TWI662765B - Charging device and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A charging method includes sequentially measuring a plurality of battery voltages of a plurality of battery packs through a plurality of switch modules, and turning on a switch module coupled to a battery pack having a lowest battery voltage so as to make a battery with a lowest battery voltage The battery pack is electrically connected to the charging unit, enables the charging unit to supply power, and turns on the battery voltage corresponding to the battery voltage reached each time the battery pack with the lowest battery voltage is charged to the battery voltage of one of these battery packs. The switch module.

Description

Charging device and method

The invention relates to a charging technology, in particular to a charging device and a method thereof.

Batteries are mainly used in portable electronic products to facilitate the movement of portable electronic products. In recent years, with the development of green energy technology, the application of batteries has been extended to the field of automotive and locomotive, such as hybrid electric power systems, to solve the problems of energy reduction and exhaust pollution faced by modern times. And, based on environmental protection and practicality, reusable rechargeable batteries have become the mainstream on the market.

It is known that batteries have a certain life span. In addition, improper charging behavior will reduce the battery life.

In an embodiment, a charging method includes sequentially measuring a plurality of battery voltages of a plurality of battery packs through a plurality of switch modules, and turning on a switch module coupled to a battery pack having the lowest battery voltage among these battery packs, So that the battery pack with the lowest battery voltage is electrically connected to the charging unit, the charging unit is enabled to supply power, and the battery voltage of the battery pack with the lowest battery voltage reaches the battery voltage of one of these battery packs every time it is charged At that time, the switch module corresponding to the reached battery voltage is turned on. The switch modules are coupled between the charging unit and the battery packs, and each switch module is used to switch the electrical connection between the charging unit and the battery pack.

In one embodiment, a charging device includes a connection port, a charging unit, a plurality of switch modules, and a processing unit. The port is used for coupling a plurality of battery packs. A plurality of switch modules are coupled between the connection port and the charging unit, and each switch module is used to switch the electrical connection between the charging unit and the battery pack. The processing unit sequentially measures the plurality of battery voltages of the plurality of battery packs through the plurality of switch modules. The processing unit turns on the switch module coupled to the battery pack with the lowest battery voltage among these battery packs, so that the battery pack with the lowest battery voltage is electrically connected to the charging unit, and the processing unit enables the charging unit to supply power. In addition, when the battery voltage of the battery pack with the lowest battery voltage reaches the battery voltage of one of the battery packs, the processing unit turns on the switch module corresponding to the reached battery voltage.

In summary, the charging device and the method thereof according to the embodiments of the present invention sequentially turn on the corresponding switch modules based on the measured battery voltage of the battery pack during the charging process, so that Each battery pack can be connected in parallel when its battery voltage is the same as that of the battery pack with the lowest battery voltage, so as to avoid damage to the battery pack due to high current generated by the pressure difference between each other.

The detailed features and advantages of the present invention are described in detail in the following embodiments. The content is sufficient for any person skilled in the art to understand and implement the technical content of the present invention, and according to the content disclosed in this specification, the scope of patent applications and the drawings. Anyone skilled in the relevant art can easily understand the related objects and advantages of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a charging device coupled to a battery pack, and FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of an embodiment of the charging device in FIG. 1. Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a plurality of battery packs B1-B4 are connected to the charging device 100, and the charging device 100 can be used to charge these battery packs B1-B4.

The charging device 100 includes a connection port 110, a charging unit 120, a plurality of switch modules 131-134, and a processing unit 140. The plurality of switch modules 131-134 are coupled between the port 110 and the charging unit 120, and the processing unit 140 is coupled between the port 110, the charging unit 120 and the plurality of switch modules 131-134.

The connection port 110 is used for connecting the battery packs B1-B4. The switch modules 131-134 are controlled by the processing unit 140 and can switch (ie, establish or disconnect) the power between the battery packs B1-B4 coupled to the port 110 and the charging unit 120 according to the control of the processing unit 140. Sexual links. Here, each of the switch modules 131-134 corresponds to one of the battery packs B1-B4. When the battery pack B1-B4 is connected to the port 110, the battery pack B1-B4 can be connected via the connection path established by the corresponding switch module 131-134 (if the processing unit 140 is turned on to the corresponding switch module 131-134). It is connected to the charging unit 120, and these battery packs B1-B4 can form a parallel type through the connection paths established by the corresponding switch modules 131-134.

Here, the switch modules 131-134 are OFF in the initial state. Therefore, before the battery packs B1-B4 are connected to the port 110 of the charging device 100 and before the processing unit 140 turns on the switch modules 131-134, even if the battery voltages between the battery packs B1-B4 are different, the battery packs B1-B4 Due to the isolation of the switch modules 131-134, there will be no large current discharge between them, which can avoid harming the battery packs B1-B4.

In some embodiments, each of the battery packs B1-B4 may be a single battery cell. In other embodiments, each of the battery packs B1-B4 may be a battery pack including a plurality of battery cells, and these battery cells may be connected in series or in parallel according to the power supply specifications of each battery pack B1-B4. Connected. For example, in this specific embodiment, each of the battery packs B1-B4 may be a battery pack formed by connecting four battery cells with a battery voltage of 4.2 volts (V) in series. However, in other specific embodiments, each of the battery packs B1-B4 may be a battery pack in which a plurality of battery cells with the same battery voltage are connected in series, and the present invention is not limited to a battery pack composed of four battery cells.

In some embodiments, each of the battery packs B1-B4 may be a lithium-ion battery, a lithium phosphate battery, a lithium polymer battery, a nickel-cadmium battery, a lead-acid battery, or any other type of battery suitable for secondary charging.

In the following specific embodiments, four battery packs B1-B4 are taken as an example for description, but the number is not intended to limit the present invention. Here, since each switch module 131-134 controls the electrical connection between the battery packs B1-B4 and the charging unit 120 in a one-to-one manner, the number of the switch modules 131-134 corresponds to the battery pack B1- The number of B4 is also four. For example, the switch module 131 is used to switch the electrical connection between the battery pack B1 and the charging unit 120, the switch module 132 is used to switch the electrical connection between the battery pack B2 and the charging unit 120, and the switch module 133 It is used to switch the electrical connection between the battery pack B3 and the charging unit 120, and the switch module 134 is used to switch the electrical connection between the battery pack B4 and the charging unit 120.

FIG. 3 is a schematic flowchart of an embodiment of a charging method. 1 to 3, the processing unit 140 may control the charging unit 120 to sequentially charge a plurality of battery packs B1-B4 in parallel according to the charging method of any embodiment of the present invention, so that these battery packs B1-B4 are fully charged. After the battery voltage can be consistent.

In one embodiment of the charging method, the processing unit 140 may switch on the switch modules 131-134 in order to measure the battery packs B1-B4 through the connection paths established by the switch modules 131-134 in order. Battery voltage (step S10). After obtaining the battery voltage of each of the battery packs B1-B4, the processing unit 140 can learn the magnitude relationship of the battery voltages of these battery packs B1-B4, and the processing unit 140 will conduct the coupling of the battery pack with the lowest battery voltage The connected switch module, so that the battery pack with the lowest battery voltage can be electrically connected to the charging unit 120 through the connection path established by the corresponding switch module (step S20). After that, the processing unit 140 enables the charging unit 120 to start supplying power (step S30), so that the charging unit 120 can charge the battery pack with the lowest battery voltage via the established connection path. In addition, when the battery voltage of the battery pack with the lowest battery voltage reaches the battery voltage of one of these battery packs B1-B4, the processing unit 140 will turn on the switch module corresponding to the reached battery voltage. (Step S40), so that the battery pack with the reached battery voltage can be electrically connected to the charging unit 120 through the connection path established by the switch module, and the power released by the charging unit 120 at this time can pass through all established The connected path simultaneously charges the battery pack to which it is electrically connected. In addition, in one embodiment of the charging method, the processing unit 140 may disable the charging unit 120 when the battery voltage of the battery pack with the lowest battery voltage reaches a full voltage (step S50) to end the charging process.

FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart of an embodiment of step S10 in FIG. 3. Please refer to FIGS. 1 to 4. In one embodiment of step S10, the processing unit 140 may first turn on one of the switch modules 131-134 (step S11), so that the switch module establishes a corresponding battery pack and charges. A connection path between the units 120. The processing unit 140 may measure the battery voltage of the battery pack coupled to the switch module via the connection path established in step S11 after waiting for a delay time (step S12), and after the measurement is completed, the processing is performed. The unit 140 disables the switch module that has been turned on in step S11 (step S13) to disconnect the connection path established by the switch module. After that, the processing unit 140 turns on the other switch modules 131-134 that have not yet passed (step S14) to establish another connection path. In addition, the processing unit 140 may return to step S12 to continue the measurement of the battery voltage of the next battery pack. Until the processing unit 140 has obtained the battery voltages of all the battery packs B1-B4 connected to the port 110 by the switch modules 131-134, the processing unit 140 ends step S10 and continues to the subsequent step S20.

In one embodiment of step S12, the length of the delay time may be determined by the time required for the battery voltages of the battery groups B1-B4 to stabilize, so that the battery voltage measured by the processing unit 140 may be more accurate. For example, the delay time may be three seconds, six seconds, and the like, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In another embodiment of step S12, the delay time may also be zero seconds. For example, the processing unit 140 may start measuring the battery voltage of the battery pack after the connection path is established. In one embodiment, the processing unit 140 may directly use the measured value as the battery voltage of the battery pack. In another embodiment, the processing unit 140 can obtain a more accurate value of the battery voltage by sampling, accumulating, and averaging multiple times.

In one embodiment of step S12, the charging device 100 further includes a measurement unit 150. The measurement unit 150 is coupled between the switch modules 131-134 and the charging unit 120. The processing unit 140 is coupled to the measurement unit 150. The measurement unit 150 is used to measure the voltage of each battery group B1-B4 and provide information to the processing unit 140. That is, the processing unit 140 is used to measure each battery through the measurement unit 150. Battery voltage for groups B1-B4.

In some embodiments, the measurement unit 150 may include at least two resistors R1 and R2. The first terminal of the resistor R1 is coupled to the plurality of switch modules 131-134 and the charging unit 120, and the second terminal of the resistor R1 is coupled to the detection point OVBAT. A first terminal of the resistor R2 is coupled to the detection point OVBAT, and a second terminal of the resistor R2 is coupled to a ground potential. Here, the processing unit 140 may be coupled to the detection point OVBAT to obtain the partial voltage on the resistance R2 of the measurement unit 150 according to the connection path established by each battery pack B1-B4 through the corresponding switch module 131-134. Battery voltage of each battery pack B1-B4.

In one embodiment of step S10, the processing unit 140 can know whether the battery packs B1-B4 are connected to the charging device 100 by detecting whether the port 110 has received the identity signals of the battery packs B1-B4. For example, the processing unit 140 can be connected to the port 110 through the connection point OTH, and determine whether the battery packs B1-B4 are connected to the charging device based on whether or not the identity signals of the battery packs B1-B4 are received at the connection point OTH. 100.

In addition, the processing unit 140 can further determine how many battery packs are connected to the charging device 100 according to this, and can further know the number of repeated executions required in step S14. For example, when the identity signals of the four battery packs B1-B4 are received, the processing unit 140 may know that the number of repetitive execution steps of step S14 is three times, and the entire step is finished after the fourth execution of step S13. S10. As another example, when three battery packs are received, such as the identity signals of battery packs B1-B3, the processing unit 140 may know that the number of repetitive executions required in step S14 is two times, and step S13 is executed in the third time. After that, the entire step S10 ends.

In one embodiment of step S10, only one switch module is turned on at a time, so that when the processing unit 140 detects the battery pack coupled to the switch unit through the link path established by the turned-on switch module, the remaining batteries The connection path between the group and the processing unit 140 may present an open circuit.

FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart of an embodiment of step S30 in FIG. 3. Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 5, in one embodiment of step S30, the processing unit 140 may determine the charging mode of the charging unit 120 according to the battery voltage of the battery pack having the lowest battery voltage. For example, when the battery voltage of the battery pack is less than the first threshold, the processing unit 140 may cause the charging unit 120 to charge in a pre-charging mode (step S31). When the battery voltage of the battery pack is greater than or equal to the first threshold and less than the second threshold, the processing unit 140 causes the charging unit 120 to perform charging in a fast charging mode (step S32). In addition, when the battery voltage of the battery pack is greater than or equal to the second threshold, the processing unit 140 causes the charging unit 120 to perform charging in a constant voltage mode (step S33). The first threshold value and the second threshold value are positive numbers, and the second threshold value is greater than the first threshold value.

In some embodiments, the first threshold value may be about 70% of the full-charge voltage of the battery pack, and the second threshold value may be about 90% of the full-charge voltage of the battery pack. For example, assuming that the full-charge voltage of the battery pack is 16.8 volts, the first threshold may be 12 volts, and the second threshold may be 16.4 volts.

In the precharge mode, the charging unit 120 may output a constant small current to charge the battery pack. In the fast charging mode, the charging unit 120 can output a constant high current to charge the battery pack. Moreover, in the flat charging mode, the charging unit 120 charges the battery pack with a constant voltage. In some embodiments, the small current output by the charging unit 120 in the precharge mode may be approximately 200 milliamps (mA). The large current output by the charging unit 120 in the fast charging mode may be 1 amp (A). In addition, the constant voltage of the charging unit 120 in the flat charging mode may be the full-charge voltage of the battery pack. For example, when the full-charge voltage of the battery pack is 16.8 volts, the constant voltage of the charging unit 120 in the flat charge mode may be 16.4 volts.

In one embodiment of step S50, in addition to disabling the charging unit 120, the processing unit 140 further disables the switch modules B1-B4 to disconnect the battery pack B1-B4 and the charging unit 120. path.

In the following, it is assumed that the battery voltage of the battery pack B1 is 10 volts, the battery voltage of the battery pack B2 is 8 volts, the battery voltage of the battery pack B3 is 14 volts, and the battery of the battery pack B4 is measured by the processing unit 140 in step S10. The voltage is 12 volts as an example to explain how the charging device 100 uses one of the charging methods to charge these battery packs B1-B4. In addition, it is assumed that the charging voltage of each of the battery packs B1-B4 is 16.8 volts, the first threshold value is 12 volts, and the second threshold value is 16.4 volts.

First, the processing unit 140 obtains the battery pack with the lowest battery voltage through the execution of step S10, which is the battery pack B2, and the battery voltages of these battery packs B1-B4 are the battery pack B2 in the ascending order. Battery pack B1, battery pack B4, and battery pack B3.

Subsequently, the processing unit 140 executes step S20 to turn on the switch module 132 to establish a connection path between the battery pack B2 and the charging unit 120. In addition, since the battery voltage of the battery pack B2 is smaller than the first threshold at this time, the processing unit 140 continues to select and execute step S31, so that the charging unit 120 starts to use the pre-charge mode through the connection path pair established by the switch module 132. Battery pack B2 is charged.

Here, the processing unit 140 can measure the battery voltage of the battery pack B2 through the measurement unit 150. When it is measured that the battery voltage of the battery pack B2 is gradually charged from the original 8 volts to the battery voltage of the battery pack B1 (that is, 10 volts), the processing unit 140 may execute step S40 to turn on the switch module 131 to establish the battery pack B1 and A connection path between the charging units 120. At this time, the battery pack B1 and the battery pack B2 can form a parallel state, and the charging unit 120 can charge the battery pack B1 and the battery pack B2 at the same time. In addition, at this time, the magnitude of the charging current output by the charging unit 120 can be doubled due to the parallel state of the battery pack B1 and the battery pack B2, thereby increasing the charging speed. For example, at this time, the charging current output by the charging unit 120 may be changed from the original 200 mA to 400 mA due to two battery packs connected in parallel.

Subsequently, when it is measured that the battery voltage of the battery pack B2 reaches the battery voltage of the battery pack B4 (that is, 12 volts), the processing unit 140 performs step S40 again and turns on the switch module 134 to establish the battery pack B4 and the charging unit 120. The connection path. At this time, the battery pack B4 may be connected in parallel with the battery pack B1 and the battery pack B2, and the charging unit 120 may charge the battery pack B1, the battery pack B2, and the battery pack B4 at the same time. In addition, since the battery voltage of the battery pack B2 is equal to the first threshold at this time, the processing unit 140 may cause the charging unit 120 to switch from the original precharge mode to the fast charge mode to continuously connect the battery pack B1, battery pack B2, Battery pack B4 is charged. In addition, at this time, the magnitude of the charging current output by the charging unit 120 can also be doubled because there is an additional parallel battery pack. For example, at this time, the charging current output by the charging unit 120 may be changed from the original 1 amp to 3 amps due to the three parallel battery packs.

Subsequently, when it is measured that the battery voltage of the battery pack B2 reaches the battery voltage of the battery pack B3 (ie, 14 volts), the processing unit 140 performs step S40 again and turns on the switch module 133 to establish the battery pack B3 and the charging unit 120 The connection path. At this time, the battery pack B3 may form a parallel state with the battery pack B1, the battery pack B2, and the battery pack B4, and the charging unit 120 may still maintain the fast charging mode to charge the battery packs B1-B4 at the same time. In addition, at this time, the magnitude of the charging current output by the charging unit 120 can be doubled by adding another parallel battery pack. For example, at this time, the charging current output by the charging unit 120 can be changed from the original 1 amp to 4 amps because there are four battery packs connected in parallel.

As the battery voltage of these battery packs B1-B4 gradually increases, when the processing unit 140 measures that the battery voltage of these battery packs B1-B4 reaches the second threshold value, it can cause the charging unit 120 to change from the fast charge The mode is changed to charge the battery packs B1-B4 in a flat charge mode. In addition, when it is measured that the battery voltage of the battery pack B2 reaches the full voltage (ie, 16.8 volts), the processing unit 140 executes step S50 to complete the charging procedure of the battery packs B1-B4. Among them, the battery voltages of each of the battery packs B1-B4 after reaching the charging procedure can generally reach the full-charge voltage.

Here, because the battery pack B1, the battery pack B3, and the battery pack B4 respectively pass through the corresponding switch module 131, switch module 133, and switch module when the battery voltage of the battery pack B2 is substantially equal to its battery voltage. The connection path established by 134 is electrically connected to the charging unit 120 and forms a parallel state with the battery pack B2. Therefore, during the charging process, the battery packs B1-B4 will not generate large currents due to the pressure difference between each other. Charging the battery pack.

In some implementation aspects, the processing unit 140 may be a SoC chip, a central processing unit (CPU), or a microcontroller (MCU).

In summary, the charging device and the method thereof according to the embodiments of the present invention sequentially turn on the corresponding switch modules based on the measured battery voltage of the battery pack during the charging process, so that Each battery pack can be connected in parallel when its battery voltage is the same as that of the battery pack with the lowest battery voltage, so as to avoid damage to the battery pack due to high current generated by the pressure difference between each other.

Although the technical content of the present invention has been disclosed as above with preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art and making some changes and retouching without departing from the spirit of the present invention should be covered by the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention shall be determined by the scope of the appended patent application.

100‧‧‧ charging device

110‧‧‧Port

120‧‧‧ Charging unit

131-134‧‧‧Switch Module

140‧‧‧processing unit

150‧‧‧Measurement unit

B1-B4‧‧‧battery pack

R1-R2‧‧‧Resistor

OVBAT‧‧‧detection point

OTH‧‧‧ connection point

OACIN‧‧‧ connection point

VCH‧‧‧Connection point

OACOK‧‧‧ connection point

OIOUT‧‧‧ connection point

V0.9P1.5‧‧‧connection point

OACIN‧‧‧ connection point

OSMBA‧‧‧ Connection Point

OSMBC‧‧‧ Connection Point

SDA‧‧‧connection point

SCL‧‧‧Connection point

S10-S50‧‧‧step

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a charging device coupled to a battery pack. FIG. 2 is a schematic circuit diagram of an embodiment of the charging device in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic flowchart of an embodiment of a charging method. FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart of an embodiment of step S10 in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart of an embodiment of step S30 in FIG. 3.

Claims (10)

A charging method includes: sequentially measuring a plurality of battery voltages of a plurality of battery packs through a plurality of switch modules, wherein the switch modules are coupled between a charging unit and the battery packs, and each of the switch modules is used for To switch the electrical connection between the charging unit and each of the battery packs; turn on the switch module coupled to the battery pack with the lowest battery voltage among the battery packs, so that the battery with the lowest The battery pack of voltage is electrically connected to the charging unit; enabling the charging unit to supply power; and the battery voltage of the battery pack having the lowest battery voltage is charged every time the battery voltage reaches one of the battery packs When the battery voltage is reached, the switch module corresponding to the reached battery voltage is turned on. The charging method according to claim 1, wherein the step of enabling the charging unit to supply power comprises: when the battery voltage of the battery pack having the lowest battery voltage is less than a first threshold, causing the charging unit to Power supply in pre-charge mode; when the battery voltage of the battery pack with the lowest battery voltage is greater than or equal to the first threshold value and less than a second threshold value, causing the charging unit to supply power in fast charge mode; And when the battery voltage of the battery pack having the lowest battery voltage is greater than or equal to the second threshold, the charging unit is caused to supply power in a flat charging mode. The charging method according to claim 1, wherein the step of sequentially measuring the battery voltages of the battery packs via the switch modules includes: turning on one of the switch modules; and measuring the voltage after a delay time. Measure the battery voltage of the battery pack coupled to the switch module that has been turned on; disable the switch module that has been turned on; and turn on the other of the switch modules. The charging method according to claim 1, wherein the step of sequentially measuring the battery voltages of the battery packs through the switch modules is through a measurement between the switch modules and the charging unit. A unit to measure the battery voltages of the battery packs. The charging method according to claim 1, further comprising: disabling the charging unit when the battery voltage of the battery pack with the lowest battery voltage reaches a full voltage. A charging device includes: a connection port for coupling a plurality of battery packs; a charging unit; a plurality of switch modules coupled between the connection port and the charging unit, each switch module for switching the charging An electrical connection between the unit and each of the battery packs; and a processing unit that sequentially measures the plurality of battery voltages of the battery packs via the switch modules, and the processing unit conducts the lowest of the battery packs The switch module to which the battery pack of the battery voltage is coupled, so that the battery pack having the lowest battery voltage is electrically connected to the charging unit, and enables the charging unit to supply power, and Each time the battery voltage of the battery pack of the battery voltage reaches the battery voltage of one of the battery packs, the switch module corresponding to the battery voltage reached is turned on. The charging device according to claim 6, wherein the processing unit enables the charging unit to supply power according to a corresponding charging mode according to a magnitude of the battery voltage of the battery pack having the lowest battery voltage. When the voltage is less than a first threshold value, the charging unit is caused to supply power in a pre-charge mode. When the battery voltage is greater than or equal to the first threshold value and less than a second threshold value, the charging unit is caused to perform a fast charging mode. Power supply, and when the battery voltage is greater than or equal to the second threshold, causing the charging unit to supply power in a flat charge mode. The charging device according to claim 6, wherein the step of sequentially measuring the battery voltages of the battery packs by the processing units through the switch modules includes: turning on one of the switch modules; and After a delay time, measure the battery voltage of the battery pack coupled to the switch module that has been turned on; disable the switch module that has been turned on; and turn on the other of the switch modules. The charging device according to claim 6, further comprising a measurement unit coupled between the switch modules and the charging unit, and the processing unit is sequentially passed through the measurement unit and the switch modules. Measure the battery voltages of the battery packs. The charging device according to claim 6, wherein the processing unit further disables the charging unit when the battery voltage of the battery pack having the lowest battery voltage reaches a full-charge voltage.