JP6060831B2 - Multistage control method and multistage control apparatus for charging current - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a multi-stage control method and multi-stage control apparatus for charging current.

A configuration in which charging of a battery is performed through multi-stage control is known. For example, Patent Document 1 describes that when the rate of change of battery voltage (dV / dt) during charging exceeds a threshold value, a transition to the next charging stage is made so as not to overcharge due to a large current. .
Further, in Patent Document 2, in a method for charging a lead storage battery, a voltage between a voltage immediately before the charging current is cut off at a predetermined interval during charging, and a voltage at the time when the predetermined time elapses. It is described that the difference is measured and the charge mode is switched based on the time when the voltage difference starts to increase.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-236402 JP-A-11-176482

  However, the conventional technique has a problem that there is room for improvement in the accuracy of determining the timing at which the charging stage should be shifted. For example, if the charging current fluctuates due to disturbance (for example, fluctuation of the primary side voltage) during charging, the battery voltage during charging may also fluctuate. In the technique of Patent Document 1, since the rate of change of the battery voltage during charging is used as a reference, such a disturbance may affect the transition timing of the charging stage.

  In addition, since the voltage difference during the time when the charging current is cut off changes depending on the liquid temperature, the point where the voltage difference starts to increase may be affected. Since the technique of Patent Document 2 is based on the increase in voltage difference, the difference in liquid temperature may affect the transition timing of the charging stage.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and provides a multi-stage control method and multi-stage control apparatus for charging current, which can more appropriately determine the timing at which the charging stage should be shifted. Objective.

In order to solve the above-described problem, a method according to the present invention is a multi-stage control method for charge current that controls a charge current in multiple stages based on the voltage of a battery to be charged, wherein at least one stage is defined. A constant current stage in which current charging is performed, and in the constant current stage, a pause section is provided in which a charge is paused for a predetermined pause time, and the pause section includes a measurement interval that starts after a predetermined delay time from the pause start time. The delay time and the length of the measurement interval are both half of the pause time. For each pause interval, the voltage measured immediately before the pause and the voltage measured after the predetermined measurement time from the pause start time measuring a first voltage drop between the measures and the voltage measured at the beginning of the measurement period, the second voltage drop between the measured voltage at the end of the measurement interval, the voltage drop Predetermined threshold If it exceeds, based on a first difference between the voltage drops for two consecutive pause interval, performs transition control to the next step.

  According to such a configuration, a pause interval is provided at a predetermined period during charging, a voltage drop in a measurement interval included in the pause interval is measured, and transition control to the next stage is performed based on the voltage drop. .

Migration control may include a process of determining a condition for ending charging.
The transition control may include a process of decreasing the current value.

  The multi-stage control apparatus for charging current according to the present invention executes the above-described method.

  According to the multi-stage control method and multi-stage control device of the charging current according to the present invention, since the transition control is performed using the voltage measured in a state where the charging current does not flow, it is not affected by disturbance or liquid temperature, It is possible to more appropriately determine the timing at which the charging stage should be shifted.

It is a graph which shows the rough flow of the charge control by Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a graph which shows the charge control in the idle area other than the last stage of FIG. It is a reference figure explaining a part of effect about the difference of the 1st voltage drop. It is a reference figure explaining a part of effect about the difference of the 1st voltage drop. It is a graph which shows charge control in the stop period of the last stage of FIG. It is a reference figure explaining a part of effect about the 3rd voltage drop.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a graph showing a rough flow of charge control by the method and apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  The method according to the present invention is a multi-stage control method for charge current, in which the charge current is controlled in multiple stages based on the voltage of the battery to be charged. The configuration of the circuit and the control device for executing the charging operation is not particularly shown, but can be realized using a known configuration. In particular, the control device can be configured by using a microcomputer including a calculation unit and a storage unit. With such a configuration, the control device executes the method described herein.

  The control device controls a current value related to charging the battery. The battery is, for example, a liquid lead acid battery. The control device controls the current related to charging of the battery in multiple stages (in the example of FIG. 1, there are three stages, but it may be two or more stages). In the example of FIG. 1, each stage is a constant current stage in which charging is performed with a constant current. That is, the value of the charging current at each stage is kept constant. In addition, FIG. 1 shows a rough flow, and does not show a pause section described in FIG.

The control device starts charging the battery before time T1, maintains the charging current value at I1 until the time T1, and maintains the charging current value I2 after the time T1 and before the time T2.
At the stage after time T2 and before time T3, the value of the charging current is maintained at I3, and the charging operation is terminated at time T3 (that is, the charging current is set to 0). However, I1>I2>I3> 0.

  The control device includes a stage other than the final stage (the stage where the charging current is I1 and the stage where the charging current is I2 in the example of FIG. 1) and the final stage (the charging current is I3 in the example of FIG. 1). Different control at different stages).

In the following, the control at a stage other than the final stage will be described first.
The control device provides a pause section during charging, measures a voltage in the pause section, and performs transition control to the next stage based on the measured voltage. “Transition control to the next stage” includes, for example, a process of determining a time T1 at which the charging current should be changed from I1 to I2, and an actual change of the charging current value from I1 to I2 at this time T1 (this Processing in the example).

  FIG. 2 is a graph showing the charging control in the suspension period, and is an enlarged view of the section X in FIG. This charge control is performed at a stage other than the final stage, for example. That is, it is implemented in the stage where the charging current is I1 and the stage where it is I2 in FIG. This charge control is executed for transition control from the current stage to the next stage.

  The control device provides a pause section in the charging operation. The pause period is provided at a predetermined cycle. In this embodiment, this period is Tx. In this pause period, the control device pauses charging for a predetermined pause time (that is, the charging current is set to 0). FIG. 2 shows pause periods Int1 and Int2.

  The period Tx is 60 seconds, for example, but may be any value as long as it is 1 minute to 5 minutes, or may be 1 minute or less or 5 minutes or more. The pause time (that is, the length of the pause interval) intx is constant, for example, 2 seconds, but may be any value as long as it is 1 second to 5 seconds, and is set to 1 second or less or 5 seconds or more. Also good.

  Since the charging operation is suspended in each suspension period, the battery voltage (for example, the voltage between terminals) decreases with time. The control device measures a voltage drop at a predetermined time in each pause period. In the present specification, “voltage drop” refers to a decrease in voltage value over time. In the present embodiment, voltage drops corresponding to the following two types of measurement sections (a first voltage drop measured in the first measurement section and a second voltage drop measured in the second measurement section). Measure.

  In the present embodiment, the first measurement interval is equal to the pause interval (that is, the interval between the start point and end point of the pause interval). In the example of FIG. 2, the first voltage drop in the pause period Int1 is ΔVa (1), and the first voltage drop in the pause period Int2 is ΔVa (2).

  Hereinafter, the first voltage drop in the n-th pause period is expressed as ΔVa (n). Note that ΔVa (n)> 0. For example, ΔVa (n) subtracts the voltage measured immediately before the end of the pause period (that is, the state where the charging current is not flowing) from the voltage measured immediately before the suspension (that is, the state where the charging current is flowing). Can be calculated. Further, “immediately before pause” means, for example, the timing at which voltage measurement can be finally performed before the start of the pause period in the operation cycle of the control device, but in the embodiment when strict accuracy is not required. Correspondingly, the timing before this is also included. “Just before termination” is similarly defined.

  The second measurement interval is an interval that starts after a predetermined delay time Δd from the pause start time and ends after the measurement time Δt. In the present embodiment, the delay time Δd and the length of the second measurement interval (measurement time Δt) are both ½ of the length of the pause interval (pause time). That is, Δd = Δt = intx / 2 = 1 (seconds). In the example of FIG. 2, the second voltage drop in the pause period Int1 is ΔVb (1), and the second voltage drop in the pause period Int2 is ΔVb (2).

  Hereinafter, the second voltage drop in the n-th pause period is expressed as ΔVb (n). Δt is 1 second in this embodiment, but may be changed in proportion to intx. Further, Δt may be any value as long as it is smaller than intx. Note that ΔVb (n)> 0. ΔVb (n) can be calculated, for example, by subtracting the voltage immediately before the end of the pause period (that is, the state where the charging current is not flowing) from the voltage when 1 second has elapsed from the start of the pause period. Thus, unlike the first voltage drop ΔVa (n), the second voltage drop ΔVb (n) is a voltage measured with no charging current flowing at both the measurement start time and the measurement end time. Is calculated based on

  Based on the first voltage drop measured for each pause interval, the control device calculates a difference between the first voltage drops for two consecutive pause intervals. For example, the difference ΔVA (n) between the first voltage drop ΔVa (n−1) in the (n−1) th pause interval and the first voltage drop ΔVa (n) in the nth pause interval is expressed as ΔVA (n ) = {ΔVa (n)} − {ΔVa (n−1)}.

  Based on the first voltage drop difference ΔVA (n) and the second voltage drop ΔVb (n) obtained in this way, the control device performs the transition control to the next stage. For example, the second voltage drop ΔVb (n) (absolute value if negative) exceeds a predetermined threshold value, and the difference ΔVA (n) of the first voltage drop has changed from increasing to decreasing. In some cases, the transition control to the next stage is performed (for example, the charging current is reduced from I1 to I2).

  Here, a predetermined threshold for the second voltage drop ΔVb (n) can be appropriately designed by those skilled in the art.

  Also, a person skilled in the art can appropriately design a detection method for detecting a state in which “the first voltage drop difference ΔVA (n) has changed from an increase to a decrease”, that is, ΔVA (n) has reached a peak. . For example, ΔVA (k−4) to ΔVA (k−1) monotonically increase in a broad sense (that is, ΔVA (k−4) ≦ ΔVA (k−3) ≦ ΔVA (k−2) ≦ ΔVA (k −1)), and ΔVA (k−1) and ΔVA (k) are truly decreased (ie, ΔVA (k−1)> ΔVA (k)), ΔVA (n) Can be determined to have decreased from increasing in the k-th pause interval. According to such a determination method, it is more resistant to errors than the method of simply comparing ΔVA (k−2), ΔVA (k−1), and ΔVA (k), and the determination accuracy is higher. However, when the determination accuracy is not important, the determination may be made by simply comparing ΔVA (k−2), ΔVA (k−1), and ΔVA (k).

  The control device performs such charge stage transition control for each stage other than the final stage. For example, in the stage where the charging current is I1, when ΔVb (n) exceeds a predetermined threshold and the difference ΔVA (n) of ΔVa (n) turns from increasing to decreasing, the charging current is changed to I1 From I to I2. Here, when the charging current is reduced, the charge acceptability is improved and the optimum charging is possible. Therefore, the charging is continued and the same control is performed. That is, at the stage where the charging current is I2, the measurement regarding the same rest period is continued, ΔVb (n) exceeds a predetermined threshold, and the difference ΔVA (n) of ΔVa (n) starts to increase and decreases. The charging current is reduced from I2 to I3.

Hereinafter, the effect of such transition control will be described.
FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are reference diagrams respectively explaining a part of the effect by using the condition that “the difference ΔVA (n) of the first voltage drop has changed from increase to decrease”.

  FIG. 3 shows the battery voltage, the first voltage drop ΔVa (n), and ΔVa (n) over time when charging with a constant current is continued from the start to the end of charging without performing step transition control. ) Is a reference graph showing an example of a change in the difference ΔVA (n) (schematic, and the relationship between the curves is not necessarily strict). During charging, the voltage increases monotonously, but its slope (derivative coefficient) increases with time, reaches an inflection point at time T100, and then the slope of the voltage decreases. This inflection point is a point where the internal resistance of the battery changes and the charge acceptance is deteriorated. Various definitions of the charging rate can be used. For example, it may be defined as [charging amount until then] / [previous discharge amount]. In addition, the charging rate may be referred to as a charge amount. Other known definitions for the charging rate may be used.

  Generally, the charging operation is continued even when the charging rate exceeds 100%. For example, the target charging rate at which charging should be terminated may be set between 105% and 120%. Here, in order to accurately control the state of charge at the end of charging, it is effective to accurately detect the point (or state) at which the charging rate reaches 100%.

  Here, the time when the difference ΔVA (n) reaches the peak and the time when the charging rate reaches 100% coincide with each other with high accuracy (both correspond to time T100 in the example of FIG. 3). Therefore, if it is detected that the difference ΔVA (n) reaches the peak from the increase and starts to decrease, it can be determined that the charging rate is 100% with high accuracy.

  Here, the first voltage drop ΔVa (n) is relatively stable against fluctuations in the absolute value of the battery voltage. For this reason, even when the charging current fluctuates due to disturbance such as fluctuation of the primary side voltage, and the battery voltage fluctuates as a result, it is possible to detect the time point when the charging rate is 100% with high accuracy.

  FIG. 4 is a reference graph showing an example of a change in the difference ΔVA (n) accompanying an increase in the charging rate when charging with a constant current is continued from the start to the end of charging without performing stage transition control. The value of the difference ΔVA (n) varies depending on the temperature, and becomes larger at a low temperature than at a high temperature. The charging rate at which the difference ΔVA (n) graph starts to substantially rise is CL at a low temperature but CH at a high temperature, and starts increasing at a time earlier than that at a high temperature at a low temperature. Therefore, if the charging rate is determined based only on the absolute value of the difference ΔVA (n) or only when the difference ΔVA (n) starts to increase, the accuracy may be lowered.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 4, the charging rate at which the difference ΔVA (n) reaches the peak matches 100% with high accuracy without being influenced by the temperature. Therefore, if it is detected that the difference ΔVA (n) reaches the peak from the increase and starts to decrease, it can be determined that the charging rate is 100% with high accuracy regardless of the temperature.

Next, a part of the effect obtained by using the condition that “the second voltage drop ΔVb (n) exceeds a predetermined threshold” will be described.
In a state where ΔVb (n) is small, ΔVa (n) is also small, so that an error occurring in ΔVa (n) may affect peak detection of the difference ΔVA (n) (an error occurs in ΔVa (n)). For example, when the battery includes a plurality of cells, there may be a case where an imbalance of the charging rate occurs between the cells). Therefore, by adding a condition that ΔVb (n) is relatively large, the influence of such an error can be avoided.

  In particular, as described above, ΔVb (n) is calculated based on the voltage measured in a state where no charging current flows at both the measurement start time and the measurement end time, unlike ΔVa (n). Therefore, the error caused by the charging current can be minimized.

  Further, the value of the second voltage drop ΔVb (n) correlates with the amount of gas generated with high accuracy (not particularly shown, but substantially proportional in a wide range). Therefore, the charging rate correlates with high accuracy. Therefore, if the second voltage drop ΔVb (n) is used, it can be determined that the charging rate is 100% with high accuracy.

Next, the control in the final stage (stage where the charging current is I3 in the example of FIG. 1) will be described.
The control device provides a pause interval during charging, measures a voltage in the pause interval, and performs charge termination control based on the measured voltage. “Charging end control” includes, for example, a process of determining a time T3 at which charging should be ended and a process of actually setting the charging current to 0 at this time T3.

  FIG. 5 is a graph showing the charging control in this pause section, and is an enlarged view of section Y in FIG. This control is performed only in the final stage, for example. That is, it is performed at a stage where the charging current is I3 in FIG.

  The control device provides a pause section in the charging operation. The pause period is provided at a predetermined cycle. In this embodiment, this period is Ty. In this pause period, the control device pauses charging for a predetermined pause time (that is, the charging current is set to 0). FIG. 5 shows pause intervals Int3 and Int4.

The period Ty is, for example, 5 minutes, but may be any value as long as it is 3 minutes to 10 minutes, or may be 3 minutes or less or 10 minutes or more. However, in general, since the increase in the charging rate is moderate in the final stage as compared with the previous stage, if the cycle Ty> the cycle Tx, the charging rate determination accuracy is not deteriorated so much and the pause period It is possible to speed up the completion of charging by minimizing the battery charge.
The length inty of the pause period is constant, for example, 2 seconds, but may be any value as long as it is 1 second to 5 seconds, and may be 1 second or less or 5 seconds or more. It is good also as intx = inty.

  Since the charging operation is suspended in each suspension period, the battery voltage (for example, the voltage between terminals) decreases with time. The control device measures the third voltage drop measured in the third measurement interval in each pause interval. In the present embodiment, the third measurement interval is equal to each pause interval (that is, the interval between the start point and end point of the pause interval). In the example of FIG. 5, the third voltage drop in the pause period Int3 is ΔVc (1), and the third voltage drop in the pause period Int4 is ΔVc (2).

  Hereinafter, the third voltage drop in the n-th pause period is expressed as ΔVc (n). Note that ΔVc (n)> 0. ΔVc (n) is, for example, a voltage measured immediately before the start of the pause period (that is, a state in which charging current is flowing) to a voltage measured immediately before the end of the pause period (that is, in a state where no charging current is flowing). Can be calculated by subtracting.

  The control device carries out charge termination control according to the value of the third voltage drop ΔVc (n) thus determined. For example, charging is terminated when the value of ΔVc (n) is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value and becomes substantially constant.

  Here, the predetermined threshold value can be determined based on, for example, the value of the third voltage drop measured in a predetermined state that is a calculation standard for the charging rate. In the present embodiment, the state that serves as the calculation standard is the state at the start of the final stage, that is, the state where the charging rate is 100%, but the calculation standard may be determined by other known methods.

  In the present embodiment, the value obtained by multiplying the value of ΔVc (0) of the third voltage drop measured in the state serving as the calculation criterion by a predetermined ratio of 0.8 is used as the threshold value, but based on ΔVc (0). Any other value may be used as the threshold value.

  Further, a criterion for determining whether or not ΔVc (n) has become substantially constant can be appropriately designed by those skilled in the art. For example, the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value within a predetermined time is The determination can be made based on whether or not the value is equal to or less than a predetermined value.

  FIG. 6 is a reference diagram for explaining a part of the effect obtained by using such conditions. This graph is a graph showing changes in ΔVc (n) and the specific gravity of the electrolyte with respect to the charging rate for each of the deteriorated battery and the non-deteriorated battery. In this example, charging is terminated when ΔVc (n) / ΔVc (0) ≦ 0.8 and ΔVc (n) becomes substantially constant.

  In a liquid type lead-acid storage battery, when charging is terminated when the specific gravity of the electrolyte reaches an appropriate value (for example, about 1.28, but can be appropriately determined by those skilled in the art), excessive or insufficient charging can be avoided. However, it is difficult to detect specific gravity directly.

  However, after the time when the charging rate reaches 100%, ΔVc (n) and the specific gravity of the electrolyte have a correlation. As shown in FIG. 6, in a battery that has not deteriorated, the specific gravity increases relatively quickly as the charging rate increases. For example, it is appropriate for the charging rate C1 (where 105 [%] <C1 <120 [%]). A target value (for example, about 1.28) is reached. By this time, ΔVc (n) / ΔVc (0) ≦ 0.8, and at this time, ΔVc (n) has finished decreasing and is almost constant.

  On the other hand, in a deteriorated battery, the increase in specific gravity accompanying the increase in the charging rate is relatively slow. For example, an appropriate target value (for example, 1.. About 28). By this time, ΔVc (n) has finished decreasing and is almost constant, and at this time, ΔVc (n) / ΔVc (0) ≦ 0.8.

  As described above, in any battery, when the charging operation is terminated when ΔVc (n) / ΔVc (0) ≦ 0.8 and ΔVc (n) becomes substantially constant, the charging rate is reduced. The charging energy can be reduced by setting the optimum value. In addition, the charging time can be shortened.

  As described above, according to the method and apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the difference ΔVA (n) between the first voltage drop ΔVa (n) and the second voltage drop ΔVb (n). Based on this, it is detected that the charging rate has reached 100%, so that charging can be appropriately controlled with higher accuracy without being affected by disturbance and temperature. In addition, since charging is terminated based on the third voltage drop ΔVc (n) that correlates with the specific gravity of the electrolytic solution, charging can be terminated at an optimal charging rate without being affected by the deterioration state of the battery.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, since it can be detected that the charging rate becomes 100% regardless of the amount of electricity charged, even if the amount of discharge in the previous discharge is not measured, it is excessive or insufficient. It is possible to control the transition of the charging stage so as to realize no charging.

In the first embodiment, the following modifications can be added.
The transition control to the final stage may not be accompanied by a change in the amount of current. For example, in the transition control at time T2 in FIG. 1, the current value may be maintained as it is until the end of charging without decreasing the current value. Even in such a case, the transition control to the final stage includes at least a process of determining a reference state (for example, a state where the charging rate is 100%) for determining a termination condition for terminating the charging. it can. For example, in the first embodiment, this end condition is determined based on the third voltage drop ΔVc (n).

  In the first embodiment, all charging stages are constant current stages (CC) in which constant current charging is performed, but at least one stage may be a constant current stage. Further, a constant voltage stage (CV) for performing constant voltage charging may be included.

  The effect when the constant voltage stage is included will be described below. In the prior art, when charging in three stages of constant current (CC1) -constant voltage (CV) -constant current (CC2), the charging rate differs at the time of transition to the final stage (CC2) depending on the state of the battery. There was a problem that there was a case. Therefore, the constant current stage according to the control of the present invention is inserted at least immediately after the constant voltage stage, for example, charging in four stages of constant current (CC1) -constant voltage (CV) -constant current (CCα) -constant current (CC2). , The charging rate at the time of shifting to the final stage (CC2) can be stabilized. In particular, when the present invention is carried out while charging with a small current (for example, 0.05 CA to 0.07 CA) in the CCα stage, it is possible to shift to the final stage with a stable charging rate.

  In the first embodiment, the stage transition control is accompanied by a change in the charging current, but as a modification, it may be one that does not involve a change in the charging current. For example, it may include a process of determining or changing a condition for terminating charging without including a process of changing the value of the charging current. The condition for terminating the charging can be defined such that the charging operation is terminated when charging is performed for a predetermined amount of power or for a predetermined time from a specific reference state, for example. Specifically, as transition control at time T2 in FIG. 1, I2 = I3, and after time T2, further charge 10% (or any of 5% to 20%) of the amount of power charged so far The charging operation may be terminated at the time when the charging is performed, or I2 = I3, and the charging operation may be terminated when the charging is further performed for a predetermined time after time T2. Further, the charging current value may be changed and the charging termination condition may be determined or changed.

  The first voltage drop Va (n) and the third voltage drop Vc (n) are not limited to the voltage drop from immediately before the pause to the end of the pause period, but until a certain measurement time elapses immediately before the pause (however, A voltage drop before the end of the pause period may be used. In other words, in Embodiment 1, the pause time and the measurement time are equal, but as a modification, the measurement time may be shorter than the pause time.

  Further, the second voltage drop Vb (n) is not limited to the section immediately before the end of the pause period, but may be the voltage drop of the section that ends before the pause period. In other words, in the first embodiment, Δd + Δt = intx, but as a modification, Δd + Δt <intx may be used. In other words, the time point when the delay time Δd has elapsed from the start point of the pause may be set as the start point of the measurement interval, and the end point of the measurement interval may be set until a certain time has elapsed from this start point (but before the stop interval ends). .

  In the first embodiment, in the final stage, charging is terminated when the third voltage drop ΔVc (n) is equal to or less than the threshold value and becomes substantially constant. Specific conditions for terminating the charging are as follows. Those skilled in the art can appropriately design. For example, charging may be terminated when the third voltage drop ΔVc (n) becomes equal to or less than a threshold value, or charging is performed when the third voltage drop ΔVc (n) becomes substantially constant. May be terminated. As described above, since the third voltage drop ΔVc (n) correlates with the specific gravity of the electrolytic solution, an appropriate specific gravity can be realized using various conditions.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the termination condition for terminating the charging in the final stage is changed.
For example, when time is used as the end condition, the end condition may be that the final charge time elapses from a specific reference state (for example, the state at the start of the final stage or the state where the charging rate is 100%). . This final charging time can be appropriately determined by those skilled in the art. For example, it can be calculated or determined in advance such that the final charging rate is 110% (or any of 105% to 120%).

  Further, in the case where the amount of electricity is used as the termination condition, the termination condition can be that a predetermined amount of electricity is charged from this reference state. This amount of electricity may be defined in advance, and may be determined based on the amount of electricity charged up to the time of transition to the final stage. When determining based on the amount of electricity charged up to the time of transition to the final stage, for example, the amount of electricity charged up to the time of transition to the final stage is taken as 100%, and 10% (or 5% to 20%) %)) May be determined.

According to the second embodiment, since the control in the stages other than the final stage is the same as in the first embodiment, the charging control is appropriately performed with higher accuracy without being affected by the disturbance and the temperature as in the first embodiment. It can be performed. In addition, since it is not necessary to provide a pause section at the final stage, the control can be simplified and the charging can be terminated early.
Note that the second embodiment can be modified in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
The third embodiment changes the conditions used for the stage transition control in the first embodiment.
In the third embodiment, the control device performs the transition control based only on the second voltage drop difference ΔVb (n) regardless of the first voltage drop ΔVa (n) and the difference ΔVA (n). For example, when the second voltage drop ΔVb (n) (absolute value when negative) exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the transition control to the next stage is performed. (In the third embodiment, it is not necessary to measure the first voltage drop ΔVa (n) and the difference ΔVA (n), but it may be measured in the same manner as in the first embodiment.)

As described above, ΔVb (n) is calculated based on the voltage measured in the state where the charging current does not flow at both the measurement start time point and the measurement end time point, so the first voltage drop ΔVa (n) Even when the difference ΔVA (n) is not used, the error due to the charging current can be suppressed at least to some extent. Furthermore, since the value of the second voltage drop ΔVb (n) correlates with the charging rate with high accuracy, it can be determined that the charging rate becomes 100% with high accuracy.
In the third embodiment, the same modifications as those in the first and second embodiments can be made.

  Int1, Int2 pause interval, intx pause time, Δd delay time, Δt measurement time (length of measurement interval), Tx cycle, Vb second voltage drop (voltage drop).

Claims (4)

A charging current multi-stage control method for controlling charging current in multiple stages based on a voltage of a battery to be charged,
At least one stage is a constant current stage for constant current charging,
In the constant current stage, a pause interval for pausing charging for a predetermined pause time is provided at a predetermined period,
The pause interval includes a measurement interval started after a predetermined delay time from the pause start time point,
The delay time and the length of the measurement interval are both 1/2 of the pause time,
For each of the pause periods, measure a first voltage drop between a voltage measured immediately before the pause and a voltage measured after a predetermined measurement time from the pause start time,
Measuring a second voltage drop between the voltage measured at the start of the measurement interval and the voltage measured at the end of the measurement interval;
When the second voltage drop exceeds a predetermined threshold value, multiple stages of charging current for performing transition control to the next stage based on the difference between the first voltage drops for two consecutive pause periods Control method. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the transition control includes a process of determining a condition for terminating charging. The transition control includes a process of reducing the current value, A method according to claim 1 or 2. Performing a method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 multistage control device of the charging current.

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