# US 8,786,256 B2 · Multi-series battery control system

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- Number: US 8,786,256 B2
- Document ID: US8786256B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/725,007
- Filed: 2012-12-21
- Published: 2013-08-22
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2004-04-30
- Assignees: Shin-Kobe Electric Machinery Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Akihiko Emori; Shigeyuki Yoshihara; Kazuyoshi Sasazawa; Tatsuo Horiba; Akihiko Kudo
- Inventors: Akihiko Emori; Shigeyuki Yoshihara; Kazuyoshi Sasazawa; Tatsuo Horiba; Akihiko Kudo
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8786256B2

## CPC

- B60L 3/0046: {relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors}
- B60L 3/0069: {relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current}
- B60L 50/16: with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
- B60L 50/64: Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
- B60L 53/14: Conductive energy transfer
- B60L 53/51: Photovoltaic means
- B60L 58/14: Preventing excessive discharging
- B60L 58/15: Preventing overcharging
- B60L 58/18: of two or more battery modules
- B60L 58/19: Switching between serial connection and parallel connection of battery modules
- 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
- H02J 7/54: Passive balancing, e.g. using resistors or parallel MOSFETs
- H02J 7/82: Control of state of charge [SOC]
- B60L 2210/40: DC to AC converters
- B60L 2240/545: Temperature
- B60L 2240/547: Voltage
- B60L 2240/549: Current
- B60L 2240/80: Time limits
- H02J 3/32: using batteries or super capacitors with converting means
- Y02E 60/00: Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
- 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 10/72: Electric energy management in electromobility
- Y02T 90/12: Electric charging stations
- Y02T 90/14: Plug-in electric vehicles
- Y02T 90/16: Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
- Y04S 10/126: the energy generation units being or involving electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV], i.e. power aggregation of EV or HEV, vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G]
- 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)
- 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
- Y04S: SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS

## Abstract

A multi-series battery control system comprises a plurality of unit battery cell of which unit consists of multiple battery cells connected in series; a plurality of control IC comprising a control circuit for controlling the unit battery cell; a main controller that sends and receives signal to/from the control ICs via an insulation; means for sending an abnormality signal, which represents the existence or the absence of abnormality of the control ICs or the battery cells, to the main controller from the control ICs, responding to the first signal outputted from the main controller via the insulation; and means for searching contents of the abnormality in the control ICs or the battery cells and sending the abnormality contents signal based on the search, to the main controller from the control ICs, responding to the second signal outputted from the main controller via the insulation.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A battery system, comprising:
a unit battery cell assembly including a plurality of unit battery cells that are electrically connected in series and each include a plurality of battery cells that are electrically connected in series;
a plurality of integrated circuits that are provided to respectively correspond to the plurality of unit battery cells, each detect voltages of a plurality of battery cells of a corresponding unit battery cell, and each adjust a state of charge of each of the plurality of battery cells, wherein:
each of the plurality of integrated circuits includes
a plurality of voltage terminals that are provided to be used to electrically connect with terminals of the plurality of battery cells of the corresponding unit battery cell,
a voltage detection unit that detects terminal-to-terminal voltages of the plurality of battery cells of the corresponding unit battery cell that are taken in from the plurality of voltage terminals,
a plurality of state-of-charge-adjust terminals that are provided to be used to adjust a state of charge of each of the plurality of battery cells of the corresponding unit battery cell,
a plurality of switches that are respectively and electrically connected with the plurality of state-of-charge-adjust terminals, and each form a discharge circuit that adjusts a state of charge of each of the plurality of battery cells of the corresponding unit battery cell,
a driving unit that drives each of the plurality of switches,
a communication unit that inputs/outputs a signal,
a signal input terminal that is provided to be used to input a signal to the communication unit,
a signal output terminal that is provided to be used to output a signal from the communication unit,
a temperature detection unit that detects a temperature of an integrated circuit, and
a temperature abnormality detection unit that detects whether or not the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit exceeds a preset temperature; and
the temperature abnormality detection unit stops driving of the plurality of switches when the temperature abnormality detection unit detects that the detected temperature exceeds the preset temperature.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A battery system according to claim 1, further comprising:
a controller that outputs a signal to the plurality of integrated circuits;
a first signal transmission line via which a signal is transmitted in series through the plurality of integrated circuits is provided among the plurality of integrated circuits so that a signal is outputted from a signal output terminal of a 1st integrated circuit based upon a signal inputted at a signal input terminal of the 1st integrated circuit to be inputted at a signal input terminal of a 2nd integrated circuit; and
a second signal transmission line that is provided between the first integrated circuit among the plurality of integrated circuits, which receives a signal outputted from the controller, and the controller, wherein:
the second signal transmission line is electrically insulated between the controller and the first integrated circuit by an insulation unit; and
a signal outputted from the controller is transmitted to the first integrated circuit via the second signal transmission line, and then transmitted via the first signal transmission line.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A battery system according to claim 2, further comprising:
a third signal transmission line that is provided between a second integrated circuit among the plurality of integrated circuits, which outputs a signal to the controller, and the controller, wherein:
the third signal transmission line is electrically insulated between the controller and the second integrated circuit by an insulation unit; and
a signal transmitted through the plurality of integrated circuits is transmitted from the second integrated circuit to the controller via the third signal transmission line.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

A battery system according to claim 2, further comprising:
the controller outputs a command signal to detect voltages of the plurality of battery cells or a command signal to adjust a state of charge of the plurality of battery cells, as the signal.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A battery system according to claim 1, wherein:
each of the plurality of integrated circuits includes a switch abnormality detection unit that detects an abnormality of each of the plurality of switches, and an abnormality identification unit that, when the switch abnormality detection unit detects the abnormality of a switch, identifies an abnormal switch;
when the abnormality of either one of the plurality of switches is detected, each of the plurality of integrated circuits is configured to output a signal indicating the abnormality of the identified abnormal switch from the communication unit via the signal output terminal; and
when the switch abnormality detection unit detects the abnormality of the switch, the signal indicating the abnormality of the abnormal switch outputted from the signal output terminal is transmitted via the first signal transmission line.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A battery system according to claim 5, wherein:
the switch abnormality detection unit detects an abnormality of each of the plurality of switches by comparing a driving signal for each of the plurality of switches outputted from the driving unit with a voltage between both ends of a switch driven by the driving signal; and
the abnormality identification unit identifies an abnormal switch based upon the driving signal outputted from the driving unit when the switch abnormality detection unit detects the abnormality of a switch.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

A battery system according to claim 6, wherein:
each of the plurality of integrated circuits further includes a plurality of second signal input terminals that are provided to respectively correspond to the plurality of switches;
the driving signal that is compared by the switch abnormality detection unit is a signal generated based upon a state-of-charge external signal input to the driving unit via the plurality of second signal input terminals from outside.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

A battery system according to claim 7, wherein:
the plurality of switches are driven by driving signals generated by the driving unit based upon a state-of-charge-adjust command signal inputted to the communication unit via the signal input terminal, and also are driven by driving signals generated based upon the state-of-charge external signal inputted to the driving unit via the plurality of second signal input terminals.

### Claim 9

A battery system, comprising:
a unit battery cell assembly including a plurality of unit battery cells that are electrically connected in series and each include a plurality of battery cells that are electrically connected in series;
a plurality of battery-cell-control integrated circuits that are provided to respectively correspond to the plurality of unit battery cells, each detect terminal voltages of a plurality of battery cells of a corresponding unit battery cell, and each adjust a state of charge of each of the plurality of battery cells; and
a plurality of battery-cell-monitor integrated circuits that are respectively paired with the plurality of battery-cell-control integrated circuits, and each are connected with a plurality of battery cells that are connected with a corresponding paired battery-cell-control integrated circuit to be used to monitor the plurality of battery cells connected with the corresponding paired battery-cell-control integrated circuit, wherein:
each of the plurality of battery-cell-control integrated circuits includes
a plurality of voltage terminals that are provided to be used to electrically connect with terminals of the plurality of battery cells of the corresponding unit battery cell,
a voltage detection unit that detects terminal-to-terminal voltages of the plurality of battery cells of the corresponding unit battery cell that are taken in via the plurality of voltage terminals,
a plurality of state-of-charge-adjust terminals that are provided to be used to adjust a state of charge of each of the plurality of battery cells of the corresponding unit battery cell,
a plurality of switches that are respectively and electrically connected with the plurality of state-of-charge-adjust terminals, and each form a discharge circuit that adjusts a state of charge of each of the plurality of battery cells of the corresponding unit battery cell,
a driving unit that drives each of the plurality of switches,
a communication unit that inputs/outputs a signal,
a signal input terminal that is provided to be used to input a signal to the communication unit,
a signal output terminal that is provided to be used to output a signal from the communication unit,
a temperature detection unit that detects a temperature of an integrated circuit, and
a temperature abnormality detection unit that detects whether or not the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit exceeds a preset temperature;
each of the plurality of battery-cell-monitor integrated circuits includes
a signal input terminal to input a signal, and
a signal output terminal to output a signal;
a first signal transmission line via which a signal is transmitted in series through the plurality of battery-cell-control integrated circuits is provided among the plurality of battery-cell-control integrated circuits so that a signal is outputted from a signal output terminal of a 1st battery-cell-control integrated circuit based upon a signal inputted at a signal input terminal of the 1st battery-cell-control integrated circuit to be inputted at a signal input terminal of a 2nd battery-cell-control integrated circuit;
a second signal transmission line via which a signal is transmitted in series through the plurality of battery-cell-monitor integrated circuits is provided among the plurality of battery-cell-monitor integrated circuits so that a signal is outputted from a signal output terminal of a 1st battery-cell-monitor integrated circuit based upon a signal inputted at a signal input terminal of the 1st battery-cell-monitor integrated circuit to be inputted at a signal input terminal of a 2nd battery-cell-monitor integrated circuit; and
the temperature abnormality detection unit stops driving of the plurality of switches when the temperature abnormality detection unit detects that the detected temperature exceeds the preset temperature.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

A battery system according to claim 9, wherein:
each of the plurality of battery-cell-monitor integrated circuits further includes a unit that detects whether or not the plurality of battery cells of the corresponding unit battery cell have an abnormality of overcharging or over-discharging;
each of the plurality of battery-cell-monitor integrated circuits is configured to output a signal indicating the abnormality from the signal output terminal when the plurality of battery cells of the corresponding unit battery cell have the abnormality of overcharging or over-discharging; and
the signal indicating the abnormality outputted from the signal output terminal of the battery-cell-monitor integrated circuit is transmitted via the first signal transmission line when the plurality of battery cells have the abnormality of overcharging or over-discharging.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

A battery system according to claim 9, wherein:
each of the plurality of battery-cell-control integrated circuits includes a switch abnormality detection unit that detects an abnormality of each of the plurality of switches, and an abnormality identification unit that, when the switch abnormality detection unit detects the abnormality of a switch, identifies an abnormal switch;
when the abnormality of either one of the plurality of switches is detected, each of the plurality of battery-cell-control integrated circuits is configured to output a signal indicating the abnormality of the identified abnormal switch from the communication unit via the signal output terminal; and
when the switch abnormality detection unit detects the abnormality of the switch, the signal indicating the abnormality of the abnormal switch outputted from the signal output terminal is transmitted via the first signal transmission line.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

A battery system according to claim 11, wherein:
the switch abnormality detection unit detects an abnormality of each of the plurality of switches by comparing a driving signal for each of the plurality of switches outputted from the driving unit with a voltage between both ends of a switch driven by the driving signal; and
the abnormality identification unit identifies an abnormal switch based upon the driving signal outputted from the driving unit when the switch abnormality detection unit detects the abnormality of a switch.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

A battery system according to claim 12, wherein:
each of the plurality of integrated circuits further includes a plurality of second signal input terminals that are provided to respectively correspond to the plurality of switches;
the driving signal that is compared by the switch abnormality detection unit is a signal generated based upon a state-of-charge external signal input to the driving unit via the plurality of second signal input terminals from outside.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

A battery system according to claim 13, wherein:
the plurality of switches are driven by driving signals generated by the driving unit based upon a state-of-charge-adjust command signal inputted to the communication unit via the signal input terminal, and also are driven by driving signals generated based upon the state-of-charge external signal inputted to the driving unit via the plurality of second signal input terminals.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

A battery system according to claim 9, further comprising:
a controller that outputs a signal to the plurality of battery-cell-control integrated circuits and the plurality of battery-cell-monitor integrated circuits;
a third signal transmission line that is provided between a first battery-cell-control integrated circuit among the plurality of integrated circuits, which receives a signal outputted from the controller, and the controller; and
a fourth signal transmission line that is provided between a first battery-cell-monitor integrated circuit among the plurality of integrated circuits, which receives a signal outputted from the controller, and the controller, wherein:
the third signal transmission line is electrically insulated between the controller and the first battery-cell-control integrated circuit by an insulation unit;
the fourth signal transmission line is electrically insulated between the controller and the first battery-cell-monitor integrated circuit by an insulation unit;
a first signal outputted from the controller is transmitted to the first battery-cell-control integrated circuit via the third signal transmission line, and then transmitted via the first signal transmission line; and
a second signal outputted from the controller is transmitted to the first battery-cell-monitor integrated circuit via the fourth signal transmission line, and then transmitted via the second signal transmission line.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

A battery system according to claim 15, further comprising:
a fifth signal transmission line that is provided between a second battery-cell-control integrated circuit among the plurality of battery-cell-control integrated circuits, which outputs a signal to the controller, and the controller; and
a sixth signal transmission line that is provided between a second battery-cell-monitor integrated circuit among the plurality of battery-cell-monitor integrated circuits, which outputs a signal to the controller, and the controller, wherein:
the fifth signal transmission line is electrically insulated between the controller and the second battery-cell-control integrated circuit by an insulation unit;
the sixth signal transmission line is electrically insulated between the controller and the second battery-cell-monitor integrated circuit by an insulation unit;
the first signal transmitted through the plurality of battery-cell-control integrated circuits is transmitted to the controller from the second battery-cell-control integrated circuit via the fifth transmission line; and
the second signal transmitted through the plurality of battery-cell-monitor integrated circuits is transmitted to the controller from the second battery-cell-monitor integrated circuit via the sixth transmission line.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

A battery system according to claim 15, wherein:
the controller outputs a command signal to detect voltages of the plurality of battery cells or a command signal to adjust a state of charge of the plurality of battery cells, as the first signal.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

A battery system according to claim 15, wherein:
the controller outputs a signal having a predetermined level to test a state of the plurality of battery-cell-monitor integrated circuits or the second signal transmission line, as the second signal.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

A battery system according to claim 18, wherein:
the controller determines that the plurality of battery-cell-monitor integrated circuits or the second signal transmission line is abnormal when a signal having a level different from the predetermined level is returned back.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

A battery system according to claim 18, wherein:
the controller transmits a signal for detecting an abnormality of the battery cell to the first battery-cell-control integrated circuit via the third transmission line when a signal having a same level as the predetermined level is returned back, and determines whether or not the battery cell is abnormal based upon a signal having been returned back from the second battery-cell-control integrated circuit via the fifth transmission line.

### Claim 21

A battery-cell-control integrated circuit that is used to detect a terminal voltage of each of a plurality of battery cells electrically connected in series and to adjust a state of charge of each of the plurality of battery cells, comprising:
a plurality of voltage terminals that are provided to be used to electrically connect with terminals of the plurality of battery cells;
a voltage detection unit that detects terminal-to-terminal voltages of the plurality of battery cells that are taken in from the plurality of voltage terminals;
a plurality of state-of-charge-adjust terminals that are provided to be used to adjust a state of charge of each of the plurality of battery cells;
a plurality of switches that are respectively and electrically connected with the plurality of state-of-charge-adjust terminals, and each form a discharge circuit that adjusts a state of charge of each of the plurality of battery cells;
a driving unit that drives each of the plurality of switches;
a communication unit that inputs/outputs a signal;
a signal input terminal that is provided to be used to input a signal to the communication unit;
a signal output terminal that is provided to be used to output a signal from the communication unit;
a temperature detection unit that detects a temperature of an integrated circuit; and
a temperature abnormality detection unit that detects whether or not the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit exceeds a preset temperature, wherein:
the temperature abnormality detection unit stops driving of the plurality of switches when the temperature abnormality detection unit detects that the detected temperature exceeds the preset temperature.

### Claim 22

A battery-cell-control integrated circuit that is provided to correspond to a plurality of battery cells electrically connected in series, is paired with a first integrated circuit that is connected with terminals of the plurality of battery cells, is electrically connected with the plurality of battery cells connected with the paired first integrated circuit, and is used to detect a terminal voltage of each of the plurality of battery cells connected with the paired first integrated circuit and to adjust a state of charge of each of the plurality of battery cells connected with the paired first integrated circuit, comprising:
a plurality of voltage terminals that are provided to be used to electrically connect with terminals of the plurality of battery cells connected with the paired first integrated circuit;
a voltage detection unit that detects terminal-to-terminal voltages of the plurality of battery cells connected with the paired first integrated circuit that are taken in via the plurality of voltage terminals;
a plurality of state-of-charge-adjust terminals that are provided to be used to adjust a state of charge of each of the plurality of battery cells connected with the paired first integrated circuit;
a plurality of switches that are respectively and electrically connected with the plurality of state-of-charge-adjust terminals, and each form a discharge circuit that adjusts a state of charge of each of the plurality of battery cells connected with the paired first integrated circuit;
a driving unit that drives each of the plurality of switches;
a communication unit that inputs/outputs a signal;
a signal input terminal that is provided to be used to input a signal to the communication unit;
a signal output terminal that is provided to be used to output a signal from the communication unit;
a temperature detection unit that detects a temperature of an integrated circuit; and
a temperature abnormality detection unit that detects whether or not the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit exceeds a preset temperature, wherein:
the temperature abnormality detection unit stops driving of the plurality of switches when the temperature abnormality detection unit detects that the detected temperature exceeds the preset temperature.

### Claim 23 (depends on 21)

A battery-cell-control integrated circuit according to claim 21, further comprising:
a switch abnormality detection unit that detects an abnormality of each of the plurality of switches; and
an abnormality identification unit that, when the switch abnormality detection unit detects the abnormality of a switch, identifies an abnormal switch, wherein:
when the abnormality of either one of the plurality of switches is detected, a signal indicating the abnormality of the identified abnormal switch is outputted from the communication unit via the signal output terminal.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

A battery-cell-control integrated circuit according to claim 23, wherein:
the switch abnormality detection unit detects an abnormality of each of the plurality of switches by comparing a driving signal for each of the plurality of switches outputted from the driving unit with a voltage between both ends of a switch driven by the driving signal; and
the abnormality identification unit identifies an abnormal switch based upon the driving signal outputted from the driving unit when the switch abnormality detection unit detects the abnormality of a switch.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

A battery-cell-control integrated circuit according to claim 24, further comprising:
a plurality of second signal input terminals that are provided to respectively correspond to the plurality of switches, wherein:
the driving signal that is compared by the switch abnormality detection unit is a signal generated based upon a state-of-charge external signal input to the driving unit via the plurality of signal input terminals from outside.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

A battery system according to claim 25, wherein:
the plurality of switches are driven by driving signals generated by the driving unit based upon a state-of-charge-adjust command signal inputted to the communication unit via the signal input terminal, and also are driven by driving signals generated based upon the state-of-charge external signal inputted to the driving unit via the plurality of second signal input terminals.