# US 12,218,317 B2 · Battery pack with optical communication between master BMS and slave BMS

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- Number: US 12,218,317 B2
- Document ID: US12218317B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/420,250
- Filed: 2020-09-17
- Published: 2022-03-03
- Granted: 2025-02-04
- Earliest claimed: 2019-09-26
- Assignees: LG Energy Solution, Ltd.
- Applicants: LG Energy Solution, Ltd.
- Inventors: Ji-Won Hwang
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12218317B2

## CPC

- H01M 10/425: {Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing (printed circuits H05K1/00)}
- H04B 10/1149: {Arrangements for indoor wireless networking of information}
- G08C 23/04: using light waves, e.g. infrared
- H01M 10/441: {for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially}
- H01M 10/488: {Cells or batteries combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light density}
- H04Q 9/00: Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
- H01M 2010/4271: {Battery management systems including electronic circuits, e.g. control of current or voltage to keep battery in healthy state, cell balancing}
- H01M 2010/4278: {Systems for data transfer from batteries, e.g. transfer of battery parameters to a controller, data transferred between battery controller and main controller}
- H01M 2220/20: Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
- H04Q 2209/30: using a wired architecture
- H04Q 2209/40: using a wireless architecture
- H04Q 2209/883: where the sensing device enters an active or inactive mode
- Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries
- Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H04B: TRANSMISSION
- G08C: TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS (fluid pressure transmitting systems F15B; mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member into a different variable G01D5/00; mechanical control systems G05G)
- H04Q: SELECTING (switches, relays, selectors H01H; wireless communication networks H04W)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

A battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a communication module configured to block light between an inside and an outside, the communication module including a master light emitting unit and a slave light receiving unit in the inside, the slave light receiving unit being configured so that a first signal output from the master light emitting unit is input thereto; a master BMS connected to the master light emitting unit and configured to output the first signal by flickering the connected master light emitting unit; and a slave BMS connected to the slave light receiving unit and configured to change an operation mode thereof when the slave light receiving unit receives the first signal from the master light emitting unit.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A battery pack, comprising:
a communication module configured to block light between an inside and an outside of the communication module, the communication module including a plurality of master light emitting devices and a plurality of slave light receiving devices, each of the slave light receiving devices being configured to receive a first signal output from a corresponding one of the master light emitting devices;
a master battery management system (BMS) coupled to the plurality of master light emitting devices, the master BMS configured to control each of the plurality of master light emitting devices to output the first signal; and
a plurality of slave BMSs coupled respectively to the plurality of slave light receiving devices, each of the slave BMSs configured to change an operation mode in response to a corresponding one of the slave light receiving devices receiving the first signal from the corresponding one of the master light emitting devices.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the communication module is further configured to be attachable to and detachable from the master BMS and the plurality of slave BMSs of the battery pack.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The battery pack according to claim 2, wherein, when being attached to the battery pack, the communication module is further configured to:
electrically connect one end of each of the plurality of master light emitting devices and one end of the master BMS; and
electrically connect one end of each of the plurality of slave light receiving devices and one end of a corresponding one of the slave BMSs.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the communication module further includes:
a first barrier disposed inside the communication module and between the plurality of master light emitting devices,
wherein the plurality of master light emitting devices and the plurality of slave light receiving devices are inside the communication module.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The battery pack according to claim 4, wherein:
the communication module further includes:
a plurality of slave light emitting devices each configured to output a second signal; and
a plurality of master light receiving devices each configured to receive the second signal output from a corresponding slave light emitting device among the plurality of slave light emitting devices;
each of the plurality of slave BMSs is connected to a corresponding slave light emitting device among the plurality of slave light emitting devices, each of the plurality of slave BMSs is further configured to output the second signal by flickering the connected corresponding slave light emitting device; and
the master BMS is connected to the plurality of master light receiving devices, the master BMS being further configured to determine whether each of the plurality of slave BMSs has a failure depending on whether the second signal is input to a corresponding one of the plurality of connected master light receiving devices.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The battery pack according to claim 5, wherein the communication module further includes a second barrier disposed between one of the plurality of master light emitting devices and an adjacent one of the plurality of master light receiving devices.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The battery pack according to claim 6, wherein the communication module further includes a reflection member disposed to at least one of: an inner wall of the communication module, an outer wall of the first barrier, and an outer wall of the second barrier to reflect light.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein:
the communication module further includes a plurality of slave light emitting devices respectively corresponding to the plurality of slave BMSs, in the inside of the communication module; and
each of the plurality of slave BMSs is connected to a corresponding slave light emitting device among the plurality of slave light emitting devices, each of the plurality of slave BMSs being further configured to change the operation mode and then to output the first signal by flickering the connected corresponding slave light emitting device when the coupled one of the plurality of slave light receiving devices receives the first signal.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The battery pack according to claim 8, wherein:
the communication module further includes a master light receiving device configured to receive a signal output from a corresponding slave light emitting device among the plurality of slave light emitting devices; and
the master BMS is connected to the master light receiving device, the master BMS being further configured to output a third signal by flickering one of the master light emitting devices and then to diagnose a state of the communication module, depending on whether the third signal is input to the master light receiving device.

### Claim 10

A vehicle, comprising:
a communication device configured to block light between an inside and an outside of the communication device, the communication device including:
a plurality of master light emitting devices; and
a plurality of slave light receiving devices, wherein each slave light receiving device is configured to receive light from a corresponding master light emitting device among the plurality of master light emitting devices;
a master battery management system (BMS) configured to control the plurality of master light emitting devices; and
a plurality of slave BMSs, wherein each slave BMS is configured to communicate with a corresponding slave light receiving device among the plurality of slave light receiving devices.

### Claim 11

A battery pack, comprising:
a communication device configured to block light between an inside and an outside of the communication device, the communication device including:
a first master light emitting device;
a second master light emitting device;
a first slave light receiving device configured to interact with the first master light emitting device; and
a second slave light receiving device configured to interact with the second master light emitting device;
a master battery management system (BMS) distinct from the communication device, the master BMS configured to control the first master light emitting device and the second master light emitting device;
a first slave BMS distinct from the communication device, the first slave BMS configured to interact with the first slave light receiving device; and
a second slave BMS distinct from the communication device, the second slave BMS configured to interact with the second slave light receiving device.