JP2008071568A - Battery pack and its disconnection detection method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable to detect slip-off of parts of parallel cells and to carry out high-accuracy detection, in a battery pack with each of its cell blocks consisting of a plurality of parallel cells. <P>SOLUTION: A terminal voltage and a charge and discharge current of each cell block are measured to calculate a remaining capacity % (S1), and if the remaining capacity % turns out to be within a range W having a linear change, a judgment treatment is started (S2). The remaining capacity % at that time is to be A1 (S3), an OCV voltage is estimated by adding or subtracting a value multiplying a prescribed inner resistance value by the measured current value to or from the measured voltage value, which is to be OCV1 (S4). A remaining capacity % is again found (S5), and if charging and discharging are continuously made (S6), and it is within the range W (S7), it is to be A2 (S8). If A1-A2 becomes a prescribed value (S9), an OCV voltage is estimated, as OCV2 (S10). A variation amount Δ between OCV1 and ECV2 is found (S11), that value is compared with a threshold value Vth (S12), and, if it is above the threshold value, parts of the cells are judged to be slipped off (S13). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a battery pack and a disconnection detection method thereof, and more particularly to a method for detecting a disconnection of a part of the parallel cells when a plurality of cells of a built-in battery are connected in parallel.

For example, Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2 have proposed conventional techniques for detecting the detachment of the parallel cells in the assembled battery. In Patent Document 1, when the voltage variation of the cell blocks connected in series in a plurality of stages exceeds a predetermined value, it is determined that some cells in the cell block are disconnected. Further, in Patent Literature 2, cell detachment is determined from a voltage change amount between each cell block before and after discharging or discharging with a predetermined capacity.
JP-A-9-117072 JP 2004-31120 A

  In the prior art of Patent Document 1, since the determination is simply based on the voltage variation of the cell block, there is a risk of erroneous detection due to a characteristic difference or variation. In this respect, Patent Document 2 which is looking at changes is expected to improve, but further improvement in detection accuracy is desired.

  The objective of this invention is providing the battery pack which can improve detection accuracy, and its disconnection detection method.

  The battery pack according to the present invention is a battery pack including a built-in battery in which one or a plurality of cell blocks in which a plurality of cells are connected in parallel to each other are connected in series, and a voltage for detecting a terminal voltage of the cell block. A detecting means; a current detecting means for detecting a charging / discharging current; a remaining amount detecting means for integrating the charging / discharging current detected by the current detecting means to determine a remaining amount of the built-in battery; and the remaining amount detecting means. Based on the detection results of the voltage detection means and the current detection means and the internal resistance value predetermined for the cell at each time point before and after the remaining amount to be calculated increases or decreases continuously by a predetermined remaining amount at each time point When the terminal voltage of the cell block is estimated in a state where the charge / discharge current of the cell is substantially 0, and the amount of change in the estimated voltage is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the parallel cell Part, characterized in that it comprises a determining disconnection detecting means to be falling.

  The battery pack disconnection detection method of the present invention is a battery pack disconnection detection method including a built-in battery in which a plurality of cells connected in parallel to each other are connected in series in one or more stages. Detecting a terminal voltage of the cell block; detecting a charge / discharge current; integrating the detected charge / discharge current; obtaining a remaining amount of the internal battery; Based on the detection result of the terminal voltage and the charge / discharge current before and after the time when the amount is continuously increased or decreased and the internal resistance value predetermined for the cell, the charge / discharge current at each time is substantially zero Estimating the terminal voltage of the cell block at step, obtaining the change amount of the estimated voltage, and the change amount being a predetermined value or more Some of the parallel cell is characterized in that it comprises a determining that dropped out.

  According to the above configuration, in a battery pack including a built-in battery in which a plurality of cells such as secondary batteries are connected in parallel to each other, one or more stages are connected in series. When a detachment occurs, the increasing pace of the capacity, that is, the terminal voltage, increases during charging and the decreasing pace increases during discharging. Therefore, the charge / discharge current detected by the current detection means is integrated into the voltage detection means for detecting the terminal voltage of the cell block and the current detection means for detecting the charge / discharge current, which are used for charge / discharge control, etc. While using the remaining amount detection means for obtaining the remaining amount of the built-in battery, a disconnection detection means is provided to detect the cell detachment.

  Specifically, a voltage change amount due to the internal resistance is obtained by multiplying the detection result of the current detection means by a predetermined internal resistance value in the cell, and the voltage change amount is obtained as a detection result of the voltage detection means. On the other hand, the terminal voltage (OCV voltage) of the cell block when the charging / discharging current is substantially zero is estimated by subtracting during charging and adding during discharging. Then, for example, with the start of charging / discharging, the remaining amount% at that time and the estimated OCV voltage are obtained, and then charging or discharging is continuously performed and the predetermined remaining amount% changes every time. When the estimated OCV voltage is obtained, or when charging or discharging is continuously performed, the estimated OCV voltage at that time is obtained every time when the predetermined remaining amount% is reached, and the predetermined remaining amount is continuously obtained. Then, when the amount of change in the estimated OCV voltage before and after the increase or decrease is a predetermined value, for example, 250 mV or more, it is determined that a part of the parallel cells are dropped.

  Accordingly, it is possible to detect a partial detachment of a parallel cell even in a single-stage cell block from a large change in the estimated OCV voltage due to charging / discharging due to the cell detachment, and to perform highly accurate detection from the estimated OCV voltage. Can do. In addition, it is possible to detect cell detachment while energizing.

  In addition, the timing for detecting the estimated OCV voltage is newly set using the existing voltage detection means, current detection means, and remaining amount detection means used for charge / discharge control, and the amount of change in the estimated OCV voltage. It is possible to configure the disconnection detection means simply by adding an algorithm of a determination process for determining a cell detachment by comparing the amount of change with a predetermined threshold to the means for controlling charge / discharge, It can be realized with a low-cost configuration.

  Furthermore, the battery pack of the present invention is a battery pack including a built-in battery in which one or a plurality of stages of cell blocks each having a plurality of cells connected in parallel to each other are connected in series. A voltage detecting means for detecting; a current detecting means for detecting a charge / discharge current; a remaining amount detecting means for integrating the charge / discharge current detected by the current detecting means to obtain a remaining amount of the built-in battery; and the voltage detection The terminal voltage of the cell block when the charge / discharge current at that time is approximately zero is estimated based on the detection results of the means and the current detection means and the internal resistance value predetermined for the cell, and the estimated voltage And when the difference between the remaining amount obtained by the remaining amount detecting means and a predetermined reference value is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, it is determined that a part of the parallel cells are dropped Characterized in that it comprises a disconnection detection unit that.

  The battery pack disconnection detection method of the present invention is a battery pack disconnection detection method including a built-in battery in which a plurality of cells connected in parallel to each other are connected in series in one or more stages. A step of detecting a terminal voltage of the cell block; a step of detecting a charge / discharge current; a step of integrating the detected charge / discharge current to determine a remaining amount of the built-in battery; and Based on the detection result and the internal resistance value predetermined for the cell, the step of estimating the terminal voltage of the cell block when the charge / discharge current at that time is substantially zero, and the estimated voltage are obtained. A step of obtaining a difference between a predetermined reference value with respect to the remaining amount and a determination that a part of the parallel cells is dropped when the difference is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. Characterized in that it comprises the steps that.

  According to the above configuration, in a battery pack including a built-in battery in which a plurality of cells such as secondary batteries are connected in parallel to each other or one or more stages are connected in series, charge / discharge control, etc. The charge detecting / discharging current detected by the current detecting means is integrated with the voltage detecting means for detecting the terminal voltage of the cell block and the current detecting means for detecting the charging / discharging current. While using the required remaining amount detection means, a disconnection detection means is provided to detect the cell detachment.

  Specifically, a voltage change amount due to the internal resistance is obtained by multiplying the detection result of the current detection means by a predetermined internal resistance value in the cell, and the voltage change amount is obtained as a detection result of the voltage detection means. On the other hand, the terminal voltage (OCV voltage) of the cell block when the charging / discharging current is substantially zero is estimated by subtracting during charging and adding during discharging. Then, the estimated OCV voltage is directly compared with a reference value that is predetermined with respect to the remaining amount obtained by the remaining amount detecting means, and when the difference is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, a part of the parallel cells Is determined to be missing.

  Accordingly, it is possible to detect a partial detachment of a parallel cell even in a single-stage cell block from a large change in the estimated OCV voltage due to charging / discharging due to the cell detachment, and to perform highly accurate detection from the estimated OCV voltage. Can do. In addition, it is possible to detect cell detachment while energizing.

  Further, a process for calculating an estimated OCV voltage using the existing voltage detection means, current detection means and remaining amount detection means used for charge / discharge control, and comparing the estimated OCV voltage with a predetermined threshold value, the cell The disconnection detection means can be configured simply by adding an algorithm for determination processing for determining a disconnection to the means for controlling charge / discharge, and can be realized with a low-cost configuration.

  Furthermore, in the battery pack of the present invention, the built-in battery includes a plurality of stages of cell blocks connected in series, and the disconnection detecting means has a variation in the estimated voltage variation between the cell blocks in advance. It is characterized in that it is determined that a part of the parallel cell is dropped when it is equal to or more than a predetermined value.

  According to the above configuration, when the built-in battery includes a plurality of cell blocks connected in series, the amount of change in the voltage of each cell block estimated as described above is not directly compared with the threshold value. Instead, the variation in the amount of change is obtained, and the variation is compared with a threshold value.

  Therefore, the remaining amount% at that time and the variation among individual built-in batteries hardly affect the determination (the possibility of erroneous determination is small), the determination threshold is strict (the margin for preventing erroneous determination is small), for example, 100 mV Therefore, the determination accuracy can be further improved.

  Further, in the battery pack of the present invention, the disconnection detecting means is configured such that the remaining amount required by the remaining amount detecting means is in the range of 10 to 70% at the time of charging and in the range of 10 to 90% at the time of discharging, Judgment is performed.

  According to the above configuration, the voltage change is large in the range of 0 to less than 10% at the time of charging and there is a possibility of erroneous detection. In the range exceeding 70%, there is almost no voltage change, so detection is difficult. It is not preferable, and in the range of less than 0 to less than 10% and more than 90% at the time of discharge, the voltage change is large and there is a possibility of erroneous detection, which is not preferable.

  Therefore, by eliminating the determination in such a range where the voltage change is large or in a range section where there is almost no voltage change, the determination threshold can be set strictly and the determination accuracy can be further improved.

  Furthermore, the battery pack of the present invention is characterized in that the predetermined value is set according to the value of the remaining capacity of the built-in battery.

  According to the above configuration, the threshold for determining cell detachment is not fixed, but varies according to the remaining amount%. For example, when the remaining amount% is 10% to 30%, 100 mV, over 30% to 70%, 80 mV, and over 70% to 90%, 100 mV.

  Therefore, it is possible to more accurately determine the detachment of a part of the parallel cells.

  As described above, the battery pack and the disconnection detection method of the present invention include a built-in battery in which a plurality of cells such as secondary batteries are connected in parallel to each other and one or more stages of cell blocks are connected in series. In the battery pack provided, the charge / discharge current detected by the current detection means is used for voltage detection means for detecting terminal voltage of the cell block and current detection means for detecting charge / discharge current, which are used for charge / discharge control and the like. In addition to using a remaining amount detecting means for integrating and obtaining the remaining amount of the built-in battery, a disconnection detecting means is provided, and the disconnection detecting means continuously determines the remaining amount obtained by the remaining amount detecting means by a predetermined remaining amount. Based on the detection results of the voltage detection means and the current detection means before and after the increase or decrease, and the internal resistance value predetermined for the cell, each time When the terminal voltage of the cell block is estimated in a state where the charge / discharge current at approximately 0 is approximately zero, and the amount of change in the estimated voltage is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, a part of the parallel cells are dropped judge.

  Therefore, from the large change in the estimated OCV voltage due to the charging / discharging due to the cell detachment, it is possible to detect the detachment of a part of the parallel cells even in the single-stage cell block, and to perform highly accurate detection from the estimated OCV voltage. be able to. In addition, it is possible to detect cell detachment while energizing. Furthermore, the timing for detecting the estimated OCV voltage is newly set using the existing voltage detection means, current detection means, and remaining amount detection means used for charge / discharge control, and the change in the estimated OCV voltage. The disconnection detection means can be configured simply by adding an algorithm of a process for calculating the amount and a determination process for comparing the amount of change to a predetermined threshold to determine cell detachment to the means for controlling charge / discharge. It can be realized with a low-cost configuration.

  Furthermore, as described above, the battery pack and the disconnection detection method of the present invention are formed by connecting one or more cell blocks in series in which a plurality of cells such as secondary batteries are connected in parallel to each other. In a battery pack having a built-in battery, the charge detection detected by the current detection means is used for voltage detection means for detecting terminal voltage of the cell block and current detection means for detecting charge / discharge current, which are used for charge / discharge control and the like. In addition to using the remaining amount detecting means for integrating the discharge current and obtaining the remaining amount of the built-in battery, the disconnection detecting means is provided, and the disconnection detecting means is preliminarily applied to the detection results of the voltage detecting means and the current detecting means and the cells. Based on the determined internal resistance value, the terminal voltage of the cell block in a state where the charge / discharge current at that time is approximately zero is estimated, and the estimated voltage and the remaining voltage are estimated. Determined as part of the parallel cell is missing when the difference between the reference value determined in advance for the remaining amount obtained by the detecting means is the predetermined value or more.

  Therefore, from the large change in the estimated OCV voltage due to the charging / discharging due to the cell detachment, it is possible to detect the detachment of a part of the parallel cells even in the single-stage cell block, and to perform highly accurate detection from the estimated OCV voltage. be able to. In addition, it is possible to detect cell detachment while energizing.

  Furthermore, as described above, the battery pack and the disconnection detection method of the present invention include a built-in battery in which a plurality of cells such as a secondary battery are connected in parallel to each other in a plurality of stages. The charge / discharge current detected by the current detection means is used for voltage detection means for detecting the terminal voltage of the cell block and current detection means for detecting the charge / discharge current. And a disconnection detection means is provided, and the disconnection detection means is configured so that the remaining amount calculated by the remaining amount detection means continues for a predetermined remaining amount. Based on the detection result of the voltage detection means and the current detection means at the time before and after increasing or decreasing, and the internal resistance value predetermined for the cell, The terminal voltage of each cell block when the charge / discharge current at the time is substantially zero is estimated, and when the variation in the estimated voltage difference between the cell blocks is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, It is determined that a part of the cell is missing.

  Therefore, it is possible to detect a detachment of a part of the parallel cells from a large change in the estimated OCV voltage due to the charging / discharging due to the cell detachment, and to perform a highly accurate detection from the estimated OCV voltage. In addition, it is possible to detect cell detachment while energizing.

[Embodiment 1]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a charging system using a disconnection detection method according to an embodiment of the present invention. The charging system includes a battery pack 1 and a charger 2 that charges the battery pack 1. However, an electronic device system may be configured to further include a load device (not shown) that receives power from the battery pack 1. . In that case, although the battery pack 1 is charged from the charger 2 in FIG. 1, the battery pack 1 may be attached to the load device and charged through the load device. The battery pack 1 and the charger 2 are connected to each other by DC high-side terminals T11 and T21 that supply power, communication signal terminals T12 and T22, and GND terminals T13 and T23 for power supply and communication signals. . Similar terminals are also provided when the load device is provided.

  In the battery pack 1, fuses 24 and 25 are interposed in the charge / discharge path 11, which is a DC high-side power line extending from the terminal T <b> 11, and the conductivity type is different between charging and discharging. Different FETs 12 and 13 are interposed, and the charge / discharge path 11 is connected to the high-side terminal of the internal battery 14. The low-side terminal of the built-in battery 14 is connected to the GND terminal T13 via a charging / discharging path 15 that is a DC low-side power line, and the charging / discharging path 15 has a charging current and a discharging current as voltage values. A current detection resistor 16 for conversion is interposed.

  The built-in battery 14 is composed of a plurality of secondary battery cells connected in parallel, and the parallel cell blocks may be connected in series or in a plurality of stages as necessary. The temperature of the internal battery 14 is detected by a temperature sensor 17 and input to an analog / digital converter 19 in the control IC 18.

  The terminal voltage of each cell block is selectively taken out by an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 40 and input to the analog / digital converter 19 in the control IC 18 as will be described later. Selection of the cell block is performed by the control unit 21 via the communication unit 20. Furthermore, the charge / discharge current value detected by the current detection resistor 16 is input to the analog / digital converter 19 in the control IC 18 via the ASIC 40 or directly to the control IC 18 without going through the ASIC 40. The analog / digital converter 19 is input (in FIG. 1, it is input via the ASIC 40).

  The control unit 21 includes a microcomputer and its peripheral circuits and the like, and in response to each input value via the analog / digital converter 19, the voltage value of the charging current that requests the charger 2 to output. And the current value are calculated and transmitted from the communication unit 22 to the charger 2 via the terminals T12 and T22; T13 and T23. Further, the control unit 21 detects an abnormality outside the battery pack 1 such as a short circuit between the terminals T11 and T13 or an abnormal current from the charger 2 from each input value via the analog / digital converter 19. When the temperature sensor 17 detects an abnormal temperature rise of the built-in battery 14, a protective operation such as blocking the FETs 12 and 13 is performed. The ASIC 40 and the control IC 18 may be combined into a single chip.

  On the other hand, the terminal voltage of each cell block of the built-in battery 14 is also taken into the double protection IC 23, and the detection result is set to be equal to or higher than the abnormality determination threshold in the control unit 21. When the threshold value is exceeded, the FET 27 is turned on. The FET 27 is provided with respect to the fuses 24, 25 interposed in series in the charge / discharge path 11, and the connection point of the fuses 24, 25 is grounded via the heating resistor 26 and the FET 27. Therefore, the control unit 21 or the control by the control unit 21 expires and the double protection IC 23 turns on the FET 27, so that the fuses 24 and 25 are blown by the heat generated by the heating resistor 26. As a result, in the case of a serious abnormality that cannot cope with an overvoltage of the cell due to an abnormality of the control unit 21, the fuses 24 and 25 are blown, thereby realizing a double protection operation.

  For example, the threshold voltage of overvoltage during normal charging / discharging when the control unit 21 turns off the FETs 12 and 13 is 4.35 V per cell, and the threshold voltage at which the double protection IC 23 blows the fuses 24 and 25 is, for example, 4.45V per cell. Therefore, it is possible to recover from an overvoltage at the time of normal use, and the battery pack 1 cannot be reused at an overvoltage at the time of abnormality so that safety can be improved.

  On the other hand, in the charger 2, the request is received by the communication unit 32 of the control IC 30, and the charging control unit 31 controls the charging current supply circuit 33 to supply the charging current with the voltage value and the current value. . The charging current supply circuit 33 is composed of an AC-DC converter, a DC-DC converter, and the like, and converts an input voltage into a voltage value and a current value instructed by the charging control unit 31, and the terminals T21, T11; T23, It supplies to the charging / discharging paths 11 and 16 via T13.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration in the battery pack 1 in more detail. In the example of FIG. 2, the built-in battery 14 has two cells in parallel, that is, eight cells E11, E12; E21, E22; E31, E32; E41, E42 (hereinafter collectively referred to as reference symbol E). The cells E11 and E12, E21 and E22, E31 and E32, E41 and E42, which are connected in parallel to each other, constitute a cell block.

  A terminal T4 is connected from the terminal T11 to the high-side charging / discharging path 11, and a GND terminal T0 is connected from the terminal T13 to the low-side charging / discharging path 15. Between the terminals T0 to T4, the connection points of the four cell blocks are connected to terminals T1 to T3 serving as intermediate taps. In each cell E11, E12; E21, E22; E31, E32; E41, E42, the positive and negative terminals are terminals T111, T112; T121, T122; T211, T212; T221, T222; T311, T312; By connecting to T411, T412; T421, T422 by spot welding or the like, the built-in battery 14 in the two-paragraph four is assembled.

  On the other hand, in the ASIC 40 and the double protection IC 23, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the voltages Vin1 to Vin4 at the terminals T1 to T4 do not affect the mutual voltage detection, except for the GND terminal T0. As described above, the signals are taken in from the terminals T01 to T41; T02 to T42 through the input resistors R11 to R14; R21 to R24, respectively. And between each terminal T01-T41; T02-T42, the noise removal capacitor | condenser C11-C14; C21-C24 may be provided as needed. These capacitors C11 to C14; C21 to C24 may be provided not between the terminals T01 to T41; T02 to T42 but between the terminals T01 to T41; T02 to T42 and GND. Between the input terminals T02 to T42 of the double protection IC 23, resistors R31 to R34 for equally dividing the voltage Vin4 are provided.

  The temperature sensor 17 is composed of a thermistor and the like. One end of the temperature sensor 17 is biased with a predetermined voltage V0 and the other end is ON / OFF driven by a control IC 18 from a switch 28 through the current detection resistor 16 to charge / discharge the low side. The voltage at the connection point with the switch 28 connected to the path 15 is taken into the analog / digital converter 19 of the control IC 18.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the ASIC 40 and a configuration of a portion related to voltage measurement of the control IC 18. Each of the terminals T01 to T41 is selectively connected to the analog / digital converter 19 of the control IC 18 for performing voltage measurement via the input switching unit 41. The input switching unit 41 includes switches S0L; S1L, S1H; S2L, S2H; S3L, S3H; S4H; STL, STH.

  The switches S0L; S1L, S1H; S2L, S2H; S3L, S3H; S4H have one end connected to the terminals T01 to T41 and the other end connected to the high-side input end 19H or the low side of the analog / digital converter 19. Connected to the input terminal 19L. One end of each of the switches STL and STH is connected to each terminal of the current detection resistor 16, and the other end is connected to a high side input terminal 19H and a low side input terminal 19L of the analog / digital converter 19, respectively. The switches S0L; S1L, S1H; S2L, S2H; S3L, S3H; S4H; STL, STH are selectively driven ON / OFF by the cell selector 42.

  Therefore, for example, by turning on the switches STL and STH and turning off the switches S0L; S1L, S1H; S2L, S2H; S3L, S3H; S4H, the analog / digital converter 19 Therefore, the charge / discharge current of the internal battery 14 can be detected. Further, for example, by turning on the switches S0L and S4H and turning off the switches S1L and S1H; S2L and S2H; S3L and S3H; STL and STH, the analog / digital converter 19 is charged or charged over the entire built-in battery 14. The discharge voltage can be detected.

  The switching signals of the switches S0L; S1L, S1H; S2L, S2H; S3L, S3H; S4H; STL, STH are generated by the switching control unit 211 in the control unit 21 on the control IC 18 side, and are transmitted from the communication unit 20 to the ASIC 40 side. Is provided to the cell selection unit 42 via the communication unit 43. And from the detection result obtained by the analog / digital converter 19, the charge / discharge control part 210 of the said control part 21 controls charging / discharging, determining overcharge, an overvoltage, etc. FIG.

  It should be noted that, in the present embodiment, the disconnection detection unit 212 in the control unit 21 serving as the disconnection detection unit is in charge of the switching control unit 211 and the ASIC 40 serving as the voltage detection unit even during charging / discharging. The terminal voltage of each cell block is measured from the terminals T0 to T4, and the charge / discharge current is measured by the current detection resistor 16 which is a current detection means, and the time point of the predetermined remaining amount% obtained from the current is used as a data point. The terminal voltage (OCV voltage) of the cell block when the charge / discharge current is substantially zero is estimated as follows, and the parallel cells E11, E12; E21, E22; E31, E32; E41, E42 terminals T111, T112; T121, T122; T211, T212; T221, T222; T311, T312; T321, T3 2; T411, T412; T421, is to detect the out-of T422.

  That is, when a part of the cells is detached, the increase rate of the capacity, that is, the terminal voltage, is increased during charging and the decreasing rate is increased during discharging. Therefore, the switching control unit 211 and the ASIC 40 that are the voltage detection means used for charge / discharge control and the current detection resistor 16 that is the current detection unit are used with the disconnection detection unit 212 that is a disconnection detection unit. Detection of cell detachment is performed as follows.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a portion related to charging / discharging in the control unit 21 of the control IC 18. The control unit 21 includes the charge / discharge control unit 210, a calculation unit 213, a remaining amount correction unit 214, and a data table 215.

  The charge / discharge control unit 210 performs charge / discharge control as described above and a protection operation against an abnormality, and communicates the voltage value, current value, and presence / absence of an abnormality required for the charger 2 with communication. It transmits from the part 22 via terminal T12, T13. The calculation unit 213 calculates a remaining amount% that is a ratio of the remaining amount in the current usage state with respect to the actual capacity of the internal battery 14 as described later. The remaining amount correction unit 214 outputs the remaining amount% obtained by the calculation unit 213 at the correction point, as will be described later, every time the cell voltage becomes a value of a plurality of predetermined correction points during discharge. Sequentially correct to the value of%.

  FIG. 5 shows a transition of the remaining amount% during discharge and an example of correction of the remaining amount together with OCV (no load). In the present embodiment, the remaining amount% is set to 5.5%, 3.5%, and 0% as the correction point, and the integrated value in the calculation unit 213 is used as the correction point until the correction point. The remaining amount% output to the disconnection detection unit 212 is set. On the other hand, the remaining amount correction unit 214 monitors the terminal voltage detected by the ASIC 40, the discharge current detected by the current detection resistor 16, and the cell temperature detected by the temperature sensor 17, and the discharge current and cell temperature are monitored. When the terminal voltage reaches the voltage value of the correction point determined corresponding to, the integrated value of the calculation unit 213 is corrected to the value of the remaining amount% of the correction point.

  Specifically, the data table 215 stores voltage values corresponding to the temperature and the discharge current, and the remaining amount correction unit 214 reads the voltage value corresponding to the current discharge current and the cell temperature from the data table 215. When the cell voltage reaches the voltage value, the remaining amount% is set as the value of the correction point. In the case of 20 ° C. and 1 A discharge in FIG. 5, such correction is performed every time the cell voltage decreases to the voltage value at the correction point, as shown at times t1, t2, and t3. In the example of FIG. 5, when the cell voltage reaches the voltage values of the correction points of 5.5% and 3.5% stored in the data table 215, the integrated value of the remaining amount% is large. It is corrected to 5.5% and 3.5% respectively. In this way, the display accuracy of the remaining amount% is improved by correcting the integrated value at each of a plurality of correction points in a state where the remaining amount% at the end of discharge is small.

  On the other hand, at the time of charging, the calculation unit 213 accumulates the current value, but when switching from constant current charging to constant voltage charging and the terminal voltage droops by a predetermined level, the remaining amount correction unit 214 is fully charged. The integrated value of the calculation unit 213 is set to 100%. Thus, an accurate value of the remaining amount% can be output to the charger 2 and the disconnection detection unit 212 along with charging / discharging.

  While receiving the value of the remaining amount%, the disconnection detection unit 212 determines cell detachment as follows. Here, in the present embodiment, the OCV voltage is estimated for determination of cell detachment. For this purpose, a voltage change amount due to the internal resistance is obtained by multiplying a predetermined internal resistance value of the cell by the charge / discharge current detected by the current detection resistor 16, and the voltage change amount is detected by the ASIC 40. The voltage can be obtained by subtracting during charging and by adding during discharging.

  6 and 7 are flowcharts showing an example of the cell detachment determination operation. In such operations, current, voltage, and temperature are measured at a predetermined cycle to detect abnormalities such as terminal short circuit, overcharge and overvoltage, and to calculate the remaining amount%. Done.

  In the example of FIG. 6, the process proceeds to step S1 at a predetermined determination cycle timing, the terminal voltage and charge / discharge current of each cell block are measured, and the calculation unit 231 calculates the remaining amount% from those measurement results, The value of the remaining amount% calculated together with the measurement result is acquired by the disconnection detection unit 212. Subsequently, in step S2, it is determined whether or not the value of the acquired remaining amount% is within a predetermined range W. If not, the process ends without determining whether the cell is out, and the next determination cycle. The process starts again from step S1 at the timing. On the other hand, if it is within the range W in step S2, the operation proceeds to step S3 and subsequent steps.

  The range W is, for example, a range of 10 to 70% during charging and a range of 10 to 90% during discharging. Therefore, for example, if the battery has been completely discharged during charging, the processing of steps S1 to S2 is repeated, and when charging proceeds to a level of 10%, the process proceeds to step S3. Similarly, the battery is fully charged during discharging. Steps S1 to S2 are repeated, and when the discharge proceeds to a level of 90%, the process proceeds to step S3.

  Here, FIGS. 8 to 10 show examples of parameter changes during charging, and FIGS. 11 to 14 show examples of parameter changes during discharging. In these figures, a lithium secondary battery with two parallels is used as the built-in battery 14, and therefore, the voltage between the terminals T0 and T4 is 12.6 V in a fully charged state. In these drawings, the reference symbol V indicates the voltage between the terminals T0 and T4 (therefore, the average cell voltage is 1/3 of this voltage), the reference symbol I indicates the charge / discharge current, and the reference symbol RSOC (Relative State Of Charge) indicates the remaining amount%, and reference symbol TH indicates the cell temperature.

  FIG. 8 shows parameter changes when the ambient temperature is 25 ° C. and the current value during constant current charging is 0.8 C (= 3200 mA, ∵1 C = 4000 mA). Reference numerals V1 and V2 indicate terminal voltage differences (widths) due to cell variations. Based on this, FIG. 9 shows the case where the ambient temperature is 5 ° C., and FIG. 10 shows the case where it is 40 ° C. In both cases, charging is started from the discharge end level, and the remaining amount% starts to be accumulated from 0. 8 to 10, when the remaining amount% is in the range of 10 to 70%, there is no sharp change in the terminal voltage, and the terminal voltage changes in proportion to the remaining amount%. In the embodiment, as described above, it is assumed that the OCV voltage is estimated in a range of 10 to 70% at the time of charging, and the determination of cell detachment is performed.

  On the other hand, FIG. 11 shows parameter changes when the ambient temperature is 25 ° C. and the current value during discharge is 1 C (= 4000 mA). Reference numerals V1 and V2 indicate terminal voltage differences (widths) due to cell variations. Based on this, FIG. 12 shows the case where the ambient temperature is 0 ° C., FIG. 13 shows the case where the ambient temperature is 45 ° C., FIG. 14 shows the ambient temperature of 25 ° C., and the current value during discharge is 0.5 C (= 2000 mA). The parameter change in each case is shown. In either case, discharging starts from the fully charged level, and the remaining amount% starts subtracting from 100%. 11 to 14, when the remaining amount% is in the range of 10 to 90%, there is no sharp change in the terminal voltage, and the terminal voltage changes in proportion to the remaining amount%. In the embodiment, as described above, it is assumed that the OCV voltage is estimated in a range of 10 to 90% at the time of discharging, and the determination of cell detachment is performed.

  Returning to FIG. 6 again, in step S3, the remaining amount% acquired in step S1 is set as A1, and in step S4, the OCV voltage of each cell block is estimated from the measured value as described above. , OCV1. Therefore, at the start of charging from the case where the remaining amount is substantially 0, 10% is set as A1 as described above, and in the case of additional charging, the remaining amount at the previous use is set. The Further, at the start of discharging from a substantially fully charged state, for example, 90% is set as A1 as described above.

  In step S5, as in step S1, the measurement results of the terminal voltage and charge / discharge current of each cell block and the calculated remaining amount% value are acquired. In step S6, it is determined whether or not charging or discharging has been performed continuously from the previous calculation timing of the remaining amount%. If not, the process ends. If so, the process proceeds to step S7. In step S7, as in step S2, it is determined whether or not the acquired value of the remaining amount% is still within the predetermined range W. If it is out of the range, the process is terminated. If so, the process proceeds to step S8.

  In step S8, the remaining amount% acquired in step S5 is set as A2 as in step S3. In step S9, the remaining amount% A2 in step S8 is changed from the remaining amount% A1 in step S3. It is determined whether charging or discharging has been performed by a predetermined value, for example, 20%. If the change in the remaining amount is less than 20%, the process returns to step S5 and continuously monitors the remaining amount%. When the change of 20% is confirmed, the process proceeds to step S10.

  In step S10, as in step S4, the OCV voltage of each cell block is estimated as described above from the measurement results of the terminal voltage and charge / discharge current of each cell block, and set as OCV2. In step S11, a change amount Δ from OCV1 to OCV2 is obtained. In step S12, it is determined whether or not the change amount Δ is a predetermined threshold value Vth, for example, 250 mV or more. In step S12, if it is 250 mV or higher, it is determined in step S13 that a part of the cells in the cell block is disconnected, and the FETs 12 and 13 are turned off and the fuses 24 and 25 are blown. End post-operation.

  On the other hand, if it is less than 250 mV in step S12, it is determined that no cell detachment has occurred, OCV2 is updated to OCV1 and A2 is updated to A1 in step S14, and then the process returns to step S5. If the remaining amount% of 20% can be changed, the processes after step S5 are performed again.

  Here, Table 1 shows an example of a standard OCV voltage corresponding to the remaining amount%.

  As is apparent from Table 1, the OCV voltage changes by about 150 to 200 mV due to the change in the remaining amount of 20% as described above, and the change in the OCV voltage increases as the remaining amount increases. Therefore, the threshold value Vth is set to 250 mV as described above, corresponding to the 90% during discharge. However, by making the threshold value Vth variable according to the remaining amount%, instead of being fixed, a more precise determination can be made. For example, as apparent from Table 1, the remaining amount% can be 180 mV when the remaining amount is 10% to 30%, 150 mV when the remaining amount is more than 30% to 70%, and 250 mV when the remaining amount is more than 70% to 90%.

  On the other hand, the process of FIG. 7 is similar to the process of FIG. 6, and corresponding step numbers are denoted by the same step numbers and description thereof is omitted. In the process of FIG. 6, if the point is within the range W at the start of charging / discharging, an arbitrary point becomes a data point and is set in A1, and the remaining amount% is changed by 20% from the data point A1. 7 is another data point, the processing of FIG. 7 is different in the method of taking the remaining data point%, and the remaining data point is predetermined, for example, 10%. , 30%, 50%, 70%, 90%.

  That is, if the value of the remaining amount% in the step S2 is within the predetermined range W, the process proceeds to step S21, and it is determined whether or not the remaining amount% is the predetermined data point, for example, 10% at the time of charging. If not, the process is terminated. If so, the OCV voltage is estimated in step S4. Thereafter, in steps S5, S6, and S7, it is determined whether or not the next data point, that is, 30% has been reached in step S22 while continuously charging or discharging and staying within the range W. Returning to S5, if so, the OCV voltage in step S10 is estimated. The subsequent processing is the same as in FIG.

  When the mode is switched from charging to discharging or from discharging to charging, the process returns from step S6 to step S1 again. Thus, in the present embodiment, the determination of cell detachment is made only when the remaining amount of 20% or more is continuously charged or discharged.

  By configuring in this way, it is possible to detect a partial detachment of a parallel cell even in a single-stage cell block from a large change in the estimated OCV voltage due to the charge / discharge due to the detachment of the cell, and the double protection IC 23 Even if the voltage dividing resistors R31 to R34 are provided, high-precision detection can be performed from the estimated OCV voltage. In addition, it is possible to detect cell detachment while energizing.

  Further, the estimated OCV voltage is detected by using the ASIC 40 that is an existing voltage detection unit used for charge / discharge control, the current detection resistor 16 that is a current detection unit, and the calculation unit 213 that is a remaining amount detection unit. The charging / discharging control unit 21 includes a process for calculating a change amount Δ of the estimated OCV voltage and a determination process algorithm for determining the out-of-cell by comparing the change amount Δ with a predetermined threshold value Vth while newly setting the timing. It is possible to realize the disconnection detecting unit 212 as a disconnection detecting means simply by adding to the above, and it can be realized with a low-cost configuration.

  Further, when comparing the change amount Δ of the estimated OCV voltage while changing by a predetermined remaining amount%, for example, even if the change is the same 20%, the difference between the estimated OCV voltage obtained between 30% and 50%, The difference in estimated OCV voltage obtained between 100% shows a large voltage change on the 80 to 100% side, and there is a possibility that it is outside the threshold when compared with the same threshold. When adjusted to the% side, there is a possibility that even if an abnormality (out of cell) occurs on the 30 to 50% side, it falls within the threshold value. Therefore, by eliminating the determination in the section where the voltage change is large (outside W1), the determination threshold value Vth can be set strictly and the determination accuracy can be further improved. Furthermore, the determination accuracy can be further improved by switching the determination threshold value Vth as described above.

[Embodiment 2]
FIG. 15 is a flowchart for explaining a disconnection detection method according to another embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the same configuration as that of the battery pack 1 described above can be used, and the processing algorithm of the disconnection detection unit 212 is only partially different. Therefore, in FIG. 15, the same operations as those shown in FIG. 6 are denoted by the same step numbers, and the description thereof is omitted. It should be noted that in this embodiment, after the change amount Δ between OCV1 and OCV2 is obtained in step S11, the change amount Δ is further compared between the cell blocks in step S31, and the variation σ is obtained. In step S32, it is determined whether or not the variation σ is a predetermined threshold value Vthb, for example, 100 mV or more. The variation σ can be obtained from the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of the change amount Δ.

  In this way, by comparing the estimated amount of change ΔV of the estimated OCV voltage between the blocks of the cell blocks connected in series in a plurality of stages, the remaining amount% at that time and the variation among the individual built-in batteries 14 influence the determination. It is difficult to make a determination (the possibility of erroneous determination is small), and the threshold value Vthb is set to be stricter than the threshold value Vth (a margin for preventing erroneous determination is small), so that the determination accuracy can be further improved.

[Embodiment 3]
FIG. 16 is a flowchart for explaining a disconnection detection method according to still another embodiment of the present invention. Also in this embodiment, the same configuration as that of the battery pack 1 can be used, and only a part of the processing algorithm of the disconnection detection unit 212 is different. Therefore, in FIG. 16 as well, the same operation as that shown in FIG. 6 is given the same step number, and the description thereof is omitted. It should be noted that in this embodiment, the remaining amount% is obtained from the measurement result in step S1, and the OCV voltage of each cell block is estimated in step S4, from the obtained remaining amount value. In step S41, a standard OCV voltage as shown in Table 1 is read and set to the reference value Vref. Further, in step S42, a difference Δc between the reference value Vref and the OCV voltage estimated in step S4 is obtained. In step S43, it is determined whether or not the difference Δc is a predetermined threshold value Vthc, for example, 100 mV or more. If it is 100 mV or more, it is determined in step S13 that a part of the cells in the cell block is detached.

  Thus, even if the estimated OCV voltage is directly compared with the standard OCV voltage Vref corresponding to the remaining amount% at that time, it is possible to determine the out-of-cell.

  By the way, the threshold values Vthb and Vthc for determining cell detachment are not fixed, but can be varied according to the remaining amount%, whereby finer determination can be made. For example, when the remaining amount% is 10% to 30%, 100 mV, over 30% to 70% or less can be 80 mV, and over 70% to 90% or less can be 100 mV.

  The present invention can be used suitably for a battery pack because it can detect a part of parallel cells in a cell block and can detect with high accuracy.

It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of the charging system using the disconnection detection method which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram explaining the structure in a battery pack in more detail. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an ASIC that performs cell voltage detection and disconnection detection according to the embodiment of the present invention, and a configuration of a portion related to the control IC. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the part regarding the charging / discharging in the control part of the said control IC. It is a graph which shows transition of remaining amount% at the time of discharge of a lithium secondary battery, and an example of correction | amendment of remaining amount with OCV (no load). It is a flowchart for demonstrating the disconnection detection method which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the disconnection detection method which concerns on other forms of implementation of this invention. It is a graph which shows an example of each parameter change of the cell voltage at the time of charge, electric current, temperature, and remaining amount%. It is a graph which shows an example of each parameter change of the cell voltage at the time of charge, electric current, temperature, and remaining amount%. It is a graph which shows an example of each parameter change of the cell voltage at the time of charge, electric current, temperature, and remaining amount%. It is a graph which shows an example of each parameter change of the cell voltage at the time of discharge, electric current, temperature, and remaining amount%. It is a graph which shows an example of each parameter change of the cell voltage at the time of discharge, electric current, temperature, and remaining amount%. It is a graph which shows an example of each parameter change of the cell voltage at the time of discharge, electric current, temperature, and remaining amount%. It is a graph which shows an example of each parameter change of the cell voltage at the time of discharge, electric current, temperature, and remaining amount%. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the disconnection detection method which concerns on other forms of implementation of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the disconnection detection method which concerns on other form of implementation of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Battery pack 2 Charger 11,15 Charge / discharge path | route 12,13,27 FET
14 Built-in battery 16 Current detection resistor 17 Temperature sensor 18, 30 Control IC
19 Analog / digital converter 20, 22, 32, 43 Communication unit 21 Control unit 210 Charge / discharge control unit 211 Switching control unit 212 Disconnection detection unit 213 Calculation unit 214 Remaining amount correction unit 215 Data table 23 Double protection IC
24, 25 Fuse 26 Heating resistor 31 Charge controller 33 Charging current supply circuit 40 ASIC
41 Input switching unit 42 Cell selection unit C11 to C14; C21 to C24 Input capacity E11, E12; E21, E22; E31, E32; E41, E42 Cell L0 to L4 Connection lines R11 to R14; Voltage dividing resistor S0L; S1L, S1H; S2L, S2H; S3L, S3H; S4H switch STL, STH switch T0 to T4 terminals T01 to T41; T02 to T42 terminals

Claims (7)

In a battery pack comprising a built-in battery in which a plurality of cells connected in parallel with each other are connected in series in one or more stages,
Voltage detecting means for detecting a terminal voltage of the cell block;
Current detection means for detecting charge / discharge current;
A remaining amount detecting means for integrating the charge / discharge current detected by the current detecting means and obtaining the remaining amount of the built-in battery;
Based on the detection results of the voltage detection means and the current detection means at the time before and after the remaining amount obtained by the remaining amount detecting unit continuously increases or decreases by a predetermined remaining amount and the internal resistance value predetermined for the cell. Then, the terminal voltage of the cell block is estimated when the charging / discharging current at each time is substantially zero, and when the amount of change of the estimated voltage is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, a part of the parallel cells are A battery pack comprising disconnection detecting means for determining that the battery has fallen off. In a battery pack comprising a built-in battery in which a plurality of cells connected in parallel with each other are connected in series in one or more stages,
Voltage detecting means for detecting a terminal voltage of the cell block;
Current detection means for detecting charge / discharge current;
A remaining amount detecting means for integrating the charge / discharge current detected by the current detecting means and obtaining the remaining amount of the built-in battery;
Based on the detection results of the voltage detection means and the current detection means and the internal resistance value predetermined for the cell, the terminal voltage of the cell block in a state where the charge / discharge current at that time is approximately 0 is estimated, When the difference between the estimated voltage and a reference value determined in advance with respect to the remaining amount obtained by the remaining amount detecting means is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, it is determined that a part of the parallel cells are dropped. A battery pack comprising: disconnection detecting means. The built-in battery comprises a plurality of cell blocks connected in series,
The disconnection detecting means determines that a part of the parallel cells are dropped when variation in the estimated amount of change in voltage between cell blocks is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. Item 6. The battery pack according to Item 1.   The disconnection detection unit performs cell detachment determination within a range of 10 to 70% of the remaining amount required by the remaining amount detection unit during charging and 10 to 90% during discharging. Item 4. The battery pack according to any one of Items 1 to 3.   The battery pack according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the predetermined value is set in accordance with a value of a remaining amount of the internal battery. In a battery pack disconnection detection method comprising a built-in battery in which a plurality of cells are connected in parallel with each other and one or more stages of cell blocks are connected in series.
Detecting a terminal voltage of the cell block;
Detecting a charge / discharge current;
Integrating the detected charge / discharge current to determine the remaining capacity of the internal battery; and
Based on detection results of the terminal voltage and charge / discharge current at a time point before and after the remaining amount to be continuously increased or decreased by a predetermined remaining amount, and an internal resistance value predetermined for the cell, at each time point Estimating a terminal voltage of the cell block in a state where the charge / discharge current is substantially zero;
Obtaining the estimated voltage change, and
And a step of determining that a part of the parallel cells are dropped when the amount of change is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. In a battery pack disconnection detection method comprising a built-in battery in which a plurality of cells are connected in parallel with each other and one or more stages of cell blocks are connected in series.
Detecting a terminal voltage of the cell block;
Detecting a charge / discharge current;
Integrating the detected charge / discharge current to determine the remaining capacity of the internal battery; and
Based on the detection result of the terminal voltage and charge / discharge current and the internal resistance value predetermined for the cell, estimating the terminal voltage of the cell block when the charge / discharge current at that time is substantially zero;
Obtaining a difference between the estimated voltage and a predetermined reference value for the obtained remaining amount;
And a step of determining that a part of the parallel cells are dropped when the difference is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.

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