TW202411092A - Battery module and battery management system - Google Patents

Abstract

A battery module and a battery management system are provided. The battery management system includes N battery modules and a controller. The battery module includes a battery component set, a first serial switch, a second serial switch, a first parallel switch, a second parallel switch, and a bypass switch. The battery component set has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first serial switch and the fist parallel switch are electrically connected to the first terminal of the battery component set. The second serial switch and the second parallel switch are electrically connected to the second terminal of the battery component set. The first and the second serial switches are synchronically switched on or switched off. The first and the second parallel switches are synchronically switched on of switched off. The bypass switch is electrically connected to the first serial switch and the second serial switch. The first serial switch, the second switch, the first parallel switch, the second switch, and the bypass switched are selectively switched on in response to quality of the battery component set.

Description

Battery Modules and Battery Management Systems

The present application relates to a battery module and a battery management system, and more particularly to a battery module and a battery management system using dynamic monitoring and battery reconfiguration.

In recent years, the power source of vehicles has gradually evolved from traditional fossil fuels to batteries as energy storage and power sources. Electric vehicle batteries (EVB) are the most critical technology for electric vehicles. Moreover, electric vehicle batteries are also the most core and most expensive component of electric vehicles.

In order to drive the motor, electric vehicles need to use a battery management system composed of multiple battery packs. The reliability and safety of the battery management system are important issues for electric vehicles. In the battery management system, the error in the power supply of battery products, the uneven aging speed of batteries, and sudden battery damage will affect the life of the battery management system. Therefore, it is hoped that a method can be developed to enable the battery packs of the battery management system to be used appropriately and evenly, thereby extending the life of the battery management system.

This application is related to a battery module and a battery management system, which can balance the power between battery components by dynamically monitoring and reorganizing the battery configuration, and can improve the impact of different battery quality on the life of the battery management system.

According to the first aspect of the present application, a battery module is proposed. The battery module is electrically connected to a controller, and the battery module includes: a battery assembly, a first series switch, a second series switch, a first parallel switch, a second parallel switch, and a bypass switch. The battery assembly has a first end and a second end. The first series switch is electrically connected to the first end of the battery assembly. The second series switch is electrically connected to the second end of the battery assembly. The first series switch and the second series switch are synchronously turned on or synchronously disconnected. The first parallel switch is electrically connected to the first end of the battery assembly. The second parallel switch is electrically connected to the second end of the battery assembly. The first parallel switch and the second parallel switch are synchronously turned on or synchronously disconnected. The bypass switch is electrically connected to the first series switch and the second series switch. The controller selectively turns on the first series switch, the second series switch, the first parallel switch, the second parallel switch and the bypass switch according to the quality of the battery assembly.

According to the second aspect of the present application, a battery management system is proposed. The battery management system includes: a controller and a power supply module. The power supply module is electrically connected to the controller and is suitable for generating an output voltage. The power supply module includes N battery modules. The nth battery module among the N battery modules includes: a battery assembly, a first series switch, a second series switch, a first parallel switch, a second parallel switch and a bypass switch. The battery assembly has a first end and a second end. The first series switch is electrically connected to the first end of the battery assembly. The second series switch is electrically connected to the second end of the battery assembly. The first series switch and the second series switch are synchronously turned on or synchronously disconnected. When the first series switch and the second series switch are synchronously turned on, the battery assembly provides a portion of the output voltage. The first parallel switch is electrically connected to the first end of the battery assembly. The second parallel switch is electrically connected to the second end of the battery assembly. The first parallel switch and the second parallel switch are synchronously turned on or off. The bypass switch is electrically connected to the first series switch and the second series switch. The controller selectively turns on the first series switch, the second series switch, the first parallel switch, the second parallel switch and the bypass switch according to the quality of the battery assembly. n and N are positive integers, and n is less than or equal to N.

In order to better understand the above and other aspects of the present application, the following is a detailed description of the embodiments with the accompanying drawings as follows:

Please refer to Figure 1, which is a schematic diagram of a battery management system of an embodiment of the present disclosure. The battery management system 10 includes a controller 11 and a power supply module (or battery pack) 13. The power supply module 13 is electrically connected to the controller 11, and includes N battery modules bMD[1]~bMD[N]. The controller 11 configures the battery modules bMD[1]~bMD[N] and selects M battery modules from the battery modules bMD[1]~bMD[N] so that the power supply module 13 generates an output voltage Vout. Wherein, M and N are positive integers, and N＞M. For ease of explanation, this article assumes that N=6 and M=4. In actual applications, the number of M and N is not limited to this.

Battery modules bMD[1] to bMD[6] are electrically connected to common terminals Nc1 and Nc2. Battery module bMD[1] is electrically connected between output terminal No1 and common terminal Nc_12; battery module bMD[2] is electrically connected between common terminals Nc_12 and Nc_23; battery module bMD[3] is electrically connected between common terminals Nc_23 and Nc_34; battery module bMD[4] is electrically connected between common terminals Nc_34 and Nc_45; battery module bMD[5] is electrically connected between common terminals Nc_45 and Nc_56; and battery module bMD[6] is electrically connected between common terminal Nc_56 and output terminal No2.

The internal components and connection methods of the battery modules bMD[1]~bMD[6] are similar. In short, each of the battery modules bMD[1]~bMD[6] includes a battery component (megacell, abbreviated as MC) and three switches. The switches are selectively turned on according to the switch control signals swCtl[1]~swCtl[N] issued by the controller 11. And, depending on the conduction mode of the switches, the battery components MC[1]~MC[6] can be powered or stopped.

In addition, the battery modules bMD[1]~bMD[6] respectively send battery monitoring signals mS[1]~mS[6] to the controller 11. The battery monitoring signals mS[1]~mS[6] are suitable for reflecting the quality of the battery components MC[1]~MC[6] to the controller 11. The generation method of the battery monitoring signals mS[1]~mS[6], and the content and format of the quality information contained in the battery monitoring signals mS[1]~mS[6] may vary depending on the application or system, and will not be described in detail in this article.

Please refer to FIG. 2, which is a status diagram of the operation phase of the battery management system of the disclosed embodiment. The operation phase of the battery management system 10 includes: the quality monitoring phase mntSTG, the configuration setting phase cfgSTG and the failure phase failSTG. Under normal circumstances, the battery management system 10 switches between the quality monitoring phase mntSTG and the configuration setting phase cfgSTG alternately. FIG. 2 uses different dotted arrows stgA1~stgA4 to represent the situation where the controller 11 switches the operation phase of the battery management system 10.

The direction of the dashed arrow stgA1 represents the situation where the battery management system 10 maintains the quality monitoring stage mntSTG. In the quality monitoring stage mntSTG, the controller 11 receives the battery monitoring signals mS[1]~mS[6] from the battery modules bMD[1]~bMD[6], and judges the quality status of the battery components MC[1]~MC[6] in turn according to the battery monitoring signals mS[1]~mS[6]. FIG. 4 further illustrates the process of the battery management system 10 in the quality monitoring stage mntSTG.

The direction of the dashed arrow stgA2 represents the switching of the battery management system 10 from the quality monitoring stage mntSTG to the configuration setting stage cfgSTG. Once the quality of the battery components MC[1]~MC[6] is confirmed, the battery management system 10 enters the configuration setting stage cfgSTG. FIG. 13 further illustrates the process of the battery management system 10 in the configuration setting stage cfgSTG.

The direction of the dashed arrow stgA3 represents the situation where the battery management system 10 switches from the configuration setting stage cfgSTG to the quality monitoring stage mntSTG. When the controller 11 ends the configuration setting stage cfgSTG, it will reconfirm the quality status of the battery components MC[1]~MC[6]. The quality status of the battery components MC[1]~MC[6] will change with the passage of time and the increase in the number of charge and discharge cycles. The battery management system 10 needs to switch to the quality monitoring stage mntSTG again so that the controller 11 can grasp the latest overall quality of the battery management system 10.

The direction of the dashed arrow stgA4 indicates that when the controller 11 finds that the power supply module 13 cannot generate the required output voltage Vout in the configuration setting stage cfgSTG, the battery management system 10 will enter the failure stage failSTG and stop operating. At this time, the controller 11 should issue a warning message to inform the user that the battery management system 10 can no longer supply power normally.

Please refer to FIG. 3, which is a quality status diagram of a battery component MC[n] of an embodiment of the present disclosure. For ease of explanation, the variable n is used here to represent any battery component MC[1]~MC[N], where n≤N. According to the concept of the present disclosure, the quality status of the battery component MC[n] can be: a normal state nmST (marked with a pure white background), a quasi-obsolete state wkST (marked with a dotted grid background), or an obsolete state deadST (marked with a diagonal grid background).

The quality of a newly manufactured battery module MC[n] is in the normal state nmST. After a period of charging and discharging, the quality of the battery module MC[n] may change from the normal state nmST to the quasi-obsolete state wkST (as indicated by the dotted arrow qA2) or to the obsolete state deadST (as indicated by the dotted arrow qA1). A battery module MC[n] whose quality state changes to the obsolete state deadST cannot be used anymore. On the other hand, a battery module MC[n] whose quality state changes to the quasi-obsolete state wkST will be suspended for a period of time. After a period of suspension of use, the battery component MC[n] whose quality status was previously determined to be a quasi-obsolete state wkST may gradually recover its state of charge (SOC) and restore its quality status to a normal state nmST (as indicated by the dotted arrow qA3). Alternatively, the SOC of the battery component MC[n] whose quality status was previously determined to be a quasi-obsolete state wkST may also tend to deteriorate, thereby changing the quality status of the battery component MC[n] from a quasi-obsolete state wkST to an obsolete state deadST (as indicated by the dotted arrow qA4).

For ease of explanation, this article uses capitalized variables N, K, S, T, and M to represent the number of different components. Variables M and N are positive integers, and K, S, and T are integers greater than or equal to 0. Table 1 summarizes the meanings of some variables.

Table 1 Uppercase variables Implications N The number of battery modules MC included in the power supply module 13 K The number of battery modules MC with a quality status of normal nmST S The number of battery modules MC whose quality status is semi-obsolete wkST T The number of battery components MC whose quality status is deadST M The number of battery components MC required to generate the output voltage Vout

In this document, lowercase variables n, k, s, and t represent one of a certain type of component. For example, battery component MC[n] represents one of battery components MC[1] to MC[N]. 1≦n≦N, 0≦k≦K, 0≦s≦S, and 0≦t≦T.

Please refer to FIG. 4, which is a flow chart of the controller judging the quality of battery modules MC[1]~MC[N] in the quality monitoring stage mntSTG. As mentioned above, in the quality monitoring stage mntSTG, the controller 11 will cyclically receive the battery monitoring signals mS[1]~mS[N] corresponding to the battery modules MC[1]~MC[N] transmitted by the battery modules bMD[1]~bMD[N], and judge the quality status of the battery modules bMD[1]~bMD[N] in turn according to the battery monitoring signals mS[1]~mS[N], and mark the battery modules MC[1]~MC[n] included in the battery modules bMD[1]~bMD[N] as normal status nmST, quasi-obsolete status wkST, or obsolete status deadST. In one embodiment, the battery monitoring signals mS[1]-mS[N] include at least one of the state of health (SOH) and state of charge (SOC) of the corresponding battery components MC[1]-MC[N], but are not limited to the listed ones.

First, initialize variables n, k, s, t (step S601). Then, the controller 11 receives the battery monitoring signal mS[n] corresponding to the battery module MC[n] (step S603). The controller 11 determines whether the quality status of the battery module MC[n] was marked as the obsolete state deadST during the previous quality monitoring (step S605).

If the judgment result of step S605 is positive, the count value t representing the battery component MC in the obsolete state deadST is accumulated (t++) (step S611). If the judgment result of step S605 is negative, it means that the quality status of the battery component MC[n] was marked as the normal state nmST or the quasi-obsolete state wkST during the previous quality monitoring. At this time, the controller 11 must reconfirm the current quality of the battery component MC[n] (step S607). The details of step S607 will be explained in Figures 5A and 5B. In short, according to the judgment result of step S607, the quality status of the battery component MC[n] may be marked as the normal state nmST, the quasi-obsolete state wkST, or the obsolete state deadST. Furthermore, according to the marking result, one of the count value k representing the battery component MC with a normal quality state nmST, the count value s representing the battery component MC with a quasi-obsolete quality state wkST, and the count value t representing the battery component MC with an obsolete quality state deadST is accumulated.

Thereafter, the controller 11 determines whether the N battery components MC[1]~MC[N] have completed the quality marking, that is, whether n is equal to N (step S613). If the judgment result of step S613 is negative, the variable n is accumulated again (step S609), and step S605 is re-executed. If the judgment result of step S613 is positive, the variables k, s, and t are used to update the number K of battery components MC with a normal quality state nmST (set K=k), the number S of battery components MC with a quasi-elimination quality state wkST (set S=s), and the number T of battery components MC with an eliminated quality state deadST (set T=t) in the current quality monitoring stage mntSTG.

Please refer to Figures 5A and 5B, which are flow charts illustrating how the controller 11 confirms the quality of the battery module MC[n] (step S607 of Figure 4).

First, the controller 11 obtains the state of health (SOH) of the battery component MC[n] from the battery monitoring signal mS[n]. Furthermore, the controller 11 compares the SOH of the battery component MC[n] with a preset health critical value (e.g., 0.03%) to determine whether the battery component MC[n] meets the end of life condition (step S607a). Accordingly, when the SOH of the battery component MC[n] is lower than or equal to the preset health critical value, the controller 11 determines that the battery component MC[n] meets the end of life condition. If the determination result of step S607a is positive, the controller 11 marks the battery module MC[n] as being in the deadST state, and accumulates the count value t representing the number of battery modules MC having the deadST quality (step S607e).

If the judgment result of step S607a is negative, the controller 11 will further learn the SOC of the battery module MC[n] from the battery monitoring signal mS[n]. In addition, the controller 11 compares the SOC of the battery module MC[n] with a preset cut-off point critical value (e.g., 15%) to determine whether the battery module MC[n] meets the cut-off point condition (step S607c). Accordingly, when the SOC of the battery module MC[n] is lower than or equal to the preset cut-off point critical value, the controller 11 determines that the battery module MC[n] meets the cut-off point condition. If the determination result of step S607c is positive, the controller 11 marks the battery module MC[n] as being in the deadST state, and accumulates the count value t representing the number of battery modules MC having the deadST quality (step S607e).

If the judgment result of step S607c is negative, the controller 11 further judges whether the charging times of the power supply module 13 has not reached the preset times (for example, the preset times is 500 times) (step S607g). In the early stage of use, the aging of the power supply module 13 is not serious, so before the charging times do not reach the preset times, the battery module MC[n] can be regarded as a normal state nmST. Therefore, if the judgment result of step S607g is positive, the controller 11 marks the battery module MC[n] as a normal state nmST, and accumulates the count value k representing the number of battery modules MC with a quality of normal state nmST (step S607m).

If the judgment result of step S607g is negative, the controller 11 judges whether the battery module MC[n] was marked as the quasi-obsolete state wkST in the previous quality monitoring stage mntSTG (step S607i). Since the battery module MC[n] previously marked as the obsolete state deadST has been excluded in steps S605 and S611 of FIG. 4, in step S607i, only the battery module MC[n] whose quality state was marked as the quasi-obsolete state wkST and the normal state nmST during the previous execution of the quality monitoring stage mntSTG needs to be considered.

If the judgment result of step S607i is positive, it means that the quality status of battery component MC[n] was marked as quasi-obsolete status wkST in the previous quality monitoring stage mntSTG. At this time, the controller 11 will execute step S607k to determine whether the quality of battery component MC[n] is maintained in the quasi-obsolete status wkST (if step S607k is negative); or, if the quality of battery component MC[n] is improved, it can be marked as normal status nmST (if step S607k is positive).

The judgment condition of S607k can be adjusted according to different applications. For example, the controller 11 can compare the SOC (SOC _MC[n] ) of the currently judged battery module MC[n] with the average SOC (SOC avgK ) of K battery modules whose quality status is marked as normal status nmST in the use mode useMD (described in detail later) in the previous quality monitoring stage _mntSTG . If the SOC (SOC _MC[n] ) of the currently determined battery module MC[n] exceeds the average SOC (SOC _avgK ) of the K battery modules marked as normal state nmST in the use mode useMD in the previous quality monitoring stage mntSTG quality state by a certain degree (for example, the difference between the two (SOC _MC[n] -SOC _avgK ) is greater than a preset ratio z% (SOC _MC[n] -SOC _avgK 5%)), it means that although the SOC (SOC _MC[n] ) of the battery module MC[n] was marked as the quasi-elimination state wkST in the previous quality monitoring stage mntSTG, its current SOC (SOC _MC[n] ) has recovered to a level that is better than the SOC of other battery modules in the normal state nmST. At this time, the quality state of the battery module MC[n] can be marked as the normal state nmST (step S607m). Otherwise, the quality state of the battery module MC[n] is still marked as the quasi-elimination state wkST (step S607q).

If the judgment result of step S607i is negative, it means that the quality status of battery component MC[n] was marked as normal status nmST in the previous quality monitoring stage mntSTG. At this time, the controller 11 will execute step S607o to determine whether the quality status of battery component MC[n] is still normal status nmST (if the judgment of step S607o is negative); or, the quality status of battery component MC[n] has deteriorated, and the quality status of battery component MC[n] must be marked as quasi-elimination status wkST (if the judgment of step S607o is positive).

The judgment condition of S607o can be adjusted according to different applications. The following is an example of the judgment condition that can be adopted in step S607o based on percentage and standard deviation. In one embodiment, when the standard deviation of each battery module MC[n] is greater than a preset standard deviation (e.g., 10), the standard deviation is used as the judgment condition of S607o. However, it is not limited to the examples listed.

One judgment method that the controller 11 can adopt is to compare the SOC (SOC _MC[n] ) of the currently judged battery module MC[n] with the average SOC (SOC _avgK ) of the battery modules MC whose quality status was marked as the normal state nmST and set to the use mode useMD in the previous quality monitoring stage mntSTG. If the SOC (SOC _MC[n] ) of the currently determined battery component MC[n] is too different from the average SOC (SOC _avgK ) of the battery components MC whose quality status was marked as the normal status nmST and set to the use mode useMD in the previous quality monitoring stage mntSTG (for example, the difference between the two is greater than a preset ratio y%=10%), it means that although the SOC (SOC _MC[n] ) of the battery component MC[n] was marked as the normal status nmST in the previous quality monitoring stage mntSTG, the current SOC (SOC _MC[n] ) of the battery component MC[n] is too poor to be compared with the SOC of other battery components MC in the normal status nmST. At this time, the quality status of the battery module MC[n] can be marked as the quasi-rejected state wkST (step S607q). Otherwise, the quality status of the battery module MC[n] is still marked as the normal state nmST (step S607m).

For example, another judgment method that the controller 11 can adopt is to compare the SOC (SOC _MC[n] ) of the currently judged battery component MC[n] with the average SOC (SOC _avgK ) of K battery components MC whose quality status is marked as normal status nmST in the use mode useMD in the previous quality monitoring stage mntSTG. If the SOC (SOC _MC[n] ) of the currently determined battery module MC[n] is lower than the average SOC (SOC _avgK ) of the K battery modules MC marked as normal state nmST in the use mode useMD in the previous quality monitoring stage mntSTG, and exceeds x standard deviations (for example, x=1.281), it means that although the SOC (SOC _MC[n] ) of the battery module MC[n] was marked as normal state nmST in the previous quality monitoring stage mntSTG, its current SOC is too poor and is not suitable for powering together with other battery modules MC in normal state nmST. At this time, the controller 11 can mark the quality state of the battery module MC[n] as quasi-obsolete state wkST (step S607q). Otherwise, the controller 11 still maintains marking the quality status of the battery module MC[n] as the normal status nmST (step S607m).

If the judgment result of step S607k is positive, or the judgment result of step S607o is negative, the controller 11 marks the quality state of the battery module MC[n] as the normal state nmST, and accumulates the count value k(k++) representing the battery module MC with the quality of the normal state nmST (step S607m). On the other hand, if the judgment result of step S607k is negative, or the judgment result of step S607o is positive, the controller 11 marks the quality state of the battery module MC[n] as the quasi-elimination state wkST, and accumulates the count value s(s++) representing the battery module MC with the quality of the quasi-elimination state wkST (step S607q).

The battery modules bMD[1] to bMD[N] in the power supply module 13 have similar components and connection relationships. The following uses the battery module bMD[n] as an example to explain its internal components and connection relationships.

Please refer to FIG. 6, which is a schematic diagram of a battery module bMD[n] according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Here, the variable n can also represent any battery module bMD[1]~bMD[N], where n≤N. The battery module bMD[n] is electrically connected to the controller 11 (see FIG. 1), and the battery module bMD[n] includes: a battery component MC[n], a first series switch s1SW[n], a second series switch s2SW[n], a first parallel switch p1SW[n], a second parallel switch p2SW[n] and a bypass switch bpSW[n]. The battery assembly MC[n] has a first end E1 and a second end E2, a first series switch s1SW[n] and a first parallel switch p1SW[n] are electrically connected to the first end E1 of the battery assembly MC[n]; a second series switch s2SW[n] and a second parallel switch p2SW[n] are electrically connected to the second end E2 of the battery assembly MC[n]. A bypass switch bpSW[n] is electrically connected to the first series switch s1SW[n] and the second series switch s2SW[n]. The battery assembly MC[n] further includes battery cells BC arranged in X rows and Y columns. The Y battery cells BC in the same row are connected in parallel, and the X battery cells in the same column are connected in series. The controller 11 can send a switch control signal swCtl[n] to the battery module bMD[n] according to the quality of the battery component MC[n], and selectively turn on the first and second series switches s1SW[n], s2SW[n], the first and second parallel switches p1SW[n], p2SW[n] and the bypass switch bpSW[n]. Based on this, the battery module bMD[n] can be set to one of the series configuration (serCFG), parallel configuration (pCFG) or bypass configuration (bpCFG) in response to the switch control signal swCtl[n] received from the controller 11 (described in detail later).

Specifically, the first series switch s1SW[n], the first parallel switch p1SW[n], and one end of the battery module MC[n] are electrically connected to the internal terminal Nin1[n]. The other end of the first series switch s1SW[n] is electrically connected to the common terminal Nc_(n-1)n. The other end of the first parallel switch p1SW[n] is electrically connected to the common terminal Nc1. The second series switch s2SW[n], the second parallel switch p2SW[n], and one end of the battery module MC[n] are electrically connected to the internal terminal Nin2[n]. The other end of the second series switch s2SW[n] is electrically connected to the common terminal Nc_n(n+1). The other end of the second parallel switch p2SW[n] is electrically connected to the common terminal Nc2. The two ends of the bypass switch bpSW[n] are electrically connected to the common terminals Nc_(n-1)n and Nc_n(n+1) respectively.

The switch control signal swCtl[n] further includes: a series switch control signal swCT_s[n] suitable for controlling the first and second series switches s1SW[n], s2SW[n], a parallel switch control signal swCT_p[n] suitable for controlling the first and second parallel switches p1SW[n], p2SW[n], and a bypass switch control signal swCT_bp[n] suitable for controlling the bypass switch bpSW[n]. The first and second series switches s1SW[n], s2SW[n], the first and second parallel switches p1SW[n], p2SW[n], and the bypass switch bpSW[n] are selectively turned on according to the series switch control signal swCT_s[n], the parallel switch control signal swCT_p[n], and the bypass switch control signal swCT_bp[n], respectively. The first and second series switches s1SW[n] and s2SW[n] are synchronously turned on or off according to the series switch control signal swCT_s[n]. The first and second parallel switches p1SW[n] and p2SW[n] are synchronously turned on or off according to the parallel switch control signal swCT_p[n].

According to the concept of the present disclosure, the battery module bMD[n] includes a battery component MC[n] and a plurality of switches, and by switching the switches, the connection configuration of the battery module bMD[n] can be set to: a series configuration serCFG, a parallel configuration pCFG, or a bypass configuration bpCFG. According to the connection configuration of the battery module bMD[n], the first and second series switches s1SW[n], s2SW[n], the first and second parallel switches p1SW[n], p2SW[n], and the bypass switch bpSW[n] will be selectively turned on, and the battery component MC[n] can therefore provide or not provide a voltage as part of the output voltage Vout. Table 2 summarizes the various connection configurations of the battery module bMD[n] and the relationship between the conduction states of the first and second series switches s1SW[n], s2SW[n], the first and second parallel switches p1SW[n], p2SW[n] and the bypass switch bpSW[n].

Table 2 Connection configuration of battery module bMD[n] The first and second series switches s1SW[n], s2SW[n] The first and second parallel switches p1SW[n], p2SW[n] Bypass switch bpSW[n] Status of battery module bMD[n] Serial configuration serCFG Conductivity Disconnect Disconnect Supply power to output voltage Vout Parallel configuration pCFG Disconnect Conductivity Conductivity Connect in parallel with other battery modules for charge balancing Bypass configuration bpCFG Disconnect Disconnect Conductivity Power outage

Please refer to Figure 7, which is a schematic diagram of the connection configuration of the controller matching the battery module bMD[n] in response to the quality of the battery component MC[n]. As mentioned above, in the quality monitoring stage mntSTG, the controller 11 will mark the quality of the battery components MC[1]~MC[N] and distinguish them into K battery components MC in the normal state nmST, S battery components MC in the quasi-obsolete state wkST, and T battery components MC in the obsolete state deadST. Among them, K, S, and T are all integers greater than or equal to 0, and K+S+T=N. However, the values of K, S, and T are not fixed values, but change with the use period of the power supply module 13.

Furthermore, in the configuration setting stage cfgSTG, the controller 11 will select M battery components MC from the battery components MC[1]~MC[N] as the power supply source of the output voltage Vout according to the quality of the battery components MC[1]~MC[N]. Therefore, here, according to whether the battery components MC[1]~MC[N] are selected for power supply, the battery components MC[1]~MC[N] are divided into: a battery component MC set to the use mode useMD, and a battery component MC set to the stop mode stpMD.

According to the concept of the present disclosure, a battery component MC with a quality of normal state nmST may be set to a use mode useMD or a stop mode stpMD; a battery component MC with a quality of quasi-obsolete state wkST may be set to a use mode useMD or a stop mode stpMD; and a battery component MC with a quality of obsolete state deadST can only be set to a stop mode stpMD. Since both a battery component MC with a normal state nmST and a battery component MC with a quasi-obsolete state wkST may be set to a use mode useMD or a stop mode stpMD, a battery component MC with a normal state nmST that is not used for power supply is further represented here by a diagonal line from the upper right to the lower left with a white background; and a battery component MC with a quasi-obsolete state wkST that is not used for power supply is represented by a diagonal line from the upper right to the lower left with a dotted grid background.

As mentioned above, this article will use a simple white background box to represent a battery component MC whose quality is in the normal state nmST and is in the use mode useMD; a white background box with a diagonal line from the upper right to the lower left will represent a battery component MC whose quality is in the normal state nmST and is set to the stop mode stpMD; a simple dotted grid background will represent a battery component MC whose quality is in the quasi-obsolete state wkST and is set to the use mode useMD; a dotted grid background with a diagonal line from the upper right to the lower left will represent a battery component MC whose quality is in the quasi-obsolete state wkST and is set to the stop mode stpMD; and a diagonal checkered grid background will represent a battery component MC whose quality is in the obsolete state deadST and is set to the stop mode stpMD.

As described above, the connection configuration of the battery module bMD[n] can be set to the series configuration serCFG, the parallel configuration pCFG, or the bypass configuration bpCFG according to the switch control signal swCtl[n]. Depending on the connection configuration set for the battery module bMD[n], the first and second series switches s1SW[n], s2SW[n], the first and second parallel switches p1SW[n], p2SW[n], and the bypass switch bpSW[n] will be selectively turned on, and the battery component MC[n] may or may not provide a voltage as part of the output voltage Vout. The three diagrams on the right side of FIG. 7 show, from top to bottom, the on or off states of the first and second series switches s1SW[n], s2SW[n], the first and second parallel switches p1SW[n], p2SW[n], and the bypass switch bpSW[n] when the connection configuration of the battery module bMD[n] is set to the series configuration serCFG, the parallel configuration pCFG, and the bypass configuration bpCFG.

In FIG. 7 , the direction of the dashed arrow represents how the controller 11 determines the connection configuration of the battery module bMD[n] in response to the quality status of the battery module MC[n] and whether the battery module MC[n] is used for power supply. Here, the source of the connection configuration of the battery module bMD[n] determined by the controller 11 can be divided into five quality-connection configuration correspondences MP1 to MP5.

The first quality-connection configuration correspondence MP1 is that when the quality state of the battery component MC[n] is the normal state nmST, and the controller 11 selects the battery component MC[n] for power supply (setting the battery component MC[n] to the use mode useMD), the controller 11 sets the connection configuration of the battery module bMD[n] to the series configuration serCFG. The second quality-connection configuration correspondence MP2 is that when the quality state of the battery component MC[n] is the normal state nmST, and the controller 11 does not select the battery component MC[n] for power supply (setting the battery component MC[n] to the deactivation mode stpMD), the controller 11 sets the connection configuration of the battery module bMD[n] to the parallel configuration pCFG.

It can be seen from the first quality-connection configuration correspondence MP1 and the second quality-connection configuration correspondence MP2 that when the quality state of the battery component MC[n] is the normal state nmST, the controller 11 may select or not select the battery component MC[n] for power supply. Furthermore, the controller 11 will decide to set the connection configuration of the battery module bMD[n] to the series configuration serCFG or the parallel configuration pCFG according to whether the battery component MC[n] is selected for power supply.

The third quality-connection configuration correspondence MP3 is that when the quality status of the battery component MC[n] is the quasi-obsolete state wkST, and the controller 11 selects the battery component MC[n] for power supply (sets the battery component MC[n] to the use mode useMD), the controller 11 sets the connection configuration of the battery module bMD[n] to the series configuration serCFG. The fourth quality-connection configuration correspondence MP4 is that when the quality status of the battery component MC[n] is the quasi-obsolete state wkST, and the controller 11 does not select the battery component MC[n] for power supply (sets the battery component MC[n] to the deactivation mode stpMD), the controller 11 sets the connection configuration of the battery module bMD[n] to the bypass configuration bpCFG.

It can be seen from the third quality-connection configuration correspondence MP3 and the fourth quality-connection configuration correspondence MP4 that when the quality state of the battery component MC[n] is the quasi-elimination state wkST, the controller 11 may select or not select the battery component MC[n] for power supply. Furthermore, the controller 11 will decide to set the connection configuration of the battery module bMD[n] to the series configuration serCFG or the bypass configuration bpCFG according to whether the battery component MC[n] is selected for power supply.

The fifth quality-connection configuration correspondence MP5 is that when the quality status of the battery component MC[n] is the obsolete status deadST, and the controller 11 does not select the battery component MC[n] for power supply, and sets the battery component MC[n] to the deactivation mode stpMD, the controller 11 sets the connection configuration of the battery module bMD[n] to the bypass configuration bpCFG. It can be seen from the fifth quality-connection configuration correspondence MP5 that when the quality of the battery component MC[n] is the obsolete status deadST, the controller 11 does not use the battery component MC[n] for power supply, and sets the connection configuration of the battery module bMD[n] to the bypass configuration bpCFG.

In conjunction with the quality-connection configuration correspondence MP1~MP5 of FIG. 7, when the controller 11 determines the connection configuration of the battery module bMD[n] according to the quality of the battery components MC[1]~MC[N] in the configuration setting stage cfgSTG, the power supply module 13 may have the following several configurations setCFG_1~setCF_4 due to the change in the values of K, S, T, and M. In FIG. 8A, 8B, 8C, 9A, 9B, 9C, 10A, 10B, 11A, 11B, and 12, the thick black line represents the current direction that generates the supply voltage Vout.

Figures 8A, 8B, and 8C show examples of controller 11 configuring battery modules bMD[1] to bMD[N] when K=M; Figures 9A, 9B, and 9C show examples of controller 11 configuring battery modules bMD[1] to bMD[N] when K＞M; Figures 10A and 10B show examples of controller 11 configuring battery modules bMD[1] to bMD[N] when K+S=M; Figures 11A and 11B show examples of controller 11 configuring battery modules bMD[1] to bMD[N] when K+S＞M; and Figure 12 shows an example of controller 11 configuring battery modules bMD[1] to bMD[N] when K+S＜M. In actual application, the number and position of the battery components MC in the normal state nmST, the quasi-eliminated state wkST and the eliminated state deadST, and the connection configuration of the battery modules bMD[1]~bMD[N], etc. must be dynamically adjusted by the controller 11, and are not limited to the examples given here.

Please refer to Figures 8A, 8B, and 8C, which are schematic diagrams of the controller determining that the power supply module should adopt the setting configuration setCFG_1 to generate the output voltage Vout when K=M. When K=M, the controller 11 directly generates the output voltage Vout with K=M battery components MC marked as normal state nmST, and sets the remaining (N-K) battery components MC to the disabled mode stpMD. At this time, the battery components MC with the quality of the semi-eliminated state wkST and the eliminated state deadST are all set to the disabled mode stpMD.

Please refer to Figures 7 and 8A. In Figure 8A, it is assumed that the number of battery components MC with a normal quality of nmST is K=4, the number of battery components MC with a quasi-obsolete quality of wkST is S=2, the number of battery components MC with an obsolete quality of deadST is T=0, and the number of battery components MC required to generate the output voltage Vout is M=4. Because K=M, the number K of battery components MC whose quality status is normal state nmST is equal to the number M of battery components MC that generate output voltage Vout. The controller 11 uses K=4 battery components MC[1], MC[2], MC[4], MC[6] whose quality status is normal state nmST to generate output voltage Vout, and sets the connection configuration of battery modules bMD[1], bMD[2], bMD[4], bMD[6] to which battery components MC[1], MC[2], MC[4], MC[6] belong to the series configuration serCFG. On the other hand, because the battery modules bMD[3] and bMD[5] contain S=2 quasi-obsolete state wkST battery components MC[3] and MC[5] that are not used for power supply, the controller 11 sets the connection configuration of the battery modules bM[3] and bM[5] to which the battery components MC[3] and MC[5] belong to the bypass configuration bpCFG.

In FIG. 8A , the current indicated by the thick black arrow flows sequentially through the first series switch s1SW[1], the battery assembly MC[1] and the second series switch s2SW[1] of the battery module bMD[1]; the first series switch s1SW[2], the battery assembly MC[2] and the second series switch s2SW[2] of the battery module bMD[2]; the bypass switch bpSW[3] of the battery module bMD[3]; the first series switch s1SW[4], the battery assembly MC[4] and the second series switch s2SW[4] of the battery module bMD[4], and the bypass switch bpSW[5] of the battery module bMD[5]; and the first series switch s1SW[6], the battery assembly MC[6] and the second series switch s2SW[6] of the battery module bMD[6]. Therefore, in FIG. 8A, the output voltage Vout is jointly generated by K=M=4 battery components MC[1], MC[2], MC[4], and MC[6] whose quality state is the normal state nmST.

Please refer to Figures 7 and 8B at the same time. In Figure 8B, it is assumed that the number of battery components MC with a quality of normal state nmST is K=4, the number of battery components MC with a quality of quasi-eliminated state wkST is S=1, the number of battery components MC with a quality of deadST is T=1, and the number of battery components MC required to generate the output voltage Vout is M=4. Because K=M, it means that the number K of battery components MC with a quality of normal state nmST is equal to the number M of battery components MC that generate the output voltage Vout. Therefore, the controller 11 uses K=M battery components MC[1], MC[2], MC[4], MC[6] whose quality status is the normal status nmST to generate the output voltage Vout, and sets the connection configuration of the battery modules bMD[1], bMD[2], bMD[4], bMD[6] to which the battery components MC[1], MC[2], MC[4], MC[6] belong to the series configuration serCFG. On the other hand, because the power supply module 13 includes T=1 battery components MC[3] in the obsolete status deadST, the controller 11 sets the connection configuration of the battery module bMD[3] to which the battery component MC[3] belongs to the bypass configuration bpCFG. In addition, because the power supply module 13 also includes S=1 battery module MC[5] in the quasi-retired state wkST that is not used for power supply, the controller 11 sets the connection configuration of the battery module bMD[5] to which the battery module MC[5] belongs to the bypass configuration bpCFG.

In FIG. 8B , the current indicated by the thick black arrow flows sequentially through the first series switch s1SW[1], the battery assembly MC[1] and the second series switch s2SW[1] of the battery module bMD[1]; the first series switch s1SW[2], the battery assembly MC[2] and the second series switch s2SW[2] of the battery module bMD[2]; the bypass switch bpSW[3] of the battery module bMD[3]; the first series switch s1SW[4], the battery assembly MC[4] and the second series switch s2SW[4] of the battery module bMD[4], and the bypass switch bpSW[5] of the battery module bMD[5]; and the first series switch s1SW[6], the battery assembly MC[6] and the second series switch s2SW[6] of the battery module bMD[6]. Therefore, in FIG. 8B , the output voltage Vout is jointly generated by K=M=4 battery components MC[1], MC[2], MC[4], and MC[6] whose quality state is the normal state nmST.

Please refer to Figures 7 and 8C. In Figure 8C, it is assumed that the number of battery components MC with a quality of normal state nmST is K=4, the number of battery components MC with a quality of quasi-eliminated state wkST is S=0, the number of battery components MC with a quality of deadST is T=2, and the number of battery components MC required to generate the output voltage Vout is M=4. Because K=M, it means that the number of battery components MC with a quality of normal state nmST, K, is equal to the number of battery components MC that generate the output voltage Vout, M. Therefore, the controller 11 uses K=M battery components MC[1], MC[2], MC[4], MC[6] of normal quality state nmST to generate the output voltage Vout, and sets the connection configuration of the battery modules bMD[1], bMD[2], bMD[4], bMD[6] to which the battery components MC[1], MC[2], MC[4], MC[6] belong to the series configuration serCFG. On the other hand, because the power supply module 13 also includes T=2 battery components MC[3], MC[5] of obsolete state deadST, the controller 11 sets the connection configuration of the battery modules bMD[3], bMD[5] to which the battery components MC[3], MC[5] belong to the bypass configuration bpCFG.

In FIG. 8C , the current indicated by the thick black arrow flows sequentially through the first series switch s1SW[1], the battery assembly MC[1] and the second series switch s2SW[1] of the battery module bMD[1]; the first series switch s1SW[2], the battery assembly MC[2] and the second series switch s2SW[2] of the battery module bMD[2]; the bypass switch bpSW[3] of the battery module bMD[3]; the first series switch s1SW[4], the battery assembly MC[4] and the second series switch s2SW[4] of the battery module bMD[4], and the bypass switch bpSW[5] of the battery module bMD[5]; and the first series switch s1SW[6], the battery assembly MC[6] and the second series switch s2SW[6] of the battery module bMD[6]. Therefore, in FIG. 8C , the output voltage Vout is jointly generated by K=M=4 battery components MC[1], MC[2], MC[4], and MC[6] whose quality state is the normal state nmST.

It can be concluded from Figures 8A, 8B, and 8C that when K=M, the power supply module 13 can directly use K=M battery components MC in the normal state nmST to generate the output voltage Vout. The controller 11 sets the connection configuration of the battery module bMD including the K battery components MC in the normal state nmST to the series configuration serCFG. At the same time, the quality status of the remaining (N-K)=(S+T) battery components MC may be the quasi-obsolete state wkST (S components) or the obsolete state deadST (T components). The controller 11 sets the connection configuration of the battery module bMD including S battery components MC in the quasi-obsolete state wkST and T battery components MC in the obsolete state deadST to the bypass configuration bpCFG. Here, when there are K=M battery modules MC in the power supply module 13 whose quality status is the normal status nmST, the controller 11 defines the configuration method of the connection configuration of the battery modules bMD[1]~bMD[N] as the setting configuration setCFG_1.

Please refer to Figures 9A, 9B, and 9C, which are schematic diagrams showing that when K>M, the controller 11 determines that the power supply module 13 should adopt the setting configuration setCFG_2 to generate the output voltage Vout. When K>M, in addition to setting the connection configuration of the battery module bMD including the M battery components MC in the normal state nmST to the series configuration serCFG, the power supply module 13 also sets the connection configuration of the battery module bMD including the remaining (K-M) battery components MC in the normal state nmST to the parallel configuration pCFG. If (K-M) ≥ 2, the battery components MC in the battery module bMD set to the parallel configuration pCFG will be charge balanced.

Please refer to Figures 7 and 9A. In Figure 9A, it is assumed that the number of battery components MC with a quality of normal state nmST is K=6, the number of battery components MC with a quality of quasi-eliminated state wkST is S=0, the number of battery components MC with a quality of deadST is T=0, and the number of battery components MC required to generate the output voltage Vout is M=4, where K>M. The controller 11 selects M=4 battery components MC[2], MC[4], MC[5], MC[6] from the K=6 battery components MC[1]~MC[6] with a quality of normal state nmST to generate the output voltage Vout. Therefore, the controller 11 sets the battery modules bMD[2], bMD[4], bMD[5], bMD[6] to which the battery components MC[2], MC[4], MC[5], MC[6] belong to the series configuration serCFG. On the other hand, because the power supply module 13 also includes (K-M)=2 battery components MC[1], MC[3] in the normal state nmST that are not used for power supply, the controller 11 sets the connection configuration of the battery modules bMD[1], bMD[3] to which the battery components MC[1], MC[3] belong to the parallel configuration pCFG.

In FIG. 9A , the current indicated by the thick black arrow flows sequentially through the bypass switch bpSW[1] of the battery module bMD[1]; the first series switch s1SW[2], the battery module MC[2] and the second series switch s2SW[2] of the battery module bMD[2]; the bypass switch bpSW[3] of the battery module bMD[3]; the first series switch s1SW[4], the battery module MC[4] and the second series switch s2SW[4] of the battery module bMD[4]; the first series switch s1SW[5], the battery module MC[5] and the second series switch s2SW[5] of the battery module bMD[5]; and the first series switch s1SW[6], the battery module MC[6] and the second series switch s2SW[6] of the battery module bMD[6]. Therefore, in FIG. 9A , the output voltage Vout is jointly generated by M=4 battery components MC[2], MC[4], MC[5], and MC[6] whose quality state is normal state nmST.

Please also note that in FIG. 9A, the current indicated by the thick dashed arrow flows through the first parallel switch p1SW[1], the battery module MC[1] and the second parallel switch p2SW[1] of the battery module bMD[1], and the second parallel switch p2SW[3], the battery module MC[3] and the first parallel switch p1SW[3] of the battery module bMD[3]. Therefore, a loop is formed between the battery modules MC[1] and MC[3]. Therefore, when the original SOC of the battery modules MC[1] and MC[3] are not equal, the charge stored in the battery modules MC[1] and MC[3] can flow through this loop, thereby making the SOC of the battery modules MC[1] and MC[3] reach a balanced state.

Please refer to Figures 7 and 9B. In Figure 9B, it is assumed that the number of battery components MC with a quality of normal state nmST is K=5, the number of battery components MC with a quality of quasi-eliminated state wkST is S=1, the number of battery components MC with a quality of deadST is T=0, and the number of battery components MC required to generate the output voltage Vout is M=4, where K>M. The controller 11 selects M=4 battery components MC[1], MC[2], MC[4], MC[6] from K=5 battery components MC[1]~MC[4], MC[6] with a quality of normal state nmST to generate the output voltage Vout. Therefore, the controller 11 sets the connection configuration of the battery modules bMD[1], bMD[2], bMD[4], bMD[6] to which the battery components MC[1], MC[2], MC[4], MC[6] belong to the series configuration serCFG. On the other hand, because the power supply module 13 includes (K-M)=1 normal state nmST battery components MC[3] that are not used for power supply, the controller 11 sets the connection configuration of the battery module bMD[3] to which the battery component MC[3] belongs to the parallel configuration pCFG. Because the power supply module 13 also includes S=1 battery components MC[5] whose quality status is the quasi-elimination state wkST, the controller 11 sets the connection configuration of the battery module bMD[5] to which the battery component MC[5] belongs to the bypass configuration bpCFG.

In FIG. 9B , the current indicated by the thick black arrow flows sequentially through the first series switch s1SW[1], the battery assembly MC[1] and the second series switch s2SW[1] of the battery module bMD[1]; the first series switch s1SW[2], the battery assembly MC[2] and the second series switch s2SW[2] of the battery module bMD[2]; the bypass switch bpSW[3] of the battery module bMD[3]; the first series switch s1SW[4], the battery assembly MC[4] and the second series switch s2SW[4] of the battery module bMD[4], and the bypass switch bpSW[5] of the battery module bMD[5]; and the first series switch s1SW[6], the battery assembly MC[6] and the second series switch s2SW[6] of the battery module bMD[6]. Therefore, in FIG. 9B , the output voltage Vout is jointly generated by M=4 battery components MC[1], MC[2], MC[4], and MC[6] whose quality state is the normal state nmST.

Please refer to Figures 7 and 9C. In Figure 9C, it is assumed that the number of battery components MC with a quality of normal state nmST is K=5, the number of battery components MC with a quality of quasi-obsolete state wkST is S=0, the number of battery components MC with a quality of obsolete state deadST is T=1, and the number of battery components MC required to generate the output voltage Vout is M=4, where K>M. The controller 11 selects M=4 battery components MC[1], MC[2], MC[4], MC[6] from K=5 battery components MC[1]~MC[4], MC[6] with a quality of normal state nmST for power supply. Therefore, the controller 11 sets the connection configuration of the battery modules bMD[1], bMD[2], bMD[4], bMD[6] to which the battery components MC[1], MC[2], MC[4], MC[6] belong to the series configuration serCFG. On the other hand, because the power supply module 13 includes (K-M)=1 battery component MC[3] whose quality status is the normal state nmST but is not used for power supply, the controller 11 sets the connection configuration of the battery module bMD[3] to which the battery component MC[3] belongs to the parallel configuration pCFG. Because the power supply module 13 also includes S=1 battery component MC[5] whose quality status is the obsolete state deadST, the controller 11 sets the connection configuration of the battery module bMD[5] to which the battery component MC[5] belongs to the bypass configuration bpCFG.

In FIG. 9C , the current indicated by the thick black arrow flows sequentially through the first series switch s1SW[1], the battery assembly MC[1] and the second series switch s2SW[1] of the battery module bMD[1]; the first series switch s1SW[2], the battery assembly MC[2] and the second series switch s2SW[2] of the battery module bMD[2]; the bypass switch bpSW[3] of the battery module bMD[3]; the first series switch s1SW[4], the battery assembly MC[4] and the second series switch s2SW[4] of the battery module bMD[4], and the bypass switch bpSW[5] of the battery module bMD[5]; and the first series switch s1SW[6], the battery assembly MC[6] and the second series switch s2SW[6] of the battery module bMD[6]. Therefore, in FIG. 9C , the output voltage Vout is jointly generated by M=4 battery components MC[1], MC[2], MC[4], and MC[6] whose quality state is the normal state nmST.

It can be concluded from Figures 9A, 9B, and 9C that when K>M, the power supply module 13 selects M of the K battery modules MC in the normal state nmST to generate the output voltage Vout. In addition, the remaining (K-M) battery modules MC in the normal state nmST are set to the parallel configuration pCFG. Here, when there are K>M battery modules MC in the normal state nmST in the power supply module 13, the configuration method of the controller 11 for the connection configuration of the battery modules bMD[1]~bMD[N] is defined as the setting configuration setCFG_2.

According to the concept disclosed herein, when (K-M) ≥ 2, the battery modules MC that are set to the parallel configuration pCFG form a parallel loop, thereby making the charge between the battery modules MC reach a balanced state. Taking FIG. 9A as an example, because the battery modules MC[1] and MC[3] are set to the parallel configuration pCFG, the charge in the battery modules MC[1] and MC[3] will be charge balanced. For example, assuming that the original SOC of the battery module MC[1] is better and the original SOC of the battery module MC[3] is worse, the SOC of the battery modules MC[1] and MC[3] can be made close by setting the battery modules MC[1] and MC[3] to the parallel configuration pCFG.

Next, it is explained how the controller 11 selects M of the K battery modules MC in the normal state nmST to generate the output voltage Vout when K>M. According to the concept of the present disclosure, when K>M, the controller 11 will compare the SOCs of the K battery modules MC in the normal state nmST, and select the (K-M) battery modules MC with a larger SOC variation to stop supplying power. Furthermore, the controller 11 sets the battery module bMD of the (K-M) battery modules MC in the normal state nmST but with a larger SOC variation to a parallel configuration pCFG. For example, assuming that N=6 battery components MC are all in the normal state nmST, the controller 11 may set the two (K-M=6-4=2) battery modules bMD including the battery components MC with the highest SOC and the lowest SOC together to the parallel configuration pCFG, and set the battery module bMD including four (M=4) battery components MC with SOC values in the middle to the series configuration serCFG to generate the output voltage Vout.

According to the concept disclosed herein, the controller 11 selects M battery assemblies MC with a relatively close SOC from the SOCs of K battery assemblies MC with a quality state of normal state nmST as the source of the output voltage Vout. Since the SOCs of the battery assemblies used to generate the output voltage Vout are similar, the amount of electricity in the battery assemblies MC is more balanced when discharged. Moreover, by connecting (K-M) battery assemblies MC with relatively different SOCs in parallel, the amplitude of the SOC difference contained in the battery assemblies MC can be reduced, thereby making the battery aging rate of the (K-M) battery assemblies MC with a quality state of normal state nmST but not selected for power supply more uniform.

Please refer to Figures 10A and 10B, which are schematic diagrams showing that when K＜M and K+S=M, the controller 11 determines that the power supply module 13 should adopt the setting configuration setCFG_3 to generate the output voltage Vout. When K＜M and K+S=M, the battery module MC with the quality state of normal state nmST alone is still insufficient to generate the output voltage Vout. Therefore, the controller 11 must simultaneously set the battery module bMD including K battery modules MC with the quality state of normal state nmST and the battery module bMD including S battery modules MC with the quality state of quasi-elimination state wkST to the series configuration serCFG.

In FIG. 10A, it is assumed that the number of battery components MC in the normal state nmST is K=3, the number of battery components MC in the quasi-obsolete state wkST is S=1, the number of battery components MC in the obsolete state deadST is T=2, and the number of battery components MC required to generate the output voltage Vout is M=4, where K＜M and K+S=M. Since the number of battery components MC in the normal state nmST is insufficient (K＜M), in addition to using K=3 battery components MC[2], MC[5], and MC[6] in the normal state nmST to generate part of the output voltage Vout, S=1 battery component MC[3] in the quasi-obsolete state wkST is also required to generate part of the output voltage Vout. Therefore, the controller 11 sets the connection configuration of the battery modules bMD[2], bMD[3], bMD[5], bMD[6] to which the battery modules MC[2], MC[3], MC[5], MC[6] belong to to the series configuration serCFG. On the other hand, because the power supply module 13 includes T=2 battery modules MC[1], MC[4] in the deadST state, the controller 11 sets the battery modules bMD[1], bMD[4] to which the battery modules MC[1], MC[4] belong to to the bypass configuration bpCFG.

In FIG. 10A , the current indicated by the thick black arrow flows sequentially through the bypass switch bpSW[1] of the battery module bMD[1]; the first series switch s1SW[2], the battery module MC[2] and the second series switch s2SW[2] of the battery module bMD[2]; the first series switch s1SW[3], the battery module MC[3] and the second series switch s2SW[3] of the battery module bMD[3]; the bypass switch bpSW[4] of the battery module bMD[4]; the first series switch s1SW[5], the battery module MC[5] and the second series switch s2SW[5] of the battery module bMD[5]; and the first series switch s1SW[6], the battery module MC[6] and the second series switch s2SW[6] of the battery module bMD[6]. Therefore, in FIG. 10A , the output voltage Vout is jointly generated by K=3 battery components MC[2], MC[5], MC[6] whose quality state is the normal state nmST and S=1 battery component MC[3] whose quality state is the quasi-elimination state wkST.

In FIG. 10B , it is assumed that the number of battery components MC with a quality state of normal state nmST is K=0, the number of battery components MC with a quality state of quasi-obsolete state wkST is S=4, the number of battery components MC with a quality state of obsolete state deadST is T=2, and the number of battery components MC required to generate the output voltage Vout is M=4, where K＜M and K+S=M. Since the number of battery components MC with a quality state of normal state nmST is 0 (K=0, and K＜M), the controller 11 needs to use S=4 battery components MC[2], MC[3], MC[5], MC[6] with a quality state of quasi-obsolete state wkST to provide the output voltage Vout. Therefore, the controller 11 must set the connection configuration of the battery modules bMD[2], bMD[3], bMD[5], bMD[6] to which the battery components MC[2], MC[3], MC[5], MC[6] belong to the series configuration serCFG. On the other hand, because the power supply module 13 also includes T=2 battery components MC[1], MC[4] whose quality status is the obsolete status deadST, the controller 11 sets the connection configuration of the battery modules bMD[1], bMD[4] to which the battery components MC[1], MC[4] belong to the bypass configuration bpCFG.

In FIG. 10B , the current indicated by the thick black arrow flows sequentially through the bypass switch bpSW[1] of the battery module bMD[1]; the first series switch s1SW[2], the battery module MC[2] and the second series switch s2SW[2] of the battery module bMD[2]; the first series switch s1SW[3], the battery module MC[3] and the second series switch s2SW[3] of the battery module bMD[3]; the bypass switch bpSW[4] of the battery module bMD[4]; the first series switch s1SW[5], the battery module MC[5] and the second series switch s2SW[5] of the battery module bMD[5]; and the first series switch s1SW[6], the battery module MC[6] and the second series switch s2SW[6] of the battery module bMD[6]. Therefore, in FIG. 10B , the output voltage Vout is jointly generated by S=M-K=4 battery components MC[2], MC[3], MC[5], and MC[6] whose quality status is the quasi-elimination status wkST.

As can be seen from Figures 10A and 10B, the S battery modules MC in the quasi-obsolete state wkST can still be used as replacement options when the number of battery modules MC in the normal state nmST is insufficient (K＜M). By using (M-K) battery modules MC in the quasi-obsolete state wkST as an auxiliary means of providing the output voltage Vout, the battery management system 10 of the present case can improve the power usage efficiency of the power supply module 13. Furthermore, if the number of battery components MC in the quasi-obsolete state wkST, combined with the number of battery components MC in the normal state nmST (K+S), exceeds the number (M) required to generate the output voltage Vout, the controller 11 must further select (M-K) battery components MC from the S battery components MC in the quasi-obsolete state wkST for power supply, as shown in Table 3. According to the concept of the present disclosure, the controller 11 can compare the SOCs of the S battery components MC in the quasi-obsolete state wkST, and select (M-K) battery components MC with higher SOCs for power supply.

table 3 Battery Components MC quantity Semi-obsolete wkST battery module MC S The number of battery modules MC in the semi-retired state wkST that are used to supply power with battery modules MC in the normal state nmST (MK) The number of battery modules MC in the quasi-obsolete state wkST that are not used to supply power with battery modules MC in the normal state nmST S-(MK)

Please refer to Figures 11A and 11B, which are schematic diagrams showing that when K＜M and K+S＞M, the controller 11 determines that the power supply module 13 should adopt the setting configuration setCFG_3 to generate the output voltage Vout. When K＜M and K+S＞M, K battery modules MC in the normal state nmST alone are still insufficient to generate the output voltage Vout. Therefore, the controller 11 must simultaneously set the K battery modules bMD including the battery modules MC in the normal state nmST and the battery modules bMD including (M-K) battery modules MC in the quasi-elimination state wkST to the series configuration serCFG.

In FIG. 11A , it is assumed that the number of battery components MC whose quality is in the normal state nmST is K=3, the number of battery components MC whose quality is in the quasi-obsolete state wkST is S=3, the number of battery components MC whose quality is in the obsolete state deadST is T=0, and the number of battery components MC required to generate the output voltage Vout is M=4, where K＜M and K+S＞M. Since the number of battery components MC with a quality state of normal state nmST is insufficient (K＜M), the controller 11 not only sets K=3 battery components MC[2], MC[5], MC[6] with a quality state of normal state nmST to the series configuration serCFG, but also selects (M-K)=4-3=1 battery component with a higher SOC from S=3 battery components MC[1], MC[3], MC[4] with a quality state of quasi-elimination state wkST (Figure 11A assumes that it is battery component MC[4]) to generate the output voltage Vout together with K=3 battery components MC[2], MC[5], MC[6] with a quality state of normal state nmST. Therefore, the controller 11 sets the connection configuration of the battery modules bMD[2], bMD[4], bMD[5], bMD[6] to which the battery components MC[2], MC[4], MC[5], MC[6] belong to the series configuration serCFG. On the other hand, because the power supply module 13 also includes the unselected S-(M-K)=2 quasi-eliminated state wkST battery components MC[1], MC[3], the controller 11 sets the connection configuration of the battery modules bMD[1], bMD[3] to which the battery components MC[1], MC[3] belong to the bypass configuration bpCFG.

In FIG. 11A , the current indicated by the thick black arrow flows sequentially through the bypass switch bpSW[1] of the battery module bMD[1]; the first series switch s1SW[2], the battery module MC[2] and the second series switch s2SW[2] of the battery module bMD[2]; the bypass switch bpSW[3] of the battery module bMD[3]; the first series switch s1SW[4], the battery module MC[4] and the second series switch s2SW[4] of the battery module bMD[4]; the first series switch s1SW[5], the battery module MC[5] and the second series switch s2SW[5] of the battery module bMD[5]; and the first series switch s1SW[6], the battery module MC[6] and the second series switch s2SW[6] of the battery module bMD[6]. Therefore, in FIG. 11A , the output voltage Vout is jointly generated by the battery components MC[ 2 ], MC[ 5 ], and MC[ 6 ] whose quality state is the normal state nmST and the battery component MC[ 4 ] whose quality state is the semi-obsolete state wkST.

In FIG. 11B , it is assumed that the number of battery components MC whose quality is in the normal state nmST is K=3, the number of battery components MC whose quality is in the quasi-obsolete state wkST is S=2, the number of battery components MC whose quality is in the obsolete state deadST is T=1, and the number of battery components MC required to generate the output voltage Vout is M=4, where K＜M and K+S＞M. Since the number of battery modules MC in the normal state nmST is insufficient (K＜M), in addition to using K=3 battery modules MC[2], MC[5], MC[6] in the normal state nmST to generate a portion of the output voltage Vout, it is also necessary to select (M-K)=4-3=1 with a higher SOC from the S battery modules MC[1] and MC[3] in the quasi-elimination state wkST (Figure 11B assumes that it is battery module MC[3]) to generate the output voltage Vout together with K=3 battery modules MC[2], MC[5], MC[6] in the normal state nmST. Therefore, the controller 11 sets the connection configuration of the battery modules bMD[2], bMD[3], bMD[5], and bMD[6] to the series configuration serCFG. On the other hand, because the power supply module 13 includes S-(M-k)=2-1=1 battery components MC[1] whose quality status is the quasi-elimination status wkST and which have not been selected, the controller 11 sets the connection configuration of the battery module bMD[1] to which the battery component MC[1] belongs to the bypass configuration bpCFG; and, because the power supply module 13 also includes T=1 battery components MC[4] whose quality status is the elimination status deadST, the controller 11 sets the connection configuration of the battery module bMD[4] to which the battery component MC[4] belongs to the bypass configuration bpCFG.

In FIG. 11B , the current indicated by the thick black arrow flows sequentially through the bypass switch bpSW[1] of the battery module bMD[1]; the first series switch s1SW[2], the battery module MC[2] and the second series switch s2SW[2] of the battery module bMD[2]; the first series switch s1SW[3], the battery module MC[3] and the second series switch s2SW[3] of the battery module bMD[3]; the bypass switch bpSW[4] of the battery module bMD[4]; the first series switch s1SW[5], the battery module MC[5] and the second series switch s2SW[5] of the battery module bMD[5]; and the first series switch s1SW[6], the battery module MC[6] and the second series switch s2SW[6] of the battery module bMD[6]. Therefore, in FIG. 11B , the output voltage Vout is jointly generated by K=3 battery components MC[2], MC[5], MC[6] whose quality state is the normal state nmST and (M-K)=1 battery component MC[3] whose quality state is the quasi-eliminated state wkST.

It can be concluded from Figures 10A, 10B, 11A, and 11B that when K＜M and (K+S)≥M, the power supply module 13 can use K battery components MC with a quality state of normal state nmST to match (M-K) battery components MC with a quality state of quasi-obsolete state wkST to generate the output voltage Vout. Here, when the number (K) of battery components MC with a quality state of normal state nmST in the power supply module 13 is less than the M battery components MC required to generate the output voltage Vout (K＜M), and (M-K) battery components MC with a quality state of quasi-obsolete state wkST are required to supply power, the controller 11 defines the configuration method of the connection configuration of the battery modules bMD[1]~bMD[N] as the setting configuration setCFG_3.

In actual application, the battery management system 10 can be used in conjunction with other components of the electric vehicle. For example, if the controller 11 selects the setting configuration setCFG_3, a corresponding prompt message can be generated on the dashboard to remind the driver that the battery components MC[1]~MC[N] in the power supply module 13 are generally aging. Such changes in application are not described in detail here.

Please refer to FIG. 12, which is a schematic diagram showing that when (K+S)＜M, the controller 11 determines that the power supply module 13 should adopt the setting configuration setCFG_4 and stop generating the output voltage Vout. When the power supply module 13 is in the setting configuration setCFG_4 ((K+S)＜M), the sum (K+S) of the battery components MC in the normal state nmST and the quasi-elimination state wkST included in the power supply module 13 is insufficient to generate the output voltage Vout. At this time, the power supply module 13 stops supplying power.

In FIG. 12, it is assumed that the number of battery components MC with a quality of normal state nmST is K=3, the number of battery components MC with a quality of quasi-obsolete state wkST is S=0, the number of battery components MC with a quality of obsolete state deadST is T=3, and the number of battery components MC required to generate the output voltage Vout is M=4, where K+S＜M. The quality state of K=3 battery components MC[2], MC[4], MC[6] is the normal state nmST; the quality state of T=3 battery components MC[1], MC[3], MC[5] is the obsolete state deadST. At this time, in the power supply module 13, there are only K=3 battery components MC[2], MC[4], MC[6] available for the output voltage Vout, which does not meet the minimum output requirement of M=4. This situation means that the power supply module 13 has failed and the battery module MC needs to be replaced. Here, the configuration method of the controller 11 for the connection configuration of the battery modules bMD[1]~bMD[N] under the situation of K+S＜M is defined as the setting configuration setCFG_4. Among them, (K+S)=(N-T). Therefore, the situation of K+S＜M is also equivalent to the situation of (N-T)＜M.

As mentioned above, the battery management system 10 can be used in conjunction with other components of the electric vehicle. Therefore, if the controller 11 selects the setting configuration setCFG_4, a corresponding prompt message can be generated on the dashboard to inform the driver that the power supply module 13 is currently unable to supply power. This change in application will not be described in detail here.

As mentioned above, the power supply module 13 has different settings in the configurations setCFG_1 to setCFG_4 according to the relationship between the values of K, S, and M. Table 4 further summarizes how the controller 11 adjusts the connection configurations of the battery modules bMD[1] to bMD[N] in the configurations setCFG_1 to setCFG_4 in response to changes in the values of the variables M, N, K, S, and T.

Table 4 Configuration Reference diagram Relationship of variables Connection configuration of battery module bM setCFG_1 Figures 8A, 8B, 8C K=M Set the battery module bMD of K=M battery components MC with a quality status of normal state nmST to the series configuration serCFG (battery component MC is in use mode useMD) Set the battery module bMD of the S battery components MC whose quality status is the semi-obsolete status wkST to the bypass configuration bpCFG (the battery component MC is in the disabled mode stpMD) Set the battery module bMD of T battery components MC with the quality status of deadST to the bypass configuration bpCFG (battery component MC is in the disabled mode stpMD) setCFG_2 Figures 9A, 9B, 9C K＞M Set the battery module bMD to which M of the K battery components MC with a quality status of normal state nmST belong to the series configuration serCFG (the battery component MC is in the use mode useMD) Set the battery module bMD to which (KM) battery modules MC belong among the K battery modules MC whose quality status is normal status nmST to parallel configuration pCFG (battery module MC is in deactivation mode stpMD) Set the battery module bMD of the S battery components MC whose quality status is the semi-obsolete status wkST to the bypass configuration bpCFG (the battery component MC is in the disabled mode stpMD) Set the battery module bMD of T battery components MC with the quality status of deadST to the bypass configuration bpCFG (battery component MC is in the disabled mode stpMD) setCFG_3 Figures 10A, 10B, 11A, 11B K＜M, and K+S≥M Set the battery module bMD of K battery components MC with a quality status of normal state nmST to the series configuration serCFG (battery component MC is in use mode useMD) From among S battery components MC whose quality status is semi-elimination status wkST, select and set the battery modules bMD to which (MK) battery components MC belong to the series configuration serCFG (battery components MC are in use mode useMD) From among the S battery components MC whose quality status is the semi-elimination status wkST, select and set the battery modules bMD to which the S-(MK) battery components MC belong to the bypass configuration bpCFG (the battery components MC are in the deactivation mode stpMD) Set the battery module bMD of T battery components MC with the quality status of deadST to the bypass configuration bpCFG (battery component MC is in the disabled mode stpMD) setCFG_4 Figure 12 K+S＜M The number of battery modules MC available for power supply is insufficient, and the power supply module 13 fails (the battery module MC is in the disabled mode stpMD)

Based on the descriptions of FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C, 9A, 9B, 9C, 10A, 10B, 11A, 11B, and 12 and the summary of Table 4, the controller 11 determines the connection configuration of the battery modules bMD[1]~bMD[N] in response to various quality status combinations of the battery components MC[1]~MC[N] in the configuration setting stage cfgSTG, which can be summarized as the process of FIG. 13. Please refer to FIG. 13, which is a flow chart of the controller determining the configuration of the power supply module in the configuration setting stage cfgSTG.

First, the controller 11 determines whether the number K of battery components MC in the power supply module 13 whose quality status is the normal state nmST is equal to the number M required to generate the output voltage Vout (i.e., is it determined that K=M?) (step S701). If the judgment result of step S701 is affirmative, the controller 11 sets the K battery components MC in the normal quality status nmST to the use mode useMD. On the other hand, because the quality status of the remaining (N-K) battery components MC is the quasi-obsolete state wkST or the obsolete state deadST, the controller 11 sets the (N-K) battery components MC to the deactivation mode stpMD, as shown in the setting configuration setCFG_1 listed in Table 4 (step S707). Among them, (N-K)=S+T. For details on setting configuration setCFG_1, please refer to the examples in Figures 8A~8C and the summary in Table 4.

If the judgment result of step S701 is negative, the controller 11 will further judge whether the number K of battery modules MC with a quality state of normal state nmST exceeds the number M of battery modules MC required to generate the output voltage Vout (i.e., judge whether K>M?) (step S703). If the judgment result of step S703 is positive, the controller 11 still only needs M battery modules MC with a quality state of normal state nmST to generate the output voltage Vout. Therefore, the controller 11 sets M of the K battery modules MC with a quality state of normal state nmST to the use mode useMD. On the other hand, the (K-M) battery components MC whose quality status is normal status nmST but not used to generate output voltage Vout are set to the disabled mode stpMD by the controller 11, as shown in the setting configuration setCFG_2 (step S709) listed in Table 4. For details of the setting configuration setCFG_2, please refer to the examples in Figures 9A to 9C and the summary in Table 4.

If the judgment result of step S703 is negative, the controller 11 will further judge whether the sum of the number K of battery components MC with a quality state of normal state nmST and the number S of battery components MC with a quality state of quasi-elimination state wkST (i.e., K+S) is greater than or equal to the number M of battery components MC required to generate the output voltage Vout (i.e., judge whether K+S≥M?) (step S705). If the judgment result of step S705 is positive, the controller 11 will use K battery components MC with a quality state of normal state nmST and (M-K) battery components MC with a quality state of quasi-elimination state wkST to generate the output voltage Vout. Therefore, the controller 11 sets K battery components MC whose quality status is the normal state nmST and (M-K) battery components MC whose quality status is the quasi-obsolete state wkST to the use mode useMD. On the other hand, the S-(M-K) battery components MC whose quality status is the quasi-obsolete state wkST that are not used to generate the output voltage Vout are set by the controller 11 to the deactivation mode stpMD, as shown in the setting configuration setCFG_3 (step S711) listed in Table 4. For details about the setting configuration setCFG_3, please refer to the examples in Figures 10A, 10B, 11A, and 11B and the summary in Table 4.

If the judgment result of step S705 is negative, it means that the sum of the number K of battery components MC with a quality status of normal state nmST and the number S of battery components MC with a quality status of quasi-elimination state wkST in the power supply module 13 is still insufficient to generate the output voltage Vout. That is, K+S＜M. In other words, the controller 11 cannot find enough battery components MC in the power supply module 13 to generate the output voltage Vout. At this time, the controller 11 sets the power supply module 13 to the setting configuration setCFG_4 shown in Table 4 (step S713). For details about the setting configuration setCFG_4, please refer to the example in Figure 12 and the summary in Table 4.

Please refer to Figures 2, 4, and 13 at the same time. As described in Figure 2, the battery management system 10 switches back and forth between the quality monitoring stage mntSTG and the configuration setting stage cfgSTG until the battery management system 10 enters the failure stage failSTG. Moreover, Figure 4 corresponds to the process of the quality monitoring stage mntSTG, and Figure 13 corresponds to the process of the configuration setting stage cfgSTG. Therefore, when the battery management system 10 is still usable, after the controller 11 completes the process of Figure 4, it will execute the process of Figure 13, and after the process of Figure 13 is completed, it will execute the process of Figure 4.

According to the above description, the disclosed method allows the controller 11 to dynamically grasp the quality status of each battery component MC[1]~MC[N], and then adjust the battery component MC that actually supplies power. The controller disclosed in the present invention preferentially selects the battery components MC[1]~MC[N] from the K battery components in the normal state nmST as the ones that provide the output voltage Vout. When the number of battery components in the normal state nmST is insufficient (K＜M), (M-K) battery components are selected from the S battery components in the quasi-eliminated state wkST to make up for the insufficient number required to supply the output voltage Vout. The controller dynamically responds to the quality status of the N battery components and adjusts the connection configuration of the battery module until (K+S)＜M, at which time the battery management system stops supplying power. Through this management method, the aging rate of the battery components MC[1]~MC[N] can be made more uniform. It can also further reduce the impact of individual quality issues of battery components MC on the overall power supply. Because of the constant monitoring, it can also avoid the risk of unstable output voltage Vout caused by sudden battery damage.

According to the simulation results, the total discharge time of the battery pack and the discharge time per cycle can be significantly increased when the battery management system 10 of the present disclosure is used. Therefore, the internal power in the power supply module will be used more efficiently and the power of the battery components MC[1]~MC[N] can be more balanced during discharge.

In summary, although the present application has been disclosed as above by the embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present application. Those with ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present application belongs can make various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present application shall be subject to the scope of the patent application attached hereto.

10: Battery management system 11: Controller 13: Power supply module mS[1]~mS[6]: Battery monitoring signal swCtl[1]~swCtl[6]: Switch control signal bMD[1]~bMD[6],bMD[n]: Battery module No1,No2: Output terminal MC[1]~MC[6],MC[n]: Battery module Nc_12,Nc_23,Nc_34,Nc_45,Nc_56,Nc1,Nc2,Nc_(n-1)n,Nc_n(n+1): Common terminal Vout: Output voltage mntSTG: Quality monitoring stage cfgSTG: Configuration setting stage failSTG: Failure stage stgA1~stgA4,qA1~qA2: dashed arrows nmST: normal state wkST: quasi-eliminated state deadST: eliminated state S601,S603,S605,S607,S609,S611,S613,S615,S607a,S607c,S607e,S607g,S607i,S607k,S607m,S607o,S607q,S701,S703,S705,S707,S709,S711,S713: steps bpSW[n]: bypass switch s1SW[n],s2SW[n]: series switch p1SW[n],p2SW[n]: parallel switch Nin1[n], Nin2[n]: internal endpoints mS[n]: battery monitoring signal BC: battery cell E1: first end E2: second end useMD: use mode stpMD: disable mode MP1: first quality-connection configuration correspondence MP2: second quality-connection configuration correspondence MP3: third quality-connection configuration correspondence MP4: fourth quality-connection configuration correspondence MP5: fifth quality-connection configuration correspondence serCFG: series configuration pCFG: parallel configuration bpCFG: bypass configuration

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a battery management system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 is an operation status diagram of a battery management system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 3 is a quality status diagram of a battery module MC[n] according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the controller judging the quality of battery modules MC[1]~MC[N] in the quality monitoring stage mntSTG; FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B are flow charts further illustrating step S607; FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a battery module bMD[n] according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the controller matching the connection configuration of the battery module bMD[n] according to the quality of the battery module MC[n]; Figures 8A, 8B, and 8C are schematic diagrams showing that when K=M, the controller determines that the power supply module should adopt the setting configuration setCFG_1 to generate the output voltage Vout; Figures 9A, 9B, and 9C are schematic diagrams showing that when K＞M, the controller determines that the power supply module should adopt the setting configuration setCFG_2 to generate the output voltage Vout; Figures 10A and 10B are schematic diagrams showing that when K＜M and K+S=M, the controller determines that the power supply module should adopt the setting configuration setCFG_3 to generate the output voltage Vout; Figures 11A and 11B are schematic diagrams showing that when K＜M and K+S＞M, the controller determines that the power supply module should adopt the setting configuration setCFG_3 to generate the output voltage Vout; Figure 12 is a schematic diagram showing that when K+S＜M, the controller determines that the power supply module should adopt the setting configuration setCFG_4 and stop generating the output voltage Vout; and Figure 13 is a flow chart showing that the controller determines the setting configuration of the power supply module in the configuration setting stage cfgSTG.

bMD[n]:Battery module

bpSW[n]: bypass switch

s1SW[n],s2SW[n]: series switch

p1SW[n],p2SW[n]:parallel switches

Nc1, Nc2, Nc_(n-1)n, Nc_n(n+1): shared endpoints

Nin1[n], Nin2[n]: internal endpoints

mS[n]: Battery monitoring signal

BC:Battery cell

MC[n]:Battery components

E1: First end

E2: Second end

Claims (19)

A battery module, electrically connected to a controller, comprises: a battery assembly, having a first end and a second end; a first series switch, electrically connected to the first end of the battery assembly; a second series switch, electrically connected to the second end of the battery assembly, wherein the first series switch and the second series switch are synchronously turned on or disconnected; a first parallel switch, electrically connected to the first end of the battery assembly; a second parallel switch, electrically connected to the second end of the battery assembly, wherein the first parallel switch and the second parallel switch are synchronously turned on or disconnected; and a bypass switch, electrically connected to the first series switch and the second series switch, wherein The controller selectively turns on the first series switch, the second series switch, the first parallel switch, the second parallel switch and the bypass switch according to the quality of the battery assembly. A battery module as described in claim 1, wherein in a quality monitoring stage, the battery module transmits a battery monitoring signal representing the quality of the battery assembly to the controller, and in a configuration setting stage, the battery module is set to one of a series configuration, a parallel configuration or a bypass configuration in response to a set of switch control signals received from the controller. A battery module as described in claim 2, wherein the battery module is alternately in the quality monitoring stage and the configuration setting stage. A battery module as described in claim 2, wherein, in the configuration setting stage, when the controller sets the battery module to the series configuration, the first series switch and the second series switch are turned on, and the first parallel switch, the second parallel switch and the bypass switch are turned off; when the controller sets the battery module to the parallel configuration, the first series switch and the second series switch are turned off, and the first parallel switch, the second parallel switch and the bypass switch are turned on; and, when the controller sets the battery module to the bypass configuration, the first series switch, the second series switch, the first parallel switch and the second parallel switch are turned off, and the bypass switch is turned on. A battery module as described in claim 2, wherein in the quality monitoring stage, the controller marks the quality status of the battery component as a normal state, a quasi-eliminated state, or an eliminated state based on the battery monitoring signal. A battery module as described in claim 5, wherein, when the controller marks the quality status of the battery assembly as the normal state, the controller uses the set of switch control signals to set the battery module to the series configuration or the parallel configuration; when the controller marks the quality status of the battery assembly as the quasi-obsolete state, the controller uses the set of switch control signals to set the battery module to the series configuration or the bypass configuration; and when the controller marks the quality status of the battery assembly as the obsolete state, the controller uses the set of switch control signals to set the battery module to the bypass configuration. A battery module as described in claim 5, wherein the battery monitoring signal includes: a state of health (SOH) of the battery component; and at least one of a state of charge (SOC) of the battery component. A battery module as described in claim 7, wherein when the health status of the battery component meets a life end condition, the controller marks the quality status of the battery component as the obsolete state; and when the charge status of the battery component meets an end point condition, the controller marks the quality status of the battery component as the obsolete state. A battery module as described in claim 1, wherein the battery assembly comprises a plurality of battery cells, wherein the battery cells are arranged in X rows and Y columns, wherein the battery cells in each of the X rows are connected in parallel to each other, and the battery cells in each of the Y columns are connected in series to each other. A battery management system comprises: A controller; and A power supply module electrically connected to the controller, which generates an output voltage, wherein the power supply module comprises: N battery modules, wherein an nth battery module among the N battery modules comprises: A battery assembly having a first end and a second end; A first series switch electrically connected to the first end of the battery assembly; A second series switch electrically connected to the second end of the battery assembly, wherein the first series switch and the second series switch are synchronously turned on or off, and when the first series switch and the second series switch are synchronously turned on, the battery assembly provides a portion of the output voltage; A first parallel switch electrically connected to the first end of the battery assembly; a second parallel switch electrically connected to the second end of the battery assembly, wherein the first parallel switch and the second parallel switch are synchronously turned on or off; and a bypass switch electrically connected to the first series switch and the second series switch, wherein the controller selectively turns on the first series switch, the second series switch, the first parallel switch, the second parallel switch and the bypass switch according to the quality of the battery assembly, wherein n and N are positive integers, and n is less than or equal to N. A battery management system as described in claim 10, wherein In a quality monitoring stage, the controller receives N battery monitoring signals representing the quality of the N battery components from the N battery modules, and the controller marks the quality status of the battery components contained in each of the N battery modules as a normal state, a quasi-elimination state, or an elimination state in response to the N battery monitoring signals; In a configuration setting stage, the controller transmits N sets of switch control signals to the N battery modules according to the quality status of the battery components contained in each of the N battery modules. A battery management system as described in claim 11, wherein in the configuration setting stage, each of the N battery modules is set to one of a series configuration, a parallel configuration or a bypass configuration in response to the N sets of switch control signals. A battery management system as described in claim 12, wherein in the configuration setting stage, the controller sets M of the N battery modules to the series configuration, and the M battery modules jointly generate the output voltage, wherein M is a positive integer and N is greater than M. The battery management system as described in claim 13, wherein the controller, in response to the N battery monitoring signals, marks the quality status of the battery assembly contained in K of the N battery modules as the normal status; marks the quality status of the battery assembly contained in S of the N battery modules as the quasi-obsolete status; and, marks the quality status of the battery assembly contained in T of the N battery modules as the obsolete status, wherein K, S, and T are all integers greater than or equal to 0, and the sum of K, S, and T is equal to N. A battery management system as described in claim 14, wherein when the sum of K and S is less than M, the controller controls the power supply module to stop generating the output voltage; when the sum of K and S is greater than or equal to M, and K is less than M, the controller sets the K battery modules to the series configuration, sets (M-K) of the S battery modules to the series configuration, and sets S-(M-K) of the S battery modules to the bypass configuration, wherein the K battery modules and the (M-K) battery modules jointly generate the output voltage; When K is greater than M, the controller sets M battery modules among the K battery modules to the series configuration, and sets (K-M) battery modules among the K battery modules to the parallel configuration, wherein the M battery modules jointly generate the output voltage; and When K is equal to M, the controller sets the K battery modules to the series configuration, and sets the S battery modules to the bypass configuration, wherein the K battery modules jointly generate the output voltage. A battery management system as described in claim 14, wherein the controller sets the T battery modules to the bypass configuration. A battery management system as described in claim 12, wherein, when the controller sets the nth battery module to the series configuration, the first series switch and the second series switch are turned on, and the first parallel switch, the second parallel switch and the bypass switch are turned off; when the controller sets the nth battery module to the parallel configuration, the first series switch and the second series switch are turned off, and the first parallel switch, the second parallel switch and the bypass switch are turned on; and, when the controller sets the nth battery module to the bypass configuration, the first series switch, the second series switch, the first parallel switch and the second parallel switch are turned off, and the bypass switch is turned on. A battery management system as described in claim 11, wherein an nth battery monitoring signal among the N battery monitoring signals comprises: a state of health (SOH) of the battery component in the nth battery module; and at least one of a state of charge (SOC) of the battery component in the nth battery module. A battery management system as described in claim 18, wherein in the quality monitoring stage, when the controller determines that the health status of the battery component in the nth battery module meets a life end condition, the controller marks the quality status of the battery component as the obsolete state; and when the controller determines that the charge status of the battery component in the nth battery module meets an end point condition, the controller marks the quality status of the battery component as the obsolete state.

Images