JP7439813B2 - battery monitoring device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a battery monitoring device that monitors assembled batteries installed in vehicles and the like.

Some battery monitoring devices are configured as follows. The battery monitoring device includes a satellite and a battery ECU, which are installed for each battery group in which a plurality of cell batteries included in the assembled battery are grouped. Each satellite and battery ECU are configured to be able to communicate wirelessly. Through the wireless communication, each satellite transmits battery information, which is information regarding the cell battery, to the battery ECU.

The battery monitoring device uses frequency redundancy, which retries transmission using a different frequency band if a satellite fails to transmit battery information to the battery ECU using a predetermined frequency, or by transmitting battery information via another satellite. Battery information is transmitted to the battery ECU using spatial redundancy to establish transmission. As a document showing such a technique, there is the following Patent Document 1.

Patent No. 6093448

In such a configuration, even if a satellite fails to transmit battery information, it is possible to transmit battery information to the battery ECU by using another frequency body or via another satellite. can. However, in the above configuration, battery information is transmitted based on the waveform of radio waves, so for example, if noise that spans the entire frequency band in use enters with a noise intensity that makes it difficult to understand the waveform of radio waves. etc., it becomes impossible to transmit battery information from the satellite to the battery ECU.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its main purpose is to enable battery information to be transmitted from a satellite to a battery ECU even under circumstances where it is difficult to transmit battery information by communication based on radio waveforms. purpose.

The battery monitoring device of the present invention is installed for each battery group in which a plurality of cell batteries included in an assembled battery are divided into groups, and includes a satellite that acquires battery information that is information regarding the cell batteries, a battery ECU, and a control unit. The satellite has a slave unit, the battery ECU has a base unit that performs wireless communication with the slave unit, and the communication device of the slave unit transmits radio waves to the base unit. The communication device of the base unit includes a transmission intensity modulation unit that makes the intensity change of the radio wave include the battery information by changing the intensity of the radio wave, and the communication device of the base unit has the transmission intensity modulation unit that gives the battery information to the intensity change of the radio wave received from the slave unit. an intensity information processing section that acquires battery information; the control section acquires the battery information and controls the transmission intensity modulation section based on the battery information; and the control section switches a power switch. By controlling, supply and cutoff of power to the transmission intensity modulation section are switched and controlled.

According to the present invention, the slave unit uses the transmission intensity modulation unit to include battery information in the intensity change of radio waves transmitted to the base unit. Then, the base device uses the strength information processing unit to acquire battery information included in the change in the intensity of the radio waves received from the slave device.

Therefore, battery information can be transmitted from the satellite to the battery ECU through communication based on changes in the intensity of radio waves, which is communication other than communication based on the waveform of radio waves. Therefore, even in situations where it is difficult to transmit battery information from the satellite to the battery ECU by communication based on the waveform of radio waves, it is possible to transmit the battery information by communication based on changes in the intensity of radio waves.

A circuit diagram showing the battery monitoring device of the first embodiment Schematic showing satellite Circuit diagram showing battery ECU Graph showing the power change of the received signal Circuit diagram showing the satellite of the second embodiment Circuit diagram showing battery ECU Graph showing power changes and voltage waveforms of received signals Graph showing changes in received signal strength in the third embodiment Circuit diagram showing the satellite of the fourth embodiment Circuit diagram showing battery ECU Circuit diagram showing the satellite of the fifth embodiment Circuit diagram showing battery ECU

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments, and can be implemented with appropriate modifications without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[First embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a battery monitoring device 60 of this embodiment. The battery monitoring device 60 is a device that monitors a battery pack 90 mounted on a vehicle, and includes a battery ECU 10 and a plurality of satellites 20. The satellite 20 is installed for each battery group 94 in which a plurality of cell batteries 95 included in the assembled battery 90 are divided into groups.

The battery ECU 10 includes a control MCU 15 and a master unit C1. The satellite 20 includes a monitoring circuit 25 and a slave unit C2. The control MCU 15 issues commands to the monitoring circuit 25. Command information i1, which is information regarding the command, is transmitted to the monitoring circuit 25 by being transmitted from the base unit C1 to the slave unit C2. The monitoring circuit 25 acquires battery information i2, which is information regarding the voltage, current, etc. of each cell battery 95, based on the command information i1. The battery information i2 is transmitted from the slave device C2 to the parent device C1, thereby being transmitted to the control MCU 15.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing the satellite 20, and FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing the battery ECU 10. Each of the communication devices, child device C2 and parent device C1, includes an information processing section 30, a control section 36, a transmission processing section 45, an amplification section 50, an antenna 51, and an RSSI calculation section 59. The control section 36 controls the information processing section 30, the transmission processing section 45, the amplification section 50, and the RSSI calculation section 59.

The information processing section 30 of each communication device includes a transmission information processing section 31 and an intensity information processing section 33. The amplification section 50 of each communication device includes a transmission amplification section 49 and a reception amplification section 53.

Next, the transmission of the battery information i2 from the satellite 20 to the battery ECU 10 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the monitoring circuit 25 of the satellite 20 transmits the acquired battery information i2 to the transmission information processing unit 31 of the slave unit C2. The transmission information processing section 31 transmits the transmission command α to the transmission processing section 45 based on the reception of the battery information i2.

Upon receiving the transmission command α, the transmission processing unit 45 generates a transmission signal Sa, which is an electrical signal that generates radio waves. The transmission signal Sa is input to the transmission amplification section 49. The control unit 36 acquires the battery information i2 from the information processing unit 30 and controls the transmission amplification unit 49 based on the battery information i2, thereby causing the power change of the transmission signal Sa to include the battery information i2. Specifically, the control unit 36 changes the power of the transmission signal Sa by amplifying the transmission signal Sa at a predetermined timing and not at other timings, and incorporates battery information into the power change of the transmission signal Sa. Have i2.

The transmission signal Sa is input to the antenna 51. Radio waves are generated at the antenna 51 by the transmission signal Sa. The radio waves are in a relatively strong strong radio wave state at a predetermined timing when the transmission signal Sa is amplified, and are in a relatively weak weak radio wave state at other timings. Thereby, the radio wave has battery information i2 in the intensity change. That is, by changing the power of the transmission signal Sa by the transmission amplifying section 49, the slave unit C2 changes the intensity of the radio waves to be transmitted, and makes the change in intensity include the battery information i2.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the antenna 51 of the base unit C1 receives a radio wave from the slave unit C2, the radio wave generates a reception signal Sb which is an electrical signal. The received signal Sb has battery information i2 in the power change.

The received signal Sb is input to the reception amplification section 53. The reception amplification unit 53 adjusts the power range of the reception signal Sb input to the RSSI calculation unit 59 by amplifying the reception signal Sb with a variable amplification amount. Specifically, the reception amplification unit 53 operates within a range in which the maximum value of the power of the reception signal Sb input to the RSSI calculation unit 59 does not exceed the upper limit value X of the power of the reception signal Sb that can be measured by the RSSI calculation unit 59. Then, the power of the received signal Sb is amplified.

The amplified received signal Sb is input to the RSSI calculation section 59. RSSI calculation section 59 measures the power of received signal Sb. The power is measured, for example, by measuring the effective value of the power of the received signal Sb, which is an AC electrical signal. Power information β2 representing the measured power is input to the intensity information processing section 33. The intensity information processing unit 33 acquires the power change of the received signal Sb based on the power information β2, and obtains battery information i2 that is included in the power change, that is, battery information that is included in the intensity change of the radio wave received from the slave device C2. Get i2. The battery information i2 is transmitted to the control MCU 15. As described above, battery information i2 is transmitted from satellite 20 to battery ECU 10.

Note that the explanation for transmitting the command information i1 from the battery ECU 10 to the satellite 20 is the same as the explanation for transmitting the battery information i2 from the satellite 20 to the battery ECU 10 above, except that it is read as follows. That is, "battery information i2" is read as "command information i1". Further, each of "FIG. 2" and "FIG. 3" is replaced with the other, and each of "satellite 20" and "battery ECU 10" is replaced with the other. Also, each of "monitoring circuit 25" and "control MCU 15" is read as the other, and each of "slave device C2" and "base device C1" is read as the other.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing changes in the power of the received signal Sb input to the intensity information processing section 33. As shown in FIG. The intensity information processing unit 33 determines that the power of the received signal Sb is "1" when it exceeds a predetermined upper threshold value Hi, and determines that it is "0" when it falls below a predetermined lower threshold value Lo that is smaller than the upper threshold value Hi. That is, once the power of the received signal Sb exceeds the upper threshold Hi, the intensity information processing unit 33 determines that the power of the received signal Sb is "1" until the power falls below the lower threshold Lo. Once the power of the received signal Sb falls below the lower threshold Lo, it is determined to be "0" until it exceeds the upper threshold Hi. Thereby, the information contained in the power change of the received signal Sb, that is, the information contained in the intensity change of the received radio wave, is digitally processed and analyzed.

According to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. The slave unit C2 uses the transmission amplification unit 49 to include battery information i2 in the intensity change of the radio waves transmitted to the base unit C1. Then, the base unit C1 uses the RSSI calculation unit 59 and the intensity information processing unit 33 to acquire battery information i2 that is included in the change in the intensity of the radio wave received from the slave unit C2.

Therefore, the battery information i2 can be transmitted from the satellite 20 to the battery ECU 10 by communication based on changes in the intensity of radio waves, which is communication other than communication based on the waveform of radio waves. Therefore, even in a situation where it is difficult to transmit the battery information i2 from the satellite 20 to the battery ECU 10 by communication based on the waveform of radio waves, the battery information i2 can be transmitted by communication based on changes in the intensity of radio waves.

Also, the transmission of the command information i1 from the base unit C1 to the slave unit C2 is performed by communication based on changes in the strength of radio waves, similar to the transmission of the battery information i2 from the slave unit C2 to the base unit C1 described above. be able to. Therefore, even in a situation where it is difficult to transmit the command information i1 from the battery ECU 10 to the satellite 20 by communication based on the waveform of radio waves, it is possible to transmit the command information i1 by communication based on changes in the intensity of radio waves.

Furthermore, the transmission amplification section 49 amplifies the transmission signal Sa at a predetermined timing and does not amplify it at other timings, so that the intensity of the radio wave can be modulated in a simple manner. Further, since the reception amplification section 53 is provided, even if the received radio waves are weak and therefore the reception signal Sb is weak, the reception amplification section 53 can amplify the power of the reception signal Sb. Therefore, the RSSI calculation unit 59 can easily measure the power of the received signal Sb, and accordingly, the intensity information processing unit 33 can easily analyze the power change of the received signal Sb.

In addition, the reception amplification section 53 amplifies the power of the reception signal Sb within a range that does not exceed the upper limit X of the power of the reception signal Sb that can be measured by the RSSI calculation section 59. Compared to the case where the intensity of the signal Sb is amplified, the amount of amplification can be kept small. Therefore, the power consumption by the reception amplification section 53 can be suppressed, and the amount of amplification can be small, making it easier to respond to speedy changes in the strength of radio waves.

In addition, once the power of the received signal Sb exceeds the upper threshold Hi, the intensity information processing unit 33 determines that the power of the received signal Sb is "1" until it falls below the lower threshold Lo, and once the power falls below the lower threshold Lo. , and then it is determined to be "0" until it exceeds the upper threshold value Hi. Therefore, the resistance to noise is stronger than when determining whether it is "1" or "0" simply based on whether it exceeds or falls below a threshold of one.

[Second embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment will be described. In the following embodiments, members that are the same as or correspond to those of the previous embodiments are given the same reference numerals. The present embodiment will be described based on the first embodiment, focusing on the points that are different from the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing the satellite 20 of this embodiment. FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing the battery ECU 10 of this embodiment. In this embodiment, communication is performed based on the waveform of radio waves during normal times, and communication based on changes in the intensity of radio waves is also performed at predetermined times. Therefore, each communication device of the slave device C2 and the parent device C1 has a configuration for performing communication based on the waveform of radio waves, in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment. Specifically, each communication device of the slave device C2 and the parent device C1 further includes a reception processing section 55. The information processing section 30 of each communication device further includes a received information processing section 32.

Next, a case will be described in which the battery information i2 is transmitted from the satellite 20 to the battery ECU 10 through both communication based on the waveform of radio waves and communication based on changes in the intensity of radio waves.

On the condition that the slave unit C2 fails to transmit the battery information i2 to the base unit C1 through communication based on the waveform of radio waves, the slave unit C2 transmits the failed battery information i2 to the base unit through communication based on changes in the strength of radio waves. Transfer to C1.

Specifically, in communication based on the waveform of radio waves, when it is determined that the slave unit C2 cannot communicate with the base unit C1 due to noise or the like, the slave unit C2 increases the power of the transmission signal Sa and performs communication. If communication based on the waveform of radio waves is established with the increased power of the transmission signal Sa, the communication is continued. On the other hand, if communication based on the waveform of the radio wave is not established even with the increased power of the transmission signal Sa, communication based on the waveform of the radio wave and communication based on the change in the intensity of the radio wave are performed. That is, the handset C2 includes predetermined battery information i2 in the waveform of the radio wave transmitted to the base unit C1, and also causes the change in the intensity of the radio wave to include battery information i2 that is at least partially the same as the battery information i2. Thereby, a radio wave having the same battery information i2 in both waveform and intensity change is transmitted to the base unit C1. The specific steps are as follows.

As shown in FIG. 5, the monitoring circuit 25 of the satellite 20 transmits the acquired battery information i2 to the transmission information processing unit 31 of the slave unit C2. The transmission information processing section 31 transmits the transmission command α to the transmission processing section 45 based on the reception of the battery information i2.

Upon receiving the transmission command α, the transmission processing unit 45 generates a transmission signal Sa, which is an electrical signal that generates radio waves. At this time, the control section 36 acquires battery information i2 from the information processing section 30, and controls the transmission processing section 45 based on the battery information i2. Thereby, the frequency of the transmission signal Sa is modulated so that the voltage waveform of the transmission signal Sa, that is, the frequency change, has battery information i2.

The transmission signal Sa is input to the transmission amplification section 49. The control unit 36 controls the transmission amplification unit 49 in the same way as in the first embodiment, so that the power change of the transmission signal Sa includes battery information i2. Thereby, the transmission signal Sa has battery information i2 in both the voltage waveform and the power change.

The transmission signal Sa is input to the antenna 51. Radio waves are generated at the antenna 51 by the transmission signal Sa. The radio wave will have battery information i2 in both the waveform and intensity change.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the antenna 51 of the base unit C1 receives a radio wave from the slave unit C2, the radio wave generates a reception signal Sb, which is an electrical signal. The received signal Sb has battery information i2 in both the voltage waveform and the power change. The received signal Sb is input to the reception amplification section 53 of the base unit C1. The reception amplification section 53 amplifies the reception signal Sb as in the first embodiment.

The amplified received signal Sb is input to the reception processing section 55 and the RSSI calculation section 59. The reception processing unit 55 detects and analyzes the voltage waveform of the reception signal Sb, and converts it into digital information β1. The digital information β1 is input to the received information processing section 32. Based on the digital information β1, the reception information processing unit 32 acquires battery information i2 possessed by the voltage waveform of the reception signal Sb, that is, battery information i2 possessed by the waveform of the radio wave received from the slave unit C2. The battery information i2 is transmitted to the control MCU 15.

On the other hand, as in the case of the first embodiment, the RSSI calculation unit 59 and the intensity information processing unit 33 calculate the battery information i2 that is included in the power change of the received signal Sb, that is, the battery information i2 that is included in the intensity change of the radio wave received from the slave unit C2. Obtain battery information i2. The battery information i2 is transmitted to the control MCU 15.

As described above, the battery information i2 is transmitted from the satellite 20 to the battery ECU 10 through both communication based on the waveform of radio waves and communication based on changes in the intensity of radio waves. Note that although the above describes a case where both communications are successful, if either communication fails, the battery information i2 is transmitted from the satellite 20 to the battery ECU 10 only by the other communication. become.

The explanation for transmitting the command information i1 from the battery ECU 10 to the satellite 20 through both communications is as follows. It is the same when read as . That is, "battery information i2" is read as "command information i1". Further, each of "FIG. 5" and "FIG. 6" will be read as the other, and each of "satellite 20" and "battery ECU 10" will be read as the other. Also, each of "monitoring circuit 25" and "control MCU 15" is read as the other, and each of "slave device C2" and "base device C1" is read as the other.

In addition, regarding the description of the normal state in which communication is performed only by the waveform of radio waves and no communication is performed by the intensity waveform of radio waves, in the above explanation, the amount of amplification by the transmission amplification unit 49 is constant, and the amount of amplification by the RSSI calculation unit 59 is The same thing is true except that the power of the received signal Sb is not acquired and the analysis by the intensity information processing section 33 is not performed.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing voltage waveforms and power changes of the reception signal Sb input to the reception processing section 55, the intensity information processing section 33, and the like. Compared to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the power change is similar, but the difference is that the voltage waveform has information. The reception processing unit 55 acquires digital information β1 based on the frequency change in the voltage waveform of the reception signal Sb.

Note that although FIG. 7 is a graph showing the voltage waveform and power change of the received signal Sb, the graph showing the waveform and intensity change of the radio wave that generates it is also similar to this. Radio waves have a plurality of frames f each containing a block of information in waveform-based communication. The transmission amplification unit 49 sets the strength of the radio waves to either a relatively strong strong radio wave state or a relatively weak weak radio wave state for each one or a plurality of frames f. Thereby, the change in the intensity of the radio wave is given information.

According to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. In addition to transmitting battery information i2 and command information i1 through communication based on radio wave waveforms, slave unit C2 and base unit C1 also transmit battery information i2 and command information i1 through communication based on changes in radio wave intensity. . Therefore, communication redundancy can be ensured by both of these communications.

Specifically, each communication device of the handset C2 and the base device C1 transmits information to the communication device of the other party by communication based on the waveform of radio waves. Transmits information to the other party's communication device using communication based on changes in the strength of radio waves. Therefore, during normal times, communication is performed based on the waveform of radio waves, and when communication is interrupted, communication can be ensured by communication based on changes in the intensity of radio waves.

In addition, since each communication device of the handset C2 and the base unit C1 transmits radio waves having the same predetermined information in both waveform and intensity change, while attempting to transmit the predetermined information through communication using the radio wave waveform, Transmission of the same predetermined information can also be attempted through communication based on changes in the strength of radio waves.

Further, since the radio waves are in either a strong radio wave state or a weak radio wave state for each frame f or a plurality of frames f, the configuration becomes simple and the waveform and intensity can be easily modulated.

[Third embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment will be described. The present embodiment will be described based on the second embodiment, focusing on the points that are different from the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a graph showing power changes of the received signal Sb measured by the RSSI calculation unit 59. The reception amplification unit 53 adjusts the received signal Sb so that the maximum value of the power of the received signal Sb input to the RSSI calculation unit 59 exceeds the upper limit value X of the power of the reception signal Sb that can be measured by the RSSI calculation unit 59. Amplify the strength. Similarly to the first and second embodiments, the intensity information processing unit 33 determines whether the power of the received signal Sb measured by the RSSI calculation unit 59 exceeds the upper threshold Hi and falls below the lower threshold Lo. Based on this, the power change of the received signal Sb is analyzed. The upper threshold value Hi and the lower threshold value Lo are larger than those in the first and second embodiments. The upper threshold value Hi is smaller than the upper limit value X by a predetermined value.

However, in this state, if communication cannot be established based on the change in radio wave intensity, the reception amplification section 53 further amplifies the power of the reception signal Sb. Then, the intensity information processing unit 33 analyzes the power change of the received signal Sb based on whether the power of the received signal Sb measured by the RSSI calculation unit 59 has reached the upper limit value X.

According to the present embodiment, the power of the received signal Sb is amplified until it exceeds the upper limit value X of the power of the received signal Sb that can be measured by the RSSI calculation unit 59, and the upper threshold Hi and the lower threshold Lo are set high. This makes it easier to establish communication based on changes in radio wave intensity even when there is a lot of noise.

[Fourth embodiment]
Next, a fourth embodiment will be described. The present embodiment will be described based on the second embodiment, focusing on the points that are different from the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram showing the satellite 20 of this embodiment. FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram showing the battery ECU 10 of this embodiment. Each of the communication devices, child device C2 and parent device C1, does not include a reception amplification section 53. Therefore, the reception signal Sb generated by the antenna 51 is input to the reception processing section 55 and the RSSI calculation section 59 without being amplified by the reception amplification section 53.

According to this embodiment, each of the communication devices of the handset C2 and the base device C1 does not have the reception amplification section 53, so the received signal Sb cannot be amplified, but the configuration and control of each communication device becomes simple. .

[Fifth embodiment]
Next, a fifth embodiment will be described. The present embodiment will be described based on the fourth embodiment, focusing on the points that are different from the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a circuit diagram showing the satellite 20 of this embodiment. FIG. 12 is a circuit diagram showing the battery ECU 10 of this embodiment. The transmission amplification section 49 of each communication device includes an amplification section main body 49a, a power switch 49b, a first switch 49c, and a second switch 49d.

When the power switch 49b is turned on, power is supplied to the amplifier body 49a, and when it is turned off, power is no longer supplied to the amplifier body 49a. When the power switch 49b is turned ON, the amplifier main body 49a amplifies the transmission signal Sa in a constant state, and when the power switch 49b is turned OFF, the amplifier main body 49a cannot amplify the transmission signal Sa.

When the first switch 49c is turned ON, the transmission signal Sa from the transmission processing section 45 is inputted to the antenna 51 through a direct route that does not go through the amplifier main body 49a, and when it is turned OFF, the transmission signal Sa is The signal is no longer input to the antenna 51 through the direct route. When the second switch 49d is turned ON, the transmission signal Sa from the transmission processing section 45 is inputted to the antenna 51 via the amplification path passing through the amplifier main body 49a, and when it is turned OFF, the transmission signal Sa is The signal is no longer input to the antenna 51 through the amplification path.

The control section 36 controls each switch 49b, 49c, and 49d of the transmission amplification section 49 as follows. That is, the control unit 36 turns off the power switch 49b and the second switch 49d, and turns on the first switch 49c at a timing when the transmission signal Sa is not amplified. As a result, the power of the amplifier main body 49a is turned off, and the transmission signal Sa is input to the antenna 51 through a direct route without passing through the amplifier main body 49a.

On the other hand, at the timing to amplify the transmission signal Sa, the power switch 49b and the second switch 49d are turned on, and the first switch 49c is turned off. As a result, the power of the amplifier main body 49a is turned on, and the transmission signal Sa is input to the antenna 51 via the amplification path passing through the amplifier main body 49a.

According to the present embodiment, at the timing when the transmission signal Sa is not amplified, the transmission signal Sa is input to the antenna 51 through a direct route that does not go through the amplifier main body 49a, and at the timing when the transmission signal Sa is amplified, the transmission signal Sa is amplified. The signal is input to the antenna 51 via an amplification path passing through the main body 49a. Therefore, the amplifier main body 49a only needs to have the function of amplifying the transmission signal Sa in a constant state, and does not need to have the function of modulating the amplification amount of the transmission signal Sa. Therefore, the configuration of the transmission amplifying section 49 can be simplified. Moreover, since the power of the amplifier main body 49a is turned off at the timing when the transmission signal Sa is not amplified, the power consumption by the amplifier main body 49a can be suppressed.

[Other embodiments]
Each of the embodiments described above can be modified and implemented as follows. For example, in the second to fifth embodiments, the RSSI calculation unit 59, intensity information processing unit 33, etc. of the slave device C2 are omitted, and communication based on changes in radio wave intensity transmits battery information i2 from the satellite 20 to the battery ECU 10. It may be done only when necessary.

Furthermore, for example, in the second to fifth embodiments, communication may be performed not only when communication based on the waveform of radio waves is interrupted, but also based on changes in the intensity of radio waves at all times. For example, in the second to fifth embodiments, when communication based on the waveform of radio waves is interrupted, communication based on the waveform of radio waves may not be attempted again, but only communication based on changes in the strength of radio waves may be performed. .

Further, for example, in the second to fifth embodiments, each communication device of the slave device C2 and the parent device C1 has predetermined information in the waveform of the radio waves to be transmitted, and the change in the intensity of the radio waves is different from the predetermined information. It is also possible to have separate information for . That is, each communication device may transmit radio waves having predetermined information in the waveform and different information in the intensity change to the communication device of the other party. In this case, while predetermined information is transmitted through communication based on the waveform of radio waves, other information can be transmitted through communication based on changes in the intensity of radio waves.

Further, for example, in the second to fifth embodiments, the transmission amplification unit 49 adjusts the strength of the radio wave to either a relatively strong strong radio wave state or a relatively weak weak radio wave state, regardless of the frame f of the radio wave. By doing so, information may be given to the change in the intensity of the radio wave. In this case, it becomes easier to freely provide information to changes in the intensity of radio waves, so it becomes easier to provide more information.

For example, in the second to fifth embodiments, the waveform of the radio wave is provided with information only when the radio wave is in a strong radio wave state in communication based on changes in the intensity of radio waves, and when the radio wave is in a weak radio wave state in communication based on changes in the intensity of radio waves. , the waveform of the radio wave may not contain any information.

For example, in each embodiment, a transmission increase/decrease section for amplifying and attenuating the transmission signal Sa may be provided in place of the transmission amplification section 49, and the power of the transmission signal Sa may be modulated by this transmission increase/decrease section.

Further, for example, in each embodiment, the RSSI calculation section 59 may be provided inside the reception processing section 55. Further, for example, in each embodiment, the intensity information processing section 33 may be provided inside the RSSI calculation section 59.

For example, in each embodiment, the intensity information processing unit 33 sets one threshold between the upper threshold Hi and the lower threshold Lo, and determines whether the threshold is exceeded or below. Alternatively, the determination may be made as to whether the value is 1 or 0.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10... Battery ECU, 20... Satellite, 33... Intensity information processing part, 49... Transmission amplification part, 59... RSSI calculation part, 60... Battery monitoring device, 90... Assembled battery, 94... Battery group, 95... Cell battery, C1 ...Main device, C2...Slave device, Sb...Received signal, i1...Command information, i2...Battery information.

Claims (17)

A satellite (20) is installed for each battery group (94) in which a plurality of cell batteries (95) included in the assembled battery (90) are divided into groups, and acquires battery information (i2) that is information regarding the cell battery. , a battery ECU (10), and a control unit (36) for the satellite ,
The satellite has a slave unit (C2), the battery ECU has a master unit (C1) that performs wireless communication with the slave unit,
The communication device of the child device includes a transmission intensity modulation unit (49) that changes the intensity of the radio waves transmitted to the base device to include the battery information in the change in the intensity of the radio waves,
The base unit communication device includes an intensity information processing unit (33) that acquires the battery information included in the intensity change of radio waves received from the slave unit,
The control unit of the satellite acquires the battery information and controls the transmission intensity modulation unit based on the battery information,
The control unit of the satellite controls supply and cutoff of power to the transmission intensity modulation unit by switching and controlling a power switch.
Battery monitoring device (60). The base unit includes an RSSI calculation unit (59) that measures the power of a received signal (Sb) that is an electric signal generated by radio waves received from the slave unit,
The intensity information processing unit acquires the battery information based on the power measured by the RSSI calculation unit.
The battery monitoring device according to claim 1. A satellite (20) is installed for each battery group (94) in which a plurality of cell batteries (95) included in the assembled battery (90) are divided into groups, and acquires battery information (i2) that is information regarding the cell battery. , a battery ECU (10) that issues commands to the satellite, and a control unit (36) for the satellite ,
The satellite has a slave unit (C2), the battery ECU has a master unit (C1) that performs wireless communication with the slave unit,
Each of the communication devices of the slave device and the base device includes a transmission intensity modulation unit (49) that changes the intensity of the radio waves transmitted to the communication device of the other party, thereby imparting information to changes in the intensity of the radio waves, and an intensity information processing unit (33) that acquires information contained in changes in the intensity of radio waves received from the communication device;
The transmission intensity modulation unit of the slave unit adds the battery information to the change in the intensity of radio waves transmitted by the slave unit, and the transmission strength modulation unit of the base unit adds the battery information to the change in the strength of radio waves transmitted by the base unit. has command information (i1) that is information regarding the command,
The control unit of the satellite acquires the battery information and controls the transmission intensity modulation unit based on the battery information,
The control unit of the satellite controls supply and cutoff of power to the transmission intensity modulation unit by switching and controlling a power switch.
Battery monitoring device (60). Each communication device of the child device and the parent device has an RSSI calculation unit (59) that measures the power of a received signal (Sb) that is an electric signal generated by radio waves received from the communication device of the other party,
The intensity information processing unit acquires the battery information based on the power measured by the RSSI calculation unit.
The battery monitoring device according to claim 3. Each communication device of the slave device and the parent device includes a transmission processing unit (45) that adds information to the waveform of a radio wave to be transmitted to the communication device of the other party, and a transmission processing unit (45) that detects the waveform of the radio wave received from the communication device of the other party. and a reception information processing unit (32) that acquires information possessed by the detected waveform,
The transmission processing unit of the slave unit includes the battery information in the waveform of radio waves to be transmitted to the base unit, and the transmission processing unit of the base unit includes the command information in the waveform of radio waves to be transmitted to the slave unit. to have,
The battery monitoring device according to claim 3 or 4. On the condition that the communication device fails to transmit information to the communication device of the other party through communication based on the waveform of radio waves, the communication device transmits the information that has failed to be transmitted to the communication device of the other party through communication based on changes in the intensity of radio waves. The battery monitoring device according to claim 5, wherein the battery monitoring device transmits the information to a communication device. The communication device generates a radio wave having information in both the waveform and the intensity change by imparting information to the waveform of the radio wave by the transmission processing unit and imparting information to the intensity change of the radio wave by the transmission intensity modulation unit. The battery monitoring device according to claim 5 or 6, which transmits. In the communication device, the transmission processing unit imparts predetermined information to the waveform of the radio wave, and the transmission intensity modulation unit causes the change in the intensity of the radio wave to include information at least partially the same as the predetermined information. The battery monitoring device according to claim 7, which transmits radio waves having the same information in both waveform and intensity change. In the communication device, the transmission processing section imparts predetermined information to the waveform of the radio wave, and the transmission intensity modulation section imparts information different from the predetermined information to the change in the intensity of the radio wave, thereby modifying the waveform. The battery monitoring device according to claim 7, wherein the battery monitoring device transmits a radio wave having the predetermined information and having the separate information in response to a change in intensity. The radio wave has a plurality of frames (f) having a lump of information in communication based on a waveform,
The transmission intensity modulation unit modulates the intensity of the radio wave by setting the intensity of the radio wave to either a relatively strong strong radio wave state or a relatively weak weak radio wave state for each one or more of the frames. The battery monitoring device according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the intensity change has information. The radio wave has a plurality of frames (f) having a lump of information in communication based on a waveform,
The transmission intensity modulation unit adjusts the intensity of the radio waves to either a relatively strong strong radio wave state or a relatively weak weak radio wave state regardless of the frame, thereby adjusting the intensity of the radio waves to a change in the intensity of the radio waves. The battery monitoring device according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the battery monitoring device has information. The communication device includes a transmission processing unit (45) that generates a transmission signal (Sa) that is an electric signal, and an antenna (51) that generates radio waves by the transmission signal,
The battery monitoring device according to any one of claims 4 to 11, wherein the transmission intensity modulation unit is a transmission amplification unit (49) that amplifies the power of the transmission signal input from the transmission processing unit to the antenna. Device. The communication device includes an antenna (51) that receives radio waves and generates a received signal, and a reception amplification unit (53) that amplifies the power of the received signal input from the antenna to the RSSI calculation unit.
The battery monitoring device according to any one of claims 4 to 12. 14. The battery monitoring device according to claim 13, wherein the reception amplification section adjusts the power range of the reception signal input to the RSSI calculation section by amplifying the reception signal with a variable amplification amount. The reception amplification section is configured to operate the reception amplification section so that the maximum value of the power of the reception signal input to the RSSI calculation section does not exceed an upper limit value (X) of the power of the reception signal that can be measured by the RSSI calculation section. The battery monitoring device according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the power of the received signal is amplified. The reception amplification section is configured to increase the power of the reception signal so that the maximum value of the power of the reception signal input to the RSSI calculation section exceeds an upper limit value (X) of the power of the reception signal that can be measured by the RSSI calculation section. It amplifies the strength of the signal,
The intensity information processing section determines whether the power of the received signal measured by the RSSI calculation section has reached the upper limit value or exceeded a threshold value (Hi) that is smaller than the upper limit value by a predetermined value. Based on the information obtained from changes in the strength of radio waves,
The battery monitoring device according to claim 13 or 14. The communication device includes a transmission processing unit (45) that generates a transmission signal (Sa) that is an electric signal, and an antenna (51) that generates radio waves by the transmission signal,
The transmission intensity modulation section is a communication path between the amplification section main body (49a) that changes the intensity of radio waves, the transmission processing section and the antenna, and is provided in a direct path that bypasses the amplification section main body. a first switch (49c), and a second switch (49d) provided on a communication path in which the amplifier main body is provided,
The battery according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the control unit of the satellite controls whether or not to change the intensity of radio waves by controlling switching of the first switch and the second switch. Monitoring equipment.

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