KR102672245B1 - Apparatus for managing communication power source of battery pack - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention discloses a battery pack communication power management device that can effectively manage power supplied to a communication unit of a battery pack even when the microcontroller unit of the battery pack is in a sleep mode. A battery pack communication power management device according to the present invention is a device for managing communication power supplied from the battery cell to the communication unit for driving in a battery pack equipped with a battery cell, a microcontroller unit, and a communication unit, a voltage output module including a shunt resistor located on a communication power path through which communication power is supplied from a battery cell to the communication unit, and configured to output a voltage across both ends of the shunt resistor; a wake-up module configured to compare the voltage output from the voltage output module with a reference voltage and transmit a wake-up signal to the microcontroller unit according to the comparison result; and a turn-on module configured to enable the wake-up signal to be transmitted from the wake-up module to the microcontroller unit only when the microcontroller unit is in a sleep mode.

Description

Battery pack communication power management device {Apparatus for managing communication power source of battery pack}

The present invention relates to battery management technology, and more specifically, to a battery management technology that can effectively manage power supplied to a communication unit of a battery pack even when the microcontroller unit of the battery pack is in a sleep mode. .

The application of batteries is rapidly expanding not only to mobile devices such as mobile phones, laptop computers, smartphones, and smart pads, but also to electric vehicles (EV, HEV, PHEV) and large-capacity power storage systems (ESS). It is becoming.

One of the most important components of these batteries is a secondary battery that can store and release energy through charging and discharging. Typically, a battery pack includes one or more secondary cells (battery cells). In particular, the development and use of medium-to-large batteries such as automobiles and ESS has been expanding recently, and in the case of these medium-to-large batteries, dozens to hundreds or more secondary batteries may be used.

In addition, batteries often include not only secondary batteries, but also various units such as microcontroller units (MCUs) and communication units. For example, a microcontroller unit included in an automobile battery pack plays a role in controlling the charging and discharging when charging and discharging occurs between the battery pack and the car's motor, or between the battery pack and the generator or electrical equipment. You can. For example, the microcontroller unit may determine whether the charge/discharge current or voltage level of the battery pack is normal and control the on/off of a switch located on the charge/discharge path of the battery pack.

Additionally, the communication unit may perform wired or wireless communication between various components inside the battery pack or between the battery pack and devices outside the battery pack. This communication unit can receive power for driving from a secondary cell included in the battery.

This communication unit may be included inside the battery pack along with a microcontroller unit in a chip-like form. In particular, the communication unit may be configured in the form of an IC (Integrated Circuit), in which case the communication unit is also referred to as a communication IC. This communication unit may be mounted in a Battery Management System (BMS) together with a microcontroller unit.

Generally, these communication units have a set allowable voltage value. For example, for the communication IC mounted on the BMS, the driving power (communication power) must be supplied in the range of 5V to 13V, and if this range is exceeded, breakage, damage, malfunction, etc. may occur. However, in normal conditions, the microcontroller unit can detect the amount of communication power supplied to the communication unit and take appropriate action.

However, in certain situations, the microcontroller unit may be in sleep mode. For example, in a vehicle battery pack, when the vehicle's engine is turned off and the vehicle is parked, the microcontroller unit may be placed in a sleep mode. In this sleep state, the microcontroller unit may not be able to detect the level of communication power supplied to the communication unit. Therefore, even if the size of the communication power exceeds the allowable range of the communication unit and is supplied to the communication unit, the microcontroller unit fails to take appropriate measures, causing the communication unit to abnormally consume current, be damaged, damaged, or malfunction. Problems such as these may occur.

Therefore, the present invention was created to solve the above problems, and is a battery pack that enables rapid processing when the power supplied to the communication unit is abnormally high even if the microcontroller unit of the battery pack is in sleep mode. The purpose is to provide a pack communication power management device, a battery pack including the same, and a vehicle.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention can be understood from the following description and will be more clearly understood by practicing the present invention. Additionally, it will be readily apparent that the objects and advantages of the present invention can be realized by the means and combinations thereof indicated in the patent claims.

A battery pack communication power management device according to the present invention for achieving the above object is a battery pack equipped with a battery cell, a microcontroller unit, and a communication unit, and the communication power is supplied from the battery cell to the communication unit for driving. A device for managing power, comprising: a voltage output module including a shunt resistor located on a communication power path through which communication power is supplied from the battery cell to the communication unit, and configured to output a voltage across both ends of the shunt resistor; a wake-up module configured to compare the voltage output from the voltage output module with a reference voltage and transmit a wake-up signal to the microcontroller unit according to the comparison result; and a turn-on module configured to enable the wake-up signal to be transmitted from the wake-up module to the microcontroller unit only when the microcontroller unit is in a sleep mode.

Here, the wake-up module may be configured to transmit the wake-up signal to the microcontroller unit when the voltage output from the voltage output module is greater than the reference voltage.

Additionally, the turn-on module may be configured to supply power from the battery cell to the wake-up module when the microcontroller unit is in a sleep mode.

Additionally, the voltage output module may further include an amplifier to amplify and output the voltage across the shunt resistor.

Additionally, the wake-up module may be provided with a comparator having two input terminals and one output terminal.

Additionally, the wake-up module may have the output terminal of the voltage output module directly connected to the first input terminal among the two input terminals of the comparator, and a reference power source may be connected to the second input terminal.

Additionally, in the wake-up module, the output terminal of the comparator may be directly connected to the wake-up terminal of the microcontroller unit.

Additionally, the turn-on module may include a FET and a pull-up resistor.

Additionally, the FET of the turn-on module may be configured such that its drain terminal is connected to a wake-up power path through which driving power is supplied to the wake-up module, and its source terminal is connected to ground.

In addition, the pull-up resistance of the turn-on module is between a first node on the wake-up power path to which the communication power path and the wake-up power path are connected and a second node to which the drain terminal of the FET and the wake-up power path are connected. It can be configured to be located in .

Additionally, a battery pack according to the present invention for achieving the above object includes a battery pack communication power management device according to the present invention.

Additionally, a vehicle according to the present invention for achieving the above object includes a battery pack communication power management device according to the present invention.

According to one aspect of the present invention, when excessive power is supplied to the communication unit provided in the battery pack while the microcontroller unit provided in the battery pack, especially the microcontroller unit provided in the BMS, is in sleep mode, the microcontroller unit The unit can be woken up quickly.

Therefore, even when the microcontroller unit is in a sleep mode, it is possible to effectively prevent problems such as battery discharge or communication unit breakage or damage due to overcurrent.

Moreover, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a wake-up circuit of a microcontroller unit can be constructed using only basic circuit elements such as a resistor element, an OP AMP, and a FET. In particular, according to one embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to implement the battery pack communication power management device according to the present invention only with a circuit configuration consisting of only the above components. Additionally, in order to implement the battery pack communication power management device according to the present invention, there is no need to additionally provide a control unit such as a separate IC or a separate power supply unit. Therefore, in manufacturing the battery pack communication power management device or the battery pack including the same according to the present invention, the structure is simplified and the manufacturing cost and time may not be significantly increased.

The following drawings attached to this specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention, and serve to further understand the technical idea of the present invention together with the detailed description of the invention described later. Therefore, the present invention includes the matters described in such drawings. It should not be interpreted as limited to only .
1 is a block diagram schematically showing the functional configuration of a battery pack communication power management device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a circuit diagram schematically showing the configuration of a battery pack communication power management device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the operation of the battery pack communication power management device shown in FIG. 2 when the microcontroller unit is in a wake-up mode.
FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the operation of the battery pack communication power management device shown in FIG. 2 when the microcontroller unit is in a sleep mode state.
Figure 5 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Prior to this, the terms or words used in this specification and claims should not be construed as limited to their usual or dictionary meanings, and the inventor should appropriately use the concept of terms to explain his or her invention in the best way. It must be interpreted as meaning and concept consistent with the technical idea of the present invention based on the principle of definability.

Therefore, the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations shown in the drawings are only one of the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not entirely represent the technical idea of the present invention, so at the time of filing the present application, various options that can replace them are available. It should be understood that equivalents and variations may exist.

The battery pack communication power management device according to the present invention can be applied to a battery pack. And, this battery pack may be equipped with a battery cell, a microcontroller unit, and a communication unit. In particular, the battery pack communication power management device according to the present invention can manage communication power, which is power supplied from a battery cell to a communication unit for driving.

Here, the battery cell is a secondary battery that directly performs charging and discharging, and may be included in one or more battery packs. In particular, these battery cells may be connected in series and/or parallel to increase the output and/or capacity of the battery pack.

A microcontroller unit, also called an MCU, is generally capable of performing various control or calculation tasks in the battery management device of a battery pack. Typically, a battery pack may include a battery management system (BMS), and a microcontroller unit may be mounted on the battery management system (BMS) in the form of a chip to perform various processing operations as a processor. For example, the microcontroller unit can perform tasks such as determining whether the battery pack is overvoltage or overcurrent, controlling the charging switch and discharging switch, and estimating State Of Charge (SOC) or State Of Health (SOH). These microcontroller units can be implemented as various products, such as ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit).

The communication unit may enable communication to be performed in a wired or wireless manner between various components within the battery pack or between the battery pack and other components external to the battery pack. For example, one battery pack may include a master BMS and a slave BMS, and a communication unit may be provided in each of the master BMS and the slave BMS to enable communication between them. As another example, in the case of a vehicle battery pack, the communication unit provided in the BMS may enable communication with other devices external to the battery pack, such as the vehicle's ECU (Electronic Control Unit), through wired or wireless methods.

This communication unit may be mounted in a chip-like form on a battery pack, particularly the BMS of the battery pack. For example, in the BMS of a battery pack, as communication units, CAN IC is used for CAN (Controller Area Network) communication, LIN IC is used for LIN (Local Interconnect Network) communication, and Ethernet IC is used for Ethernet communication. Various communication ICs such as the like may be provided. The communication unit must be powered to perform its function. At this time, the communication unit may receive power for driving, that is, communication power, from the battery cells provided in the battery pack.

As such battery cells, microcontroller units, and communication units, various battery cells, microcontroller units, and communication units known at the time of filing of the present invention may be employed, and the present invention is not limited to a specific form for each of them. Therefore, detailed descriptions of these battery cells, microcontroller units, and communication units are omitted in this specification.

Figure 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the functional configuration of a battery pack communication power management device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the battery pack communication power management device 100 according to the present invention may include a voltage output module 110, a wake-up module 120, and a turn-on module 130.

The voltage output module 110 may be configured to measure the amount of current flowing on the communication power path. Here, the communication power path can be said to be a path through which power is supplied from the battery cell 10 to the communication unit 30, as indicated by P1 in FIG. 1. The communication unit 30 must be supplied with power above a certain level to perform its function. At this time, the power for driving the communication unit 30 can be said to be a communication power, and the path through which the communication power is supplied can be said to be the communication power path (P1). In particular, the communication unit 30 can receive communication power for driving from the battery cell 10. Accordingly, the communication power path P1 may be provided between the battery cell 10 and the communication unit 30.

The voltage output module 110 may include a shunt resistor. This shunt resistor may be configured as a general resistance element, and may be particularly located between the communication power path P1 between the battery cell 10 and the communication unit 30. That is, the shunt resistor may have two terminals, one end of which may be connected to the battery cell 10, and the other end may be connected to the communication unit 30. Additionally, the voltage output module 110 may be configured to output the voltage across the shunt resistor.

The wake-up module 120 may be configured to compare the voltage output from the voltage output module 110 with a reference voltage. That is, when the voltage output module 110 outputs the voltage across the shunt resistor and transmits the signal, the wake-up module 120 can receive such a signal. Additionally, the wake-up module 120 may compare the voltage output value across the shunt resistor received from the voltage output module 110 with a reference voltage. For this purpose, the wake-up module 120 may receive a reference voltage. Additionally, the wake-up module 120 may be configured to transmit a wake-up signal to the microcontroller unit 20 according to a comparison result between the voltage output value and the reference voltage.

In general, the operating state of the microcontroller unit 20 can be divided into a wake-up mode that performs its function normally and a sleep mode that is in a standby state without performing its function. The turn-on module 130 may control whether to transmit a wake-up signal to the microcontroller unit 20 by the wake-up module 120, depending on whether the microcontroller unit 20 is in a sleep mode. . Here, the wake-up signal can be said to be a signal that switches the microcontroller unit 20 from sleep mode to wake-up state. That is, when a wake-up signal is transmitted to the microcontroller unit 20, the microcontroller unit 20, which was in the sleep mode, can be converted to a wake-up mode state in which it can operate normally.

In particular, the turn-on module 130 may be configured to transmit a wake-up signal to the microcontroller unit 20 only when the microcontroller unit 20 is in a sleep mode. That is, the turn-on module 130 does not transmit a wake-up signal from the wake-up module 120 to the microcontroller unit 20 when the microcontroller unit 20 is in the wake-up mode, and the microcontroller unit ( When 20 is in a sleep mode, a wake-up signal may be transmitted from the wake-up module 120 to the microcontroller unit 20.

According to this configuration of the present invention, whether to wake up the microcontroller unit 20 can be determined depending on the voltage level of the communication power supplied to the communication unit 30. Therefore, when the microcontroller unit 20 is in the sleep mode, if the size of the current flowing into the communication unit 30 is too large or too small, the microcontroller unit 20 wakes up and the microcontroller unit 20 ) measures can be taken appropriately.

In particular, the wake-up module 120 may be configured to transmit a wake-up signal when the voltage output from the voltage output module 110 is greater than the reference voltage. That is, when the voltage output from the voltage output module 110 is above a certain level, the wake-up module 120 transmits a wake-up signal to the microcontroller unit 20 so that the microcontroller unit 20 is in sleep mode. You can switch to wake-up mode. Here, the reference voltage may be predetermined according to the specifications of the communication unit 30, BMS, battery pack, etc. And, this reference voltage can be compared with the actual output value through voltage output.

According to this configuration of the present invention, when the current supplied to the communication unit 30 is excessive, the microcontroller unit 20 can be woken up. Therefore, by ensuring that appropriate measures are taken by the microcontroller unit 20, problems that may occur due to abnormal current flowing into the communication unit 30 for more than a certain period of time, such as battery discharge due to unnecessary current consumption, Damage, breakage, malfunction, etc. can be prevented.

Additionally, in the battery pack communication power management device 100 according to the present invention, the wake-up module 120 may require power supply to perform an operation of supplying a wake-up signal to the microcontroller unit 20. At this time, the power for performing the operation of the wake-up module 120 can be referred to as wake-up power, and the path through which this wake-up power is supplied can be referred to as the wake-up power path. In particular, in one embodiment of the present invention, the wake-up module 120 may receive wake-up power from the battery cell 10. Accordingly, the wake-up power path can be said to be provided between the battery cell 10 and the wake-up module 120, as indicated by P2 in FIG. 1.

In this configuration, the turn-on module 130 can control the wake-up power supply of the wake-up power path (P2). To this end, at least a portion of the turn-on module 130 may be located on the wake-up power path (P2). In particular, the turn-on module 130 may be configured to supply wake-up power from the battery cell 10 to the wake-up module 120 when the microcontroller unit 20 is in a sleep mode. On the other hand, the turn-on module 130 may be configured so that wake-up power is not supplied from the battery cell 10 to the wake-up module 120 when the microcontroller unit 20 is in a wake-up state. Accordingly, if the microcontroller unit 20 is in a wake-up state, the wake-up module 120 is not driven, and therefore a wake-up signal may not be transmitted to the microcontroller unit 20.

According to this configuration of the present invention, the wake-up module 120 is automatically driven only when the microcontroller unit 20 is in the sleep mode, so that the microcontroller unit 20 can be woken up more quickly and efficiently. It can become possible.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram schematically showing the configuration of a battery pack communication power management device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the voltage output module 110 may further include an amplifier 112 in addition to the shunt resistor 111. Here, the amplifier 112 may be configured to amplify and output the voltage across both ends of the shunt resistor 111. In particular, the voltage value across the shunt resistor 111 is designed to be small, so the voltage value may not be large. However, through the amplifier 112, the voltage value across the shunt resistor 111 can be greatly amplified. According to this configuration, the resistance value of the shunt resistor 111 can be designed to be small, thereby reducing power consumption by the shunt resistor 111 on the communication power path supplied from the battery cell 10 to the communication unit 30. You can.

In particular, this amplifier 112 may be implemented as an operating amplifier (OP AMP), as shown in FIG. 2. In this case, the two input terminals (+ input terminal, - input terminal) of the amplifier 112 may be connected to both ends of the shunt resistor 111. And, one output terminal of the amplifier 112 may be directly connected to the wake-up module 120. Accordingly, the voltage across both ends of the shunt resistor 111 may be input to the amplifier 112, amplified, and then output and input to the wake-up module 120.

Meanwhile, although not shown in the drawing, the amplifier 112 may be provided with a power input terminal for receiving driving power. In particular, the amplifier 112 may receive power from the battery cell 10. For example, the amplifier 112 has two power input terminals, one power input terminal may be connected to the communication power path (P1), such as the N1 node, and the other power input terminal may be grounded.

Additionally, referring to FIG. 2, the wake-up module 120 may include a comparator 121. Here, the comparator 121 may have two input terminals and one output terminal. The wakeup module 120 may compare the output value of the voltage output module 110, such as an amplified value for the voltage value across the shunt resistor 111, with a reference value through the comparator 121.

In particular, in the wake-up module 120, the output terminal of the voltage output module 110 may be directly connected to one of the two input terminals (the first input terminal) of the comparator 121. In addition, the wake-up module 120 may have a reference power source (V_ref) connected to another input terminal (second input terminal). Additionally, in the wake-up module 120, the output terminal of the comparator 121 may be directly connected to the wake-up terminal (wake-up pin) of the microcontroller unit 20 (MCU).

Accordingly, the wake-up module 120 can compare the output voltage amplified by the amplifier 112 of the voltage output module 110 and the reference voltage through the comparator 121. And, the wake-up module 120 may output different signals according to the comparison results. That is, the comparator 121 of the wake-up module 120 may be configured to compare two input values and vary the output to the microcontroller unit 20 (MCU) depending on the comparison result.

Moreover, the comparator 121 of the wake-up module 120 may be implemented as an OP AMP, as shown in FIG. 2. In this case, among the two input terminals of the comparator 121, the first input terminal may be a + input terminal, and the second input terminal may be a - input terminal. Here, if the amplifier 112 of the voltage output module 110 is also implemented as an OP AMP, the output terminal of the OP AMP of the voltage output module may be directly connected to the + input terminal of the OP AMP of the wake-up module 120. Also, the positive terminal of the reference power supply (V_ref) may be connected to the - input terminal of the OP AMP of the wake-up module 120. At this time, the negative terminal of the reference power source (V_ref) may be grounded (GND). Accordingly, the output voltage of the amplifier 112 may be input to the + input terminal of the comparator 121, and the reference voltage may be supplied to the - input terminal of the comparator 121. Therefore, the comparator 121 can compare the amplified voltage of the amplifier 112 and the reference voltage input to the two input terminals. Here, the reference power source (V_ref) is a voltage supply source that supplies a reference voltage to the comparator 121. In particular, the reference power source (V_ref) can supply a reference voltage fixedly. That is, the reference power supply can continuously supply a voltage of the same magnitude to one input terminal of the comparator 121.

Additionally, the output terminal of the OP AMP of the wake-up module 120 may be directly connected to the wake-up terminal of the microcontroller unit 20. Here, the wake-up terminal of the microcontroller unit 20 is a terminal configured to be woken up by receiving a signal from the wake-up module 120, and may also be referred to as a wake-up pin. When a certain signal is input from the OP AMP of the wake-up module 120 to the wake-up terminal, the microcontroller unit 20 switches from the sleep mode to the wake-up mode, and can then perform various functions in the wake-up state.

Therefore, it can be said that the OP AMP of the wake-up module 120 compares the voltage amplified by the amplifier 112 with the reference voltage and determines whether to wake up the microcontroller unit 20 according to the comparison result. .

Meanwhile, the first input terminal of the wake-up module 120 may be directly connected to the microcontroller unit 20, as indicated by the L1 path in FIG. 2. Here, the first input terminal of the wake-up module 120 may be directly connected to the output terminal of the voltage output module 110, so it is said that the output terminal of the voltage output module 110 is directly connected to the microcontroller unit 20. can do. That is, the node N3, to which the output terminal of the voltage output module 110 and the first input terminal of the wake-up module 120 are directly connected, can be said to be directly connected to the microcontroller unit 20 through the L1 path. .

In particular, the microcontroller unit 20 may be equipped with an ADC terminal, which may also be called an ADC pin. The ADC terminal of the microcontroller unit 20 can convert the analog signal supplied from the voltage output module 110 into a digital signal so that the microcontroller unit 20 can determine information about the signal. And, the first input terminal of the wake-up module 120, that is, the output terminal of the voltage output module 110, can be directly connected to the ADC terminal of the microcontroller unit 20, as indicated by L1 in FIG. 2. . When the microcontroller unit 20 is in the wake-up mode, the microcontroller unit 20 can determine the voltage value across the shunt resistor 111 through the signal transmitted to the ADC terminal. For example, if the microcontroller unit 20 is in wake-up mode, the voltage value at both ends of the shunt resistor 111 is amplified and output by the amplifier 112 and directly input to the ADC terminal of the microcontroller unit 20. It can be. In addition, the microcontroller unit 20 can determine the size of the current supplied from the battery cell 10 to the communication unit 30 through the size of the value input through the ADC terminal. At this time, if the size of the identified current is excessive, the microcontroller unit 20 sends a warning message (alarm sound, warning display, etc.) to the user or turns off a switch located on the communication power path. The power supply to the communication unit 30 can be blocked. However, if the microcontroller unit 20 is in a sleep mode rather than a wake-up mode, the ADC terminal of the microcontroller unit 20 is in an inactive state, and the current size of the communication power source cannot be determined through the ADC terminal.

Meanwhile, as described above, the wake-up module 120 may require power supply to perform its function. In particular, when the comparator 121 of the wake-up module 120 is implemented as an OP AMP, direct current power may be supplied for the operation of the OP AMP. As described above, the path through which driving power for this operation is supplied to the wake-up module 120 is referred to as the wake-up power path. More specifically, the OP AMP may be provided with two power terminals. And, at least one of these two power terminals may be connected to a wake-up power path.

Referring to FIG. 2, one of the power terminals of the OP AMP provided in the wake-up module 120 may be directly connected to the wake-up power path (P2). And, another one of the power terminals of the OP AMP may be connected to ground (GND). Here, since the wake-up power path (P2) is provided between the battery cell 10 and the wake-up module 120, the OP AMP of the wake-up module 120 supplies a wake-up signal to the microcontroller unit 20. It can be said that power for performing an operation is supplied from the battery cell 10. According to this configuration of the present invention, the wake-up module 120 can perform a wake-up operation by receiving driving power directly from the battery cell 10 provided in the battery pack without a separate power source. Accordingly, the configuration for implementing the battery pack communication power management device 100 is simplified, and it is possible to prevent the structure of the battery pack including the same from becoming complicated or its volume and weight from increasing.

Additionally, referring to FIG. 2, the turn-on module 130 may include a FET 131 (field effect transistor) and a pull up resistor 132.

Here, the FET 131 of the turn-on module 130 may be provided between the wake-up power path (P2) and ground (GND). In particular, the FET 131 may be implemented as a Metl Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET). The FET 131 may be provided with a drain terminal, a source terminal, and a gate terminal. Here, the drain terminal (D) of the FET 131 may be connected to the wakeup power path (P2). That is, as indicated by N2 in FIG. 2, the drain terminal (D) of the FET 131 may be directly connected to a point on the wake-up power path. Additionally, the source terminal (S) of the FET 131 may be directly connected to ground (GND), as shown in the figure. In this configuration, when FET 131 is turned on, wakeup power path P2 can be connected directly to ground (GND). That is, when the FET 131 is turned on, the wakeup power path may be connected from the N2 node to ground. Therefore, in this case, power may not be supplied to the wakeup module 120 through the wakeup power path.

Preferably, different signals may be supplied to the gate terminal of the FET 131 depending on whether the microcontroller unit 20 (MCU) is in a sleep mode. That is, the signal supplied to the gate terminal of the FET 131 can be differentiated depending on whether the microcontroller unit 20 is in a sleep mode or a wake-up mode. For example, when the microcontroller unit 20 is in a wake-up mode, power with a predetermined voltage is supplied to the gate terminal of the FET 131, and when the microcontroller unit 20 is in a sleep mode, the FET 131 The gate terminal of (131) may be configured to supply OV power. That is, if the microcontroller unit 20 is in sleep mode, no power may be supplied to the gate terminal of the FET 131.

In particular, in the battery pack communication power management device 100 according to the present invention, when the microcontroller unit 20 is in the wake-up mode, a voltage equal to or higher than the threshold voltage value of the FET 131 is applied to the gate terminal of the FET 131. It can be configured to be supplied. On the other hand, when the microcontroller unit 20 is in the wake-up mode, a voltage less than the threshold voltage value of the FET 131 may be supplied to the gate terminal of the FET 131. In this case, it can be said that when the microcontroller unit 20 is in a wake-up mode, the FET 131 is turned on, and when the microcontroller unit 20 is in a sleep mode, the FET 131 is turned off.

Furthermore, when the battery pack communication power management device 100 according to the present invention is employed in a vehicle battery pack, a Run/Crank signal may be supplied to the gate terminal of the FET 131. At this time, the Run/Crank signal can supply a voltage higher than the threshold voltage value for the gate terminal of the FET (131). For example, if the FET 131 with a threshold voltage of 5V is employed in the wake-up module 120, power with a voltage of 8V may be supplied to the gate terminal of the FET 131 as a Run/Crank signal. In this way, when power having a voltage higher than the threshold voltage value is provided to the gate terminal (G) of the FET (131), current may flow from the drain terminal (D) of the FET (131) to the source terminal (S).

This Run/Crank signal can be supplied from the vehicle when the vehicle is started. The Run/Crank signal can be said to be a key that indicates the ON/OFF status of the vehicle. This Run/Crank signal can be supplied from the vehicle when the vehicle is in the ON state. For example, when the vehicle is started or the vehicle's ignition key is placed in the ON state, a Run/Crank signal from a device provided in the vehicle may be input to the gate terminal of the FET (131).

When the vehicle is started, the microcontroller unit 20 can be said to be in a wake-up mode. Therefore, in this case, the FET 131 may be turned on so that power is not supplied to the wake-up module 120. On the other hand, when the vehicle is not started, the microcontroller unit 20 may be in a sleep mode. Therefore, in this case, the FET 131 is turned off so that power is supplied to the wake-up module 120. Then, the wake-up module 120 may be able to transmit a wake-up signal to the microcontroller unit 20 according to the comparison result.

Additionally, the pull-up resistor 132 (P/up resistor) of the turn-on module 130 may be located on the wake-up power path (P2), as shown in FIG. 2. In particular, the pull-up resistor 132 (P/up Resistor) is a node (first node, N1) where the communication power path (P1) and the wake-up power path (P2) meet, the FET 131, and the wake-up power path ( It may be located between the nodes (second node, N2) where P2) meets. Here, the second node (N2) may be a node where the drain terminal (D) of the FET 131 meets the wakeup power path (P2).

In this configuration, the function of the pull-up resistor 132 may serve to ensure stable operation of the comparator 121 of the wake-up module 120. Looking at this in more detail, the voltage value of the drain terminal of the FET 131 (or the voltage value of the N2 node) may change depending on the Run/Crank signal value. If the Run/Crank signal is Off (LOW), the FET 131 may be turned off. At this time, if there is no pull-up resistor 132, the voltage applied to the N2 node may be maintained at an unstable value in a floating state. Additionally, this may make the power supply to the wake-up module 120 unstable and may not ensure stable operation of the wake-up module 120. However, since the pull-up resistor 132 is configured as in the above implementation configuration, a certain battery cell 10 voltage can be applied to the N2 node even if the FET 131 is turned off.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the operation of the battery pack communication power management device 100 shown in FIG. 2 when the microcontroller unit 20 is in a wake-up mode.

When the vehicle is started, the microcontroller unit 20 may be in a wake-up state. Additionally, the Run/Crank signal may be provided to the gate terminal (G) of the FET 131, as indicated by arrow a1 in FIG. 3. At this time, the Run/Crank signal has a voltage greater than the threshold voltage of the FET (131), so the FET (131) can be turned on. In this case, the wakeup power path P2 can be said to be grounded via the FET 131 at the second node N2, as indicated by arrow a2. Therefore, in this case, since operating power (wakeup power) is not supplied to the comparator 121 of the wakeup module 120, the comparator 121 of the wakeup module 120 may not perform a special operation. Therefore, at this time, a separate wake-up signal may not be transmitted from the output terminal of the comparator 121 of the wake-up module 120 to the microcontroller unit 20. That is, when the Run/Crank signal is supplied from the vehicle side to the gate terminal (G) of the FET (131), the current supplied from the first node (N1) to the second node (N2) is connected to the drain terminal ( D) and the source terminal (S), it flows to the ground (GND), and may not flow to the comparator 121.

Meanwhile, when the current (I1) flows from the battery cell 10 to the communication unit 30 such as CAN IC, LIN IC, Ethernet IC, etc., the voltage output module 110 converts the voltage across the shunt resistor 111 into an amplifier. By amplifying through (112), the amplified value can be output to the output terminal, as indicated by arrow a3 in FIG. 3. At this time, the output terminal of the amplifier 112 may be connected to the input terminal of the comparator 121 provided in the wake-up module 120. However, in the case of this embodiment, as described above, operating power is not supplied to the comparator 121, so even if an amplified voltage is supplied to the input terminal of the comparator 121, wake-up is not performed from the comparator 121 of the wake-up module 120. Signals may not be transmitted. However, as indicated by L1 in FIG. 3, the output terminal of the amplifier 112 may be directly connected to the ADC terminal of the microcontroller unit. Accordingly, the amplified signal output by the amplifier 112 can be directly supplied to the ADC terminal of the microcontroller unit 20, as indicated by arrow a4 in the figure. At this time, since the microcontroller unit 20 is in wake-up mode, the ADC terminal may already be in an activated state. Therefore, when the output signal of the amplifier 112 is supplied to the ADC terminal, the microcontroller unit 20 can detect this signal and determine whether the current I1 flowing in the communication power path is more than the reference value. To this end, the microcontroller unit 20 may store reference values, etc. in memory, etc. in advance.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the operation of the battery pack communication power management device 100 shown in FIG. 2 when the microcontroller unit 20 is in a sleep mode.

For example, in a vehicle battery pack, when the vehicle is not started, the microcontroller unit 20 may be said to be in a sleep mode. Additionally, when the vehicle is not started, the Run/Crank signal may not be provided to the gate terminal (G) of the FET 131, as shown in FIG. 4. Then, the FET 131 is turned off, and the current supplied from the battery cell 10 through the wake-up power path (P2) passes through the pull-up resistor 132, as indicated by arrows b1 and b2 in the figure. It may be supplied to the comparator 121 of the up module 120. The power supplied to this comparator 121 operates the comparator 121 as a wake-up power source.

Therefore, when the current I2 flows from the battery cell 10 to the communication unit 30, the voltage output module 110 can amplify the voltage at both ends of the shunt resistor 111 through the amplifier 112 and output it. there is. And, the signal output through the amplifier 112 in this way can be input to the + input terminal of the comparator 121 of the wake-up module 120, as indicated by arrow b3 in FIG. 4. Then, the comparator 121 of the wake-up module 120 can compare the amplified voltage input to the + input terminal and the reference voltage input to the - input terminal from the reference power supply (V_ref). At this time, if the amplification voltage is greater than the reference voltage, the comparator 121 of the wake-up module 120 outputs a wake-up signal to the output terminal, as indicated by arrow b4 in FIG. 4, and the wake-up signal output in this way Can be input to the wake-up terminal of the microcontroller unit 20. Accordingly, the microcontroller unit 20, which was in the sleep mode state, can be converted to the wake-up mode state by receiving this wake-up signal.

Meanwhile, when the microcontroller unit 20 is in a sleep mode, it can be said that the ADC terminal is in an inactive state. Accordingly, even if the output terminal of the amplifier 112 and the ADC terminal of the microcontroller unit 20 are directly connected through the third node N3 and the L1 path, the microcontroller unit 20 is capable of performing amplification by the amplifier 112. Voltage cannot be input. However, when the microcontroller unit 20 switches to the wake-up mode state, the ADC terminal may be activated. Therefore, after waking up, the microcontroller unit 20 receives the output voltage of the amplifier 112 from the ADC terminal directly connected to the output terminal of the amplifier 112 through the third node N3 and the L1 path, You can determine whether an abnormal situation exists and perform appropriate actions.

Here, the microcontroller unit 20 can take various measures when the magnitude of the current supplied by the communication power source is abnormally high. For example, if the current supplied to the communication unit 30 is excessive, the microcontroller unit 20 may transmit warning information to the user through a speaker or display device. Alternatively, the microcontroller unit 20 may turn off a charge switch or a discharge switch provided on the charge/discharge path of the battery pack when the current supplied to the communication unit 30 is excessive. Alternatively, the microcontroller unit 20 may turn off a switch provided separately on the communication power path P1.

Figure 5 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the battery pack communication power management device 100 according to the present invention can be applied to the battery pack itself. Accordingly, the battery pack according to the present invention may include the battery pack communication power management device 100 described above.

This battery pack may further include a battery cell 10, a microcontroller unit 20, and a communication unit 30, along with the battery pack communication power management device 100 according to the present invention. In addition, the battery pack may be further provided with a charge switch 41 and a discharge switch 42 on the high current path C through which charge and discharge current flows between the battery cell 10 and the pack terminals (Pack+, Pack-). there is. As such, various components that may be included in the battery pack in addition to the battery pack communication power management device 100 according to the present invention may adopt configurations known at the time of filing of the present invention, and therefore detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Additionally, the battery pack communication power management device 100 according to the present invention can be applied to automobiles. Accordingly, the automobile according to the present invention may include the battery pack communication power management device 100 described above. Moreover, in the case of electric vehicles including hybrid vehicles and general vehicles, a battery pack is generally included, and in situations such as parking, the BMS, especially the microcontroller unit 20, may be in a sleep mode. However, according to the battery pack communication power management device 100 according to the present invention, even if the microcontroller unit 20 is in the sleep mode, effective and rapid management of the communication power supplied to the communication unit 30 is possible. It can happen. Therefore, when the battery pack communication power management device 100 according to the present invention is applied, the safety of the automobile battery pack can be effectively secured.

As described above, although the present invention has been described with limited examples and drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the technical idea of the present invention and the following will be understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. Of course, various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of equivalence of the patent claims to be described.

10: battery cell
20: Microcontroller unit
30: communication unit
41: charging switch, 42: discharging switch
100: Battery pack communication power management unit
110: voltage output module
111: shunt resistor, 112: amplifier
120: Wake-up module
121: comparator
130: Turn-on module
131: FET, 132: pull-up resistor

Claims (12)

In a battery pack equipped with a battery cell, a microcontroller unit, and a communication unit, a device for managing communication power supplied from the battery cell to the communication unit for driving,
a voltage output module including a shunt resistor located on a communication power path through which communication power is supplied from the battery cell to the communication unit, and configured to output a voltage across both ends of the shunt resistor;
a wake-up module configured to compare the voltage output from the voltage output module with a reference voltage and transmit a wake-up signal to the microcontroller unit according to the comparison result; and
A turn-on module configured to enable the wake-up signal to be transmitted from the wake-up module to the microcontroller unit only when the microcontroller unit is in a sleep mode.
Including,
The turn-on module is configured to supply power from the battery cell to the wake-up module when the microcontroller unit is in a sleep mode. According to paragraph 1,
The wake-up module is configured to transmit the wake-up signal to the microcontroller unit when the voltage output from the voltage output module is greater than the reference voltage. delete According to paragraph 1,
The voltage output module further includes an amplifier to amplify and output the voltage across the shunt resistor. According to paragraph 1,
The wake-up module is a battery pack communication power management device, characterized in that it has a comparator having two input terminals and one output terminal. According to clause 5,
The wake-up module is a battery pack communication power management system characterized in that among the two input terminals of the comparator, the output terminal of the voltage output module is directly connected to the first input terminal, and the reference power is connected to the second input terminal. Device. According to clause 5,
The wake-up module is a battery pack communication power management device characterized in that the output terminal of the comparator is directly connected to the wake-up terminal of the microcontroller unit. According to paragraph 1,
The turn-on module is a battery pack communication power management device, characterized in that it has a FET and a pull-up resistor. According to clause 8,
The FET of the turn-on module has a drain terminal connected to a wake-up power path through which driving power is supplied to the wake-up module, and a source terminal connected to ground. According to clause 9,
The pull-up resistor of the turn-on module is located on the wake-up power path between a first node to which the communication power path and the wake-up power path are connected and a second node to which the drain terminal of the FET and the wake-up power path are connected. A battery pack communication power management device characterized in that. A battery pack comprising a battery pack communication power management device according to any one of claims 1, 2, and 4 to 10. A vehicle comprising a battery pack communication power management device according to any one of claims 1, 2, and 4 to 10.

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