JP7031648B2 - Battery monitoring device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a battery monitoring device that monitors a plurality of each unit battery of a set battery mounted on a vehicle.

Some battery monitoring devices have a battery ECU and a plurality of voltage monitors, and wireless communication is performed between them. The voltage monitor is installed in each battery block in which a plurality of unit batteries are grouped. The battery ECU wirelessly transmits a command to the voltage monitor. Each voltage monitor detects the voltage information of each unit battery and wirelessly transmits it to the battery ECU. As a document showing a battery monitoring device that performs wireless communication in this way, for example, there is Patent Document 1 shown below.

Japanese Patent No. 6093448

Normally, the battery monitoring device needs to confirm that the assembled battery is normal before starting the vehicle. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a communication connection between the battery ECU and the voltage monitor and detect the voltage of each unit battery before starting the vehicle. In that respect, the conventional wireless type battery monitoring device activates the battery ECU and each voltage monitor from there when the power switch of the vehicle is turned on, and starts the wireless communication connection process. However, the wireless communication connection process often takes longer than the wired communication connection process. Therefore, the time from when the driver turns on the power switch of the vehicle until the vehicle can start moving is extended. As a result, the driver's comfort is reduced.

Also, if the wireless communication connection is unintentionally disconnected while the vehicle power switch is on, the wireless communication connection often takes time as described above, so again. It takes time to connect to the communication.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a main object of the present invention is to enable smooth connection of wireless communication in a battery monitoring device.

The battery monitoring device of the present invention is a device for monitoring a plurality of unit batteries included in an assembled battery mounted on a vehicle, and includes a battery ECU, a voltage monitor, and a wireless device. The voltage monitor is installed for each battery block in which a plurality of the unit batteries are grouped, and detects voltage information of the unit batteries. The wireless device has a master unit provided in the battery ECU and a slave unit provided in each voltage monitor. In the wireless device, when a communication connection for wireless communication is established between the master unit and each slave unit, the master unit wirelessly transmits a command from the battery ECU to each slave unit, and the voltage information is transmitted. The slave unit wirelessly transmits to the master unit.

The wireless device acquires voltage monitor information, which is information about the voltage monitor, by receiving a wireless signal from each slave unit before the establishment of the communication connection for the first time, and the voltage monitor information. Is used to establish the communication connection.

At least one of the battery ECU and the plurality of voltage monitors is provided with a storage unit for storing the voltage monitor information. The wireless device establishes the re-communication connection by using the voltage monitor information stored in the storage unit at the time of reconnection to establish the re-communication connection after the disconnection of the first communication connection.

According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. Since the wireless device establishes a communication connection using the voltage monitor information, the communication connection can be appropriately established according to the voltage monitor information. However, if it takes time to acquire the voltage monitor information, it takes time to establish the communication connection.

In that respect, in the present invention, since the communication connection is performed again using the voltage monitor information stored in the storage unit at the time of reconnection, it takes time to acquire the voltage monitor information in the first communication connection, but after that, When reconnecting, you can remove the time to get the voltage monitor information. Therefore, the communication connection from the second time onward can be smoothly established.

Circuit diagram showing the battery monitoring device of the first embodiment Flowchart showing the first operation Flow chart showing the operation time from the second time onward Flowchart showing when communication connection is lost during communication Flow chart showing the operation time after the second time in the second embodiment Circuit diagram showing the battery monitoring device of the third embodiment Flowchart showing the first operation Flow chart showing the operation time from the second time onward Schematic diagram showing the first communication mode and the second communication mode Flow chart showing the operation time from the second time onward in the fourth embodiment Flow chart showing the first operation in the fifth embodiment Flow chart showing the operation time from the second time onward Schematic diagram showing the first and second communication modes in the sixth embodiment

Next, an embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment of the embodiment, and can be appropriately modified and implemented without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing the battery monitoring device 51 of the first embodiment and its surroundings. The vehicle has a power switch 70, an assembled battery 60, an auxiliary battery 67, and a battery monitoring device 51, and is further provided with power lines 31, 38 and a detection line 39. The assembled battery 60 has a plurality of unit batteries 63. The plurality of unit batteries 63 are grouped into a plurality of battery blocks 62. The battery monitoring device 51 includes a battery ECU 10 and a plurality of voltage monitors 20.

The battery ECU 10 has a power supply 11, an MCU 13, a master unit 16, and a storage unit 17, and is further provided with a power supply port 10a, an electrical wiring α, and a communication wiring β. The MCU 13 includes a power switch 13a. The master unit 16 includes a power switch 16a and an antenna 16b.

Each voltage monitor 20 has a power supply 21, a monitoring IC 23, a slave unit 26, and a storage unit 27, and is further provided with a power supply port 20a, a plurality of detection ports 20d, electrical wiring α, communication wiring β, and detection wiring δ. ing. The monitoring IC 23 has a power switch 23a. The slave unit 26 has a power switch 26a and an antenna 26b.

Next, each member and the like shown above will be described. The power switch 70 is a start switch for a power unit for traveling the vehicle. The power unit of the vehicle may be an engine, a motor, or both (hybrid).

The plurality of battery blocks 62 are connected in series. Each battery block 62 comprises a plurality of unit batteries 63 connected in series. Each unit battery 63 may be a single cell battery or a series connection body of a plurality of cell batteries. The cell battery is a lithium battery in this embodiment, but may be another battery.

An auxiliary battery 67 is connected to the power port 10a of the battery ECU 10 by a power line 31. The power supply 11 is connected to the power supply port 10a, the MCU 13, the master unit 16, and the storage unit 17 by the electric wiring α. The power supply 11 supplies the electric power supplied from the auxiliary battery 67 to the MCU 13, the master unit 16, and the storage unit 17.

The power switch 13a switches between ON and OFF of the power supplied from the electric wiring α to the MCU 13. The power switch 16a switches between ON and OFF of the power supplied from the electric wiring α to the master unit 16. When the power switch 70 is turned on, the power switches 13a and 16a of the MCU 13 and the master unit 16 are turned on. As a result, the battery ECU 10 is activated. On the other hand, when the power switch 70 is turned off, the power switches 13a and 16a of the MCU 13 and the master unit 16 are turned off thereafter. As a result, the battery ECU 10 goes into sleep mode. In the sleep mode, the MCU 13 and the master unit 16 stop starting, but the storage unit 17 does not stop starting.

The MCU 13 issues a command or the like to the monitoring IC 23. The command includes a command for acquiring voltage information of the unit battery 63, a command for discharging the unit battery 63, and the like. The master unit 16 has a communication control unit and an RF unit. The MCU 13 and the master unit 16 are communicably connected by the communication wiring β. The MCU 13 transmits a command or the like to the monitoring IC 23 to the master unit 16 via the communication wiring β. On the other hand, the master unit 16 transmits the voltage information and the like wirelessly received from the slave unit 26 to the MCU 13 via the communication wiring β. The storage unit 17 has a memory.

The assembled battery 60 is connected to the power port 20a of the voltage monitor 20 by a power line 38. The power supply 21 is connected to the power supply port 20a, the monitoring IC 23, the slave unit 26, and the storage unit 27 by the electric wiring α. The power supply 21 supplies the electric power supplied from the unit battery 63 to the monitoring IC 23, the slave unit 26, and the storage unit 27.

The power switch 23a switches ON / OFF of the power supplied from the electric wiring α to the monitoring IC 23. The power switch 26a switches between ON and OFF of the power supplied from the electric wiring α to the slave unit 26. When the power switch 70 is turned on, the power switches 23a and 26a of the monitoring IC 23 and the slave unit 26 are turned on. As a result, the voltage monitor 20 is activated. On the other hand, when the power switch 70 is turned off, the power switches 23a and 26a of the monitoring IC 23 and the slave unit 26 are turned off thereafter. As a result, the voltage monitor 20 goes into sleep mode. In the sleep mode, the monitoring IC 23 and the slave unit 26 stop starting, but the storage unit 27 does not stop starting.

The monitoring IC 23 is connected to each detection port 20d by the detection wiring δ. The plurality of detection ports 20d are connected by detection lines 39 between both ends of the battery block 62 and each terminal of the plurality of unit batteries 63 constituting the battery block 62. The monitoring IC 23 can detect voltage information between the terminals of each unit battery 63. The voltage information may be an actual voltage value, or may be, for example, information that can be converted into a voltage value such as a current value flowing in a predetermined portion. The monitoring IC 23 can discharge each unit battery 63 as needed. Therefore, a balancing process for equalizing the charge state of each unit battery 63 can be performed.

The slave unit 26 has a communication control unit and an RF unit. The monitoring IC 23 and the slave unit 26 are communicably connected by the communication wiring β. The slave unit 26 transmits a command or the like wirelessly received from the master unit 16 to the monitoring IC 23 via the communication wiring β. On the other hand, the monitoring IC 23 transmits voltage information and the like to the slave unit 26 via the communication wiring β. The storage unit 27 has a memory. The master unit 16 and the slave unit 26 form a wireless device.

Next, the control of the battery monitoring device 51 will be described below separately for the first operation and the second and subsequent operations. The first operation is the time when the power switch 70 is turned on for the first time after the battery monitoring device 51 is attached to the vehicle to operate the battery monitoring device 51. The second and subsequent operations are when the battery monitoring device 51 is attached to the vehicle and then the power switch 70 is turned on to operate the battery monitoring device 51 from the second time onward.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing control of the battery monitoring device 51 at the time of initial operation. First, the case where the power switch 70 is turned on will be described. When the power switch 70 is turned on, the battery ECU 10 is activated (S101), and each voltage monitor 20 is also activated (S102). After that, the master unit 16 and the slave unit 26 perform a connection sequence (S103) to establish a communication connection. Next, the master unit 16 and the slave unit 26 determine whether or not a communication connection has been established (S104). If it is determined that the communication connection has not been established (S104: NO), the connection sequence of S104 is repeated again. On the other hand, when it is determined that the communication connection is established (S104: YES), wireless communication is performed between the master unit 16 and the slave unit 26 (S105).

Specifically, when the battery ECU 10 of S101 is started, the MCU 13 and the master unit 16 are started by turning on the power switches 13a and 16a. Further, when the voltage monitor 20 of S102 is started, the monitoring IC 23 and the slave unit 26 are started by turning on the power switches 23a and 26a.

In the connection sequence of S103, the master unit 16 and each slave unit 26 exchange information by wireless signals. As a result, the master unit 16 and the slave unit 26 establish information such as connection information and voltage monitor information. The connection information is information related to the identification numbers of the master unit 16 and each slave unit 26, the frequency channel used for wireless communication, the data structure of the data to be communicated, and the like.

On the other hand, the voltage monitor information is information based on the following numerical information, position information, and periodic information. Specifically, the voltage monitor information may include numerical information itself, position information itself, and periodic information itself, or may include information such as calculated values based on them.

The numerical information is information indicating the number of voltage monitors 20. The reason why the master unit 16 acquires the numerical information is that, for example, the number of slave units 26 that the master unit 16 communicates with may change depending on the number of voltage monitors 20. The reason why each slave unit 26 acquires numerical information is that, for example, the interval at which it communicates with the master unit 16 may change depending on the number of voltage monitors 20. The number information is obtained, for example, by each slave unit 26 transmitting its own identification number to the master unit 16 by a radio signal, and the master unit 16 counting the number of slave units 26 from the number of received identification numbers. Can be obtained. Further, when the master unit 16 wirelessly transmits the number information to each slave unit 26, the slave unit 26 can also acquire the number information.

The position information is information indicating which battery block 62 each voltage monitor 20 is installed in. The reason why the master unit 16 acquires the position information is that, for example, the position of the voltage monitor 20 may change the processing of the received voltage information as the voltage information of the battery block 62. The slave unit 26 acquires the position information because, for example, the address to which the master unit 16 transmits the voltage information may change depending on the position of the voltage monitor 20 to which the slave unit 26 belongs.

The location information can be obtained as follows. For example, the voltage monitor 20 detects the potential difference between the potential of the battery block 62 corresponding to itself and the ground potential, and wirelessly transmits the potential difference to the master unit 16, so that the master unit 16 is the voltage monitor to which each slave unit 26 belongs. 20 position information (order) can be acquired. When the master unit 16 wirelessly transmits the position information to each slave unit 26, the slave unit 26 can also acquire the position information. Further, for example, an operator or the like stores the position information in the voltage monitor 20 when the voltage monitor 20 is assembled, and the slave unit 26 wirelessly transmits the position information to the master unit 16 during the connection sequence. The 26 and the master unit 16 can acquire the position information. Further, for example, the voltage monitor 20 is started in order from the one corresponding to the low potential battery block 62, and its own identification number is transmitted to the master unit 16 in order from the slave unit 26 of the activated voltage monitor 20 by a wireless signal. , The master unit 16 can acquire the position information (order) of the voltage monitor 20 to which each slave unit 26 belongs. Further, when the master unit 16 wirelessly transmits the position information to each slave unit 26, the slave unit 26 can also acquire the position information.

The cycle information is information indicating the acquisition cycle of the voltage of the unit battery 63 by the voltage monitor 20. The reason why the master unit 16 and the slave unit 26 acquire the cycle information is that, for example, the cycle in which the master unit 16 and the slave unit 26 communicate with each other may change depending on the voltage acquisition cycle. be. For example, when the acquisition cycle is unique to the monitoring IC 23, the slave unit 26 acquires the ID of the monitoring IC 23 of the voltage monitor 20 to which the slave unit 26 belongs and transmits it to the master unit 16 by a wireless signal. As a result, the master unit 16 can acquire the cycle information of each voltage monitor 20. Further, when the master unit 16 wirelessly transmits the cycle information to each slave unit 26, the slave unit 26 can also acquire the cycle information of the other slave units 26.

In the connection sequence of S103, the master unit 16 and the slave unit 26 establish a communication connection based on the acquired connection information and voltage monitor information. When the communication connection is established, in the communication of S105, the master unit 16 wirelessly transmits the command by the MCU 13 to each slave unit 26, and the slave unit 26 wirelessly transmits the voltage information and the like to the master unit 16.

Next, the case where the power switch 70 is turned off will be described. When the power switch 70 is turned off (S151), the master unit 16 stops wireless communication with the slave unit 26 (S152). After that, the master unit 16 stores the connection information and the voltage monitor information in the storage unit 17 (S153). After that, the battery ECU 10 goes into sleep mode (S154).

On the other hand, the slave unit 26 performs a communication stop sequence (S155) after stopping the wireless communication with the master unit 16 (S152), and determines whether or not the communication with the master unit 16 has stopped (S156). .. If it cannot be determined that communication has stopped (S156: NO), the communication stop sequence of S155 is repeated. On the other hand, when it is determined that the communication has stopped (S156: YES), the slave unit 26 stores information such as connection information and voltage monitor information in the storage unit 27 (S157). After that, the voltage monitor 20 goes into sleep mode (S158).

Specifically, when the communication of S152 is stopped, the master unit 16 stops the wireless transmission of the command by the MCU 13 to the slave unit 26. In the sleep mode of S154, the power switches 13a and 16a of the MCU 13 and the master unit 16 are turned off. In the communication stop sequence of S155, if the slave unit 26 does not receive the radio signal from the master unit 16 for a predetermined time or more, it is determined that the communication has stopped. In the sleep mode of S158, the power switches 23a and 26a of the monitoring IC 23 and the slave unit 26 are turned off.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the control of the battery monitoring device 51 during operation from the second time onward. When the power switch 70 of the vehicle is turned on, the battery ECU 10 is activated (S201) and each voltage monitor 20 is activated (S203). The master unit 16 reads and refers to the information stored in the storage unit 17 of the battery ECU 10 (S202), and the slave unit 26 reads and refers to the information stored in the storage unit 27 of the voltage monitor 20 (S202). S204). As a result, the master unit 16 and the slave unit 26 establish a communication connection and start wireless communication without performing the connection sequence as in the initial operation (S205). Then, the wireless communication is continued (S206).

The time when the power switch 70 is turned off (S251 to S258) is the same as that at the time of the first operation (S151 to S158). Therefore, when the power switch 70 of the vehicle is turned off, the master unit 16 and the slave unit 26 update the connection information and the voltage monitor information stored in the storage units 17 and 27 to the latest ones.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing control when the communication connection is disconnected while the power switch 70 is ON, that is, during communication. If a communication interruption (S302) occurs during wireless communication (S301), the master unit 16 determines the interruption (S303). If it is not determined that the interruption has occurred (S303: NO), the interruption determination (S303) is repeated. On the other hand, when it is determined in S303 that the information is interrupted (S303: YES), the master unit 16 reads and refers to the information in the storage unit 17 (S304).

Further, when the communication interruption (S302) occurs during the wireless communication (S301), the slave unit 26 performs the interruption determination (S305). If it is not determined that the interruption has occurred (S305: NO), the interruption determination (S305) is repeated. On the other hand, when it is determined in S305 that the information is interrupted (S305: YES), the slave unit 26 reads and refers to the information in the storage unit 27 (S306).

In this way, both the master unit 16 and the slave unit 26 read and refer to the information of the storage units 17 and 27, respectively, so that the master unit 16 and the slave unit do not perform the connection sequence as in the initial operation. 26 establishes a communication connection again and resumes wireless communication (S307).

Specifically, in the interruption determination of S303, when the master unit 16 does not receive the radio signal from the slave unit 26 for a predetermined time or longer, it is determined that the wireless communication is interrupted. Further, in the interruption determination of S305, when the slave unit 26 does not receive the wireless signal from the master unit 16 for a predetermined time or more, it is determined that the wireless communication is interrupted.

According to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. During the second and subsequent operations, the master unit 16 and the slave unit 26 make a communication connection using the information stored in the storage units 17 and 27, so that the time for acquiring the connection information and the voltage monitor information should be deleted. Can be done. Therefore, it is possible to smoothly establish a communication connection during operation from the second time onward.

Further, even if the communication connection is disconnected during communication, the master unit 16 and the slave unit 26 make a communication connection using the information stored in the storage units 17 and 27, so that the communication can be smoothly performed again. A connection can be established.

Further, since the voltage monitor information stored in each of the storage units 17 and 27 is based on the number information, the position information, and the period information, it is possible to omit the acquisition of all three, which is also smoother. A communication connection can be established. Further, both the master unit 16 and the slave unit 26 can store the connection information and the voltage monitor information and use them at the time of reconnection, so that the communication connection can be established again more smoothly.

Further, when the power switch 70 is turned off, the battery ECU 10 and the voltage monitor 20 are put into the sleep mode, so that power can be saved. On the other hand, since each of the storage units 17 and 27 continues to wake up even in the sleep mode, it is not necessary to have the non-volatile memory, and it is sufficient to have the volatile memory. Further, since the storage units 17 and 27 continue to be activated even in the sleep mode, it is not necessary to activate the storage units 17 and 27 during the second and subsequent operations, and the communication connection can be smoothly established again. Further, since the information of each storage unit 17 and 27 is updated to the latest one every time the power switch 70 is turned off, the connection information and the voltage monitor information are actually updated, but each storage unit 17 is updated. It is possible to suppress garbled information such as the information of, 27 not being updated.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, the battery monitoring device 52 of the second embodiment will be described. In the following embodiments, the same or corresponding members as those in the previous embodiments are designated by the same reference numerals. However, the battery monitoring device itself is designated by a different reference numeral for each embodiment. The present embodiment will be described with reference to the first embodiment and focusing on differences from the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the control of the battery monitoring device 52 during the second and subsequent operations. Immediately before going to sleep (S254, S258), the master unit 16 and the slave unit 26 do not store the connection information and the voltage monitor information in the storage units 17 and 27, that is, the connection information and the voltage monitor of the storage units 17 and 27. It differs from the first embodiment in that the information is not updated.

According to the present embodiment, there is a risk of information garbled, but it is possible to save the trouble of updating the information stored in the storage units 17 and 27 at the end of the operation from the second time onward.

[Third Embodiment]
FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing the battery monitoring device 53 of the third embodiment. The present embodiment will be described with reference to the first embodiment and focusing on differences from the first embodiment. The master unit 16 does not have a power switch 16a, and power is always supplied to the master unit 16. Therefore, in the battery ECU 10, even if the power switch 70 is turned off, only the power switch 13a of the MCU 13 is turned off, and the master unit 16 and the storage unit 17 continue to start.

Further, the slave unit 26 is not provided with the power switch 26a, so that power is always supplied to the slave unit 26. Therefore, in the voltage monitor 20, even if the power switch 70 is turned off, only the power switch 23a of the monitoring IC 23 is turned off, and the slave unit 26 and the storage unit 27 continue to start.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the control of the battery monitoring device 53 at the time of initial operation. After the master unit 16 stores the information in the storage unit 17 (S153), the battery ECU 10 stops only the activation of the MCU 13 without going into the sleep mode (S154c). Further, after the slave unit 26 stores the information in the storage unit 27 (S157), the voltage monitor 20 does not enter the sleep mode and only stops the activation of the monitoring IC 23 (S158c). After storing the information, the master unit 16 and the slave unit 26 maintain a communication connection by communicating at predetermined intervals.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the control of the battery monitoring device 53 during the second and subsequent operations. When the power switch 70 is turned on, the battery ECU 10 is activated (S201) and each voltage monitor 20 is activated (S203). Then, the master unit 16 and the slave unit 26 start wireless communication by the maintained communication connection without performing the connection sequence as in the initial operation (S205). Then, wireless communication is maintained (S206).

When the power switch 70 is turned off (S251 to S253, S254c, S255 to S257, S258c), it is the same as during the first operation (S151 to S153, S154c, S155 to S157, S158c).

According to the present embodiment, since wireless communication is performed by the maintained communication connection, wireless communication can be resumed more smoothly.

Further, in the present embodiment, as described above, in the first operation shown in FIG. 7, after the communication is stopped in S152 and S156, and in the second and subsequent operations shown in FIG. 8, the communication is stopped in S252 and S256. Even after that, the communication connection is maintained and communication is performed at predetermined intervals. Therefore, in other words, as shown in FIG. 9, when the power switch 70 is ON, the wireless device performs wireless communication between the master unit 16 and each slave unit 26 in a predetermined first communication mode M1. When the power switch 70 is OFF, wireless communication is performed in the second communication mode M2, which consumes less power than the first communication mode M1. Therefore, when the power switch 70 is OFF, the second communication mode M2 can maintain the communication connection while suppressing the power consumption.

More specifically, in the first communication mode M1, each slave unit 26 performs wireless communication with the master unit 16 in a predetermined first communication cycle T1, and in the second communication mode M2, each slave unit 26 communicates with the master unit 16. And, wireless communication is performed in the second communication cycle T2 which is longer than the first communication cycle T1. Therefore, in the second communication mode M2, by lengthening the communication cycle, it is possible to efficiently achieve both suppression of power consumption and maintenance of communication connection.

Further, in the present embodiment, in order to maintain wireless communication by the second communication mode M2 even when the power switch 70 is OFF, the timer of the master unit 16 and the timer of the slave unit 26 are set when the power switch 70 is OFF. Will continue to synchronize. The timer is for the master unit 16 and each slave unit 26 to align their own transmission timing with the reception timing of the other party and to align the transmission timing of the other party with their own reception timing in wireless communication. Therefore, when the power switch 70 is turned from OFF to ON, the timer is not synchronized between the master unit 16 and each slave unit 26 again, and the timer that has already been synchronized is used to smoothly perform the first step. Wireless communication in the communication mode M1 can be resumed.

[Fourth Embodiment]
Next, the battery monitoring device 54 of the fourth embodiment will be described. The fourth embodiment will be described focusing on the differences from the third embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the control of the battery monitoring device 54 during the second and subsequent operations. After the communication with the slave unit 26 is stopped (S252), the master unit 16 does not store the connection information and the voltage monitor information in the storage unit 17, that is, updates the connection information and the voltage monitor information of the storage unit 17. It differs from the third embodiment in that it does not. Further, the slave unit 26 does not store the connection information and the voltage monitor information in the storage unit 27 after the communication with the master unit 16 is stopped (S256), that is, the information stored in the storage unit 27 is stored. It differs from the third embodiment in that it is not updated.

According to the present embodiment, there is a risk of garbled information, but it is possible to save the trouble of updating the information stored in the storage units 17 and 27 at the end of the operation from the second time onward.

[Fifth Embodiment]
Next, the battery monitoring device 55 of the fifth embodiment will be described. The present embodiment will be described with reference to the third embodiment and focusing on differences from the third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the control of the battery monitoring device 53 at the time of initial operation. When the power switch 70 is turned on, the battery ECU 10 is activated (S101), and each voltage monitor 20 is also activated (S102). After that, the master unit 16 and the slave unit 26 perform a connection sequence (S103) to establish a communication connection. At this time, the master unit 16 and the slave unit 26 synchronize the timers. Next, the master unit 16 and the slave unit 26 determine whether or not a communication connection has been established (S104). If it is determined that the communication connection has not been established (S104: NO), the connection sequence of S104 is repeated again. On the other hand, when it is determined that the communication connection is established (S104: YES), wireless communication is performed between the master unit 16 and the slave unit 26 in the first communication mode M1 (S105).

After that, when the power switch 70 is turned off (S151), the master unit 16 measures the elapsed time from that time by its own timer. When the elapsed time reaches a predetermined time, that is, after a predetermined time has elapsed since the power switch 70 was turned off, the master unit 16 is moved to each slave unit 26 by wireless communication in the current first communication mode M1. In response to this, a second switching signal instructing switching to the second communication mode M2 is transmitted (S151e), and its own state is switched from the state for the first communication mode M1 to the state for the second communication mode M2. (S152e). After that, the battery ECU 10 stores the connection information and the voltage monitor information in the storage unit 17 (S153).

On the other hand, the slave unit 26 determines whether or not the second switching signal has been received (S155e). If it cannot be determined that the second switching signal has been received (S155e: NO), the determination of S155e is repeated. On the other hand, when it is determined that the second switching signal has been received in S155e (S155e: YES), the slave unit 26 switches its own state from the state for the first communication mode M1 to the state for the second communication mode M2 (S15e: YES). S156e). As a result, the communication mode between the master unit 16 and each slave unit 26 is switched from the first communication mode M1 to the second communication mode M2. After that, the voltage monitor 20 stores information such as connection information and voltage monitor information in the storage unit 27 (S157), and stops the start of the monitoring IC 23 (S158c).

After that, the master unit 16 and the slave unit 26 maintain a communication connection by wireless communication in the second communication mode M2. In the second communication mode M2, the timers of the master unit 16 and the slave unit 26 are continuously synchronized by transmitting and receiving information about the timer between the master unit 16 and the slave unit 26. Further, at a predetermined time, the slave unit 26 transmits the voltage information of the unit battery 63 to the master unit 16.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the control of the battery monitoring device 53 during the second and subsequent operations. When the power switch 70 is turned on, the battery ECU 10 is activated (S201) and each voltage monitor 20 is activated (S203). The master unit 16 reads the information stored in the storage unit 17 of the battery ECU 10 (S202), and the slave unit 26 reads the information stored in the storage unit 27 of the voltage monitor 20 (S204). Then, the master unit 16 and the slave unit 26 synchronize the connection sequence and the timer as performed at the first operation by using the read information and the communication connection maintained by the second communication mode M2. The second communication mode M2 is switched to the first communication mode M1 without any problem (S205).

Specifically, in S205, the master unit 16 transmits a first switching signal instructing each slave unit 26 to switch to the first communication mode M1 by wireless communication in the current second communication mode M2. .. Then, the state of itself is switched from the state for the second communication mode M2 to the state for the first communication mode M1. At this time, the master unit 16 refers to the information read from the storage unit 17. On the other hand, when the slave unit 26 receives the first switching signal, it switches its state from the state for the second communication mode M2 to the state for the first communication mode M1. At this time, the slave unit 26 refers to the information read from the storage unit 27. As a result, the communication mode between the master unit 16 and each slave unit 26 is switched from the second communication mode M2 to the first communication mode M1 (S205). Then, the master unit 16 and the slave unit 26 perform wireless communication in the first communication mode M1 (S206).

When the power switch 70 is turned off after that (S251, S251e, S252e, S253, S255e, 256e, S257, S258c), in the case of the first operation (S1511, S151e, S152e, S153, S155e, 156e, S157). , S158c).

In this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. When switching from the second communication mode M2 to the first communication mode M1, the master unit 16 and the slave unit 26 establish the switching by using the voltage monitor information stored in the storage units 17 and 27, respectively. Therefore, even when the voltage monitor information is required for the switching, the switching can be smoothly established.

Further, in the second communication mode M2, the slave unit 26 occasionally transmits the voltage information of the unit battery 63 to the master unit 16. Therefore, if the voltage information changes when the power switch 70 is OFF, the battery ECU 10 can start the operation with the latest voltage information when the power switch 70 is turned ON.

Further, after a predetermined time has elapsed after the power switch 70 is turned off, the first communication mode M1 is switched to the second communication mode M2. Therefore, the switching can be easily performed at the right time. In addition, the predetermined time is measured by a timer. Therefore, the timer can be used to easily switch from the first communication mode M1 to the second communication mode M2 at the right time.

Further, the first communication mode is switched to the second communication mode M2 by transmitting the second switching signal by the communication in the first communication mode M1, and the first switching signal is transmitted by the communication in the second communication mode M2. Switch to M1. Therefore, it is possible to easily switch to the communication modes M2 and M1 to the other by using the communication in the current communication modes M1 and M2.

[Sixth Embodiment]
Next, the battery monitoring device 56 of the sixth embodiment will be described. The present embodiment will be described with reference to the fifth embodiment and focusing on differences from the fifth embodiment. The first communication mode M1 is the same as in the fifth embodiment. Therefore, in the first communication mode M1, the master unit 16 performs individual communication in which a signal is individually transmitted to each slave unit 26.

FIG. 13 is a schematic view showing the second communication mode M2 of the present embodiment. In the second communication mode M2, the master unit 16 performs broadcast communication in which the broadcast signal of 1 is transmitted to the plurality of slave units 26. The broadcast signal includes a predetermined handling signal and the first switching signal described above. The handling signal is a signal transmitted at a predetermined cycle while the power switch 70 is OFF, and includes information for synchronizing the timers of the master unit 16 and the slave unit 26. As described above, the first switching signal is transmitted when the power switch 70 is switched from OFF to ON. The master unit 16 may immediately transmit the broadcast signal at the time of switching the communication mode or the like, or may transmit the broadcast signal by arranging a schedule with the slave unit 26 in advance.

After receiving the handling signal, each slave unit 26 returns the signal to the master unit 16 with a time lag in order to confirm the synchronization of the timer and the like. Further, at a predetermined timing, the slave unit 26 returns the voltage information of the unit battery 63 to the master unit 16 after receiving the handling signal. It is preferable that each broadcast signal has a short output time from the viewpoint of power consumption and immediate state transition, but the broadcast signal is surely received by all the slave units 26 at a fixed time or a fixed cycle. You may continue to output for a while.

According to the present embodiment, in the second communication mode M2, the master unit 16 performs broadcast communication in which the broadcast signal of 1 is transmitted to the plurality of slave units 26. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently achieve both suppression of power consumption and maintenance of communication connection. Further, after receiving the handling signal in the broadcast signal, the plurality of slave units 26 return the signals to the master unit 16 with a time lag in order. Therefore, it is possible to prevent signal confusion as compared with the case of replying at the same time. Then, by preventing the signal from being confused in this way, the power of the reply of the slave unit 26 can be reduced.

[Other embodiments]
The above embodiment can be modified and implemented as follows. For example, the voltage monitor information stored in the storage units 17 and 27 may be based on only one or two of the above-mentioned numerical information, position information, and periodic information. Specifically, the voltage monitor information may be based on at least several pieces of information. Further, the voltage monitor information may be at least based on the position information. Further, the voltage monitor information may be based on at least periodic information. Further, the voltage monitor information may be based on at least numerical information and position information. Further, the voltage monitor information may be based on at least numerical information and periodic information. Further, the voltage monitor information may be based on at least position information and cycle information.

The storage units 17 and 27 may be provided only in at least one of the battery ECU 10 and the plurality of voltage monitors 20 and may not be provided in the other. Specifically, for example, the storage unit 17 may be provided only in the battery ECU 10, and the storage unit 27 may not be provided in the voltage monitor 20. Then, each slave unit 26 may wirelessly receive connection information and voltage monitor information from the master unit 16. Further, for example, when the storage unit 17 is provided only in the battery ECU 10, each slave unit 26 may not wirelessly receive the connection information and the voltage monitor information from the master unit 16. Even in this case, the connection process with the slave unit 26 performed by the master unit 16 can be omitted.

Further, for example, the storage unit 27 may be provided only in the voltage monitor 20 of 1, and the storage units 17 and 27 may not be provided in the battery ECU 10 and the other voltage monitor 20. Then, the master unit 16 and the other slave unit 26 may receive connection information and voltage monitor information from the slave unit 26 of the voltage monitor 20 of the master unit 16.

Further, for example, when the power switch 70 is activated, instead of starting the battery ECU 10 and the voltage monitor 20, the battery ECU 10 and the voltage monitor 20 may start the activation by receiving a signal or the like before that. .. Further, for example, the storage units 17 and 27 may be equipped with a non-volatile memory so that the storage units 17 and 27 stop starting when the power switch 70 is turned off.

Further, for example, in the third to sixth embodiments, the storage units 17 and 27 may be eliminated. Even in this case, the wireless communication can be resumed smoothly by performing the wireless communication by the maintained communication connection during the operation from the second time onward. That is, the wireless communication in the first communication mode M1 can be smoothly resumed by the communication connection maintained in the second communication mode M2.

Further, for example, in the fifth and sixth embodiments, when the power switch 70 is turned off, that is, after S153 in FIG. 11, the battery ECU 10 may stop the activation of the MCU 13. Further, for example, in the fifth and sixth embodiments, in the second communication mode M2, the slave unit 26 may not transmit the voltage information of the unit battery 63 to the master unit 16. Further, for example, in the fifth and sixth embodiments, in the second communication mode M2, the master unit 16 only unilaterally transmits a signal to the slave unit 26, and the slave unit 26 does not reply to the master unit 16 at all. You may do it. Further, for example, in the sixth embodiment, each slave unit 26 may reply to the master unit 16 all at once.

10 ... Battery ECU, 16 ... Master unit, 17 ... Storage unit, 20 ... Voltage monitor, 26 ... Slave unit, 27 ... Storage unit, 51-54 ... Battery monitoring device, 60 ... Batteries, 62 ... Battery block, 63 ... Unit battery.

Claims (20)

It is a device for monitoring a plurality of unit batteries (63) possessed by the assembled battery (60) mounted on the vehicle.
It has a battery ECU (10), a voltage monitor (20) which is installed for each battery block (62) in which a plurality of the unit batteries are grouped, and detects voltage information of the unit batteries, and a wireless device.
The wireless device has a master unit (16) provided in the battery ECU and a slave unit (26) provided in each voltage monitor, and is between the master unit and each slave unit. When the communication connection of wireless communication is established, the master unit wirelessly transmits a command from the battery ECU to each slave unit, and the slave unit wirelessly transmits the voltage information to the master unit. In the monitoring device (51-54)
The wireless device acquires voltage monitor information, which is information about the voltage monitor, by receiving a wireless signal from each slave unit before the establishment of the communication connection for the first time, and the voltage monitor information. Is used to establish the communication connection.
At least one of the battery ECU and the plurality of voltage monitors is provided with a storage unit (17, 27) for storing the voltage monitor information.
The wireless device is a battery that establishes the re-communication connection by using the voltage monitor information stored in the storage unit at the time of reconnection to establish the re-communication connection after the disconnection of the first communication connection. Monitoring device. At the time of the reconnection, when the communication connection is disconnected and the communication connection is re-established while the power switch (70), which is the start switch of the power unit for traveling the vehicle, is ON. The battery monitoring device according to claim 1, which includes. The storage unit is provided in each of the battery ECU and each of the voltage monitors.
The master unit and each slave unit store the voltage monitor information together with themselves in the battery ECU or the storage unit provided in the voltage monitor, and the stored voltage monitor information is stored at the time of reconnection. The battery monitoring device according to claim 1 or 2, which is used. The wireless device updates the voltage monitor information stored in the storage unit to the latest one when the power switch (70), which is a start switch of the power device for traveling the vehicle, is turned off. Item 6. The battery monitoring device according to any one of Items 1 to 3. The wireless device disconnects the communication connection when the power switch (70), which is a start switch of the power device for traveling the vehicle, is turned off, and the power switch is turned off at the time of reconnection. The battery monitoring device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which includes the case where the communication connection is disconnected again and then the communication connection is re-established. When the power switch (70), which is the start switch of the power device for traveling the vehicle, is turned off, the wireless device stops starting, but the storage unit enters a sleep mode in which the start does not stop. 5. The battery monitoring device according to any one of 5. The wireless device performs the wireless communication when the power switch (70), which is a start switch of the power device for traveling the vehicle, is ON, and even if the power switch is turned OFF, the wireless device is described. The battery monitoring device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the communication connection is maintained, and when the power switch is subsequently turned on, the wireless communication is performed by the maintained communication connection. .. It is a device for monitoring a plurality of unit batteries (63) possessed by the assembled battery (60) mounted on the vehicle.
It has a battery ECU (10), a voltage monitor (20) which is installed for each battery block (62) in which a plurality of the unit batteries are grouped, and detects voltage information of the unit batteries, and a wireless device.
The wireless device has a master unit (16) provided in the battery ECU and a slave unit (26) provided in each voltage monitor, and is between the master unit and each slave unit. When the communication connection of wireless communication is established, the master unit wirelessly transmits a command from the battery ECU to each slave unit, and the slave unit wirelessly transmits the voltage information to the master unit. In the monitoring device (53, 54)
Before the communication connection is established, the wireless device acquires voltage monitor information, which is information about the voltage monitor, by receiving a wireless signal from each slave unit, and uses the voltage monitor information. To establish the communication connection.
The wireless device performs the wireless communication when the power switch (70), which is a start switch of the power device for traveling the vehicle, is ON, and even if the power switch is turned OFF, the wireless device is described. A battery monitoring device that maintains a communication connection and then performs wireless communication by the maintained communication connection when the power switch is turned on. When the power switch is ON, the wireless device performs wireless communication in a predetermined first communication mode (M1), and when the power switch is OFF, the second communication mode consumes less power than the first communication mode. The battery monitoring device according to claim 7 or 8, which performs wireless communication in (M2). At least one of the battery ECU and the plurality of voltage monitors is provided with a storage unit (17, 27) for storing the voltage monitor information.
The ninth aspect of the present invention, wherein the wireless device establishes the switching by using the voltage monitor information stored in the storage unit when switching from the second communication mode to the first communication mode. Battery monitoring device. In the first communication mode, each slave unit wirelessly communicates with the master unit in a predetermined first communication cycle (T1), and in the second communication mode, each slave unit communicates with the master unit. The battery monitoring device according to claim 9 or 10, wherein wireless communication is performed in a second communication cycle (T2) longer than one communication cycle. In the first communication mode, the master unit performs individual communication for individually transmitting a signal to each slave unit, and in the second communication mode, the master unit transmits one broadcast signal to the plurality of slave units. The battery monitoring device according to any one of claims 9 to 11, which performs broadcast communication to be transmitted to. The battery monitoring device according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of slave units return signals to the master unit with a time lag in order after receiving the broadcast signal. The battery monitoring device according to any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein each slave unit transmits the voltage information to the master unit in the second communication mode. The battery monitoring device according to any one of claims 9 to 14, wherein the battery monitoring device switches from the first communication mode to the second communication mode after a predetermined time has elapsed after the power switch is turned off. The master unit and the slave unit have a predetermined timer, and the transmission timing of one of the master unit and the slave unit and the reception timing of the other are aligned based on the timer.
The battery monitoring device according to claim 15, wherein the predetermined time is measured by the timer. The master unit and the slave unit have a predetermined timer, and the transmission timing of one of the master unit and the slave unit and the reception timing of the other are aligned based on the timer.
In the second communication mode, the timer is synchronized by transmitting and receiving information about the timer between the master unit and the slave unit.
The battery monitoring device according to any one of claims 9 to 16. When the power switch is turned from OFF to ON, the master unit transmits a predetermined first switching signal to the slave unit by wireless communication in the second communication mode, so that the second communication mode is selected. Switching to the first communication mode,
When the power switch is turned from ON to OFF, the master unit transmits a predetermined second switching signal to the slave unit by wireless communication in the first communication mode, so that the first communication mode is selected. Switching to the second communication mode,
The battery monitoring device according to any one of claims 9 to 17. The voltage monitor information includes numerical information indicating the number of voltage monitors, position information indicating which battery block each voltage monitor is installed on, and acquisition of the voltage of the unit battery by the voltage monitor. The battery monitoring device according to any one of claims 1 to 18, which is information based on at least one of cycle information indicating a cycle. The battery monitoring device according to claim 19, wherein the voltage monitor information is information based on all three of the number information, the position information, and the cycle information.

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