Intelligent charging method

Abstract

The application discloses an intelligent charging method, which comprises: a system load detection stage, in which a charger switches the open state and the closed state of a charging port in a battery module instantaneously, and detects whether the battery module has a load current in the closed state; and an actual charging stage, in which the charger charges the battery module in a first charging mode when the load current exists, and charges the battery module in a second charging mode otherwise. Thus, the charging master is the charger, the charger can detect whether the battery module is electrically connected to a load system based on the load current, and automatically adjusts the size of the output current or voltage, so that the problem of insufficient charging caused by the connection of the battery module to the load system can be solved, that is, only the function of the charger needs to be modified, and the design of the battery module does not need to be changed simultaneously, thereby reducing the complexity of system design.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of charging, in particular to an intelligent charging method. BACKGROUND

[0002] When a battery module connected with a load system is charged by a charger, the actual charge amount of the battery module is less than the charge amount when the battery module is not connected with the load system, so that the battery module cannot be fully charged. In addition, if the charge amount percentage is used as the basis for updating the capacity of the battery module, the capacity update will face the problem of distortion. In addition, the time for the battery module to switch from the constant current charging state to the constant voltage charging state when connected with the load system is longer than when not connected with the load system, resulting in a longer charging time for the battery module when connected with the load system.

[0003] Therefore, in the existing scheme, the battery module actively transmits data to the charger to inform the charger to change the size of the output current or output voltage by communication, so as to solve the problems of the battery module connected with the load system that cannot be fully charged, capacity calculation distortion and longer charging time when using the charger to charge. However, in the above existing scheme, the circuit design of the charger and the battery module needs to be modified, and an additional handshake mechanism between the charger and the battery module needs to be established, which increases the complexity of the overall system. SUMMARY

[0004] The main purpose of the present application is to provide an intelligent charging method to solve the problem that in the prior art, an additional handshake mechanism between the charger and the battery module needs to be established to solve the problems of the battery module connected with the load system that cannot be fully charged, capacity calculation distortion and longer charging time when using the charger to charge.

[0005] In order to achieve the above purpose, the present application is implemented as follows:

[0006] An intelligent charging method is provided, comprising the following steps: a system load detection stage, in which the charger instantaneously switches the open state and the closed state of the charging port in the battery module, and in the closed state, the charger detects whether there is a load current drawn by the battery module; an actual charging stage, in which when the load current state exists, the charger charges the battery module in a first charging mode, otherwise, the charger charges the battery module in a second charging mode.

[0007] Therefore, the charger can actively detect whether the battery module is electrically connected to the load system by switching the open state and the closed state of the charging port in the battery module instantaneously after the battery module is electrically connected to the charger, to determine whether the battery module is electrically connected to the load system; and adjust the size of the output current or the output voltage based on the load current, thereby compensating for the insufficient charge of the battery in the battery module due to the electrical connection between the battery module and the load system, to ensure that the battery in the battery module is fully charged. In addition, when the intelligent charging method of the embodiment of the present application is applied, the charging master is the charger, and the battery module and the charger do not need to add additional communication handshake, and directly use the traditional connection topology, only the function of the charger needs to be modified, and the function of the battery module does not need to be modified at the same time, thereby reducing the complexity of the system. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0008] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the present application, illustrate embodiments of the present application and together with the description given below, serve to explain the present application. The present application is not intended to be unduly limited by the drawings, which are depicted by way of illustration and example. In the drawings:

[0009] Figure 1 An embodiment system architecture diagram for charging the battery module electrically connected to the load system by using the charger according to the present application;

[0010] Figure 2 An embodiment flow diagram of the intelligent charging method according to the present application;

[0011] Figure 3 An embodiment flow diagram of the system load detection stage described in step 410;

[0012] Figure 4 Another embodiment system architecture diagram for charging the battery module electrically connected to the load system by using the charger according to the present application;

[0013] Figure 5 An embodiment model diagram for charging the battery module when the battery in the battery module is in a constant-voltage charging state without being connected to the load system by using the charger according to the present application;

[0014] Figure 6 An embodiment model diagram for charging the battery module when the battery in the battery module is in a constant-voltage charging state with being connected to the load system by using the charger according to the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] Embodiments of the present application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In these drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or similar components or method flows.

[0016] It must be understood that the terms "comprise", "comprising", "include", "including", and the like used herein are used in their open-ended, conventional sense, that is, they are used to indicate the presence of a technology feature, a numerical value, a method step, an operation, a component, and / or a component, but do not exclude the presence of more technology features, numerical values, method steps, operations, components, components, or any combination thereof.

[0017] It must be understood that when a component is described as "connected" or "coupled" to another component, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other component, and there can be an intermediate component. Conversely, when a component is described as "directly connected" or "directly coupled" to another component, there is no intermediate component.

[0018] Please refer to Figure 1 , which is an embodiment of a system architecture diagram for charging a load system connected to a battery module using a charger according to the present application. In this embodiment, the battery module 100 is connected to the load system 200 and the charger 300, and the charger 300, the battery module 100 and the load system 200 are connected in parallel. Among them, the battery module 100 includes a charging port 110, a battery 120 and a battery management system (BMS) 130. The charging port 110, the battery 120 and the battery management system 130 are connected to each other, and the battery 120 includes a single battery core or a plurality of battery cores connected in series and / or parallel to each other, and the number of battery cores can be adjusted according to actual needs. The charger 300 includes a power supply port 310 and a processing module 320, and the power supply port 310 is connected to the processing module 320. When the charger 300 is electrically connected to the battery module 100, the power supply port 310 is electrically connected to the charging port 110. It should be noted that since the charging port 110 in the battery module 100 is normally in a closed state, when the charger 300 is electrically connected to the battery module 100, the charger 300 cannot directly immediately charge the battery module 100, and the charger 300 must first complete the handshake with the battery management system 130, and then the charger 300 can charge the battery module 100.

[0019] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 , Figure 2Figure 1 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of the intelligent charging method according to the present application. In this embodiment, the intelligent charging method comprises a system load detection phase and an actual charging phase. In the system load detection phase, the charger 300 switches the open state and the closed state of the charging port 110 in the battery module 100 instantaneously, and detects whether the battery module 100 has the existence of the load current in the closed state of the charging port 110 (step 410). In the actual charging phase, when the load current exists, the charger 300 charges the battery module 100 in the first charging mode, otherwise, the charger 300 charges the battery module 100 in the second charging mode (step 420).

[0020] In one embodiment, referring to Figure 2, Figure 1 and Figure 3 , Figure 3 Figure 3 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of the system load detection phase described in step 410. In this embodiment, in the system load detection phase, when the charger 300 is electrically connected with the battery module 100, the charger 300 first sends the battery management system 130 of the battery module 100 a charging start voltage level (step 510). After receiving the charging start voltage level, the battery management system 130 sets the charging port 110 of the battery module 100 to the open state (step 520), and informs the charger 300 that the charging of the battery module 100 can be started, i.e. the handshake procedure between the charger 300 and the battery management system 130. The biggest difference between the present application and the prior art is that the charger 300 of the present application does not directly charge the battery module 100 after the first handshake. Therefore, when the charger 300 first knows that the charging port 110 is in the open state, the charger 300 intentionally disables the charging start voltage level, so that the battery management system 130 re-switches the charging port 110 of the battery module 100 to the closed state (step 530). The charger 300 then detects whether the battery module 100 has the existence of the load current in the switched state of the charging port 110; if yes, the charger 300 sets the first charging mode, otherwise, the charger 300 sets the second charging mode (step 540). After that, the charger 300 sends the battery management system 130 of the battery module 100 the charging start voltage level again, so that the battery module 100 sets the charging port 110 to the open state, and enters the actual charging phase (step 550).

[0021] In one embodiment, the battery management system 130 comprises a temperature coefficient control unit 132 connected to the battery 120 and configured to detect the temperature of the battery 120 and output a corresponding temperature sensing signal to the battery management system 130. In one example, the temperature coefficient control unit 132 can comprise a voltage dividing circuit comprising a thermistor and a first resistor connected in series, the resistance of the thermistor being adjusted by temperature change, and the temperature sensing signal corresponding to the temperature of the battery 120 is output to the battery management system 130 in a voltage dividing manner. In another example, the temperature coefficient control unit 132 can be a temperature sensing chip configured to directly output a corresponding temperature sensing signal to the battery management system 130 based on the temperature of the battery 120. The charger 300 further comprises a temperature coefficient pin 330 electrically connected to the processing module 320. Therefore, when the charger 300 is electrically connected to the battery module 100 in step 510, the temperature coefficient control unit 132 is connected to the temperature coefficient pin 330, so that the processing module 320 of the charger 300 sends the charging start voltage level to the temperature coefficient control unit 132 of the battery module 100 through the temperature coefficient pin 330. The charging start voltage level can be, but is not limited to, 5 volts (V), and can be adjusted according to actual needs.

[0022] In one embodiment, after the temperature coefficient control unit 132 receives the charging start voltage level, the temperature sensing signal output by the temperature coefficient control unit 132 changes, so that the battery management system 130 in step 520 can set the charging port 110 to an open state according to the change of the temperature sensing signal.

[0023] In one embodiment, the processing module 320 of the charger 300 in step 530 can sense that the charging port 110 is in an open state through the power supply port 310, so that the processing module 320 can stop providing the charging start voltage level (e.g., 0 volts) to the temperature coefficient control unit 132 of the battery module 100 through the temperature coefficient pin 330. After the temperature coefficient control unit 132 fails to receive the charging start voltage level, the battery management system 130 switches the charging port 110 of the battery module 100 to a closed state.

[0024] In one embodiment, the processing module 320 of the charger 300 in step 540 can detect whether there is a load current in the battery module 100 through the power supply port 310 when the charging port 110 is in a closed state. If yes, it means that the processing module 320 determines that the battery module 100 is connected to the load system 200, and sets the charging mode of the charger 300 to a first charging mode. Otherwise, it means that the processing module 320 determines that the battery module 100 is not connected to the load system 200, and sets the charging mode of the charger 300 to a second charging mode.

[0025] In one embodiment, the first charging mode is based on compensating and adjusting the size of the output current or output voltage according to the size of the dummy load current. In which, compensating and adjusting the size of the output current or output voltage according to the size of the dummy load current can include: when the charger 300 senses that the battery 120 of the battery module 100 is in the constant current charging state, the charger 300 compensates and adjusts the size of the output current according to the size of the dummy load current; or when the charger 300 senses that the battery 120 is in the constant voltage charging state, the charger 300 compensates and adjusts the size of the output voltage according to the size of the dummy load current.

[0026] In other words, compensating and adjusting the size of the output current or output voltage according to the size of the dummy load current can include: the charger 300 sets the sum of the size of the dummy load current and the size of the default current as the size of the output current; or the charger 300 calculates a compensation voltage according to the size of the dummy load current, and sets the sum of the size of the compensation voltage and the size of the default voltage as the size of the output voltage, wherein the compensation voltage is the product of the dummy load current and the equivalent output resistance, and the equivalent output resistance is the sum of the equivalent resistance when the battery 120 is in the constant voltage charging state and the resistance of the connecting line connecting the battery module 100 and the charger 300.

[0027] In one embodiment, the second charging mode is based on setting the size of the output current or output voltage according to the size of the voltage of the battery 120 of the battery module 100. That is, when the charging port 110 is in the closed state and the charger 300 does not detect the presence of the dummy load current (i.e. the battery module 100 is not connected to the load system 200), the charger 300 sets the default current as the output current for charging the battery 120 or sets the default voltage as the output voltage for charging the battery 120.

[0028] In one embodiment, the charger 300 reissues the charging start voltage level to the temperature coefficient control unit 132 through the temperature coefficient pin 330 in step 550, so that the battery module 100 reconfigures the charging port 110 to be in the open state, and then enters the actual charging phase of the intelligent charging method.

[0029] In one embodiment, the actual charging phase of step 420 is that when the state of the draw load current exists, the charger 300 charges the battery 120 through the power supply port 310 and the charging port 110 at the adjusted output current (i.e. the sum of the size of the draw load current and the size of the default current) based on the battery 120 being in the constant current charging state, or charges the battery 120 through the power supply port 310 and the charging port 110 at the adjusted output voltage (i.e. the sum of the size of the compensation voltage and the size of the default voltage) based on the battery 120 being in the constant voltage charging state; when the state of the draw load current does not exist, the charger 300 charges the battery 120 through the power supply port 310 and the charging port 110 at the default current based on the battery 120 being in the constant current charging state, or charges the battery 120 through the power supply port 310 and the charging port 110 at the default voltage based on the battery 120 being in the constant voltage charging state.

[0030] In one embodiment, referring to Figure 1 , the battery management system 130 further includes a voltage detection unit 134 for detecting the voltage of the battery 120 of the battery module 100, and the battery management system 130 can transmit the information (i.e. the voltage of the battery 120) detected by the voltage detection unit 134 to the processing module 320 of the charger 300 by controlling the temperature sensing signal output by the temperature coefficient control unit 132, so that the processing module 320 determines that the battery 120 of the battery module 100 is in the constant current charging state or the constant voltage charging state after sensing that the temperature sensing signal changes (i.e. the processing module 320 receives the information detected by the voltage detection unit 134 through the temperature coefficient pin 330), and then sets the default current as the output voltage for charging the battery 120 or sets the default voltage as the output current for charging the battery 120.

[0031] When the voltage of the battery 120 is less than a predetermined threshold voltage, the charger 300 determines that the battery 120 is in a constant current charging state, otherwise, the battery 120 is in a constant voltage charging state. The predetermined threshold voltage, the default current and the default voltage can be adjusted according to different types of the battery 120. However, since the battery module 100 is connected with the load system 200, the battery 120 needs to be compensated for the electric quantity that cannot be charged due to the connection of the load system 200, so as to ensure that the battery 120 is fully charged. Therefore, when it is determined that the battery 120 is in the constant current charging state, the charger 300 needs to set the sum of the size of the load current and the size of the default current as the size of the output current for charging the battery 120; or when it is determined that the battery 120 is in the constant voltage charging state, the charger 300 needs to calculate a compensation voltage according to the size of the load current, and set the sum of the size of the compensation voltage and the size of the default voltage as the size of the output voltage for charging the battery 120. The compensation voltage is the product of the load current and an equivalent output resistance, and the equivalent output resistance is the sum of the equivalent resistance of the battery 120 in the constant voltage charging state and the resistance of the connecting line connecting the battery module 100 and the charger 300.

[0032] In an embodiment, please refer to Figure 4 which is another embodiment of the system architecture diagram of the battery module connected with the load system and charged by the charger according to the present application. In this embodiment, the charger 300 further comprises a detection module 340 connected with the processing module 320 and the battery module 100, and the detection module 340 is used to detect the voltage of the battery 120 of the battery module 100, so that the processing module 320 determines whether the battery 120 of the battery module 100 is in the constant current charging state or the constant voltage charging state, and then sets the default current as the output voltage for charging the battery 120 or sets the default voltage as the output current for charging the battery 120.

[0033] When the voltage of battery 120 is less than a predetermined threshold voltage, charger 300 determines that battery 120 is in a constant current charging state; otherwise, battery 120 is in a constant voltage charging state. However, since battery module 100 is connected to load system 200, it is necessary to compensate for any amount of charge that battery 120 cannot fully receive due to the electrical connection of battery module 100 to load system 200, to ensure that battery 120 is fully charged. Therefore, when it is determined that battery 120 is in a constant current charging state, charger 300 needs to set the sum of the pumped current and the default current as the output current for charging battery 120; or when it is determined that battery 120 is in a constant voltage charging state, charger 300 needs to calculate a compensation voltage based on the pumped current, and set the sum of the compensation voltage and the default voltage as the output voltage for charging battery 120. The compensation voltage is the product of the pumped current and the equivalent output resistance, where the equivalent output resistance is the sum of the equivalent resistance of battery 120 when in constant voltage charging state and the resistance of the connection wire between battery module 100 and charger 300.

[0034] The following combinations Figures 5 to 6 The magnitude of the compensation voltage is illustrated by way of example.

[0035] Please see Figure 5 and Figure 6 , Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of an embodiment where the battery module is charged using a charger when it is in a constant voltage charging state without being connected to a load system. Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of charging the battery module using a charger when the battery is in a constant voltage charging state, provided that the battery module of this application is connected to a load system.

[0036] exist Figure 5 middle, The voltage output of the charger is 300V. The voltage of the battery module 100 when it is not connected to the load system 200. The current output of the charger is 300. The magnitude of the current flowing through the battery module 100, which is not connected to the load system 200. The resistance of the connecting wire 400 between the battery module 100 and the charger 300 is specified. The equivalent resistance of the charger 300 when the battery 120 of the battery module 100 is in a constant voltage charging state. the charging time of the battery 120 of the battery module 100 not connected to the load system 200 when the battery 120 is in the constant-voltage charging state, so that the charger 300 can charge the battery 120 of the battery module 100 not connected to the load system 200 when the battery 120 is in the constant-voltage charging state .

[0037] In Figure 6 , the voltage output by the charger 300, the voltage of the battery module 100, the current output by the charger 300, the current flowing through the battery module 100, the resistance of the connecting line 400 connecting the battery module 100 and the charger 300, the equivalent resistance of the charger 300 when the battery 120 is in the constant-voltage charging state, the equivalent resistance of the load system 200, the current of the load current, the charging time when the battery 120 is in the constant-voltage charging state, the compensation voltage, so that the charger 300 can charge the battery 120 when the battery module 100 connected to the load system 200 is in the constant-voltage charging state .

[0038] The battery module 100 of the present application is to make the charging capacity accumulated by the battery 120 electrically connected to the load system 200 consistent with the charging capacity accumulated by the battery 120 not electrically connected to the load system 200 (i.e. ), assuming and , so that . Wherein, the equivalent output resistance.

[0039] In summary, the intelligent charging method of the embodiment of the present application, the charger can actively detect and judge whether the battery module is electrically connected to the load system, and automatically adjust the size of the output current or voltage, the battery module and the charger do not need to add additional communication handshake, directly use the traditional connection topology, only need to modify the function of the charger, do not need to modify the function of the battery module at the same time, reduce the system complexity.

[0040] Although the above-described components are included in the drawings of the present application, it does not exclude the use of more other additional components without violating the spirit of the invention, so as to achieve better technical effects.

[0041] While the application has been described by way of example, it should be appreciated that modifications and additions can be made without departing from the scope of the application. Accordingly, the scope of the application is limited only by the following claims.

Claims

1. A smart charging method, characterized in that, The intelligent charging method includes: During the system load detection phase, the charger instantaneously switches the charging port in the battery module between open and closed states. In the closed state, the charger detects whether there is a pumped current in the battery module. During the actual charging phase, when the pumped current is present, the charger charges the battery module in a first charging mode; otherwise, the charger charges the battery module in a second charging mode. The first charging mode is based on the load current compensation and adjustment of the output current or output voltage. The system load detection phase includes the following steps in sequence: when the charger is electrically connected to the battery module, the charger sends a charging start voltage level to the battery management system of the battery module; the battery management system of the battery module sets the charging port of the battery module to the open state according to the charging start voltage level; the charger cuts off the charging start voltage level, causing the battery management system to switch the charging port of the battery module to the closed state; when the charging port is in the closed state, the charger detects whether there is a pumped current in the battery module; if so, it sets the first charging mode, otherwise it sets the second charging mode; and the charger sends the charging start voltage level back to the battery management system of the battery module, causing the battery module to set the charging port to the open state, and then enters the actual charging phase.

2. The intelligent charging method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The step of the charger sending a charging start voltage level to the battery management system of the battery module when the charger is electrically connected to the battery module includes: When the charger is electrically connected to the battery module, the temperature coefficient pin of the charger is connected to the temperature coefficient control unit of the battery module, so that the processing module of the charger sends the charging start voltage level to the temperature coefficient control unit through the temperature coefficient pin, wherein the battery management system includes the temperature coefficient control unit.

3. The intelligent charging method as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The step of the battery management system of the battery module setting the charging port of the battery module to the open state according to the charging start voltage level includes: After receiving the charging start voltage level, the temperature coefficient control unit changes the output temperature sensing signal, so that the battery management system sets the charging port to the open state according to the change of the temperature sensing signal.

4. The intelligent charging method as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The step of the charger cutting off the charging start voltage level and causing the battery management system to switch the charging port of the battery module to the off state includes: After the processing module senses that the charging port is in the open state through the power supply port of the charger, the processing module stops providing the charging start voltage level to the temperature coefficient control unit through the temperature coefficient pin. When the temperature coefficient control unit fails to receive the charging start voltage level, it changes the output temperature sensing signal, causing the battery management system to set the charging port to the closed state based on the change in the temperature sensing signal.

5. The intelligent charging method as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The step of the charger detecting whether there is a pumped current in the battery module when the charging port is in the closed state, and setting it to the first charging mode if yes, and otherwise setting it to the second charging mode if no current is present, includes: When the charging port is in the off state, the processing module detects whether the battery module has the pumped current through the power supply port. If so, the processing module determines that the battery module is connected to a load system and sets the charging mode of the charger to the first charging mode; If not, the processing module determines that the battery module is not connected to the load system and sets the charging mode of the charger to the second charging mode.

6. The intelligent charging method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The step of compensating for and adjusting the output current or output voltage based on the pumped current includes: When the charger senses that the battery module's battery is in a constant current charging state, the charger adjusts the output current based on the load current compensation; or When the charger senses that the battery is in a constant voltage charging state, the charger compensates for and adjusts the output voltage based on the load current.

7. The intelligent charging method as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The step of compensating for and adjusting the output current or output voltage based on the pumped current includes: The charger sets the sum of the drawn current and the default current as the output current; or The charger calculates a compensation voltage based on the magnitude of the pumped current, and sets the sum of the compensation voltage and the default voltage as the output voltage. The compensation voltage is the product of the pumped current and the equivalent output resistance. The equivalent output resistance is the sum of the equivalent resistance of the battery when it is in the constant voltage charging state and the resistance of the connecting wire between the battery module and the charger.

8. The intelligent charging method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The second charging mode sets the output current or output voltage based on the voltage of the battery module.

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