JP5085626B2 - Battery pack, firmware update method thereof, and battery pack system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a battery pack, a firmware update method thereof, and a battery pack system.

  Notebook personal computers (hereinafter referred to as “notebook PCs”), which are representative of portable electronic devices, tend to increase their maximum power consumption year by year as the operating frequency of the CPU increases. Furthermore, since it is necessary to respond to demands such as long-time operation and small size and light weight, the batteries used in recent notebook PCs are mainly lithium ion storage batteries having a high energy density. At the same time, in order to use the battery pack efficiently by strictly managing the charge / discharge state, the battery pack itself has a microcomputer and controls the charging and discharging while exchanging information with the notebook PC itself. A mechanism of a battery device called a battery has become common. The smart battery is a battery device that conforms to a standard called SBS (Smart Battery System) proposed by US Intel and US Duracell, and a battery pack that conforms to the standard is also called an intelligent battery.

  A battery pack corresponding to an intelligent battery includes a battery block formed by combining a plurality of cells, and an electric circuit unit in which a battery controller, a current measurement circuit, a voltage measurement circuit, various sensors, and the like are mounted on a substrate. The battery controller communicates with the embedded controller of the laptop PC via the communication line, manages the discharge and charging from the cell to the notebook PC, and can maintain stable discharge for a long time. is there. In addition, the notebook PC may change the power consumption mode according to the remaining amount of charge capacity of the cell, or may end the operation after displaying a warning on the display when the remaining amount is low. It is possible.

  Lithium ion batteries have a high risk of ignition, smoke generation, bursting and deterioration of characteristics when overcharged or overdischarged. For this reason, the electric circuit part of the intelligent battery cuts off the charging current and prevents overcharging when the cell voltage becomes equal to or higher than the fully charged voltage. When the cell voltage falls below the discharge inhibition voltage, the discharge current is cut off to prevent overdischarge. Further, when an overcurrent flows, the current is interrupted to prevent cell deterioration and electrical circuit damage. And after the state of a full charge voltage, a discharge prohibition voltage, or an overcurrent is cancelled | released, the said intelligent battery can be normally used again.

  In battery packs, the battery controller executes firmware (hereinafter also referred to as “F / W”) to detect battery pack errors (abnormalities), and when an error is detected, the safety protection function is activated to charge and discharge Stop operation. Here, when the detected error is correct, it is desirable to operate the safety protection function, but when the error is erroneously detected due to a malfunction of F / W, if the safety protection function of the battery pack is operated, Although the battery pack is inherently still usable, it cannot be used, which is inconvenient for the user.

  For example, when an error is erroneously detected due to a malfunction of F / W, for example, (1) when it is erroneously detected due to a bug of F / W, (2) there are large variations in battery block manufacturing and large individual differences In some cases, the F / W threshold value (which is uniformly set in the case of the same type of battery pack) is inappropriate and may be erroneously detected as an error. For example, due to defective additives in the cell electrolyte, it may be erroneously detected as an error even though it can still be used in the state where only the voltage of a specific cell has decreased over time, or a defective cell design As a result, there may be a case where an error is erroneously detected even though it can still be used in a state where only a specific cell is significantly deteriorated in the storage state (the cell deterioration varies).

  For example, Patent Document 1 proposes a battery power supply device that can update the F / W of a battery pack. In the same document, in the battery power supply device, the F / W of the battery pack is stored in a rewritable storage means such as a flash memory, and the update F / W is stored in the storage medium or when there is a need to cope with a failure or improve the function. Obtained from the Internet and sent to the battery pack through SMBus from the F / W transfer means of the personal computer main body (host device). The battery pack rewrites the F / W stored in the flash memory with the updated F / W by the F / W rewriting means.

  However, Patent Document 1 only discloses a method for updating the F / W, and a method for recovering when the battery pack becomes unusable by operating the safe operation function due to a malfunction of the F / W. No suggestions have been made.

JP 2001-275270 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and when a battery pack becomes unusable by operating a safety protection function due to a malfunction of firmware, the use of the battery pack is recovered, and normal operation by the updated firmware is performed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a battery pack capable of providing operation, a firmware update method thereof, and a battery pack system.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the battery pack is mounted on an electronic device and configured to allow data communication with the electronic device and includes a secondary battery, and stores firmware. A rewritable non-volatile memory that executes firmware stored in the non-volatile memory to detect an error in the battery pack, and when an error is detected, an error detection unit that operates a safety protection function; Firmware rewriting means for rewriting firmware stored in the non-volatile memory with updated firmware, error rechecking means for rechecking errors detected by the error detecting means, and errors detected by the error rechecking means If not, reset the safety protection function to reset the operation of the safety protection function. Characterized by comprising a and.

  Further, according to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the firmware rewriting means can rewrite the firmware stored in the nonvolatile memory to update firmware when no error is detected by the error rechecking means. desirable.

  According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the nonvolatile memory stores an error flag, and when an error is detected by the error detection means, the error flag of the nonvolatile memory is set, and It is desirable to provide flag setting means for resetting an error flag when no error is detected by the error recheck means.

  Further, according to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the electronic device further comprises error notification means for notifying the electronic device of error information when an error is detected by the error detection device. If there is a corresponding update firmware, the update firmware is transferred to the battery pack, and the firmware rewriting means is stored in the nonvolatile memory when no error is detected by the error recheck means. It is desirable to rewrite existing firmware with updated firmware transferred from the electronic device.

  According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, it is desirable that the operation of the safety protection function is an operation of interrupting the charging / discharging path with a switch element that forms a part of the charging / discharging path of the secondary battery.

  Further, according to a preferred aspect of the present invention, there is provided a ROM for storing an error check program, and the error recheck means is detected by the error detection means using a recheck program stored in the ROM. It is desirable to recheck for errors that have been made.

  Further, according to a preferred aspect of the present invention, it is desirable that the error detection algorithm of the recheck program stored in the ROM is simpler than the error detection algorithm of the firmware stored in the nonvolatile memory. .

  According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, when the first type of error is detected, the error detection means operates a resettable safety protection function while the second type of error is detected. In this case, a safety protection function that cannot be reset is operated, and the error rechecking unit performs rechecking of the first type of error when the first type of error is detected by the error detection unit, The firmware rewriting means rewrites the firmware stored in the nonvolatile memory with updated firmware when the first error is not detected by the error recheck means, and the safety protection function resetting means It is desirable to reset the operation of the safety protection function when the error recheck means does not detect the first type error.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention provides a battery pack that is attached to an electronic device and configured to be capable of data communication with the electronic device, and includes a secondary battery. A firmware update method, which executes firmware stored in a non-volatile memory, detects an error in a battery pack, and activates a safety protection function when an error is detected, and the error An error recheck process for rechecking errors detected in the detection process, a firmware rewriting process for rewriting firmware stored in the nonvolatile memory with updated firmware, and no error detected in the error recheck process And a safety protection function resetting step for resetting the operation of the safety protection function. To.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention includes an electronic device and a battery pack including a secondary battery mounted on the electronic device, and is configured to be able to perform data communication with each other. In the battery pack system, the battery pack performs error detection in the battery pack by executing rewritable nonvolatile memory for storing firmware and firmware stored in the nonvolatile memory, and an error is detected. Error detection means for operating the safety protection function, error notification means for notifying the electronic device of error information when the error detection means detects an error, and the error detection means. An error recheck means for rechecking the detected error and firmware stored in the nonvolatile memory Firmware rewriting means for rewriting to hardware, and safety protection function resetting means for resetting the operation of the safety protection function when no error is detected by the error rechecking means, and the electronic device includes the battery pack And update firmware transfer means for transferring the update firmware to the battery pack when there is update firmware corresponding to the error information notified from.

  According to the present invention, a rewritable nonvolatile memory for storing firmware, which is a battery pack that is mounted on an electronic device and configured to be capable of data communication with the electronic device and includes a secondary battery, , Executing firmware stored in the nonvolatile memory to detect an error in the battery pack, and detecting an error, an error detecting means for operating a safety protection function, and being stored in the nonvolatile memory Firmware rewriting means for rewriting existing firmware into firmware, error rechecking means for rechecking errors detected by the error detecting means, and when no error is detected by the error rechecking means, the safety protection And a safety protection function resetting means for resetting the operation of the function. Provided a battery pack capable of recovering the use of the battery pack when the safety protection function is activated due to a malfunction of the air and restoring the use of the battery pack and providing a normal operation with the updated firmware. There is an effect that it becomes possible.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a block configuration of a notebook PC to which the present embodiment is applied. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of a configuration related to the battery pack to which the present embodiment is applied and the periphery of the battery pack. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a memory configuration example of the flash memory. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a memory configuration example of the ROM. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a flow for explaining an outline of the update procedure of the F / W stored in the flash memory in the battery pack.

(Embodiment)
Hereinafter, a battery pack, a firmware update method thereof, and a battery pack system according to embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments. In addition, constituent elements in the following embodiments include those that can be easily assumed by those skilled in the art or that are substantially the same.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a block configuration of a notebook PC main body 1 to which the exemplary embodiment is applied. In FIG. 1, only a block configuration related to the power supply device 30 is particularly illustrated. As shown in FIG. 1, the notebook PC main body 1 includes a CPU 11, a main memory 13, a CPU bridge 14, a video subsystem 15, an LCD (liquid crystal display) 16, a card bus controller 19, a card slot 20, a network card 21, and a USB connector. 22, HDD 23, CD / ROM drive 24, embedded controller 26, flash ROM 27, and the like.

  The CPU 11 functions as the brain of the entire notebook PC, and executes various programs in addition to the utility program under the control of the OS. The CPU 11 includes an FS (Front Side) bus 12 as a system bus, a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) bus 17 as a high-speed I / O device bus, and an ISA (Industry Standard Architecture) as a low-speed I / O device bus. Each component is interconnected through a three-stage bus called a bus 25.

  The FS bus 12 and the PCI bus 17 are connected by a CPU bridge (host-PCI bridge) 14 called a memory / PCI chip. The CPU bridge 14 includes a memory controller function for controlling an access operation to the main memory 13, a data buffer for absorbing a difference in data transfer speed between the FS bus 12 and the PCI bus 17, and the like. It has a configuration.

  The main memory 13 is a writable memory used as an execution program reading area of the CPU 11 or a work area for writing processing data of the execution program. The main memory 13 is composed of, for example, a plurality of DRAM chips, and has 64 MB as standard equipment, for example. However, it is possible to add up to 320 MB. This execution program includes various drivers for operating the OS and peripheral devices in hardware, application programs directed to specific tasks, and firmware such as BIOS (Basic Input / Output System).

  The video subsystem 15 is a subsystem for realizing a function related to video, and includes a video controller. The video controller processes a drawing command from the CPU 11, writes the processed drawing information into the video memory, reads out the drawing information from the video memory, and outputs it to the LCD 16 as drawing data.

  The PCI bus 17 is a bus capable of relatively high-speed data transfer, and has a data bus width of 32 or 64 bits, a maximum operating frequency of 33 MHz or 66 MHz, and a maximum data transfer rate of 132 MB / second or 528 MB / second. It is standardized by the specification. The PCI bus 17 is connected to a PCI-ISA bridge 18, a card bus controller 19, and the like.

  The card bus controller 19 is a dedicated controller for directly connecting the bus signal of the PCI bus 17 to the interface connector (card bus) of the card slot 20, and the card slot 20 can be loaded with a PC card. . In the example shown in the figure, a network card 21 for connecting to the Internet and performing communication is mounted as a PC card. The notebook PC main body 1 is configured to be able to communicate with the manufacturer server 100 connected to the Internet through the network card 21. The manufacturer server 100 stores various update programs for the notebook PC main body 1 and the battery pack 31, and the notebook PC main body 1 can download the update program from the manufacturer server 100.

  The PCI-ISA bridge 18 has a bridge function between the PCI bus 17 and the ISA bus 25. DMA controller function, programmable interrupt controller (PIC) function, programmable interval timer (PIT) function, IDE (Integrated Device Electronics) interface function, USB (Universal Serial Bus) function, SMB (System Management Bus) interface function A real-time clock (RTC) is built in.

  The DMA controller function is a function for executing data transfer between a peripheral device such as an FDD and the main memory 13 without intervention of the CPU 11. The PIC function is a function for executing a predetermined program (interrupt handler) in response to an interrupt request (IRQ) from a peripheral device. The PIT function is a function for generating a timer signal at a predetermined cycle. As an interface realized by the IDE interface function, an IDE hard disk drive (HDD) 23 is connected and a CD-ROM drive 24 is connected by ATAPI (AT Attachment Packet Interface). Instead of the CD-ROM drive 24, another type of IDE device such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) drive may be connected. The external storage devices such as the HDD 23 and the CD-ROM drive 24 are stored in a storage place called “media bay” or “device bay” in the notebook PC main body 1, for example. These external storage devices equipped as standard may be exchangeable and exclusively attached to other devices such as an FDD or a battery pack.

  The PCI-ISA bridge 18 is provided with a USB port, and this USB port is connected to, for example, a USB connector 22 provided on the wall surface of the notebook PC main body.

  Further, the PCI-ISA bridge 18 is connected to the power supply device 30. The power supply device 30 includes a battery pack 31, an AC adapter 32, a charger 33, a DC-DC converter 34, and the like. The battery pack 31 is an intelligent battery that conforms to the SBS standard, and is configured to be detachable from the notebook PC body 1. The battery pack 31 is distributed alone as a replacement part or a spare part in the market. The AC adapter 32 is a power supply device connected to a commercial power supply (not shown). The charger 33 charges the battery pack 31 with the DC power supplied from the AC adapter 32. The power supplied from the AC adapter 32 and the battery pack 31 is supplied to each part in the notebook PC via the DC-DC converter 34.

  The ISA bus 25 is a bus having a lower data transfer rate than the PCI bus 17 (for example, a bus width of 16 bits and a maximum data transfer rate of 4 MB / second). The ISA bus 25 is connected to an embedded controller 26, a flash ROM 27 for storing BIOS, and the like.

  The embedded controller 26 is responsible for the power management function of the notebook PC, controls the power supply device 30, and simultaneously via the ISA bus 25, the PCI-ISA bridge 18, the PCI bus 17, the CPU bridge 14, the FS bus 12, and the like. The CPU 11, the main memory 13, and other hardware elements constituting the notebook PC main body 1 can be interconnected to communicate with each other.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of a configuration related to the battery pack 31 to which the present embodiment is applied and the periphery of the battery pack 31. In FIG. 2, the AC adapter 32 can be connected to the power supply terminal of the notebook PC main body 1 and converts an AC voltage into a DC voltage. The charger 33 converts the DC voltage input from the AC adapter 32 into a DC voltage suitable for charging the battery pack 31 and outputs the DC voltage. The charger 33 operates in accordance with a control signal input from the embedded controller 26 and can perform constant voltage control and constant current control. The output voltage or output current is set to either the set voltage Vchg or the set current Ichg. Works to match.

  The embedded controller 26 can communicate with the battery pack 31 and acquire information such as the surface temperature, battery voltage, charging current, charging power, discharging power, and remaining capacity of the battery cell detected by the battery pack 31. Based on these pieces of information, the operation of the charger 33 is controlled.

  The battery pack 31 is a main body of a storage battery that is charged and discharged. The battery pack 31 controls the battery block 41 and the battery pack 31 composed of a plurality of single cells, and the embedded controller 26 and the communication line 62 (two lines of CLOCK and DATA). A battery controller 43 that performs communication via the battery block, a current measurement circuit 45 that measures a charge / discharge current value charged / discharged from the battery block 41, a voltage measurement circuit 47 that measures an output voltage value of the battery block 41, a discharge protection switch FET1, A charge protection switch FET2, a fuse switch FET3, and the like are provided.

  The battery block 41 is, for example, a lithium ion assembled battery including six cells in two parallel three series. The output voltage value of the battery block 41 passes through the power supply line 61 and the ground line 63 and is output to the DC-DC converter 34. A temperature element TH such as one to a plurality of thermistors is attached to the surface of the battery block 41. The output of the temperature element TH is connected to the TH1 port of the battery controller 43.

  The current measurement circuit 45 detects a charging current and a discharging current of the battery block 41 and outputs them to the A / D # 2 port of the battery controller 43. The voltage measurement circuit 47 detects the output voltage value of the battery block 41 and the output voltage of each cell and outputs it to the A / D # 1 port of the battery controller 43.

  A discharge protection switch FET1, a charge protection switch FET2, and a fuse FUSE, each composed of a p-type MOS-FET, are connected to the power supply line 61 in series. Here, although p-type MOS-FETs are used as the discharge protection switch FET1 and the charge protection switch FET2, n-type MOS-FETs may be used. A battery block 41 composed of six lithium ion battery cells is connected in series to the discharge protection switch FET1 via a fuse FUSE and a current detection circuit 45. A discharging current from the battery block 41 and a charging current for the battery block 41 flow between the notebook PC main body 1 through a charging / discharging circuit including a power line 61 and a ground line 63. Such a charge / discharge circuit forms a charge / discharge path for the battery block 41. The charge protection switch FET2 and the discharge protection switch FET1 are ON in a normal state, and are turned OFF by the battery controller 43 when an error (abnormality) is detected.

  The power supply line 61 is connected to a series circuit of a heating wire R provided near the fuse FUSE and a fuse switch FET3 composed of an n-type MOS-FET. The fuse switch FET3 is OFF in a normal state, and is turned ON by the battery controller 43 when an error is detected.

  The battery controller 43 is an integrated circuit including a flash memory 51, a ROM 52, a RAM, an A / D converter, a D / A converter, a timer, an interface circuit and the like in addition to a CPU of about 8 to 16 bits. A program stored in the memory 51 or the ROM 52 is executed to control each part of the battery pack 31 or to communicate with the embedded controller 26.

  The battery controller 43 includes analog input terminals A-D # 1 and A-D # 2 that acquire analog signals that are measurement results output from the voltage measurement circuit 47 and the current measurement circuit 45. The battery controller 43 internally processes these measurement results by performing A / D (Analog to Digital) conversion and processes information such as battery voltage, cell voltage, charging current, charging power, discharging power, remaining capacity, and number of dischargings. I know. The grasped information regarding the battery is transmitted to the embedded controller 26 on the notebook PC main body 1 side through the communication line 62 which is a communication path, according to a protocol defined by the SBS.

  Further, the battery controller 43 includes a fuse switch composed of analog output terminals C-CTL and D-CTL for outputting a signal for ON / OFF control of the charge protection switch FET2 and the discharge protection switch FET1, and an n-type MOS-FET. An F-CTL terminal for outputting a signal for controlling ON / OFF of the FET 3 is provided. The battery controller 43 can turn on the fuse switch FET3 to flow a current through the heating wire R in the vicinity of the fuse FUSE and blow the fuse FUSE.

  The battery controller 43 has a communication line 62 connected to the embedded controller 26 of the notebook PC main body 1 through the DATA terminal so that communication between the battery controller 43 and the embedded controller 26 is possible. The communication line 62 also includes a clock line. The battery controller 43 sends a set current Ichg and a set voltage Vchg to be set in the charger 33 to the embedded controller 26, and the embedded controller 26 sets these set values in the charger 33 to control the operation of the charger 33. Start and stop.

  Further, the battery controller 43 has an overcurrent safety protection function, an overvoltage safety protection function, a low voltage safety protection function, and the like, and an error (abnormality) of the battery block 41 is determined from the measurement results of the voltage measurement circuit 47 and the current measurement circuit 45. When detected, the charge protection switch FET2 and / or the discharge protection switch FET1 are turned off, or the fuse switch FET3 is turned on. The battery controller 43 can rewrite the F / W stored in the flash memory 51 to the updated F / W.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a memory configuration example of the flash memory 51. As shown in the figure, the flash memory 51 includes an F / W storage area 70 in which various F / Ws (algorithms, threshold values, etc.) are stored, and a data storage area 80 in which data is stored.

The F / W storage area 70 includes a basic function F / W (hereinafter referred to as “basic function”) 71 for executing basic functions such as data communication with the notebook PC main body 1 and battery capacity detection, and a battery. A first error (abnormality) detection function F / W (hereinafter referred to as a “first error (abnormality) detection function”) 72 for executing an internal short-circuit error (abnormality) detection of the pack 31; 41, a second error (abnormality) detection function F / W (hereinafter referred to as “second error (abnormality) detection function”) 73 for executing cell imbalance error (abnormality) detection, battery block 41 The third error (abnormality) detection function F / W (hereinafter referred to as “third error (abnormality) detection function”) 74 for executing the overvoltage error (abnormality) detection is stored.

In the data storage area 80, the first error (abnormality) Flag 81 and the second error (abnormality) are set (ON) when an error (abnormality) is detected by the first error (abnormality) detection function 72. error error detection function 73 (abnormal) is set when it is detected (abnormal) Flag82, the third error (abnormality) detection function 74 error (abnormality) a third that is set when it is detected Error (abnormality) Flag 83, F / W version information 84, history data 85 such as charge / discharge count and F / W update count, calibration data 86, product number, manufacturing number, and the like are stored.

Battery controller 43 executes the first error (abnormality) detection 72, an error (abnormality) if it detects, after setting the first Error (abnormal) Flag81, to operate the security function, charge protection the switch FET2 and / or discharge protection switch FET1 off, error Status (error (abnormality) information: error (the contents of abnormality), the type of security function is operated, set the error (abnormal) including information Flag) To the embedded controller 26.

Similarly, the battery controller 43 executes the second error (abnormality) detection 73, an error (abnormality) if it detects, after setting the second Error (abnormal) Flag82, to operate the security function Then, the charge protection switch FET2 and / or the discharge protection switch FET1 are turned off, and the error (abnormal) status is notified to the embedded controller 26. The first and second Error (abnormal) Flags 81 and 82 can be reset.

On the other hand, the battery controller 43 executes the third error (abnormality) detection 74, an error (abnormality) if it detects, after setting the third Error (abnormal) Flag83, to operate the security function, The fuse switch FET3 is turned on, the fuse FUSE is blown, and the error (abnormal) status is notified to the embedded controller 26. Errors detected by the third error (abnormality) detection 74 (abnormal) is to melt the fuse FUSE intended to permanently disable the battery pack 31, the third Error (abnormal) Flag83 reset not It has become. Referred to as resettable safety protection errors of operating (error) of the first kind of error (abnormality), referred to as error (abnormality) of the second kind error (abnormality) of operating a non-resettable safety protection. For example, the first type of error (abnormality) is detected by an F / W that may have a bug or threshold error (for example, an F / W that employs a manufacturer's original error (abnormality) detection method ) . An error (abnormal) . The second type of error (abnormality) is detected by F / W that is unlikely to have a bug or threshold error (for example, F / W that uses an error (abnormality) detection method established in the battery industry). Error (abnormal) . The types of errors (abnormalities) and the types of first and second types of errors (abnormalities) in the present embodiment are examples thereof, and the present invention is not limited to this.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a memory configuration example of the ROM 52. As shown in the figure, the ROM 52 includes an F / W update program 91 for executing F / W update of the flash memory 51, a first error (abnormality) detection function 72, and a second error (abnormality). ) when the error (abnormality) is detected by the detection function 73, when updating the F / W, errors for performing a re-checking of the error (error) (error) rechecked program 92 and the like are stored ing.

The first and second error (abnormality) detection functions 72 and 73 are used for normal error (abnormality) detection, and detect an error (abnormality) by detecting a precursor of a fine phenomenon. It takes time to detect. On the other hand, the error (abnormality) recheck program 92 is simpler than the error (abnormality) detection algorithm of the first error (abnormality) detection function 72 or the second error (abnormality) detection function 73. It is an algorithm. The first, the second error (error) in the detection function 72 and 73 errors (abnormal) after detection, because it advanced symptoms If you are occurring phenomenon of error (error), error (abnormal) re-check program impossible to detect an error (abnormality) in a short time of check by 92, if not obvious abnormalities detected in a short period of time, first, second error (abnormality) error detection function 72, 73 (abnormality) detection Judged as false detection.

For example, when an internal short error (abnormality) of the battery block 41 occurs, the voltage of a specific cell rapidly decreases, but a gradual voltage decrease occurs as a precursor, so the first error (abnormality) detection function 72 The gradual decrease is detected by a long-time monitor. After internal short-circuit detection by the first error (abnormality) detection 72, because enlarging the voltage difference between the cells if the true error (abnormality), an error (abnormality) in re-check program 92, the voltage between cells Check the difference to determine if it is a true error (abnormal) .

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the outline of the F / W update procedure stored in the flash memory 51 of the battery pack 31 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In the following description, a procedure for updating the F / W of the flash memory 51 after detecting an error (abnormality) with the first error (abnormality) detection function 72 (see FIG. 3) stored in the flash memory 51 will be described. This will be described as an example.

In the battery pack 31, first, when the battery controller 43 executes the first error (abnormality) detection function 72 stored in the flash memory 51 and detects an error (abnormality) (step S <b> 1), The first Error (abnormal) Flag 81 of the memory 51 is set (step S2). The battery controller 43 operates the safety protection function (step S3), turns off the discharge protection switch FET1 and / or the charge protection switch FET2, and notifies the embedded controller 26 of the notebook PC body 1 of Error (abnormal) status. (Step S4).

In the notebook PC body 1, the embedded controller 26 displays an error (abnormality) of the battery pack 31 on the LCD 16 via the CPU 11 and the video system 15 (step T1). Then, the embedded controller 26 requests the CPU 11 to update the update F / W to which the countermeasure of the first error (abnormality) detection function 72 is taken.

The CPU 11 accesses the maker server 100 via the network card 21 and checks whether there is an update F / W to which the first error (abnormality) detection function 72 is taken (step T2). If there is an update F / W in the manufacturer server 100, the CPU 11 starts downloading the update F / W from the manufacturer server 100 and stores it in the main memory 13 (steps U1, T3). Then, the embedded controller 26 performs authentication of the battery pack 31. In this authentication, when (1) the battery pack 31 is a genuine battery pack and (2) the battery pack 31 is a genuine battery pack, it is confirmed whether the update F / W is for the battery pack 31 ( If the confirmation of 1) and (2) is completed, the authentication is successful. After the authentication, transfer of the update F / W is started to the battery controller 43 of the battery pack 31 (step T4), and first, the header of the update F / W (Top 32 Bytes of New F / W) is transferred. This header includes a reset request for the set Error (abnormal) Flag.

Battery controller 43 receives the header of the update F / W, and performs an error (abnormality) rechecked program 92 stored in the flash memory 51, and re-check for errors (error) (step S5), and If there is an error (abnormality) , the embedded controller 26 is requested to stop updating the update F / W (step S6), and the embedded controller 26 stops the transfer of the update F / W. On the other hand, if there is no error (abnormality) , the battery controller 43 determines that it is a false detection and resets the first Error (abnormality) Flag 81 of the flash memory 51 (step S7). The battery controller 43 requests the embedded controller 26 to continue updating the update F / W (step S8), and the embedded controller 26 transfers the remaining update F / W to the battery controller 43. The battery controller 43 rewrites the F / W of the flash memory 51 with the updated F / W, and then executes the updated F / W to reset the safety protection operation (turn on the FET that has been turned off) (step S9). Thereby, the battery pack 31 can be used again.

Note that when the F / W stored in the flash memory 51 is rewritten to the updated F / W, all the F / Ws in the F / W storage area 70 may be rewritten, and the error (abnormal) detected F Only / W may be rewritten.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the update F / W is automatically downloaded from the maker server 100 by the notebook PC main body 1 has been described. However, the user or serviceman manually (user or serviceman) uses the notebook PC1 main body. The update F / W may be downloaded from the maker server 100 by the above operation).

  Further, although the case where the update F / W is downloaded from the maker server 100 has been described, the method for obtaining the update F / W is not limited to this, and a storage medium (FD, CD-ROM) storing the update F / W is not limited thereto. , A DVD-ROM, a USB memory, etc.), or a serviceman uses a special tool for updating the F / W of the battery pack 31 to change the F / W of the flash memory 51. You may decide to update.

In addition, the recheck program 92 stored in the ROM 52 rechecks the error (abnormality) , and when it is determined that the error is detected, the F / W of the flash memory 51 is rewritten to the updated F / W, and the safety protection function is Although the operation is reset, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, after the F / W of the flash memory 51 is rewritten to the update F / W, the error (abnormality) is re-established by the update F / W. The operation of the safety protection function may be reset when a check is performed and no error (abnormality) is detected.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the battery pack 31 stores the F / W in the flash memory 51, and the battery controller 43 executes the F / W stored in the flash memory 51. performs error (abnormality) detection of the battery pack 31 Te, when detecting an error (abnormality), after operating the security function, and re-check error (abnormality), an error is detected (abnormal) If not, the F / W stored in the flash memory 51 is determined to be erroneously detected, and the update F / W is rewritten to reset the operation of the safety protection function. If the battery pack becomes unusable due to malfunctions such as bugs or inappropriate thresholds, the use of the battery pack can be recovered, and the updated firmware can function normally. It is possible to provide the operation.

Further, when the battery controller 43 detects an error (abnormality) in the F / W, the battery controller 43 notifies the notebook PC main body 1 of the error (abnormality) information, and the notebook PC main body 1 notifies the notified error (abnormality). If there is an update F / W corresponding to the information, the update F / W is transferred to the battery controller 43 and stored in the flash memory 51 when no error (abnormality) is detected by recheck. Since the F / W is rewritten to the updated F / W, the F / W of the flash memory 51 can be automatically updated.

The battery controller 43 uses the error (abnormality) re checker 92 simple algorithm stored in ROM 52, so it was decided to re-check error (abnormality), high speed error (abnormality ) Can be rechecked.

The battery controller 43, when the first type of error (abnormality) is detected, while operating a resettable safety protection, if the second type of error (abnormality) is detected, Since the safety protection function that cannot be reset is operated, appropriate processing can be performed according to the type of error (abnormality) .

  In the above-described embodiment, the battery pack mounted on the notebook PC has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various electronic devices such as information devices, daily necessities, electric tools, and transportation devices can be used. Applicable to battery packs used.

  As described above, the battery pack, the firmware update method, and the battery pack system according to the present invention are useful for battery packs used in various electronic devices such as information equipment, daily necessities, electric tools, and transportation equipment.

1 Notebook PC 11 CPU
12 FS (Front Side) bus 13 Main memory 14 CPU bridge 15 Video subsystem 16 LCD
17 PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) bus 18 PCI-ISA bus 19 Card bus controller 20 Card slot 21 Network card 22 USB connector 23 HDD
24 CD / ROM drive 25 ISA (Industry Standard Architecture) bus 26 Embedded controller 27 Flash ROM
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 30 Power supply device 31 Battery pack 32 AC adapter 33 Charger 34 DC-DC converter 41 Battery block 43 Battery controller 45 Current measurement circuit 47 Voltage measurement circuit 51 Flash memory 52 ROM
61 Power Line 62 Communication Line 63 Ground Line 70 F / W Storage Area 80 Data Storage Area 100 Manufacturer Server TH Temperature Element FET1 Discharge Protection Switch FET2 Charge Protection Switch FET3 Fuse Switch

Claims (9)

A battery pack that is mounted on an electronic device and configured to be capable of data communication with the electronic device, and includes a secondary battery,
A rewritable non-volatile memory for storing firmware;
An abnormality detection unit that executes a firmware stored in the nonvolatile memory to detect an abnormality in the battery pack and activates a safety protection function when an abnormality is detected;
Firmware rewriting means for rewriting firmware stored in the nonvolatile memory with updated firmware;
And abnormal recheck means for performing re-check the detected anomaly in the anomaly detecting means,
If no abnormality is detected by the abnormality recheck unit, and safety protection resetting means for resetting the operation of the protection provided,
Equipped with a,
The battery rewriting means, wherein when no abnormality is detected by the abnormality rechecking means, the firmware stored in the nonvolatile memory is rewritten to the updated firmware . The nonvolatile memory stores an abnormality flag,
When an abnormality is detected by the abnormality detecting means, sets the abnormality flag in the nonvolatile memory, when an abnormality is not detected by the abnormality recheck means comprises a flag setting means for resetting the abnormality flag The battery pack according to claim 1 . 3. The battery according to claim 1 , wherein the operation of the safety protection function is an operation of interrupting the charge / discharge path by a switch element that forms a part of the charge / discharge path of the secondary battery. pack. A battery pack that is mounted on an electronic device and configured to be capable of data communication with the electronic device, and includes a secondary battery,
A rewritable non-volatile memory for storing firmware;
An abnormality detection unit that executes a firmware stored in the nonvolatile memory to detect an abnormality in the battery pack and activates a safety protection function when an abnormality is detected;
Firmware rewriting means for rewriting firmware stored in the nonvolatile memory with updated firmware;
And abnormal recheck means for performing re-check the detected anomaly in the anomaly detecting means,
If no abnormality is detected by the abnormality recheck unit, and safety protection resetting means for resetting the operation of the protection provided,
An abnormality notification means for notifying the electronic device of abnormality information when an abnormality is detected by the abnormality detection means;
With
In the electronic device, when there is an update firmware corresponding to the notified abnormality information, the update firmware is transferred to the battery pack,
The firmware rewriting means rewrites firmware stored in the nonvolatile memory with updated firmware transferred from the electronic device when no abnormality is detected by the abnormality rechecking means. pack. A battery pack that is mounted on an electronic device and configured to be capable of data communication with the electronic device, and includes a secondary battery,
A rewritable non-volatile memory for storing firmware;
An abnormality detection unit that executes a firmware stored in the nonvolatile memory to detect an abnormality in the battery pack and activates a safety protection function when an abnormality is detected;
Firmware rewriting means for rewriting firmware stored in the nonvolatile memory with updated firmware;
And abnormal recheck means for performing re-check the detected anomaly in the anomaly detecting means,
If no abnormality is detected by the abnormality recheck unit, and safety protection resetting means for resetting the operation of the protection provided,
ROM for storing an abnormality recheck program;
With
The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the abnormality rechecking unit executes an abnormality rechecking program stored in the ROM and rechecks the abnormality detected by the abnormality detection unit . 6. The battery pack according to claim 5 , wherein an abnormality detection algorithm of the recheck program stored in the ROM is simpler than an abnormality detection algorithm of firmware stored in the non-volatile memory. A battery pack that is mounted on an electronic device and configured to be capable of data communication with the electronic device, and includes a secondary battery,
A rewritable non-volatile memory for storing firmware;
An abnormality detection unit that executes a firmware stored in the nonvolatile memory to detect an abnormality in the battery pack and activates a safety protection function when an abnormality is detected;
Firmware rewriting means for rewriting firmware stored in the nonvolatile memory with updated firmware;
And abnormal recheck means for performing re-check the detected anomaly in the anomaly detecting means,
If no abnormality is detected by the abnormality recheck unit, and safety protection resetting means for resetting the operation of the protection provided,
Equipped with a,
The abnormality detection means operates a resettable safety protection function when a first type of abnormality is detected, and performs a resettable safety protection function when a second type of abnormality is detected. Make it work,
The abnormality rechecking unit performs rechecking of the first type abnormality when the first type abnormality is detected by the abnormality detection unit,
The firmware rewriting means rewrites the firmware stored in the nonvolatile memory to update firmware when the first abnormality is not detected by the abnormality rechecking means,
The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the safety protection function resetting unit resets the operation of the safety protection function when the abnormality rechecking unit does not detect the first type of abnormality . A firmware update method for a battery pack that is attached to an electronic device and configured to be capable of data communication with the electronic device, and includes a secondary battery,
Execute the firmware stored in the non-volatile memory to detect an abnormality in the battery pack, and when an abnormality is detected, an abnormality detection step for operating the safety protection function;
And abnormal recheck process of re-checking of the detected anomaly in the anomaly detecting step,
A firmware rewriting step of rewriting firmware stored in the nonvolatile memory with updated firmware;
If no abnormality is detected by the abnormality recheck process, and safety protection reset step of resetting the operation of the protection provided,
It includes,
In the firmware rewriting step, when no abnormality is detected in the abnormality rechecking step, the firmware stored in the nonvolatile memory is rewritten to the updated firmware, and the battery pack firmware updating method is characterized. In a battery pack system configured with an electronic device and a battery pack including a secondary battery attached to the electronic device, and configured to be capable of data communication with each other,
The battery pack is
A rewritable non-volatile memory for storing firmware;
Wherein by executing firmware stored in the nonvolatile memory performed abnormality detection in the battery pack, when an abnormality is detected, an abnormality detection means for operating the safety protection,
An abnormality notification means for notifying the electronic device of abnormality information when an abnormality is detected by the abnormality detection means;
And abnormal recheck means for performing re-check the detected anomaly in the anomaly detecting means,
Firmware rewriting means for rewriting firmware stored in the nonvolatile memory with updated firmware;
If no abnormality is detected by the abnormality recheck unit, and safety protection resetting means for resetting the operation of the protection provided,
Including
The firmware rewriting means rewrites the firmware stored in the nonvolatile memory to the updated firmware when no abnormality is detected by the abnormality rechecking means,
The electronic device is
If there is an update firmware corresponding to the abnormality information notified from the battery pack, update firmware transfer means for transferring the update firmware to the battery pack;
A battery pack system comprising:

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