KR101658866B1 - Apparatus and method for managing battery pack - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention discloses a battery pack management apparatus and method for increasing a charging efficiency and ensuring a long life of a battery pack by reflecting a usage pattern of a user when charging the battery pack. A battery pack management apparatus according to the present invention includes: a connection sensing unit for sensing whether a charging device is connected to a charging terminal for charging a secondary battery; A time grasping unit for grasping a connection time of the charging device when connection of the charging device is detected by the connection detecting unit; And a current regulator for regulating a magnitude of a charging current supplied from the charging device to the secondary battery in accordance with the connection time detected by the time gauging unit.

Description

[0001] Apparatus and method for managing battery pack [0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique for managing a battery pack, and more particularly, to a battery pack management apparatus and method for adjusting a charging current according to a usage pattern of a user's battery pack, and an application apparatus including such a battery pack.

Recently, demand for portable electronic products such as cameras and portable telephones has been rapidly increased, and as the use and development of energy storage batteries, robots, satellites, and the like have expanded, attention has been focused on the battery packs used The research is also being actively pursued.

In recent years, various types of portable computers such as a smart phone, a notebook computer, a netbook, and an ultrabook have been widely used. Such a portable computer is used for many users because it provides excellent performance and functions as a computer and also has convenience of mobility. Therefore, it is now easy to see how these portable computers are used in lecture rooms, libraries, buses, and trains as well as in homes and companies, and their use is becoming increasingly common to the general public.

A battery pack used in such a portable computer and various devices typically includes at least one secondary battery, also called a cell. The currently commercialized secondary batteries include nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-hydrogen batteries, nickel-zinc batteries, and lithium secondary batteries. Among them, the lithium secondary battery has been more popular due to the fact that the memory effect is hardly generated compared to the nickel-based secondary battery, the charge and discharge are free, the self-discharge rate is very low, and the energy density is high.

As the area of application of the battery pack is further enlarged and the performance of the device to which the battery pack is applied is improved, there is a continuing need for performance improvement of the battery pack itself. There are many factors that can be used to evaluate the performance of a battery pack, and one of the representative examples of the performance of the battery pack is its lifetime. In the case of a battery pack, it is not only when the battery pack becomes completely useless, but also when the capacity is reduced and the use time is greatly shortened. Particularly, as the battery pack continues to be used, its usable capacity gradually decreases. Whether such a reduction rate of the usable capacity is high is also an important factor determining the life of the battery pack.

Generally, when a battery pack is charged, a constant current-constant voltage (CC-CV) charging method in which a charging power is supplied to a battery pack at a constant current and voltage by a charging device such as a charger is often employed. In this case, when the battery pack is charged at a high C-rate, the charging time can be improved to shorten the charging time. However, in most lithium ion secondary batteries, when the C-rate is high, May be worse and capacity loss may occur more. Therefore, when the charging current magnitude is increased to increase the charging speed, the battery life is shortened. Accordingly, a battery pack management technology that can charge the battery pack more efficiently without shortening the lifetime of the battery as much as possible is urgent.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a battery pack management apparatus and method that can improve charging efficiency and ensure a long life of a battery pack by reflecting a usage pattern of a user when charging a battery pack And a battery pack, a portable computer and an automobile including such a device.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited thereto. It will also be readily apparent that the objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a battery pack management apparatus comprising: a connection sensing unit for sensing whether a charging device is connected to a charging terminal for charging a secondary battery; A time grasping unit for grasping a connection time of the charging device when connection of the charging device is detected by the connection detecting unit; And a current regulator for regulating a magnitude of a charging current supplied from the charging device to the secondary battery in accordance with the connection time detected by the time gauging unit.

Preferably, the current regulating unit divides the current regulating unit into at least two time zones on a one-day basis, and adjusts the magnitude of the charge current according to the time zone in which the connection time corresponds.

Preferably, the current regulating section divides one day into a weekday time zone including noon and a night time zone including midnight, and if the connection time corresponds to a night time zone than when the connection time corresponds to a weekday time zone, Adjust the size of the current to a small value.

Preferably, the current controller divides the time into two or more time zones in consideration of the usage amount of the battery pack over time, and determines that the battery pack usage time is lower than when the battery pack usage time is high, The size of the charge current is controlled to be small.

Also, preferably, the current regulator adjusts the magnitude of the charge current according to two or more time zones previously set and separated by the user on a one-day basis.

Also, preferably, the battery pack management apparatus according to the present invention further includes an input unit for receiving time zone identification information by a user.

Preferably, the battery pack management device is provided in a portable computer, and the input unit is implemented by an input device of the portable computer.

Also, preferably, the current regulator adjusts the charge current by a difference of 0.5C or more based on a rate in each time period.

Also, preferably, the battery pack management apparatus according to the present invention further includes a memory unit for storing a reference value of the charge current magnitude according to the connection time.

Preferably, the battery pack management apparatus further includes an input unit for receiving rapid charging information by a user. When rapid charging information is input by a user through the input unit, The magnitude of the charging current is made larger than the magnitude of the charging current.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a battery pack management apparatus for managing a battery pack according to the present invention.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable computer including a battery pack management apparatus according to the present invention.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automobile including a battery pack management apparatus according to the present invention.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of managing a battery pack comprising the steps of: detecting whether a charging device is connected to a charging terminal for charging a secondary battery; Determining a connection time of the charging device when connection of the charging device to the charging terminal is detected; Adjusting a magnitude of a charging current supplied from the charging device to the secondary battery according to the detected connection time; And a charging current regulated in the charge current magnitude control step is supplied to the secondary battery to charge the secondary battery.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the charging current magnitude can be changed by reflecting the usage pattern of the user's battery pack when charging the battery pack.

In particular, according to one aspect of the present invention, when the charging current is changed in accordance with the charging time and the battery pack can be charged for a long time on the pattern of use of the user's battery pack, It is possible to effectively prevent shortening of the life of the battery pack.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the size of the charge current is automatically changed according to the set time, and even if the user does not care about the change in the size of the charge current, the change in the charge current size can be automatically performed have.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the size of the charging current is automatically changed in consideration of the actual use of the battery pack, so that the charging current size change optimized for the usage pattern of the user can be performed.

In addition, according to an aspect of the present invention, a user can directly set a time zone in which the magnitude of the charging current is changed, so that the size of the charging current can be changed according to the user's own life pattern.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and, together with the description of the invention given below, serve to further the understanding of the technical idea of the invention, And should not be construed as limiting.
1 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a battery pack managing apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a view schematically showing a connection configuration of a battery pack management apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a diagram showing a table used by the current measuring unit according to the embodiment of the present invention to adjust the magnitude of the charging current according to the connection time.
4 is a diagram showing a table used by the current measuring unit according to another embodiment of the present invention to adjust the magnitude of the charging current according to the connection time.
5 is a diagram showing a table used by the current measuring unit according to another embodiment of the present invention to adjust the magnitude of the charging current according to the connection time.
6 is a flowchart schematically showing a battery pack management method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Prior to this, terms and words used in the present specification and claims should not be construed as limited to ordinary or dictionary terms, and the inventor should appropriately interpret the concepts of the terms appropriately It should be interpreted in accordance with the meaning and concept consistent with the technical idea of the present invention based on the principle that it can be defined.

Therefore, the embodiments described in the present specification and the configurations shown in the drawings are only the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent all the technical ideas of the present invention. Therefore, It is to be understood that equivalents and modifications are possible.

1 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a battery pack managing apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a view schematically showing a connection configuration of a battery pack management apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1 and 2, the battery pack managing apparatus according to the present invention includes a connection detecting unit 110, a time grasping unit 120, and a current regulating unit 130.

The connection detecting unit 110 detects whether the charging device 20 is connected to the charging terminal 11. That is, in order to charge the secondary battery 10 included in the battery pack, there is a charging terminal 11 to which the charging device 20 is connected, When the charging device 20 is connected to the charging device 20,

For example, a battery pack is mounted on the cellular phone, and a charging terminal 11 for charging the battery pack of such a cellular phone can be provided on one side of the cellular phone. The user can insert the connector of the charging adapter into the charging terminal 11 and insert the charging adapter into the commercial power outlet so as to charge the battery pack of the mobile phone. At this time, when the connector of the charging adapter is inserted and connected to the charging terminal 11 of the cellular phone, the connection detecting unit 110 can immediately detect such connection.

When the connection detecting unit 110 detects the connection of the charging device 20, the time grasping unit 120 grasps the connection time of the charging device 20. Here, the connection time of the charging device 20 may mean the time when the charging device 20 is connected to the charging terminal 11. [ That is, the time grasping unit 120 can grasp the time when the charging device 20 is connected to the charging terminal 11.

To this end, when the charging apparatus 20 is connected to the charging terminal 11, the connection detecting unit 110 detects the connection of the charging apparatus 20 and transmits the connection detecting information to the time determining unit 120 . Then, the time grasping unit 120 can grasp the access time of the charging device 20 by detecting the time when the connection detection information is transmitted from the connection detection unit 110. [

In order to grasp the connection time of the charging device 20, the time grasping section 120 may include a time measuring device such as a digital clock itself. Alternatively, the time grasp unit 120 can grasp the connection time of the charging device 20 using the time information provided through the communication network. For example, in the case of a mobile phone, current time information can be received periodically or non-periodically via a wireless communication network such as 3G, LTE, or Wi-Fi. The time information of the charging device 20 can be grasped using the current time information.

In particular, the battery pack management apparatus according to the present invention can be applied to a mobile phone. In this case, the time grasp unit 120 can grasp the connection time of the charging apparatus 20 through the time information of the mobile phone. For example, when the fact that the charging device 20 is connected to the charging terminal 11 by the connection detecting unit 110 is detected, the time recognizing unit 120 receives the time information of the mobile phone, It is possible to grasp the connection time of the terminal 20.

The current controller 130 adjusts the magnitude of the charge current according to the connection time detected by the time determiner 120. That is, when it is determined at what time the charging apparatus 20 is connected to the charging terminal 11 and the time when the charging apparatus 20 is connected by the time keeping unit 120, The size of the charging current supplied from the charging device 20 to the secondary battery 10 can be adjusted according to the connection time.

Preferably, the current regulator 130 may divide the time into at least two time zones on a one-day basis. The current regulator 130 determines which time period the connection time of the charging terminal 11 of the charging device 20 belongs in the divided time zone and adjusts the size of the charging current according to the determination result have.

Here, the time zone classification can be set at the time of manufacturing the battery pack or at the time of manufacturing a device to which the battery pack is applied, such as a portable computer. The current regulator 130 may adjust the magnitude of the charging current according to the preset time zone.

In particular, the current regulator 130 may divide a day into a day time zone and a night time zone on a one-day time basis, thereby adjusting a charge current magnitude. Here, the daytime time zone may be a time zone including 12 o'clock, that is, noon when the day is divided into 24 hours, and a night time zone may be 24 o'clock, that is, a time zone including midnight. For example, the current regulator 130 divides the time from 8:00 to 20:00 on a 24-hour unit basis with respect to a day's time into a weekly time zone, and counts from 0:00 to 8:00 and from 20:00 to 24:00 The time zone can be divided into night time zones.

The current regulator 130 may adjust the charge current according to whether the connection time corresponds to a weekly time zone or a night time zone.

Furthermore, the current regulator 130 can be adjusted so that the charge current is relatively small when the connection time corresponds to the night time zone rather than when the connection time corresponds to the week time zone.

3 is a diagram showing a table used by the current measuring unit according to the embodiment of the present invention to adjust the magnitude of the charging current according to the connection time. Such a table may indicate a relationship between the time zone to which the connection time belongs and the magnitude of the charging current (charging rate).

Referring to FIG. 3, the current controller 130 divides the time of one day into a weekly time zone and a night time zone, and can change the seed rate of the case where the connection time belongs to the weekday time zone and that of the night time zone And this control of the rate can be said to mean the regulation of the current magnitude.

More specifically, when the connection time of the charging device 20 belongs to the weekly time zone, the current controller 130 controls the current regulator 130 such that the secondary battery 10 is charged in a state where the C-rate is 1C , And when the connection time of the charging device 20 belongs to the night time zone, the secondary battery 10 can be charged in such a state that the rate is 0.5C. Here, the C-rate means the charging / discharging rate, which indicates the ratio of the charging current to the rated capacity of the secondary battery 10. Thus, the unit of the rate will be 1 / h, but is usually denoted by C. The current regulator 130 may adjust the charge current and the charge time by adjusting the rate of charge.

For example, when a user of a smartphone equipped with a battery pack having a capacity of 2000 mAh connects the charger to the charging terminal 11 of the smartphone to charge the battery pack of the smartphone at 14 o'clock, 130 can recognize that the connection time 14 o'clock belongs to the weekday time zone. In addition, the current measuring unit may charge the battery pack with a charging current magnitude corresponding to a weekday time zone, that is, a charging current magnitude where the rate is 1C. At this time, the charge current size at which the rate of 1 C becomes 2000 mA in a battery pack having a capacity of 2000 mAh. Accordingly, when the connection time of the charging device 20 belongs to the weekly time zone, the current regulating part 130 can make the charging current size to be 2000 mA, and the charging time can be one hour (h).

However, when the smartphone user connects the charger to the charging terminal 11 at 23:00 for the same smartphone, the current controller 130 may recognize that the connection time 23:00 belongs to the night time zone. The current measuring unit may charge the battery pack with a charging current magnitude corresponding to a night time zone, that is, a charging current magnitude at which a rate is 0.5C. At this time, the charging current size at which the rate is 0.5 C can be 1000 mA in the 2000 mAh capacity battery pack, and the charging time can be 2 hours (h). Therefore, when the connection time of the charging device 20 belongs to the night time zone, the current regulating part 130 makes the charging current size 1000 mA so that the connection time of the charging device 20 belongs to the week time zone , The charge current magnitude can be reduced.

Generally, the use patterns of electric vehicles including battery pack mounted devices, such as portable computers such as mobile phones and smart phones, or hybrid electric vehicles, are mainly used during daytime (daytime) and at nighttime Even if the use is hardly performed or is performed, the use time is relatively short in many cases. In particular, a large number of users of the battery pack often try to charge the battery pack while sleeping at night. Therefore, the charging time can be secured for a long time at night relative to the daytime, and the need for fast charging is reduced. Therefore, even if the current regulating unit 130 reduces the charge current magnitude in the night time zone compared to the daytime time zone, the charging of the battery pack does not cause any serious inconvenience or inconvenience, The life of the battery pack can be prevented from being shortened and the life of the battery pack can be relatively prolonged.

Also, preferably, the current regulator 130 can adjust the size of the charging current in consideration of the amount of battery pack usage over time.

First, the current regulator 130 may measure the amount of battery pack usage over a period of one day. At this time, the battery pack usage amount can be measured by calculating an accumulated value of the charging or discharging current amount of the battery pack. The current controller 130 can divide the time of one day into two or more time zones according to the battery pack usage amount.

For example, the current regulator 130 may measure the amount of use of the battery pack in units of one hour, and may use 8 hours, which is the greatest amount of the battery pack, in the high-use time period, And the remaining 8 hours of battery pack use is classified into the low-use time period. Here, each time zone may be continuous or non-continuous.

The current regulator 130 may determine the time period during which the charging device 20 is connected during the time period so that the charging current can be adjusted accordingly.

Further, when the connection time of the charging device 20 corresponds to a time period when the battery pack usage amount is lower than when the connection time of the battery pack corresponds to a time period during which the battery pack usage amount is high, the current regulating unit 130 may control the size of the charge current to be small have.

4 is a diagram showing a table used by the current measuring unit according to another embodiment of the present invention to adjust the magnitude of the charging current according to the connection time. This table also shows the relationship between the time zone to which the connection time belongs and the magnitude of the charging current, as in Fig.

Referring to FIG. 4, the current controller 130 divides the time for one day into high-use time zones, mid-use time zones, and low-use time zones in order of increasing amounts of battery pack usage, The magnitude of the charging current can be made different.

More specifically, when the connection time of the charging device 20 corresponds to the high use time period, the current regulating unit 130 may charge the secondary battery 10 in a state where the seed rate is 1.5C . At this time, when the rated capacity of the battery pack is 2000 mAh, the charging current may be 3000 mA and the charging time may be 2/3 hours (h) when charging at a rate of 1.5 C.

Alternatively, when the connection time of the charging device 20 corresponds to the intermediate time zone, the current regulating unit 130 may charge the secondary battery 10 in a state where the seed rate is 1C. At this time, when the rated capacity of the battery pack is 2000 mAh, the charging current may be 2000 mA and the charging time may be one hour (h) when charging at a rate of 1 C.

Alternatively, when the connection time of the charging device 20 corresponds to the low use time period, the current regulating unit 130 may charge the secondary battery 10 in a state where the seed rate is 0.5C. At this time, when the rated capacity of the battery pack is 2000 mAh, the charging current may be 1000 mA and the charging time may be 2 hours (h) when charging at a rate of 0.5C.

According to this embodiment, the current regulator 130 relatively reduces the charge current in the time period when the battery pack usage amount is relatively low, thereby preventing the lifetime of the battery pack from being shortened due to the high rate . Furthermore, since the time when the battery pack usage is relatively low is based on the measurement result that the user does not actually use the battery pack, even if the charging time increases, the user of the battery pack may not inconvenience much. Therefore, according to this aspect of the present invention, it is possible to minimize the inconvenience of the battery pack user due to an increase in the charging time, and to increase the service life of the battery pack.

Also, the current regulator 130 may adjust the magnitude of the charge current according to at least two time zones previously set and separated by the user.

In this case, the battery pack management apparatus according to the present invention may further include an input unit 140. The input unit 140 may receive time zone identification information from a user.

5 is a diagram showing a table used by the current measuring unit according to another embodiment of the present invention to adjust the magnitude of the charging current according to the connection time.

Referring to FIG. 5, the current regulating unit 130 may change the current rate depending on whether the connection time belongs to four time zones, that is, ultra high charge time zone, high charge time zone, low charge time zone and ultra low charge time zone The current magnitude can be adjusted.

More specifically, when the charging device 20 is connected to the ultra-high charge time zone, the current regulator 130 may charge the secondary battery 10 in a state where the rate of the current is 1.5C. At this time, when the rated capacity of the battery pack is 2000 mAh, the charging current may be 3000 mA and the charging time may be 2/3 hours (h) when charging at a rate of 1.5 C.

Alternatively, when the charging device 20 is connected to the high-charge time zone, the current regulator 130 may charge the secondary battery 10 in a state where the seed rate is 1C. At this time, when the rated capacity of the battery pack is 2000 mAh, the charging current may be 2000 mA and the charging time may be one hour (h) when charging at a rate of 1 C.

Alternatively, when the charging device 20 is connected to the low-charge time zone, the current regulator 130 may charge the secondary battery 10 in a state where the seed rate is 0.5C. At this time, when the rated capacity of the battery pack is 2000 mAh, the charging current may be 1000 mA and the charging time may be 2 hours (h) when charging at a rate of 0.5C.

Alternatively, when the charging device 20 is connected to the ultra-low charge time zone, the current regulator 130 may charge the secondary battery 10 in a state where the seed rate is 0.2C. At this time, when the rated capacity of the battery pack is 2000 mAh, the charging current is 400 mA and the charging time is 5 hours (h) when charging at a seeding rate of 0.2C.

On the other hand, in the embodiment of FIG. 5, the ultra high charge time zone is set to a time from 7:30 to 8:00, the high charge time zone is set to a time from 8:00 to 20:00, 7:30, and the ultra low charge time period is set as a time from 20:00 to 6:00. At this time, the setting of the specific time of each time zone in which the charge rate (size of the charge current) is adjusted can be performed by the user through the input unit 140. [

In particular, the user can consider his / her battery pack usage pattern when setting the time. For example, from 20:00 to the next day, if the user has a pattern of watching TV or sleeping without using a smartphone in general, as shown in FIG. 5, It can be set to ultra low charge time zone. Then, when the smartphone is charged at such a time, the current controller 130 adjusts the current size so that the battery pack of the smartphone can be charged at a rate of 0.2C.

If the user recognizes that the battery pack of the smartphone must be charged at 7:30 am after the user has to go to work at 8 o'clock, the charging speed needs to be increased since there is not much time to charge the battery. 5, the user can set the time from 7:30 to 8:00 as the ultra-high charge time zone. In this case, the current regulator 130 is charged from 7:30 to 8:00, Once connected, adjust the current size to allow the battery pack of your smartphone to charge at a rate of 1.5C.

Similarly, the user can set the time for the high-charge time zone and the low-charge time zone, respectively, in consideration of the smartphone use pattern and the life pattern.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, the user can directly adjust the charging speed of the battery pack according to his or her usage pattern. Therefore, the size of the charging current can be flexibly adjusted to suit the usage pattern of the user, thereby improving the life of the battery pack and minimizing the inconvenience of the user due to charging.

Meanwhile, in the above embodiment, when the battery pack management device is provided in a portable computer such as a smart phone, the input unit 140 may be implemented by an input device of the mobile phone. For example, a smartphone user can input time zone identification information using a touchpad of a smartphone. In other words, in the above embodiment, the user can input each time with the touchpad of the smartphone as to whether the ultra-high charge time zone, the high charge time zone, the low charge time zone and the ultra low charge time zone are each time have.

Preferably, the battery pack management apparatus according to the present invention may further include a memory unit 150, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The memory unit 150 may store information necessary for each function of the battery pack management apparatus according to the present invention. In particular, the memory unit 150 may store a reference value of the charging current magnitude according to the connection time. For example, the memory unit 150 may store the reference value of the charging current magnitude according to the connection time as shown in the table shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. Accordingly, the current controller 130 can adjust the magnitude of the charging current by referring to the table stored in the memory unit 150 as described above. At this time, the memory unit 150 may directly store the magnitude of the charging current according to the time of connection time, or may store the magnitude of the charging current in the form of a rate as shown in the table of FIG. 3 to FIG. Since such a rate is a magnitude of charge / discharge current according to the rated capacity of the battery pack, the amount of charge current of the battery pack can be determined when the rate is determined.

Also, preferably, the battery pack managing apparatus according to the present invention may further include an input unit 140, as shown in FIG. The input unit 140 at this time can receive the rapid charging information by the user. When the user inputs the rapid charging information through the input unit 140, the current controller 130 can increase the charging current to a greater magnitude than the charging current according to the connection time.

For example, the current regulating unit 130 basically controls the magnitude of the current according to the table shown in FIG. 5, and when the rapid charging information is inputted from the user by the input unit 140, So that the charging current can be input to the battery pack. More specifically, when the connection time of the charging device 20 is 12 o'clock, according to the table of Fig. 5, since 12 o'clock corresponds to the high charging time period, Can be charged. However, when the user inputs rapid charging information through the input unit 140 while connecting the charging device 20 to the charging terminal 11 of the battery pack at 12 o'clock, The charge current can be adjusted so that the battery pack is charged with a high rate, say, 2C.

Here, when the battery pack management device is provided in a portable computer such as a smart phone, the input unit 140 may be implemented as an input device of a portable computer. For example, the user can input the rapid charging information through the touch pad of the portable computer as the input unit 140. When the rapid charging information is input, the current regulating unit 130 adjusts the magnitude of the charging current Can be increased.

Meanwhile, the input unit 140 that receives the quick charging information by the user may be implemented with the same components as the input unit 140 that receives the time zone classification information by the user in the embodiment of FIG.

Preferably, when the current regulating unit 130 adjusts the magnitude of the charging current for each time period as in the above-described embodiments, the charging current may be charged The current can be adjusted. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 5, the difference in shear rate between the ultra-high and low charge time zones and the difference in charge rate between the high and low charge time zones are both 0.5C, and between the low charge time zone and the ultra- 0.0 > 0.3C. ≪ / RTI >

The battery pack management apparatus according to the present invention can be applied to the battery pack itself. Therefore, the battery pack according to the present invention may include the above-described battery pack management device. In this case, the connection sensing unit 110, the visual recognition unit 120, and the current control unit 130 may be provided in the battery pack. For example, the current regulator 130 may be implemented as an IC (Integrated Circuit), and such IC may be installed in a battery pack.

Also, the battery pack management apparatus according to the present invention can be applied to a portable computer. Therefore, the portable computer according to the present invention may include the above-described battery pack management device. Here, the portable computer means a computer in which a battery pack is mounted so that the portable computer can be used while being carried by a commercial power source. Such a portable computer may be included in the concept as long as it is constituted by hardware and software such as a notebook computer, a netbook, a tablet computer, a smart phone, and a mobile phone and the program can be operated.

When the battery pack management apparatus is applied to a portable computer, each component of the battery pack management apparatus according to the present invention may be provided on the battery pack side or the portable computer main body side together or separately. For example, the connection detecting unit 110 and the current controlling unit 130 may be provided on the battery pack side, and the time recognizing unit 120 may be provided on the smartphone side. Alternatively, the connection detecting unit 110, the time grasping unit 120, and the current regulating unit 130 may all be provided on the smartphone side.

Further, the battery pack management apparatus according to the present invention can be applied to automobiles. Therefore, the automobile according to the present invention may include the above-described battery pack management device. In particular, in the case of an electric vehicle including a hybrid vehicle, since the driving force is obtained from the battery pack, charge management for the battery pack is very important. Accordingly, when the battery pack management apparatus according to the present invention is applied, the lifetime of the battery pack can be improved and the charging management of the battery pack can be performed flexibly and efficiently.

When the battery pack management device is applied to an automobile, each of the components of the battery pack management device according to the present invention may be provided on the battery pack side or the automobile side together or separately. For example, the connection detecting unit 110, the time keeping unit 120, and the current adjusting unit 130 may all be provided on the vehicle side.

6 is a flowchart schematically showing a battery pack management method according to an embodiment of the present invention. In Fig. 6, the execution subject of each step may be each component of the above-described battery pack management device.

As shown in FIG. 6, the battery pack management method according to the present invention detects whether the charging device 20 is connected to the charging terminal 11 for charging the secondary battery 10 (S110). When the connection of the charging device 20 to the charging terminal 11 is detected in step S110, it is determined when the connection time of the charging device 20 is determined (S120). Next, the magnitude of the charging current supplied from the charging device 20 to the secondary battery 10 is adjusted in accordance with the connection time detected in the step S120 (S130), and the thus- 10 to charge the secondary battery 10 (S140).

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. It will be understood that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

In the present specification, the term " part " is used such as 'connection detection unit', 'time acquisition unit', and 'current adjustment unit', but it is a logical constitutional unit. Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > a < / RTI >

10: Secondary battery
11: Charging terminal
20: Charging device
110:
120:
130:
140: Input unit
150:

Claims (14)

A connection detecting unit for detecting whether a charging device is connected to a charging terminal for charging the secondary battery;
A time grasping unit for grasping a connection time of the charging device when connection of the charging device is detected by the connection detecting unit;
A memory unit for storing a table indicating reference values of charge current magnitudes corresponding to respective time zones to which the connection time of the charging apparatus belongs; And
From the table stored in the memory unit, a reference value of a charging current magnitude corresponding to a time zone in which the connection time of the charging apparatus recognized by the time grasping unit belongs, and from the charging device to the secondary battery A current regulating unit for regulating the magnitude of the supplied charge current
The battery pack management apparatus comprising: The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the current regulating unit divides the current regulating unit into at least two time zones on a one-day basis, and adjusts the size of the charge current according to the time zone in which the connection time corresponds. 3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein the current regulating section divides the day into a weekly time zone including the noon and a night time zone including the midnight, and when the connection time corresponds to the night time zone than when the connection time corresponds to the weekly time zone, The battery pack management device comprising: 3. The method of claim 2,
The current regulating unit divides the time into two or more time zones in consideration of the amount of usage of the battery pack over time. If the connection time falls within a time period when the battery pack usage amount is lower than when the battery pack usage amount is high, And the charge current is controlled to be small. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the current regulator adjusts the magnitude of the charge current according to at least two time zones previously set and separated by the user on a one-day basis. 6. The method of claim 5,
Further comprising an input unit for receiving time zone identification information by a user. The method according to claim 6,
The battery pack management device is provided in a portable computer,
Wherein the input unit is implemented by an input device of the portable computer. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the current regulator adjusts the charge current by a difference of 0.5 C or more based on a rate. delete The method according to claim 1,
Further comprising an input unit for receiving rapid charging information by a user,
Wherein when the fast charging information is input from the user by the input unit, the current regulating unit increases the charging current magnitude from the charging current according to the connection time. A battery pack comprising the battery pack management apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8 and 10. A portable computer including the battery pack management device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 and 10. An automobile including the battery pack management device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 and 10. Storing a table indicating a reference value of a corresponding charging current magnitude in each time zone to which the connection time of the charging device belongs;
Detecting whether a charging device is connected to a charging terminal for charging the secondary battery;
Determining a connection time of the charging device when connection of the charging device to the charging terminal is detected;
Obtaining a reference value of a charging current magnitude corresponding to a time zone in which the connection time of the charging device is recognized from the stored table and adjusting a magnitude of a charging current supplied from the charging device to the secondary battery according to the obtained reference value ; And
In the charging current magnitude control step, a regulated charging current is supplied to the secondary battery to charge the secondary battery
Wherein the battery pack is mounted on the battery pack.

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