WO2019083282A1 - Apparatus for battery balancing and battery pack including same - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for battery balancing and a battery pack including the apparatus are provided. An apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a monitoring unit for detecting voltages of multiple battery cells; a balancing unit comprising a switching module and a first shared resistor element connected between a first common node and a second common node; and a control unit operably connected to the monitoring unit and the switching module. The control unit is configured to: determine a balancing object including at least one of the multiple battery cells on the basis of the voltage of each of the multiple battery cells; and then control the switching module to form a current path between the first shared resistor element and the balancing object.

Description

Devices for battery balancing and battery packs containing them

The present invention relates to an apparatus for balancing a plurality of battery cells connected in series and a battery pack including the apparatus.

This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2017-0141282 filed on October 27, 2017 and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2018-0120021 filed on October 08, 2018 , The disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, demand for portable electronic products such as notebook computers, video cameras, and portable telephones has been rapidly increased, and electric vehicles, storage batteries for energy storage, robots, and satellites have been developed in earnest. Are being studied actively.

The secondary rechargeable batteries are nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-hydrogen batteries, nickel-zinc batteries, and lithium secondary batteries. Among them, lithium secondary batteries have almost no memory effect compared to nickel- It is very popular because of its low self-discharge rate and high energy density.

2. Description of the Related Art [0002] In recent years, a battery pack mounted on a battery pack includes a plurality of battery modules, and a plurality of battery cells connected in series are generally included in each battery module. However, since the battery cells can not have completely the same characteristics, the charging state between the battery cells becomes unbalanced as the charging and discharging of the battery pack is repeated. Repeated charging and discharging of the battery pack continuously without suppressing such unbalance not only reduces the usable capacity of the battery pack, but also accelerates degradation of the battery cells included therein.

Patent Document 1 as a conventional technique for solving the above problem is to forcibly discharge a battery cell having a relatively high charge state among the battery cells to equalize the state of charge between the battery cells. However, as shown in Fig. 2 of Patent Document 1, since a balancing circuit including the same number of resistance elements as the plurality of battery cells is required, the overall size of the battery pack can not be increased. In addition, it is preferable to add a heat dissipation structure in the battery pack in order to cope with a situation where a large amount of heat is suddenly discharged when the balancing of a plurality of battery cells is performed at the same time.

(Patent Document 1) Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 10-2015-0089627 (Published Date: Aug. 05, 2015)

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems and it is an object of the present invention to provide a battery pack that can discharge one or two or more of a plurality of battery cells by using a smaller number of resistance elements than the number of battery cells included in the battery pack And an object of the present invention is to provide a battery pack including the apparatus and the apparatus.

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

Various embodiments of the present invention for achieving the above object are as follows.

An apparatus for balancing a plurality of battery cells according to an aspect of the present invention includes: a monitoring unit for detecting a voltage of the plurality of battery cells; A balancing portion including a first common resistance element and a switching module connected between the first common node and the second common node; And a control unit operatively coupled to the monitoring unit and the switching module. The switching module is configured to selectively connect the positive terminal of each battery cell to the first common node and selectively connect the negative terminal of each battery cell to the second common node. Wherein the control unit determines a balancing object including at least one of the plurality of battery cells based on a voltage of each of the plurality of battery cells and then determines a current path between the first common resistance element and the balancing object And to control the switching module.

Wherein the switching module includes: a first switching circuit including a plurality of positive polarity switching elements provided between a positive terminal of each battery cell and the first common node; And a second switching circuit including a plurality of cathode switching elements provided between a cathode terminal of each battery cell and the second common node.

Wherein the control unit includes a positive polarity switching element connected to the positive polarity terminal of the balancing object among the plurality of positive polarity switching elements and a negative polarity switching element connected to the negative polarity terminal among the plurality of negative polarity switching elements, And to turn on any one of the anode switching elements connected to the cathode terminal of the balancing object.

Wherein the control unit is configured to control one of the plurality of positive polarity switching elements connected to the highest potential electrode of the balancing object among the plurality of positive polarity switching elements, And to turn on any one of the cathode switching elements connected to the lowest potential electrode of the balancing object among the cathode switching elements.

The controller may be configured to determine a state of charge of the plurality of battery cells based on the voltages of the plurality of battery cells. The balancing object may include a battery cell having a maximum charge state among the plurality of battery cells.

The balancing object may further include another battery cell adjacent to the battery cell having the maximum charge state. The charging state of the other battery cells may be greater than the minimum charging state of the plurality of battery cells.

The controller may determine the maximum number of battery cells that can be included in the balancing object based on the resistance of the first common resistance element and the voltage of the plurality of battery cells.

Wherein the balancing unit includes: a first selection switch connected in series to the first common resistance element between the first common node and the second common node; A second common resistance element having a resistance smaller than a resistance of the first common resistance element; And a second selection switch connected in series to the second common resistance element between the first common node and the second common node.

The control unit may be configured to control the first selection switch and the second selection switch based on a difference between the voltage of the balancing object and the minimum voltage of the plurality of battery cells.

The control unit may be configured to turn on the first selection switch and turn off the second selection switch when the difference between the voltage of the balancing object and the minimum voltage is greater than the first threshold voltage.

The control unit may be configured to turn off the first selection switch and turn on the second selection switch when the difference between the voltage of the balancing object and the minimum voltage is equal to or less than the first threshold voltage.

A battery pack according to another aspect of the present invention includes the above apparatus.

According to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, any one or two or more of the plurality of battery cells can be selectively discharged by using a smaller number of resistance elements than the number of battery cells included in the battery pack. As a result, the overall size of the battery pack can be reduced compared with the prior art in which at least one resistance element is required for each battery cell.

Further, according to at least one embodiment of the present invention, by limiting the number of battery cells to be balanced at the same time based on the voltages of the plurality of battery cells, it is possible to suppress overheating due to balancing without adding a heat- can do.

The effects of the present invention are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and, together with the description of the invention given below, serve to further the understanding of the technical idea of the invention. And should not be construed as limiting.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a battery pack according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG.

FIG. 2 is a first table illustrating an exemplary result of measuring a voltage of a plurality of battery cells shown in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG.

3 is a diagram referred to explain the balancing operation based on the first table of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a second table illustrating a result of measuring a voltage of a plurality of battery cells shown in FIG. 1; FIG.

5 is a diagram referred to explain the balancing operation based on the second table of FIG.

6 is a view schematically showing a configuration of a battery pack according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a view schematically showing a configuration of a battery pack according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a view schematically showing a configuration of a battery pack according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

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

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

In the following description, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail since they would obscure the invention in unnecessary detail.

Terms including ordinals, such as first, second, etc., are used for the purpose of distinguishing one of the various components from the rest, and are not used to define components by such terms.

Throughout the specification, when an element is referred to as " comprising ", it means that it can include other elements, not excluding other elements unless specifically stated otherwise. In addition, the term " control unit " as described in the specification means a unit for processing at least one function or operation, and may be implemented by hardware or software, or a combination of hardware and software.

In addition, throughout the specification, when a portion is referred to as being "connected" to another portion, it is not necessarily the case that it is "directly connected", but also "indirectly connected" .

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a battery pack according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG.

Referring to FIG. 1, a battery pack 10 includes a battery module 20 and an apparatus 100.

The battery module 20 includes a plurality of battery cells (Cell ₁ to Cell _n ) connected in series with each other. Symbol n used as a reference numeral denotes an integer of 2 or more and represents the total number of battery cells (Cells). The apparatus 100 is configured to balance the state of charge between a plurality of battery cells (Cell ₁ to Cell _n ).

The apparatus 100 includes a monitoring unit 110, a balancing unit BU, and a control unit 130.

The monitoring unit 110 may include a voltage detection circuit, and may further include a temperature detection circuit. The voltage detection circuit may include at least one voltage sensor. The voltage detection circuit is electrically connected to the positive terminal and the negative terminal of each of the plurality of battery cells (Cell ₁ to Cell _n ) included in the battery module 20 through the sensing line, so that the voltage of each battery cell And can transmit the voltage signal indicating the detected voltage to the control unit 130. [0053]

The balancing portion BU includes a common resistance element R ₁ and a switching module SM. The common resistance element R ₁ may have a predetermined resistance. The common resistance element R _{1 is} connected between the first common node N ₁ and the second common node N ₂ . That is, the first end and the second end of the common resistance element R ₁ are connected to the first common node N ₁ and the second common node N ₁ , respectively.

The switching module SM is configured to selectively connect the positive terminal of each battery cell Cell to the first common node N ₁ . In addition, the switching module SM is configured to selectively connect the negative terminal of each battery cell to the second common node N ₂ .

The switching module SM includes a first switching circuit SC ₁ and a second switching circuit SC ₂ .

The first switching circuit SC ₁ includes a plurality of anode switching elements PS ₁ to PS _n . _One end of each of the plurality of positive polarity switching elements PS ₁ to PS _n is electrically connected to the first common node N ₁ . The total number of the anode switching elements PS may be equal to the total number of battery cells.

The second switching circuit SC ₂ includes a plurality of cathode switching elements NS ₁ to NS _n . _One end of each of the plurality of cathode switching elements (NS ₁ to NS _n ) is electrically connected to the second common node (N ₂ ). Each of the anode switching elements PS and each of the cathode switching elements NS may be a semiconductor switching element (e.g., a MOSFET) controllable by a switching signal. The total number of the cathode switching elements NS may be equal to the total number of battery cells.

The anode switching elements PS _i (i = 1 to n) are provided between the anode of the battery cell Cell _i and the first end of the common resistance element R ₁ . When the anode switching element PS _i is turned on, the anode terminal of the battery cell Cell _i is electrically coupled to the first end of the common resistance element R ₁ through the anode switching element PS _i . Conversely, when the positive electrode switching element PS _i is turned off, the positive terminal of the battery cell Cell _i is electrically disconnected from the first end of the common resistance element R ₁ .

The cathode switching element NS _{i is} provided between the anode terminal of the battery cell Cell _i and the second end of the common resistance element R ₁ . When the cathode switching element NS _i is turned on, the anode terminal of the battery cell Cell _i is electrically coupled to the second end of the common resistance element R ₁ through the cathode switching element NS _i . In contrast, when the negative switching elements (NS _i) is turned off, the cathode terminal of the battery cell (Cell _i) is electrically isolated from the second end of the common resistance element (R _1).

The control unit 130 is operatively coupled to the monitoring unit 110 and the switching module SM. The controller 130 may be implemented in hardware as application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) microprocessors, and other electronic units for performing other functions. The control unit 130 may include a memory. The memory stores flash memory type, hard disk type, SSD type (solid state disk type), and the like, which store data, instructions and software required for the overall operation of the apparatus 100. [ , A SDD type (Silicon Disk Drive type), a multimedia card micro type, a random access memory (RAM), a static random access memory (SRAM), a read-only memory (ROM) electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (PROM), and programmable read-only memory (PROM).

The control unit 130 receives a voltage signal representing the voltages of the plurality of battery cells Cell ₁ to Cell _n from the monitoring unit 110 and generates a first switching circuit SC ₁ ) and the second switching circuit SC ₂ can be separately controlled. At this time, when one of the positive polarity switching elements included in the first switching circuit SC ₁ is turned on, all the remaining positive polarity switching elements can be controlled to be turned off. When one of the cathode switching elements included in the second switching circuit SC ₂ is turned on, all the remaining cathode switching elements can be controlled to be turned off.

The control unit 130 includes a plurality of battery cells (Cell ₁ ~ Cell _n) voltage (e.g., open-circuit voltage) as a base, a plurality of battery cells (Cell ₁ ~ Cell _n) of determining the balancing target comprising at least one . The voltage signal used by the control unit 130 to determine the balancing object may be an open circuit voltage (OCV) of a plurality of battery cells (Cell ₁ to Cell _n ). SOC map recorded in advance in the memory, based on the voltages of the plurality of battery cells (Cell ₁ to Cell _n ) indicated by the voltage signal from the monitoring unit 110 ₁ to Cell _n ) can be determined. The control unit 130 may include the battery cell having the maximum charge state among the plurality of battery cells (Cell ₁ to Cell _n ) as a balancing object. That is, the balancing object may include a battery cell having at least a full charge state.

The controller 130 can determine the maximum number of battery cells that can simultaneously be included in the balancing object based on the resistance of the common resistance element R ₁ and the voltages of the plurality of battery cells Cell ₁ to Cell _n . When the balancing part BU is implemented in the form of an integrated circuit, the upper limit value of the balancing current that can flow through the common resistance element R ₁ can be predetermined, and when a balancing current larger than the upper limit value flows, BU) may be damaged. Accordingly, the controller 130 can simultaneously set only the maximum number of battery cells of the plurality of battery cells (Cell ₁ to Cell _n ) to be balanced, in the order of greatest charge state.

For example, when the resistance of the common resistance element R ₁ is ₁ kΩ, the upper limit value of the balancing current is 10 mA, the battery cell Cell _k has the highest voltage of 5.1 V, and the battery cell (Cell _{k + 1} ) , The controller 130 can determine only the battery cell (Cell _k ) to be balanced by determining 1 as the maximum number. This is because the balancing current is (5.1 V + 5.0 V) / 1 k? 10 mA when the battery cell (Cell _{k + 1} ) is to be balanced.

As another example, when the resistance of the common resistance element R ₁ is ₁ kΩ, the upper limit value of the balancing current is 10 mA, the battery cell Cell _k has the highest voltage 5.0 V and the battery cell (Cell _{k + 1} ) , The controller 130 may determine the battery cell Cell _k and the battery cell Cell _{k + 1} to be balanced at the same time by determining 2 as the maximum number. This is because, even if the battery cell (Cell _k ) and the battery cell (Cell _{k + 1} ) are determined to be balanced at the same time, the balancing current is (5.0 V + 4.9 V) / 1 k?

The control unit 130 may control the switching module SM such that the balancing object is connected in parallel to the common resistance element R ₁ . That is, the control unit 130 may control the switching module SM such that a current path is formed between the common resistance element R ₁ and the balancing object.

The balancing operation by the control unit 130 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5. FIG.

FIG. 2 is a first table showing an exemplary result of measuring a voltage of a plurality of battery cells shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a diagram referred to explain a balancing operation based on the first table of FIG. 2 .

2, the voltages of two battery cells (Cell ₁ , Cell _{k + 1} ) among the plurality of battery cells (Cell ₁ to Cell _n ) are higher than the minimum voltage of 3.2 V and the remaining battery cells (Cell ₂ to Cell _k , Cell _{k + 2} to Cell _n ) are the same at 3.2 V.

1 to 3, the controller 130 may include a cell _{k + 1} having the highest voltage among the plurality of battery cells Cell ₁ to Cell _n as a balancing target. The OCV-SOC map corresponds to a one-to-one correspondence of voltage and charge state, and a relatively high voltage corresponds to a relatively high charge state. Therefore, among the plurality of battery cells (Cell ₁ to Cell _n ), the highest voltage and the highest charging state may be the same.

The control unit 130 may determine that the battery cell (Cell _{k + 1} ) having the higher voltage of 3.6 V among the two battery cells (Cell ₁ , Cell _k ) is to be balanced. Since the voltage of 3.5 V of the battery cell Cell ₁ is higher than the minimum voltage of 3.2 V but the battery cell Cell ₁ is not connected to the battery cell Cell _{k + 1} , ₁ ) is not determined as a balancing target. That is, in a state where the voltages of the plurality of battery cells (Cell ₁ to Cell _n ) are as shown in FIG. 2, the balancing object determined by the controller 130 includes only the battery cell (Cell _k ).

The control unit 130 controls the first and second ends of the common resistance element R _{1 so} that the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the battery cell Cell _{k + 1} determined as the balancing target are electrically coupled to the first and second ends of the common resistance element R ₁ , respectively. Only the positive electrode switching element PS _{k + 1} included in the circuit SC ₁ and the negative electrode switching element NS _{k + 1} included in the second switching circuit SC ₂ are turned on. At this time, the controller 130 can turn on the positive switching element PS _{k + 1} and the negative switching element NS _{k + 1} at the same time, or turn on the other one and turn on the other one. Of course, the control unit 130 is the remaining positive electrode switching element _{(PS 1 ~ PS k, PS} k + 2 ~ PS n) and the negative switching elements _{(NS 1 ~ NS k, N} k + 2 ~ NS n) , as described above Can be turned off.

3, a closed circuit composed of the balancing object Cell _{k + 1} , the anode switching element PS _{k +!, The} common resistance element R ₁ and the cathode switching element NS _{k +} And the discharging current flows through the closed circuit, so that the balancing object Cell _{k + 1} can be discharged.

FIG. 4 is a second table showing an exemplary result of measuring a voltage of a plurality of battery cells shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is a diagram referred to explain a balancing operation based on the second table of FIG. 4 .

2, the voltages of the two battery cells (Cell _k , Cell _{k + 1} ) among the plurality of battery cells (Cell ₁ to Cell _n ) are higher than the minimum voltage of 3.2 V, Cell ₂ to Cell _k-1 , Cell _{k + 2} to Cell _n ) are the same at 3.2 V. [

1, 4, and 5, the controller 130 includes a battery cell (Cell _{k + 1} ) having the highest voltage of 3.6 V among the plurality of battery cells (Cell ₁ to Cell _n ) . Also, the controller 130 may determine whether the battery cell (Cell _{k + 1} ) is connected adjacent to the battery cell (Cell _k ). As shown, the battery cell (Cell _{k + 1),} and because the other battery cell among the battery cells (Cell _k) is not connected, the control unit 130, the battery cell (Cell _k) and the battery cell (Cell _{k + 1} ) Are electrically connected adjacently to each other.

Accordingly, the controller 130 can determine the two battery cells (Cell _k , Cell _{k + 1} ) to be balanced. That is, the control unit 130, the plurality of battery cells (Cell ₁ ~ Cell _n), the battery cell of with the maximum state of charge (Cell _k) and the battery cell (Cell _k) the at least one battery cell (Cell _k is connected adjacent to the ₊₁ ) can be included in the balancing object. At this time, the charging state of the battery cell (Cell _{k + 1} ) included in the balancing object is larger than the minimum charging state of the plurality of battery cells (Cell ₁ to Cell _n ).

The control unit 130 includes a positive polarity switching element PS _K connected to the highest potential electrode of the balancing object Cell _k , Cell _{k + 1} among the plurality of positive polarity switching elements PS ₁ to PS _n , a NS NS ₁ ~ _n) balancing target (Cell _k, negative switching elements (NS _{k + 1)} connected to the lowest potential of the electrode Cell _{k + 1)} in turn may onhal. At this time, the positive electrode terminal of balancing target _{(Cell k, Cell k + 1} ) ' highest potential electrode, of the, balancing target (Cell _k, Cell _{k + 1)} battery cells (Cell _k) the point where the highest potential formed in Lt; / RTI > In addition, the balancing target "lowest potential electrode, of the (Cell _k, Cell _{k + 1),} the balancing target (Cell _k, Cell _{k + 1)} battery cells (Cell _{k + 1),} at which point the lowest potential is formed in the Cathode terminal.

That is, the control unit 130, two or more battery cells included in the balancing target (Cell _k, Cell _{k + 1),} the battery cell at the positive electrode and the lowest portion of the battery cell (Cell _k) positioned at the root of the (Cell either one of the positive electrode switching element containing a negative electrode terminal of the _{k + 1)} to the common resistance element (R ₁₎ a first end and a second, so that each electrically coupled to a second end the first switching circuit (SC ₁₎ of the (PS _k And only one of the cathode switching elements NS _{k + 1} included in the second switching circuit SC ₂ is turned on. At this time, the controller 130 may turn on the cathode switch PS _k and the anode switch NS _{k + 1} at the same time or sequentially turn on the cathode switch NS _{k + 1} one by one. Of course, as described above, the control unit 130 supplies the remaining positive polarity switching elements PS ₁ to PS _k-1 , PS _{k + 1} to PS _n and the negative polarity switching elements NS ₁ to NS _k , N _{k + n} ) can be turned off.

Thus, as shown in Fig. 5, the currents flowing through the balanced switching elements (Cell _k , Cell _{k + 1} ), the positive polarity switching element PS _k , the common resistance element R ₁ and the negative polarity switching element NS _{k +} A closed circuit is formed, and a discharge current flows through the closed circuit, so that the object to be balanced (Cell _k , Cell _{k + 1} ) can be discharged.

6 is a view schematically showing a configuration of a battery pack according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The battery pack 10 shown in FIG. 6 will not be described again with respect to the contents common to those of the first embodiment described above with reference to FIG. 1, and the differences will be mainly described.

The difference between the battery pack 10 of the second embodiment and the battery pack 10 of the first embodiment is that the device 100 includes the first and second balancing parts BU ₁ and BU ₂ instead of the balancing part BU .

The first balancing unit BU ₁ is used for balancing the first battery group Cell ₁ to Cell _k among the plurality of battery cells Cell ₁ to Cell _n and the second balancing unit BU ₂ is used for balancing the battery cells Can be used for balancing the second battery group (Cell _{k + 1} to Cell _n ) among the cell groups (Cell ₁ to Cell _n ). The first battery group (Cell ₁ ~ Cell _k ) and the second battery group (Cell _{k + 1} ~ Cell _n ) may be connected in series.

The first balancing unit BU ₁ includes a first common resistance element R ₁ and a first switching module SM ₁ . The common resistance element R ₁ may have a predetermined resistance. The first switching module SM ₁ is configured to selectively connect the positive terminal of one of the plurality of battery cells Cell ₁ to Cell _k to the first end of the first common resistor R ₁ . In addition, the first switching module SM ₁ is configured to selectively connect any negative terminal of the plurality of battery cells (Cell ₁ to Cell _k ) to the second end of the first common resistance element R ₁ do.

The first switching module SM ₁ includes a third switching circuit SC ₃ and a fourth switching circuit SC ₄ . The third switching circuit SC ₃ includes a plurality of anode switching elements PS ₁ to PS _k . The fourth switching circuit SC ₄ includes a plurality of cathode switching elements NS ₁ to NS _k .

The anode switching element PS _j (j = 1 to k) is provided between the positive terminal of the battery cell Cell _j and the first end of the common resistance element R ₁ . When the anode switching element PS _j is turned on, the positive terminal of the battery cell Cell _j is electrically coupled to the first end of the common resistance element R ₁ . Conversely, when the positive polarity switching element PS _j is turned off, the positive terminal of the battery cell Cell _j is electrically disconnected from the first end of the common resistance element R ₁ .

The negative electrode switching element NS _{j is} provided between the negative terminal of the battery cell Cell _j and the second end of the common resistance element R ₁ . When the cathode switching element NS _j is turned on, the negative terminal of the battery cell Cell _j is electrically coupled to the second end of the common resistance element R ₁ . Conversely, when the cathode switching element NS _j is turned off, the cathode terminal of the battery cell Cell _j is electrically disconnected from the second end of the common resistance element R ₁ .

The second balancing portion BU ₂ includes a second common resistance element R ₂ and a second switching module SM ₂ . The common resistance element R ₂ may have a predetermined resistance equal to or different from the resistance of the common resistance element R ₁ . The second switching module SM ₂ is configured to selectively connect the positive terminal of any one of the plurality of battery cells Cell _{k + 1} to Cell _n to the first end of the second common resistor R ₂ . In addition, the second switching module SM ₂ selectively connects the negative terminal of one of the plurality of battery cells (Cell _{k + 1} to Cell _n ) to the second end of the second common resistor R ₂ .

The second switching module SM ₂ includes a fifth switching circuit SC ₅ and a sixth switching circuit SC ₆ . The fifth switching circuit SC ₅ includes a plurality of anode switching elements PS _{k + 1} to PS _n . The sixth switching circuit SC ₆ includes a plurality of cathode switching elements NS _{k + 1} to NS _n .

Positive switching elements _{(PS m) (m = k} + 1 ~ n) is, and is disposed between the first end of the positive electrode terminal and the second common resistance element (R ₂₎ of the battery cell (Cell _m). When the anode switching element PS _m is turned on, the positive terminal of the battery cell Cell _m is electrically coupled to the first end of the second common resistance element R ₂ . Conversely, when the positive polarity switching element PS _m is turned off, the positive terminal of the battery cell Cell _m is electrically disconnected from the first end of the second common resistance element R ₂ .

Negative switching elements (NS _m) is, it is provided in between the second end of the negative electrode terminal and the second common resistance element (R ₂₎ of the battery cell (Cell _m). When the cathode switching element NS _m is turned on, the negative terminal of the battery cell Cell _m is electrically coupled to the second end of the second common resistance element R ₂ . Conversely, when the cathode switching element NS _m is turned off, the cathode terminal of the battery cell Cell _m is electrically disconnected from the second end of the second common resistance element R ₁ .

The control unit 130 is operatively coupled to the monitoring unit 110, the first switching module SM ₁ , and the second switching module SM ₂ .

The control unit 130 receives a voltage signal representing the voltages of the plurality of battery cells Cell ₁ to Cell _n from the monitoring unit 110 and generates a first switching module SM ₁ and a second switching module The _second to sixth switching circuits SC ₃ to SC ₆ included in the second to sixth switching circuits SM ₂ to SM 6 can be individually controlled.

For example, when the voltages of the plurality of battery cells (Cell _{k + 1} to Cell _n ) are as shown in FIG. 2, the controller 130 determines the two battery cells (Cell ₁ , Cell _{k + 1} ) . The control unit 130 controls the third switching circuit SC ₃ so that the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the balancing object Cell ₁ are electrically coupled to the first end and the second end of the first common resistance element R ₁ , Turns on any one of the cathode switching elements PS ₁ and NS ₁ included in the fourth switching circuit SC ₄ included in the fourth switching circuit SC ₄ . At this time, the controller 130 may turn on both the positive switching element PS ₁ and the negative switching element NS ₁ . The control unit 130 controls the first and second ends of the second common resistance element R _{2 so} that the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the balancing object Cell _{k +1} are electrically coupled to the first and second ends of the second common resistance element R ₂ , a switching circuit (SC ₅₎ any one of the positive switching elements (PS _{k + 1)} and the sixth switching circuit one of the negative switching elements (NS _{k + 1)} contained in the (SC ₆₎ contained in the thus turned on. At this time, the controller 130 may turn on the positive polarity switching element PS _{k + 1} and the negative polarity switching element NS _{k + 1} simultaneously. As a result, unlike the balancing operation according to FIG. 3, balancing of two battery cells (Cell ₁ , Cell _{k + 1} ) can be performed at the same time.

4, when the voltage of the plurality of battery cells (Cell _{k + 1} to Cell _n ) is as shown in FIG. 4, the controller 130 determines the two battery cells Cell _k and Cell _{k + 1} to be balanced . The controller 130 controls the third switching circuit SC ₃ so that the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the balancing object Cell _k are electrically coupled to the first and second ends of the first common resistance element R ₁ , (PS _k ) and any one of the cathode switching elements (NS _k ) included in the fourth switching circuit (SC ₄ ). At this time, the control unit 130 may be a switching device turns on the anode (PS _k) and the negative switching elements (NS _k) at the same time. The control unit 130 controls the first and second ends of the second common resistance element R _{2 so} that the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the balancing object Cell _{k +1} are electrically coupled to the first and second ends of the second common resistance element R ₂ , a switching circuit (SC ₅₎ any one of the positive switching elements (PS _{k + 1)} and the sixth switching circuit one of the negative switching elements (NS _{k + 1)} contained in the (SC ₆₎ contained in the thus turned on. At this time, the controller 130 may turn on the positive polarity switching element PS _{k + 1} and the negative polarity switching element NS _{k + 1} simultaneously. As a result, similarly to FIG. 5, two battery cells (Cell _k , Cell _{k + 1} ) adjacent to each other can be discharged at the same time.

7 is a view schematically showing a configuration of a battery pack according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

The battery pack 10 shown in FIG. 7 will not be repeatedly described in common with the first embodiment described above with reference to FIG. 1, and the differences will be mainly described.

The difference between the battery pack 10 of the third embodiment and the battery pack 10 of the first embodiment is that the balancing part BU has the second common resistance element R ₂ , the first selection switch SS ₁ , a selection switch (SS ₂₎ is that it further includes. The resistance of the first common resistance element R ₁ may be equal to or greater than or less than the resistance of the second common resistance element R ₂ . Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, first, it is assumed to be greater than the resistance (for example, 0.5kΩ) of the first common resistance element (R ₁₎ resistance (for example, 1kΩ) to the second common resistance element (R ₂₎ of the.

The first common resistance element R ₁ and the first selection switch SS ₁ are connected in series. The first common resistance element R ₁ is connected between the first common node N ₁ and the second common node N ₂ through the first selection switch SS ₁ . For example, one end of the first selection switch SS ₁ is connected to the first common node N ₁ , one end of the first common resistance element R ₁ is connected to the second common node N ₂ , And the other end of the first selection switch SS ₁ may be connected to the other end of the first common resistance element R ₁ .

The second common resistance element R ₂ and the second selection switch SS ₂ are connected in series. The second common resistance element R ₂ is connected between the first common node N ₁ and the second common node N ₂ through the second selection switch SS ₂ . For example, one end of the second selection switch SS ₂ is connected to the first common node N ₁ , _one end of the second common resistance element R ₂ is connected to the second common node N ₂ And the other end of the second selection switch SS ₂ may be connected to the other end of the second common resistance element R ₂ . That is, the first common resistance element R ₂ and the second common resistance element R _{2 are} connected between the first common node N ₁ and the second common node N ₂ through the first selection switch SS ₁ ) And the second selection switch SS ₂ .

The control unit 130 controls the first selection switch SS ₁ and the second selection switch SS ₂ on the basis of the difference between the voltage to be balanced and the minimum voltage. Will be described in detail.

The control unit 130 outputs a first selection switch SS ₁ connected in series to the first common resistance element R ₂ when the difference between the voltage to be balanced and the minimum voltage is greater than the first threshold voltage And the second selection switch SS ₂ can be turned off. 2, when the difference between the voltage 3.6V and the minimum voltage 3.2V of the battery cell (Cell _{k + 1} ) to be balanced is larger than the first threshold voltage (e.g., 0.3V) The first selection switch SS ₁ is turned on to discharge the battery cell Cell _{k + 1} . As a result, the electric energy stored in a battery cell-balancing target (Cell _{k + 1)} a first voltage of the common resistance element (R ₁₎ balancing the battery cells (Cell _{k + 1)} as the subject consumed by gradually lowered from 3.6V will be.

The control unit 130 outputs the second selection switch SS ₂ connected in series to the second common resistance element R ₂ when the difference between the voltage to be balanced and the minimum voltage is equal to or less than the first threshold voltage the turn-on of the first selection switches (SS ₁₎ can be turned off. For example, the first common resistance element (R ₁₎ instead of the second battery cell (Cell _k by the common resistance element (R ₂₎ From the time when a voltage of 3.5V of the battery cell (Cell _{k + 1)} target balancing ₊₁ ) is discharged.

The control unit 130 can keep the second selection switch SS ₂ in the on state until the difference between the voltage of the battery cell Cell _{k + 1} and the minimum voltage of 3.2 V reaches 0 V.

Alternatively, the control unit 130 may control the voltage of the battery cell (Cell _{k + 1} ) from the time when the difference between the voltage of the battery cell (Cell _{k + 1} ) and the minimum voltage of 3.2 V reaches a second threshold voltage The first selection switch SS ₁ and the second selection switch SS ₂ can be both turned on until the difference between the voltage of the cell _{k + 1} and the minimum voltage of 3.2 V reaches 0 V. Accordingly, the voltage of the electric energy stored in the battery cell (Cell _{k + 1)} is the first common resistance element (R ₂₎ and second common resistance element (R ₂₎ a battery cell (Cell _{k + 1)} as consumed by the 3.5V to a minimum voltage of 3.2V.

It should be noted that the total resistance between the first common node N ₁ and the second common node N ₂ is such that the first select switch SS ₁ and the second select switch SS ₂ are turned The ON state is smaller than when only one of the first selection switch SS ₁ and the second selection switch SS ₂ is turned on.

Between according to the embodiment also described above the third reference to 7, the apparatus 100 The less the difference between the balancing target voltage and the minimum voltage of the first common node (N ₁₎ and a second common node (N ₂₎ By stepwise reducing the total resistance, there is an advantage that the current flowing through the balancing object is stabilized.

8 is a view schematically showing a configuration of a battery pack according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

With respect to the battery pack 10 shown in FIG. 8, repetitive description of the same contents as those of the third embodiment described above with reference to FIG. 7 will be omitted, and differences will be mainly described.

The difference between the battery pack 10 of the fourth embodiment and the battery pack 10 of the third embodiment is that the balancing part BU further includes a third selection switch SS ₃ and a fourth selection switch SS ₄ It is a point.

The third selection switch SS ₃ is connected to the first selection switch SS ₁ and the first common resistance element R ₁ in series between the first common node N ₁ and the second common node N ₂ do.

The fourth selection switch SS _{4 is} connected in series between the first common node N ₁ and the second common node N ₂ to the second selection switch SS ₂ and the second common resistance element R ₂ do.

The third selection switch SS ₃ is provided to protect the battery module 20 and the first common resistance element R ₁ from a short fault of the first selection switch SS ₁ . A short-circuit failure refers to a state in which the switch is made non-openable. The controller 130, in the case of turning on the first selection switches (SS _1), the can be configured to three-selection switch (SS ₃₎ also turned on. The controller 130, in the case of turning off the first selection switches (SS _1), the can be configured to three-selection switch (SS ₃₎ also turned off. Therefore, even if the first selection switch SS ₁ is short-circuited, the flow of current through the first common resistance element R ₁ can be cut off by turning off the third selection switch SS ₃ .

The fourth selection switch SS ₄ is provided to protect the battery module 20 and the second common resistance element R ₂ from a short-circuit failure of the second selection switch SS ₂ . The controller 130, in the case of 2 turns on the selection switch (SS _2), a may be configured to four select switches (SS ₄₎ also turned on. The controller 130, in the case of turning off the second selection switch (SS _2), a may be configured to four select switches (SS ₄₎ also turned off. Therefore, even if the second selection switch SS ₂ is short-circuited, the flow of current through the second common resistance element R ₂ can be cut off by turning off the fourth selection switch SS ₄ .

The embodiments of the present invention described above are not only implemented by the apparatus and method but may be implemented through a program for realizing the function corresponding to the configuration of the embodiment of the present invention or a recording medium on which the program is recorded, The embodiments can be easily implemented by those skilled in the art from the description of the embodiments described above.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the details thereof and that various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. And various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to be illustrative, The present invention is not limited to the drawings, but all or some of the embodiments may be selectively combined so that various modifications may be made.

Claims (13)

1. An apparatus for balancing a plurality of battery cells,

   A monitoring unit for detecting a voltage of the plurality of battery cells;

   A balancing portion including a first common resistance element and a switching module connected between the first common node and the second common node; And

   And a control unit operatively coupled to the monitoring unit and the switching module,

   The switching module includes:

   Selectively connect the positive terminal of each battery cell to the first common node and selectively connect the negative terminal of each battery cell to the second common node,

   Wherein,

   Determining a balancing object including at least one of the plurality of battery cells based on a voltage of each of the plurality of battery cells,

   And to control the switching module such that a current path is formed between the first common resistive element and the balancing object.
2. The method according to claim 1,

   The switching module includes:

   A first switching circuit including a plurality of positive polarity switching elements provided between a positive terminal of each battery cell and the first common node; And

   And a second switching circuit including a plurality of cathode switching elements provided between a cathode terminal of each battery cell and the second common node.
3. 3. The method of claim 2,

   Wherein,

   When determining that any one of the plurality of battery cells is to be balanced,

   A positive polarity switching element connected to the positive polarity terminal of the balancing object among the plurality of positive polarity switching elements and a positive polarity switching element connected to the negative polarity terminal of the balancing target among the plurality of negative polarity switching elements, Device.
4. 3. The method of claim 2,

   Wherein,

   When determining that two or more adjacent battery cells among the plurality of battery cells are to be balanced,

   A positive polarity switching element connected to the highest potential electrode of the balancing object among the plurality of positive polarity switching elements and a negative polarity switching element connected to the lowest potential electrode of the balancing object among the plurality of negative polarity switching elements Configured.
5. The method according to claim 1,

   Wherein,

   And to determine a state of charge of the plurality of battery cells based on the voltages of the plurality of battery cells,

   The balancing object,

   And a battery cell having a maximum charge state among the plurality of battery cells.
6. 6. The method of claim 5,

   The balancing object,

   Another battery cell connected adjacent to the battery cell having the maximum charge state;

   ≪ / RTI >
7. The method according to claim 6,

   The state of charge of the other battery cell may be determined based on,

   Wherein the minimum charge state of the plurality of battery cells is greater than the minimum charge state of the plurality of battery cells.
8. The method according to claim 1,

   Wherein,

   And determines the maximum number of battery cells that can be included in the balancing object, based on the resistance of the first common resistance element and the voltage of the plurality of battery cells.
9. The method according to claim 1,

   The balancing unit includes:

   A first selection switch serially connected to the first common resistance element between the first common node and the second common node;

   A second common resistance element having a resistance smaller than a resistance of the first common resistance element; And

   And a second selection switch connected in series between the first common node and the second common node to the second common resistance element.
10. 10. The method of claim 9,

    Wherein,

    And to control the first selection switch and the second selection switch based on a difference between the voltage of the balancing object and the minimum voltage of the plurality of battery cells.
11. 11. The method of claim 10,

    Wherein,

    And to turn on the first select switch and turn off the second select switch if the difference between the voltage of the balancing object and the minimum voltage is greater than a first threshold voltage.
12. 11. The method of claim 10,

    Wherein,

    And to turn off the first select switch and turn on the second select switch when the difference between the voltage of the balancing object and the minimum voltage is below the first threshold voltage.
13. A battery pack comprising the device according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

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