, in the first and second embodiments, the inspection data is not lost, and complete inspection data up to the completion of the inspection can be held. In addition, the results of Examples 3 to 6 were the same as those of Examples 1 and 2.

According to the present invention, the battery quality assurance system operates on a general-purpose general-purpose computer operation system, and there are bugs in the internal operation system and unexpected operations of other applications operating on the operation system. The problem of losing valuable inspection data during inspection due to malfunction of the system with unknown cause or operator error makes it possible to save inspection data during inspection. It is useful for storing inspection data of changes in properties of chemical substances that change the properties of products that have been used for destructive inspections and tensile inspections, which are used only once to test the durability of products that cannot be retested.

System block diagram of a battery quality assurance system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention Flowchart of the battery quality assurance system in the first embodiment Flowchart of the battery quality assurance system in the second embodiment Block diagram of the battery quality assurance system in Example 3 Block diagram of the battery quality assurance system in Example 6 Block diagram of battery manufacturing industry Performance characteristic diagram of primary battery in the present invention Performance characteristic diagram of secondary battery in the present invention Performance characteristics of primary battery when computer is stopped during inspection Performance characteristics of secondary battery when computer is stopped during inspection Block diagram of a conventional battery quality assurance system Conventional battery quality assurance system flowchart

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Measuring device 102 Controller 103 Switch 104 Computer 105 Quality database 106 Memory holding part 107 Load 108 Primary battery 109 Secondary battery 110 Contact means 201 Internet (communication network)
202 Battery Inspection Unit 203 Inspection Instruction Unit 301 Factory 302 Material 303 Manufacturing Process 304 Production Order 305 Product of Same Lot 306 Shipment 307 Market 308 Quality Control Department 309 Battery Inspection 310 Battery Inspection Record 311 Market Complaint

Claims (6)

  An inspection means for inspecting a battery to be inspected connected, and a computer for storing inspection data of the battery, and the inspection data obtained by the inspection means by an information transmission means provided with a memory holding unit A quality assurance system for a battery, which is transmitted to the computer while being stored.   The battery quality assurance system according to claim 1, wherein a nonvolatile semiconductor memory is used as the memory holding unit.   The battery quality assurance system according to claim 1, wherein a communication network is used as the information transmission means.   2. The battery quality assurance system according to claim 1, which has a function of automatically returning an inspection means for inspecting a connected battery to be inspected when the computer is restarted after the system is down.   The battery quality assurance system according to claim 1, wherein the battery quality assurance system has a function of allowing access to the memory holding unit only when inspection data needs to be collected. The battery quality assurance system according to claim 1, wherein the battery quality assurance system according to claim 1 has a function of notifying an operator who performs the inspection of a progress status of the content of the inspection.

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