Battery, especially for motor vehicles, with passive signal range extension system

Abstract

Battery (10, 110, 210, 310), in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising: a housing (12) constituting an outer casing of the battery; a plurality of battery cells (14) and a plurality of radio frequency (RF) transmitters (16) arranged inside the housing, each of the battery cells having an associated RF transmitter of its own; a battery management controller (19) and an associated RF receiver (18) arranged inside the housing; and a passive signal range extension system (20). The extension system comprises a substrate (22) housing at least one transmitting antenna (26a) arranged opposite the plurality of RF transmitters, and at least one receiving antenna (26b) arranged opposite the RF receiver. A transmission line (28) connects said at least two patch antennas. Abstract Figure: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Battery, in particular for a motor vehicle, with passive signal range extension system Technical field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of batteries, and in particular batteries for the automotive industry having a battery management system. Prior art

[0002] A Battery Management System (BMS) is an electronic system designed to monitor and control rechargeable batteries. Its primary function is to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the battery by managing various aspects of battery performance, health, and safety.

[0003] Battery management systems (BMS) are important components in various applications that rely on rechargeable batteries, such as electric vehicles. The BMS ensures, among other things, that the battery operates at its optimal performance by actively managing individual battery cells. It monitors parameters such as voltage, current, and temperature, allowing the BMS to balance the cells, control charge and discharge rates, and prevent overcharging or overdischarging. Optimizing battery performance can help increase the overall efficiency of the vehicle and extends the driving range.

[0004] BMSs rely on communication between the battery cells and the battery management controller. There are wired and wireless systems (Wireless BMS, WBMS in English). Wireless systems rely on radio frequency (RF) communication between the different slave modules (the battery cells), each of which has an RF transmitter, and the supervision module (the battery management controller), which has an RF receiver.

[0005] Compared to wired battery monitoring systems, wireless WBMS systems offer many advantages, such as reduced assembly efforts, reduced number of connectors, as well as intrinsic galvanic isolation.

[0006] However, they can have drawbacks in terms of reliability because of the radio frequency signal. Indeed, depending on the environment (presence of shielding or reflective material), or even depending on the frequency channel, there can be "black spots", which will result in poor power transfer from the transmitter (battery cell) and the receiver (battery management controller) Summary

[0007] The present disclosure improves the situation.

[0008] A battery is proposed, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising: a housing constituting an external envelope of the battery; a plurality of battery cells and a plurality of radio frequency transmitters arranged inside the housing in a plane, each of the battery cells having an associated radio frequency transmitter of its own; a battery management controller and an associated radio frequency receiver arranged inside the housing; and a passive signal range extension system, comprising: a substrate housing a radio frequency track.The radio frequency track comprises at least one transmitting antenna of the patch antenna type, arranged opposite the plurality of radio frequency transmitters, and at least one receiving antenna of the patch antenna type, arranged opposite the radio frequency receiver; and a transmission line connecting said at least two patch antennas formed by the at least one transmitting antenna and the at least one receiving antenna.

[0009] The features set out in the following paragraphs may, optionally, be implemented, independently of one another or in combination with one another: - the housing includes a cover, and the signal range extension system is at least partially integrated into the cover; - the signal range extension system includes a first portion of substrate arranged in a first predetermined plane, parallel to the plane along which the radio frequency transmitters extend, called the horizontal plane, and a second portion of substrate arranged in a second plane orthogonal to the first plane, called the vertical plane, said at least one transmitting antenna being arranged in the first portion of the substrate and said at least one receiving antenna being arranged in the second portion of the substrate, the first portion of the substrate being contiguous to the second portion of the substrate; - said at least one transmitting antenna includes a plurality of transmitting antennas each formed by a respective patch antenna, connected to each other by transmission lines; - the signal range extension system includes as many transmitting antennas as there are radio frequency transmitters, and each of the transmitting antennas is arranged opposite a radio frequency transmitter of its own; - the signal range extension system includes fewer, preferably half as many transmitting antennas as radio frequency transmitters, and each of the transmitting antennas is arranged opposite each other (in particular above relative to a vertical axis orthogonal to the plane of the radio frequency transmitters) and equidistant from two adjacent radio frequency transmitters; - the battery cells of the plurality of battery cells are arranged in rows and columns in a first predetermined plane, parallel to the plane along which the radio frequency transmitters extend, called the horizontal plane, and the radio frequency transmitters of the plurality of transmitters are each arranged on one side of the respective cells, and are contained in the horizontal plane; - the radio frequency receiver is arranged on one side of the battery management controller and is contained in a second plane orthogonal to the foreground, called the vertical plane; - the plurality of battery cells and the battery management controller are arranged in the same first predetermined plane, parallel to the plane along which the radio frequency transmitters extend, called the horizontal plane.

[0010] According to another aspect, there is provided a vehicle comprising the above battery. Brief description of the drawings

[0011] Other characteristics, details and advantages will appear on reading the detailed description below, and on analyzing the attached drawings, in which: Fig.l

[0012] [Fig.l] shows a battery having a signal range extension system according to one embodiment. Fig. 2

[0013] [Fig.2] shows a battery having a signal range extension system according to another embodiment. Fig. 3

[0014] [Fig.3] shows a battery having a signal range extension system according to another embodiment. Fig. 4

[0015] [Fig.4] shows a battery having a signal range extension system according to another embodiment. Fig. 5

[0016] [Fig.5] illustrates the signal strength between a receiver and a transmitter without the system signal range extension of [Fig.3]. Fig. 6

[0017] [Fig.6] illustrates the signal strength between a receiver and a transmitter with system signal range extension of [Fig.3]. Description of the embodiments

[0018] Reference is now made to [Fig.l] which shows an example of a battery 10 equipped with a signal range extension system 20.

[0019] The battery 10 comprises a housing 12 which encloses the various components of the battery 10. The housing 12 may be rigid, and made of plastic, metal or composite.

[0020] Inside the housing 12 are a plurality of battery cells 14. The battery cells 14 are arranged in an XY plane (first predetermined plane called horizontal plane). The battery cells 14 may be arranged aligned in rows and columns. In the example of [Fig.l], two columns each comprising four battery cells 14 are illustrated.

[0021] Each of the battery cells 14 is equipped with a radio frequency (RF) transmitter 16 capable of communicating with an RF receiver 18. The RF receiver 18 is associated with a battery management controller 19. Thus, through RF wireless communication, the battery management controller 19 receives various information from each of the battery cells 14, thereby actively managing the individual battery cells 14 and consequently the battery 10 operating at its optimal performance.

[0022] Even though only one receiver is illustrated in [Fig. 1], it could be that the battery 10 includes more than one RF receiver. In the example of [Fig. 1], the RF transmitters 16 and RF receiver 18 are arranged on one side (or face, or top) of the battery cells 14 in another horizontal XY plane. It could be that the RF transmitters 16 and / or RF receiver 18 are arranged along a Z axis perpendicular to the XY plane in a plane perpendicular to the XY plane (as is the case for the receiver 318 in [Fig. 4]) and still connected to the battery cells (e.g., on one side). According to one embodiment, the battery management controller 19 is arranged in the same horizontal XY plane as the plurality of battery cells 14.

[0023] In order to improve the propagation of the RF signal between the individual battery cells 14 and the battery management controller 19, the battery 10 is equipped with a signal range extender system 20.

[0024] The system 20 is arranged opposite the individual battery cells 14 and the battery management controller 19. By "opposite" is meant a vertically aligned arrangement (with the vertical axis extending orthogonal to the plane of the individual battery cells 14), not necessarily touching, an air space most often being located between the two elements considered opposite each other. According to one embodiment, the system 20 is arranged, or even integrated (at least in part) in the cover of the housing 12 of the battery 10.

[0025] The system 20 is a passive repeater; it does not include any electrical components. The system 20 includes a substrate 22 housing an RF track 24. The RF track is composed of a plurality of patch antennas 26, connected together by at least one transmission line 28.

[0026] Here, the system 20 comprises several transmission lines 28. Here, but in a non-limiting manner, each transmission line 28 is rectilinear. For example, we have a central transmission line, from which secondary transmission lines depart, each connecting the central transmission line to one of the patch antennas 26.

[0027] The substrate 22 that accommodates the transmission lines 28 and the patch antennas 26 may be made of a dielectric material, such as a plastic. Preferably, the substrate 22 is flexible. The substrate 22 accommodates a ground plane (not shown), which is in the form of a metal plate that extends over all (or almost all) of the surface of the substrate, in a plane parallel to the transmission lines 28 and patch antennas 26.

[0028] The patch antennas 26 comprise at least one patch antenna, called the transmitting antenna 26a, associated with the RF transmitters 16, and one patch antenna, called the receiving antenna 26b, associated with the RF receiver 18. The transmitting antennas 26a and receiving antennas 26b are structurally identical in the examples shown in the figures. It is possible that the transmitting antennas 26a and receiving antennas 26b have structural differences, while remaining passive systems.

[0029] There may be as many patch antennas 26 as individual battery cells 14, as in the case of [Fig. 1]. However, there may be fewer patch antennas 26 than individual battery cells 14, so that several battery cells 14 "share" one patch antenna 26, as in the case of [Fig. 2] where there are half as many.

[0030] Preferably, when there are as many patch antennas 26 as individual battery cells 14, each of the patch antennas 26 is arranged opposite a battery cell 14 of its own. Preferably, when there are fewer patch antennas 26 than individual battery cells 14, the patch antennas 26 are then arranged opposite the battery cells 14 (i.e. not in the same horizontal plane) and equidistant between several battery cells 14.

[0031] The transmission lines 28 have an impedance preferably equal to that of the patch antennas 26. Preferably, the transmission lines 28 have an impedance of 50 ohms. As illustrated in the figures, the transmission lines 28 may have a variable width along their length in order to maintain the impedance along the entire path of the transmission lines 28. For example, the width of a transmission line 28 connecting to a patch antenna 26 (shown by the arrows F1, and called the secondary transmission line, above) is twice as thin as a transmission line 28 connecting to another transmission line (shown by the arrow F2, and called the central transmission line, above).

[0032] Several configurations and arrangements of the battery 10 are illustrated as examples in the figures and the description of which follows.

[0033] In [Fig.l] described above, the signal range extension system 20 is a rectilinear plate with as many patch antennas 26 as battery cells 14. The signal range extension system 20 is integrated into the housing 12, more precisely in the cover. The patch antennas 26 are arranged opposite the RF transmitters 16 of the battery cells 14 and the RF receiver 18 of the battery management controller 19. The substrate 22 of the signal range extension system 20 is a rectilinear rectangular plate. In the example of [Fig.l], the RF transmitters 16, the RF receiver 18 and the substrate 22 are arranged in the XY plane.

[0034] In [Fig. 2], a variation of the signal range extender system 120 is shown for a battery 110 otherwise identical to the battery 10 of [Fig. 1]. The signal range extender system 120 is characterized by the fact that some patch antennas 126 (similar to the patch antennas 26 and thus having the same reference numeral but in the hundreds) are shared between two RF transmitters 16 (i.e., in this example, there is no one-to-one relationship between the number of patch antennas 126 and RF transmitters / receivers 16, 18). The signal range extender system 120 includes a patch antenna 126 facing the RF receiver 18 (receive antenna 126b), and a plurality of patch antennas 126 facing the RF transmitters 16 (transmit antennas 126a) (vertically above but not facing them). Thus, in this example, one patch antenna 126 is shared between two RF transmitters 16 arranged aligned in the Y direction.More specifically, the patch antenna 126 is equidistant in the Y direction from the two RF transmitters 16 aligned in the Y direction, while being vertically (in the Z direction) above the two RF transmitters 16 aligned in the Y direction. There are thus five patch antennas 26 for ten RF transmitters 16 in this example. It could be that only some of the RF transmitters 16 share a patch antenna 126. It could also be that the patch antennas are shared between RF transmitters 16 arranged aligned in the Z direction (all or just some).

[0035] In [Fig. 3], another variation of the signal range extender system 220 is shown for a battery 210 otherwise identical to the battery 10 of [Fig. 1]. It takes the concept of [Fig. 2] to its most reduced mode in terms of the number of patch antennas 226 (similar to the patch antennas 26 and thus bearing the same reference numeral but in the two hundred ranges). Thus, the signal range extender system 220 includes only two patch antennas 226, one for the receiver 18 (receive antenna 226b), and one for the plurality of RF transmitters 16 (transmit antenna 226a). The transmitting patch antenna 226a shared by the plurality of RF transmitters 16 is generally located in the middle of the RF transmitters 16. The patch antennas 226 remain connected to each other by a transmission line 228.

[0036] It will be appreciated that an increased number of patch antennas relative to the number of RF transmitters / receivers will be associated with improved signal quality. signal transmission. Similarly, the position of the patch antennas relative to the RF transmitters / receivers will influence the signal quality. Thus, it will be preferred when the patch antennas are as close as possible, ideally vertically above the RF transmitters / receivers.

[0037] In [Fig. 4], another variant of the signal range extension system 320 is shown for a battery 310 otherwise similar to the battery 10 of [Fig. 1]. The signal range extension system 320 is identical to the signal range extension system 120 of [Fig. 2] except that the substrate 322 no longer extends solely in the XY plane but has a portion in a YZ plane (second predetermined plane called vertical plane) orthogonal to the XY plane. The substrate 322 therefore includes a first portion 322a in the XY plane for which the patch antennas 326 are opposite the transmitters 16 (or transmitting antennas 326a), also positioned in the XY plane. The substrate 322 therefore also includes a second portion 322b in the YZ plane for which the patch antenna 326 located there is opposite the receiver 118 (or reception antenna 326b), also positioned in the YZ plane (the position of the receiver 118 is a difference compared to the battery 10 of [Fig.1 ]. .

[0038] The first portion 322a is contiguous with the second portion 322b, so that the transmission lines 328 are uninterrupted between the two portions. The substrate 322 is simply folded, with the first portion 322a being perpendicular to the second portion 322b. The substrate 322 could include the embodiments of the patch antennas (number, position) of [Fig.2] and [Fig.3].

[0039] Finally, with reference to [Fig.5] and [Fig.6], the effectiveness of the signal range extension system 220 is demonstrated. [Fig.5] illustrates the signal strength between the receiver 18 and the transmitter 16 without the signal range extension system 220. [Fig.6] illustrates the signal strength between the receiver 18 and the transmitter 16 with the signal range extension system 220. It is observed that the presence of the passive signal range extension system 220 provides a clear improvement in the transmitted signal strength.

Claims

Claims

1. Battery (10, 110, 210, 310), in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising: a. a housing (12) constituting an external envelope of the battery; b. a plurality of battery cells (14) and a plurality of radio frequency transmitters (16) arranged inside the housing in a plane, each of the battery cells having an associated radio frequency transmitter of its own; c. a battery management controller (19) and an associated radio frequency receiver (18) arranged inside the housing; and d. a passive signal range extension system (20), comprising: i. a substrate (22) housing a radio frequency track (24), the radio frequency track comprising: 1.at least one transmitting antenna (26a; 326a) of the patch antenna type, arranged opposite the plurality of radio frequency transmitters, and at least one receiving antenna (26b; 326b) of the patch antenna type, arranged opposite the radio frequency receiver; and 2. a transmission line (28) connecting said at least two patch antennas formed by the at least one transmitting antenna and the at least one receiving antenna.

2. The battery (10, 110, 210, 310) of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a cover, and the signal range extender system is at least partially integrated with the cover.

3. Battery (310) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the signal range extension system (320) includes a first substrate portion (322a) arranged in a first predetermined plane, parallel to the plane, called the horizontal plane (XY), along which the radio frequency transmitters extend, and a second substrate portion (322b) arranged in a second plane, called the vertical plane (YZ), orthogonal to the first plane, said at least one transmitting antenna (326a) being arranged in the first portion of the substrate and said at least one receiving antenna (326b) being arranged in the second portion of the substrate, the first portion of the substrate being contiguous to the second portion of the substrate.

4. Battery (10, 110, 310) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one transmitting antenna includes a plurality of transmitting antennas, each of the patch antenna type, connected together by transmission lines.

5. The battery (10, 310) of claim 4, wherein the signal range extension system (10, 320) includes as many transmitting antennas (26a, 326a) as there are radio frequency transmitters, and each of the transmitting antennas is arranged opposite a radio frequency transmitter of its own.

6. Battery (210) according to claim 4, in which the signal range extension system (220) includes fewer, preferably half as many, transmitting antennas (226a) as radio frequency transmitters, and each of the transmitting antennas is arranged opposite and equidistant from two adjacent radio frequency transmitters.

7. Battery (10, 110, 210, 310) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the battery cells of the plurality of battery cells are arranged in rows and columns in a first predetermined plane, parallel to the plane, called the horizontal plane (XY), along which the radio frequency transmitters extend, and the radio frequency transmitters of the plurality of radio frequency transmitters are each arranged on one side of the respective cells, and are contained in the horizontal plane.

8. Battery (310) according to the preceding claim, in which the radio frequency receiver is arranged on one side of the battery management controller and is contained in a second plane, called the vertical plane (YZ), orthogonal to the first plane.

9. Battery (10, 110, 210, 310) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the plurality of battery cells and the battery management controller are arranged in the same first predetermined plane, parallel to the plane, called the horizontal plane (XY), along which the radio frequency transmitters extend.

10. Vehicle comprising a battery according to one of claims 1 to 9.

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