JP2013096798A - Battery management device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate shortening of time for identifying a position of each battery module in the case of plural battery modules being serially connected.SOLUTION: Battery modules M1 through Mn each includes: a secondary battery B; a connection terminal T1 connected to an external connection terminal T(+); an information obtainment part 3 for obtaining as voltage-related information a voltage across an anode terminal P(-) and the connection terminal T1; a storage part 43 for pre-storing identification information identifying the battery module itself; and a communication part 42 for transmitting the voltage-related information correlated with the identification information. Further, a battery management device 1 includes: a management-side communication part 22 for receiving the voltage-related information and the identification information that are transmitted from the communication parts 42 of the battery modules M1 through Mn; and a position identification part for identifying positions of the battery modules M1 through Mn within a serial circuit on the basis of each piece of voltage-related information and each piece of identification information received by the management-side communication part 22.

Description

  The present invention relates to a battery management device that manages a plurality of battery modules connected in series.

  As next-generation eco cars, electric cars and hybrid cars are attracting attention. And the technical development of the secondary battery used as a power supply of such an eco-car is progressing. Improvements in the performance of secondary batteries, which are thought to influence the performance of automobiles, are being pursued every day. When using a secondary battery as a power source for an electric vehicle or the like, a plurality of battery modules are connected in series to obtain a high voltage. Moreover, the reliability level requested | required of a secondary battery is also increasing with the improvement of the performance of a secondary battery. Therefore, a battery management device is known in which each battery module transmits information indicating the occurrence of the abnormality to a control device when an abnormality occurs (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  If any of the battery modules becomes abnormal, in order to replace or repair the battery module for maintenance, the position of the battery module where the abnormality has occurred based on the information sent from the battery module For example, it is necessary to specify the lowest potential side in the series circuit of a plurality of battery modules or the number of the battery module from the low potential side.

  Each battery module is given identification information such as a communication address and an ID number. In order to specify the position of the battery module, it is necessary to associate such identification information with the position information. However, if a setting switch is provided to associate the identification information with the position information, the cost may increase, and the user (operator) may erroneously set the position information.

  Therefore, in the battery management device described in Patent Document 1, an identification number indicating its position is transmitted to the adjacent downstream battery modules in order from the most upstream battery module among the plurality of battery modules connected in series. . The battery module that has received the identification number from the upstream battery module assigns the identification number indicating the next position of the identification number received from the upstream as its own identification number, and that identification number is adjacent to the downstream battery. Send to module. In this way, each battery module sequentially transmits an identification number including position information from the upstream side in the form of a relay, and finally the identification number of the battery module on the most downstream side is given to each battery module. An identification number corresponding to the information is given.

JP 2009-89521 A

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, each battery module sequentially transmits an identification number in a relay format, so that the identification number is transmitted from the most upstream battery module and then identified by the most downstream battery module. There is an inconvenience that it takes time until the identification number is given to the battery module at the most downstream side when the number is received and the position of each battery module is specified.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a battery management device that can easily reduce the time for specifying the position of each battery module when a plurality of battery modules are connected in series.

  The battery management device according to the present invention is a battery management device including a plurality of battery modules connected in series, wherein each of the battery modules is a secondary battery and a series circuit configured by the plurality of battery modules. A connection terminal connected to one end, an information acquisition unit for acquiring information relating to a voltage between one electrode of the secondary battery and the connection terminal as voltage related information, and identification information for identifying the own battery module in advance A storage unit for storing, and a module-side transmission unit that transmits the voltage-related information and the identification information in association with each other, and the battery management device is transmitted from each module-side transmission unit of each battery module From the management-side receiving unit that receives the voltage-related information and the identification information, the voltage-related information and the identification information received by the management-side receiving unit, And a position specifying unit for specifying a position in the series circuit of the battery module.

  According to this configuration, the connection terminal in each battery module is connected to one end (one pole) of a series circuit of a plurality of battery modules, that is, a series circuit of secondary batteries included in each battery module. Moreover, since the secondary battery in each battery module differs in the position in the series circuit of a secondary battery, the electric potential of one pole of the secondary battery of each battery module differs for every battery module. Since the information acquisition unit of each battery module acquires information on the voltage between one electrode of the secondary battery of each battery module and the connection terminal as voltage related information, it is acquired by the information acquisition unit of each battery module. The voltage-related information becomes different information depending on the position of each battery module in the series circuit. Therefore, the position specifying unit can specify the position of the battery module indicated by each identification information from the voltage related information and the identification information transmitted from each battery module. In this case, voltage-related information and identification information, which are information necessary for specifying the position of each battery module, are transmitted directly from each battery module to the management-side receiving unit. Compared with the method of relaying and transmitting a plurality of battery modules, the time for specifying the position of each battery module can be shortened.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the said information acquisition part acquires the voltage between one pole of the said secondary battery, and the said connection terminal as said voltage relevant information.

  In each battery module, the voltage between one pole of the secondary battery and one end of the connection terminal, that is, the entire series circuit of each secondary battery, varies depending on the position of each battery module in the series circuit of each battery module. Therefore, the voltage between one electrode of the secondary battery and the connection terminal is suitable as voltage-related information.

  The information acquisition unit detects, as the voltage-related information, a voltage dividing resistor that divides a voltage between one electrode of the secondary battery and the connection terminal, and a voltage divided by the voltage dividing resistor. And a switching element connected in series with the voltage dividing resistor, and each battery module is a switch that turns off the switching element after the voltage-related information is detected by the voltage detection unit. It is preferable to further include a control unit.

  According to this configuration, the voltage between one electrode of the secondary battery and the connection terminal is divided by the voltage dividing resistor, and the divided voltage is detected by the voltage detection unit. It is easy to use a part having a low voltage withstand voltage, and thus a low cost. Then, after the voltage-related information is detected by the voltage detector, the switching element is turned off and the current flowing through the voltage dividing resistor is cut off, so that power loss due to the voltage dividing resistor is reduced.

  In addition, the connection terminal is connected to one end on the high potential side of the series circuit, and the position specifying unit is identified by the identification information corresponding to the voltage related information as the voltage indicated by the voltage related information is higher. It is preferable to determine that the battery module to be placed is located at a position close to the low potential side of the series circuit.

  When the connection terminal in each battery module is connected to one end on the high potential side of the series circuit, the voltage detected by the voltage detection unit becomes a positive voltage with reference to the potential of the battery module. Therefore, since it is not necessary to use a circuit capable of detecting a negative voltage as the voltage detection unit, it is easy to configure the voltage detection unit. In addition, since the voltage detected by the voltage detection unit increases as the position is closer to the low potential side of the series circuit, the position specifying unit increases the voltage related information as the voltage indicated by the voltage related information increases. It is possible to specify the position of each battery module by determining that the battery module identified by the corresponding identification information is located at a position close to the low potential side of the series circuit.

  The battery module further includes a request instruction transmitting unit that transmits a request instruction for requesting the voltage-related information to each battery module substantially simultaneously, and each battery module further includes a request instruction receiving unit that receives the request instruction, The information acquisition unit includes an integration circuit that integrates a voltage between one electrode of the secondary battery and the connection terminal, and the integration circuit when the request instruction is received by the request instruction reception unit. When the integration voltage integrated by the integration control unit for starting the integration and the integration circuit reaches a preset threshold voltage, information indicating that the integration voltage has become the threshold voltage is displayed as the voltage-related information. A threshold voltage detection unit that outputs the information to the module side transmission unit, and the module side transmission unit outputs the voltage related information from the threshold voltage detection unit. The voltage related information and the identification information are transmitted, and when the position specifying unit receives the voltage related information and the identification information from the module side transmitting unit by the management side receiving unit, The position of each battery module in the series circuit may be specified based on the reception order of the voltage-related information and the identification information.

  According to this configuration, the request instruction requesting the voltage related information is transmitted to each battery module substantially simultaneously by the request instruction transmitting unit, and the integration by the integrating circuit is started substantially simultaneously in each battery module in response to the request instruction. The At this time, the voltage between one electrode of the secondary battery integrated by the integrating circuit of each battery module and the connection terminal differs from each other depending on the position of each battery module in the series circuit. Therefore, the time from the start of integration until the integrated voltage reaches the threshold voltage, that is, the time from when each battery module transmits voltage-related information and identification information to the position of each battery module in the series circuit. Different from each other. Therefore, the position specifying unit can specify the position of each battery module in the series circuit based on the reception order of each voltage-related information and each identification information.

  In addition, the connection terminal is connected to one end on the high potential side of the series circuit, the position specifying unit, the earlier the timing when the voltage-related information and the identification information are received by the management-side receiving unit, It is preferable to determine that the battery module identified by the received identification information is located at a position close to the low potential side of the series circuit.

  When the connection terminal in each battery module is connected to one end on the high potential side of the series circuit, the integrated voltage becomes a positive voltage with reference to the potential of the battery module. Therefore, since it is not necessary to use a circuit capable of detecting a negative voltage as the threshold voltage detection unit, it is easy to configure the threshold voltage detection unit. Also, the closer to the low potential side of the series circuit, the faster the rate of increase of the integrated voltage. After the integration is started, the integrated voltage reaches the threshold voltage and the voltage related information and the identification information are transmitted. Time to be done is short. Accordingly, the earlier the timing at which the voltage-related information and the identification information are received by the management-side reception unit, the more the battery module identified by the received identification information is placed on the low potential side of the series circuit. By determining that the battery module is located at a close position, the position of each battery module in the series circuit can be specified.

  A plurality of resistors connected between the connection terminals of adjacent battery modules in the series circuit and between the connection terminal of the battery module on the lowest potential side and one end on the low potential side of the series circuit; You may make it prepare.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to reduce the difference (variation) in the timing at which voltage-related information and identification information are transmitted from each battery module.

  In the battery management device having such a configuration, when a plurality of battery modules are connected in series, it is easy to shorten the time for specifying the position of each battery module.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the battery management apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the battery module shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows an example of operation | movement of the management part shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the modification of the battery management apparatus shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the modification of the battery management apparatus shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the modification of the battery management apparatus shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the battery management apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of operation | movement of the management part shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows an example of operation | movement of the battery module shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the modification of the battery management apparatus shown in FIG.

  Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, the structure which attached | subjected the same code | symbol in each figure shows that it is the same structure, The description is abbreviate | omitted.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the battery management device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The battery management device 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a management unit 2, n battery modules M1 to Mn, external connection terminals T (+) and T (−), a wiring L1, and a communication line L2. Yes. The number n of battery modules is, for example, about 7 to 10. In addition, the number n should just be 2 or more, and is not limited to 7-10. Hereinafter, the battery modules M1 to Mn are collectively referred to as a battery module M.

  The battery module M includes a secondary battery B, an information acquisition unit 3, a control unit 4, and a connection terminal T1. The information acquisition unit 3 includes a switching element SW1, resistors R1 and R2 (voltage dividing resistors), and a voltage detection unit 31.

  The secondary battery B is, for example, an assembled battery configured by connecting a plurality of unit cells E in series. One unit cell E may be used as the secondary battery B as it is. Further, the secondary battery B may be configured by connecting a plurality of unit cells E in parallel. Alternatively, the secondary battery B may be an assembled battery configured by combining a plurality of unit cells E by a connection method in which series connection and parallel connection are combined.

  As the unit cell E, various secondary batteries such as a lithium ion secondary battery and a nickel hydride secondary battery can be used. Hereinafter, the positive terminal of the secondary battery B is referred to as a positive terminal P (+), and the negative terminal of the secondary battery B is referred to as a negative terminal P (−).

  Each secondary battery B included in the battery modules M1 to Mn, that is, n secondary batteries B are connected in series. Thus, the battery modules M1 to Mn are connected in series by connecting the secondary batteries B in series. An external connection terminal T (+) is connected to one end on the high potential side (positive electrode side) of a series circuit configured by connecting n secondary batteries B in series, and the low potential side (negative electrode side) is connected. An external connection terminal T (−) is connected to one end.

  The subscript numbers 1 to n in the symbols M1 to Mn of the battery modules M1 to Mn are given in order from the closest to the external connection terminal T (-). That is, the battery module closest to the external connection terminal T (−) is the battery module M1, and the battery module farthest from the external connection terminal T (−) (closest to the external connection terminal T (+)) is the battery module Mn. Yes. Hereinafter, the signs M1 to Mn also have the meaning of position information indicating the position of the battery module.

  External connection terminals T (+) and T (−) are connection terminals to which a load circuit, a charging device, and the like are connected. That is, the output currents of the battery modules M1 to Mn are supplied to the load circuit via the external connection terminals T (+) and T (−), and the charging current supplied from the outside is supplied to the external connection terminals T (+) and T (+ -) To be supplied to the battery modules M1 to Mn.

  The external connection terminals T (+), T (−), and the connection terminal T1 may be a terminal block, a connector, or the like, for example, and may be a wiring pattern such as a land or a pad.

  The wiring L1 is connected to the external connection terminal T (+) and the connection terminals T1 of the battery modules M1 to Mn. The wiring L1 may be wired so as to penetrate the inside of the battery modules M1 to Mn.

  A series circuit of a switching element SW1, a resistor R1, and a resistor R2 is connected between the connection terminal T1 and the negative electrode terminal P (−) that is one pole of the secondary battery B. Thereby, when the switching element SW1 is turned on, the voltage between the external connection terminal T (+) and the negative terminal P (−) in each battery module M is divided by the resistor R1 and the resistor R2.

  The voltage detection unit 31 is configured using, for example, an analog-digital converter. The voltage detector 31 detects the voltage Vd that is a voltage divided by the resistors R1 and R2, and transmits a signal indicating the voltage value of the voltage Vd to the controller 4. The voltage value of the voltage Vd is voltage-related information indicating the voltage between the external connection terminal T (+) and the negative terminal P (−) in each battery module M.

  When the battery management apparatus 1 is used as a power source for a vehicle such as an EV (Electric Vehicle) or an HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle), for example, the voltage output to the external connection terminals T (+) and T (−) is, for example, It becomes about 500V-600V. Therefore, the voltage detection unit 31 can be configured by components having a low breakdown voltage by dividing the voltage using the resistors R1 and R2. For example, if the resistor R1 is 2 MΩ, for example, 10 kΩ is used as the resistor R2, and if the resistor R1 is 200 kΩ, for example, 1 kΩ is used as the resistor R2.

  The voltage detection unit 31 may be built in the control unit 4. Alternatively, the switching element SW1 may not be provided, and voltage division by the resistors R1 and R2 may always be performed. Further, the voltage detection unit 31 does not include the switching element SW1 and the resistors R1 and R2, and directly detects the voltage between the connection terminal T1 (external connection terminal T (+)) and the negative terminal P (−). There may be.

  The control unit 4 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that performs predetermined arithmetic processing, a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores a predetermined control program, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) that temporarily stores data. A communication interface circuit, a storage unit 43 configured by a nonvolatile storage element such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory), and peripheral circuits thereof are configured. And it functions as an example of the switch control part 41 and the communication part 42 by executing the control program memorize | stored in ROM, for example.

  The communication interface circuit of each control unit 4 included in the battery modules M1 to Mn is connected to the management unit 2 via the communication line L2. Thus, the communication unit 42 can transmit and receive data to and from the management unit 2 using a communication interface circuit. The communication unit 42 corresponds to an example of a module side transmission unit and a request instruction reception unit.

  The switch control unit 41 turns on the switching element SW1 when the battery management device 1 is activated, for example, or when a transmission request for voltage-related information from the management unit 2 is received by the communication unit 42, for example. Then, when the voltage detection unit 31 detects the voltage Vd and a signal indicating the voltage value of the voltage Vd is transmitted to the control unit 4, the switch control unit 41 turns off the switching element SW1. As a result, power loss due to current flowing through the resistors R1 and R2 is reduced.

  Identification information for identifying each of the battery modules M1 to Mn is stored in the storage unit 43 in advance. For example, when the battery modules M1 to Mn are produced in a factory, an identification number that differs for each battery module is stored in the storage unit 43 as identification information.

  When the signal indicating the voltage Vd is transmitted from the voltage detection unit 31, the communication unit 42 transmits the voltage information indicating the voltage Vd and the identification information stored in the storage unit 43 in association with each other to the management unit 2. To do. The communication unit 42 corresponds to an example of a module side transmission unit and a request instruction reception unit.

  The management unit 2 includes, for example, a CPU that performs predetermined arithmetic processing, a ROM that stores a predetermined control program, a RAM that temporarily stores data, a communication interface circuit, and peripheral circuits thereof. It is configured. And it functions as the position specific | specification part 21 and the management side communication part 22 by running the control program memorize | stored in ROM, for example.

  The communication interface circuit of the management unit 2 is connected to the communication interface circuits of the battery modules M1 to Mn via the communication line L2. As a result, the management-side communication unit 22 can transmit and receive data to and from the communication units 42 of the battery modules M1 to Mn using a communication interface circuit.

  The communication path between the battery modules M1 to Mn and the management unit 2 may be a bus type or a daisy chain, and the management unit 2 and the battery modules M1 to Mn are connected to each other. One-to-one connection (star type) may be used, and the communication method is not limited.

  The management-side communication unit 22 receives voltage information and identification information associated with each voltage information from the battery modules M1 to Mn. The management side communication unit 22 corresponds to an example of a management side reception unit and a request instruction transmission unit.

  In the position specifying unit 21, the higher the voltage indicated by the voltage information received by the management-side communication unit 22, the closer the battery module identified by the identification information corresponding to the voltage information is to the external connection terminal T (-). Judged to be located. And the position specific | specification part 21 matches and memorize | stores the identification information of the battery module nearest to the external connection terminal T (-) with the positional information M1, and identifies the battery module near the external connection terminal T (-) after that. The positions of the battery modules M1 to Mn are specified by associating and storing the positional information M2 to Mn in order from the information.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the battery module M shown in FIG. In battery modules M1 to Mn, operations in steps S1 to S4 shown in FIG.

  First, the switch control unit 41 turns on the switching element SW1 (step S1). Then, the voltage between the external connection terminal T (+) and the negative terminal P (−) in each battery module is divided by the resistors R1 and R2, and the divided voltage is set as the voltage Vd by the voltage detection unit 31. It is detected (step S2).

Then, in the battery module M1, the voltage Vd is, as voltage related information, the terminal voltage (between the positive terminal P (+) and the negative terminal P (−) of each secondary battery B included in the battery modules M1 to Mn. Voltage). (Hereinafter, the terminal voltage of each secondary battery B included in the battery modules M1 to Mn is simply referred to as the terminal voltage of the battery modules M1 to Mn.)
Further, in the battery module Mn, the voltage Vd indicates a terminal voltage of only the battery module Mn. As described above, the voltage Vd of the battery modules M1 to Mn increases as the voltage Vd is closer to the external connection terminal T (−), that is, as the subscript number of the symbol of the battery modules M1 to Mn is smaller.

  Next, the switching element SW1 is turned off by the switch control unit 41 (step S3). If it does so, the electric current which flows into resistance R1, R2 will be interrupted | blocked, and a power loss will be reduced.

  Next, the communication unit 42 associates the voltage information indicating the voltage Vd with the identification information of the own module and transmits it to the management unit 2 (step S4).

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the management unit 2 shown in FIG. First, the management-side communication unit 22 receives voltage information and identification information associated with the data from each of the battery modules M1 to Mn (step S11).

  Next, the position specifying unit 21 rearranges the plurality of pieces of voltage information received by the management-side communication unit 22 in order from the highest voltage (step S12). And the position specific | specification part 21 matches with the positional information M1-Mn sequentially from the identification information corresponding to the voltage information which shows a high voltage, for example, makes it memorize | store in RAM (step S13). Thus, the position specifying unit 21 can specify the position of each battery module by associating the position information M1 to Mn with the identification information transmitted from each battery module.

  In this case, information necessary for specifying the position of each battery module, that is, voltage information and identification information of the battery modules M1 to Mn are directly transmitted from the battery modules M1 to Mn to the management unit 2. Compared with the method in which identification information is relayed and transmitted by a plurality of battery modules as in 1, the time for specifying the position of each battery module can be shortened.

  Further, in the configuration described in Patent Literature 1, if the serial order of the secondary batteries and the connection order of the communication lines are wired incorrectly, the position of each battery module is erroneously specified. However, according to the battery management device 1 illustrated in FIG. 1, the correct position of each battery module is specified regardless of the connection order of the communication lines.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the resistors R1 and R2 may divide the voltage between the connection terminal T1 (external connection terminal T (+)) and the positive terminal P (+). That is, the voltage detection unit 31 may detect a voltage between the external connection terminal T (+) and the positive terminal P (+).

  However, as shown in FIG. 1, the configuration in which the voltage detection unit 31 detects the voltage between the connection terminal T1 and the negative electrode terminal P (−) has the negative electrode terminal P (−) in each battery module M. When used as the circuit ground, the voltage detection unit 31 only needs to detect the voltage between the circuit ground and the connection terminal T1, and therefore the configuration shown in FIG. 4 is easy to configure the voltage detection unit 31. More preferred.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the connection terminal T1 may be connected to the external connection terminal T (−). That is, the voltage detection unit 31 may detect the voltage between the external connection terminal T (−) and the negative terminal P (−).

  However, in the configuration shown in FIG. 5, when the negative electrode terminal P (−) is used as the circuit ground in each battery module, the voltage Vd becomes negative (negative voltage value). Therefore, the voltage detection unit 31 needs to be configured to detect a negative voltage value. Therefore, the configuration shown in FIG. 1 is more preferable than the configuration shown in FIG. 5 in that it is easier to configure the voltage detection unit 31.

  In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 5, when the communication unit 42 transmits the absolute value of the voltage Vd as voltage information, the position specifying unit 21 has a low voltage indicated by the voltage information received by the management-side communication unit 22. It is determined that the secondary battery B of the battery module identified by the identification information corresponding to the voltage information is located at a position close to the external connection terminal T (−). That is, in step S12, the position specifying unit 21 rearranges the plurality of voltage information received by the management-side communication unit 22 in order from the lowest voltage (step S12). And the position specific | specification part 21 specifies the position of each battery module by matching with the positional information M1-Mn in order from the identification information corresponding to the voltage information which shows a low voltage, for example in RAM (step). S13).

  As shown in FIG. 6, as in FIGS. 4 and 5, the voltage detector 31 detects the voltage between the external connection terminal T (+) and the positive terminal P (+), and connects to the connection terminal T1. May be connected to the external connection terminal T (-).

(Second Embodiment)
Next, the battery management apparatus 1a which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated. FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the battery management device 1a. The battery management device 1a shown in FIG. 7 differs from the battery management device 1 shown in FIG. 1 in the following points. That is, the battery management device 1a shown in FIG. 7 differs in the configuration of the information acquisition unit 3a, the control unit 4a, and the management unit 2a in the battery modules M′1 to M′n (battery module M ′).

  Note that the symbols M′1 to M′n of the battery modules M′1 to M′n illustrated in FIG. 7 correspond to the position information M1 to Mn.

  Since the other configuration is the same as that of the battery management apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1, the description thereof will be omitted, and the characteristic points of this embodiment will be described below.

  The information acquisition unit 3a includes an integration circuit 32, a threshold voltage detection unit 33, and a switching element SW2. The integrating circuit 32 is configured by connecting a resistor R3 and a capacitor C1 in series. The connection terminal T1 is connected to the negative terminal P (−) through the resistor R3 and the capacitor C1. For example, the resistor R3 is 1 MΩ or 750 kΩ, and the capacitor C1 is 2.2 μF.

  The switching element SW2 is connected in parallel with the capacitor C1. The switching element SW2 is, for example, a bipolar transistor. The collector of the switching element SW2 is connected to the connection point between the resistor R3 and the capacitor C1, and the emitter of the switching element SW2 is connected to the negative terminal P (−). The switching element SW2 is not limited to a bipolar transistor. As the switching element SW2, various switching elements such as FET (Field Effect Transistor) can be used.

  As the threshold voltage detector 33, for example, a reset IC (Integrated Circuit) can be used. The threshold voltage detector 33 detects that the integrated voltage Vc has become the threshold voltage Vth when the voltage charged in the capacitor C1, that is, the integrated voltage Vc becomes equal to or higher than a preset threshold voltage (reset voltage) Vth. For example, a high level detection signal Sv is output to the control unit 4a in order to represent the indicated information.

  The control unit 4 a is different from the control unit 4 in that an integration control unit 44 is provided instead of the switch control unit 41 and a communication unit 42 a is provided instead of the communication unit 42.

  The integration control unit 44 turns on the switching element SW2 to discharge the capacitor C1 and discharges the integration voltage Vc of the capacitor C1, for example, in an initial state or when an instruction requesting discharge of the capacitor C1 is transmitted from the management unit 2a, for example. To zero. When the communication unit 42a receives a request instruction for requesting voltage-related information from the management unit 2a, the integration control unit 44 turns off the switching element SW2 and starts integration by the integration circuit 32.

  When the signal indicating that the integrated voltage Vc has reached the threshold voltage Vth, for example, a high level detection signal Sv, is output from the threshold voltage detector 33, the communication unit 42a indicates that the integrated voltage Vc has become the threshold voltage Vth. The threshold voltage detection information, which is information indicating the above, and the identification information of the own module stored in the storage unit 43 are transmitted in association with each other.

  The management unit 2a differs from the management unit 2 in the operations of the position specifying unit 21a and the management-side communication unit 22a. The management-side communication unit 22a transmits request instructions for requesting voltage-related information to the battery modules M′1 to M′n almost simultaneously. In addition, the management-side communication unit 22a receives threshold voltage detection information and identification information associated with each threshold voltage detection information from the battery modules M'1 to M'n.

  When the threshold voltage detection information and the identification information are received from the battery modules M′1 to M′n by the management-side communication unit 22a, the position specifying unit 21a changes the reception order of the threshold voltage detection information and the identification information. Based on this, the position of each battery module is specified.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the management unit 2a shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the battery module M ′ illustrated in FIG. 7. In the battery modules M′1 to M′n, the operations of steps S31 to S35 shown in FIG.

  First, the management-side communication unit 22a transmits a request instruction for requesting threshold voltage detection information to the battery modules M'1 to M'n substantially simultaneously (step S21). Here, “substantially simultaneously” means that the time is sufficiently short to be negligible with respect to the time constant of the integration circuit 32, for example, within a time shorter than 1/10 of the time constant of the integration circuit 32.

  Then, the position specifying unit 21a substitutes “1” for the variable i (step S22). Next, the position specifying unit 21a waits until threshold voltage detection information is received from any one of the battery modules by the management-side communication unit 22a (NO in step S23).

  On the other hand, the integral control unit 44 first turns on the switching element SW2 to discharge the capacitor C1 (step S31). Then, the integration control unit 44 waits until a request instruction for requesting voltage-related information is received by the communication unit 42a (NO in step S32).

  When the communication unit 42a receives a request instruction for requesting voltage-related information (YES in step S32), the integration control unit 44 turns off the switching element SW2 and starts integration by the integration circuit 32 (step S32). S33).

  Then, in the battery module M′1, the voltage applied to the integrating circuit 32 is the sum of the terminal voltages of the battery modules M′1 to M′n.

  Further, in the battery module M′n, the terminal voltage of only the battery module M′n is applied to the integrating circuit 32. Thus, the voltage applied to the integration circuit 32 of the battery modules M′1 to M′n is closer to the external connection terminal T (−), that is, the subscript of the sign of the battery modules M′1 to M′n. The smaller the number, the higher.

  As a result, the battery module closer to the external connection terminal T (−) has a higher rate of increase of the integrated voltage Vc. Then, the integrated voltage Vc reaches the threshold voltage Vth in order from the battery module close to the external connection terminal T (−), and the threshold voltage detector 33 sets the detection signal Sv to the low level.

  After the switching element SW2 is turned off by the integration control unit 44, the communication unit 42a monitors the detection signal Sv (step S34). When the detection signal Sv becomes low level (YES in step S34), the threshold voltage detection information and the identification information of the own module are transmitted to the management unit 2a (step S35). Then, the threshold voltage detection information and the identification information of the own module are transmitted to the management unit 2a in order from the battery module close to the external connection terminal T (−).

  On the other hand, in the management unit 2a, when the threshold voltage detection information is received by the management-side communication unit 22a (YES in step S23), the position specifying unit 21a identifies the identification information associated with the received threshold voltage detection information. Is associated with the position information Mi of the number i and stored in, for example, the RAM (step S24).

  Next, the position specifying unit 21a compares the variable i with the number n of battery modules (step S25). If the variable i is not equal to n (NO in step S25), the process proceeds to step S26 and becomes the variable i. 1 is added (step S26), and steps S23 to S25 are repeated again.

  If the variable i is equal to n (YES in step S25), the identification information of all the battery modules M′1 to M′n and the position information M1 to Mn are associated with each other to identify the position of each battery module. Therefore, the process is terminated.

  As described above, according to the battery management device 1a, similarly to the battery management device 1, the threshold voltage detection information and the identification information, which are voltage-related information of the battery modules M′1 to M′n, are the battery modules M′1 to M ′. Since the information is transmitted directly from n to the management unit 2a, the time for specifying the position of each battery module is shortened compared to the method of relaying and transmitting identification information by a plurality of battery modules as in Patent Document 1. Is easy.

  Further, according to the battery management device 1a shown in FIG. 7, the correct position of each battery module is specified regardless of the connection order of the communication lines.

  The threshold voltage detector 33 only needs to detect that the integrated voltage Vc has reached the threshold voltage Vth, and unlike the voltage detector 31 shown in FIG. 1, it is not necessary to acquire a voltage value as data. Since an inexpensive circuit element such as an IC or a comparator can be used as the threshold voltage detector 33, it is easy to reduce the cost of the battery module M ′ shown in FIG.

  In addition, the management-side communication unit 22a can specify the position of each battery module simply by associating the identification information with the position information in the order in which the threshold voltage detection information is received. Therefore, unlike the position specifying unit 21 shown in FIG. 1, the management-side communication unit 22a does not need to rearrange a plurality of pieces of voltage information in descending order, so that it is easy to simplify the processing of the management unit 2a.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the connection terminal T1 is connected to the external connection terminal T (−), and the integration circuit 32 includes the connection terminal T1 (external connection terminal T (+)) and the positive terminal P ( You may make it integrate the voltage between (+).

  However, as shown in FIG. 7, the configuration in which the integration circuit 32 detects the voltage between the connection terminal T1 and the negative terminal P (−) is connected to the negative terminal P (−) in each battery module M. When used as a ground, the threshold voltage detector 33 only needs to detect the voltage between the circuit ground and the connection terminal T1, so that the threshold voltage detector 33 can be easily configured, as shown in FIG. The configuration shown in FIG. 7 is more preferable than the configuration.

  In the configuration shown in FIG. 10, when the negative electrode terminal P (−) is used as the circuit ground in each battery module, the capacitor C1 is charged with a negative charge, and the integrated voltage Vc has a negative polarity (negative voltage value). Therefore, the threshold voltage detection unit 33 needs to be configured to detect a negative voltage value. Therefore, the configuration shown in FIG. 7 is more preferable than the configuration shown in FIG. 10 in that the threshold voltage detection unit 33 can be easily configured.

  In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 10, the position specifying unit 21a is positioned closer to the external connection terminal T (+) as the battery module with the earlier order in which the threshold voltage detection information is received by the management-side communication unit 22a. to decide. That is, in step S22, the position specifying unit 21a substitutes n as the variable i, checks whether the variable i is 1 in step S25, and subtracts 1 from the variable i in step S26.

  Further, on the wiring L1 of the battery management device 1a shown in FIG. 7, the connection terminals T1 between the connection terminals T1 between adjacent battery modules and the connection terminal T1 of the battery module M′1 on the lowest potential side and the external connection terminal T ( A resistor may be interposed between the terminal and-). Further, on the wiring L1 of the battery management device 1a shown in FIG. 10, the connection terminals T1 between the connection terminals T1 between the adjacent battery modules and the connection terminal T1 of the battery module M′n on the highest potential side and the external connection terminal T ( A resistor may be interposed between the (+) and (+).

  Thereby, the time difference (variation) of the timing at which the threshold voltage detection information is transmitted from the battery modules M′1 to M′n is reduced.

  Further, in the battery management device 1a shown in FIG. 7, a resistor may be interposed between the connection terminal T1 of the battery block M′1 and the external connection terminal T (−), and the battery management device shown in FIG. In 1a, a resistor may be interposed between the connection terminal T1 of the battery block M′n and the external connection terminal T (+).

  The battery management device according to the present invention includes a portable personal computer, a digital camera, a video camera, a mobile phone, and other electronic devices, a hybrid elevator, a power supply system in which a solar battery, a power generation device and a secondary battery are combined, and a non-stop power supply The present invention can be applied to various battery power supply systems using batteries, such as battery-mounted devices such as devices, and can be suitably used as a battery management device in battery power supply systems particularly used in vehicles such as electric cars and hybrid cars. it can.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1a Battery management apparatus 2, 2a Management part 3, 3a Information acquisition part 4, 4a Control part 21, 21a Position specification part 22, 22a Management side communication part 31 Voltage detection part 32 Integration circuit 33 Threshold voltage detection part 41 Switch control Unit 42, 42a communication unit 43 storage unit 44 integration control unit B secondary battery C1 capacitor E unit cell L1 wiring L2 communication line M, M1-Mn battery module P (+) positive terminal P (-) negative terminal R1, R2, R3 Resistance Sv Detection signal SW1, SW2 Switching element T (+), T (-) External connection terminal T1 Connection terminal Vc Integration voltage Vd Voltage Vth Threshold voltage

Claims (7)

A battery management device including a plurality of battery modules connected in series,
Each of the battery modules is
A secondary battery,
A connection terminal connected to one end of a series circuit constituted by the plurality of battery modules;
An information acquisition unit that acquires information on a voltage between one electrode of the secondary battery and the connection terminal as voltage-related information;
A storage unit for preliminarily storing identification information for identifying the own battery module;
A module-side transmitter that transmits the voltage-related information and the identification information in association with each other,
The battery management device includes:
A management-side receiving unit that receives the voltage-related information and the identification information transmitted from each module-side transmitting unit of each battery module;
A battery management device comprising: a position specifying unit that specifies a position of each battery module in the series circuit from the voltage-related information and the identification information received by the management-side receiving unit. The information acquisition unit
The battery management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a voltage between one electrode of the secondary battery and the connection terminal is acquired as the voltage related information. The information acquisition unit
A voltage dividing resistor for dividing a voltage between one electrode of the secondary battery and the connection terminal;
A voltage detector that detects the voltage divided by the voltage dividing resistor as the voltage-related information;
A switching element connected in series with the voltage dividing resistor,
Each of the battery modules is
The battery management apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a switch control unit that turns off the switching element after the voltage-related information is detected by the voltage detection unit. The connection terminal is
Connected to one end on the high potential side of the series circuit,
The position specifying unit includes:
The battery module identified by the identification information corresponding to the voltage related information is determined to be located closer to the low potential side of the series circuit as the voltage indicated by the voltage related information is higher. The battery management apparatus as described. The battery module further includes a request instruction transmitter that transmits a request instruction for requesting the voltage-related information substantially simultaneously,
Each of the battery modules is
A request instruction receiving unit for receiving the request instruction;
The information acquisition unit
An integration circuit that integrates a voltage between one electrode of the secondary battery and the connection terminal;
An integration control unit for starting the integration by the integration circuit when the request instruction is received by the request instruction receiving unit;
When the integrated voltage integrated by the integrating circuit reaches a preset threshold voltage, information indicating that the integrated voltage has reached the threshold voltage is output to the module side transmitter as the voltage related information. A threshold voltage detector,
The module side transmitter is
When the voltage-related information is output from the threshold voltage detector, the voltage-related information and the identification information are transmitted,
The position specifying unit includes:
When each of the voltage-related information and the identification information is received from the module-side transmission unit by the management-side reception unit, based on the reception order of the voltage-related information and the identification information, The battery management device according to claim 1, wherein a position of the battery module in the series circuit is specified. The connection terminal is
Connected to one end on the high potential side of the series circuit,
The position specifying unit includes:
The earlier the timing at which the voltage-related information and the identification information are received by the management-side receiving unit, the closer the battery module identified by the received identification information is to a position closer to the low potential side of the series circuit. The battery management apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the battery management apparatus determines that it is.   And a plurality of resistors respectively connected between connection terminals of adjacent battery modules in the series circuit and between a connection terminal of a battery module on the lowest potential side and one end on a low potential side of the series circuit. Item 7. The battery management device according to Item 6.

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