Battery connector and vehicle battery system

Abstract

The application relates to a battery connector. The battery connector (1) comprises a voltage-stabilizing unit (2), a coupling unit (3) and a contactor (4), wherein the contactor (4) is connected to the output end of a power battery (101) via the voltage-stabilizing unit (2), and the contactor (4) receives a control signal sent by a battery management system (102) via the coupling unit (3). The application also relates to a vehicle battery system (10) comprising the power battery (101), the battery management system (102) and the battery connector (1) according to the application. According to the application, the contactor can obtain a stable driving voltage from the high-voltage output end of the power battery, thereby enhancing the robustness of the contactor, avoiding the influence of the impact current generated by the contactor closure on the battery management system, enhancing the operation stability of the battery management system, and improving the electromagnetic compatibility of the vehicle power system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of vehicle batteries, and more particularly to a battery connector and a vehicle battery system. Background Technology

[0002] The vehicle's power battery isolation system includes a battery contactor that has a closed state and an open state and can switch between these two states, thereby realizing the power battery's on / off function. In current vehicle battery systems, both the battery contactor and the battery management system are connected to a 12V on-board power supply circuit and driven by a 12V low-voltage power supply. The battery contactor switches between closed and open states based on control signals from the battery management system.

[0003] However, the output voltage of the low-voltage power supply is particularly prone to fluctuations, and the closing time of the battery contactor will also fluctuate accordingly. Especially when the supply voltage of the low-voltage power supply is too low, the battery contactor may close too slowly or even fail to close, causing the vehicle to fail to start.

[0004] Furthermore, considering that the battery contactor is connected to the battery management system in the same power supply circuit, a large inrush current (e.g., reaching 25-30A) will be generated when the battery contactor is closed. This inrush current will have a certain impact on the battery management system, which increases the difficulty of circuit design and electromagnetic compatibility design of the battery management system.

[0005] Therefore, designing a stable and reliable battery contactor has become a technical challenge that needs to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide a battery connector and a vehicle battery system to at least partially solve the problems in the prior art.

[0007] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a battery connector is provided. The battery connector may include a voltage regulator unit, a coupling unit, and a contactor, wherein the contactor is connected to the output terminal of a power battery via the voltage regulator unit, and the contactor receives control signals from a battery management system via the coupling unit.

[0008] The core concept of this invention lies in connecting a contactor to the high-voltage power supply circuit of the power battery and receiving control signals from the battery management system in the low-voltage power supply circuit via a coupling unit, thereby achieving the switching of the contactor's on / off state. According to the current embodiment of this invention, on the one hand, the contactor can obtain a stable, especially low-fluctuation, driving voltage from the high-voltage output terminal of the power battery, thereby enhancing the contactor's robustness; on the other hand, the battery management system used to generate the control signals is separately constructed from the contactor in the low-voltage power supply circuit, thus eliminating the need for the battery management system to supply power to the contactor. This significantly reduces the required operating voltage and current for the battery management system, while avoiding the impact of the inrush current generated by contactor closure on the battery management system, enhancing the operational stability of the battery management system, and improving the electromagnetic compatibility of the vehicle's power system.

[0009] According to an optional embodiment of the present invention, the coupling unit may include a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter is configured to convert a first electrical control signal sent by the battery management system into a non-electrical signal and transmit it. The receiver is configured to convert the received non-electrical signal into a second electrical control signal for controlling the contactor. Here, the signal conversion by the transmitter and receiver enables coupling between the low-voltage power supply circuit and the high-voltage power supply circuit.

[0010] According to another optional embodiment of the invention, the coupling unit may be configured as an optocoupler, wherein the non-electrical signal may include an optical signal. Optionally, the optocoupler may include a light-emitting diode serving as the transmitter and a phototransistor serving as the receiver.

[0011] According to another optional embodiment of the invention, the coupling unit may be configured as an acoustic-electric coupler, wherein the non-electrical signal may include an acoustic signal. Optionally, the acoustic-electric coupler may include a buzzer serving as the transmitter and an acoustic sensor serving as the receiver.

[0012] According to another optional embodiment of the present invention, the output voltage of the power battery can be converted and stabilized within the rated operating voltage range of the contactor by the transformer and voltage regulator unit.

[0013] According to another optional embodiment of the present invention, the transformer and regulator unit may include a Zener diode, a transistor, and a current-limiting resistor, wherein the current-limiting resistor may be configured as a bias resistor for the transistor and used to limit the current flowing through the Zener diode, and the Zener diode may be configured to clamp the base voltage of the transistor.

[0014] According to another optional embodiment of the present invention, the transformer and regulator unit may be configured as a BUCK circuit.

[0015] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a vehicle battery system is provided, the vehicle battery system comprising a power battery, a battery management system and a battery connector according to the present invention. Attached Figure Description

[0016] The principles, features, and advantages of the invention will be better understood by describing the invention in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings show:

[0017] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of a battery connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0018] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure of a battery connector according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0019] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the structure of a battery connector according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown; and

[0020] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the structure of a battery connector according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0021] To make the technical problems to be solved, the technical solutions, and the beneficial technical effects of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and several exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this invention.

[0022] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a battery connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. The following exemplary embodiments describe the battery connector according to the present invention in more detail.

[0023] like Figure 1 As shown, the vehicle battery system 10 may include a battery connector 1, a power battery 101, and a battery management system 102. The power battery 101 may be configured as a rechargeable high-voltage battery for supplying energy to voltage components, such as a high-voltage battery with a voltage of 400V or higher. The battery management system 102 is used to control the operating state of the battery connector 1.

[0024] Here, the battery connector 1 may include a voltage regulator unit 2, a contactor 4, and a coupling unit 3. The voltage regulator unit 2 may be connected to the output terminal of the power battery 101, particularly between the positive and negative terminals of the power battery 101.

[0025] The contactor 4 can be connected to the power battery 101 via the transformer and voltage regulator unit 2 and obtain energy from the power battery 101 via the transformer and voltage regulator unit 2. The transformer and voltage regulator unit 2 can convert, especially step down, the DC output voltage (e.g., a high output voltage of 400V) of the power battery 101, and stabilize the converted voltage within the rated operating voltage range of the contactor 4, which is typically 12V. It should be noted that the transformer and voltage regulator unit 2 may include a transformer module and a voltage regulator module with separate structures. The transformer module is used to convert, especially step down, the output voltage of the power battery 101 to the desired output voltage, and the voltage regulator module is used to stably maintain the converted voltage within the desired output voltage, especially within the rated operating voltage range of the contactor 4. The transformer and voltage regulator unit 2 may also include an integrated transformer and voltage regulator module that can simultaneously perform the functions of transformer and voltage regulator.

[0026] It should be noted that, in the current embodiment of the present invention, the contactor 4 is an integrated positive and negative contactor, which is simultaneously connected to both the positive and negative terminals of the DC input voltage. When using a single positive and single negative contactor, it is necessary to provide a power source for the other terminal of the contactor.

[0027] The contactor 4 can receive control signals from the battery management system 6 via the coupling unit 3. Here, the coupling unit 3 may include a transmitter 31 and a receiver 32. The transmitter 31 may be configured to convert a first electrical control signal sent by the battery management system 102 into a non-electrical signal and transmit the converted non-electrical signal. The first electrical control signal may in particular include a contactor closing signal and / or a contactor opening signal, and the resulting non-electrical signal may include, for example, an optical signal, an acoustic signal, and / or a magnetic signal. The receiver 32 may be configured to convert the received non-electrical signal into a second electrical control signal for controlling the contactor 4, thereby switching the contactor 4 between closed and open states according to instructions from the battery management system 102.

[0028] Here, the transmitter 31 is connected to the battery management system 102 in a low-voltage power supply circuit, for example, 12V, and the receiver 32 is connected to the contactor 4 in a high-voltage power supply circuit powered by the power battery 101. The low-voltage power supply circuit and the high-voltage power supply circuit can be coupled through the signal conversion of the transmitter 31 and the receiver 32.

[0029] According to the current embodiment of the present invention, on the one hand, the contactor 4 can obtain a stable, especially less fluctuating, driving voltage from the high-voltage output terminal of the power battery 101, thereby enhancing the robustness of the contactor 4; on the other hand, the battery management system 102 for generating control signals is separately constructed from the contactor 4 in the low-voltage power supply circuit, so the battery management system 102 no longer needs to supply power to the contactor 4, but only needs to supply power to the transmitter 31 of the coupling unit 3. The operating voltage and operating current required by the battery management system 102 are significantly reduced, while avoiding the impact of the inrush current generated by the closing of the contactor 4 on the battery management system 102, enhancing the operational stability of the battery management system 102, and improving the electromagnetic compatibility of the vehicle power system 10.

[0030] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a battery connector according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. The following description only illustrates the relationship with... Figure 1 The differences between the embodiments shown are omitted for brevity, and the same components are not described again.

[0031] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the transformer and voltage regulator unit 2 connected in the high-voltage power supply circuit powered by the power battery 101 may include a Zener diode 21, a transistor 23, and a current-limiting resistor 22. Here, a current-limiting resistor 22 is connected between the base and collector of the transistor 23. This current-limiting resistor 22 can be used as a bias resistor for the transistor 23 to adjust the magnitude of the base bias current of the transistor 23. The anode of the Zener diode 21 is connected to the anode of the power battery 101, and the cathode of the Zener diode 21 is connected to the base of the transistor 23 to clamp the base voltage of the transistor 23, causing the transistor 23 to operate in the linear region. Considering that the DC output voltage of the power battery 101 is very high, for example, reaching 400V or higher, the current-limiting resistor 22 can also limit the current flowing through the Zener diode 21, preventing excessive current from flowing through the Zener diode 21 and causing diode breakdown.

[0032] Optionally, the rated operating voltage of the Zener diode 21 can be selected as 13V, thereby clamping the base voltage of the transistor 23 at 13V. When the transistor 23 is, for example, a silicon transistor, considering the 0.7V voltage drop between the base and emitter of the transistor 23, the emitter voltage output by the transistor 23 will be stably maintained within a voltage range of 12.3V, which is within the rated operating voltage range of the contactor 4.

[0033] Optionally, the coupling unit 3 can be configured as an optocoupler 301, which includes, for example, a light-emitting diode (LED) serving as a transmitter 31 and a phototransistor serving as a receiver 32. Here, the LED 31 is connected to the battery management system 102 in a 12V low-voltage power supply circuit. Optionally, a current-limiting resistor 103 is also connected in the low-voltage power supply circuit to prevent excessive current from entering. The phototransistor 32 is connected to the high-voltage power supply circuit powered by the power battery 101. The collector of the phototransistor 32 is connected to the emitter of the transistor 23, and the emitter of the phototransistor 32 is connected to the contactor 4. Thus, the emitter voltage of approximately 12.3V output by the transistor 23 is applied to the contactor 4 and the phototransistor 32, thereby allowing the contactor 4 to operate within its rated operating voltage range.

[0034] Here, the light-emitting diode 31 and the phototransistor 32 can achieve coupling between the high-voltage power supply circuit and the low-voltage power supply circuit through the conversion of optical signals and electrical signals. Here, the first electrical control signal sent by the battery management system 102 can control the light-emitting state of the light-emitting diode 31, and the phototransistor 32 can switch the closed and open states of the contactor 4 based on the light-emitting state of the light-emitting diode 31. For example, when the battery management system 102 stops supplying power, the light-emitting diode 31 stops emitting light, and the phototransistor 32 enters the cutoff region because it does not receive an optical signal, thereby shutting off the high-voltage power supply circuit and putting the contactor 4 in the open state. When the battery management system 102 sends the first electrical control signal to close the contactor 4, the light-emitting diode 31 conducts forward and emits light based on the received first electrical control signal. After the optical signal emitted by the light-emitting diode 31 illuminates the base of the phototransistor 32, the phototransistor 32 conducts, thereby switching the contactor 4 in the high-voltage power supply circuit to the closed state. After contactor 4 is closed, the high-voltage power supply circuit is turned on, so that the emitter voltage of, for example, 12.3V output by transistor 23 will be applied to contactor 4, thereby stably maintaining the closed state of contactor 4.

[0035] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a battery connector according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. The following description only illustrates the relationship with... Figure 2 The differences between the embodiments shown are omitted for brevity, and the same components are not described again.

[0036] In another optional embodiment of the invention, the coupling unit 3 can be configured as an acoustic-electric coupler 302, which includes, for example, a buzzer 31 serving as a transmitter and an acoustic sensor 32 serving as a receiver. Here, the buzzer 31 is connected to the battery management system 102 in a 12V low-voltage power supply circuit, and the battery management system 102 controls the audible and silent states of the buzzer 31. The acoustic sensor 32 can be connected to the high-voltage power supply circuit powered by the power battery 101 to switch the closed and open states of the contactor 4 based on the detected acoustic signal. For example, when the battery management system 102 stops supplying power, the buzzer 31 is placed in a silent state, and the acoustic sensor 32 enters a shut-off state when no acoustic signal is detected, thereby switching the contactor 4 in the high-voltage power supply circuit to the open state. When the battery management system 102 sends a first electrical control signal to close contactor 4, buzzer 31 emits an acoustic signal with a preset frequency. Upon receiving this acoustic signal, acoustic sensor 32 enters a conducting state, thereby switching contactor 4 in the high-voltage power supply circuit to a closed state. After contactor 4 is closed, the high-voltage power supply circuit is turned on, and an emitter voltage of, for example, 12.3V output by transistor 23 will be applied to contactor 4, thereby stably maintaining the closed state of contactor 4.

[0037] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a battery connector according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. The following description only illustrates the relationship with... Figure 2 The differences between the embodiments shown are omitted for brevity, and the same components are not described again.

[0038] In another optional embodiment of the present invention, the transformer and regulator unit 2 can be configured as a BUCK circuit, which may include, for example, a switching transistor 24, a freewheeling diode 25, an inductor 26, and a capacitor 27. Here, the switching transistor 24 is driven to turn on and off by a PWM drive signal to chop the DC voltage output by the power battery 101. For example, when the PWM drive signal is high, the switching transistor 24 is turned on, and current continuously flows through the inductor 26 to charge the capacitor 27; when the PWM drive signal is low, the switching transistor 24 is turned off, and the freewheeling current in the inductor 26 can flow through the freewheeling diode 25 and decrease linearly. At the same time, the output DC voltage can be filtered by a low-pass filter composed of the inductor 26 and the capacitor 27. In this way, the DC input voltage of the power battery 101 can be converted into the desired DC output voltage by the BUCK circuit, so that the contactor 4 is within the rated operating voltage range, wherein the desired DC output voltage can be adjusted by the duty cycle of the PWM signal. In particular, a high-frequency PWM drive signal can be used to drive the switching transistor 24 to switch on and off at high speed, so as to achieve the purpose of voltage regulation.

[0039] It should be noted that although specific embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail herein, they are provided for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention. Various alternatives and modifications can be proposed without departing from the core and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A battery connector (1) characterized in that, The battery connector (1) includes a transformer and voltage regulator unit (2), a coupling unit (3), and a contactor (4). The contactor (4) is connected to the output terminal of the power battery (101) via the transformer and voltage regulator unit (2), and the contactor (4) receives control signals from the battery management system (102) via the coupling unit (3). The coupling unit (3) includes a transmitter (31) and a receiver (32). The transmitter (31) is configured to convert a first electrical control signal sent by the battery management system (102) into a non-electrical signal and transmit it. The first electrical control signal includes a closing signal and / or a closing signal of the contactor (4). The receiver (32) is configured to convert the received non-electrical signal into a second electrical control signal for controlling the contactor (4) and switch the closing state and the opening state of the contactor (4) based on the second electrical control signal.

2. The battery connector (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The coupling unit (3) is configured as an optocoupler (301), wherein the non-electrical signal includes an optical signal.

3. The battery connector (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that The optocoupler (301) includes a light-emitting diode that serves as the transmitter (31) and a phototransistor that serves as the receiver (32).

4. The battery connector (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The coupling unit (3) is configured as an acoustic-electric coupler (302), wherein the non-electric signal includes an acoustic signal.

5. The battery connector (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that The acoustic-electric coupler (302) includes a buzzer serving as the transmitter (31) and an acoustic sensor serving as the receiver (32).

6. The battery connector (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that The output voltage of the power battery (101) is converted and stabilized within the rated operating voltage range of the contactor (4) by the transformer and voltage regulator unit (2).

7. The battery connector (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that The transformer and regulator unit (2) includes a Zener diode (21), a transistor (23) and a current-limiting resistor (22), wherein the current-limiting resistor (22) is configured as a bias resistor for the transistor (23) and is used to limit the current flowing through the Zener diode (21), and the Zener diode (21) is configured to clamp the base voltage of the transistor (23).

8. The battery connector (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that The transformer and regulator unit (2) is constructed as a BUCK circuit.

9. A vehicle battery system (10), the vehicle battery system (10) comprising a power battery (101), a battery management system (102) and a battery connector (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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