JP2024071163A - Battery unit - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a battery unit that can improve communication strength and suppress increases in equipment costs. [Solution] A battery unit 1 in which battery stacks 3, each configured with a number of battery cells 2 arranged in a row, are arranged facing each other to create a specified space above and below, and includes a management device 4 that manages information about each battery cell 2, and a satellite battery module 5 that monitors each battery cell 2 and transmits the monitored information wirelessly to the management device 4, with the management device 4 located on one side of the opposing space between the upper and lower battery stacks 3, and the satellite battery module 5 located in the opposing space between the upper and lower battery stacks 3. [Selected Figure] Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to a battery unit.

BEVs (battery electric vehicles) need to have larger battery capacities to extend their driving range.

As battery capacity increases, it becomes necessary to increase the number of battery stacks installed. In that case, technology is required to monitor each battery stack with a satellite battery module (SBM) and wirelessly transmit the information monitored by this SBM to a management device.

For example, Patent Document 1 states that "robustness is ensured by providing multiple antennas in the part equivalent to the ECU."

JP 2021-090146 A

In the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, if a metal material is placed between the ECU and the SBM, there is a concern that the metal material will block radio waves and reduce communication strength.

In light of these circumstances, the present invention aims to provide a battery unit that can improve communication strength while suppressing increases in equipment costs.

The present invention is a battery unit in which battery stacks, each of which is configured by arranging a number of battery cells in a row, are arranged facing each other to create a predetermined space above and below, and the battery unit is provided with a management device that manages information about each of the battery cells, a monitoring unit that monitors each of the battery cells, and a transmission unit that wirelessly transmits the information monitored by the monitoring unit to the management device, the management device being arranged on one side of the opposing spaces between the upper and lower battery stacks, and the transmission unit being arranged in the opposing spaces between the upper and lower battery stacks.

In this configuration, the management device and the transmission unit are both positioned in the opposing space of the upper and lower battery stacks, i.e., in a space between the management device and the transmission unit where there is nothing blocking radio waves, and the transmission unit is positioned with a clear line of sight to the management device.

This improves the strength of wireless communication between the management device and the transmitter, and eliminates the need to install multiple antennas, which helps prevent equipment costs from rising.

The battery unit can be configured so that the battery stacks are arranged in multiple rows side-by-side in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the battery cells.

The present invention provides a battery unit that can improve communication strength and suppress increases in equipment costs.

1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of one embodiment of a battery unit according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating a battery unit. FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating a battery unit.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figures 1 to 3 show one embodiment of the present invention. The battery unit 1 in the illustrated embodiment is configured such that a battery stack 3, in which multiple battery cells 2 are arranged in a row, is arranged opposite each other to create a predetermined space above and below.

In this embodiment, the battery stacks 3 are arranged adjacent to each other and spaced apart not only vertically but also horizontally in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of each battery cell 2.

Two battery stacks 3, one above the other, are considered as one set. Of the multiple sets of battery stacks 3, a management device 4 is placed outside the opposing spaces between the upper and lower battery stacks 3 of the set located on one side.

The management device 4 manages information about each battery cell 2, and although not shown in detail, is made up of a commonly known ECU (Electronic Control Unit).

This ECU is equipped with a central processing unit (CPU), a non-volatile memory device (Read Only Memory: ROM), a temporary memory device (Random Access Memory: RAM), etc.

The ROM stores various control programs and maps that are referenced when executing the various control programs. The CPU executes calculations based on the various control programs and maps stored in the ROM. The RAM is a memory that temporarily stores the results of calculations by the CPU and data input from each sensor.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, a satellite battery module (SBM) 5 is arranged in each opposing space of each set of battery stacks 3.

The satellite battery module 5 individually monitors each battery cell 2 that makes up the upper and lower battery stacks 3 and wirelessly transmits the monitored information to the management device 4.

This satellite battery module 5 is configured to have both the monitoring and transmitting functions described in the claims.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, each satellite battery module 5 is arranged in the battery stack 3 in a shifted manner in the arrangement direction of the battery cells 2.

This arrangement ensures that all satellite battery modules 5 are positioned such that there are no overlapping portions facing the management device 4, providing a good line of sight to all satellite battery modules 5 from the management device 4.

As shown in FIG. 3, all the battery stacks 3 are stored in a manner that covers them between the lower case 6 and the upper case 7. The management device 4 is held in a manner that sandwiches it between the outer flange of the lower case 6 and the outer flange of the upper case 7.

As described above, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the management device 4 and the satellite battery modules 5 are both positioned in the opposing space of the upper and lower battery stacks 3, that is, in a space where there is nothing blocking radio waves between the management device 4 and the satellite battery modules 5, so that all satellite battery modules 5 are positioned with a clear line of sight to the management device 4.

This improves the strength of wireless communication between the management device 4 and the satellite battery module 5, and eliminates the need to install multiple antennas, which helps prevent increases in equipment costs.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but may be modified as appropriate within the scope of the claims and equivalents thereto.

For example, in the above embodiment, the number of battery stacks 3 installed is not particularly limited.

In addition, although not shown, in the above embodiment, it is also possible to arrange each satellite battery module 5 in a straight line toward the management device 4.

Furthermore, although not shown, the satellite battery module 5 of the above embodiment can be configured to be separated into a module as a monitoring unit that monitors each battery cell 2, and a module as a transmitting unit that wirelessly transmits information monitored by this monitoring unit to the management device 4. In this case, the modules as transmitting units can be arranged in the opposing spaces of all sets of battery stacks 3 to provide good visibility to the management device 4. When such a configuration is adopted, the advantage is that there is increased freedom in the location of installation of the modules as the monitoring units.

This invention can be suitably used in battery units.

1 Battery unit, 2 Battery cell, 3 Battery stack, 4 Management device, 5 Satellite battery module, 6 Lower case, 7 Upper case.

Claims (1)

A battery unit in which battery stacks each having a configuration in which a plurality of battery cells are arranged in a row are arranged opposite each other to create a predetermined space above and below the battery stack,
a management device that manages information about each of the battery cells, a monitoring unit that monitors each of the battery cells, and a transmission unit that wirelessly transmits the information monitored by the monitoring unit to the management device,
A battery unit characterized in that the management device is arranged on one side of the opposing space between the upper and lower battery stacks, and the transmission unit is arranged in the opposing space between the upper and lower battery stacks.

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