# US 2014/0152261 A1 · Battery system monitoring apparatus

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- Number: US 2014/0152261 A1
- Document ID: US20140152261A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/122,463
- Filed: 2011-08-18
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2011-05-31
- Assignees: Hitachi Vehicle Energy, Ltd.
- Applicants: Hitachi Vehicle Energy, Ltd.
- Inventors: Tatsumi Yamauchi; Akihiro Machida; Akihiko Kudo; Akihiko Emori; Mutsumi Kikuchi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140152261A1

## CPC

- B60L 3/0046: {relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors}
- B60L 50/51: characterised by AC-motors
- B60L 58/14: Preventing excessive discharging
- B60L 58/15: Preventing overcharging
- B60L 58/22: Balancing the charge of battery modules
- B60L 58/24: for controlling the temperature of batteries
- G01R 31/3835: involving only voltage measurements
- G01R 31/396: Acquisition or processing of data for testing or for monitoring individual cells or groups of cells within a battery
- H01M 10/425: {Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing (printed circuits H05K1/00)}
- H01M 10/4264: {with capacitors}
- H01M 10/441: {for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially}
- H01M 10/482: {for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially}
- H02J 7/54: Passive balancing, e.g. using resistors or parallel MOSFETs
- H02J 7/80: including monitoring or indicating arrangements
- B60L 2200/26: Rail vehicles
- B60L 2240/545: Temperature
- B60L 2240/547: Voltage
- B60L 2240/549: Current
- 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 2220/20: Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
- H02J 2105/37: exchanging power with electric vehicles [EV] or with hybrid electric vehicles [HEV]
- Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries
- Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
- Y02T 10/7072: Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
- Y02T 90/14: Plug-in electric vehicles
- B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
- G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12)
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- 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 system monitoring apparatus that monitors a battery system is provided having a cell group having a plurality of unit cells connected in series, including: a first control device that controls the cell group; and a plurality of voltage detection lines that connect positive electrodes and negative electrodes of the unit cells to the first control device, for measuring inter-terminal voltages of the unit cells. The first control device includes a balancing switch connected between the voltage detection line connected to the positive electrode of each unit cell and the voltage detection line connected to the negative electrode thereof for conducting balancing discharge of the unit cell, for each of the unit cells. A first resistor is disposed in series with each of the voltage detection lines, a first capacitor is connected between the voltage detection line, and a GND which is a lowest-level potential of the cell group.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-21. (canceled)

### Claim 22

A battery system monitoring apparatus for a battery system having a cell group having a plurality of unit cells connected in series, the battery system monitoring apparatus comprising:
a first control device that is disposed in correspondence with the cell group;
a plurality of voltage detection lines that are disposed to connect a positive electrode and a negative electrode of each of the unit cells to the first control device, and input an inter-terminal voltage of each of the unit cells to the first control device;
a first resistor disposed in series with each of the voltage detection lines;
a first capacitor connected to each of the voltage detection lines; and
a balancing discharge circuit disposed in correspondence with each of the unit cells and discharging the unit cell when the unit cell is discharged,
wherein the first capacitor is connected between the voltage detection lines in a position between the first resistor and the first control device, and the first capacitor is connected to a part which is a lowest-level potential of the cell group on the side opposite to the side connected to the voltage detection line,
wherein the balancing discharge circuit includes a balancing switch turned on or off when the unit cell is discharged, and a second resistor connected in series with the balancing switch, and
wherein the balancing discharge circuit is connected to the voltage detection line connected to the positive electrode of the unit cell and the voltage detection line connected to the negative electrode of the unit cell in a position on the cell group side with respect to the first resistor.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The battery system monitoring apparatus according to claim 22,
wherein the first control device includes:
a selection unit that selects the positive electrode and the negative electrode of one unit cell of the plurality of unit cells to be measured for an inter-terminal voltage, and outputs a potential of each of the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the one unit cell;
a voltage measurement unit that measures the inter-terminal voltage of the one unit cell according to the potential of each of the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the one unit cell, which is output from the selection unit;
a voltage comparison unit that compares the inter-terminal voltage of the one unit cell, which is measured by the voltage measurement unit, with a given voltage threshold value;
a first storage unit that stores a comparison result of the voltage comparison unit therein;
a determination unit that determines a disconnection of the voltage detection line on the basis of the comparison result stored in the first storage unit; and
a second storage unit that stores a determination result of the determination unit therein.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The battery system monitoring apparatus according to claim 23,
wherein the determination unit determines whether the voltage detection line connected to the one unit cell is disconnected or not on the basis of the inter-terminal voltage of the one unit cell, which is detected when the first balancing switch corresponding to the one unit cell, and a second balancing switch corresponding to a unit cell connected adjacent to and in series with the one unit cell are turned on or off, and
wherein the determination result of the disconnection of the voltage detection line connected to the one unit cell is stored in the second storage unit.

### Claim 25 (depends on 22)

The battery system monitoring apparatus according to claim 22,
wherein the first control device further includes
a balancing current detection unit that is disposed in correspondence to each of the unit cells and detects whether a balancing current flowing into the balancing discharge circuit corresponding to the unit cell is present or not when the balancing switch corresponding to the unit cell is turned on,
a first storage unit that stores a detection result detected by the balancing current detection unit,
a determination unit that determines a disconnection of the voltage detection line on the basis of the detection result stored in the first storage unit, and
a second storage unit that stores a determination result of the determination unit therein,
wherein the determination unit determines whether the voltage detection line connected to one unit cell of the plurality of unit cells is disconnected or not on the basis of the presence or absence of the balancing current flowing into the balancing discharge circuit corresponding to the one unit cell when the first balancing switch corresponding to the one unit cell is turned on, and the second balancing switch corresponding to a unit cell connected adjacent to and in series with the one unit cell is turned off, and
wherein a determination result of the disconnection of the voltage detection line connected to the one unit cell is stored in the second storage unit.

### Claim 26 (depends on 24)

The battery system monitoring apparatus according to claim 24,
wherein the first control device sequentially measures the inter-terminal voltages of the unit cells with respect to all of the unit cells in the cell group,
wherein the determination unit determines whether the disconnection is present in all of the voltage detection lines that connect the cell group to the first control device or not on the basis of a measurement result of the inter-terminal voltages of all of the unit cells, and
wherein the determination results of the disconnection of all of the voltage detection lines are stored in the second storage unit.

### Claim 27 (depends on 25)

The battery system monitoring apparatus according to claim 25,
wherein the first control device sequentially detects whether the balancing current is present in correspondence with all of the unit cells in the cell group or not,
wherein the determination unit determines whether the disconnection is present in all of the voltage detection lines that connect the cell group to the first control device or not on the basis of detection results of whether the balancing current is present in correspondence with all of the unit cells or not, and
wherein all of the determination results are stored in the second storage unit.

### Claim 28 (depends on 22)

The battery system monitoring apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising
an short-circuiting switch that is disposed in correspondence with each of the unit cells and short-circuits the voltage detection lines connected to the unit cell,
wherein the first control device includes:
a selection unit that selects the positive electrode and the negative electrode of one unit cell of the plurality of unit cells to be measured for an inter-terminal voltage, and outputs a potential of each of the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the one unit cell;
a voltage measurement unit that measures the inter-terminal voltage of the one unit cell according to the potential of each of the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the one unit cell, which is output from the selection unit;
a voltage comparison unit that compares the inter-terminal voltage of the one unit cell, which is measured by the voltage measurement unit, with a given voltage threshold value; and
a determination unit that conducts determination on the basis of a comparison result;
wherein the voltage measurement unit measures 0V or the inter-terminal voltage of the unit cell connected to the voltage detection lines as a voltage based on a potential difference between the voltage detection lines selected and output by the selection unit by turning on or off the short-circuiting switch,
wherein the voltage comparison unit compares the voltage measured by the voltage measurement unit with a given voltage threshold value, and
wherein the determination unit determines whether the selection unit operates normally or not on the basis of a comparison result of the voltage comparison unit.

### Claim 29 (depends on 25)

The battery system monitoring apparatus according to claim 25,
wherein the balancing current detection unit includes: a reference voltage source;
a comparator that compares the inter-terminal voltage of the balancing switch corresponding to the unit cell with a reference voltage output from the reference voltage source to detect whether the balancing current flowing into the balancing discharge circuit corresponding to the unit cell is present or not; and
an input switching unit that reverses inputs of the reference voltage and a terminal voltage of the balancing switch to the comparator and inputs the reference voltage and the terminal voltage of the balancing switch to the comparator,
wherein an output value of the comparator is switched to the same output value as that when the voltage detection line connected with the balancing switch corresponding to the unit cell is disconnected when input of the reference voltage and the inter-terminal voltage of the balancing switch to the comparator is reversed by the input switching unit, and
wherein the determination result of the determination unit on the basis of the output value of the comparator when input of the reference voltage and the inter-terminal voltage of the balancing switch to the comparator is reversed by the input switching unit is stored in the second storage unit.

### Claim 30 (depends on 22)

The battery system monitoring apparatus according to claim 22,
wherein the cell group includes N (N≧1) of the cell groups that are connected in series with each other,
wherein M (M≧1) of the first control devices are disposed so as to provide the first control device for each of the N cell groups, and the M first control devices are connected in series with each other through a communication line,
wherein a second control device is disposed to the M first control devices, and each of a highest-level first control device and a lowest-level first control device among the M first control devices and the second control device are connected through a communication line provided with an insulating element, and
wherein the M first control devices serially transmit a signal transmitted from the second control device through the communication line provided with the insulating element and transmit a signal to the second control device through the communication line provided with the insulating element.

### Claim 31

A battery system monitoring apparatus for a battery system having a cell group having a plurality of unit cells connected in series, the battery system monitoring apparatus comprising:
a first control device that is disposed in correspondence with the cell group;
a plurality of voltage detection lines that are disposed to connect a positive electrode and a negative electrode of each of the unit cells to the first control device, and input an inter-terminal voltage of each of the unit cells to the first control device; and
a power supply line that applies the inter-terminal voltage of the cell group to the first control device,
wherein the first control device includes:
a power supply unit;
a voltage input unit that inputs the inter-terminal voltage of the cell group;
a voltage measurement unit that measures the voltage; and
a selection unit that selects an output from the voltage input unit, and inputs the output to the voltage measurement unit,
wherein the power supply line is connected to the positive electrode of a highest-level unit cell of the cell group,
wherein the inter-terminal voltage of the cell group is input to the power supply unit through the power supply line, and
wherein the power supply unit includes an energization switch that applies the inter-terminal voltage of the cell group to the voltage input unit.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The battery system monitoring apparatus according to claim 31, further comprising
a first resistor connected in series to each of the voltage detection lines; and
a balancing discharge circuit disposed in correspondence with each of the unit cells and discharging the unit cell when the unit cell is balanced,
wherein the balancing discharge circuit including
a balancing switch turned on or off when the unit cell is balanced, and
a second resistor connected in series with the balancing switch, and
wherein the balancing discharge circuit is connected the voltage detection line connected to the positive electrode of the unit cell, and the voltage detection line connected to the negative electrode thereof in a position on the cell group side with respect to the first resistor.

### Claim 33 (depends on 31)

The battery system monitoring apparatus according to claim 31,
wherein the power supply unit turns on the energization switch to apply the inter-terminal voltage of the cell group to the voltage input unit when the first control device starts according to a start signal received from an external.

### Claim 34 (depends on 31)

The battery system monitoring apparatus according to claim 31,
wherein the voltage input unit includes:
a voltage divider circuit that divides the inter-terminal voltage of the cell group; and
a sample and hold circuit that holds a divided voltage divided by the voltage divider circuit.

### Claim 35 (depends on 34)

The battery system monitoring apparatus according to claim 34,
wherein the voltage input unit further includes a filter circuit that removes noise of the inter-terminal voltage of the cell group, which is input from the power supply unit,
wherein the filter includes a capacitor installed outside the first control device,
wherein the first control device further includes a filter connection terminal for connecting the capacitor, and
wherein the capacitor is connected to the voltage divider circuit through the filter connection terminal.

### Claim 36 (depends on 34)

The battery system monitoring apparatus according to claim 34,
wherein the voltage divider circuit includes a voltage divider resistor installed outside the first control device,
wherein the first control device includes a voltage divider resistor connection terminal for connecting the voltage divider resistor, and
wherein the voltage divider resistor is connected to the power supply unit and the sample and hold circuit through the voltage divider resistor connection terminal.

### Claim 37 (depends on 31)

The battery system monitoring apparatus according to claim 31,
wherein the cell group includes N (N≧1) of the cell groups that are connected in series with each other,
wherein M (M≧1) of the first control devices are disposed so as to provide the first control device for each of the N cell groups, and the M first control devices are connected in series with each other through a communication line,
wherein a second control device is disposed to the M first control devices, and each of a highest-level first control device and a lowest-level first control device among the M first control devices and the second control device are connected through a communication line provided with an insulating element,
wherein the M first control devices serially transmit a signal transmitted from the second control device through the communication line provided with the insulating element and transmit a signal to the second control device through the communication line provided with the insulating element,
wherein the second control device transmits voltage measurement instruction signals for allowing the M first control devices to measure the inter-terminal voltages of the corresponding cell groups substantially at the same time to the M first control devices, and calculates a total voltage of the battery system according to the inter-terminal voltages of the corresponding cell groups, which are transmitted from the M first control devices.

### Claim 38 (depends on 22)

The battery system monitoring apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising: a second capacitor which is connected in parallel to the balancing switch.

### Claim 39 (depends on 38)

The battery system monitoring apparatus according to claim 38,
wherein a time constant of the first filter circuit including the first resistor and the first capacitor is larger than a time constant of the second filter including the second resistor and the second capacitor.

### Claim 40

A battery system monitoring apparatus for a battery system having a cell group having a plurality of unit cells connected in series, the battery system monitoring apparatus comprising:
a first control device that is disposed in correspondence with the cell group and measures an inter-terminal voltage of each of the unit cells;
a second control device that is disposed in correspondence with the cell group and controls discharge of the unit cells when charge states between the unit cells is balanced;
a plurality of voltage detection lines that connect a positive electrode and a negative electrode of each of the unit cells to the first control device, and are disposed to input the inter-terminal voltage of each of the unit cells to the first control device;
a first resistor disposed in series with each of the voltage detection lines;
a first capacitor connected to the positive electrode and the negative electrode of each of the unit cells;
a plurality of balancing lines branched from the respective voltage detection lines and connected to the second control device;
a second resistor connected in series with each of the balancing lines;
a second capacitor connected between the balancing lines branched from the voltage detection lines connected, respectively, to the positive electrode and the negative electrode of each of the unit cells; and
a balancing switch that is disposed in correspondence with each of the unit cells, connected between the balancing lines branched from the voltage detection lines connected, respectively, to the positive electrode and the negative electrode of each of the unit cells, and turned on or off when the unit cell is discharged,
wherein the first capacitor is connected to the voltage detection lines in a position between the first resistor and the first control device, and
wherein the second capacitor is connected to the balancing lines in a position between the second resistor and the second control device.

### Claim 41 (depends on 40)

The battery system monitoring apparatus according to claim 40,
wherein the cell group includes N (N≧1) of the cell groups that are connected in series with each other,
wherein M (M≧1) of the first control devices and M (M≧1) of the second control devices are disposed so as to provide the first control device and the second control device for each of the N cell groups, the M first control devices are connected in series with each other through a communication line and the M second control devices are connected in series with each other through a communication line,
wherein a third control device is provided to the M first control devices and the M second control devices, a highest-level first control device and a lowest-level first control device among the M first control devices and the third control device are connected through a communication line provided with an insulating element, and a highest-level second control device and a lowest-level second control device among the M second control devices and the third control device are connected through a communication line provided with an insulating element,
wherein the M first control devices serially transmit a signal transmitted from the third control device through the communication line provided with the insulating element and transmit a signal to the third control device through the communication line provided with the insulating element, and
wherein the M second control devices serially transmit a signal transmitted from the third control device through the communication line provided with the insulating element and transmit a signal to the third control device through the communication line provided with the insulating element.

### Claim 42 (depends on 40)

The battery system monitoring apparatus according to claim 40,
wherein a time constant of a first filter circuit including the first resistor and the first capacitor is larger than a time constant of a second filter circuit including the second resistor and the second capacitor.

### Claim 43 (depends on 35)

The battery system monitoring apparatus according to claim 35,
wherein the voltage divider circuit includes a voltage divider resistor installed outside the first control device,
wherein the first control device includes a voltage divider resistor connection terminal for connecting the voltage divider resistor, and
wherein the voltage divider resistor is connected to the power supply unit and the sample and hold circuit through the voltage divider resistor connection terminal.