JP2011036106A - Power supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a power supply device whose structure can be changed readily. <P>SOLUTION: A power supply device 1A includes a battery module 10 having a wireless communication means and a connection circuit which mutually electrically connects an arbitrary number of battery modules 10, to make them operate as a power supply for a load. The battery module 10 operates, based on the control information obtained via the wireless communication means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a power supply device having a battery module.

  In electric vehicles and hybrid cars, an electric motor is used as a power source or an auxiliary power source. And as a power source which operates the said electric motor, the power supply device which connected many secondary batteries in series is employ | adopted.

  For example, Patent Document 1 is configured by combining a plurality of battery modules (battery packs) having a battery configured by connecting a plurality of unit batteries in series and a control unit that controls the battery state of the battery. A power supply is described. In addition to the plurality of battery modules, the power supply device is provided with a battery controller that controls charging / discharging, and the battery controller performs overall control of the power supply device.

JP 2008-235032 A

  In the power supply device described in Patent Document 1, the battery controller and the battery module are connected to each other via a communication cable, and data such as control information is exchanged via the communication cable. For this reason, it has been difficult to change the configuration of the power supply device by adjusting the number of battery modules constituting the power supply device.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of easily changing the configuration of a power supply device.

  A power supply device according to the present invention includes a battery module having wireless communication means, and a connection circuit that electrically connects any number of the battery modules to each other and functions as a power source for a load. It operates based on control information obtained via the wireless communication means.

  Moreover, in one aspect of the power supply device according to the present invention, the connection circuit is provided in a storage case having a storage portion that can store the battery module, and the battery module is configured to be detachable from the storage portion. Any number of the battery modules are electrically connected to each other in a state of being stored in the storage unit.

  Moreover, in one aspect of the power supply device according to the present invention, the battery module acquires signal generation information for generating a timing signal used for operation of the battery module from the control information, and the signal Generating means for generating the timing signal based on the generation information, and the battery module operates based on the timing signal.

  In the aspect of the power supply device according to the present invention, the generation unit includes a clock generation unit that generates a clock based on the signal generation information, and the battery module operates in synchronization with the clock.

  In the aspect of the power supply device according to the present invention, the generation unit includes an operation control signal generation unit that generates an operation control signal based on the signal generation information, and the battery module is the operation control signal. Operates according to the timing indicated.

  In the aspect of the power supply device according to the present invention, the signal generation information is information included in the control information at a predetermined cycle.

  In the aspect of the power supply device according to the present invention, the signal generation information is a time stamp included in the control information.

  The power supply device according to the present invention includes a battery module, a control module that controls the operation of the battery module, and wireless communication means that wirelessly communicates between the battery module and the control module, the battery module An acquisition means for acquiring signal generation information for generating a timing signal used for operation of the battery module from control information transmitted from the control module via the wireless communication means; and the signal generation Generating means for generating the timing signal based on information, and the battery module operates based on the timing signal.

  According to the present invention, the configuration of the power supply device can be easily changed.

1 is an external view of a power supply device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the electrical connection part of a battery module and a storage case. It is a schematic diagram of the battery module electrically connected in the storage case. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of a power supply device. It is a block diagram which shows the structure in a battery module. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure of a clock and a synchronous adjustment part. It is a figure which shows the relationship between communication data and the clock produced | generated by a clock and a synchronous adjustment part. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the communication data and the clock produced | generated by a clock and a synchronous adjustment part in 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure of the clock and synchronization adjustment part of 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the power supply device which concerns on a modification. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure of the clock and synchronization adjustment part which concerns on a modification. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure of the clock and synchronization adjustment part which concerns on a modification.

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

<1. First Embodiment>
[1-1. Outline of Configuration of Power Supply Device 1A]
FIG. 1 is an external view of a power supply device 1A according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an electrical connection portion between the battery module 10 and the storage case 5. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the battery module 10 electrically connected in the storage case 5. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the power supply device 1A.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1, the power supply device 1 </ b> A includes a battery module 10 and a storage case 5 that stores the battery module 10.

  The battery module 10 is configured as a rectangular parallelepiped box, and has a plurality of battery cells (unit batteries) therein. Details of the battery module 10 will be described later.

  The storage case 5 has a plurality of spaces AK formed in a grid. The battery module 10 can be detachably stored in the space AK, and the space AK functions as a storage portion NF of the battery module 10.

  The storage unit NF also includes a connection circuit (connection mechanism) that allows any number of stored battery modules 10 to be electrically connected to each other and function as a power source for the load.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, a positive electrode terminal MA1 and a negative electrode terminal MC1 are provided on one plane PN of the box of the battery module 10, respectively, and stored in a back wall PQ of the storage unit NF. Case-side terminals MA2 and MC2 are provided, respectively. For this reason, in a state where the battery module 10 is stored in the storage unit NF (also referred to as “storage state” or “mounted state”), the positive terminal MA1 and the negative terminal MC1 on the battery module 10 side are the terminals MA2 on the storage case side. , MC2 respectively. And the storage case 5 has the wiring which electrically connects each storage part NF. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 3, the battery modules 10 housed in the housing portion NF are electrically connected in series or in parallel via the wiring.

  Thus, the power supply device 1 </ b> A configures a battery system (battery system) in a state where the battery module 10 is stored in the storage unit NF of the storage case 5.

  In addition, the storage case 5 is configured to provide an electrical path (electric circuit) in the storage unit NF in the unstored state in a state where the battery module 10 is not stored in the storage unit NF (also referred to as “unacquired state” or “non-mounted state”). It has a bypass circuit for bypassing. Thus, the user can freely change the application of the power supply device 1A, such as for automobile batteries or household power supplies, by adjusting the number of battery modules 10 to be stored.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the power supply apparatus 1A further includes a control module 15 that performs overall control for causing the power supply apparatus 1A to function as a battery system. Specifically, the control module 15 includes an overall control unit 51 including a CPU, a RAM, and a ROM (all not shown), and wireless communication means that performs wireless communication with each battery module 10. The overall control unit 51 determines the control content based on information (for example, battery state information described later) obtained from each battery module 10 via wireless communication, and sends a control command corresponding to the control content via wireless communication. To each battery module 10. And in each battery module 10, the operation | movement according to the transmitted control command is performed.

  The control module 15 may be configured as a box having the same shape as the battery module 10 and may be stored in the storage unit NF of the storage case 5 or may be installed at an arbitrary position of the storage case 5.

  As described above, in the power supply device 1A, communication of information used for control (also referred to as “control information”) is performed between the battery module 10 and the overall control unit 51 of the control module 15 via the wireless communication unit. . According to this, compared with the case where the battery module 10 and the whole control part 51 of the control module 15 are connected by a cable and communicated by wire, wiring can be omitted. And, by such wiring saving, the battery module 10 can be easily attached to and detached from the storage case 5, so that the configuration of the power supply device 1A can be easily changed in the power supply device 1A. For example, even when a failure such as a failure occurs in the battery module 10 attached to the power supply device 1A, the replacement can be performed in units of the battery module 10, so that the failure can be easily solved.

[1-2. Configuration of Battery Module 10]
Next, the configuration of the battery module 10 will be described. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration inside the battery module 10. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the clock / synchronization adjustment unit 102A. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between communication data, a clock generated by the clock / synchronization adjustment unit 102A, and an operation synchronization signal.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the battery module 10 includes a plurality of battery cells CL connected in series with each other, a switch SW, and an operation control circuit 100 that controls the operation of the battery module 10. In FIG. 5, the plurality of battery cells CL are illustrated in a simplified manner.

  Specifically, the battery cell CL is a secondary battery that can be charged and discharged. As the battery cell CL, for example, a lithium ion battery, a nickel-hydrogen battery, or the like can be employed.

  The switch SW includes an ON state in which the battery cell CL in the battery module 10 is connected to an external circuit, a bypass state in which the battery cell CL in the battery module 10 is bypassed and connected to an external circuit, and an external circuit in the battery module 10 Has a switching function for switching between the off state and the off state for turning off the connection with. Note that the switch SW is not limited to the configuration described in the present embodiment. For example, the switch connected in series with the battery cell CL and the switch connected in parallel with the battery cell CL are separately provided. Alternatively, a bypass circuit having a switch may be connected in parallel with the battery cell CL.

  The operation control circuit 100 (see FIG. 5) includes a communication circuit 101, a clock / synchronization adjustment unit 102A, a voltage / current monitoring circuit 103, and a control / protection circuit 104.

  The communication circuit 101 functions as a wireless communication unit in cooperation with the antenna AN, and transmits and receives communication data including control information via the antenna AN. The control information transmitted from the control module 15 includes information for generating a timing signal used for the operation of the battery module 10 (also referred to as “signal generation information” or “timing information”), the voltage / current monitoring circuit 103 Various commands (also referred to as “measurement commands”), various commands for the control / protection circuit 104 (also referred to as “control commands”), and the like are included.

  Based on the control information transmitted from the control module 15, the clock / synchronization adjustment unit 102 </ b> A defines a clock that is a reference for each operation of the voltage / current monitoring circuit 103 and the control / protection circuit 104 and a control timing of each operation. To generate a signal (also referred to as “operation synchronization signal” or “operation control signal”).

  More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the clock / synchronization adjustment unit 102A includes a timing information detection circuit 21, a clock generation circuit 22, and an operation synchronization signal generation circuit (operation control signal generation circuit) 23. is doing.

  The timing information detection circuit 21 functions as a timing information acquisition unit that detects and acquires timing information included in communication data. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, it is assumed that information (also referred to as “synchronization word ND”) as signal generation information is included in a predetermined cycle in communication data TD1 transmitted from the control module 15. In this case, the timing information detection circuit 21 periodically detects the synchronization word ND from the communication data TD1.

  The detected synchronization word ND is input to the clock generation circuit (clock generation means) 22 and the operation synchronization signal generation circuit (operation control signal generation means) 23, respectively. The clock generation circuit 22 generates a clock based on the synchronization word ND, and the clock is output to the voltage / current monitoring circuit 103 and the control / protection circuit 104, respectively. The operation synchronization signal generation circuit 23 generates an operation synchronization signal indicating the operation timing (operation timing) based on the synchronization word ND, and the operation synchronization signal is transmitted to the voltage / current monitoring circuit 103 and the control / protection circuit 104. Each is output.

  In FIG. 7, the generation timing of the pulse in the clock generated by the clock generation circuit 22 based on the synchronization word ND periodically detected is indicated by an arrow YJ. In the clock generation circuit 22, for example, the clock CK1 multiplied by 1 may be generated for the synchronization word ND, or the clock CK2 multiplied by n (here, multiplied by 3) may be generated for the synchronization word ND. Good.

  Similarly to the clock generation circuit 22, the operation synchronization signal generation circuit 23 may generate, for example, the operation synchronization signal DS1 multiplied by 1 with respect to the synchronization word ND, or may be multiplied by n with respect to the synchronization word ND ( In this case, the operation synchronization signal DS2 multiplied by 3 may be generated. The clock frequency is preferably higher than the frequency of the operation synchronization signal.

  As described above, the clock / synchronization adjustment unit 102A acquires the signal generation information included in the control information, and generates the clock and the operation synchronization signal based on the signal generation information. Since both the clock and the operation synchronization signal are signals used for the operation of the battery module 10, they are collectively referred to as timing signals, and the clock / synchronization adjustment unit 102A is also referred to as timing signal generation means. .

  Returning to FIG. 5, the voltage / current monitoring circuit 103 monitors the battery state by measuring the voltage and current of each battery cell CL based on the measurement command or autonomously and periodically. The voltage / current monitoring circuit 103 outputs battery state information related to the battery state to the communication circuit 101 and the control / protection circuit 104, respectively.

  The control / protection circuit 104 controls the switching operation of the switch SW based on the control command and the battery state information from the voltage / current monitoring circuit 103.

  The voltage / current monitoring circuit 103 and the control / protection circuit 104 operate in synchronization with the clock generated by the clock / synchronization adjustment unit 102A.

  Various operations executed by the voltage / current monitoring circuit 103 and the control / protection circuit 104 are executed according to the operation timing indicated by the operation synchronization signal generated by the clock / synchronization adjustment unit 102A. For example, when a control command for switching the switch SW is input to the control / protection circuit 104, the control / protection circuit 104 executes the switch SW switching operation at the first operation timing after the control command is input. The

  The execution of the various operations includes those that change the operation mode before and after the execution of the operation, such as the start of the predetermined operation and the stop of the predetermined operation.

[1-3. Synchronization adjustment method]
Here, a synchronization adjustment method between the battery modules 10 constituting the power supply device 1A will be described.

  In the power supply device 1 </ b> A of FIG. 4, communication data including timing information is wirelessly transmitted from the control module 15. In addition, each battery module 10 of the power supply device 1A has the common clock / synchronization adjustment unit 102A and common wireless communication means.

  In each battery module 10 having such a configuration, communication data including timing information is received all at once by the respective wireless communication means. The clock / synchronization adjustment unit 102A of each battery module 10 generates a common clock and a common operation synchronization signal based on the same timing information acquired at the same time. As a result, the voltage / current monitoring circuit 103 and the control / protection circuit 104 of each battery module 10 operate based on the same-phase clocks and the same-phase operation synchronization signals that have the same phase between the battery modules 10. Become.

  As described above, the power supply apparatus 1 </ b> A includes the battery module 10, the control module 15 that controls the operation of the battery module 10, and the wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication between the battery module 10 and the control module 15. . An arbitrary number (at least one or more) of battery modules 10 generates timing signals used for the operation of the battery module 10 from the control information transmitted from the control module 15 via the wireless communication means. The battery module 10 includes an acquisition unit that acquires signal generation information and a generation unit that generates a timing signal based on the signal generation information, and any number of battery modules 10 operate based on the timing signal. According to this, since each battery module 10 can be operated based on the timing signal having the same phase, when the control information is exchanged between the battery module 10 and the control module 15 by wireless communication. In addition, the battery modules 10 can be operated in synchronization.

<2. Second Embodiment>
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the power supply device 1A according to the first embodiment, the communication data transmitted from the control module 15 includes the synchronization word ND as the timing information, but the communication data of the power supply device 1B according to the second embodiment is the timing. The time stamp MT is included as information. The power supply device 1B has substantially the same structure and function (see FIGS. 1 to 5) as the power supply device 1A, and common portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between communication data and a clock generated by the clock / synchronization adjustment unit 102B. FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of the clock / synchronization adjustment unit 102B.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the control module 15 of the power supply apparatus 1B transmits communication data TD2 including a time stamp MT as timing information. The time stamp MT is information indicating a virtual time (also referred to as “time stamp value”), and is used to correct a counter value of a counter 26 (described later) in the clock / synchronization adjustment unit 102B.

  As illustrated in FIG. 9, the clock / synchronization adjustment unit 102 </ b> B of the second embodiment includes a timing information detection circuit 21, a counter 26, a clock generation circuit 22, and an operation synchronization signal generation circuit 23. .

  In the clock / synchronization adjustment unit 102B having such a configuration, the time stamp MT included in the communication data TD2 is detected by the timing information detection circuit 21, and the time stamp value is acquired. Then, the acquired time stamp value is input to the counter 26.

  The counter 26 has a function of increasing the held counter value based on the clock generated by the oscillation circuit in the battery module 10. Further, the counter 26 corrects the stored counter value as a time stamp value in accordance with the input of the time stamp value. Since the correction of the counter value is performed every time the time stamp MT is detected, the counter 26 in each battery module 10 holds the same counter value.

  The clock generation circuit 22 generates a clock based on the input counter value. In the clock generation circuit 22, for example, a generation rule (also referred to as “signal generation rule” or “clock generation rule”) that a pulse is generated when the input counter value is an integer multiple of a certain value (predetermined value). A clock is generated based on

  Further, the operation synchronization signal generation circuit 23 generates an operation synchronization signal based on the input counter value. The generation of the operation synchronization signal in the operation synchronization signal generation circuit 23 may be performed based on a predetermined generation rule (operation synchronization signal generation rule) as in the case of clock generation by the clock generation circuit 22.

  In FIG. 8, the pulse generation timing of the clock CK3 (or operation synchronization signal DS3) generated by the clock generation circuit 22 (or operation synchronization signal generation circuit 23) is indicated by an arrow YJ.

  As described above, in the power supply device 1B of the second embodiment, the time stamp MT is used as the timing information. By using the time stamp MT as the timing information, it is possible to increase the degree of freedom of data multiplexing when creating communication data in the control module 15.

  Specifically, the time stamp MT is used for correcting the counter value, and is not directly used for generating the clock and the operation synchronization signal. Therefore, the time stamp MT is sent at a high degree of freedom. That is, the time stamp MT only needs to be included irregularly in the communication data TD2, and the control module 15 can increase the degree of freedom of data multiplexing performed when transmitting the communication data.

<3. Modification>
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the contents described above.

  For example, in each of the embodiments described above, the mode in which the overall control of the power supply devices 1A and 1B is realized by the control module 15 provided outside the battery module 10 is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a power supply device 1C according to a modification.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, each battery module 10 may be provided with a control unit 80 including a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like. In this case, the control unit 80 of one battery module 10 among the battery modules 10 serves as a master that performs overall control of the power supply apparatus 1C, and the control units 80 of the other battery modules 10 function as slaves to the master.

  Further, the clock / synchronization adjustment unit 102A (see FIG. 6) of the first embodiment may be configured as shown in FIG. The clock generation circuit 22 in the clock / synchronization adjustment unit 102C according to the modification shown in FIG. 11 generates a clock based on a synchronization signal used in wireless communication.

  Further, the clock / synchronization adjustment unit 102B (see FIG. 9) of the second embodiment may be configured as shown in FIG. The clock generation circuit 22 in the clock / synchronization adjustment unit 102D according to the modification shown in FIG. 12 generates a clock based on a synchronization signal used in wireless communication. The counter 26 operates based on the clock generated by the clock generation circuit 22.

  According to this, since the clock for operating the counter 26 can be shared among the battery modules 10, the accuracy of the synchronous operation in each battery module 10 can be further improved.

1A, 1B, 1C Power supply device 5 Storage case 10 Battery module 15 Control module 21 Timing information detection circuit 22 Clock generation circuit 23 Operation synchronization signal generation circuit 26 Counter 51 Overall control unit 80 Control unit 100 Operation control circuit 101 Communication circuit 102A, 102B , 102C, 102D Clock / synchronization adjustment unit 103 Voltage / current monitoring circuit 104 Control / protection circuit NF storage unit AN antenna CL battery cell SW switch MT time stamp ND synchronization word

Claims (12)

A battery module having wireless communication means;
A connection circuit for electrically connecting any number of the battery modules to each other to function as a power source for a load;
With
The battery module is a power supply device that operates based on control information obtained via the wireless communication means. The connection circuit is
Provided in a storage case having a storage portion capable of storing the battery module,
The battery module is configured to be detachable from the storage unit,
The power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an arbitrary number of the battery modules are electrically connected to each other while being housed in the housing portion. The battery module is
Obtaining means for obtaining signal generation information for generating a timing signal used for operation of the battery module from the control information;
Generating means for generating the timing signal based on the signal generation information;
Have
The power supply device according to claim 1, wherein the battery module operates based on the timing signal. The generating means includes
Clock generating means for generating a clock based on the signal generation information;
Including
The power supply apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the battery module operates in synchronization with the clock. The generating means includes
Operation control signal generating means for generating an operation control signal based on the signal generation information;
Including
The power supply apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the battery module operates in accordance with a timing indicated by the operation control signal.   The power supply device according to claim 3, wherein the signal generation information is information included in the control information at a predetermined cycle.   The power supply device according to claim 3, wherein the signal generation information is a time stamp included in the control information. A battery module;
A control module for controlling the operation of the battery module;
Wireless communication means for wirelessly communicating between the battery module and the control module;
With
The battery module is
An acquisition means for acquiring signal generation information for generating a timing signal used for the operation of the battery module from the control information transmitted from the control module via the wireless communication means;
Generating means for generating the timing signal based on the signal generation information;
Have
The battery module is a power supply device that operates based on the timing signal. The generating means includes
Clock generating means for generating a clock based on the signal generation information;
Including
The power supply apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the battery module operates in synchronization with the clock. The generating means includes
Operation control signal generating means for generating an operation control signal based on the signal generation information;
Including
The power supply device according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the battery module operates in accordance with a timing indicated by the operation control signal.   The power supply device according to claim 8, wherein the signal generation information is information included in the control information at a predetermined period.   The power supply apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the signal generation information is a time stamp included in the control information.

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