Battery charging device and method

Abstract

An apparatus for charging a battery according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a current output unit configured to output a charging current to the battery within a preset charging time; a voltage measuring unit configured to measure a voltage of the battery; and a control unit configured to calculate a voltage change amount of the battery during the charging time, calculate a delay time according to a difference between the charging time and a reference time preset to correspond to the voltage change amount, and set a charging condition corresponding to the battery based on the calculated delay time.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0168437 filed on December 6, 2022 in Korea, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to a battery charging device and method, and more particularly to a battery charging device and method capable of quickly charging a battery. Background Art

[0003] In recent years, the demand for portable electronic products such as notebook computers, video cameras, and portable phones has increased dramatically, and electric vehicles, energy storage batteries, robots, satellites, etc. have been steadily developed. Therefore, high-performance batteries that allow repeated charging and discharging are being actively studied.

[0004] Currently commercially available batteries include nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, nickel-zinc batteries, lithium batteries, etc. Among them, lithium batteries have attracted much attention because they have almost no memory effect compared to nickel-based batteries, and also have very low self-discharge rate and high energy density.

[0005] With the commercialization of power-driven devices such as electric vehicles, electric motorcycles, and electric bicycles, the demand for high-capacity and high-performance batteries is increasing. However, as the capacity of the battery increases, the time required to charge the battery also increases, which is highlighted as a disadvantage. In order to solve this problem, technology for fast charging batteries is being developed.

[0006] However, in order to charge the battery quickly, specific information about the target battery for charging must be obtained. For example, prior information about the specifications, SOH (state of health), and maximum allowed charging C rate of the target battery for charging is required. In the absence of such battery information, failure to distinguish between fast charging may result in lithium precipitation on the surface of the negative electrode of the battery (lithium plating, Li plating). When lithium precipitates on the surface of the negative electrode, it causes side reactions with the electrolyte and changes in the dynamic balance of the battery, resulting in battery degradation. In addition, as lithium metal precipitates on the surface of the negative electrode, an internal short circuit of the battery will occur, and there is a risk of ignition or explosion due to the internal short circuit.

[0007] Therefore, there is a need to develop a technology that can safely and quickly charge a battery even without directly obtaining a priori information about the battery. Summary of the invention

[0008] Technical issues

[0009] The present invention is designed to solve the problems of the related art, and thus the present invention aims to provide a battery charging device and method for safely and quickly charging a battery by obtaining battery information.

[0010] These and other objects and advantages of the present disclosure can be understood from the following detailed description, and will become more fully apparent from the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. In addition, it is easily understood that the objects and advantages of the present disclosure can be achieved by the means shown in the appended claims and their combinations.

[0011] Technical Solution

[0012] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a battery charging device may include: a current output unit, which is configured to output a charging current to a battery during a preset charging time; a voltage measuring unit, which is configured to measure the voltage of the battery; and a control unit, which is configured to calculate a voltage change of the battery during the charging time, calculate a delay time according to a difference between the charging time and a standard time preset to correspond to the voltage change, and set a charging condition corresponding to the battery based on the calculated delay time.

[0013] The control unit may be configured to determine a charge C-rate corresponding to the battery based on the delay time, and set the determined charge C-rate as the charging condition.

[0014] The control unit may be configured to determine the charging C-rate corresponding to the delay time based on a charging profile set to represent a corresponding relationship between the delay time and the charging C-rate.

[0015] The control unit may be configured to calculate a charging current amount during a charging time, and calculate a resistance of the battery based on the voltage change amount and the charging current amount.

[0016] The control unit may be configured to set a standard time preset to correspond to the resistance.

[0017] The control unit may be configured to determine the charging C-rate based on the delay time and the resistance.

[0018] When a charging profile set to represent the correspondence between a delay time and a charging C-rate is set for each of a plurality of resistors, the control unit may be configured to select a charging profile corresponding to the resistor from among the plurality of charging profiles, and determine a charging C-rate corresponding to the delay time based on the selected charging profile.

[0019] The control unit may be configured to set a maximum C-rate corresponding to the delay time, set a threshold C-rate corresponding to the resistance, and determine a smaller value of the maximum C-rate and the threshold C-rate as the charging C-rate.

[0020] The control unit may be configured to set the maximum C-rate based on a first C-rate profile representing a correspondence between the delay time and the maximum C-rate, and to set the threshold C-rate based on a second C-rate profile representing a correspondence between the resistance and the threshold C-rate.

[0021] The current output unit is configured to charge the battery according to the charging condition after the charging condition is set.

[0022] The control unit may be configured to calculate a full charging time of the battery according to the charging condition.

[0023] The battery charging device may further include a display unit configured to output at least one of a charging condition and a full charging time.

[0024] A charging station according to still another aspect of the present disclosure may further include a battery charging device according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

[0025] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a battery charging method may include: a charging current output step, which outputs a charging current to a battery during a preset charging time; a voltage measuring step, which measures the voltage of the battery; a voltage change calculation step, which calculates the voltage change of the battery during the charging time; a delay time calculation step, which calculates the delay time based on the difference between the charging time and a standard time preset to correspond to the voltage change; and a charging condition setting step, which sets a charging condition corresponding to the battery based on the calculated delay time.

[0026] The battery charging method according to still another aspect of the present disclosure may further include a charging step of charging the battery according to the charging condition after the charging condition setting step.

[0027] Beneficial Effects

[0028] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, since the battery charging apparatus can set a charging C-rate corresponding to a connected battery in real time, it has the advantage of safely fast charging even without a priori information of the battery.

[0029] The effects of the present disclosure are not limited to the above-mentioned effects, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] The accompanying drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of the present disclosure and together with the foregoing disclosure are used to provide a further understanding of the technical features of the present disclosure, and therefore, the present disclosure is not interpreted as being limited to the accompanying drawings.

[0031] Figure 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a battery charging device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0032] Figure 2 is a diagram schematically showing an exemplary configuration of a battery charging device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0033] Figure 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating a charging current output by a battery charging device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0034] Figure 4 is a diagram schematically showing voltage changes of a battery according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0035] Figure 5 is a diagram schematically showing a voltage profile according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0036] Figure 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating a charging profile according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0037] Figure 7 is a diagram schematically illustrating a plurality of charging profiles according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0038] Figure 8 is a diagram schematically illustrating a first C-rate profile according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0039] Fig. 9 is a diagram schematically illustrating a second C-rate profile according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0040] Fig.10 and Fig.11 is a diagram schematically illustrating a battery charging method according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] It should be understood that the terms used in the specification and the appended claims should not be interpreted as limited to general and dictionary meanings, but should be interpreted based on meanings and concepts corresponding to the technical aspects of the present disclosure on the basis of the principle that the inventor is allowed to appropriately define the terms for the best interpretation.

[0042] Therefore, the descriptions presented herein are merely preferred examples for illustrative purposes, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure, and it should be appreciated that other equivalents and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0043] Furthermore, in describing the present disclosure, when it is considered that the detailed description of related known elements or functions makes the key subject matter of the present disclosure obscure, the detailed description is omitted herein.

[0044] Terms including ordinal numbers such as “first,” “second,” etc. may be used to distinguish one element from another element among various elements, but are not intended to limit the elements to the terms.

[0045] Throughout the specification, when a part is referred to as “including” or “comprising” any element, it means that the part may further include other elements, without excluding the other elements, unless specifically stated otherwise.

[0046] In addition, throughout the specification, when a part is referred to as being “connected” to another part, it is not limited to the case where they are “directly connected” but it also includes the case where they are “indirectly connected” with another element being interposed therebetween.

[0047] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0048] Figure 1 is a diagram schematically showing a battery charging device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 2 is a diagram schematically showing an exemplary configuration of a battery charging device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0049] Reference Figure 1 , the battery charging device 100 may include a current output unit 110 , a voltage measuring unit 120 , and a control unit 130 .

[0050] Here, the battery 10 refers to an independent cell having a negative terminal and a positive terminal and being physically separable. As an example, a lithium ion cell or a lithium polymer cell may be considered as a battery. In addition, the battery 10 may mean a battery module or a battery pack including a plurality of battery cells.

[0051] The current output unit 110 may be configured to output a charging current to the battery during a preset charging time.

[0052] Specifically, the current output unit 110 may be connected to communicate with the control unit 130. When receiving the current output signal from the control unit 130, the current output unit 110 may output the charging current during a preset charging time. For example, the charging time may be preset to a time less than 1 second.

[0053] Here, the intensity of the charging current may be preset to a specific value. Preferably, the intensity of the charging current may be set to a specific value without considering the capacity of the battery.

[0054] For example, when the battery is connected to the battery charging device 100, the control unit 130 may send a current output signal to the current output unit 110. When the current output unit 110 receives the current output signal, it may output a current of a preset intensity to the battery. In other words, the current output unit 110 may charge the battery with a current of a preset intensity within a preset charging time.

[0055] For example, in Figure 2 In the embodiment of the present invention, the current output unit 110 may be electrically connected to the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the battery 10. In addition, when the current output unit 110 receives a current output signal from the control unit 130, it may output a charging current to the battery 10.

[0056] Figure 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating a charging current output by the battery charging device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0057] exist Figure 3 In an embodiment of the present invention, the X-axis may represent the time of outputting the current, and the Y-axis may represent the intensity of the current. For example, it is assumed that the current output unit 110 receives a current output signal from the control unit 130 at time point t1. The current output unit 110 may output a current with an intensity of X (mA) during a preset charging time (Δt). Preferably, the current output unit 110 may output a pulse current with an intensity of X (mA) during a preset charging time (Δt). The current output unit 110 may output a charging current from time point t1 to time point t2.

[0058] The voltage measuring unit 120 may be configured to measure the voltage of the battery.

[0059] Specifically, the voltage measuring unit 120 may be configured to measure the voltage of the battery when the battery is charged by the charging current.

[0060] exist Figure 2 In the embodiment of the present invention, when the current output unit 110 charges the battery 10 with a charging current, the voltage measuring unit 120 may use the first sensing line SL1 and the second sensing line SL2 to measure the voltage of the battery 10. Specifically, the voltage measuring unit 120 may measure the positive electrode potential of the battery 10 through the first sensing line SL1, and measure the negative electrode potential of the battery 10 through the second sensing line SL2. In addition, the voltage measuring unit 120 may measure the voltage of the battery 10 by calculating the difference between the positive electrode potential and the negative electrode potential.

[0061] Figure 4 is a diagram schematically showing voltage changes of a battery according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0062] exist Figure 4 In an embodiment of the present invention, the voltage measuring unit 120 may measure the voltage of the battery during a charging time (Δt) during which a charging current is output. The battery voltage measured at time point t1 may be V1, and the battery voltage measured at time point t2 may be V2.

[0063] Figure 3The embodiment shows an embodiment in which a pulse current is output during the charging time (Δt), but for ease of explanation, it should be noted that Figure 4 The embodiment shows an embodiment in which a constant current is output during the charging time (Δt).

[0064] The control unit 130 may be configured to calculate a voltage variation amount of the battery during the charging time.

[0065] Specifically, the voltage measuring unit 120 may be connected to enable communication with the control unit 130. The voltage measuring unit 120 may transmit the measured voltage information of the battery to the control unit 130. The control unit 130 may calculate the voltage change amount of the battery during the charging time according to the voltage information received from the voltage measuring unit 120. Here, the voltage change amount means the voltage increase amount of the battery according to the charging current output from the current output unit 110. That is, the control unit 130 may calculate the voltage increase amount of the battery during the charging time.

[0066] For example, in Figure 4 In the embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 130 may receive voltage information from the voltage measuring unit 120 during the charging time (Δt). If the voltage measured at the time point t1 is V1 and the voltage measured at the time point t2 is V2, the control unit 130 may calculate the voltage change amount (ΔV) by the calculation formula "V2-V1".

[0067] As another example, in Figure 4 In the embodiment of FIG. 1 , the control unit 130 may only receive voltage information at the time point t1 and the time point t2 from the voltage measurement unit 120. In addition, the control unit 130 may calculate the voltage variation (ΔV) by calculating “V2-V1”.

[0068] The control unit 130 may be configured to calculate the delay time based on a difference between the charging time and a standard time preset to correspond to the voltage variation amount.

[0069] Specifically, the control unit 130 may determine a standard time preset to correspond to the voltage change amount. Then, the delay time may be obtained by calculating the difference between the determined standard time and the charging time. Here, the charging time is the time during which the battery is charged by the charging current, and is Figure 3 and Figure 4 △t corresponds to the embodiment of .

[0070] Figure 5 is a diagram schematically showing a voltage profile VP according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0071] exist Figure 5In the embodiment of the present invention, the voltage profile VP may be preset to represent the corresponding relationship between the voltage variation and the standard time. The control unit 130 may determine the standard time corresponding to the calculated voltage variation based on the voltage profile VP.

[0072] For example, assuming that the charging time is Δt, if the calculated voltage variation is ΔV1, the standard time may be determined as S1. In addition, the control unit 130 may calculate the delay time by calculating the difference between the standard time (S1) and the measured time (Δt).

[0073] For example, the control unit 130 may calculate the delay time by a calculation formula of “measurement time-standard time”.

[0074] The control unit 130 may be configured to set a charging condition corresponding to the battery based on the calculated delay time.

[0075] Here, the charging condition may be a fast charging condition corresponding to the battery. Specifically, the control unit 130 may be configured to determine a charging C rate corresponding to the battery based on the delay time, and set the determined charging C rate as the charging condition.

[0076] That is, even if the control unit 130 does not receive separate information about the battery, it can determine the fast charge C-rate of the battery based on the voltage change amount during the charging time and the calculated delay time.

[0077] More specifically, the control unit 130 may be configured to determine the charging C-rate corresponding to the delay time based on a charging profile P provided to represent a corresponding relationship between the delay time and the charging C-rate.

[0078] Figure 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating a charging profile P according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0079] exist Figure 6 In the embodiment of the present invention, the charging profile P can be preset to represent the corresponding relationship between the delay time and the charging C rate. The control unit 130 can determine the charging C rate corresponding to the calculated delay time based on the charging profile P. That is, the control unit 130 can determine the charging C rate that can quickly charge the battery based on the delay time.

[0080] Furthermore, after setting the charging condition, the current output unit 110 may be configured to charge the battery according to the charging condition.

[0081] The battery charging device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has the advantage of being able to safely and quickly charge even without a priori information on the battery because it can set a charging C-rate corresponding to the connected battery in real time.

[0082] Meanwhile, the control unit 130 included in the battery charging device 100 may optionally include a processor, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), other chipsets, logic circuits, registers, communication modems, data processing devices, etc. known in the art for executing various control logics executed in the present disclosure. In addition, when the control logic is implemented as software, the control unit 130 may be implemented as a set of program modules. At this time, the program modules may be stored in a memory and executed by the control unit 130. The memory may be inside or outside the control unit 130 and may be connected to the control unit 130 by various well-known means.

[0083] In addition, the battery charging device 100 may further include a storage unit 140. The storage unit 140 may store data required for the operation and function of each component of the battery charging device 100, data generated in the process of performing the operation or function, and the like. The type of the storage unit 140 is not particularly limited as long as it is a known information storage device capable of recording, erasing, updating, and reading data. As an example, the information storage device may include a RAM, a flash memory, a ROM, an EEPROM, a register, and the like. In addition, the storage unit 140 may store a program code defining a process executable by the control unit 130.

[0084] For example, the storage unit 140 may store a voltage profile VP and a charge profile P. The control unit 130 may access the storage unit 140 to obtain the voltage profile VP and the charge profile P. In addition, the storage unit 140 may store the voltage of the battery 10 measured by the voltage measurement unit 120 .

[0085] The control unit 130 may be configured to calculate the amount of charging current during the charging time.

[0086] For example, the control unit 130 may calculate the charging current amount by multiplying the current intensity of the charging current output from the current output unit 110 by the charging time.

[0087] The control unit 130 may be configured to calculate the resistance of the battery based on the voltage change amount and the charging current amount.

[0088] Specifically, the control unit 130 may calculate the resistance according to the voltage change amount and the charging current amount based on Ohm's law. For example, the control unit 130 may calculate the resistance of the battery by the calculation formula "voltage change amount÷charging current amount".

[0089] Next, an embodiment in which the charging condition is set using the resistance calculated by the control unit 130 will be described.

[0090] In one embodiment, the control unit 130 may be configured to set a standard time preset to correspond to the resistance.

[0091] Specifically, the standard time can be set in advance not only for the voltage variation, but also for the resistance. Therefore, the control unit 130 can set the standard time corresponding to the resistance, and calculate the delay time according to the difference between the standard time and the measurement time. In addition, the control unit 130 can set the charging condition of the battery based on the calculated delay time.

[0092] In another embodiment, the control unit 130 may be configured to determine the charging C-rate based on the delay time and the resistance.

[0093] If a charging profile P set to represent the correspondence between the delay time and the charging C rate is set for each of the plurality of resistors, the control unit 130 may be configured to select a charging profile P corresponding to the resistor among the plurality of charging profiles P.

[0094] Specifically, the charging profile P may be preset for each of the plurality of resistors one by one.

[0095] Figure 7 is a diagram schematically illustrating a plurality of charging profiles P according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0096] exist Figure 7 In the embodiment of FIG. 5 , a charging profile P may be pre-set for each of the plurality of resistors ( R1 to Rn). That is, a total of n charging profiles P may be pre-set.

[0097] The control unit 130 may select a charging profile P corresponding to the calculated resistance among a plurality of charging profiles P. Figure 7 In the embodiment, when the calculated resistance is R1, the control unit 130 may select the charging profile P corresponding to the resistance R1.

[0098] The control unit 130 may be configured to determine a charging C rate corresponding to the delay time based on the selected charging profile P.

[0099] Specifically, the control unit 130 can determine the charging C rate of the battery by substituting the calculated delay time into the selected charging profile P. In addition, the control unit 130 can set the determined charging C rate as the charging condition of the battery. In this case, the current output unit 110 can charge the battery at the charging C rate according to the set charging condition.

[0100] The battery charging device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can determine a charging C rate optimized for the battery by considering both the resistance and the delay time. Therefore, safe fast charging of the battery can be performed to prevent lithium metal precipitation.

[0101] In yet another embodiment, the control unit 130 may be configured to set a maximum C-rate corresponding to the delay time.

[0102] Specifically, the control unit 130 may first set the maximum C rate corresponding to the delay time, rather than directly setting the charging C rate corresponding to the delay time. Here, the maximum C rate is a value pre-set for the delay time, and may mean a theoretical maximum value of the C rate that can be applied to the battery corresponding to the delay time.

[0103] Specifically, the control unit 130 may be configured to set the maximum C-rate based on a first C-rate profile CP1 , which represents a corresponding relationship between the delay time and the maximum C-rate.

[0104] Figure 8 is a diagram schematically showing a first C-rate profile CP1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. For example, the storage unit 140 may store the first C-rate profile CP1. The control unit 130 may access the storage unit 140 and obtain the first C-rate profile CP1.

[0105] exist Figure 8 In the embodiment of the present invention, the first C-rate profile CP1 may be preset to represent the corresponding relationship between the delay time and the maximum C-rate. The control unit 130 may determine the maximum C-rate corresponding to the calculated delay time based on the first C-rate profile CP1.

[0106] For example, if the delay time is Δd1, the maximum C rate may be determined as M1.

[0107] The control unit 130 may be configured to set a threshold C rate corresponding to the resistance.

[0108] Specifically, the control unit 130 may first set a threshold C rate corresponding to the resistance, rather than directly setting a charging C rate corresponding to the resistance. Here, the threshold C rate is a value preset for the resistance, and may mean a theoretical maximum value of the C rate that can be applied to the battery corresponding to the resistance.

[0109] Specifically, control unit 130 may be configured to set the threshold C-rate based on a second C-rate profile CP2, which represents a corresponding relationship between resistance and the threshold C-rate.

[0110] Fig. 9 is a diagram schematically showing a second C-rate profile CP2 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. For example, the storage unit 140 may store the second C-rate profile CP2. The control unit 130 may access the storage unit 140 and obtain the second C-rate profile CP2.

[0111] exist Fig. 9In the embodiment of the present invention, the second C-rate profile CP2 may be preset to represent the corresponding relationship between the resistance and the threshold C-rate. The control unit 130 may determine the threshold C-rate corresponding to the calculated resistance based on the second C-rate profile CP2.

[0112] For example, if the resistance is R1, the threshold C rate may be determined to be Th1.

[0113] Control unit 130 may be configured to determine a smaller value of the maximum C-rate and the threshold C-rate as the charging C-rate.

[0114] Preferably, the maximum C rate and the threshold C rate may be independent values. In other words, the maximum C rate is the C rate corresponding to the delay time of the battery, and the threshold C rate is the C rate corresponding to the resistance of the battery. Therefore, the maximum C rate and the threshold C rate are independent of each other and can be compared by the control unit 130 for safer fast charging.

[0115] In general, the higher the charge C rate, the faster the battery charges. However, during the fast charging process, stress is applied to the battery, and lithium metal may be precipitated on the surface of the negative electrode. Therefore, determining a charge C rate that can quickly charge the battery while preventing lithium metal precipitation is very important in terms of fast charging and stability. The control unit 130 can set a charging condition that can safely and quickly charge the battery by determining the smaller value of the maximum C rate and the threshold C rate as the charge C rate.

[0116] The control unit 130 may be configured to calculate a full charging time of the battery according to the charging conditions.

[0117] Specifically, when charging the battery using the set charging conditions, the control unit 130 can calculate the full charging time required for the battery to be fully charged. Preferably, the control unit 130 can calculate the full charging time until the voltage of the battery reaches a preset charging end voltage.

[0118] For example, the control unit 130 may calculate the full charging time until the battery voltage reaches a preset charging end voltage according to the charging C rate based on the voltage change amount according to the charging current during the charging time.

[0119] In one embodiment, the control unit 130 may calculate the full charging time using the following formula.

[0120] [Formula 1]

[0121] △V : (C1:△t) = (Vf - Vi) : (C2 (C) (

[0122] Here, Formula 1 can be arranged as Formula 2.

[0123] [Formula 2]

[0124] tc = (C1 c △t) = (Cf is the full charge time. △V=2)

[0125] Where Δt is the charging time, ΔV is the voltage change during the charging time, and C1 is the charging current during the charging time converted to a C rate value. Figure 3 and Figure 4 In the embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 130 may calculate the voltage change amount (ΔV) and then determine the capacity of the battery preset to correspond to the calculated voltage change amount (ΔV). In addition, the control unit 130 may convert the charging current (X) into a C rate value by using the determined battery capacity and the charging current (X).

[0126] In addition, Vf is a preset charge end voltage, and Vi is the current voltage of the battery. C2 is a charge C rate determined by the control unit 130, and tc is a full charge time. The control unit 130 may calculate the full charge time (tc) based on Formula 1 and / or Formula 2.

[0127] Reference Figure 1 The battery charging apparatus 100 may further include a display unit 150 configured to output at least one of a charging condition and a full charging time.

[0128] The display unit 150 may output the charging condition set by the control unit 130 and / or the full charging time calculated by the control unit 130. Therefore, the user can easily check under what charging condition the battery is charged and when the battery can be fully charged.

[0129] The battery charging device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be included in a charging station. That is, a charging station according to another embodiment of the present disclosure may include the battery charging device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0130] Specifically, a charging station is a station that can charge a battery. For example, a charging station can charge portable batteries and batteries included in transportation such as electric vehicles, electric motorcycles and electric bicycles. More specifically, a charging station can be a charging station that can charge a battery.

[0131] Preferably, the charging station may include one or more battery charging devices 100. For example, the charging station may include one or more terminals, each of which may include a battery charging device 100. In addition, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a battery electrically connected to the battery charging device 100 may be charged.

[0132] According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, there is an advantage in that even a battery without a priori information can be charged safely and quickly at a charging station.

[0133] Fig.10 and Fig.11 is a diagram schematically illustrating a battery charging method according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0134] Preferably, each step of the battery charging method may be performed by the battery charging device 100. Hereinafter, for the convenience of explanation, contents overlapping with the above contents will be omitted or briefly described.

[0135] Reference Fig.10 The battery charging method may include a charging current output step (S100), a voltage measurement step (S200), a voltage change amount calculation step (S300), a delay time calculation step (S400), and a charging condition setting step (S500).

[0136] The charging current output step ( S100 ) is a step of outputting a charging current to a battery during a preset charging time, and may be performed by the current output unit 110 .

[0137] For example, when the battery charging device 100 is connected to a battery, the current output unit 110 may receive a current output signal from the control unit 130. The current output unit 110 may output a charging current of a preset intensity to the battery during a preset charging time from the time point of receiving the current output signal.

[0138] The voltage measuring step ( S200 ) is a step of measuring the battery voltage and may be performed by the voltage measuring unit 120 .

[0139] For example, the voltage measuring unit 120 may measure the voltage of the battery during the charging time.

[0140] The voltage variation amount calculation step ( S300 ) is a step of calculating the voltage variation amount of the battery during the charging time, and may be performed by the control unit 130 .

[0141] For example, the control unit 130 can calculate the voltage change amount by calculating the difference between the voltage at the time point when charging starts and the voltage at the time point when charging ends. That is, the control unit 130 can calculate the voltage change amount of the battery according to the amount of charging current applied during the charging time.

[0142] For example, in Figure 4 In the embodiment of FIG. 1 , the control unit 130 may calculate the voltage variation (ΔV) during the charging time (Δt).

[0143] The delay time calculation step ( S400 ) is a step of calculating the delay time according to the difference between the charging time and a standard time preset to correspond to the voltage variation amount, and may be performed by the control unit 130 .

[0144] For example, in Figure 5 In the embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 130 may first determine the standard time corresponding to the voltage change amount (ΔV) based on the voltage profile VP. In addition, the delay time may be calculated based on the difference between the charging time (Δt) and the standard time. Here, the standard time is the theoretical time corresponding to the voltage change amount, and the charging time is the time when the charging current is actually applied. Therefore, the control unit 130 may calculate the delay time of the voltage change of the battery by calculating the difference between the charging time and the standard time.

[0145] The charging condition setting step ( S500 ) is a step of setting a charging condition corresponding to the battery based on the calculated delay time, and may be performed by the control unit 130 .

[0146] Since the delay time reflects the state of the battery, even if a priori information about the battery is not ensured, the control unit 130 can set the charging condition corresponding to the battery according to the delay time.

[0147] For example, in Figure 6 In the embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 130 may determine the charging C rate corresponding to the delay time based on the charging profile P. In addition, the control unit 130 may set the charging C rate as the charging condition of the battery.

[0148] Reference Fig.11 , the battery charging method may further include a charging step (S600).

[0149] The charging step ( S600 ) is a step of charging the battery according to the charging condition after the charging condition setting step ( S500 ), and may be performed by the current output unit 110 .

[0150] For example, when the control unit 130 sets the charging condition of the battery, the current output unit 110 may quickly charge the battery using the set charging condition (specifically, the set charging C-rate).

[0151] The above embodiments of the present invention can be implemented not only by devices and methods, but also by programs that implement the functions corresponding to the configurations of the embodiments of the present invention or recording media having the programs recorded thereon. Those skilled in the art can easily implement the programs or recording media from the description of the above embodiments.

[0152] The present disclosure has been described in detail. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, are given by way of illustration only, because various changes and modifications within the scope of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description.

[0153] In addition, without departing from the technical aspects of the present disclosure, those skilled in the art may make many substitutions, modifications and changes to the present disclosure, and the present disclosure is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments and drawings, and each embodiment may be selectively combined in part or in whole to allow various modifications.

[0154] (Explanation of reference symbols)

[0155] 10: Battery

[0156] 100: Battery charging device

[0157] 110: Current output unit

[0158] 120: Voltage measurement unit

[0159] 130: Control unit

[0160] 140: Storage unit

[0161] 150: Display unit

Claims

1. A battery charging device, comprising: a current output unit, the current output unit being configured to output a charging current to the battery during a preset charging time; a voltage measuring unit, the voltage measuring unit being configured to measure the voltage of the battery; as well as A control unit is configured to calculate a voltage change amount of the battery during the charging time, calculate a delay time according to a difference between the charging time and a standard time preset to correspond to the voltage change amount, and set a charging condition corresponding to the battery based on the calculated delay time.

2. The battery charging device according to claim 1, in, The control unit is configured to determine a charge C-rate corresponding to the battery based on the delay time, and set the determined charge C-rate as the charging condition.

3. The battery charging device according to claim 2, in, The control unit is configured to determine the charging C-rate corresponding to the delay time based on a charging profile set to represent a corresponding relationship between the delay time and the charging C-rate.

4. The battery charging device according to claim 2, in, The control unit is configured to calculate a charging current amount during the charging time, and calculate a resistance of the battery based on the voltage change amount and the charging current amount.

5. The battery charging device according to claim 4, in, The control unit is configured to set a standard time preset to correspond to the resistance.

6. The battery charging device according to claim 4, in, The control unit is configured to determine the charging C-rate based on the delay time and the resistance.

7. The battery charging device according to claim 6, in, When a charging profile that is set to represent the corresponding relationship between the delay time and the charging C-rate is set for each of a plurality of resistors, the control unit is configured to select a charging profile corresponding to the resistor from among the plurality of charging profiles, and determine the charging C-rate corresponding to the delay time based on the selected charging profile.

8. The battery charging device according to claim 4, in, The control unit is configured to set a maximum C-rate corresponding to the delay time, set a threshold C-rate corresponding to the resistance, and determine a smaller value of the maximum C-rate and the threshold C-rate as the charging C-rate.

9. The battery charging device according to claim 8, in, The control unit is configured to set a maximum C-rate based on a first C-rate profile indicating a correspondence between the delay time and the maximum C-rate, and to set the threshold C-rate based on a second C-rate profile indicating a correspondence between the resistance and the threshold C-rate.

10. The battery charging device according to claim 1, in, The current output unit is configured to charge the battery according to the charging condition after the charging condition is set.

11. The battery charging device according to claim 1, in, The control unit is configured to calculate a full charging time of the battery according to the charging condition, and The battery charging device further includes a display unit configured to output at least one of the charging condition and the full charging time.

12. A charging station comprising a battery charging device according to any one of claims 1-11.

13. A battery charging method, comprising: a charging current output step, wherein the charging current output step outputs a charging current to the battery during a preset charging time; a voltage measuring step, wherein the voltage measuring step measures the voltage of the battery; a voltage variation calculation step, wherein the voltage variation calculation step calculates the voltage variation of the battery during the charging time; a delay time calculation step of calculating the delay time based on a difference between the charging time and a standard time preset to correspond to the voltage variation; and A charging condition setting step of setting a charging condition corresponding to the battery based on the calculated delay time.

14. The battery charging method according to claim 13, further comprising a charging step of charging the battery according to the charging condition after the charging condition setting step.

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