JP2017175736A - Charging mechanism and charger for secondary battery, and secondary battery pack - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a secondary battery charging mechanism, a secondary battery charger and a secondary battery pack, capable of securely preventing battery capacity from being exhausted in the middle of operation, in a secondary battery used as the operation power of an electric apparatus in which continuous operation is required for a certain time.SOLUTION: The charging mechanism includes: a secondary battery 11 to be used as the operation power of an electric apparatus 30; a charging circuit unit 21 which charges the secondary battery; a deterioration index detector unit 12 which detects a deterioration index indicative of the degree of the reduction of a full charge capacity of the secondary battery; and a charge and discharge control unit 22 which controls the charge or discharge to/from the secondary battery. The charge and discharge control unit controls not to charge or discharge to/from the secondary battery if the deterioration index value is larger than a first threshold by which the secondary battery is determined to be incapable of operating the electric apparatus for a predetermined time or longer.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present disclosure relates to a charging mechanism, a secondary battery charging device, and a secondary battery pack that are repeatedly charged to charge a secondary battery that is used as an operation power source of an electric device. The present invention relates to a charging mechanism, a charging device, and a secondary battery pack that control charging and discharging of the secondary battery based on a numerical value of a deterioration index.

  A battery is used as an operation power source for operating an electric device that performs its function by moving itself or a portable type electric device. Among the batteries, rechargeable batteries, so-called secondary batteries, are more frequently used due to the convenience of being able to be charged and used repeatedly. Development of secondary batteries themselves and charging devices that charge secondary batteries Is progressing. Among secondary batteries, a lithium ion secondary battery that can be charged and discharged using movement of lithium ions in a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte disposed therebetween has a high energy density and a small memory effect. Secondary batteries for power supplies that are selected as power sources for various types of electrical equipment, from batteries for electric vehicles that require large currents to batteries for portable electronic devices that are required to be small and light. Has become the mainstream.

  On the other hand, even if it is a lithium ion secondary battery, deterioration due to repeated charge and discharge is inevitable, and the capacity of a lithium ion secondary battery that has been charged and discharged more than a certain number of times gradually decreases, As a result, there is an adverse effect that the time that can be used is shortened.

  For this reason, in various types of secondary batteries including lithium ion secondary batteries, the secondary battery pack and the charging device detect the degree of deterioration of the secondary battery, and how much is left from the index about the obtained degree of deterioration. Lifetime estimation has been made as to whether or not lithium ion secondary batteries can be used with peace of mind.

  Conventionally, as a technique for detecting the life and the degree of deterioration of such a secondary battery, the substantial capacity at the time of charging completion is determined from the voltage value after a predetermined time has elapsed during constant current charging when charging the secondary battery. There is known a technique for calculating the degree of deterioration by calculating and comparing this capacity with the initial capacity to estimate the lifetime (see Patent Document 1). In addition, for electronic devices with multiple functions, a technology has been proposed that calculates the amount of current required to execute the function being used, and displays on the monitor how long it can operate. (See Patent Document 2).

JP2012-235551A JP 2006-101484 A

  The conventional secondary battery life estimation method described in Patent Document 1 is effective in predicting the future life of a lithium ion secondary battery. However, the above-mentioned conventional life estimation method allows the user to grasp the deterioration degree of the secondary battery, and prompts the user to prepare that a new battery is prepared by notifying the user that the life is approaching. Not too much.

  In addition, the technique described in Patent Document 2 only displays the remaining time during which the current usage state can be continued, and the user performs charging again within the available time and stops using the device. When measures such as reducing the load by limiting the function to be operated are not taken, the capacity of the secondary battery is exhausted and the operation of the device is stopped.

  On the other hand, it is inevitable that a single operation will continue for a predetermined time from the viewpoint of the functions it performs, such as multicopters generally called drones, nursing assistive devices, elevators, and portable medical devices. Electric equipment exists. The secondary battery used as an operation power source for these electric devices is required to continue to function as a power source without fail until a series of operations to be performed by the electric device is completed. However, with the conventional technology for estimating the lifetime of the secondary battery and the technology for displaying the remaining usable time, if the correct response by the user is not performed, such as replacing the secondary battery that has reached the end of its life with a new battery, An unexpected situation occurs in which the electrical equipment stops in the middle of operation.

  The present disclosure solves the above-described conventional problems, and in a secondary battery used as an operation power source of an electric device that is required to operate continuously for a certain period of time, the battery capacity is exhausted during the operation. An object of the present invention is to provide a secondary battery charging mechanism, a secondary battery charger, and a secondary battery pack that can be reliably prevented.

  In order to solve the above problems, a secondary battery charging mechanism disclosed in the present application includes a secondary battery used as an operating power source of an electric device, a charging circuit unit that charges the secondary battery, and a fully charged secondary battery. The charge / discharge control comprising: a deterioration index detection unit that detects a deterioration index that indicates a degree of decrease in hourly capacity; and a charge / discharge control unit that controls charging to the secondary battery or discharging from the secondary battery. The charging of the secondary battery when the value of the deterioration index is greater than a first threshold value determined that the secondary battery cannot operate the electrical device for a predetermined time, or The secondary battery is controlled not to discharge.

  Further, the secondary battery charging device disclosed in the present application is a charging device for charging a secondary battery used as an operation power source of an electric device, and the charging circuit unit for charging the secondary battery, and the secondary battery A charge / discharge control unit that controls charging to or discharging from the secondary battery, and a memory that stores a first threshold value determined that the secondary battery cannot operate the electric device for a predetermined time. And the charge / discharge control unit charges the secondary battery when a deterioration index value indicating a degree of decrease in the full-charge capacity of the secondary battery is greater than the first threshold value. Alternatively, control is performed so as not to discharge the secondary battery.

  Further, the secondary battery pack disclosed in the present application is a secondary battery pack containing a secondary battery used as an operation power source of an electrical device, and a deterioration index indicating a degree of decrease in the full-charge capacity of the secondary battery. A deterioration index detecting unit that detects charging, a charge / discharge control unit that controls charging to or discharging from the secondary battery, and the secondary battery cannot operate the electric device for a predetermined time. A storage unit that stores a first threshold value to be determined, and the charge / discharge control unit is configured to charge the secondary battery when the value of the deterioration index is larger than the first threshold value, or The secondary battery is controlled so as not to be discharged.

  The charging mechanism, the charging device, and the secondary battery pack disclosed in the present application include a deterioration index value indicating a degree of deterioration of the secondary battery by a charge / discharge control unit that controls charge / discharge of the secondary battery. However, when the secondary battery is larger than a first threshold value that is determined to be unable to operate an electrical device used as an operating power source for a predetermined time, the secondary battery is charged or discharged from the secondary battery. Control not to do. For this reason, it is possible to reliably prevent an undesirable situation in which the capacity of the secondary battery is exhausted while the electric device is performing a series of operations, and the secondary battery stops in the middle of the operation. .

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the charging mechanism of the secondary battery concerning this embodiment. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the charging / discharging control part which controls charging / discharging of the secondary battery concerning this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the modification of the charging mechanism of the secondary battery concerning this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the charging device of the secondary battery concerning this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the secondary battery pack concerning this embodiment.

  The charging mechanism of the secondary battery according to the present disclosure includes a secondary battery used as an operating power source of an electric device, a charging circuit unit that charges the secondary battery, and a degree of decrease in the full-charge capacity of the secondary battery. A deterioration index detecting unit that detects a deterioration index, and a charge / discharge control unit that controls charging or discharging from the secondary battery, and the charge / discharge control unit includes the deterioration index. Is larger than a first threshold value at which the secondary battery is determined to be unable to operate the electrical device for a predetermined time, charging the secondary battery, or from the secondary battery Control so as not to discharge.

  The rechargeable battery charging mechanism of the present disclosure grasps the degree of deterioration of a secondary battery used as an operation power source of an electric device with a deterioration index, and the value of the deterioration index of the secondary battery operates the electric device for a predetermined time. When it exceeds the first threshold value that is determined to be impossible, the charge / discharge control unit stops charging or discharging the secondary battery. For this reason, the secondary battery that has deteriorated to a state where the electric device cannot be operated for a predetermined time cannot be used as an operating power source of the electric device, and the electric device is stopped in the middle of a series of operations. Can be avoided reliably.

  The charging mechanism of the secondary battery according to the present disclosure further includes a notification unit that notifies that the secondary battery has deteriorated, and the charge / discharge control unit has a value of the deterioration index that indicates deterioration of the secondary battery. When the value is larger than a second threshold value that serves as a reference for notifying the user that the battery is progressing, it is preferable that the notification unit notifies the deterioration of the secondary battery. In this way, when the value of the degradation index of the secondary battery is approaching the value at which charging / discharging is stopped, the user is notified that the degradation of the secondary battery has progressed by a certain level or more. The user can be prompted to prepare the next battery.

  In addition, the storage device may further include a storage unit that stores the first threshold value determined in correspondence with the electronic device, and the charge / discharge control unit may be configured to store the secondary battery based on the first threshold value in the storage unit. It is preferable to perform charge / discharge control. By doing so, it is possible to monitor the degree of deterioration of the secondary battery by grasping the threshold value of the deterioration index of the secondary battery used for the specific electric device, and the operation of the electric device stops halfway. Can be avoided.

  Furthermore, the apparatus further includes an operation time determination unit that determines an operation time of the electric device, and the operation time determination unit determines an operation time corresponding to an operation setting for the electric device by a user, and determines the determined operation. The first threshold value calculated based on time is transmitted to the charge / discharge control unit, and the charge / discharge control unit charges / charges the secondary battery based on the first threshold value calculated by the operation time determination unit. It is preferable to control the discharge. By doing in this way, with respect to the secondary battery used as an operation power source of an electric device whose series of operation time varies depending on the usage form of the user, a predetermined operation time corresponding to the actual operation of the user is obtained. Whether or not the operation is possible can be grasped, and more accurate charge / discharge control can be performed.

  Note that the charging mechanism of the secondary battery according to the present disclosure is such that the charging circuit unit and the charging / discharging control unit are mounted on a charging device that charges the secondary battery, and the secondary battery and the deterioration index. The detection unit can be configured to be mounted on the secondary battery pack.

  Moreover, the charging mechanism of the secondary battery disclosed in the present application is mounted on a charging device in which the charging circuit unit charges the secondary battery, and the secondary battery, the charge / discharge control unit, and the deterioration index detection unit. Can be configured as being mounted on a secondary battery pack.

  A charging device for a secondary battery according to the present disclosure is a charging device that charges a secondary battery used as an operation power source of an electric device, and a charging circuit unit that charges the secondary battery, and the secondary battery A charge / discharge control unit that controls charging or discharging from the secondary battery; and a storage unit that stores a first threshold value that is determined to prevent the secondary battery from operating the electrical device for a predetermined time; The charge / discharge control unit is configured to charge the secondary battery when the deterioration index value indicating the degree of decrease in the full-charge capacity of the secondary battery is greater than the first threshold, or The secondary battery is controlled not to be discharged.

  By doing in this way, the secondary battery charging device according to the present disclosure grasps the degree of deterioration of the secondary battery used as the operating power source of the electric device by the deterioration index, and the value of the deterioration index of the secondary battery is the electric power. When it is larger than the first threshold value determined that the device cannot be operated for a predetermined time, the charge / discharge control unit stops charging or discharging of the secondary battery. For this reason, a secondary battery that is in a state in which the electric device cannot be operated for a predetermined time cannot be used as an operating power source of the electric device, and the electric device stops in the middle of a series of operations. Can be reliably avoided.

  The secondary battery charging apparatus according to the present disclosure further includes a deterioration index detection unit that detects the value of the deterioration index, and the charge / discharge control unit is based on the value of the deterioration index detected by the deterioration index detection unit. It is preferable to control charging / discharging of the secondary battery. By doing in this way, charging / discharging control of a secondary battery can be performed based on the 1st threshold value defined corresponding to the secondary battery.

  In addition, a deterioration information receiving unit that receives the value of the deterioration index is further provided, and the charge / discharge control unit is provided in a secondary battery pack that houses the secondary battery via the deterioration information receiving unit. It is preferable that the value of the degradation index detected by the index detection unit is received and charge / discharge of the secondary battery is controlled based on the received value of the degradation index. By doing in this way, accurate charging / discharging control can be performed in the charging device using the value of the degradation index detected in the secondary battery pack attached to the electric device as the driving power source.

  Further, the information processing apparatus further includes a notification unit that notifies that the secondary battery is deteriorated, and the charge / discharge control unit notifies the user that the deterioration of the secondary battery is progressing with a value of the deterioration index. In the case where it is larger than the second threshold value that is a reference to be used, it is preferable that the notification unit notifies that the deterioration of the secondary battery is progressing. By doing so, it is possible to promptly inform the user of the deterioration of the secondary battery and prompt the preparation of a new secondary battery.

  A secondary battery pack according to the present disclosure is a secondary battery pack containing a secondary battery used as an operation power source of an electric device, and detects a degradation index indicating a degree of decrease in the full-charge capacity of the secondary battery. It is determined that the deterioration index detecting unit, the charging / discharging control unit for controlling charging or discharging from the secondary battery, and the secondary battery cannot operate the electric device for a predetermined time. A storage unit that stores a first threshold value, and the charge / discharge control unit is configured to charge the secondary battery when the value of the deterioration index is greater than the first threshold value, or Control is performed so that the secondary battery is not discharged.

  By doing so, the secondary battery pack according to the present disclosure can detect that the electric device to be operated using the value of the deterioration index of the secondary battery cannot be moved for a predetermined time, and the deterioration progresses. Thus, it is possible to reliably prevent the electric device from operating using the secondary battery pack.

  The secondary battery pack according to the present disclosure further includes a notifying unit that notifies that the secondary battery is deteriorated, and the storage unit further deteriorates the secondary battery in addition to the first threshold value. A second threshold value that is a reference for notifying the user that the battery is in the state of charge, and the charge / discharge control unit, when the value of the deterioration index is larger than the second threshold value, It is preferable to notify that the deterioration of the battery is progressing. In this way, the secondary battery pack itself can prompt the user to prepare a new secondary battery pack.

(Embodiment)
Hereinafter, specific embodiments of a secondary battery charge control mechanism, a charging device, and a secondary battery pack according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

  In addition, each drawing for explaining the structure of the secondary battery charging mechanism, the charging device, and the secondary battery pack used in the description of the present embodiment shows the constituent elements and their mutual relationships from the functional aspect. For illustration purposes, each block shown in each figure does not represent a physically independent member. Therefore, one block in each figure may actually be separately configured as two different members, and a plurality of blocks may be configured as one member.

  Moreover, below, it demonstrates using the example of the multicopter generally called a drone as an electric equipment in which a secondary battery is used as an operation power supply. Multi-copters are expected to be put to practical use in a wide range of applications such as agriculture / livestock, natural disaster response, infrastructure maintenance inspection, surveying, security security, and the market scale is also expanding. However, on the other hand, the incidents caused by multicopters and accidents cannot be ignored.

  One of the major problems in incidents and accidents related to multicopters is the crash of multicopters. This is not limited to human error by beginners who are unable to control, but even a specialist who specializes in aerial photography, for example, sometimes crashes a multicopter. The reason is a problem of a secondary battery (battery) which is a driving power source. As a matter of course, there is a strong demand for reducing the size and weight of the secondary battery mounted on the multicopter. For this reason, secondary batteries for multicopters have a limited battery capacity, and at present, they can only be used continuously for about 15 minutes to 20 minutes for general use and about 30 minutes to 40 minutes for some commercial batteries. . The secondary battery degrades the more it is used, the battery capacity at the time of full charge is reduced, and the flight time that was originally about 15 minutes is gradually shortened. By simply checking the remaining capacity of the secondary battery by the user himself, it is not easy to grasp the deterioration state, and because the flight was performed in a state where the deterioration state could not be confirmed, the battery capacity of the secondary battery was used up in the middle of the flight. In many cases, it crashes.

  The secondary battery charging mechanism, the charging device, and the secondary battery pack disclosed in the present application are intended to ensure operation for a predetermined time of an electric device that uses the secondary battery as a driving power source. The problem of crash can be solved. Therefore, the secondary battery charging mechanism, the charging device, and the secondary battery pack disclosed in the present application are used as a secondary power source as an operating power source of an electric device that operates continuously for a certain time while moving itself, such as a multicopter. It is extremely effective as a control for charging and discharging a battery.

[Secondary battery charging mechanism and charge / discharge control]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a charging mechanism for a secondary battery according to the present embodiment.

  The charging mechanism of the present embodiment controls charging / discharging of the secondary battery 11 as an operation power source of the multicopter 30 that is an electric device, and the battery pack 10 as a secondary battery pack including the secondary battery 11 The secondary battery 11 is mainly composed of a member disposed inside the charger 20 which is a secondary battery charging device connected to the battery pack 10 when the secondary battery 11 is charged. Moreover, the member arrange | positioned inside the multicopter 30 which is an electric equipment may become one member which comprises the charging mechanism of the secondary battery shown in this embodiment as needed.

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration example in a case where a charge / discharge control unit that controls charging / discharging of the secondary battery in the charging mechanism of the secondary battery is arranged in the charging device.

  In the charging mechanism of the secondary battery shown in the present embodiment, the battery pack 10 includes a secondary battery 11 that is a lithium ion secondary battery, and the secondary battery 11 that is disposed inside the battery pack 10 to charge or recharge the secondary battery 11. And a battery control unit 12 for monitoring and adjusting discharge from the battery.

  The secondary battery 11 includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and a secondary battery cell that can be charged and discharged by using movement of lithium ions between them. It is.

  The battery control unit 12 is enclosed in the battery pack 10 together with the secondary battery 11, and the battery control unit 12 in the battery pack 10 according to the present embodiment has a deterioration index indicating the degree of deterioration of the secondary battery 11. It functions as a degradation index detection unit for detection.

  Here, the deterioration index is a numerical value indicating the actual deterioration degree of the target secondary battery, and with respect to the value of the battery capacity when the secondary battery is fully charged in the initial state of the secondary battery, The ratio of the battery capacity value when the secondary battery is fully charged at the time of detecting the deterioration index is obtained, and the remaining degree is displayed as a percentage (%).

That is, the degradation index is
Degradation index (%) = (1−actual capacity value / initial capacity value) × 100
Is calculated as

  The larger the degradation index, the more the secondary battery that is to be detected is degraded, and the value of the battery capacity that can be obtained even when it is charged to be fully charged is smaller. Indicates that the time during which the device can be operated is short.

  In addition, the battery control part 12 arrange | positioned in the battery pack 10 is the function as a degradation index detection part mentioned above, and when connected with the charger 20, it is with the charging / discharging control part 22 of the charger 20. It has a function as a transmission / reception unit for performing data communication. Further, the battery control unit 12 includes a secondary battery state detection circuit that detects a state such as the temperature of the secondary battery 11, a control circuit that controls charging and discharging of the secondary battery, a battery protection circuit, and an output voltage conversion circuit. In some cases, an electric circuit that performs a function such as a remaining amount detection circuit is incorporated.

  The battery pack 10 according to the present embodiment has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape that is long in one direction. However, in the charging mechanism and the secondary battery pack of the secondary battery according to the present disclosure, there is no limitation on the outer shape that can be taken, a thin, substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape that is often used for portable electronic devices, and a cylindrical shape that is compatible with a dry battery Various shapes such as a shape, a box shape such as a large-capacity battery, and a coin shape (button shape) used for a small device such as a hearing aid can be adopted.

  In the present embodiment, a lithium ion secondary battery is exemplified as the type of the secondary battery 11, but various types of secondary batteries such as a nickel hydride secondary battery and a nickel cadmium battery are disclosed in the present application. It can be used as a secondary battery of a secondary battery pack.

  Furthermore, a notification unit such as a lamp for notifying the user of the state of the secondary battery 11 in the battery pack 10, and a transmission / reception unit that transmits information between the battery pack 10 and the charger 20 or the multicopter 30 are provided. Sometimes it is arranged.

  The charger 20 includes a charging circuit unit 21 serving as a charging power source for charging the secondary battery 11 in the battery pack 10, and a charging voltage supplied from the charging circuit unit 21 by grasping a charging state of the secondary battery 11. The charging / discharging control part 22 which makes a charging current more preferable is provided. Further, the charger 20 according to the present embodiment provides the user with a storage unit 23 that stores threshold data used in charge / discharge control performed by the charge / discharge control unit 22, and a charge state and a deterioration state of the secondary battery. And a notification unit 24 for notification.

  The charging circuit unit 21 is a power supply circuit that generates a voltage or current for charging the secondary battery 11. The charging circuit unit 21 generates a DC or AC voltage or current having a predetermined voltage from a commercial power supply (100 VAC), and includes a voltage conversion circuit, a rectification circuit, an AD conversion circuit or a DA conversion circuit, a protection circuit, and the like. It is comprised by various electric circuits.

  The charge / discharge control unit 22 is a control circuit that controls the charging circuit unit 21 to efficiently supply a voltage and current for charging to the secondary battery 11.

  In general, charging of a lithium ion secondary battery is performed according to a charging program in which constant voltage charging is performed after first performing constant current charging. When the battery voltage at the start of charging is lower than a predetermined value, preliminary charging at a low voltage is performed for the purpose of protecting the battery and preventing deterioration. In order to be able to execute such a charging program, the charge / discharge control unit 22 of the charger 20 of the present embodiment detects the voltage value of the secondary battery 11 and the current value supplied to the secondary battery 11. A voltage sensor, a current sensor, and a memory unit for storing the charging program exemplified above are provided. Various information such as the battery voltage of the secondary battery is grasped by the battery control unit 12 arranged in the battery pack 10, and the charging / discharging control unit 22 is charged based on the information transmitted from the battery control unit 12. The charging operation of the unit 21 may be controlled.

  The charge / discharge control unit 22 of the charger 20 according to the present embodiment acquires the deterioration state of the secondary battery 11 from the battery control unit 12 of the battery pack 10 as a deterioration index, and stores the value of the deterioration index and the storage unit. By comparing the first threshold value and the second threshold value, the charging to the secondary battery 11 from the charging circuit unit 21 and the discharging from the secondary battery 11 are controlled. The charge / discharge control of the secondary battery 11 by the charge / discharge control unit 22 will be described later in detail with reference to FIG.

  The charge / discharge control unit 22 that controls the charging of the secondary battery 11 can be realized as a microcomputer or an electronic circuit that is an assembly of various logic circuits. Further, the charge / discharge control unit 22 serves as a transmission / reception unit that exchanges various information such as a degradation index with the battery control unit 11 of the battery pack 10 when the battery pack 10 and the charger 20 are connected. It has a function.

  The memory | storage part 23 is a memory part which memorize | stores the 1st threshold value and 2nd threshold value of a degradation index which are used when the charging / discharging control part 22 performs charging / discharging control of the secondary battery 11 mentioned above. The memory | storage part 23 can be comprised using the member which can memorize | store data used widely, such as a semiconductor memory element.

  The notification unit 24 can be used when the charge / discharge control unit 22 that controls the charging of the secondary battery 11 is already deteriorated and cannot be used. When it is preferable to prepare a new secondary battery in order to reach the end of its service life soon, it is a part that informs the user of the situation. Moreover, the alerting | reporting part 24 can fulfill | perform the function which notifies a user of supply of the commercial power to the charger 20, and the operation condition of charger 20 itself.

  As the notification unit 24, lamps such as LED lamps, various display panels such as liquid crystal (LCD) and EL, a sound reproduction mechanism capable of recording and reproducing the notification contents, and the like can be used visually or sound. Information is communicated to the user.

  The charger 20 of the present embodiment can be realized as a cradle that is charged by attaching the battery pack 10 removed from the multicopter 30 that is an electric device. Moreover, the charger 20 of this embodiment is provided with the charging cable connected to the battery pack 10, and the battery pack 10 is charged while being attached to the multicopter 30 or removed from the multicopter 30. It is realizable as a form which connects a charge cable to a terminal. Furthermore, it is not limited to the case where the battery pack 10 and the charger 20 are connected by a charging cable, and the two are contactless using the induced electromotive force or magnetic resonance between the battery pack 10 and the charger 20. It is also possible to charge in the state. In this case, various types of information exchange between the battery pack 10 and the charger 20 are performed between wirelessly communicable information transmission units arranged in the devices.

  The multicopter (drone) 30 is an electric device that operates using the secondary battery 11 as a drive power source, and includes a drive circuit unit 31, a device control unit 32, an operation setting unit 33, and an operation time determination unit 34.

  The drive circuit unit 31 is a circuit part for the electric device to perform its own function. In the case of the multicopter 30 of this embodiment, the propeller necessary for the flight, the motor for rotating the propeller, and shooting are performed. A camera to perform, a microcomputer that controls the flight attitude and speed by adjusting the rotation of multiple propellers, various sensors such as an inclination sensor and an acceleration sensor that detect the attitude of the aircraft, and the operating state of the multicopter 30 are displayed. Display monitor to be included.

  The device control unit 32 is a control circuit that performs overall operation control of the multicopter 30, and activates the drive circuit unit 31 according to an operation instruction input from the operation setting unit 33, predetermined operation, and further stops. Control. In addition, the device control unit 32 can transmit and receive information to and from the battery control unit 12 in the battery pack 20, and the threshold value based on the operation time determined by the operation time determination unit 34, which will be described later, is set as the battery control. It can be transmitted to the part 12.

  The operation setting unit 33 is a part where the operation setting of the multicopter 30 is performed by the user, and the operation setting of the multicopter 30 can be received by an activation switch, an operation button, an operation dial, or the like of the multicopter 30. In addition, the operation setting unit 33 receives a user's operation instruction with a dedicated control device or a controller 40 configured as dedicated software on a general-purpose device such as a tablet computer or a smart phone, or with a camera. A transmission / reception unit that transmits the captured image to the controller 40 can be provided.

  The operation setting unit 33 transmits the contents of the operation instruction for the multicopter 30 instructed by the user directly to the device control unit 32 through the operation button or the like or indirectly through the controller 40.

  The operation time determination unit 34 determines the operation time (flight time) when the operation content of the multicopter 30 instructed by the user from the operation setting unit 33 is executed according to the instruction from the device control unit 32, and the operation time The deterioration index value of the secondary battery 11 that can be determined to be operable is calculated, and the calculated deterioration index value is transmitted to the device control unit 32 as the first threshold value.

  Next, the contents of the control in the above-described secondary battery control mechanism will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the charge / discharge control unit in the control mechanism of the secondary battery according to the present embodiment.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, since the charge / discharge control unit 22 is provided in the charger 20, the battery pack 10 and the charger 20 are connected for charging, whereby the charge / discharge control unit 22 is connected. Charge / discharge control starts.

  First, the charge / discharge control unit 22 acquires a threshold value used for charge / discharge control (step S01).

  In the case of the embodiment of FIG. 1, the threshold value is a value of the degradation index corresponding to the charge pack 10 provided in advance in the storage unit 23 in the charger 20. In the case of the present embodiment, the threshold value is A second threshold value is acquired.

  Since the deterioration of the secondary battery 11 is progressing, the first threshold value cannot realize a battery capacity that allows the multicopter 30 to operate for a certain period of time even if the secondary battery is fully charged. This is the value of the degradation index that is determined to be in a state. In addition, the second threshold value is not so determined that the degree of deterioration of the secondary battery 11 has reached the first threshold value. Is the value of the degradation index that is determined to prevent the multicopter 30 from operating in a certain period of time. As a specific numerical example, the degradation index as the first threshold value can be 30%, and the degradation index as the second threshold value can be 10%. This numerical value is an example, and the operating environment in which the secondary battery operates, such as the type and capacity of the secondary battery, the voltage value of the secondary battery, and the assumed environmental temperature, It is a numerical value set as appropriate depending on the type of device.

  Next, the charge / discharge control unit 22 acquires the current degradation index value of the secondary battery 11 from the battery control unit 12 of the battery pack 10 (step S02).

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the battery control unit 12 in the battery pack 10 that functions as the deterioration index detection unit is, for example, at the time of previous charging, discharging, or when the charger 20 is connected. Based on various data such as the voltage value of the secondary battery 11, other electrical characteristic values, and the time required for charging / discharging, the value of the degradation index of the secondary battery 11 at that time is detected and the value is charged / discharged. This is transmitted to the control unit 22.

  In FIG. 2, the acquisition of the degradation index (step S02) is performed after the acquisition of the threshold (step S01), but this order is not limited, and the acquisition of the threshold after the acquisition of the degradation index is performed. Alternatively, the threshold value acquisition and the degradation index acquisition may be performed simultaneously.

  Next, the charge / discharge control unit 22 compares the acquired threshold value with the value of the degradation index.

  First, the charge / discharge control unit 22 determines whether or not the value of the degradation index exceeds the first threshold (step S03).

  When the value of the deterioration index is larger than the first threshold value (in the case of “Yes” in step S03), the secondary battery 11 has already been deteriorated and will be charged in the future to be fully charged. This is a state in which it is determined that the battery capacity that can operate 30 for a predetermined time is not reached. Therefore, the charging / discharging control unit 22 stops the operation of the charging circuit unit 21 or disconnects the charging circuit that connects the charging circuit unit 21 and the secondary battery 11 to charge the secondary battery 11. Is stopped (step S04).

  Furthermore, the charge / discharge control unit 22 turns on the warning lamp of the notification unit 24 of the charger 20 (for example, red continuous lighting), and the user cannot use the secondary battery 11 of the battery pack 10 due to deterioration. In addition, the fact that the battery is not being charged is notified (step S05).

  When the value of the deterioration index is not larger than the first threshold value (in the case of “No” in step S03), the charge / discharge control unit 22 subsequently determines whether the value of the deterioration index is larger than the second threshold value. Is determined (step S06).

  When the value of the degradation index is larger than the second threshold value (in the case of “Yes” in step S06), the charge / discharge control unit 22 determines that the secondary battery 11 to be charged is still in the multicopter 30 for a predetermined time. Although it is possible to operate, it is determined that the multicopter 30 cannot be operated for a predetermined time at a relatively early time in the future and charging of the secondary battery 11 is stopped.

  At this time, the charging / discharging control unit 22 turns on the lamp of the notification unit 24 of the charger 20 (as an example, lighting in orange or blinking red), and so on, to confirm that the replacement time of the battery pack 10 is approaching. The user is notified (step S07).

  Since the degradation index value of the secondary battery 11 is currently in a state in which the multicopter 30 can be operated for a predetermined time, the charge / discharge control unit 22 operates the charging circuit unit 21 according to a predetermined charging program. Then, the secondary battery 11 is charged to be fully charged (step S08).

  In step S06, when the deterioration index value of the secondary battery 11 does not exceed the second threshold value (in the case of “No” in step S06), the charge / discharge control unit 22 determines that the secondary battery 11 Is determined to be in a normal state where it can be used sufficiently, and the secondary battery 11 is charged with a regular charging program (step S08).

  As described above, when the secondary battery 11 is in a state in which the multicopter 30 can be operated for a predetermined time, the charge / discharge control unit 22 charges the secondary battery 11 and ends its operation. On the other hand, when the secondary battery 11 has deteriorated to a state where the multicopter cannot be operated for a predetermined time, the charge / discharge control unit 22 does not charge the secondary battery 11 and does not charge the secondary battery 11. The charging control is terminated.

  As described above, the charging mechanism of the secondary battery according to the present embodiment grasps the degree of deterioration of the secondary battery to be charged by the value of the deterioration index, and the secondary battery uses the secondary battery as an operating power source. When the electric device to be operated cannot be operated for a predetermined time, the secondary battery is not charged itself. For this reason, in the charging mechanism of the present embodiment, as long as the secondary battery that has been charged is used, the electric device can be reliably operated for a predetermined operation time. On the other hand, in the charging mechanism according to the present embodiment, the secondary battery is not charged because the secondary battery is deteriorated and the electric device using the secondary battery as an operating power source cannot be operated for a predetermined time. Even if such a secondary battery is mounted as a power source, the electric device cannot be operated. As a result, for example, in a multicopter that requires a certain distance of flight, it is possible to reliably prevent an undesired situation in which the battery capacity is lost during the flight and the vehicle crashes.

  In the above-described embodiment, the threshold value that the charge / discharge control unit 22 compares with the current value of the degradation index is determined to allow the electric device used by the target battery pack 10 to operate for a predetermined time. The example which is preset as the value of the possible degradation index and is acquired from the storage unit 23 provided in the charger 20 has been described.

  However, the first threshold value and the second threshold value used for the determination for the charge / discharge control unit to control charging of the secondary battery or discharging from the secondary battery are stored in the storage unit of the charger. It is not restricted to what acquires a numerical value. The storage unit that stores the threshold value may be provided in the secondary battery pack, or may be provided in a multicopter that is an electrical device.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1, in the charging mechanism of the secondary battery according to the present embodiment, the multicopter 30 includes the operation time determination unit 34, whereby the threshold used for the charge / discharge control performed by the charge / discharge control unit 22. Can be acquired in response to the user's operation instruction to the multicopter. Specifically, the operation time determination unit 34 can be obtained from the operation content of the multicopter 30 set by the user using the operation setting unit 33. Is calculated by calculating the value of the degradation index of the secondary battery 11 from the viewpoint of the battery capacity value that can secure the determined one flight time. The value of the degradation index can be set as the first threshold value. In this way, the first threshold value determined and calculated by the operation time determination unit 34 is transmitted to the charge / discharge control unit 22 of the charger 20 via the battery control unit 12 of the battery pack 10, etc. The unit 22 can perform the charge / discharge control shown in FIG. 2 using the obtained first threshold value.

  Thus, when the user actually gives an operation instruction to the multicopter 30, the charge / discharge control unit 22 controls the charging of the secondary battery 11 using the first threshold value corresponding to the instruction content. Thus, the charge / discharge control of the secondary battery 11 according to the actual operation content is performed as compared with the case where the uniform threshold set in the storage unit 23 included in the charger 20 is used for the charge / discharge control. Thus, the secondary battery 11 can be used efficiently.

  In the above description, the charge / discharge control unit 22 performs the control to stop charging the secondary battery 11 based on the value of the degradation index of the secondary battery 11 and the first threshold value. It is also possible for the control unit 22 to control the discharge from the secondary battery 11.

  Specifically, when the charge / discharge control unit 22 determines that the value of the deterioration index of the secondary battery 11 is greater than the first threshold value (in the case of “Yes” in step S3), the battery control of the battery pack 10 is performed. A signal instructing the unit 12 to stop discharging from the secondary battery 11 can be transmitted, and the battery control unit 12 can execute the instruction.

  In this case, even if the secondary battery 11 is charged, the secondary battery 11 cannot be discharged. Therefore, as with the case where the secondary battery 11 is not charged, the secondary battery 11 having deteriorated has progressed. The multicopter 30 using the battery 11 as an operating power supply can reliably prevent a situation in which the capacity of the secondary battery 11 is lost during operation and the battery crashes. In the case where the charge / discharge control unit 22 is configured to stop the discharge from the secondary battery 11 by controlling the battery control unit 12 in the battery pack 10, the voltage in the charging process to the secondary battery 11 Since the discharge can be controlled based on the value of the degradation index of the secondary battery 11 calculated based on the latest data such as the value and the charging time, the control of the secondary battery 11 can be performed with the latest data more appropriate to the current situation. It can be carried out.

[Modification of charging mechanism]
Hereinafter, modifications of the charging mechanism according to the present embodiment will be described.

  The charging mechanism of the modified example described below has a charging / discharging control unit that performs charging / discharging control of the secondary battery in the battery pack. FIG. 1 shows that the charging / discharging control unit is arranged in the charger. In this case, the charging mechanism is different.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a charging mechanism according to a modification of the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the charging mechanism of the modified example, in the battery pack 10 ′, the secondary battery 11, the charge / discharge control unit 13 that controls the charge / discharge of the secondary battery 11, the first threshold value and the second threshold value A storage unit 14 that stores a threshold value and a notification unit 15 that notifies the user of deterioration of the secondary battery 11 are arranged.

  A charging circuit unit 21 and a charging circuit control unit 25 are disposed in the charger 20 ′.

  In the charging mechanism of the modification shown in FIG. 3, the multicopter 30 and the controller 40 for operating the multicopter 30 are the same as the charging mechanism according to the embodiment shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, the same members as those in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In the case of the modified charging mechanism shown in FIG. 3, the charge / discharge control unit 13 that controls charging / discharging of the secondary battery 11, and the storage unit 14 and the notification unit 15 are all arranged in the battery pack 10 ′. Therefore, the main part of the charge / discharge control shown in FIG. 2 can be performed only in the battery pack 10 ′.

  More specifically, in the charging mechanism of the modification shown in FIG. 3, the charge / discharge control unit 13 of the battery pack 10 ′ acquires the deterioration degree of the secondary battery 11 as the deterioration index, the value of the deterioration index, and the storage A function of acquiring the first threshold value and the second threshold value stored in the unit, and comparing the acquired deterioration index value with the magnitudes of the first threshold value and the second threshold value, The function of stopping the supply of the charging current to the battery 11 and the discharge current from the secondary battery 11, the degree of deterioration of the secondary battery 11, and the state where the secondary battery 11 cannot be used are notified to the user by the notification unit 15. It can fulfill the function of notifying.

  Note that a secondary battery state detection circuit that detects a state such as the temperature of the secondary battery 11 that is widely used as a battery control IC in the charge / discharge control unit 13 and a control that controls charging and discharging of the secondary battery. In some cases, an electric circuit that performs functions such as a circuit, a battery protection circuit, an output voltage conversion circuit, and a remaining amount detection circuit is appropriately incorporated.

  On the other hand, in the case of the charging mechanism of the modification shown in FIG. 3, the charging circuit control unit 25 provided in the charger 20 ′ controls the charging circuit unit 21 to perform, for example, a constant voltage after performing constant current charging. A charging circuit for more appropriately charging the secondary battery 11 such as charging according to a charging program in which charging is performed or pre-charging when the battery voltage at the start of charging is lower than a predetermined value. Only the control of the unit 21 is performed. The charger 20 ′ can have a notification function for notifying the operation of the charger 20 ′ itself and the connection state between the charger 20 ′ and the battery pack 10 ′.

  Also, in the case of the charging mechanism of the modification shown in FIG. 3, the charge / discharge control unit 13 controls the charge / discharge of the multicopter 30 based on the degree of deterioration of the secondary battery 11. The value calculated by the operation time determination unit 34 can be used.

  Further, in the case of the charging mechanism of the modification shown in FIG. 3, charging / discharging can be controlled according to the degree of deterioration of the secondary battery 11 while being mounted on the multicopter 30. Charge / discharge control using the value of the degradation index detected as the latest state value based on various characteristic values when the secondary battery 11 is charged can be performed.

  In this way, in the charging mechanism of the modification shown in FIG. 3, the secondary battery can be stopped from being charged or discharged from the secondary battery according to the degree of deterioration of the secondary battery. It is possible to reliably prevent an unexpected situation in which an electric device using a battery as an operation power source cannot perform an operation for a predetermined time and the battery capacity is lost during the operation and the battery is stopped undesirably.

[Secondary battery charger]
Next, a charging device for a secondary battery according to the present embodiment will be described.

  The charging device according to the present embodiment is a charging device that performs charging control of the secondary battery described with reference to FIG. 2 and can be realized as a charger.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a charger as the charging device according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the charger 50 of the present embodiment is a charger that charges a secondary battery 61 that is an operation power source of the electric device 70, and includes a charging circuit unit 51, a charge / discharge control unit 52, and deterioration information. A receiving unit 53, a storage unit 54, and a notification unit 55 are provided.

  The charging circuit unit 51 is a power supply circuit unit that supplies a charging voltage and a charging current for charging the secondary battery 61 disposed in the battery pack 60 connected to the charger 50. The specific configuration of the charging circuit unit 51 is the same as that of the charging circuit unit 21 described in the charging mechanism of the present embodiment.

  The charge / discharge control unit 52 controls the charging circuit unit 51 to bring the secondary battery 61 into a fully charged state according to a predetermined charging program, and the degree of deterioration of the secondary battery 61 according to the flowchart shown in FIG. Control that stops charging / discharging of the secondary battery 61 when the value of the degradation index shown is compared with a predetermined threshold and the secondary battery 61 is in a state where the electric device 70 cannot be operated for a predetermined time. I do. The specific configuration of the charge / discharge control unit 52, the value of the degradation index of the secondary battery 61, and the contents of the charge / discharge control using the first threshold value and the second threshold value are the same as the charging mechanism of the present embodiment. This is the same as that of the charge / discharge control unit 22 described in FIG.

  The deterioration information receiving unit 53 is connected to the battery control unit 62 disposed in the battery pack 60 connected to the charger 50, and is a charging target obtained by a function as a deterioration information detection unit included in the battery control unit 62 The deterioration state at the present time of the secondary battery 61 is received as a deterioration index. The charge / discharge control unit 52 of the charger 50 performs the above-described charge / discharge control based on the deterioration index value of the secondary battery 61 received from the deterioration information receiving unit 53.

  The memory | storage part 54 has memorize | stored the 1st threshold value used for the charging / discharging control which the charging / discharging control part 52 performs, and a 2nd threshold value. The specific configuration of the storage unit 54 and the contents of the first threshold value and the second threshold value stored in the storage unit 54 are stored in the configuration of the storage unit 23 and the storage unit 23 described in the charging mechanism of the present embodiment. This is the same as the contents of the threshold value.

  The notification unit 55 is a member that notifies the user of the degree of deterioration of the secondary battery 61 using an LED lamp, a display panel, audio means, or the like. About the structure of the alerting | reporting part 55, and the concrete alerting | reporting method by the deterioration degree of the secondary battery 61 are the same as that of the alerting | reporting part 24 demonstrated in the charging mechanism of the said this embodiment.

  As described above, the charger 50 according to the present embodiment charges the secondary battery 61 used as the operation power source of the electric device 70, grasps the degree of deterioration of the secondary battery 61 as a deterioration index, and uses this secondary battery. If the secondary battery 61 has deteriorated to such an extent that the electric device 70 cannot be operated for a certain time by comparing the value of the deterioration index value 61 with a preset threshold value, Charge / discharge control is performed to stop charging the secondary battery 61 or discharging from the secondary battery.

  For this reason, by charging using the charger according to the present embodiment, it is possible to reliably prevent an unexpected situation in which an electric device using the secondary battery as an operating power supply stops undesirably during the operation. can do.

  In the embodiment of the charger shown in FIG. 4, the configuration in which the charger 50 acquires the value of the deterioration index of the secondary battery 61 via the deterioration information receiving unit 53 has been described. However, the charger 50 according to the present embodiment includes a deterioration index detection unit that detects a deterioration index of the secondary battery 61 to be charged inside, and when the secondary battery 61 is connected for charging, Based on numerical information such as the voltage value of the secondary battery 61 and electrical characteristics in the course of charging the secondary battery 61, the deterioration index value of the secondary battery 61 can be obtained by itself. it can.

  Moreover, about the 1st threshold value used for the charging / discharging control by a charging / discharging control part, and the 2nd threshold value, in the said embodiment, the example using the value memorize | stored in the memory | storage part 54 arrange | positioned inside the charger 50 is shown. It was. However, the threshold value used for the charge / discharge control can be a value stored in the storage means inside the battery pack 60 or the electric device 70. Moreover, as shown as embodiment of the above-mentioned charging mechanism, the operation time determination part which can calculate a threshold value according to an actual user's setting was provided in the electric equipment, and it was obtained by this operation time determination part. Charge / discharge control of the secondary battery 61 can be performed using the threshold value.

[Secondary battery pack]
Next, the secondary battery pack according to the present embodiment will be described.

  The secondary battery pack according to this embodiment is a battery pack capable of performing charge control of the secondary battery described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a battery pack as a secondary battery pack according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the battery pack 80 of this embodiment includes a secondary battery 81 that is an operation power source of the electric device 100, a charge / discharge control unit 82, and a deterioration state of a secondary battery used when performing charge / discharge control. Is provided with a deterioration index detecting unit 83 for detecting the deterioration index as a deterioration index, a storage unit 84 for storing a threshold value used when charge / discharge control of the secondary battery 81 is performed, and a notification unit 85. It is charged by the charging current from the container 90.

  The secondary battery 81 is a lithium ion battery as an example, has a predetermined voltage value and a current capacity value, and functions as an operation power source of the electric device 100.

  The charge / discharge control unit 82 has a function as a deterioration index detection unit 83 that acquires the deterioration degree of the secondary battery 81 as a deterioration index. Further, the charge / discharge control unit 82 acquires the value of the deterioration index and the first threshold value and the second threshold value stored in the storage unit 84, and further acquires the value of the deterioration index and the first threshold value. And a function of stopping the supply of the charging current to the secondary battery 81 and the supply of the discharging current from the secondary battery 81, the degree of deterioration of the secondary battery 81, and the secondary The function of notifying the user by the notification unit 85 that the battery 81 cannot be used is achieved. Note that a secondary battery state detection circuit that detects a state such as the temperature of the secondary battery 81 that is widely used as a battery control IC in the charge / discharge control unit 82, and a control that controls charging and discharging of the secondary battery. In some cases, an electric circuit that performs functions such as a circuit, a battery protection circuit, an output voltage conversion circuit, and a remaining amount detection circuit is appropriately incorporated.

  Thus, the specific configuration of the charge / discharge control unit 82, the charge / discharge control using the deterioration index value of the secondary battery 81 shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2, the first threshold value, and the second threshold value. Is the same as that of the charge / discharge control unit 13 in the battery pack 10 ′ described in the charging mechanism of the present embodiment.

  The storage unit 84 corresponds to the operating state of the electric device 100 that is operated by the secondary battery 81, and includes a first threshold that is a value of a degradation index that prevents the electric device 100 from operating for a predetermined time, and a secondary value. A second threshold value, which is a reference deterioration index value to be notified to the user that the battery 81 has been deteriorated, is stored. Specifically, the storage unit 84 is the same as the storage unit 14 in the battery pack 10 ′ described in the charging mechanism of the present embodiment.

  The notification unit 85 is a member that can notify the user of the deterioration state of the secondary battery 81 by using a lamp, a display panel, sound means, or the like. About the structure of the alerting | reporting part 85 and the concrete alerting | reporting method by the deterioration degree of the secondary battery 81, it is the same as that of the alerting | reporting part 15 demonstrated in the charging mechanism of the said this embodiment.

  In the embodiment of the battery pack shown in FIG. 5, the charging circuit control unit of the charger 90 is the same as the charging circuit control unit 25 in the modification of the charging mechanism shown in FIG. 3, and controls the charging circuit unit. For example, charging according to a charging program in which constant voltage charging is performed after performing constant current charging, or preliminary charging when the battery voltage at the start of charging is lower than a predetermined value is performed. Control for charging the secondary battery 81 more appropriately is performed.

  Also, in the case of the battery pack 80 shown in FIG. 5, the electric device 100 is actually set as the first threshold value at which the charge / discharge control unit 82 controls the charge / discharge based on the deterioration degree of the secondary battery 81. An operation time determination unit capable of calculating a threshold value according to a user setting may be provided, and charging / discharging control of the secondary battery 81 may be performed using the threshold value obtained by the operation time determination unit. .

  As described above, the secondary battery charging mechanism, the secondary battery charging device, and the secondary battery pack according to the present embodiment all detect the degree of deterioration of the secondary battery to be charged as the deterioration index value. At the same time, the value of the degradation index that is determined to prevent the electric device driven by the secondary battery from operating for a predetermined time is acquired as the first threshold value. Then, the charge / discharge control unit compares the value of the deterioration index with the first threshold value, and if the deterioration of the secondary battery has progressed until the electric device cannot be operated for a predetermined time, Control is performed to stop charging the secondary battery or discharging from the secondary battery. For this reason, by using the secondary battery charging mechanism or the secondary battery charging device according to the present embodiment, and the secondary battery pack according to the present embodiment, the electric device is It is possible to reliably avoid an unexpected situation where the operation stops undesirably during the operation.

  In the above embodiment, in addition to the first threshold value for determining whether or not the secondary battery can be used, the secondary battery is deteriorated and the replacement time is approaching by using the second threshold value. The configuration for informing the user of the above has been described. However, in the secondary battery charging mechanism, the charging device, and the secondary battery pack disclosed in the present application, it is not an essential requirement to issue a warning using the second threshold value. In addition to the first threshold value and the second threshold value, one or more threshold values may be used to notify the user of the progress of the secondary battery deterioration in more detail.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, as charging / discharging control according to the determination result of the deterioration degree of the secondary battery performed by the charging / discharging control part, either charge to a secondary battery or discharge from a secondary battery The case of stopping one has been described. However, as charge / discharge control of the secondary battery disclosed in the present application, it is possible to perform control so as to simultaneously stop charging to the secondary battery and discharging from the secondary battery.

  In the above embodiment, an example of a multicopter is illustrated as an electric device that operates for a certain period of time. The electrical device in which the secondary battery control mechanism, secondary battery charging device, secondary battery pack target secondary battery disclosed in the present application is used as an operation power source is not limited to a multicopter, for example, land Various types of remote control devices can be used, including devices that respond to disasters, such as those that travel on the road and those that can move underwater. In addition, elevators that assist the raising and lowering of stairs for people with physical disabilities, auxiliary equipment that helps bathing people receiving care, medical equipment used in emergency situations such as outdoors or when the power is turned off, cardiac pacemakers, A state in which a series of operations are not completed once the operation is started, regardless of the size or current value of the secondary battery used, such as a medical device that assists the function of a person with a physical disability such as a hearing aid Therefore, it is possible to employ various electric devices that are in trouble if the operation stops due to insufficient battery capacity.

  The secondary battery charging mechanism, the secondary battery charging device, and the secondary battery pack according to the present disclosure are configured to forcibly stop charging / discharging of the secondary battery based on the degree of deterioration of the secondary battery. It is possible to reliably prevent an electrical device using the secondary battery as an operating power source from being undesirably stopped during a series of operations. Therefore, the secondary battery charging mechanism, the charging device, and the secondary battery pack according to the present disclosure are used as an operation power source for various electric devices that are required to perform a continuous operation for a certain period of time in terms of the functions to be performed. It is extremely useful as a secondary battery, a device for charging a secondary battery, and a charging mechanism.

10 Battery pack (secondary battery pack)
11 Secondary battery 12 Battery control unit (degradation index detection unit)
20 Charger (secondary battery charger)
21 Charging Circuit Unit 22 Charge / Discharge Control Unit 30 Multicopter (Electrical Equipment)

Claims (12)

A secondary battery used as an operating power source for electrical equipment;
A charging circuit unit for charging the secondary battery;
A deterioration index detecting unit for detecting a deterioration index indicating a degree of decrease in the full-charge capacity of the secondary battery;
A charge / discharge control unit for controlling charging to the secondary battery or discharging from the secondary battery;
When the value of the deterioration index is greater than a first threshold value at which the secondary battery is determined to be unable to operate the electrical device for a predetermined time, the charge / discharge control unit is directed to the secondary battery. The secondary battery charging mechanism is controlled so as not to charge or discharge from the secondary battery. A notification unit for notifying that the secondary battery is deteriorated;
When the value of the deterioration index is larger than a second threshold value that is a reference for notifying the user that the deterioration of the secondary battery is progressing, the charge / discharge control section The secondary battery charging mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the secondary battery is informed that deterioration of the secondary battery is progressing. A storage unit for storing the first threshold value determined in correspondence with the electronic device;
The charging / discharging control unit according to claim 1, wherein the charging / discharging control unit controls charging / discharging of the secondary battery based on the first threshold value in the storage unit. An operation time determination unit for determining an operation time of the electrical device;
The operation time determination unit determines an operation time corresponding to an operation setting for the electric device by a user, and transmits the first threshold value calculated based on the determined operation time to the charge / discharge control unit. ,
The charging / discharging control unit according to claim 1, wherein the charging / discharging control unit controls charging / discharging of the secondary battery based on the first threshold calculated by the operation time determination unit. The charging circuit unit and the charge / discharge control unit are mounted on a charging device that charges the secondary battery,
The charge mechanism of the secondary battery in any one of Claims 1-4 with which the said secondary battery and the said degradation index detection part were mounted in the secondary battery pack. The charging circuit unit is mounted on a charging device that charges the secondary battery,
The charging mechanism of the secondary battery in any one of Claims 1-4 with which the said secondary battery, the said charging / discharging control part, and the said degradation index detection part were mounted in the secondary battery pack. A charging device for charging a secondary battery used as an operating power source of an electric device,
A charging circuit unit for charging the secondary battery;
Charging / discharging control unit for controlling charging to the secondary battery or discharging from the secondary battery;
A storage unit that stores a first threshold value determined that the secondary battery cannot operate the electrical device for a predetermined time;
The charge / discharge control unit may charge the secondary battery or the second battery when a deterioration index value indicating a degree of decrease in the full-charge capacity of the secondary battery is larger than the first threshold. A charging device for a secondary battery, which is controlled so as not to discharge from the secondary battery. Further comprising a deterioration index detector for detecting the value of the deterioration index;
The charging / discharging control unit according to claim 7, wherein the charging / discharging control unit controls charging / discharging of the secondary battery based on the value of the deterioration index detected by the deterioration index detecting unit. A deterioration information receiving unit for receiving the value of the deterioration index;
The charge / discharge control unit receives and receives the deterioration index value detected by a deterioration index detecting unit disposed in a secondary battery pack containing the secondary battery via the deterioration information receiving unit. The secondary battery charging device according to claim 7, wherein charging and discharging of the secondary battery are controlled based on an index value. A notification unit for notifying that the secondary battery is deteriorated;
When the value of the deterioration index is larger than a second threshold value that is a reference for notifying the user that the deterioration of the secondary battery is progressing, the charge / discharge control section The secondary battery charging device according to claim 7, wherein the secondary battery is informed that deterioration of the secondary battery is progressing. A rechargeable battery pack containing a rechargeable battery used as an operating power source for electrical equipment,
A deterioration index detecting unit for detecting a deterioration index indicating a degree of decrease in the full-charge capacity of the secondary battery;
A charge / discharge control unit for controlling charging to the secondary battery or discharging from the secondary battery;
A storage unit that stores a first threshold value determined that the secondary battery cannot operate the electrical device for a predetermined time;
The charge / discharge control unit performs control so that charging to the secondary battery or discharging from the secondary battery is not performed when the value of the deterioration index is larger than the first threshold value. A secondary battery pack characterized by that. A notification unit for notifying that the secondary battery is deteriorated;
In addition to the first threshold, the storage unit stores a second threshold serving as a reference for notifying the user that the deterioration of the secondary battery is progressing,
The secondary battery pack according to claim 11, wherein when the value of the deterioration index is larger than the second threshold, the charge / discharge control unit notifies that the deterioration of the secondary battery is progressing. .

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