JP2015060746A - Battery monitor and control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a low-cost battery monitor and control system having the reduced number of components including a connector, a harness pin, etc. with an abnormality notification signal line used in common to a signal line for transmitting an activation signal from a battery control ECU to a battery monitoring ECU.SOLUTION: The battery monitor and control system includes: at least one battery monitor unit 10 for monitoring the abnormality of a battery module 11; a battery control ECU 20 for monitoring and controlling the operation of the battery monitor ECU 10; and a single abnormality notification and activation signal line L1 for transmitting an abnormality notification signal, indicative of the normality and abnormality of the battery module 11, from the battery monitor unit 10 to the battery control ECU 20, in a manner to associate with level signals having different potential, and for transmitting, from the battery control ECU 20 to the battery monitor ECU 10, an activation signal to activate the battery monitor ECU 10 from a suspension state to an operation state, in a manner to associate with level signals having different potential.

Description

  The present invention relates to a battery monitoring and control system that detects the state of a rechargeable battery, determines the state of the battery based on the detected information, and controls to maintain the state of the battery appropriately based on the result of the determination.

  For rechargeable batteries used in forklifts, electric vehicles, hybrid cars, etc., battery modules in which single cells are connected in series are used, and further, assembled batteries in which a plurality of battery modules are connected in parallel or in series are used. It is done.

  The battery voltage, current, temperature, etc. are detected, and based on the detected information, the battery charge / discharge status, normal / abnormal status, etc. are determined, and the battery is connected to the load according to the determination result. However, a battery monitoring control system for controlling the state of the battery appropriately such as disconnecting from the load or equalizing the voltage of each unit cell connected in series is provided.

  The battery monitoring control system includes a battery monitoring ECU (Electronic Control Unit) and a battery control ECU. The battery monitoring ECU is provided in the battery module, detects the voltage, current, temperature, etc. of each single cell constituting the battery module, and based on the detected information, the charging state, overcharge or overdischarge of the battery module Etc. and monitor the battery module for abnormalities.

  One battery control ECU is provided for one or a plurality of battery monitoring ECUs, monitors and controls the operation of each battery monitoring ECU, and each cell of each battery module is based on monitoring information from each battery monitoring ECU. In addition to controlling to keep the state of the vehicle properly, it has a function of receiving state information on the load circuit side of the vehicle or the like, and transmitting battery state information to the load circuit side.

  FIG. 2 shows a connection configuration example of an abnormality notification line for notifying a battery abnormality from the battery monitoring ECU to the battery control ECU. Each battery monitoring ECU 10 includes a battery monitoring IC 12, a microcontroller 13, and a common emitter transistor 14.

  The battery monitoring IC 12 detects the voltage, current, temperature, etc. of each cell of the battery module 11 to be monitored and transmits the detection information to the microcontroller 13. The microcontroller 13 determines the state of the battery module 11 based on the information detected by the battery monitoring IC 12, and transmits an abnormality notification signal that notifies the battery monitoring IC 12 of the abnormality of the battery when the abnormality of the battery module 11 is detected. .

  The battery monitoring IC 12 controls the base current of the transistor 14 so as to turn off the transistor 14 in the battery monitoring ECU 10 when the battery module 11 is normal, and receives an abnormality notification signal from the microcontroller 13. When the abnormality 11 is detected, the base current of the transistor 14 is controlled to turn on the transistor 14.

  The collector of the transistor 14 of each battery monitoring ECU 10 is connected to one abnormality notification signal line L. One end of the abnormality notification signal line L is connected to the electrode 22 having a potential different from the ground potential via the resistor 21 in the battery control ECU 20 and to the input terminal of the microcontroller 23 of the battery control ECU 20.

  While all the transistors 14 of each battery monitoring ECU 10 are in the off state, the potential of the abnormality notification signal line L becomes the potential of the electrode 22 connected via the resistor 21 and is applied to the input terminal of the microcontroller 23 of the battery control ECU 20. The level signal of the potential of the electrode 22 is input.

  On the other hand, when an abnormality of the battery module 11 is detected by any of the battery monitoring ECUs 10 and the transistors 14 of any of the battery monitoring ECUs 10 are turned on, the potential of the abnormality notification signal line L becomes the ground potential, and the battery control is performed. A level signal of the ground potential is input to the input terminal of the microcontroller 23 of the ECU 20.

  When a ground potential level signal is input to the input terminal of the microcontroller 23 of the battery control ECU 20, the microcontroller 23 of the battery control ECU 20 confirms that an abnormality of the battery module 11 has been detected by any of the battery monitoring ECUs 10. recognize.

  In the configuration in which the collector of the common emitter transistor 14 of each battery monitoring ECU 10 is connected to one abnormality notification signal line L, a wired OR circuit is provided for the level signal of the ground potential output from the collector of each common emitter transistor 14. Therefore, the abnormality notification signals from the plurality of battery monitoring ECUs 10 can be collected into one abnormality notification signal line L and transmitted to the battery control ECU 20.

  As an apparatus related to the abnormality detection of the assembled battery, an abnormal voltage detection circuit is provided for each battery module, and when an abnormality is detected by the abnormal voltage detection circuit, the potential of one abnormality notification line is changed, and the one abnormality is detected. A device that transmits an abnormal signal to another circuit unit by changing the potential of the notification line is described in Patent Document 1 below.

JP 2006-42591 A

  In the configuration example of the battery monitoring control system shown in FIG. 2, the abnormality notification signal line L for notifying the abnormality of the battery module 11 from the battery monitoring ECU 10 to the battery control ECU 20 sends an abnormality notification signal from the battery monitoring ECU 10 to the battery control ECU 20. A dedicated line used only for transmission.

  On the other hand, the battery monitoring ECU 10 performs monitoring at a longer cycle than that during normal operation when a vehicle or the like on which the battery module 11 is mounted is not operating, or other monitoring is performed by using only a part of the monitoring function. It is set to a dormant state such as stopping the function. The battery monitoring ECU 10 set to the resting state is activated to the operating state by the battery control ECU 20 when the operation of the vehicle or the like is started.

  A signal line for transmitting an activation signal from the battery control ECU 20 to the battery monitoring ECU 10 is conventionally provided separately from the abnormality notification signal line L in order to activate the battery monitoring ECU 10 in the inactive state from the battery control ECU 20. It was. For this reason, the number of connectors and harness pins for connecting signal lines has increased, leading to an increase in cost.

  In view of the above problems, the present invention reduces the number of components including connectors, harness pins, etc. by combining the signal line for transmitting the activation signal from the battery control ECU 20 to the battery monitoring ECU 10 and the abnormality notification signal line L. Provided is a battery monitoring control system capable of reducing costs.

  The battery monitoring control system according to the present invention includes at least one battery monitoring unit that monitors abnormality of a battery module, a battery control unit that monitors and controls the operation of the battery monitoring unit, and the battery monitoring unit to the battery control unit. An abnormality notification signal indicating normality and abnormality of the battery module is transmitted in correspondence with level signals of different potentials, and the battery monitoring unit is suspended from the battery control unit to the battery monitoring unit. And a single abnormality notification / activation signal line for transmitting an activation signal for activating to an operating state in correspondence with the level signals of different potentials.

  According to the present invention, between the battery monitoring unit and the battery control unit, the abnormality notification signal and the activation signal transmitted in correspondence with the level signals of different potentials are transmitted through one abnormality notification / activation signal line. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a dedicated start signal transmission line, and the number of parts including connectors and harness pins can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced.

It is a figure which shows the example of a connection structure of the abnormality notification and starting signal line between battery monitoring ECU and battery control ECU. It is a figure which shows the connection structural example of the abnormality notification signal line between battery monitoring ECU and battery control ECU.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The “battery monitoring unit” and the “battery control unit” described in the means for solving the above-described problems are also referred to as “battery monitoring ECU” and “battery control ECU” in the following description.

  FIG. 1 shows a connection configuration example of an abnormality notification / activation signal line between a battery monitoring ECU and a battery control ECU. In the configuration example of FIG. 1, the battery monitoring IC 12 of each battery monitoring ECU 10 detects the voltage, current, temperature, and the like of each cell of the battery module 11 to be monitored, and transmits the detection information to the microcontroller 13.

  The microcontroller 13 of each battery monitoring ECU 10 determines the state of the battery module 11 based on the information detected by the battery monitoring IC 12, and when an abnormality of the battery module 11 is detected, an abnormality notification that informs the battery monitoring IC 12 of the abnormality of the battery. Send a signal.

  The battery monitoring IC 12 controls the base current so as to turn off the emitter-grounded transistor 14 in the battery monitoring ECU 10 when the battery module 11 is normal, and receives an abnormality notification signal from the microcontroller 13. When the abnormality 11 is detected, the base current of the transistor 14 is controlled to turn on the transistor 14.

  The collector of the transistor 14 of each battery monitoring ECU 10 is connected to one abnormality notification / activation signal line L1. One end of the abnormality notification / activation signal line L1 is connected to the electrode 22 having a potential different from the ground potential via the resistor 21 in the battery control ECU 20, and is used for receiving an abnormality notification signal of the microcontroller 23 of the battery control ECU 20. Connected to input terminal.

  While all the transistors 14 of each battery monitoring ECU 10 are in the OFF state, the potential of the abnormality notification / activation signal line L1 becomes the potential of the electrode 22 connected via the resistor 21, and the abnormality of the microcontroller 23 of the battery control ECU 20 occurs. A level signal of the potential of the electrode 22 is input to the input terminal for receiving the notification signal.

  On the other hand, when an abnormality of the battery module 11 is detected in any of the battery monitoring ECUs 10 and the transistor 14 of any of the battery monitoring ECUs 10 is turned on, the potential of the abnormality notification / activation signal line L1 becomes the ground potential, A ground potential level signal is input to the input terminal of the microcontroller 23 of the battery control ECU 20.

  In the battery control ECU 20, when the level signal of the potential of the electrode 22 is input to the input terminal for receiving the abnormality notification signal of the microcontroller 23, each battery module 11 monitored by each battery monitoring ECU 10 is normal. When the ground potential level signal is input to the abnormality notification signal reception input terminal of the microcontroller 23, it is recognized that an abnormality of the battery module 11 has been detected by any of the battery monitoring ECUs 10. To do.

  In this way, abnormality notification signals indicating normality and abnormality from the plurality of battery monitoring ECUs 10 are combined with one abnormality notification / activation signal line L1 in correspondence with level signals of different potentials, and are sent to the battery control ECU 20. It is possible to transmit. The operation of transmitting the abnormality notification signal from the battery monitoring ECU 10 to the battery control ECU 20 through the abnormality notification / activation signal line L1 is the same as the operation of transmitting the abnormality notification signal through the abnormality notification signal line L described in FIG.

  On the other hand, the battery control ECU 20 is provided with a grounded transistor 24 whose collector is connected to the abnormality notification / activation signal line L1 and whose on / off is controlled by the microcontroller 23 of the battery control ECU 20. Further, an input terminal for receiving a start signal of the microcontroller 13 of each battery monitoring ECU 10 is connected to the abnormality notification / start signal line L1.

  The microcontroller 23 of the battery control ECU 20 controls the base current so as to turn on the transistor 24 when the battery monitoring ECU 10 is activated to monitor the hibernation state. When the grounded emitter transistor 24 is turned on, the potential of the abnormality notification / startup signal line L1 becomes the ground potential.

  When the abnormality notification / activation signal line L1 becomes the ground potential, the ground potential level signal is input to the activation signal receiving input terminal of the microcontroller 13 of each battery monitoring ECU 10. When a ground potential level signal is input as an activation signal to the activation signal receiving input terminal of the microcontroller 13, the microcontroller 13 that has been monitoring the hibernation state is activated to the operating state.

  Note that the microcontroller 13 that has been in the dormant state of each battery monitoring ECU 10 starts up to be in an operating state when the ground potential level signal is input to the input terminal for receiving the start signal as an start signal. The reason why the battery monitoring ECU 10 does not enter the resting state because the level signal of the potential of the electrode 22 is input to the signal receiving input terminal is that the battery monitoring ECU 10 monitors the resting state. It is set by another factor such as a command by another signal line.

In the configuration example shown in FIG. 1, when the potential of the abnormality notification / activation signal line L1 becomes the ground potential, there are the following two cases (1) and (2).
(1) When any of the battery monitoring ECUs 10 transmits an abnormality notification signal (2) When the battery control ECU 20 transmits an activation signal Therefore, the microcontroller 13 of the battery monitoring ECU 10 in the dormant state is Even if the activation signal is not transmitted, when the abnormality notification signal is transmitted by another battery monitoring ECU 10, the abnormality notification signal is regarded as the activation signal and activated from the hibernation state to the operation state.

  Since each battery module 11 is used in the same environment, when an abnormality of the battery module 11 is detected by another battery monitoring ECU 10, there is a possibility that the abnormality of the battery module 11 is also detected by its own battery monitoring ECU 10. Will increase. Therefore, in any of the cases (1) and (2), it is desirable that the battery monitoring ECU 10 in the dormant state is activated to the operating state.

  In addition, the ground potential level signal is input to the input terminal of the microcontroller 23 of the battery control ECU 20 in any of the cases (1) and (2). Since the signal transmission timing can be recognized, it is possible to recognize that the battery monitoring ECU 10 has transmitted the abnormality notification signal when the ground potential level signal is input at a timing other than the activation signal transmission timing. is there.

  Therefore, the abnormality notification / activation signal line L1 is transmitted from the battery monitoring ECU 10 to the battery control ECU 20, the transmission of the abnormality notification signal corresponding to the normal / abnormal level signals of different potentials, and the battery control ECU 20 to the battery monitoring ECU 10. Therefore, the transmission of the start signal corresponding to the level signals of different potentials can be used without any trouble.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to embodiment described above, A various structure or embodiment can be taken in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention. it can. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration example using the bipolar transistors 14 and 24 has been described, but the transistors 14 and 24 include unipolar transistors such as MOSFETs (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistors). May be used.

  In addition to the configuration in which the microcontroller 13 determines the state of the battery module 11 based on the information detected by the battery monitoring IC 12, the battery monitoring IC 12 itself determines the state of the battery module 11 and turns on the transistor 14. In this case, the base current of the transistor 14 may be controlled.

10 Battery monitoring ECU
11 Battery module 12 Battery monitoring IC
13 Microcontroller 14 Transistor L1 Abnormality notification / start signal line 20 Battery control ECU
21 Resistance 22 Electrode with potential different from ground potential 23 Microcontroller 24 Transistor

Claims (2)

At least one battery monitoring unit for monitoring abnormality of the battery module;
A battery control unit that monitors and controls the operation of the battery monitoring unit;
An abnormality notification signal indicating normality and abnormality of the battery module is transmitted from the battery monitoring unit to the battery control unit in correspondence with level signals of different potentials, and from the battery control unit to the battery monitoring unit An abnormality signal / activation signal line for transmitting an activation signal for activating the battery monitoring unit from a hibernation state to an operation state in correspondence with the level signal of the different potential;
Battery monitoring control system with   A plurality of the battery monitoring units are provided, and each of the battery monitoring units is activated from a sleep state to an operating state by the abnormality notification signal transmitted to the abnormality notification / activation signal line by another battery monitoring unit. The battery monitoring control system according to claim 1.

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