Faulty battery pack handling methods and devices, electronic equipment and storage media

Abstract

This application discloses a method, apparatus, electronic device, and storage medium for handling faulty battery packs. The method includes: when there are N faulty battery packs in a first region, determining, based on the fault types of the N faulty battery packs, a first degree of danger for each faulty battery pack at an initial moment and the time-varying pattern of the danger degree; wherein N is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2; determining, based on the first degree of danger and the time-varying pattern, a second degree of danger for transferring the N faulty battery packs sequentially according to each candidate sort; and determining the candidate sort corresponding to the smallest second degree of danger as the target sort; wherein the target sort is used by the transfer device to sequentially transfer the faulty battery packs from the first region to the second region.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of batteries, specifically to a method and apparatus for handling faulty battery packs, electronic equipment, and storage medium. Background Technology

[0002] A temporary storage area for battery packs may contain multiple faulty battery packs; these abnormal battery packs, if not handled promptly, could cause problems such as battery fires or explosions. The usual procedure is to move potentially flammable or explosive batteries to an explosion-proof area, thereby reducing the risk of injury to people and property caused by battery fires or explosions in non-explosion-proof areas.

[0003] In current technologies, the phenomenon of fires or explosions of faulty battery packs still occurs relatively frequently during the process of transferring faulty battery packs from one location to an explosion-proof area using transfer equipment. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of the above problems, this application provides a method and apparatus for handling faulty battery packs, an electronic device and a storage medium, which can at least partially reduce the probability of the faulty battery pack exploding or catching fire during the transfer of the faulty battery pack by the transfer device.

[0005] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a method for handling faulty battery packs, including:

[0006] Based on the first danger level value and the time change pattern, determine the second danger level value of N faulty battery packs to be transferred sequentially according to each candidate ranking.

[0007] The candidate sorting corresponding to the minimum second danger level value is determined as the target sorting; wherein, the target sorting is used to transfer the faulty battery pack from the first area to the second area in sequence by the transfer equipment.

[0008] If N faulty battery packs are found in the first area where battery packs are temporarily stored, it may not be possible to transfer them all to the second area at once. In this embodiment, based on the fault types of the N faulty battery packs in the first area, the first danger level value and time change pattern of the faulty battery packs at the initial moment are determined, and the time for transferring each faulty battery pack in sequence according to different orderings is determined. The second danger level value of the corresponding faulty battery pack is determined according to the corresponding candidate sequence, and finally the candidate sort with the smallest second danger level value is selected as the target sort for transferring the faulty battery packs, thereby reducing the probability of safety accidents such as searching or explosions during the transfer of faulty battery packs.

[0009] In some embodiments, determining a second danger level value based on a first danger level value and its time variation pattern, and sequentially transferring N faulty battery packs according to each candidate order, includes:

[0010] Determine the nth interval time required from the initial time to the time required for the transfer device to transfer the nth faulty battery pack of the mth candidate sequence to the second region, where n is a positive integer less than or equal to N;

[0011] Based on the duration of the nth interval and the time variation pattern, the third danger level value is determined by the change of the first danger level value of the nth faulty battery pack.

[0012] Based on the third danger level value of the N faulty battery packs in the m-th candidate sort, determine the second danger level value for transferring the faulty battery packs in the m-th candidate sort.

[0013] In this embodiment, the second danger level value is determined based on the nth interval time required from the initial time to transfer the nth faulty battery pack in the mth candidate sequence to the second region, the third danger level value formed by the change of the danger level value of the nth faulty battery pack in the m candidate sequence from the first danger level value to the nth interval time, and finally the second danger level value is determined based on the third danger level value.

[0014] This allows for the precise determination of the second hazard value for each candidate sequence, thereby selecting the candidate sequence with the smallest total hazard value (second hazard value) as the target sequence for transferring the faulty battery pack.

[0015] In some embodiments, determining the nth interval duration from the initial time to when the transfer device transfers the nth faulty battery pack of the mth candidate sequence to the second region includes:

[0016] When n equals 1, the first transfer time required for the transfer device to transfer the first faulty battery pack of the m-th candidate sequence to the second region is determined based on the relative position of the transfer device and the first faulty battery pack of the m-th candidate sequence. The first transfer time is then determined based on the first transfer time and the interval between the start transfer time and the initial time of the transfer device.

[0017] When n is greater than 1 and there is only one transfer device, the nth transfer time required to transfer the nth faulty battery pack to the second region is determined based on the relative position of the transfer device after transferring the (n-1)th faulty battery pack and the nth faulty battery pack in the mth candidate sequence. The nth interval time is obtained based on the (n-1)th interval time and the nth transfer time. When n is greater than 1 and there are multiple transfer devices, the mth candidate sequence is split into multiple sub-sequences. The nth interval time is determined based on the order of the nth-th faulty battery pack in the xth sub-sequence and the nth interval time required for the xth transfer device to transfer the (n-1)th faulty battery pack from the first moment.

[0018] The above scheme provides a simple and easy-to-operate method for calculating the time interval between each faulty battery pack in each candidate sequence during transfer.

[0019] In some embodiments, determining the second danger level value for transferring the faulty battery packs according to the third danger level value of the N faulty battery packs ranked in the m-th candidate order includes:

[0020] Map the third danger level value of the N faulty battery packs in the m-th candidate sorting to the fourth danger level value, where the third danger level value and the fourth danger level value are positively correlated and the positive correlation coefficient is greater than 1;

[0021] Calculate the sum of the fourth danger level values ​​of the N faulty battery packs in the m-th candidate sequence to obtain the second danger level value of the m-th candidate sequence.

[0022] In this embodiment of the disclosure, by mapping the third danger level value to the fourth danger level value, the proportion of high-risk faulty battery packs in the calculation of the second danger level value can be increased, thereby making the selection of the target sequence more reasonable.

[0023] In some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0024] The target sequence is sent to the controller of the transfer device, wherein the target sequence is used by the controller to generate control instructions for controlling the transfer device.

[0025] The device used to determine the target sequence in this application can be a host computer device of the transfer device. Therefore, after determining the target sequence, the target sequence will be sent to the controller so that the controller can control the transfer device to transfer the faulty battery pack.

[0026] In some embodiments, the second region includes a battery explosion-proof enclosure area.

[0027] Transferring faulty battery packs to an explosion-proof battery box ensures that even if the faulty battery pack explodes or catches fire, it will be within the explosion-proof battery box, thus reducing the risk of the faulty battery pack exploding or catching fire.

[0028] In some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0029] Battery pack status detection: The status of the battery pack removed from the electrical equipment in the battery compartment of the battery swapping station.

[0030] Based on the battery pack status, determine whether there is a faulty battery pack in the battery compartment and the type of fault in the faulty battery pack.

[0031] In this embodiment of the application, the status of the battery pack is detected. By detecting the status of the battery pack, it can be determined whether there is a faulty battery pack in the battery compartment. If there is a faulty battery pack, the type of fault will also be determined.

[0032] In some embodiments, the first danger level value of the faulty battery packs of different fault types is different, and / or, the time variation pattern of the faulty battery packs of different fault types is different; the fault types include at least one of the following: battery pack fire; battery pack smoke; battery pack short circuit; battery pack charging failure; battery pack discharging failure.

[0033] Different types of faulty battery packs have different initial risk levels and different patterns of change over time, allowing for the precise determination of the hazard level for each type of faulty battery pack. Therefore, based on these different initial hazard levels and their patterns of change over time, the second hazard level for different types of faulty battery packs can be determined.

[0034] Secondly, according to an embodiment of this application, a faulty battery pack processing device is provided, the device comprising:

[0035] The first determining module is used to determine the first degree of danger of a safety accident at the initial moment and the time variation law of the degree of danger when there are N faulty battery packs in the first region, based on the fault type of the N faulty battery packs; where N is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2.

[0036] The second determining module is used to determine the second danger level value of N faulty battery packs to be transferred sequentially according to each candidate order, based on the first danger level value and the time change pattern.

[0037] The sorting module is used to determine the target sorting from the candidate sorting corresponding to the minimum second danger level value; wherein, the target sorting is used to transfer the faulty battery pack from the first area to the second area in sequence by the transfer equipment.

[0038] If N faulty battery packs are found in the first area where battery packs are temporarily stored, it may not be possible to transfer them all to the second area at once. In this embodiment, based on the fault types of the N faulty battery packs in the first area, the first danger level value and time change pattern of the faulty battery packs at the initial moment are determined, and the time for transferring each faulty battery pack in sequence according to different orderings is determined. The second danger level value of the corresponding faulty battery pack is determined according to the corresponding candidate sequence, and finally the candidate sort with the smallest second danger level value is selected as the target sort for transferring the faulty battery packs, thereby reducing the risk during the transfer of faulty battery packs.

[0039] In some embodiments, the second determining module includes:

[0040] The interval duration submodule is used to determine the nth interval duration required from the initial time until the transfer device transfers the nth faulty battery pack of the mth candidate sequence to the second region, where n is a positive integer less than or equal to N;

[0041] The first determining submodule is used to obtain the third danger level value from the change of the first danger level value of a faulty battery pack;

[0042] The second determination submodule is used to determine the second danger level value of the N faulty battery packs in the m-th candidate sequence according to the third danger level value. The interval duration submodule is specifically used to determine the first transfer duration required for the transfer device to transfer the first faulty battery pack in the m-th candidate sequence to the second area based on the relative position of the transfer device and the first faulty battery pack in the m-th candidate sequence when n equals 1, and to determine the first transfer duration based on the first transfer duration and the interval between the start transfer time and the initial time of the transfer device.

[0043] When n is greater than 1 and there is only one transfer device, the nth transfer time required to transfer the nth faulty battery pack to the second region is determined based on the relative position of the transfer device after transferring the (n-1)th faulty battery pack and the nth faulty battery pack in the mth candidate sequence. The nth interval time is obtained based on the (n-1)th interval time and the nth transfer time. When n is greater than 1 and there are multiple transfer devices, the mth candidate sequence is split into multiple sub-sequences. The nth interval time is determined based on the order of the nth-th faulty battery pack in the xth sub-sequence and the nth interval time required for the xth transfer device to transfer the (n-1)th faulty battery pack from the first moment.

[0044] In this embodiment, based on the nth interval time required from the initial time to transfer the nth faulty battery pack in the mth candidate sequence to the second region, a third danger level value is formed after the danger level value of the nth faulty battery pack in the m candidate sequence changes from the first danger level value to the nth interval time. Finally, the second danger level value is underestimated based on the third danger level value.

[0045] The above scheme provides a simple and easy-to-operate method for calculating the time interval between each faulty battery pack in each candidate sequence during transfer.

[0046] In some embodiments, the second determining submodule is used to map the third danger level value of the N faulty battery packs in the m-th candidate sorting to a fourth danger level value, wherein the third danger level value and the fourth danger level value are positively correlated and the positive correlation coefficient is greater than 1;

[0047] Calculate the sum of the fourth danger level values ​​of the N faulty battery packs in the m-th candidate sequence to obtain the second danger level value of the m-th candidate sequence.

[0048] In this embodiment of the disclosure, by mapping the third danger level value to the fourth danger level value, the proportion of high-risk faulty battery packs in the calculation of the second danger level value can be increased, thereby making the selection of the target sequence more reasonable.

[0049] The device also includes:

[0050] The sending module is used to send the target sequence to the controller of the transfer device, wherein the target sequence is used by the controller to generate control instructions for controlling the transfer device.

[0051] The device used to determine the target sequence in this application can be a host computer device of the transfer device. Therefore, after determining the target sequence, the target sequence will be sent to the controller so that the controller can control the transfer device to transfer the faulty battery pack.

[0052] The second zone includes: battery explosion-proof boxes.

[0053] Transferring faulty battery packs to an explosion-proof battery box ensures that even if the faulty battery pack explodes or catches fire, it will be within the explosion-proof battery box, thus reducing the risk of the faulty battery pack exploding or catching fire.

[0054] The device also includes:

[0055] The detection module is used to detect the status of battery packs removed from electrical equipment in the battery compartment of the battery swapping station.

[0056] The fault determination module is used to determine whether there is a faulty battery pack in the battery compartment and the type of fault of the faulty battery pack based on the status of the battery pack.

[0057] In this embodiment of the application, the status of the battery pack is detected. By detecting the status of the battery pack, it can be determined whether there is a faulty battery pack in the battery compartment. If there is a faulty battery pack, the type of fault will also be determined.

[0058] In some embodiments, the first danger level value of the faulty battery packs of different fault types is different, and / or, the time variation pattern of the faulty battery packs of different fault types is different; the fault types include at least one of the following: battery pack fire; battery pack smoke; battery pack short circuit; battery pack charging failure; battery pack discharging failure.

[0059] Different types of faulty battery packs have different initial risk levels and different patterns of change over time, allowing for the precise determination of the hazard level for each type of faulty battery pack. Therefore, based on these different initial hazard levels and their patterns of change over time, the second hazard level for different types of faulty battery packs can be determined.

[0060] Thirdly, embodiments of this application provide an electronic device, which includes:

[0061] Memory, which stores computer-executable instructions;

[0062] The processor, connected to the memory, is used to implement the faulty battery pack handling method provided by any of the aforementioned technical solutions by executing computer-executable instructions.

[0063] If N faulty battery packs are found in the first area where battery packs are temporarily stored, it may not be possible to transfer them all to the second area at once. In this embodiment, based on the fault types of the N faulty battery packs in the first area, the first danger level value and time change pattern of the faulty battery packs at the initial moment are determined, and the time for transferring each faulty battery pack in sequence according to different orderings is determined. The second danger level value of the corresponding faulty battery pack is determined according to the corresponding candidate sequence, and finally the candidate sort with the smallest second danger level value is selected as the target sort for transferring the faulty battery packs, thereby reducing the risk during the transfer of faulty battery packs.

[0064] Fourthly, embodiments of this application provide a computer storage medium storing computer-executable instructions; after the computer-executable instructions are executed, they enable the faulty battery pack processing method provided by any of the foregoing technical solutions.

[0065] If N faulty battery packs are found in the first area where battery packs are temporarily stored, it may not be possible to transfer them all to the second area at once. In this embodiment, based on the fault types of the N faulty battery packs in the first area, the first danger level value and time change pattern of the faulty battery packs at the initial moment are determined, and the time for transferring each faulty battery pack in sequence according to different orderings is determined. The second danger level value of the corresponding faulty battery pack is determined according to the corresponding candidate sequence, and finally the candidate sort with the smallest second danger level value is selected as the target sort for transferring the faulty battery packs, thereby reducing the probability of safety accidents such as searching or explosions during the transfer of faulty battery packs.

[0066] The above description is only an overview of the technical solution of this application. In order to better understand the technical means of this application and to implement it in accordance with the contents of the specification, and to make the above and other objects, features and advantages of this application more obvious and understandable, the following are specific embodiments of this application. Attached Figure Description

[0067] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the drawings used in the embodiments of this application will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the drawings without creative effort.

[0068] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electrical device provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0069] Figure 2 A flowchart illustrating a faulty battery pack handling method provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0070] Figure 3 A flowchart illustrating a faulty battery pack handling method provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0071] Figure 4 A flowchart illustrating a faulty battery pack handling method provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0072] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a faulty battery pack processing device provided in some embodiments of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0073] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0074] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this application have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application pertains; the terminology used in the description of this application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the application; the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, in the description, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. The terms "first," "second," etc., in the description, claims, or accompanying drawings of this application are used to distinguish different objects, not to describe a specific order or hierarchy.

[0075] In this application, the reference to "embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of this application. The appearance of this phrase in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a separate or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive with other embodiments.

[0076] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "attachment" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal communication between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0077] In this application, the term "and / or" is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, or B existing alone. Additionally, in this application, the character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0078] In the embodiments of this application, the same reference numerals denote the same components, and for the sake of brevity, detailed descriptions of the same components are omitted in different embodiments. It should be understood that the thickness, length, width, and other dimensions of various components in the embodiments of this application shown in the accompanying drawings, as well as the overall thickness, length, width, and other dimensions of the integrated device, are merely illustrative and should not constitute any limitation on this application.

[0079] In this application, "multiple" means two or more (including two).

[0080] In related technologies, if palletizers or mechanical transfer arms randomly transfer faulty battery packs or transfer faulty battery packs from the nearest location, they fail to prioritize the transfer of high-risk faulty battery packs. This can lead to safety accidents such as fires or explosions of high-risk faulty battery packs during the transfer process. These accidents may also cause fires in other normal battery packs originally located in the first area, or result in injuries or fatalities among personnel in the first area.

[0081] In view of this, this application provides a method for handling faulty battery packs, which determines the first danger level value and time change pattern of a single faulty battery pack at the initial moment, determines the second danger level value of each faulty battery pack to be transferred according to the sorting of candidate sequences, and then selects the candidate sequence corresponding to the smallest second danger level value as the target sequence for transferring the faulty battery pack.

[0082] Therefore, it can at least partially reduce the occurrence of fires or explosions of faulty battery packs with high risk and severity during or before they are transferred, thereby reducing the occurrence of safety accidents during the transfer of faulty battery packs.

[0083] The faulty battery packs provided in this application embodiment can be used in places such as battery swapping stations or abnormal battery detection stations. A battery swapping station can be a place where battery packs for electrical equipment (e.g., electric vehicles) are replaced. At the battery swapping station, the electrical equipment unloads the battery pack that is depleted or has little remaining power and replaces it with a fully charged battery pack provided at the station. This allows the electrical equipment to leave or continue operating without waiting for charging, thereby reducing the waiting time for charging. In some embodiments, the replaced batteries need to be inspected and recycled.

[0084] Typical electrical devices can include, but are not limited to, mobile phones, tablets, laptops, electric toys, power tools, electric vehicles, electric cars, ships, spacecraft, etc. Among them, electric toys can include stationary or mobile electric toys, such as game consoles, electric car toys, electric ship toys, and electric airplane toys, etc., while spacecraft can include airplanes, rockets, space shuttles, and spacecraft, etc.

[0085] Figure 1 The image shows an electrical device. This electrical device is a new energy vehicle, which can be a pure electric vehicle, a hybrid electric vehicle, or a range-extended electric vehicle, etc. A battery is installed inside the vehicle, and the battery can be located at the bottom, front, or rear of the vehicle. The battery can be used to power the vehicle; for example, the battery can serve as the vehicle's operating power source. The vehicle may also include a controller and a motor. The controller is used to control the battery's power supply to the motor, for example, to meet the power needs of starting, navigation, and driving the vehicle.

[0086] In some embodiments of this application, the battery can not only serve as the operating power source for the vehicle, but also as the driving power source for the vehicle, replacing or partially replacing fuel or natural gas to provide driving power for the vehicle.

[0087] For example, the faulty battery pack handling method provided in this application embodiment has many application scenarios, and is not limited to the examples above.

[0088] like Figure 2 As shown in the figure, this application provides a method for handling faulty battery packs, including:

[0089] S110: When there are N faulty battery packs in the first region, determine the first danger level value of each faulty battery pack at the initial moment and the time change law of the danger level value according to the fault type of the N faulty battery packs; where N is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2;

[0090] S120: Based on the first danger level value and the time change pattern, determine the second danger level value of N faulty battery packs to be transferred sequentially according to each candidate order;

[0091] S130: The candidate sorting corresponding to the minimum second danger level value is determined as the target sorting; wherein, the target sorting is used to transfer the faulty battery pack from the first area to the second area in sequence by the transfer equipment.

[0092] This faulty battery pack handling method can be applied to electronic devices. When the electronic device detects that there are N faulty battery packs in a first area, it determines the first degree of danger of a safety accident occurring at the initial moment and the time change pattern of the faulty battery packs based on the fault types of the N faulty battery packs.

[0093] The first danger level value can be the first danger level value of each faulty battery when the time of the safety accident is determined (i.e., the initial time).

[0094] The time variation pattern reflects the change in the degree of danger of a faulty battery pack causing a safety accident over time. For example, the probability of a safety accident occurring in some faulty battery packs will increase over time, while the degree of danger will decrease for others.

[0095] In another embodiment, the time variation pattern can also reflect which time period the danger level of a safety accident reaches its maximum, and after reaching its maximum, the danger level begins to decrease.

[0096] Based on the first hazard level value and its time variation pattern for each faulty battery pack, the hazard level value of an accident occurring before the corresponding faulty battery pack is transferred to the second area can be calculated. The second hazard level value for the entire candidate sequence can be the sum, arithmetic mean, or weighted average of the hazard level values ​​of safety accidents occurring before each faulty battery pack is transferred to the second area. This is merely an example; the actual implementation is limited to the example described above.

[0097] In this embodiment of the disclosure, the first danger level value is positively correlated with the probability value of a safety accident occurring in the corresponding faulty battery pack. The second danger level value is positively correlated with the probability value of a safety accident occurring in the faulty battery pack during the transfer process or while waiting for transfer, when the faulty battery pack is being transferred according to the alternative sequence.

[0098] The first area here may be a place for temporary storage of battery packs, for example, the first area may include the battery compartment of a battery swapping station.

[0099] The second area can be an explosion-proof and / or fire-proof area for the battery. It could be a space made of sandbags, or an explosion-proof box, etc.

[0100] Therefore, the candidate sequence corresponding to the minimum second danger level value is determined as the target sequence for transferring the faulty battery pack from the first region to the second region, thereby minimizing the probability of a safety accident occurring before the faulty battery pack is transferred to the second region.

[0101] In some embodiments, such as Figure 3 As shown, S120 may include:

[0102] S121: Determine the nth interval time required from the initial time to the time required for the transfer device to transfer the nth faulty battery pack of the mth candidate sequence to the second region, where n is a positive integer less than or equal to N; m is a positive integer less than M; and M is the total number of candidate sequences for transferring N faulty battery packs.

[0103] S122: Based on the duration of the nth interval and the time variation pattern, determine the third danger level value obtained by the change of the first danger level value of the nth faulty battery pack;

[0104] S123: Based on the third danger level value of the N faulty battery packs in the m-th candidate sort, determine the second danger level value for transferring the faulty battery packs in the m-th candidate sort.

[0105] To transfer faulty battery packs according to the m-th candidate sequence, first determine the successful transfer time of the n-th faulty battery pack in the m-th sequence to the second area based on the speed of the transfer device and the transfer time of the n-th faulty battery pack in the m-th sequence. Then, based on this successful transfer time and the initial time for determining the first danger level value, the third danger level value for a safety accident during the transfer of the n-th faulty battery pack in the m-th candidate sequence can be determined. By determining the third danger level value for each faulty battery pack in the m-th candidate sequence, the second danger level value for transferring faulty battery packs according to the m-th candidate sequence can be determined based on the third danger level value for the transfer of each faulty battery pack in the m-th candidate sequence.

[0106] That is, the third danger level value is determined based on the first danger level value and the time change pattern, while the second danger level value is determined based on the third danger level value.

[0107] The method provided in this application embodiment allows for a simple, quick, and accurate determination of the second danger level value for transferring faulty battery packs according to each alternative sequence.

[0108] In one embodiment, S121 may include:

[0109] When n equals 1, the first transfer time required for the transfer device to transfer the first faulty battery pack of the m-th candidate sequence to the second region is determined based on the relative position of the transfer device and the first faulty battery pack of the m-th candidate sequence. The first interval time is determined based on the first transfer time and the interval between the start transfer time and the initial time of the transfer device.

[0110] When n is greater than 1 and there is 1 transfer device, the nth transfer time required to transfer the nth faulty battery pack to the second area is determined based on the relative position of the n-1th faulty battery pack after the transfer device has transferred the faulty battery pack and the nth faulty battery pack in the mth candidate sequence. The nth interval time is obtained based on the (n-1)th interval time and the nth transfer time.

[0111] When n is greater than 1 and there are multiple transfer devices, the m-th option is split into multiple sub-sequences, based on the order of the n-th faulty battery pack in the x-th sub-sequence and the n-th interval time required for the x-th transfer device to transfer the n-1 faulty battery pack from the first moment.

[0112] When the first faulty battery pack in each m-th candidate sequence is transferred, the first transfer duration can be determined based on one or more of the following: the location of the transfer equipment, the location of the first faulty battery pack in the m-th candidate sequence, and the moving speed of the transfer equipment. Combined with the start time of the transfer of the first candidate battery pack in the m-th candidate sequence, the first interval duration can be determined. Substituting the first interval duration into the time variation pattern, the change in the danger level value of the first faulty battery pack in the m-th candidate sequence within the first transfer duration can be known. Combined with the first danger level value at the initial moment, the third danger level value can be determined.

[0113] If n is not equal to 1, it means that the transfer device has already transferred at least one faulty battery pack before transferring the nth faulty battery pack in the mth candidate sequence. Therefore, the interval between transferring the nth faulty battery pack in the mth candidate sequence needs to take into account the time consumed by the transfer device in transferring other faulty battery packs. At the same time, the number of transfer devices also needs to be considered. If there is only one transfer device and there are multiple transfer devices, the time consumed in transferring the faulty battery packs before the nth faulty battery pack will be different.

[0114] Therefore, in this embodiment of the disclosure, the number of transfer devices is distinguished, and the nth interval time for transferring the nth faulty battery pack in the mth candidate sequence is determined, so as to accurately determine the interval time for transferring each faulty battery pack, and accurately determine the third danger level value for transferring each faulty battery pack, so as to accurately determine the second danger level value for transferring the faulty battery pack according to the mth candidate sequence.

[0115] In some embodiments, determining the second danger level value for transferring the faulty battery packs according to the third danger level value of the N faulty battery packs ranked in the m-th candidate order includes:

[0116] Map the third danger level value of the N faulty battery packs in the m-th candidate sorting to the fourth danger level value, where the third danger level value and the fourth danger level value are positively correlated and the positive correlation coefficient is greater than 1;

[0117] Based on the fourth danger level value of the N faulty battery packs in the m-th candidate sequence, the second danger level value of the m-th candidate sequence is obtained.

[0118] In this embodiment of the disclosure, in order to highlight the danger level of a faulty battery pack that urgently needs to be transferred, when determining to transfer the faulty battery pack according to the m-th alternative sequence, the third danger level of the faulty battery pack is mapped to the fourth danger level. The mapping relationship between the third danger level and the fourth danger level is a positive correlation mapping with a positive correlation coefficient greater than 1. Therefore, the fourth danger level is further highlighted by the urgent calculation of the second danger level.

[0119] In this embodiment of the disclosure, the sum of the fourth hazard values ​​in each candidate sequence can be used as the second hazard value, or the arithmetic mean of the fourth hazard values ​​in a candidate sequence can be used as the second hazard value.

[0120] In summary, there are many ways to determine the second hazard level value based on the second hazard level value, and the specific methods are not limited to the examples mentioned above. Since the second hazard level value and the fourth hazard level value are positively correlated, the candidate sequence with the minimum second hazard level value can be used as the target sequence for transferring the faulty battery pack, so as to minimize the probability of safety accidents occurring during the transfer process of the faulty battery pack.

[0121] like Figure 4 As shown, the method also includes:

[0122] S140: Send the target sequence to the controller of the transfer device, wherein the target sequence is used by the controller to generate control instructions for controlling the transfer device.

[0123] In some embodiments, the controller of the transfer device may be a controller wirelessly connected to the transfer device, such as a programmable logic controller (PLC). In other embodiments, the controller may be an integral part of the transfer device, in which case the controller controls its own moving parts to transfer multiple faulty battery packs in the first region according to the received target sequence.

[0124] The device that performs steps S110 to S130 or steps S110 to S140 can be the host computer of the controller, such as a host personal computer (PC).

[0125] In some embodiments, the second region includes the area inside the battery explosion-proof box.

[0126] This explosion-proof box is a special container designed to prevent faulty battery packs from exploding. Therefore, placing faulty battery packs inside the explosion-proof box can minimize the loss of personnel and other property caused by safety accidents resulting from battery pack explosions and / or fires.

[0127] In some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0128] Inspect the status of the battery packs removed from the electrical equipment in the battery compartment of the battery swapping station;

[0129] Based on the battery pack status, determine whether there is a faulty battery pack in the battery compartment and the type of fault in the faulty battery pack.

[0130] The solution for this faulty battery pack can be applied to battery swapping stations. Therefore, after the equipment enters the battery swapping station, the battery pack with low remaining power is removed and replaced with a fully charged battery pack from the station.

[0131] The battery compartment here is one type of the first area mentioned above.

[0132] Battery packs removed from electrical equipment may contain faulty battery packs. Therefore, the condition of the removed battery packs in the battery compartment can be checked to determine whether there are faulty battery packs in the battery compartment.

[0133] The battery pack status can be any state reflecting whether various attributes or characteristics of the battery pack are damaged. Specifically, the detection here refers to the battery pack status of the battery pack replaced from the electrical equipment in the battery compartment of the battery swapping station, including but not limited to one or more of the following:

[0134] Inspect the external condition of the battery pack inside the battery compartment;

[0135] Detect the circuit status of the battery pack inside the battery compartment;

[0136] Check the remaining power of the battery pack in the battery compartment;

[0137] Detect the charging status of the battery pack inside the battery compartment;

[0138] Inspect the insulation status of the battery pack inside the battery compartment.

[0139] Visual inspection can identify faulty battery packs with external damage. Battery packs may have a large capacity, and external damage can pose an electrical hazard. For example, a damaged battery pack casing may lead to electrolyte leakage. A bulging battery pack casing may indicate an abnormality in the internal structure. Furthermore, some battery packs may be smoking or on fire.

[0140] Short-circuit testing can detect whether there are short circuits or open circuits in the battery pack's circuitry; for example, it can detect whether there are short circuits or abnormalities in the battery pack's charging and / or discharging circuits. If the battery pack is discharging abnormally, then the discharging circuit is open; if the battery pack is charging abnormally, then the charging circuit may be open.

[0141] Remaining power detection can determine whether a corresponding battery pack is experiencing abnormal discharge. For example, if an electrical device displays insufficient power, but some battery packs still have a very high remaining power, it indicates that the battery pack may be experiencing abnormal discharge.

[0142] By inspecting the appearance and circuitry of the battery pack, the insulation status of the battery pack can be determined. For example, if the insulation resistance of the battery pack is found to be too low, it indicates that the insulation of the battery pack is abnormal.

[0143] In summary, after detecting the battery pack status, it is possible to determine whether the battery pack is faulty and the type of fault.

[0144] In some embodiments, fault types can be distinguished according to the severity of the safety accidents that a fault may cause, or they can be classified according to the cause of the battery pack failure. However, generally speaking, different fault types will result in different probabilities and / or types of safety accidents to the battery pack.

[0145] In some embodiments, the risk level corresponding to the fault type can be divided, and different risk levels have different weights. Based on the third risk level and the corresponding weight, the second risk level is calculated to highlight the impact of faulty battery packs with a high probability of safety accidents on the second risk level value, thereby selecting the candidate sequence with the lowest probability of safety accidents as the target sequence for transferring the faulty battery pack.

[0146] With the increasing popularity of new energy vehicles, battery swapping has become a mainstream method to extend the driving range of electric vehicles by replacing their batteries. Using battery swapping, the process can be completed in just a few minutes, shortening the original charging time and improving the operational efficiency of electric vehicles.

[0147] In a battery swapping station, how should decisions be made when multiple battery packs malfunction simultaneously? Battery pack malfunctions mainly include charging short circuits, charging failures, and battery pack fires. Some malfunctions, such as charging failures, do not increase in danger over time. Some malfunctions, such as battery pack fires, require immediate attention. Some malfunctions, such as charging short circuits, can escalate into major dangerous accidents over time.

[0148] If the random production and handling of faults cannot minimize the degree of harm, or even lead to a major safety accident, this application proposes a method for handling multiple faulty battery packs. When multiple battery packs in the charging compartment fail, the method prioritizes the handling strategies to minimize the loss from the faults.

[0149] The faulty battery pack handling method provided in this application embodiment may include the following steps:

[0150] Step 1: Define the safety incident A that occurred. m The danger level P of (m=1,2…) m , where P m The range of values ​​for is: greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to 0.

[0151] Step 2: Determine the hazard level P of a single accident without any intervention through experiments. i And the result P over time i (t)(t>0);

[0152] Step 3: Define the coordinates of the disposal window (initial position of the palletizer) as (0, 0), and the coordinates of each faulty battery pack as (x, y). i y i The time required to handle each faulty battery pack is then calculated.

[0153] Step 4: Handle the first faulty battery pack. Risk level is P. i1 (t i1 The risk level when handling the second faulty battery pack is P. i2 (t i1 +t i2 The risk level when handling the nth faulty battery pack is P. in (t i1 +t i2 +…+t in ).

[0154] Step 5: Define Use the tan function to express P i Mapping to (0, ∞) increases the weight of higher risk values ​​in the overall risk value calculation. Here, y represents one of the aforementioned second risk values.

[0155] Step 6: There are a total of n i Next decision, compare n i The decision corresponding to the minimum y-value is selected.

[0156] like Figure 5 As shown, this disclosure provides a faulty battery pack processing device, the device comprising:

[0157] The first determining module 110 is used to determine, when there are N faulty battery packs in the first region, the first danger level value of each faulty battery pack at the initial moment and the time change law of the danger level value according to the fault type of the N faulty battery packs; where N is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2.

[0158] The second determining module 120 is used to determine the second danger level value of N faulty battery packs to be transferred sequentially according to each candidate order based on the first danger level value and the time change pattern.

[0159] The sorting module 130 is used to determine the candidate sorting corresponding to the minimum second danger level value as the target sorting; wherein, the target sorting is used for the transfer equipment to transfer the faulty battery pack from the first area to the second area in sequence.

[0160] This faulty battery pack handling device can be applied to various electronic devices, including but not limited to PCs, mobile phones, or servers.

[0161] In some embodiments, the first determining module 110, the second determining module 120, and the sorting module 130 may be program modules; after being executed by the processor, the program modules can realize the functions of the above modules.

[0162] In other embodiments, the first determining module 110, the second determining module 120, and the sorting module 130 may be hardware-software hybrid modules; hardware-software hybrid modules include, but are not limited to, programmable arrays; programmable arrays include, but are not limited to, field-programmable arrays and / or complex programmable arrays.

[0163] In some embodiments, the first determining module 110, the second determining module 120, and the sorting module 130 may be pure hardware modules; pure hardware modules include, but are not limited to, application-specific integrated circuits.

[0164] If N faulty battery packs are found in the first area where battery packs are temporarily stored, it may not be possible to transfer them all to the second area at once. In this embodiment, based on the fault types of the N faulty battery packs in the first area, the first danger level value and time change pattern of the faulty battery packs at the initial moment are determined, and the time for transferring each faulty battery pack in sequence according to different orderings is determined. The second danger level value of the corresponding faulty battery pack is determined according to the corresponding candidate sequence, and finally the candidate sort with the smallest second danger level value is selected as the target sort for transferring the faulty battery packs, thereby reducing the risk during the transfer of faulty battery packs.

[0165] In some embodiments, the second determining module 120 includes:

[0166] The interval duration submodule is used to determine the nth interval duration required from the initial time until the transfer device transfers the nth faulty battery pack of the mth candidate sequence to the second region, where n is a positive integer less than or equal to N;

[0167] The first determining submodule is used to obtain the third danger level value from the change of the first danger level value of a faulty battery pack;

[0168] The second determining submodule is used to determine the second danger level value of transferring the faulty battery pack according to the third danger level value of the N faulty battery packs sorted according to the mth candidate.

[0169] In this embodiment, the second danger level value is determined based on the nth interval time required from the initial time to transfer the nth faulty battery pack in the mth candidate sequence to the second region, the third danger level value formed by the change of the danger level value of the nth faulty battery pack in the m candidate sequence from the first danger level value to the nth interval time, and finally the second danger level value is determined based on the third danger level value.

[0170] This allows for the precise determination of the second hazard value for each candidate sequence, thereby selecting the candidate sequence with the smallest total hazard value (second hazard value) as the target sequence for transferring the faulty battery pack.

[0171] In some embodiments, the interval duration submodule is specifically used to determine, when n equals 1, the first transfer duration required for the transfer device to transfer the first faulty battery pack of the mth candidate sequence to the second region based on the relative position of the transfer device and the first faulty battery pack of the mth candidate sequence, and to determine the first transfer duration based on the first transfer duration and the interval between the start transfer time and the initial time of the transfer device.

[0172] When n is greater than 1 and there is only one transfer device, the nth transfer time required to transfer the nth faulty battery pack to the second region is determined based on the relative position of the transfer device after transferring the (n-1)th faulty battery pack and the nth faulty battery pack in the mth candidate sequence. The nth interval time is obtained based on the (n-1)th interval time and the nth transfer time. When n is greater than 1 and there are multiple transfer devices, the mth candidate sequence is split into multiple sub-sequences. The nth interval time is determined based on the order of the nth-th faulty battery pack in the xth sub-sequence and the nth interval time required for the xth transfer device to transfer the (n-1)th faulty battery pack from the first moment.

[0173] The above scheme provides a simple and easy-to-operate method for calculating the time interval between each faulty battery pack in each candidate sequence during transfer.

[0174] In some embodiments, the second determining submodule is used to map the third danger level value of the N faulty battery packs in the m-th candidate sorting to a fourth danger level value, wherein the third danger level value and the fourth danger level value are positively correlated and the positive correlation coefficient is greater than 1;

[0175] Calculate the sum of the fourth danger level values ​​of the N faulty battery packs in the m-th candidate sequence to obtain the second danger level value of the m-th candidate sequence.

[0176] In this embodiment of the disclosure, by mapping the third danger level value to the fourth danger level value, the proportion of high-risk faulty battery packs in the calculation of the second danger level value can be increased, thereby making the selection of the target sequence more reasonable.

[0177] In some embodiments, the apparatus further includes:

[0178] The sending module is used to send the target sequence to the controller of the transfer device, wherein the target sequence is used by the controller to generate control instructions for controlling the transfer device.

[0179] The device used to determine the target sequence in this application can be a host computer device of the transfer device. Therefore, after determining the target sequence, the target sequence will be sent to the controller so that the controller can control the transfer device to transfer the faulty battery pack.

[0180] In some embodiments, the second area includes a battery explosion-proof enclosure. The faulty battery pack is transferred to the battery explosion-proof enclosure so that even if the faulty battery pack explodes or catches fire, it will be contained within the enclosure, thus reducing the risk of explosion or fire.

[0181] In some embodiments, the apparatus further includes:

[0182] The detection module is used to detect the status of battery packs removed from electrical equipment in the battery compartment of the battery swapping station.

[0183] The fault determination module is used to determine whether there is a faulty battery pack in the battery compartment and the type of fault of the faulty battery pack based on the status of the battery pack.

[0184] In this embodiment of the application, the status of the battery pack is detected. By detecting the status of the battery pack, it can be determined whether there is a faulty battery pack in the battery compartment. If there is a faulty battery pack, the type of fault will also be determined.

[0185] In some embodiments, the first danger level value of the faulty battery packs of different fault types is different, and / or, the time variation pattern of the faulty battery packs of different fault types is different;

[0186] The fault types include at least one of the following:

[0187] The battery pack caught fire;

[0188] The battery pack is smoking;

[0189] Battery pack short circuit;

[0190] Battery pack charging failure;

[0191] The battery pack failed due to discharge.

[0192] Different types of faulty battery packs have different initial first risk levels and different patterns of change over time, thus allowing for precise determination of the danger level of various types of faulty battery packs. Therefore, based on the different first danger level values ​​and patterns of change over time, second danger level values ​​for different types of faulty battery packs can be determined. This application provides an electronic device, comprising:

[0193] Memory, which stores computer-executable instructions;

[0194] The processor, connected to the memory, is configured to implement the faulty battery pack processing method provided in any of the foregoing embodiments by executing the computer-executable instructions.

[0195] This electronic device includes, but is not limited to, various PCs, servers, or mobile phones, as well as other terminal or non-terminal electronic devices.

[0196] The memory includes, but is not limited to, storage media such as ROM, RAM, and Flash. The processor includes, but is not limited to, CPU, MCU, or ASIC.

[0197] The memory and processor can be connected via a bus to enable data exchange between the processor and the memory.

[0198] The electronic device can execute the faulty battery pack handling method provided by any of the aforementioned technical solutions. For example, it can execute... Figures 2 to 4Any of the provided methods.

[0199] This application provides a computer storage medium storing computer-executable instructions. When executed, these instructions can implement the faulty battery pack handling method provided in any of the foregoing technical solutions. For example, they can execute... Figures 2 to 4 Any of the provided methods.

[0200] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and not to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein. These modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, and they should all be covered within the scope of the claims and specification of this application. In particular, as long as there is no structural conflict, the various technical features mentioned in the embodiments can be combined in any way. This application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but includes all technical solutions falling within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method for handling faulty battery packs, characterized in that, include: When there are N faulty battery packs in the first region, the first danger level value and the time change law of the danger level value of each faulty battery pack at the initial moment are determined according to the fault type of the N faulty battery packs; wherein, N is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2; Based on the first danger level value and the time change pattern, determine the second danger level value of N of the faulty battery packs to be transferred sequentially according to each candidate sequence; The candidate sequence corresponding to the minimum second danger level value is determined as the target sequence; wherein, the target sequence is used for the transfer device to transfer the faulty battery pack from the first area to the second area in sequence.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of determining the second danger level value of N faulty battery packs to be transferred sequentially according to each candidate sequence based on the first danger level value and the time change pattern includes: Determine the nth interval time required from the initial time until the transfer device transfers the nth faulty battery pack of the mth candidate sequence to the second region, where n is a positive integer less than or equal to N; m is a positive integer less than M; and M is the total number of candidate sequences for transferring N faulty battery packs. Based on the nth interval duration and the time variation pattern, a third danger level value is determined by the change of the first danger level value of the nth faulty battery pack. Based on the third danger level value of the N faulty battery packs in the m-th candidate sequence, determine the second danger level value for transferring the faulty battery pack according to the m-th candidate sequence.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The determination of the nth interval time required from the initial time until the transfer device transfers the nth faulty battery pack of the mth candidate sequence to the second region includes: When n equals 1, based on the relative position of the transfer device and the first faulty battery pack of the mth candidate sequence, the first transfer time required for the transfer device to transfer the first faulty battery pack of the mth candidate sequence to the second region is determined, and based on the first transfer time and the interval between the start transfer time of the transfer device and the initial time, the first interval time is determined. When n is greater than 1 and there is 1 transfer device, the nth transfer time required to transfer the nth faulty battery pack to the second region is determined based on the relative position of the n-1th faulty battery pack after the transfer device has transferred the faulty battery pack and the nth faulty battery pack of the mth candidate sequence. The nth interval time is obtained based on the (n-1)th interval time and the nth transfer time.

4. The method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, Determining the second danger level value of transferring the faulty battery pack according to the third danger level value of the N faulty battery packs in the m-th candidate sequence includes: The third danger level value of the N faulty battery packs in the m-th candidate sequence is mapped to the fourth danger level value, wherein the third danger level value and the fourth danger level value are positively correlated and the positive correlation coefficient is greater than 1; The second danger level value of the m-th candidate sequence is obtained based on the fourth danger level value of the N faulty battery packs in the m-th candidate sequence.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The method further includes: The target sequence is sent to the controller of the transfer device, wherein the target sequence is used by the controller to generate control instructions for controlling the transfer device.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The second area includes the area inside the battery explosion-proof box.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The method further includes: Inspect the status of the battery packs removed from the electrical equipment in the battery compartment of the battery swapping station; Based on the battery pack status, determine whether there is a faulty battery pack in the battery compartment and the type of fault of the faulty battery pack.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The first danger level values ​​of the faulty battery packs of different fault types are different, and / or the time variation patterns of the faulty battery packs of different fault types are different; The fault type includes at least one of the following: The battery pack caught fire; The battery pack is smoking; Battery pack short circuit; Battery pack charging failure; The battery pack failed due to discharge.

9. A faulty battery pack processing device, characterized in that, The device includes: The first determining module is used to determine, when there are N faulty battery packs in the first region, the first danger level value of each faulty battery pack at the initial moment and the time change law of the danger level value according to the fault type of the N faulty battery packs; wherein, N is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2; The second determining module is used to determine, based on the first danger level value and the time change pattern, a second danger level value for transferring N of the faulty battery packs sequentially according to each candidate sequence; The sorting module is used to determine the candidate sequence corresponding to the minimum second danger level value as the target sequence; wherein, the target sequence is used by the transfer device to transfer the faulty battery pack from the first area to the second area in sequence.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that, The second determining module includes: An interval duration submodule is used to determine the nth interval duration required from the initial moment until the transfer device transfers the nth faulty battery pack of the mth candidate sequence to the second region, where n is a positive integer less than or equal to N; The first determining submodule is used to obtain a third danger level value by changing the first danger level value of the faulty battery pack; The second determining submodule is used to determine the second danger level value for transferring the faulty battery pack according to the third danger level value of the N faulty battery packs in the m-th candidate sequence.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that, The interval duration submodule is specifically used to determine, when n equals 1, the first transfer duration required for the transfer device to transfer the first faulty battery pack of the m-th candidate sequence to the second region based on the relative position of the transfer device and the first faulty battery pack of the m-th candidate sequence, and to determine the first transfer duration based on the first transfer duration and the interval between the start transfer time of the transfer device and the initial time. When n is greater than 1 and there is 1 transfer device, the nth transfer time required to transfer the nth faulty battery pack to the second region is determined based on the relative position of the n-1th faulty battery pack after the transfer device has transferred the faulty battery pack and the nth faulty battery pack of the mth candidate sequence. The nth interval time is obtained based on the (n-1)th interval time and the nth transfer time.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that, The second determining submodule is used to map the third danger level value of the N faulty battery packs in the m-th candidate sequence to a fourth danger level value, wherein the third danger level value and the fourth danger level value are positively correlated and the positive correlation coefficient is greater than 1; The sum of the fourth danger level values ​​of the N faulty battery packs in the m-th candidate sequence is calculated to obtain the second danger level value of the m-th candidate sequence.

13. The apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that, The device further includes: A sending module is used to send the target sequence to the controller of the transfer device, wherein the target sequence is used by the controller to generate control instructions for controlling the transfer device.

14. An electronic device, characterized in that, The electronic device includes: Memory, which stores computer-executable instructions; A processor, connected to the memory, is configured to implement the method of any one of claims 1 to 8 by executing the computer-executable instructions.

15. A computer storage medium, characterized in that, The computer storage medium stores computer-executable instructions; when the computer-executable instructions are executed, they can implement the method described in any one of claims 1 to 8.

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