JP2010081757A - Battery, battery control method, charger, electric apparatus, charge control system, and discharge control system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a battery that executes charge or discharge operation while reliably preventing excessive heat generation of a battery cell. <P>SOLUTION: The battery includes: a battery cell 11; a charge and discharge circuit 12 for electrically connecting the battery cell 11 with an external apparatus 20; a temperature detecting part 13 for detecting a temperature of the battery cell 11 or the like; a communication part 14 for executing communication with the external apparatus 20; and a control circuit 15 that controls the communication part 14 so as to allow the communication part to transmit temperature information of the battery cell 11 or the like when the temperature of the battery cell 11 or the like detected by the temperature detecting part 13 exceeds a prescribed temperature, and also, controls the charge and discharge circuit 12 so as to cut off the electrical connection between the charge and discharge circuit and the external apparatus 20 when stop information indicating an operation stop is transmitted from the external apparatus 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a battery that performs a charge / discharge operation with an external device, a control method for the battery, a charger that charges the battery, an electric device that is driven by the discharge power of the battery, a charge control system, and a discharge It relates to a control system.

  Temperature detection is very important when charging and discharging a battery pack that uses a lithium ion secondary battery or the like as a battery cell. In particular, if the battery pack is being charged with a charging current that is equal to or higher than the allowable current of the battery cell, the battery cell generates excessive heat. Therefore, in conventional battery charging and discharging operations, the battery cell temperature has a certain threshold value. If exceeded, the charging current from the charger is stopped or the battery charging path is turned off.

  For example, Patent Document 1 uses temperature as a reference by controlling charging of a battery to stop based on a time change of a difference between a temperature of the battery and a temperature at a portion where the influence of the temperature rise of the battery is less affected. A charging circuit that accurately detects full charge in charging control is described.

JP 2004-242459 A

  As described above, it is necessary to prevent the temperature of the battery cell from exceeding a certain upper limit value. However, in the conventional charging / discharging operation, even if the upper limit temperature is detected on the battery pack side, only the battery pack stops the charging / discharging operation. It is in an operating state that can be charged and discharged. For this reason, for example, even if the charging / discharging operation is stopped on the battery pack side, the charging / discharging operation is started because the temperature of the battery cell subsequently decreases, and the temperature of the battery cell may generate heat again. .

  The present invention has been proposed in view of such circumstances, and by performing temperature management in the entire system that performs charging or discharging operation with the battery, excessive heat generation occurs more reliably in the battery cell. A battery capable of performing charging or discharging operation, a method for controlling the battery, a charger for charging the battery, an electric device driven by the discharged power of the battery, a charge control system, and discharging An object is to provide a control system.

  As means for solving the above-described problems, a battery according to the present invention includes a battery cell, a charge / discharge circuit that electrically connects the battery cell to an external device, a temperature detection unit that detects the temperature of the battery cell, When the temperature of the battery cell detected by the communication unit that communicates with the external device and the temperature detection unit exceeds a predetermined temperature, the communication unit is controlled to transmit the temperature information of the battery cell. And a control unit that controls the charge / discharge circuit so as to cut off the electrical connection with the external device when the stop information indicating the operation stop is transmitted.

  The battery control method according to the present invention includes a detection step for detecting the temperature of the battery cell, and when the temperature of the battery cell detected by the detection step exceeds a predetermined temperature, the temperature information of the battery cell is A transmission step to be transmitted to an external device electrically connected to the battery cell via the charge / discharge circuit, and an electrical connection with the external device when stop information indicating operation stop is transmitted from the external device. And a shutoff step for controlling the charge / discharge circuit so as to shut off the power.

  The charger according to the present invention includes a charging circuit that supplies a charging current to a battery cell included in the battery, a temperature detection unit that detects a temperature of the charging circuit, a communication unit that communicates with the battery, and a battery cell. When temperature information indicating that the predetermined temperature has been exceeded has been transmitted to the communication unit, or when the temperature of the charging circuit detected by the temperature detection unit has exceeded the predetermined temperature, electrical connection with the battery And a control unit that controls the communication unit to transmit stop information indicating that the charging operation of the charging circuit is stopped.

  The electric device according to the present invention includes a load circuit that is driven by discharge power supplied from a battery, a temperature detection unit that detects a temperature of the load circuit, a communication unit that communicates with the battery, and a battery cell that has predetermined power. When temperature information indicating that the temperature has been exceeded is transmitted to the communication unit, or when the temperature of the load circuit detected by the temperature detection unit exceeds a predetermined temperature, the electrical connection with the battery is interrupted. And a control unit that controls the communication unit to transmit stop information indicating that the discharge operation by the load circuit has been stopped.

  The charging control system according to the present invention includes a battery and a charger that charges the battery. The battery includes a battery cell, a charging circuit that electrically connects the battery cell and the charger, and A temperature detection unit that detects the temperature of the battery cell, a communication unit that communicates with the charger, and temperature information of the battery cell when the temperature of the battery cell detected by the temperature detection unit exceeds a predetermined temperature This communication unit is controlled so that the charging operation is transmitted, and when the stop information indicating that the charging operation is stopped is transmitted from the charger, the charging circuit is controlled so as to cut off the electrical connection with the charger. A charger that supplies a charging current to the battery, a temperature detection unit that detects the temperature of the charging circuit, a communication unit that communicates with the battery, and the battery When temperature information indicating that the battery cell has exceeded a predetermined temperature is transmitted to the communication unit, or when the temperature of the charging circuit detected by the temperature detection unit exceeds a predetermined temperature, the battery And a control unit that controls the communication unit so as to transmit stop information after controlling the charging circuit so as to cut off the electrical connection.

  The discharge control system according to the present invention includes a battery and an electric device to which discharge power is supplied from the battery, and the battery includes a battery cell and a discharge circuit that electrically connects the battery cell and the electric device. A temperature detection unit that detects the temperature of the battery cell, a communication unit that communicates with the electrical device, and when the temperature of the battery cell detected by the temperature detection unit exceeds a predetermined temperature, the battery cell This communication unit is controlled so as to transmit the temperature information, and when the stop information indicating the stop of the discharge operation is transmitted from the electric device, the electric discharge with the electric device is cut off. A control unit that controls the circuit, and the electric device includes a load circuit that is driven by discharge power supplied from a battery, a temperature detection unit that detects a temperature of the load circuit, and the buffer. When the temperature information indicating that the battery cell of the battery has exceeded a predetermined temperature is transmitted to the communication unit, or the load circuit detected by the temperature detection unit A control unit that controls the communication unit to transmit stop information after controlling the load circuit so as to cut off the electrical connection with the battery when the temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature;

  According to the present invention, the battery and the external device each detect the temperature and transmit the detection result of one to the other so that the temperature information is shared and the electrical connection of the charge / discharge path is cut off. In addition, the battery cell can be charged or discharged without excessive heat generation.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

A charge / discharge control system to which the present invention is applied is a system that performs a charge / discharge operation between a battery and an external device connected to the battery. The description will be given in the following order.
1. Overall configuration 2. 2. Temperature control Return processing

<1. Overall configuration>
First, a charging control system 1 including a battery pack 10 to which the present invention is applied and a charger 20 that charges the battery pack 10 as shown in FIG. 1 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the battery pack 10 includes a battery cell 11 such as a lithium ion secondary battery, a charge / discharge circuit 12 that electrically connects the battery cell 11 to an external device such as a charger 20, and the battery cell 11. And a temperature detection circuit 13 for detecting the temperature of. The battery pack 10 also includes a communication unit 14 that communicates with an external device such as the charger 20 and a control circuit 15 that controls the operation of the battery cell 11.

  The battery cell 11 is a chargeable / dischargeable battery such as a lithium ion secondary battery, and is connected to a charge / discharge circuit 12 and electrically connected to an external device such as a charger 20 by a charge / discharge control unit 12c described later. Is done.

  The charging / discharging circuit 12 is a circuit that electrically connects the battery cell 11 to an external device such as the charger 20, and specifically has the following configuration. That is, the charge / discharge circuit 12 is electrically connected to the positive electrode end and the negative electrode end of the battery cell 11 through the contacts P11 and P12, respectively. The charge / discharge circuit 12 includes a positive electrode terminal 12a that electrically connects the positive electrode end of the battery cell 11 and an external device, a negative electrode terminal 12b that electrically connects the negative electrode end of the battery cell 11 and the external device, And a charge / discharge control unit 12c for controlling electrical connection in the circuit.

  The positive electrode terminal 12a is a terminal for electrically connecting the positive electrode end of the battery cell 11 and an external device, and is connected to a positive electrode terminal 21a of the charger 20 described later as shown in FIG.

  The negative electrode terminal 12b is a terminal that electrically connects the negative electrode end of the battery cell 11 and an external device, and is connected to a negative electrode terminal 21b of the charger 20 described later as shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the charge / discharge control unit 12c includes a charge control element 121 and a discharge control element 122, and specifically controls the electrical connection in the circuit. It is realized by connecting to.

  The charging control element 121 switches between electrical connection and disconnection of a charging path through which a charging current flows from the external device to the battery cell 11. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the charge control element 121 is composed of an n-channel MOSFET, and the gate terminal, the source terminal, and the drain terminal are connected to the control circuit 15, the negative terminal 12 b, and the discharge control element 122, respectively. .

  The discharge control element 122 switches between electrical connection and disconnection of a discharge path through which a discharge current flows from the battery cell 11 to an external device. For example, the discharge control element 122 is composed of an n-channel MOSFET, and the gate terminal, the source terminal, and the drain terminal are connected to the control circuit 15, the negative electrode terminal of the battery cell 11, and the drain terminal of the charge control element 121, respectively.

  In the charge / discharge control unit 12c having such a configuration, the control circuit 15 controls the gate voltage of the charge control element 121 so that the drain-source is electrically connected to electrically connect the charge paths. Here, in the charging path, a charging current flows through between the drain and source of the discharge control element 122. In the charging / discharging control unit 12c, the control circuit 15 controls the gate voltage of the discharge control element 122 so that the drain-source is electrically connected to electrically connect the discharge path. Here, in the discharge path, a discharge current flows through between the drain and source of the charge control element 121.

  The temperature detection circuit 13 includes a resistance element such as a thermistor whose resistance value changes according to a temperature change of the element, for example, to detect the temperature of the battery cell 11 and the like. As shown in FIG. Connected. The temperature detection circuit 13 detects the temperature of the battery cell 11 and the like, converts the detection result into a voltage, and notifies the control circuit 15 of the detection result.

  The communication unit 14 communicates with an external device. Specifically, the communication unit 14 is connected to a control circuit 24 of the charger 20 to be described later, and transmits information supplied from the control circuit 15 to the charger 20 or receives information from the charger 20 to receive the control circuit 15. To supply.

  The control circuit 15 controls the operation of the charge / discharge circuit 12 and the communication unit 14 according to the detection result by the temperature detection circuit 13.

  The charger 20 that charges the battery pack 10 having the above-described configuration has the following configuration. That is, the charger 20 includes a charging circuit 21 that supplies charging power to the battery cells 11 included in the battery pack 10, a temperature detection circuit 22 that detects the temperature of the charging circuit 21, a communication unit 23 that communicates with the battery, And a control circuit 24 for controlling the charging operation of the charging circuit 21. Further, the charger 20 is provided with an AC cord 20a connected to an outlet as a commercial AC power source.

  The charging circuit 21 includes a positive terminal 21a, a negative terminal 21b, an AC / DC conversion circuit 21c that converts an AC power supply voltage supplied by the AC cord 20a into a DC power supply voltage, and a charge that controls the flow of current in the circuit. And a current controller 21d.

  The positive terminal 21 a is a terminal that is electrically connected to the positive terminal 12 a of the battery pack 10.

  The negative terminal 21 b is a terminal that is electrically connected to the negative terminal 12 b of the battery pack 10.

  The AC / DC conversion circuit 21c is a circuit that converts the AC power supply voltage supplied by the AC cord 20a into a DC power supply voltage, and is electrically connected to the positive terminal 21a via the contacts P21 and P22. Through the charging current control unit 21d.

  The charging current control unit 21d is composed of, for example, an n-channel MOSFET in order to control the flow of current in the circuit, and the gate terminal, the source terminal, and the drain terminal are AC / DC converted via the control circuit 24 and the contact P23, respectively. The circuit 21c is connected to the negative terminal 21b. In the charging current control unit 21d, the gate voltage is controlled by the control circuit 24 so that the drain-source is electrically connected to electrically connect the charging path.

  The temperature detection circuit 22 includes a resistance element such as a thermistor whose resistance value changes according to a temperature change of the element, for example, in order to detect the temperature of the charging circuit 21, and as shown in FIG. Connected. The temperature detection circuit 22 detects the temperature of the charging circuit 21, converts the detection result into a voltage, and notifies the control circuit 24.

  The communication unit 23 is electrically connected to the communication unit 14 of the battery pack 10, and transmits information supplied from the control circuit 24 to the battery pack 10 or receives information from the battery pack 10 and supplies the information to the control circuit 24. To do.

  The control circuit 24 controls the operation of the charging circuit 21 and the communication unit 23 according to the detection result by the temperature detection circuit 22.

  The battery pack 10 to be charged by being electrically connected to the charger 20 having the above configuration is discharged by being connected to the electric device 30 as shown in FIG. . FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of the discharge control system 2 including the battery pack 10 and the electric device 30 that is driven by supply of discharge power from the battery pack 10.

  The electric device 30 is a portable electric device such as a video camera that is driven by discharge power supplied from the battery pack 10, and a load that is driven by discharge power supplied from the battery pack 10 as shown in FIG. 3. A circuit 31, a temperature detection circuit 32 that detects the temperature of the load circuit 31, a communication unit 33 that communicates with the battery pack 10, and a control circuit 34 that controls a discharge operation by the load circuit 31.

  The load circuit 31 includes a positive electrode terminal 31a, a negative electrode terminal 31b, a power switch 31c, a DC / DC conversion circuit 31d that supplies a DC voltage to the drive unit 311 that realizes the main functions of the electrical device 30, And a discharge current control unit 31e for controlling the flow of current.

  The positive terminal 31 a is a terminal that is electrically connected to the positive terminal 12 a of the battery pack 10.

  The negative terminal 31 b is a terminal that is electrically connected to the negative terminal 12 b of the battery pack 10.

  The DC / DC conversion circuit 31d is a conversion circuit that boosts the DC power supply voltage supplied from the battery pack 10 and supplies the boosted DC voltage to the drive unit 311. The DC / DC conversion circuit 31d is connected to the power switch 31c via the contacts P31 and P32. Connected and connected to the discharge current control unit 31e via the contact P33.

  The power switch 31c has one end connected to the positive terminal 31a and the other end connected to the DC / DC conversion circuit 31d and the control circuit 34 via the contact P31. The power switch 31c electrically connects or disconnects the DC / DC conversion circuit 31d and the control circuit 34 with respect to the positive terminal 31a, for example, by a pressing operation from the user.

  The discharge current control unit 31e is composed of, for example, an n-channel MOSFET in order to control the flow of current in the circuit, and the gate terminal, the source terminal, and the drain terminal are respectively connected via the control circuit 34, the negative terminal 31b, and the contact P33. It is connected to the DC / DC conversion circuit 31d. As for the discharge current control part 31e, a discharge path | route is electrically connected because conduction | electrical_connection between a drain-source is controlled because the gate voltage is controlled by the control circuit 34. FIG.

  In order to detect the temperature of the load circuit 31, the temperature detection circuit 32 is composed of a resistance element such as a thermistor whose resistance value changes according to a temperature change of the element, for example, and as shown in FIG. Connected. The temperature detection circuit 32 detects the temperature of the load circuit 31, converts the detection result into a voltage, and notifies the control circuit 34.

  The communication unit 33 is electrically connected to the communication unit 14 of the battery pack 10, transmits information supplied from the control circuit 34 to the battery pack 10, receives information from the battery, and supplies the information to the control circuit 34.

  The control circuit 34 controls the operation of the load circuit 31 and the communication unit 33 according to the detection result by the temperature detection circuit 32.

  Next, a specific example of the drive unit 311 of the electrical device 30 is shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an imaging apparatus that images a subject as a specific example of the driving unit 311. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the driving unit 311 includes an image sensor 101, an image processing unit 102, a writing processing unit 103, and a nonvolatile recording medium 104. These processing units are operated by a DC / DC conversion circuit 31d. It is driven by the supplied DC voltage.

  The image sensor 101 images a subject and supplies an image signal to the image processing unit 102. The image processing unit 102 performs image signal processing such as gain correction and white balance on the imaging signal supplied from the imaging element 101, and supplies the processed signal to the writing processing unit 103. The writing processing unit 103 performs processing for writing the image information supplied from the image processing unit 102 to a nonvolatile recording medium 104 such as a hard disk.

<2. Temperature control>
In the charge control system 1 and the discharge control system 2 configured as described above, excessive heat generation occurs more reliably in the battery cell 11 by performing temperature management throughout the system by performing the following processing. Do not.

  First, referring to the flowchart of FIG. 5, an operation example according to the charge control system 1 that stops charging when the temperature of the battery cell 11 or the like of the battery pack 10 exceeds a predetermined temperature during charging by the charger 20 will be described. explain.

  First, as a premise of this process, in the charging control system 1, it is assumed that the battery pack 10 and the charger 20 are connected to perform a charging operation.

  In step S11, the temperature detection circuit 13 of the battery pack 10 detects that the battery cell 11 or the like has exceeded a predetermined temperature, converts the detection result into a voltage, and notifies the control circuit 15 of the detection result.

  In step S <b> 12, the control circuit 15 of the battery pack 10 controls the communication unit 14 so as to transmit temperature information of the battery cell 11 and the like detected by the temperature detection circuit 13.

  In step S <b> 13, the communication unit 23 of the charger 20 receives temperature information of the battery cell 11 and the like transmitted from the battery pack 10 and notifies the control circuit 24 of the temperature information.

  In step S14, the control circuit 24 of the charger 20 cuts off the electrical connection with the battery pack 10 and stops the charging operation according to the temperature information of the battery cell 11 and the like received by the communication unit 23. The charging current control unit 21d of the charging circuit 21 is controlled.

  In step S <b> 15, the control circuit 24 of the charger 20 controls the communication unit 23 to transmit stop information indicating that the charging operation of the charging circuit 21 has stopped to the battery pack 10.

  In step S <b> 16, when the battery pack 10 receives the stop information transmitted from the charger 20 by the communication unit 14, the control circuit 15 causes the charge / discharge circuit 12 to disconnect the electrical connection with the charger 20. The charge / discharge control unit 12c is controlled. That is, the control circuit 15 is turned off so that the charge control element 121 of the charge / discharge control unit 12c is electrically cut off.

  As described above, the charging control system 1 stops the charging operation on the side of the charger 20 that is notified that the temperature of the battery cell 11 or the like has exceeded the predetermined temperature, and performs the charging operation on the side of the charger 20. After stopping, the battery pack 10 stops the charging operation of the charging / discharging circuit 12. As described above, in the charge control system 1, the battery and the charger 20 perform temperature detection, and transmit one detection result to the other to share temperature information and cut off the electrical connection of the charge / discharge path. Therefore, it is possible to control the charging operation in such a manner that the battery cell 11 or the like does not generate excessive heat more reliably. More specifically, even if the charging operation is stopped on the battery side, the charging operation is started when the charger side is maintained in a chargeable state, and then the temperature of the battery cell is lowered. It is possible to prevent the temperature from generating heat again.

  Next, an operation example according to the charging control system 1 that stops charging when the temperature of the charging circuit 21 exceeds a predetermined temperature during charging by the charger 20 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 6.

  First, as a premise of this process, in the charge control system 1, it is assumed that the battery pack 10 and the charger 20 are connected to perform a charging operation.

  In step S <b> 21, the temperature detection circuit 22 of the charger 20 detects that the temperature of the charging circuit 21 exceeds a predetermined temperature, converts the detection result into a voltage, and notifies the control circuit 24.

  In step S22, the control circuit 24 of the charger 20 determines the charging current of the charging circuit 21 so as to stop the charging operation by cutting off the electrical connection with the battery pack 10 according to the detection result by the temperature detection circuit 22. Controls the control unit 21d. That is, the control circuit 24 turns off so that the charging current control unit 21d electrically cuts off the charging path.

  In step S <b> 23, the control circuit 24 of the charger 20 controls the communication unit 23 to transmit stop information indicating that the charging operation of the charging circuit 21 has stopped to the battery pack 10.

  In step S <b> 24, when the battery pack 10 receives the stop information transmitted from the charger 20 by the communication unit 14, the control circuit 15 causes the charge / discharge circuit 12 to disconnect the electrical connection with the charger 20. The charge / discharge control unit 12c is controlled. That is, the control circuit 15 is turned off so that the charge control element 121 of the charge / discharge control unit 12c is electrically cut off.

  As described above, in the charging control system 1, the charging operation is stopped on the charger 20 side in response to the temperature of the charging circuit 21 exceeding the predetermined temperature, and the charging operation is stopped on the charger 20 side. Later, the battery pack 10 stops the charging operation of the charging / discharging circuit 12. As described above, in the charge control system 1, the battery and the charger 20 perform temperature detection, and transmit one detection result to the other to share temperature information and cut off the electrical connection of the charge / discharge path. Therefore, the charging operation can be performed more reliably without excessive heat generation in the battery cell 11 or the like. More specifically, even if the charging operation is stopped on the charger side, the charging operation is started when the battery side is maintained in a chargeable state, and then the temperature of the charger is lowered, so that the temperature of the charger Can be prevented from generating heat again.

  Next, an operation example according to the discharge control system 2 that stops the discharge operation when the temperature of the battery cell 11 or the like exceeds a predetermined temperature during the discharge operation of the battery pack 10 connected to the electrical device 30 will be described. This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, as a premise of this process, in the discharge control system 2, it is assumed that the battery pack 10 and the electric device 30 are connected to perform a discharging operation.

  In step S31, the temperature detection circuit 13 of the battery pack 10 detects that the temperature of the battery cell 11 or the like has exceeded a predetermined temperature, converts the detection result into a voltage, and notifies the control circuit 15 of the detection result.

  In step S <b> 32, the control circuit 15 of the battery pack 10 controls the communication unit 14 so as to transmit temperature information of the battery cell 11 and the like detected by the temperature detection circuit 13.

  In step S <b> 33, the communication unit 33 of the electrical device 30 receives the temperature information of the battery cell 11 and the like transmitted from the battery pack 10 and notifies the control circuit 34.

  In step S <b> 34, the control circuit 34 of the electric device 30 cuts off the electrical connection with the battery pack 10 and stops the discharge operation according to the temperature information of the battery cell 11 and the like received by the communication unit 33. The discharge current control unit 31e of the load circuit 31 is controlled.

  Specifically, when the write processing unit 103 is performing a write operation in the drive unit 311, the control circuit 34 cuts off the electrical connection by the discharge current control unit 31e after the write operation is completed. Control. In this way, the electrical device 30 can prevent the power from being turned off without completing the writing operation to the nonvolatile recording medium 104.

  Further, in the electrical device 30, the end operation of the drive unit 311 may be notified to the user by, for example, a display or a speaker provided in the device, and in this way, an operation that is not intended by the user. Can be announced in advance.

  In addition, when the electric device 30 cannot stop the writing process within a predetermined time after receiving the temperature information of the battery cell from the battery pack 10, the writing processing unit 103 does not wait for the completion of the writing process. The operation may be stopped. By doing in this way, it can prevent that the battery cell 11 grade | etc., Is maintained for a long time at a high temperature state.

  Further, in the discharge control system 2, when the temperature of the battery cell 11 or the like exceeds the first temperature and when the temperature exceeds the second temperature higher than the first temperature, the battery pack 10 and the electric device 30 are respectively supplied. You may make it notify temperature information, such as a battery cell 11, to the side. When the electrical device 30 receives the temperature information of the battery cell or the like indicating the first temperature, the discharge operation is stopped after stopping the writing process, and the battery cell or the like indicating the second temperature is stopped. When the temperature information is received, the discharge operation is stopped without stopping the writing process. Thus, by controlling stepwise according to the temperature information, it is possible to prevent the battery cell 11 and the like from being maintained in a high temperature state for a long time.

  In step S <b> 35, the control circuit 34 of the electric device 30 controls the communication unit 33 to transmit stop information indicating that the discharge operation of the load circuit 31 has stopped to the battery pack 10.

  In step S <b> 36, when the battery pack 10 receives the stop information transmitted from the electrical device 30 by the communication unit 14, the control circuit 15 causes the charge / discharge circuit 12 to disconnect the electrical connection with the electrical device 30. The charge / discharge control unit 12c is controlled. That is, the control circuit 15 is turned off so that the discharge control element 122 of the charge / discharge control unit 12c is electrically cut off.

  As described above, in the discharge control system 2, the discharge operation is stopped on the electric device 30 side that is notified that the temperature of the battery cell 11 or the like has exceeded the predetermined temperature, and the discharge operation is performed on the electric device 30 side. After stopping, the battery pack 10 stops the discharging operation of the charging / discharging circuit 12. As described above, in the discharge control system 2, the temperature management is performed in the entire system that performs the discharge operation with the battery pack 10, so that the battery cell 11 does not generate excessive heat more reliably, and the discharge operation is performed. It can be performed. More specifically, even if the discharge operation is stopped on the battery side, the discharge operation is started when the temperature of the battery cell or the like is lowered after the electric device side is maintained in a dischargeable state, and the battery cell or the like. It is possible to prevent the temperature of the heat from being generated again.

  Next, an operation example according to the discharge control system 2 that stops the discharge when the temperature of the load circuit 31 of the electric device 30 exceeds a predetermined temperature while the battery pack 10 connected to the electric device 30 is in a discharging operation. This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, as a premise of this process, in the discharge control system 2, it is assumed that the battery pack 10 and the electric device 30 are connected to perform a discharging operation.

  In step S41, the temperature detection circuit 32 of the electrical device 30 detects that the temperature of the load circuit 31 has exceeded a predetermined temperature, converts this detection result into a voltage, and notifies the control circuit 34 of it.

  In step S <b> 42, the control circuit 34 of the electric device 30 discharges the load circuit 31 so as to stop the discharge operation by cutting off the electrical connection with the battery pack 10 according to the detection result by the temperature detection circuit 32. The controller 31e is controlled.

  Specifically, when the write processing unit 103 is performing a write operation in the drive unit 311, the control circuit 34 cuts off the electrical connection by the discharge current control unit 31e after the write operation is completed. Control. In this way, the electric device 30 can prevent the power from being turned off without completing the writing operation to the nonvolatile recording medium 104.

  Further, in the electrical device 30, the end operation of the drive unit 311 may be notified to the user by, for example, a display or a speaker provided in the device, and in this way, an operation that is not intended by the user. Can be announced in advance.

  In addition, when it is not possible to stop the writing process within a predetermined time, the electrical device 30 may stop the writing operation of the writing processing unit 103 without waiting for the completion of the writing process. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the load circuit 31 from being maintained in a high temperature state for a long time.

  In addition, the electrical device 30 detects that the temperature of the load circuit 31 exceeds the first temperature and exceeds the second temperature higher than the first temperature by the temperature detection circuit 33, respectively. You may make it notify to the control circuit 34. FIG. When the electrical device 20 receives the temperature information of the load circuit indicating the first temperature, the writing operation is stopped and then the discharge operation is stopped, and the temperature information of the load circuit indicating the second temperature is obtained. When received, the discharge operation is stopped without stopping the writing process. Thus, by controlling stepwise according to temperature information, it is possible to prevent the load circuit 31 from being maintained in a high temperature state for a long time.

  In step S <b> 43, the control circuit 34 of the electrical device 30 controls the communication unit 33 so as to transmit stop information indicating that the discharging operation by the load circuit 31 has stopped to the battery pack 10.

  In step S <b> 44, when the battery pack 10 receives the stop information transmitted from the electrical device 30 by the communication unit 33, the control circuit 15 causes the charge / discharge circuit 12 to disconnect the electrical connection with the electrical device 30. The charge / discharge control unit 12c is controlled. That is, the control circuit 15 is turned off so that the discharge control element 122 of the charge / discharge control unit 12c is electrically cut off.

  As described above, in the discharge control system 2, the discharge operation is stopped on the electric device 30 side in response to the temperature of the load circuit 31 exceeding the predetermined temperature, and the discharge operation is stopped on the electric device 30 side. Later, the battery pack 10 stops the discharging operation of the charging / discharging circuit 12. As described above, in the discharge control system 2, the load circuit 31 does not generate excessive heat more reliably by performing temperature management in the entire system that performs charging or discharging operation with the battery pack 10. A discharge operation can be performed. More specifically, even if the discharge operation is stopped on the electric device side, the discharge operation is started by the temperature of the electric device decreasing after the battery side is maintained in a dischargeable state, and the temperature of the electric device Can be prevented from generating heat again.

<3. Return processing>
Even when the temperature of the battery cell 11 or the like returns to the normal range when the battery pack 10 maintains the state where the charge control element 121 is turned off and the charging path is electrically cut off by the stop operation described above. Since the charging path is electrically cut off, the charging operation cannot be performed. Therefore, the battery pack 10 returns to the chargeable state from the charge prohibited state by performing the process shown in FIG.

  First, as a premise of this processing, it is assumed that the battery pack 10 is in a charge prohibited state, that is, the charge path of the charge / discharge circuit 12 is electrically cut off.

  In step S <b> 51, the battery pack 10 is connected to the electric device 30 that is driven by the discharged power of the battery cell 11.

  In step S <b> 52, the electrical device 30 connected to the battery pack 10 starts a discharging operation when the power switch 31 c of the load circuit 31 is turned on.

  In step S <b> 53, when a discharge current flows from the battery cell 11 to the electrical device 30 in the charge / discharge circuit 12, the battery pack 10 is switched by the charge control element 121 to electrically connect the charging path. Here, the charging control element 121 switches the charging path so as to be electrically connected by using the current flowing in the discharging path in the charging / discharging circuit 12 as a trigger or by the control by the control circuit 15.

  As described above, the battery pack 10 returns the charging path from the charging prohibited state to the chargeable state in accordance with the discharging operation. In other words, the battery pack 10 performs a recovery process under conditions different from those when the temperature of the battery cell 11 or the like is lowered, thereby preventing the battery cell 11 from excessively generating heat and moving the charging path from the charging prohibited state. It is possible to return to a chargeable state.

  Further, when the battery pack 10 maintains the state where the discharge control element 122 is turned off and the discharge path is electrically cut off, the discharge path is electrically connected even when the temperature of the battery cell 11 or the like returns to the normal range. Therefore, the discharge operation cannot be performed. Therefore, the battery pack 10 returns to the dischargeable state from the discharge prohibited state by performing the process shown in FIG.

  First, as a premise of this process, it is assumed that the battery pack 10 is in a discharge prohibited state, that is, the discharge path of the charge / discharge circuit 12 is electrically cut off.

  In step S <b> 61, the battery pack 10 is connected to the charger 20 that supplies a charging current to the battery cell 11.

  In step S <b> 62, the charger 20 connected to the battery pack 10 starts the charging operation of the charging circuit 21.

  In step S <b> 63, when the charging current supplied from the charger 20 flows to the battery cell 11 in the charging / discharging circuit 12, the battery pack 10 is switched by the discharge control element 122 to electrically connect this discharging path. Here, the discharge control element 122 switches the discharge path to be electrically connected, triggered by the current flowing in the discharge path in the charge / discharge circuit 12 or under the control of the control circuit 15.

  As described above, the battery pack 10 returns the discharge path from the discharge prohibited state to the dischargeable state in accordance with the charging operation. That is, the battery pack 10 performs the recovery process under a condition different from that when the temperature of the battery cell 11 decreases, thereby preventing the battery cell 11 from generating excessive heat and discharging the discharge path from the discharge prohibited state. It is possible to return to a possible state.

  During the charging operation of the battery pack 10, the charger that has stopped the charging operation by detecting abnormal heat generation of the charger itself maintains this stopped state, so even if the temperature of the charging circuit 21 returns to the normal range It does not return from this stop state. Therefore, the charger 20 returns to the chargeable state from the charge prohibited state by performing the process shown in FIG.

  First, as a premise of this process, it is assumed that the charger 20 is in a charging prohibited state, that is, the charging path of the charging circuit 21 is electrically cut off.

  In step S71, the charger 20 is cut off from the supply of commercial power from the AC cord 20a.

  In step S72, the charger 20 returns the temperature of the charging circuit 21 to the normal range.

  In step S73, when the charger 20 receives supply of commercial power from the AC cord 20a, the reset circuit 24a detects the flow of current and the like, and the control circuit 24 determines the charging current control unit 21d according to the detection result. To return to the chargeable state.

  As described above, when the temperature of the charging circuit 21 returns to the normal range and the AC cord 20a is reintroduced into the outlet and receives supply of commercial power, the charger 20 returns from the charging prohibited state to the chargeable state. . In this way, the charger 20 can return from the charge prohibited state to the chargeable state while preventing the charging circuit 21 from generating excessive heat.

  Further, during the discharging operation of the battery pack 10, the electric device 30 that has detected the abnormal heat generation of the electric device itself and stopped the discharging operation maintains this stopped state, so that the temperature of the load circuit 31 is within the normal range. Even if it returns, it does not return from this stop state. Therefore, the electrical device 30 returns from the discharge prohibited state to the dischargeable state by performing a process as shown in FIG.

  First, as a premise of this process, it is assumed that the electric device 30 is in a discharge prohibited state, that is, the discharge path of the load circuit 31 is electrically cut off.

  In step S81, the electric device 30 has the power switch 31c cut off.

  In step S82, the electrical device 30 returns the temperature of the load circuit 31 to the normal range.

  In step S83, when the power switch 31c is turned on in the electrical device 30, the reset circuit 34a detects a current flow or the like, and the control circuit 34 controls the discharge current control unit 31e in accordance with this operation to discharge. Return to possible state.

  As described above, when the temperature of the load circuit 31 returns to the normal range and the power switch 31c is turned on again, the electrical device 30 returns from the discharge prohibited state to the dischargeable state. In this way, the electrical device 30 can return from the discharge prohibited state to the dischargeable state while preventing the load circuit 31 from generating excessive heat.

It is a figure showing the whole charge control system composition to which the present invention was applied. It is a figure which shows the specific circuit structure of the charging / discharging control part of the battery with which this invention was applied. It is a figure showing the whole discharge control system composition to which the present invention was applied. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the drive part of an electric equipment. It is a figure for demonstrating the operation example which concerns on the charge control system which stops charge when the temperature of a battery cell exceeds predetermined temperature. It is a figure for demonstrating the operation example which concerns on the charge control system which stops charge, when the temperature of the charging circuit of a charger exceeds predetermined temperature. It is a figure for demonstrating the operation example which concerns on the discharge control system which stops discharge operation, when the temperature of a battery cell exceeds predetermined temperature. It is a figure for demonstrating the operation example which concerns on the discharge control system which stops discharge when the temperature of the load circuit of an electric equipment exceeds predetermined temperature. It is a figure for demonstrating the return process which returns from the charge prohibition state which concerns on a battery to a chargeable state. It is a figure for demonstrating the reset process which returns to the discharge possible state from the discharge prohibition state which concerns on a battery. It is a figure for demonstrating the return process which returns to the charge possible state from the charge prohibition state which concerns on a charger. It is a figure for demonstrating the reset process which returns to the discharge possible state from the discharge prohibition state which concerns on an electric equipment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Charge control system, 2 Discharge control system, 10 Battery pack, 11 Battery cell, 20 Electric equipment, 12 Charging / discharging circuit, 12a, 21a, 31a Positive terminal, 12b, 21b, 31b Negative terminal, 12c Charging / discharging control part, 121 Charge control element, 122 Discharge control element, 13, 22, 32 Temperature detection circuit, 14, 23, 33 Communication unit, 15, 24, 34 Control circuit, 20 charger, 20a AC cord, 21 charging circuit, 21c AC / DC Conversion circuit, 21d charge current control unit, 24a reset circuit, 30 electrical equipment, 31 load circuit, 31c power switch, 31d DC / DC conversion circuit, 31e discharge current control unit, 311 drive unit, 101 imaging device, 102 image processing unit , 103 Write processing unit, 104 Non-volatile recording medium

Claims (10)

A battery cell;
A charge / discharge circuit for electrically connecting the battery cell to an external device;
A temperature detector for detecting the temperature of the battery cell;
A communication unit for communicating with the external device;
When the temperature of the battery cell detected by the temperature detection unit exceeds a predetermined temperature, the communication unit is controlled to transmit the temperature information of the battery cell, and stop information indicating operation stop is received from the external device. A battery comprising: a control unit that controls the charge / discharge circuit so as to cut off an electrical connection with the external device when transmitted. The charge / discharge circuit is connected with a charge control element that is switched between electrical connection and disconnection of a charge path through which a charge current flows from the external device to the battery cell by the control unit,
The charge control element switches the charge path to be electrically connected when a discharge current flows from the battery cell to the external device in the charge / discharge circuit when the charge path is electrically cut off. The battery according to claim 1. The charge / discharge circuit is connected with a discharge control element that is switched between electrical connection and interruption of a discharge path through which a discharge current flows from the battery cell to the external device by the control unit,
When the discharge control element electrically cuts off the discharge path, when a charging current flows from the external device to the battery cell in the charge / discharge circuit, the discharge control element is switched to electrically connect the discharge path. The battery according to claim 1. A detecting step for detecting the temperature of the battery cell;
When the temperature of the battery cell detected by the detection step exceeds a predetermined temperature, the battery cell temperature information is transmitted to an external device electrically connected to the battery cell via the charge / discharge circuit. Steps,
A battery control method comprising: a shut-off step for controlling the charge / discharge circuit so that electrical connection with the external device is shut off when stop information indicating operation stop is transmitted from the external device. A charging circuit for supplying a charging current to a battery cell included in the battery;
A temperature detector for detecting the temperature of the charging circuit;
A communication unit for communicating with the battery;
When temperature information indicating that the battery cell has exceeded a predetermined temperature has been transmitted to the communication unit, or when the temperature of the charging circuit detected by the temperature detection unit has exceeded a predetermined temperature, A control unit that controls the communication unit so as to transmit stop information indicating that the charging operation of the charging circuit is stopped after controlling the charging circuit so as to cut off the electrical connection with the battery; Charger. A load circuit driven by discharge power supplied from the battery;
A temperature detector for detecting the temperature of the load circuit;
A communication unit for communicating with the battery;
When temperature information indicating that the battery cell has exceeded a predetermined temperature has been transmitted to the communication unit, or when the temperature of the load circuit detected by the temperature detection unit has exceeded a predetermined temperature, A control unit that controls the communication unit so as to transmit stop information indicating that the discharge operation by the load circuit has stopped after controlling the load circuit so as to cut off the electrical connection with the battery; Electrical equipment. The load circuit includes a write processing unit that writes information to a nonvolatile storage medium,
The controller, when the temperature of the load circuit detected by the temperature detector exceeds a first temperature, causes the write processor to finish writing information to the nonvolatile storage medium, and The control unit according to claim 6, wherein the communication unit is controlled to transmit stop information indicating that the discharging operation by the load circuit is stopped after controlling the load circuit so as to cut off the electrical connection with the battery. Electrical equipment.   When the temperature of the load circuit detected by the temperature detection unit exceeds a second temperature that is higher than the first temperature, the control unit stores information on the nonvolatile storage medium in the write processing unit. After the load circuit is controlled so as to cut off the electrical connection with the battery without terminating the writing process, stop information indicating that the discharge operation by the load circuit has been stopped is transmitted. The electric device according to claim 7, wherein the communication unit is controlled. Battery,
A charger for charging the battery,
The battery includes a battery cell, a charging circuit that electrically connects the battery cell and the charger, a temperature detection unit that detects the temperature of the battery cell, a communication unit that communicates with the charger, When the temperature of the battery cell detected by the temperature detection unit exceeds a predetermined temperature, the communication unit is controlled to transmit temperature information of the battery cell, and a stop indicating that the charging operation is stopped from the charger A control unit that controls the charging circuit so as to cut off the electrical connection with the charger when information is transmitted;
The charger includes a charging circuit that supplies a charging current to the battery, a temperature detection unit that detects a temperature of the charging circuit, a communication unit that communicates with the battery, and a battery cell of the battery has a predetermined temperature. When the temperature information indicating that the temperature has exceeded is transmitted to the communication unit, or when the temperature of the charging circuit detected by the temperature detection unit exceeds a predetermined temperature, the electrical connection with the battery is established. A charging control system comprising: a control unit that controls the communication unit so as to transmit the stop information after controlling the charging circuit to shut off. Battery,
An electrical device to which discharge current is supplied from the battery,
The battery includes a battery cell, a discharge circuit that electrically connects the battery cell and the electrical device, a temperature detection unit that detects the temperature of the battery cell, a communication unit that communicates with the electrical device, When the temperature of the battery cell detected by the temperature detection unit exceeds a predetermined temperature, the communication unit is controlled to transmit the temperature information of the battery cell, and a stop indicating that the discharge operation is stopped from the electric device A control unit that controls the discharge circuit to cut off the electrical connection with the electrical device when information is transmitted;
The electrical device includes a load circuit that is driven by discharge power supplied from the battery, a temperature detection unit that detects a temperature of the load circuit, a communication unit that communicates with the battery, and a battery cell of the battery. When temperature information indicating that the temperature of the load circuit has been transmitted to the communication unit, or when the temperature of the load circuit detected by the temperature detection unit exceeds a predetermined temperature, And a control unit that controls the communication unit so as to transmit the stop information after controlling the load circuit so as to cut off the connection.

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