# US 7,746,031 B2 · Monitoring device for power supply system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,746,031 B2 - Document ID: US7746031B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/884,009 - Filed: 2006-02-23 - Published: 2008-06-05 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2005-03-17 - Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Teruo Ishishita - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7746031B2 ## CPC - H02J 7/663: {using battery or load disconnect circuits (H02J9/002 takes precedence)} - G01R 35/00: Testing or calibrating of apparatus covered by the other groups of this subclass - H01M 10/44: Methods for charging or discharging (circuits for charging H02J7/00) - H01M 10/48: Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte (constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569) - G01R 19/16542: {for batteries (charge condition monitoring in G01R31/36)} - G01R 31/382: Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - 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 - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A battery monitoring unit and sensors are supplied with a common operating supply voltage to operate. Detection values from sensors are sent to a control circuit by the battery monitoring unit. The control circuit monitors the operating supply voltage using a voltage sensor and additionally determines whether or not the detection values from the sensors before the relay connection falls within a normal range to more accurately detect a power supply reduction abnormality of the battery monitoring unit. Therefore, abnormalities can be detected accurately when the sensor and the battery monitoring unit provided for the secondary battery cannot operate normally due to a reduced operating supply voltage. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A monitoring device for a power supply system including a secondary battery, a load receiving power supply from said secondary battery, and a relay arranged between said secondary battery and said load, said monitoring device comprising: a sensor for measuring a quantity of state of said secondary battery; a battery monitoring unit supplied with an operating supply voltage common to said sensor and operating to monitor a state of said secondary battery; first sensing means for sensing that a measurement value obtained by said sensor falls outside a prescribed normal range in a state before connection of said relay; second sensing means for sensing that said operating supply voltage is below a prescribed operation guaranteed value of said battery monitoring unit; and abnormality sensing means for sensing an abnormality of said battery monitoring unit when said first sensing means senses that the measurement value obtained by said sensor falls outside said normal range before connection of said relay and when said second sensing means senses that said operating supply voltage is below said operation guaranteed value. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The monitoring device for a power supply system according to claim 1, wherein said second sensing means senses that said operating supply voltage is below said operation guaranteed value when said operating supply voltage is below said operation guaranteed value continuously for a prescribed period of time. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The monitoring device for a power supply system according to claim 1, wherein said abnormality sensing means includes means for sensing an abnormality of said battery monitoring unit, after connection of said relay, when said second sensing means senses that said operating supply voltage is below said operation guaranteed value continuously for a prescribed period of time. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The monitoring device for a power supply system according to claim 1, wherein said sensor is a current sensor measuring an input/output current of said secondary battery. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The monitoring device for a power supply system according to claim 1, further comprising abnormality processing means for prohibiting connection by said relay when said abnormality sensing means senses an abnormality of said battery monitoring unit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The monitoring device for a power supply system according to claim 1, further comprising abnormality processing means for halting control based on the measurement value of said sensor when said abnormality sensing means senses an abnormality of said battery monitoring unit. ### Claim 7 A monitoring device for a power supply system including a secondary battery, a load receiving power supply from said secondary battery, and a relay arranged between said secondary battery and said load, said monitoring device comprising: a sensor for measuring a quantity of state of said secondary battery; a battery monitoring unit supplied with an operating supply voltage common to said sensor and operating to monitor a state of said secondary battery; a first sensing portion sensing that a measurement value obtained by said sensor falls outside a prescribed normal range in a state before connection of said relay; a second sensing portion sensing that said operating supply voltage is below a prescribed operation guaranteed value of said battery monitoring unit; and an abnormality sensing portion sensing an abnormality of said battery monitoring unit when said first sensing portion senses that the measurement value obtained by said sensor falls outside said normal range before connection of said relay and when said second sensing portion senses that said operating supply voltage is below said operation guaranteed value. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The monitoring device for a power supply system according to claim 7, wherein said second sensing portion senses that said operating supply voltage is below said operation guaranteed value when said operating supply voltage is below said operation guaranteed value continuously for a prescribed period of time. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The monitoring device for a power supply system according to claim 7, wherein said abnormality sensing portion senses an abnormality of said battery monitoring unit when said second sensing portion senses that said operating supply voltage is below said operation guaranteed value continuously for a prescribed period of time after connection of said relay. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The monitoring device for a power supply system according to claim 7, wherein said sensor is a current sensor measuring an input/output current of said secondary battery. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The monitoring device for a power supply system according to claim 7, further comprising an abnormality processing portion prohibiting connection by said relay when said abnormality sensing portion senses an abnormality of said battery monitoring unit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The monitoring device for a power supply system according to claim 7, further comprising an abnormality processing portion halting control based on the measurement value of said sensor when said abnormality sensing portion senses an abnormality of said battery monitoring unit.