JP2013186956A - Charge management device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a charge management device capable of encouraging an exchange of a secondary battery at an appropriate timing.SOLUTION: A charge management device 1 includes a charge count part 11 which counts the number of charging a secondary battery 100 by a charger 200 and considers the number as an integrated charge count of the secondary battery 100, a condition determination part 20 which outputs an exchange indication signal when the integrated charge count is equal to or more than a predetermined guarantee charge count, and a notification part 30 which issues a notification for encouraging an exchange of the secondary battery 100 when receiving the exchange indication signal.

Description

  The present invention relates to a charge management device.

  Conventionally, secondary batteries are used in various apparatuses and devices. When charging and discharging are repeated, the secondary battery deteriorates and the life of the secondary battery is shortened. Thus, a charge management device that warns the life of a vehicle-mounted secondary battery has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP-A-8-140209

  When a secondary battery is mounted on a vehicle, the charge management device disclosed in Patent Document 1 calculates in advance the power capacity until the secondary battery changes from a discharge end voltage state to a predetermined state. After that, when the secondary battery changes from the end-of-discharge voltage state to a predetermined state, the power capacity from the end-of-discharge voltage state to the predetermined state is calculated again and compared with the previously calculated power capacity. To do. When the difference between these two types of power capacities exceeds a predetermined reference power capacity, the battery life is warned.

  For this reason, as long as the secondary battery does not enter the end-of-discharge voltage state, and even if it enters the end-of-discharge voltage state, the above-described two types of power capacity are not recalculated unless the predetermined state is reached. No comparison of power capacity. Therefore, there is a restriction on the timing for comparing the above two types of power capacities. Therefore, even though the life of the secondary battery should actually be warned, the above two types of power capacities are not compared, so the warning cannot be made and the replacement of the secondary battery can be performed at an appropriate timing. There was a case that could not be urged.

  In view of the above-described problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a charge management device that can prompt replacement of a secondary battery at an appropriate timing.

The present invention proposes the following items in order to solve the above-described problems.
(1) The present invention includes a state detection means (for example, equivalent to the state detection unit 10 in FIG. 1) for detecting the state of a secondary battery (for example, equivalent to the secondary battery 100 in FIG. 1), and the state detection means. Based on the detection result of the secondary battery, state determination means for determining the state of the secondary battery (for example, equivalent to the state determination unit 20 of FIG. 1), the state detection means is a charging device (for example, FIG. 1). Charging means 200 (e.g., corresponding to the charging number counting unit 11 in FIG. 1) that counts the number of times the secondary battery has been charged by the charging device 200. If the number of counts by the means (for example, equivalent to an accumulated charge number described later) is equal to or greater than a predetermined upper limit number (for example, equivalent to a guaranteed charge number to be described later), a replacement instruction signal for prompting replacement of the secondary battery ( For example, an exchange instruction signal described later 1), a charge management device (e.g., corresponding to the charge management device 1 in FIG. 1) is proposed.

  Here, there is a correlation between the deterioration of the secondary battery and the number of times the secondary battery is charged.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, the number of times the secondary battery has been charged by the charging device is counted by the charging number counting means, and the number of times counted by the charging number counting means is greater than or equal to a predetermined upper limit number by the state judging means. For example, a replacement instruction signal that prompts replacement of the secondary battery is output. For this reason, the deterioration state of the secondary battery is estimated by the number of times of charging the secondary battery, and if the number of times of charging is equal to or greater than the upper limit number, replacement of the secondary battery can be prompted. Further, there is no restriction on the timing for comparing the number of times of charging and the upper limit number of times. Therefore, replacement of the secondary battery can be prompted at an appropriate timing.

  (2) The present invention relates to a state detection means (for example, equivalent to the state detection unit 10 in FIG. 1) for detecting the state of a secondary battery (for example, equivalent to the secondary battery 100 in FIG. 1), and the state detection means. Based on the detection result of the battery, state determination means for determining the state of the secondary battery (for example, equivalent to the state determination unit 20 of FIG. 2), the state detection means is a charging device (for example, FIG. 1). Charging time integrating means (e.g., equivalent to the charging time integrating unit 12 in FIG. 1) for obtaining an integrated time of the time when the secondary battery is charged by the charging device 200), and the state determining means If the accumulated time by the time accumulating means (for example, equivalent to an accumulated charging time described later) is equal to or longer than a predetermined upper limit time (for example, equivalent to a guaranteed charging time described later), an exchange instruction that prompts replacement of the secondary battery Signal (for example, Charging management apparatus and outputs a corresponding) to the instruction signal (e.g., has proposed the equivalent) to the charging management system 1 of FIG. 1.

  Here, there is a correlation between the deterioration of the secondary battery and the accumulated time of charging the secondary battery.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, the charging time integrating means obtains the accumulated time of the time when the secondary battery is charged by the charging device, and the state judging means obtains the accumulated time by the charging time integrating means over a predetermined upper limit time. If so, a replacement instruction signal for prompting replacement of the secondary battery is output. For this reason, the deterioration state of the secondary battery is estimated from the accumulated time of charging the secondary battery, and if the accumulated time is equal to or longer than the upper limit time, replacement of the secondary battery can be prompted. Further, there is no restriction on the timing for comparing the accumulated time and the upper limit time. Therefore, replacement of the secondary battery can be prompted at an appropriate timing.

  (3) According to the present invention, in the charge management device of (2), the charge time integration means corresponds to a unit time (for example, 1 second described later) determined in advance during charging of the secondary battery by the charging device. The charge management device is proposed in which the unit time is integrated every time e.g.

  Here, the case where the charging time integration means obtains the accumulated time of the charging time when the secondary battery is fully charged and the charging of the secondary battery is completed will be considered. In this case, after charging is completed, the current charging time is added to the accumulated time so far to update the accumulated time. For this reason, for example, if charging is interrupted even though charging is not completed due to a disconnection between the charging device and the secondary battery during charging, the accumulated time is updated. Therefore, there is a possibility that a large difference may occur between the accumulated time and the time actually charged so far.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, in the charge management device of (2), the unit time is integrated every time a predetermined unit time elapses during charging of the secondary battery by the charging device by the charging time integration means. Therefore, it was decided to set the accumulated time. For this reason, even if charging is interrupted even if charging is not completed, the accumulated time is updated every time the unit time elapses during charging. It is possible to prevent a large difference from occurring in the actual charging time.

  (4) The present invention relates to a state detection means (for example, equivalent to the state detection unit 10 in FIG. 1) for detecting the state of a secondary battery (for example, equivalent to the secondary battery 100 in FIG. 1), and the state detection means. Based on the detection result of the secondary battery, state determination means for determining the state of the secondary battery (e.g., equivalent to the state determination unit 20 in FIG. 2), the state detection means is the predetermined secondary Provided with a warranty period determining means (for example, equivalent to the warranty period determining unit 13 in FIG. 1) for determining whether or not a battery warranty period (for example, equivalent to a warranty period described later) has ended, When it is determined that the warranty period determining means has ended, a charge management device that outputs a replacement instruction signal (e.g., corresponding to a replacement instruction signal described later) that prompts replacement of the secondary battery is provided (for example, Equivalent to the charge management device 1 in FIG. It is draft.

  Here, even if the secondary battery is not charged or discharged, it deteriorates as time passes after manufacture. There is a correlation between the deterioration of the secondary battery and the time elapsed after the production of the secondary battery.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, it is determined whether or not the predetermined warranty period of the secondary battery has expired by the warranty period determination means, and it is determined by the status determination means that the warranty period determination means has ended. And a replacement instruction signal for prompting replacement of the secondary battery. For this reason, when the secondary battery warranty period is estimated by estimating whether or not the secondary battery warranty period has ended, that is, the time elapsed after the secondary battery is manufactured. The replacement of the secondary battery can be prompted. Further, there is no restriction on the timing for determining whether or not the warranty period of the secondary battery has expired. Therefore, replacement of the secondary battery can be prompted at an appropriate timing.

  (5) The present invention relates to a state detection means (for example, equivalent to the state detection unit 10A in FIG. 3) for detecting the state of a secondary battery (for example, equivalent to the secondary battery 100 in FIG. 3), and the state detection means. Based on the detection result of the battery, state determination means for determining the state of the secondary battery (for example, equivalent to the state determination unit 20A of FIG. 3), the state detection means is a charging device (for example, FIG. 3). Charging time measuring means (for example, corresponding to the charging time measuring unit 14 in FIG. 3) for measuring the time from the start of charging of the secondary battery to the end of charging. The state determination means includes a time measured by the charging time actual measurement means (for example, equivalent to an actual charging time described later) and a predetermined time (for example, equivalent to an estimated charging time described later). When the difference is a predetermined threshold If it is longer than (for example, equivalent to a time in which the variation coefficient of the secondary battery 100 is taken into consideration with respect to an estimated charging time to be described later), an exchange instruction signal (for example, equivalent to an exchange instruction signal to be described later) is output. A charge management device (for example, corresponding to the charge management device 1A in FIG. 3) is proposed.

  Here, when an abnormality occurs in the secondary battery, the charging time of the secondary battery may become extremely short or long.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, the time from the start of charging the secondary battery by the charging device to the end of charging is measured by the charging time measuring means, and the time is measured by the charging time measuring means by the state determining means. If the difference between the determined time and the predetermined time is greater than a predetermined threshold time, an exchange instruction signal is output. Therefore, if the charging time of the secondary battery is shorter than the time obtained by subtracting the threshold time from the predetermined time or longer than the time obtained by adding the threshold time to the predetermined time, an exchange instruction signal is output. Will be. Therefore, by setting a predetermined time and a threshold time, it is possible to detect that the charging time of the secondary battery has become extremely short or long, and to promote replacement of the secondary battery. There is no restriction on the timing for comparing the charging time of the secondary battery with a predetermined time. Therefore, replacement of the secondary battery can be prompted at an appropriate timing.

  (6) The present invention proposes a charge management device characterized in that the charge management device according to any one of (1) to (5) includes a charging device for charging the secondary battery.

  According to the present invention, the charging management device according to any one of (1) to (5) is provided with the charging device for charging the secondary battery. For this reason, not only can replacement of the secondary battery be promoted at an appropriate timing, but the secondary battery can be charged.

  According to the present invention, replacement of the secondary battery can be prompted at an appropriate timing.

It is a block diagram of a charging system provided with the charge management apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the said charge management apparatus. It is a block diagram of a charging system provided with the charge management apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the said charge management apparatus. It is a flowchart of the said charge management apparatus.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the constituent elements in the following embodiments can be appropriately replaced with existing constituent elements, and various variations including combinations with other existing constituent elements are possible. Accordingly, the description of the following embodiments does not limit the contents of the invention described in the claims.

<First Embodiment>
[Configuration of Charge Management Device 1]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a charging system AA including a charge management device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The charging system AA includes a secondary battery 100, a storage unit 110 provided integrally with the secondary battery 100, a charging device 200 that charges the secondary battery 100, and a charge management device that estimates the lifetime of the secondary battery 100. 1.

  The storage unit 110 is configured by, for example, a nonvolatile memory, and stores battery information regarding the secondary battery 100. The battery information will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The charging device 200 includes a charging unit 210 and a charging permission unit 220.

  Charging permission unit 220 permits charging of secondary battery 100 by charging unit 210 when a charging start signal described later is output from state determination unit 20 provided in charge management device 1. On the other hand, when a later-described replacement instruction signal is output from the state determination unit 20 provided in the charge management device 1 or when the secondary battery 100 is fully charged, the charging unit 210 charges the secondary battery 100. Is prohibited.

  Charging unit 210 charges secondary battery 100 when charging is permitted by charging permission unit 220.

  The charge management device 1 includes a state detection unit 10, a state determination unit 20, and a notification unit 30.

  The state detection unit 10 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a RAM (Random Access Memory). The state detection unit 10 operates according to a program stored in a recording medium composed of a hard disk or a semiconductor memory, for example, and detects the state of the secondary battery 100. The state detection unit 10 includes a charging number counting unit 11, a charging time integration unit 12, and a warranty period determination unit 13.

  The number-of-charges counting unit 11 counts the number of times the secondary battery 100 is charged by the charging device 200 and sets the number of times that the secondary battery 100 is accumulated. According to the number-of-charges counting unit 11, the total number of times that the secondary battery 100 has been charged by the charging device 200 since the secondary battery 100 was manufactured is obtained as the cumulative number of charging times. As a parameter corresponding to the cumulative number of charging times, a guaranteed number of charging times is predetermined for the secondary battery 100. The guaranteed number of charging times of the secondary battery 100 is the total number of times that the secondary battery 100 can be charged by the charging device 200 between the time when the secondary battery 100 is manufactured and the time when it does not operate normally. Here, the secondary battery 100 does not operate normally means that, for example, the charge capacity of the secondary battery 100 is reduced to 50% of the manufacturing time due to deterioration.

  The charging time accumulating unit 12 obtains an accumulated time of the time when the secondary battery 100 is charged by the charging device 200 and sets it as the accumulated charging time of the secondary battery 100. According to the charging time integrating unit 12, the total time for charging the secondary battery 100 with the charging device 200 after the secondary battery 100 is manufactured is obtained as the integrated charging time. Note that the guaranteed charging time is predetermined for the secondary battery 100 as a parameter corresponding to the accumulated charging time. The guaranteed charging time of the secondary battery 100 is the total time during which the secondary battery 100 can be charged by the charging device 200 after the secondary battery 100 is manufactured until it does not operate normally.

  The warranty period determination unit 13 includes a timer that counts the current date, and determines whether or not a predetermined warranty period of the secondary battery 100 has expired. The warranty period of the secondary battery 100 is a predetermined period, which is a period from when the secondary battery 100 is manufactured until it does not operate normally.

  The state determination unit 20 includes, for example, a CPU and a RAM. The state determination unit 20 operates according to a program stored in a recording medium composed of, for example, a hard disk or a semiconductor memory, and determines the state of the secondary battery 100 based on the detection result by the state detection unit 10. Specifically, when the state determination unit 20 determines that at least one of the following three conditions is satisfied based on the detection result of the state detection unit 10, the state determination unit 20 outputs a replacement instruction signal that prompts replacement of the secondary battery 100. . The first condition is that the number of times counted by the charging number counter 11 is equal to or greater than a predetermined upper limit number. The second condition is that the integration time by the charging time integration unit 12 is equal to or longer than a predetermined upper limit time. The third condition is that the warranty period determination unit 13 determines that the warranty period has ended.

  For example, the notification unit 30 includes a display device such as a liquid crystal display, a 7-segment display, and an LED (Light Emitting Diode), and a sound output device such as a speaker. When the replacement instruction signal is output from the state determination unit 20, the notification unit 30 notifies that the secondary battery 100 is to be replaced.

[Operation of Charge Management Device 1]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the charge management device 1 when charging the secondary battery 100.

  In step S1, the above-described battery information is read from the storage unit 110 by the state determination unit 20, and the process proceeds to step S2. The battery information is information unique to the secondary battery 100. In this embodiment, the date of manufacture of the secondary battery 100, the model name of the secondary battery 100, and the serial number of the secondary battery 100 are used. The guaranteed number of charging times of the secondary battery 100, the guaranteed period of the secondary battery 100, the guaranteed charging time of the secondary battery 100, the accumulated number of charging times of the secondary battery 100, and the accumulated charging time of the secondary battery 100 , Including.

  In step S <b> 2, the state determination unit 20 starts charging the secondary battery 100 by the charging device 200, and the charging time integrating unit 12 measures the time during which the charging device 200 charges the secondary battery 100. Start and move to step S3. When starting charging of the secondary battery 100 by the charging device 200, the state determination unit 20 outputs a charge start signal that prompts the start of charging of the secondary battery 100. When state determination unit 20 outputs a charging start signal, charging permission unit 220 provided in charging device 200 permits charging of secondary battery 100 by charging unit 210, and charging of secondary battery 100 by charging unit 210 is performed. Will be started.

  In step S3, it is assumed that the secondary battery 100 is in a fully charged state and charging of the secondary battery 100 by the charging device 200 is completed. When the charging of the secondary battery 100 by the charging device 200 is completed, the charging current supplied from the charging device 200 to the secondary battery 100 becomes substantially zero. The state detection unit 10 monitors the charging current. When the charging current becomes substantially zero, the state detection unit 10 determines that the charging of the secondary battery 100 by the charging device 200 is completed, and the charging time integration unit 12 determines the charging time. The measurement is terminated, and the process proceeds to step S4 and subsequent steps.

  In step S4, the number-of-charges counting unit 11 adds 1 to the accumulated number of times of charging of the secondary battery 100 read in step S1, and the process proceeds to step S5. According to this process, the cumulative number of charging times is updated.

  In step S5, the charging time of the secondary battery 100 measured by the charging time integrating unit 12 between step S2 and step S3 is added to the integrated charging time of the secondary battery 100 read in step S1 by the charging time integrating unit 12. And the process proceeds to step S6. According to this process, the accumulated charging time is updated.

  In step S6, the state determination unit 20 determines whether or not the cumulative number of charging times updated in step S4 is equal to or greater than the guaranteed number of charging times of the secondary battery 100 read in step S1. Then, when it is determined that the accumulated charge number is equal to or greater than the guaranteed charge number, the process proceeds to step S7, and when it is determined that the accumulated charge number is less than the guaranteed charge number, the process proceeds to step S8.

  In step S7, the state determination unit 20 outputs an exchange instruction signal, and the process proceeds to step S8. Then, the alerting | reporting part 30 receives this exchange instruction | indication signal, and alert | reports that the replacement | exchange of the secondary battery 100 is encouraged. According to this process, it is assumed that the total number of times that the secondary battery 100 has been charged by the charging device 200 has reached the upper limit of the number of times of charging that is allowed for the secondary battery 100 to operate normally. 100 can be exchanged.

  In step S8, the state determination unit 20 determines whether or not the accumulated charging time updated in step S5 is equal to or longer than the guaranteed charging time of the secondary battery 100 read in step S1. If it is determined that the accumulated charging time is equal to or longer than the guaranteed charging time, the process proceeds to step S9. If it is determined that the accumulated charging time is less than the guaranteed charging time, the process proceeds to step S10.

  In step S9, the state determination unit 20 outputs an exchange instruction signal, and the process proceeds to step S10. Then, the alerting | reporting part 30 receives this exchange instruction | indication signal, and alert | reports that the replacement | exchange of the secondary battery 100 is encouraged. According to this process, it is assumed that the total time for charging the secondary battery 100 with the charging device 200 has reached the upper limit of the total charging time allowed for the secondary battery 100 to operate normally. Replacement of the secondary battery 100 can be prompted.

  In step S10, the warranty period determination unit 13 determines whether or not the warranty period has ended. Specifically, the date of manufacture of the secondary battery 100 read out in step S1 by the warranty period determination unit 13 is started, and the current date counted by the timer provided in the warranty period determination unit 13 is used. It is determined whether or not the period in which the day ends is equal to or longer than the warranty period of the secondary battery 100 read in step S1. If it is determined that the warranty period is over, the process proceeds to step S11, and if it is determined that it is less, the process proceeds to step S12 because the warranty period has not ended. Move.

  In step S11, the state determination unit 20 outputs a replacement instruction signal, and the process proceeds to step S12. Then, the alerting | reporting part 30 receives this exchange instruction | indication signal, and alert | reports that the replacement | exchange of the secondary battery 100 is encouraged. According to this process, it is possible to prompt the user to replace the secondary battery 100, assuming that the warranty period of the secondary battery 100 has ended.

  In step S12, the state detection unit 10 transmits the accumulated charging number updated in step S4 and the accumulated charging time updated in step S5 to the storage unit 110, and the process illustrated in FIG.

  According to the above charge management apparatus 1, the following effects can be produced.

  The charge management device 1 counts the number of times the secondary battery 100 is charged by the charging device 200 by the charging number counting unit 11. If the number of charging times counted by the charging number counting unit 11 is equal to or greater than the guaranteed number of charging times, the state determination unit 20 outputs a replacement instruction signal, and the notification unit 30 notifies the user that the replacement of the secondary battery 100 is urged. . For this reason, the deterioration state of the secondary battery 100 is estimated from the number of times the secondary battery 100 is charged, and if the number of times of charging is equal to or greater than the guaranteed number of times of charging, the replacement of the secondary battery 100 can be prompted. Further, there is no restriction on the timing for comparing the number of times of charging with the number of times of guaranteed charging. Therefore, the replacement of the secondary battery 100 can be prompted at an appropriate timing based on the number of times the secondary battery 100 is charged.

  In addition, the charge management device 1 obtains the accumulated time of the time when the secondary battery 100 is charged by the charging device 200 by using the charging time accumulation unit 12. If the accumulated charging time obtained by the charging time integrating unit 12 is equal to or longer than the guaranteed charging time, the state determining unit 20 outputs a replacement instruction signal, and the notification unit 30 prompts replacement of the secondary battery 100. Notification. For this reason, the deterioration state of the secondary battery 100 is estimated by the accumulated time of the time when the secondary battery 100 is charged. If the accumulated time is equal to or longer than the guaranteed charging time, the replacement of the secondary battery 100 can be prompted. . Further, there is no restriction on the timing for comparing the accumulated time and the guaranteed charging time. Therefore, the replacement of the secondary battery 100 can be promoted at an appropriate timing based on the accumulated time of charging the secondary battery 100.

  In addition, the charge management device 1 determines whether or not the predetermined warranty period of the secondary battery 100 has ended by the warranty period determination unit 13. When it is determined that the warranty period determination unit 13 has finished, the state determination unit 20 outputs a replacement instruction signal, and the notification unit 30 notifies the user that the replacement of the secondary battery 100 is urged. For this reason, the deterioration state of the secondary battery 100 is estimated based on whether or not the warranty period of the secondary battery 100 has ended, that is, the time elapsed after the manufacture of the secondary battery 100, and the warranty of the secondary battery 100 is guaranteed. When the period ends, replacement of the secondary battery 100 can be prompted. Further, there is no restriction on the timing for determining whether or not the warranty period of the secondary battery 100 has expired. Therefore, the replacement of the secondary battery 100 can be prompted at an appropriate timing based on the time elapsed after the manufacture of the secondary battery 100.

Second Embodiment
[Configuration of Charging Management Device 1A]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a charging system BB including a charge management device 1A according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The charging system BB differs from the charging system AA shown in FIG. 1 in that a charging management device 1A is provided instead of the charging management device 1. In the charging system BB, the same components as those of the charging system AA are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  The charge management device 1A differs from the charge management device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 in that it includes a state detection unit 10A instead of the state detection unit 10, and instead of the state determination unit 20. The difference is that the state determination unit 20A is provided.

  The state detection unit 10A includes, for example, a CPU and a RAM. The state detection unit 10A detects the state of the secondary battery 100 by operating according to a program stored in a recording medium configured by, for example, a hard disk or a semiconductor memory. The state detection unit 10A includes a charging number counting unit 11, a charging time integration unit 12A, a guarantee period determination unit 13, and a charging time actual measurement unit 14.

  The charging time accumulating unit 12A accumulates 1 second every time 1 second elapses while the charging device 200 charges the secondary battery 100, and the accumulated time of the time when the charging device 200 charges the secondary battery 100. Is determined as the accumulated charging time of the secondary battery 100. According to the charging time integration unit 12A, the total time for charging the secondary battery 100 with the charging device 200 after the secondary battery 100 is manufactured is obtained as the integrated charging time in units of one second. It becomes.

  The charging time actual measurement unit 14 measures the time from when charging of the secondary battery 100 by the charging device 200 is started until this charging is completed. According to the charging time actual measurement unit 14, every time charging of the secondary battery 100 by the charging device 200 is started, the charging time is obtained as the actual charging time.

  The state determination unit 20A includes, for example, a CPU and a RAM. The state determination unit 20A operates according to a program stored in a recording medium composed of, for example, a hard disk or a semiconductor memory, and determines the state of the secondary battery 100 based on the detection result by the state detection unit 10A. Specifically, when the state determination unit 20A determines that at least one of the following four conditions is satisfied based on the detection result of the state detection unit 10A, the state determination unit 20A outputs a replacement instruction signal that prompts replacement of the secondary battery 100. . The first condition is that the number of times counted by the charging number counter 11 is equal to or greater than a predetermined upper limit number. The second condition is that the integration time by the charging time integration unit 12A is equal to or greater than a predetermined upper limit time. The third condition is that the warranty period determination unit 13 determines that the warranty period has ended. The fourth condition is that the difference between the actual charging time by the charging time actual measurement unit 14 and the estimated charging time is larger than the threshold time considering the variation coefficient of the secondary battery 100, in other words, 2 for the estimated charging time. That is, there is no actual charging time by the charging time measuring unit 14 within a range in which the variation coefficient of the secondary battery 100 is considered.

  Note that the predicted charging time is a time that is expected to be required to bring the secondary battery 100 into a fully charged state when the secondary battery 100 is charged by the charging device 200, and will be described later in step S23. It is the time calculated in Further, the variation coefficient of the secondary battery 100 is a coefficient for manufacturing variation that occurs when the secondary battery 100 is manufactured.

[Operation of Charge Management Device 1A]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the charge management device 1 </ b> A when charging the secondary battery 100.

  In step S21, similarly to step S1 described above, the state determination unit 20A reads the battery information described above from the storage unit 110, and the process proceeds to step S22. In the present embodiment, the battery information includes the date of manufacture of the secondary battery 100, the model name of the secondary battery 100, the serial number of the secondary battery 100, and the guaranteed charge count of the secondary battery 100. In addition to the guaranteed period of the secondary battery 100, the guaranteed charging time of the secondary battery 100, the cumulative number of charging times of the secondary battery 100, and the cumulative charging time of the secondary battery 100, the initial stage of the secondary battery 100 The charging time and the variation coefficient of the secondary battery 100 are included. The initial charging time of the secondary battery 100 is the time required to fully charge the secondary battery 100 when charging the secondary battery 100 immediately after manufacture for the first time.

  In step S22, the state determination unit 20A calculates a deterioration coefficient based on the battery information read in step S21, and the process proceeds to step S23. Specifically, based on the model name of the secondary battery 100 read out in step S21, the cumulative number of charging times of the secondary battery 100, and the cumulative charging time of the secondary battery 100 by the state determination unit 20A, 2 A deterioration coefficient indicating the degree of deterioration of the secondary battery 100 is calculated.

  In step S23, the state determination unit 20A calculates a predicted charging time based on the initial charging time of the secondary battery 100 read in step S21 and the deterioration coefficient calculated in step S22, and the process proceeds to step S24. Move. Specifically, the state determination unit 20A multiplies the initial charging time of the secondary battery 100 by the deterioration coefficient to calculate the predicted charging time.

  In step S24, the notification unit 30 notifies the predicted charging time calculated in step S23, and the process proceeds to step S25.

  In step S25, the state determination unit 20A determines whether or not the cumulative charge count of the secondary battery 100 read in step S21 is equal to or greater than the guaranteed charge count of the secondary battery 100 read in step S21. If it is determined that the accumulated number of charging is equal to or greater than the guaranteed number of times of charging, the process proceeds to step S26. If it is determined that the accumulated number of times of charging is less than the guaranteed number of times of charging, the process proceeds to step S27.

  In step S26, the state determination unit 20A outputs a replacement instruction signal, and the process proceeds to step S27. Then, the alerting | reporting part 30 receives this exchange instruction | indication signal, and alert | reports that the replacement | exchange of the secondary battery 100 is encouraged. According to this process, it is assumed that the total number of times that the secondary battery 100 has been charged by the charging device 200 has reached the upper limit of the number of times of charging that is allowed for the secondary battery 100 to operate normally. 100 can be exchanged.

  In step S27, the state determination unit 20A determines whether or not the accumulated charging time of the secondary battery 100 read in step S21 is equal to or longer than the guaranteed charging time of the secondary battery 100 read in step S21. When it is determined that the accumulated charging time is equal to or longer than the guaranteed charging time, the process proceeds to step S28. When it is determined that the accumulated charging time is less than the guaranteed charging time, the process proceeds to step S29.

  In step S28, the state determination unit 20A outputs a replacement instruction signal, and the process proceeds to step S29. Then, the alerting | reporting part 30 receives this exchange instruction | indication signal, and alert | reports that the replacement | exchange of the secondary battery 100 is encouraged. According to this process, it is assumed that the total time for charging the secondary battery 100 with the charging device 200 has reached the upper limit of the total charging time allowed for the secondary battery 100 to operate normally. Replacement of the secondary battery 100 can be prompted.

  In step S29, the warranty period determination unit 13 determines whether or not the warranty period has ended. Specifically, the date of manufacture of the secondary battery 100 read out in step S21 by the warranty period determination unit 13 is started, and the current date counted by the timer provided in the warranty period determination unit 13 is used. It is determined whether or not the period in which the day ends is equal to or longer than the warranty period of the secondary battery 100 read in step S21. If it is determined that the warranty period is over, the process proceeds to step S30, and if it is determined that it is less, the process is performed in step S31 because the warranty period has not ended. Move.

  In step S30, the state determination unit 20A outputs a replacement instruction signal, and the process proceeds to step S31. Then, the alerting | reporting part 30 receives this exchange instruction | indication signal, and alert | reports that the replacement | exchange of the secondary battery 100 is encouraged. According to this process, it is possible to prompt the user to replace the secondary battery 100, assuming that the warranty period of the secondary battery 100 has ended.

  In step S31, the charging number counting unit 11 adds 1 to the accumulated charging number of the secondary battery 100 read in step S21, and transmits the result to the storage unit 110, and the process proceeds to step S32.

  In step S32, the charging time integrating unit 12A initializes a counter provided in the charging time integrating unit 12A, and the process proceeds to step S33.

  In step S33, the state determination unit 20A starts charging the secondary battery 100 by the charging device 200, and the charging time integration unit 12A starts counting by the above-described counter, and the process proceeds to step S34. When starting charging of the secondary battery 100 by the charging device 200, the state determination unit 20A outputs a charge start signal that prompts the start of charging of the secondary battery 100. When state determination unit 20A outputs a charging start signal, charging permission unit 220 provided in charging device 200 permits charging of secondary battery 100 by charging unit 210, and charging of secondary battery 100 by charging unit 210 is performed. Will be started.

  In step S34, the state determination unit 20A determines whether or not the secondary battery 100 is in a fully charged state. If it is determined that the battery is fully charged, the process proceeds to step S39. If it is determined that the battery is not fully charged, the process proceeds to step S35.

  In step S35, the charging time integrating unit 12A determines whether or not one second has been counted by the above-described counter. If it is determined that 1 second has been counted, the process proceeds to step S36. If it is determined that 1 second has not been counted, the process returns to step S34.

  In step S36, after the above-described counter is initialized by the charging time integrating unit 12A, the counting by the counter is restarted, and the process proceeds to step S37.

  In step S37, the charging time integrating unit 12A updates the integrated charging time, transmits it to the storage unit 110, and shifts the processing to step S38. In the update of the accumulated charge time, when the update of the accumulated charge time is the first time, 1 second is added to the accumulated charge time of the secondary battery 100 read in step S21, and the update of the accumulated charge time is performed for the second time. In subsequent cases, 1 second is added to the previously updated accumulated charging time.

  In step S38, the actual charging time is updated by the charging time measurement unit 14, and the process returns to step S34. In updating the actual charging time, the actual charging time is obtained by integrating 1 second counted by the counter.

  In step S39, the state determination unit 20A determines whether or not the actual charging time obtained in step S38 is within the range in which the variation coefficient of the secondary battery 100 is considered with respect to the predicted charging time. If it is determined that there is a process, the processes shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 are terminated. If it is determined that there is no process, the process proceeds to step S40.

The determination in step S39 is as follows, assuming that the variation coefficient of the secondary battery 100 read in step S21 is K, the predicted charging time calculated in step S23 is T _calc , and the actual charging time obtained in step S38 is T _real. This is performed depending on whether or not equation (1) is established. Specifically, when Equation (1) is established, it is determined that the actual charging time is within a range in which the variation coefficient of the secondary battery 100 is considered with respect to the predicted charging time, and Equation (1) is established. If not, it is determined that the actual charging time is not within the range considering the variation coefficient of the secondary battery 100 with respect to the predicted charging time.

  In step S40, the state determination unit 20A outputs a replacement instruction signal. Then, the alerting | reporting part 30 receives this exchange instruction | indication signal, and alert | reports that the replacement | exchange of the secondary battery 100 is encouraged. According to this process, the charging of the secondary battery 100 by the charging device 200 is completed in an extremely short time with respect to the predicted charging time or is completed in an extremely long time with respect to the predicted charging time. Assuming that an abnormality has occurred in 100, replacement of the secondary battery 100 can be prompted. Then, the processing shown in FIGS.

  According to the above charge management device 1A, in addition to the above-described effects that the charge management device 1 can exhibit, the following effects can be achieved.

  The charge management device 1A integrates the 1 second every time when the secondary battery 100 is being charged by the charging device 200 by the charging time integrating unit 12A to obtain an integrated time. For this reason, even if charging is interrupted even if charging is not completed, the accumulated time is updated every time 1 second elapses during charging. It is possible to prevent a large difference from occurring in the actual charging time.

  Further, the charge management device 1A measures the time from when charging of the secondary battery 100 by the charging device 200 is started until the charging is completed by the charging time actual measurement unit 14, and the state determination unit 20A predicts the expected charging. If the time measured by the charging time actual measurement unit 14 is not within the range that takes into account the variation coefficient of the secondary battery 100 with respect to time, an exchange instruction signal is output. For this reason, when the charging time of the secondary battery 100 is extremely short or long with respect to the predicted charging time, replacement of the secondary battery can be urged. In addition, there is no restriction on the timing for comparing the charging time of the secondary battery 100 with the predicted charging time. Therefore, replacement of the secondary battery 100 can be prompted at an appropriate timing.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and applications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  For example, in the first embodiment described above, the charge management device 1 and the charging device 200 are provided separately. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the charge management device 1 may include the charging device 200. Similarly, in the second embodiment described above, the charge management device 1 </ b> A may include the charging device 200.

  In the first embodiment described above, the storage unit 110 is provided integrally with the secondary battery 100. However, the storage unit 110 is not limited thereto, and may be provided separately from the secondary battery 100. For example, it may be provided integrally with the charge management device 1 or may be provided integrally with the charging device 200. Note that in the case where the storage unit 110 is provided integrally with the secondary battery 100, the storage unit 110 is also replaced when the secondary battery 100 is replaced. Therefore, the initialization of the storage unit 110 is unnecessary. However, when the storage unit 110 is provided separately from the secondary battery 100, the storage unit 110 is not replaced even if the secondary battery 100 is replaced. Therefore, when the secondary battery 100 is replaced, the storage unit 110 is replaced. It is necessary to initialize. Similarly, in the second embodiment described above, the storage unit 110 may be provided separately from the secondary battery 100, for example, provided integrally with the charge management device 1 </ b> A, or the charging device 200. It may be provided integrally.

  In the first embodiment described above, the exchange instruction signal is output when at least one of the first condition, the second condition, and the third condition is satisfied. For example, it may be performed when at least two of these three conditions are satisfied, or may be performed when all of these three conditions are satisfied. Similarly in the second embodiment described above, the exchange instruction signal is output when at least one of the first condition, the second condition, the third condition, and the fourth condition is satisfied. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be performed when at least two of these four conditions are satisfied or when three of these four conditions are satisfied, or all of these four conditions are satisfied. It may be performed in the case of.

  In the first embodiment described above, the replacement instruction signal may be the same signal regardless of the satisfied condition, or may be a different signal depending on the satisfied condition. Similarly, in the second embodiment described above, the replacement instruction signal may be the same signal regardless of the satisfied condition, or may be a signal that differs depending on the satisfied condition. In addition, when the replacement instruction signal is different depending on the satisfied conditions, the notification mode by the notification unit 30 is changed according to the signal, so that not only the replacement of the secondary battery 100 is promoted but also the replacement. The reason for prompting can be notified to the user.

  In the second embodiment described above, the accumulated charging time is updated every time one second elapses while the secondary battery 100 is being charged. It may be performed every time or every 2 seconds.

  In the above-described embodiments, various types of secondary batteries such as a lithium ion battery and a nickel metal hydride battery can be used as the secondary battery 100.

  Moreover, in each above-mentioned embodiment, the charge management apparatuses 1 and 1A can be utilized with respect to the secondary battery mounted in various apparatuses and apparatuses. In particular, the charge management devices 1 and 1A are suitable for a secondary battery mounted on a device or device in which it is difficult to regularly check the life of the secondary battery, such as a motorcycle that does not require a vehicle inspection. is there.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1A; Charge management apparatus 10, 10A; State detection part 11; Charging frequency counting part 12, 12A; Charging time integration part 13; Warranty period discrimination part 14; Charging time measurement part 20, 20A; State judgment part 30; Unit 100; secondary battery 110; storage unit 200; charging device 210; charging unit 220; charging permission unit AA, BB; charging system

Claims (6)

State detection means for detecting the state of the secondary battery;
State determination means for determining the state of the secondary battery based on the detection result by the state detection means,
The state detection means includes a charge number counting means for counting the number of times the secondary battery is charged by a charging device,
The state determination unit outputs a replacement instruction signal for prompting replacement of the secondary battery if the number of times counted by the number-of-charges counting unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined upper limit number. State detection means for detecting the state of the secondary battery;
State determination means for determining the state of the secondary battery based on the detection result by the state detection means,
The state detection means includes charging time integration means for obtaining an integration time of the time when the secondary battery is charged by a charging device,
The state determination unit outputs a replacement instruction signal for urging replacement of the secondary battery if the integration time by the charging time integration unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined upper limit time.   The charging time integrating means integrates the unit time each time a predetermined unit time elapses during charging of the secondary battery by the charging device to obtain the integrated time. Item 3. The charge management device according to Item 2. State detection means for detecting the state of the secondary battery;
State determination means for determining the state of the secondary battery based on the detection result by the state detection means,
The state detection unit includes a warranty period determination unit that determines whether or not a predetermined warranty period of the secondary battery has ended.
The state determination means outputs a replacement instruction signal for prompting replacement of the secondary battery when it is determined that the warranty period determination means has ended. State detection means for detecting the state of the secondary battery;
State determination means for determining the state of the secondary battery based on the detection result by the state detection means,
The state detection unit includes a charging time actual measurement unit that measures a time from when charging of the secondary battery by the charging device is started to when the charging ends.
The state determining means outputs a replacement instruction signal if the difference between the time measured by the charging time actual measuring means and a predetermined time is greater than a predetermined threshold time. Management device.   The charge management device according to claim 1, further comprising a charging device that charges the secondary battery.

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