Battery management device and operating method thereof

Abstract

A battery management apparatus according to an embodiment disclosed herein may include: a plurality of resistors connected to a plurality of batteries, respectively; a plurality of first switches connecting the plurality of resistors to output terminals of the plurality of batteries, respectively; a plurality of second switches connecting the plurality of resistors in parallel to each other; and a controller that determines whether each of the plurality of batteries is abnormal and controls operation of the plurality of first switches and the plurality of second switches based on whether each of the plurality of batteries is abnormal.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0122898 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on September 27, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0004] Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a battery management device and an operating method thereof. Background Art

[0005] Recently, the research and development of secondary batteries have been actively carried out. As a rechargeable / dischargeable battery, the secondary battery can include all conventional nickel (Ni) / cadmium (Cd) batteries, Ni / metal hydride (MH) batteries, etc. and the recent lithium ion batteries. In the secondary battery, the lithium ion battery has an energy density much higher than the energy density of conventional Ni / Cd batteries, Ni / MH batteries, etc. In addition, the lithium ion battery can be made small and light, so that the lithium ion battery has been used as a power source for mobile devices, and recently, the use range of the lithium ion battery has been extended to the power source of electric vehicles, and has attracted attention as the next generation of energy storage media.

[0006] In order to further improve the availability and portability of lithium-ion batteries, battery exchange services have been provided. However, when some batteries in a battery exchange station catch fire, a chain ignition may occur in nearby batteries, causing all batteries in the battery exchange station to burn.

[0007] The discharge rate of the ignition battery can be increased to prevent chain ignition of the battery exchange station, but the discharge rate of the battery can be determined and fixed by the resistance value of the discharge resistor connected to the battery, so that the discharge resistor needs to be changed to adjust the discharge rate. Summary of the invention

[0008] Technical issues

[0009] Embodiments disclosed herein provide a battery management device and an operating method thereof that can control a discharge rate and / or heat generation of a battery using a plurality of resistors connected in parallel to each other.

[0010] The technical problems of the embodiments disclosed herein are not limited to the above-mentioned technical problems, and other unmentioned technical problems can be clearly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art from the following description.

[0011] Technical Solution

[0012] According to an embodiment disclosed herein, a battery management device includes: a plurality of resistors, each of which is connected to a plurality of batteries, respectively; a plurality of first switches, each of which is configured to connect the plurality of resistors to output terminals of the plurality of batteries, respectively; a plurality of second switches, each of which is configured to connect the plurality of resistors in parallel; and a controller, the controller being configured to determine whether each of the plurality of batteries is abnormal, and to control the operation of the plurality of first switches and the plurality of second switches based on whether each of the plurality of batteries is abnormal.

[0013] In an embodiment, a plurality of resistors may be connected in series to the plurality of batteries, respectively, and a plurality of second switches may be connected in series to each other.

[0014] In an embodiment, the battery management device may further include a communication unit configured to receive abnormal signals of multiple batteries from a battery management system (BMS) of each of the multiple batteries, wherein the controller is further configured to determine a first battery among the multiple batteries in which the abnormal signal is sensed and at least one second battery related to the first battery based on the abnormal signal.

[0015] In an embodiment, the controller may also be configured to obtain temperature information of the plurality of batteries from a plurality of temperature measurement sensors that measure the temperatures of the plurality of batteries, and determine a first battery among the plurality of batteries in which an abnormal temperature is sensed and at least one second battery related to the first battery based on the temperature information.

[0016] In an embodiment, the controller may be further configured to, when an abnormal temperature or an abnormal signal of a first battery among the plurality of batteries is sensed, determine at least one second battery adjacent to the first battery based on an arrangement order of the plurality of batteries.

[0017] In an embodiment, the controller may be further configured to calculate a capacity of the first battery and a capacity of at least one second battery, and compare the capacity of the first battery with the capacity of the second battery to control operations of the plurality of first switches and the plurality of second switches.

[0018] In an embodiment, when the capacity of the first battery exceeds the capacity of at least one second battery, the controller may also be configured to turn on a first switch among a plurality of first switches for connecting the first battery to a resistor connected to the first battery, and turn on at least any second switch among a plurality of second switches.

[0019] In an embodiment, when the capacity of the first battery is less than the capacity of at least one second battery, the controller may also be configured to turn on a first switch among a plurality of first switches for connecting the second battery to a resistor connected to the second battery, and turn on at least any second switch among a plurality of second switches.

[0020] An operating method of a battery management device according to an embodiment disclosed herein includes: determining whether each of a plurality of batteries is abnormal; controlling the operation of a plurality of first switches for connecting a plurality of resistors respectively connected to the plurality of batteries to battery current output terminals of the plurality of batteries respectively based on whether each of the plurality of batteries is abnormal; and controlling the operation of a plurality of second switches for connecting the plurality of resistors in parallel.

[0021] In an embodiment, determining whether each of a plurality of batteries is abnormal may include: receiving abnormal signals of the plurality of batteries from a battery management system (BMS) of each of the plurality of batteries; and determining a first battery among the plurality of batteries in which the abnormal signal is sensed and at least one second battery related to the first battery based on the abnormal signals.

[0022] In an embodiment, determining whether each of a plurality of batteries is abnormal may include: obtaining temperature information of the plurality of batteries from a plurality of temperature measurement sensors that measure the temperatures of the plurality of batteries; and determining a first battery among the plurality of batteries that is sensed to have an abnormal temperature and at least one second battery related to the first battery based on the temperature information.

[0023] In an embodiment, determining whether each of the plurality of batteries is abnormal may include determining at least one second battery adjacent to the first battery based on an arrangement order of the plurality of batteries when an abnormal temperature or an abnormal signal of a first battery among the plurality of batteries is sensed.

[0024] In an embodiment, determining whether each of the plurality of batteries is abnormal may include calculating a capacity of a first battery and a capacity of at least one second battery, and comparing the capacity of the first battery with the capacity of the second battery to control operations of the plurality of first switches and the plurality of second switches.

[0025] In an embodiment, controlling the operation of multiple first switches for connecting multiple resistors respectively connected to multiple batteries to battery current output terminals of the multiple batteries based on whether each of the multiple batteries is abnormal may include: when the capacity of the first battery exceeds the capacity of at least one second battery, turning on a first switch among the multiple first switches for connecting the first battery to the resistor connected to the first battery; and controlling the operation of multiple second switches for connecting the multiple resistors in parallel may include: turning on at least any one of the multiple second switches.

[0026] In an embodiment, controlling the operation of multiple first switches for connecting multiple resistors respectively connected to multiple batteries to battery current output terminals of the multiple batteries based on whether each of the multiple batteries is abnormal may include: when the capacity of the first battery is less than the capacity of at least one second battery, turning on a first switch among the multiple first switches for connecting the second battery to the resistor connected to the second battery; and controlling the operation of multiple second switches for connecting the multiple resistors in parallel may include: turning on at least any one of the multiple second switches.

[0027] Beneficial Effects

[0028] A battery management device and an operating method thereof according to embodiments disclosed herein may control a discharge rate and / or heat generation of a battery by using a plurality of resistors connected in parallel to each other.

[0029] Furthermore, the battery management system and the method of operating the same according to the embodiments disclosed herein may stably manage the life of the battery. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Figure 1 is a diagram conceptually illustrating a battery exchange station according to an embodiment disclosed herein.

[0031] Figure 2 is a diagram conceptually illustrating a battery exchange station according to another embodiment disclosed herein.

[0032] Figure 3 is a block diagram of a battery management device according to an embodiment disclosed herein.

[0033] Figure 4 is a circuit diagram for describing the operation of the battery management device according to the embodiment disclosed herein.

[0034] Figure 5 is a flow chart of an operating method of a battery management device according to an embodiment disclosed herein.

[0035] Figure 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operating method of a battery management device according to another embodiment disclosed herein.

[0036] Figure 7 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a computing system for executing an operating method of a battery management device according to an embodiment disclosed herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] Hereinafter, the embodiments disclosed in this document will be described in detail with reference to the exemplary drawings. When adding reference numerals to the components of each drawing, it should be noted that the same components are given the same reference numerals although shown in different drawings. In addition, when describing the embodiments disclosed in this document, when it is determined that the detailed description of the related known configuration or function interferes with the understanding of the embodiments disclosed in this document, its detailed description will be omitted.

[0038] In order to describe the components of the embodiments disclosed herein, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), etc. may be used. These terms are only used to distinguish one component from another component, and do not limit the components to the essence, order, sequence, etc. of the components. The terms (including technical terms and scientific terms) used herein have the same meanings as those commonly understood by those skilled in the art, unless they are defined differently. Generally, the terms defined in the general dictionary should be interpreted as having the same meanings as the contextual meanings of the relevant technology, and unless they are clearly defined in the present application, they should not be interpreted as having ideal or exaggerated meanings.

[0039] Figure 1 is a diagram conceptually illustrating a battery exchange station according to an embodiment disclosed herein.

[0040] Reference Figure 1 , the battery exchange system (BSS) 1000 can provide an overall management service for the evaluation, measurement, charging, exchange, etc. of the battery, and in the present disclosure, the functions of the battery exchange system 1000 will be described based on the battery exchange service. Herein, the battery exchange service may refer to a service that analyzes the status of multiple batteries 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 as service objects, and exchanges the batteries 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 with other batteries 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 according to the results of the analysis. Such an exchange can be automatically performed by the settings of the administrator and / or the user. For example, the battery exchange station 1000 can provide a battery exchange service to the user by collecting the batteries 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 returned from the user and providing the user with other previously charged batteries 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50.

[0041] Herein, batteries 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 may be devices installed on a main device (e.g., an electric vehicle such as an electric vehicle, an electric scooter, an electric bicycle, etc.) to supply power for driving the main device, and may be implemented in the form of a battery pack. The battery pack may include a battery for storing power and a battery management system (BMS) for controlling the operation of the battery. The battery may include at least one battery cell for storing power under the control of the BMS. The battery cell, which is a basic unit of a battery that can be obtained by charging and discharging electric energy, may be a lithium ion (Li-ion) battery, a Li-ion polymer battery, a nickel cadmium (Ni-Cd) battery, a nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH) battery, etc., and is not limited thereto. The BMS may control the charging and discharging of the battery, and collect data as a basis for state analysis of the battery, and send the data to an external device at the request of the external device.

[0042] Hereinafter, it will be described assuming that the plurality of batteries 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 are implemented in the form of a battery pack. Figure 1 2 shows that the number of batteries 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 is 5, but the battery may include n batteries (n is a natural number greater than or equal to 2).

[0043] According to an embodiment, the battery exchange station 1000 may be disposed in a service station that provides a battery exchange service or in a space separate from the service station.

[0044] The battery exchange station 1000 can analyze the status of multiple batteries 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 connected thereto, and exchange the batteries 10, 20, and 30 with other batteries 10, 20, and 30 or reuse (i.e., do not exchange) the batteries 10, 20, and 30 according to the results of the status analysis. The battery exchange station 1000 can autonomously determine whether the status analysis of the multiple batteries 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 and / or the exchange of the batteries 10, 20, and 30 is required, but according to another embodiment, at least some operations can be performed in association with a server (e.g., a cloud server) connected via a network. For example, the battery exchange station 1000 can send information as a basis for determining whether battery exchange is required to the cloud server, and the cloud server can send information about whether battery exchange is required to the battery exchange station 1000.

[0045] Figure 2 is a diagram conceptually illustrating a battery exchange station according to another embodiment disclosed herein.

[0046] Reference Figure 2 , the battery exchange station 1000 may include a battery slot unit 100 , a battery management device 200 , and a charger 300 .

[0047] The battery slot unit 100 may accommodate a plurality of connected batteries 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50. The battery slot unit 100 may include a plurality of battery slots that respectively accommodate the plurality of connected batteries. The battery slot unit 100 may be connected to the battery management device 200. The plurality of batteries 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 accommodated in the battery slot unit 100 may be physically controlled based on a control signal of the battery management device 200.

[0048] The battery management device 200 may manage and / or control the states and / or operations of the plurality of batteries 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50. The battery management device 200 may manage charging and / or discharging of the plurality of batteries 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50.

[0049] In addition, the battery management device 200 may monitor the voltage, current, temperature, etc. of each of the plurality of batteries 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50. The battery management device 200 may calculate parameters indicating the states of the plurality of batteries 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 based on the measured values ​​of the monitored voltage, current, temperature, etc.

[0050] The battery management device 200 can manage the state of charge (SoC) and / or state of health (SoH) of multiple batteries 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50. The battery management device 200 can receive SoC information of the corresponding battery 10, 20, 30, 40 or 50 from each of the multiple batteries 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50. Herein, the SoC information may indicate the current SoC of the corresponding battery, and the SoC may refer to the state of charge of the battery included in the battery, that is, the remaining capacity rate. The BMS of the corresponding battery can calculate the remaining capacity rate by dividing the current available capacity of the battery by the total capacity of the battery. For example, the remaining capacity rate can be calculated as a percentage. According to another embodiment, the battery management device 200 can obtain the SoC information by directly calculating the battery remaining capacity rate of the battery without receiving the SoC information from the BMS of the battery.

[0051] The charger 300 may charge each of the plurality of batteries 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 under the control of the battery management device 200. The charger 300 may be supplied with power from an external utility power source to convert the power into a power form that can be received by the plurality of batteries 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50, and supply the power to the plurality of batteries 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50. According to an embodiment, the charger 300 may supply power until the SoC of the plurality of batteries 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 reaches 100%, thereby fully charging the plurality of batteries 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50.

[0052] In the following, reference will be made to Figure 3The configuration and operation of the battery management device 200 are described in more detail.

[0053] Figure 3 is a block diagram of a battery management device according to an embodiment disclosed herein.

[0054] Reference Figure 3 , the battery management device 200 may include a plurality of resistors R, a plurality of first switches 210 , a plurality of second switches 220 , a controller 230 , and a communication unit 240 .

[0055] When any one of the plurality of batteries 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 is ignited, the battery management device 200 may discharge the ignited battery or nearby batteries to remove the fuel that is the energy source of the ignited battery or nearby batteries, thereby suppressing the diffusion of heat to nearby batteries or all batteries. The battery management device 200 may connect a plurality of resistors R to the outside of the plurality of batteries 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50, respectively, and apply a discharge current to each resistor to discharge the battery.

[0056] Herein, the discharge rate of the battery can be determined by the resistance values ​​of the plurality of resistors R, and the resistance values ​​need to be changed to adjust the discharge rate of the battery. Therefore, the battery management device 200 can connect the plurality of resistors R in parallel, and distribute the discharge current to the plurality of resistors R connected in parallel to adjust the discharge current value, thereby controlling the discharge rate.

[0057] The plurality of resistors R may be connected in series to the plurality of batteries 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50. In addition, the plurality of resistors R may be respectively connected in series to the plurality of first switches 210. More specifically, when the plurality of first switches 210 are turned on, the plurality of resistors R may be respectively connected in series to the plurality of batteries 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 connected in series with the first switches 210, thereby discharging the batteries.

[0058] The plurality of resistors R may be connected in parallel to each other, and may be selectively connected in parallel based on the plurality of first switches 210 respectively connected thereto being turned on / off. More specifically, when any one of the plurality of first switches 210 respectively connected in series to the plurality of resistors R is selectively turned on, the resistors R connected to the plurality of first switches 210 in the turned-on state among the plurality of resistors R connected in parallel may be connected in parallel to each other.

[0059] That is, some of the plurality of resistors R may be selectively connected in parallel based on the plurality of first switches 210 being turned on or off. Therefore, the resistance values ​​of the plurality of resistors R may be changed so that the discharge rate of the plurality of batteries 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 may be changed.

[0060] The plurality of first switches 210 may respectively connect the plurality of resistors R to the output terminals of the plurality of batteries 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50. The plurality of first switches 210 may respectively be connected in series to the plurality of batteries 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50. The plurality of first switches 210 may respectively be connected in series to the plurality of resistors R.

[0061] Each of the plurality of first switches 210 may receive a control signal from the controller 230 to be turned on or off.

[0062] The plurality of second switches 220 may connect the plurality of resistors R in parallel. The plurality of second switches 220 may be connected in series with each other. Each of the plurality of second switches 220 may receive a control signal from the controller 230 to be turned on or off.

[0063] The communication unit 240 may communicate with the BMS of each of the plurality of batteries 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 by wire and / or wireless communication. For example, the communication unit 240 may communicate with the BMS of each of the plurality of batteries 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 according to a differential input communication protocol. Herein, an example of a differential input communication protocol may include a controller area network (CAN). In addition, the communication unit 240 may communicate with the BMS of each of the plurality of batteries 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 according to a wireless communication protocol such as WiFi (registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark), and the like.

[0064] According to an embodiment, the communication unit 240 may periodically communicate with the BMS of each of the plurality of batteries 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50. When the BMS of any one of the plurality of batteries 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 does not transmit a communication signal after a certain period of time has passed, the communication unit 240 may transmit a communication signal to the BMS of any one of the plurality of batteries 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50.

[0065] According to an embodiment, the communication unit 240 may receive an abnormality signal of the battery from the BMS of any one of the plurality of batteries 10 , 20 , 30 , 40 , and 50 .

[0066] The controller 230 may determine whether each of the plurality of batteries 10 , 20 , 30 , 40 , and 50 is abnormal.

[0067] According to an embodiment, when the communication unit 240 does not receive a communication signal from the BMS of any one of the multiple batteries 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 after a certain period of time, and does not receive a communication signal even after repeatedly retrying to send a communication signal to the BMS of any one of the multiple batteries 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50, the controller 230 may determine any one of the multiple batteries 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 as an abnormal battery.

[0068] According to an embodiment, when the communication unit 240 receives an abnormality signal from any one of the plurality of batteries 10 , 20 , 30 , 40 , and 50 , the controller 230 may determine any one of the plurality of batteries 10 , 20 , 30 , 40 , and 50 as an abnormal battery.

[0069] According to an embodiment, the controller 230 can receive temperature information of multiple batteries 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 from multiple temperature measurement sensors installed in the battery slot unit 100, and can determine any one of the multiple batteries 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 as an abnormal battery based on the temperature information when the temperature of any one of the multiple batteries 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 exceeds a threshold temperature.

[0070] For example, the controller 230 may determine a first battery 10 of the plurality of batteries 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50, in which an abnormal temperature or an abnormal signal is sensed, as an abnormal battery. The controller 230 may determine at least one second battery 20 related to the first battery 10 determined as the abnormal battery. For example, the controller 230 may determine at least one second battery 20 adjacent to the first battery 10 based on the arrangement order of the plurality of batteries 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 previously stored.

[0071] The controller 230 may control operations of the plurality of first switches 210 and the plurality of second switches 220 based on whether the plurality of batteries 10 , 20 , 30 , 40 , and 50 are abnormal.

[0072] Figure 4 is a circuit diagram for describing the operation of the battery management device according to the embodiment disclosed herein.

[0073] In the following, reference will be made to Figure 4 The operation of the battery management device is described in detail.

[0074] Although Figure 4 : five batteries 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 for receiving battery exchange services are shown to be connected to the battery exchange system 1000, but the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to this, and n batteries (n is a natural number of 2 or greater) for receiving battery exchange services can be connected to the battery exchange system 1000.

[0075] Reference Figure 4 , the battery slot unit 100 may include a plurality of battery slots 110, 120, 130, 140, and 150. Each of the plurality of battery slots 110, 120, 130, 140, and 150 may include any one of the plurality of batteries 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50.

[0076] A plurality of battery slots 110, 120, 130, 140, and 150 may include temperature measurement sensors T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5, respectively. The plurality of temperature measurement sensors T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5 may measure the temperature of the plurality of batteries 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50. For example, the plurality of temperature measurement sensors T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5 may include a plurality of thermistors. A thermistor may refer to a resistor having a resistance that changes sensitively with temperature, and the thermistor may measure temperature by using a change in resistance of a ceramic material relative to temperature. When a current is applied to the thermistor, the temperature of the thermistor may increase due to the occurrence of a self-heating phenomenon.

[0077] According to an embodiment, the controller 230 may obtain temperature information of the plurality of batteries 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 from the plurality of temperature measurement sensors T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5 that measure the temperatures of the plurality of batteries 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50. For example, the controller 230 may determine the first battery 10 of the plurality of batteries 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50, of which an abnormal temperature is sensed, as an abnormal battery.

[0078] In addition, for example, when the communication unit 240 does not receive a communication signal from the BMS of the first battery 10 among the multiple batteries 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 after a certain period of time, and does not receive a communication signal even after repeatedly retrying to send a communication signal to the BMS of the first battery 10, the controller 230 may determine the first battery 10 as an abnormal battery.

[0079] In addition, for example, when the communication unit 240 receives an abnormality signal of a battery from a first battery 10 among the plurality of batteries 10 , 20 , 30 , 40 , and 50 , the controller 230 may determine the first battery 10 as an abnormal battery.

[0080] When it is determined that the first battery 10 is an abnormal battery, the controller 230 may transmit a charge stop signal of the plurality of batteries 10 , 20 , 30 , 40 , and 50 to the charger 300 .

[0081] The controller 230 may calculate the capacity of the first battery 10 and the second battery 20. The controller 230 may receive battery data by communicating with the BMS of the first battery 10 and the BMS of the second battery 10. Herein, the battery data may include, for example, the voltage of the battery, the voltage of the battery cell of the battery, a fault signal, the internal temperature of the battery, etc. The controller 230 may calculate the capacity of the first battery 10 and the second battery 20 based on the battery data of the first battery 10 and the second battery 20.

[0082] The controller 230 may control operations of the plurality of first switches 210 and the plurality of second switches 220 by comparing the capacity of the first battery 10 with the capacity of the second battery 20 .

[0083] According to an embodiment, when the capacity of the first battery 10 exceeds the capacity of the second battery 20, the controller 230 may discharge the first battery 10 until the capacity of the first battery 10 is equal to the capacity of the second battery 20. For example, when the capacity of the first battery 10 is 8000mA, the voltage of the first battery 10 is 60V, the capacity of the second battery 20 is 4000mAh, and the voltage of the second battery 20 is 50V, the controller 230 may discharge the first battery 10 until the capacity of the first battery 10 is equal to the capacity of the second battery 20. The controller 230 may turn on a first switch 211 for connecting the first battery 10 to the first resistor R1 connected to the first battery 10 among the plurality of first switches 210, and turn off the plurality of other first switches 212, 213, 214, and 215.

[0084] The controller 230 may turn on at least any one of the plurality of second switches 220 to adjust a distribution ratio of the discharge current of the first battery 10 applied to the plurality of resistors R.

[0085] For example, when the discharge current of the first battery 10 is 10A and the voltage of the first battery 10 is 60V, the controller 230 may turn on some of the plurality of second switches 220 and turn off some other switches to control the plurality of resistors R values ​​to 60V / 10A=6 ohms.

[0086] For example, when the resistance value of each of the plurality of resistors R is 24 ohms, the controller 230 may connect the first resistor R1, the second resistor R2, the third resistor R3, and the fourth resistor R4 in parallel among the plurality of resistors R to control the total resistance value of the first resistor R1, the second resistor R2, the third resistor R3, and the fourth resistor R4 connected in parallel to 6 ohms. More specifically, the controller 230 may turn on some of the second switches 221, 222, and 223 of the plurality of second switches 220 that are capable of connecting the first resistor R1, the second resistor R2, the third resistor R3, and the fourth resistor R4 in parallel, and turn off the second switch 224 that is capable of connecting the fifth resistor R5 in parallel.

[0087] According to an embodiment, when the capacity of the first battery 10 is less than the capacity of the second battery 20, the controller 230 may discharge the second battery 20 until the capacity of the second battery 20 is equal to the capacity of the first battery 10. For example, when the capacity of the first battery 10 is 4000mA, the voltage of the first battery 10 is 50V, the capacity of the second battery 20 is 8000mAh, and the voltage of the second battery 20 is 60V, the controller 230 may discharge the second battery 20 until the capacity of the second battery 20 is equal to the capacity of the first battery 10. The controller 230 may turn on a first switch 212 for connecting the second battery 20 to the second resistor R2 connected to the second battery 20 among the plurality of first switches 210, and turn off the plurality of other first switches 211, 213, 214, and 215.

[0088] The controller 230 may turn on at least any one of the plurality of second switches 220 to adjust a distribution ratio of the discharge current of the second battery 20 applied to the plurality of resistors R.

[0089] For example, when the discharge current of the second battery 20 is 10A and the voltage of the second battery 20 is 60V, the controller 230 may turn on some of the plurality of second switches 220 and turn off some other switches to control the plurality of resistors R values ​​to 60V / 10A=6 ohms.

[0090] For example, when the resistance value of each of the plurality of resistors R is 24 ohms, the controller 230 may connect the first resistor R1, the second resistor R2, the third resistor R3, and the fourth resistor R4 in parallel among the plurality of resistors R to control the total resistance value of the first resistor R1, the second resistor R2, the third resistor R3, and the fourth resistor R4 connected in parallel to 6 ohms. More specifically, the controller 230 may turn on some of the second switches 221, 222, and 223 of the plurality of second switches 220 that are capable of connecting the first resistor R1, the second resistor R2, the third resistor R3, and the fourth resistor R4 in parallel, and turn off the second switch 224 that is capable of connecting the fifth resistor R5 in parallel.

[0091] According to an embodiment, when the capacity of the first battery 10 is equal to the capacity of the second battery 20 , the controller 230 may discharge the first battery 10 and the second battery 20 simultaneously.

[0092] The controller 230 may turn on the first switch 211 for connecting the first battery 10 to the first resistor R1 connected to the first battery 10, turn on the first switch 212 for connecting the second battery 20 to the second resistor R2 connected to the second battery 20, and turn off the other plurality of first switches 213, 214, and 215. In addition, the controller 230 may turn on at least any one of the plurality of second switches 220 to adjust the distribution ratio of the discharge current of the first battery 10 and the second battery 20 applied to the plurality of resistors R.

[0093] As described above, the battery management device according to the embodiments disclosed herein may control the discharge rate and the heat generation by using a plurality of resistors connected in parallel to each other.

[0094] When dangerous situations and abnormalities occur in some batteries, the battery management device can force discharge the abnormal battery and nearby batteries to prevent chain accidents from occurring on nearby batteries, thereby stably operating the battery exchange station.

[0095] Figure 5 is a flow chart of an operating method of a battery management device according to an embodiment disclosed herein.

[0096] Reference Figure 5 , the operating method of the battery management device according to the embodiment disclosed in this article may include: operation S101, determining whether each of the multiple batteries is abnormal; operation S102, controlling the operation of multiple first switches for connecting multiple resistors respectively connected to the multiple batteries to the battery current output terminals of the multiple batteries based on whether each of the multiple batteries is abnormal; and operation S103, controlling the operation of multiple second switches for connecting the multiple resistors in parallel.

[0097] In the following, reference will be made to Figure 1 and Figure 4 Operations S101 to S103 are described in detail. The battery management device 200 may be used with reference to Figures 1 to 4 The described battery management device 200 is substantially the same and thus will be briefly described to avoid redundant description.

[0098] In operation S101 , the controller 230 may determine whether each of the plurality of batteries 10 , 20 , 30 , 40 , and 50 is abnormal.

[0099] In operation S101, when the communication unit 240 does not receive a communication signal from the BMS of any one of the multiple batteries 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 after a certain period of time, and does not receive a communication signal even after repeatedly retrying to send a communication signal to the BMS of any one of the multiple batteries 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50, the controller 230 may determine any one of the multiple batteries 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 as an abnormal battery.

[0100] In operation S101 , when the communication unit 240 receives an abnormality signal from any one of the plurality of batteries 10 , 20 , 30 , 40 , and 50 , the controller 230 may determine any one of the plurality of batteries 10 , 20 , 30 , 40 , and 50 as an abnormal battery.

[0101] In operation S101, the controller 230 can receive temperature information of multiple batteries 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 from multiple temperature measurement sensors installed in the battery slot unit 100, and can determine any one of the multiple batteries 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 as an abnormal battery based on the temperature information when the temperature of any one of the multiple batteries 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 exceeds a threshold temperature.

[0102] In operation S101, the controller 230 may determine a first battery 10, of which an abnormal temperature or an abnormal signal is sensed, as an abnormal battery among the plurality of batteries 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50. The controller 230 may determine at least one second battery 20 related to the first battery 10 determined as the abnormal battery. In operation S101, for example, the controller 230 may determine at least one second battery 20 adjacent to the first battery 10 based on the arrangement order of the plurality of batteries 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 previously stored.

[0103] In operation S102 , the controller 230 may control operations of the plurality of first switches 210 based on whether the plurality of batteries 10 , 20 , 30 , 40 , and 50 are abnormal.

[0104] In operation S102 , the controller 230 may control operations of the plurality of first switches 210 by comparing the capacity of the first battery 10 with the capacity of the second battery 20 .

[0105] In operation S103 , the controller 230 may control operations of the plurality of first switches 210 based on whether the plurality of batteries 10 , 20 , 30 , 40 , and 50 are abnormal.

[0106] In operation S103 , the controller 230 may turn on at least any one of the plurality of second switches 220 to adjust a distribution ratio of the discharge current of the first battery 10 applied to the plurality of resistors R. In operation S103 , the controller 230 may turn on at least any one of the plurality of second switches 220 .

[0107] In operation S103, for example, when the discharge current of the first battery 10 is 10A and the voltage of the first battery 10 is 60V, the controller 230 may turn on some of the plurality of second switches 220 and turn off some other switches to control the plurality of resistors R values ​​to 60V / 10A=6 ohms.

[0108] In operation S103, for example, when the resistance value of each of the plurality of resistors R is 24 ohms, the controller 230 may connect the first resistor R1, the second resistor R2, the third resistor R3, and the fourth resistor R4 in parallel among the plurality of resistors R to control the total resistance value of the first resistor R1, the second resistor R2, the third resistor R3, and the fourth resistor R4 connected in parallel to 6 ohms. In operation S103, more specifically, the controller 230 may turn on some of the second switches 221, 222, and 223 of the plurality of second switches 220 that are capable of connecting the first resistor R1, the second resistor R2, the third resistor R3, and the fourth resistor R4 in parallel, and turn off the second switch 224 that is capable of connecting the fifth resistor R5 in parallel.

[0109] Figure 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operating method of a battery management device according to another embodiment disclosed herein.

[0110] Reference Figure 6 , the operating method of the battery management device according to the embodiment disclosed in this article may include: operation S201, determining whether each of the multiple batteries is abnormal; operation S202, stopping charging of all the batteries in the multiple batteries; operation S203, determining the capacity of the first battery and the second battery; operation S204, comparing the capacity of the first battery with the capacity of the second battery; operation S205, discharging the first battery until the capacity of the first battery is equal to the capacity of the second battery; operation S206, discharging the second battery until the capacity of the second battery is equal to the capacity of the first battery; and operation S207, starting the simultaneous discharge of the first battery and the second battery.

[0111] In the following, reference will be made to Figure 1 and Figure 4 Operations S201 to S207 are described in detail. The battery management device 200 may be used with reference to Figures 1 to 4 The described battery management device 200 is substantially the same and thus will be briefly described to avoid redundant description.

[0112] In operation S201 , the controller 230 may determine whether each of the plurality of batteries 10 , 20 , 30 , 40 , and 50 is abnormal.

[0113] In operation S201, the controller 230 may determine a first battery 10, of which an abnormal temperature or an abnormal signal is sensed, as an abnormal battery among the plurality of batteries 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50. In operation S201, the controller 230 may determine at least one second battery 20 related to the first battery 10 determined as the abnormal battery. In operation S201, for example, the controller 230 may determine at least one second battery 20 adjacent to the first battery 10 based on the arrangement order of the plurality of batteries 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 previously stored.

[0114] In operation S202, the controller 230 may stop charging the plurality of batteries 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50. In operation S202, the controller 230 may transmit a charging stop signal for the first battery 10 determined as an abnormal battery and the second battery 20 adjacent to the first battery 10 to the charger 300.

[0115] In operation S203, the controller 230 may calculate the capacity of the first battery 10 and the second battery 20 determined as abnormal batteries. In operation S203, the controller 230 may receive battery data by communicating with the BMS of the first battery 10 and the BMS of the second battery 10. Herein, the battery data may include, for example, the voltage of the battery, the voltage of the battery cell of the battery, a fault signal, the internal temperature of the battery, etc. In operation S203, the controller 230 may calculate the capacity of the first battery 10 and the second battery 10 based on the battery data of the first battery 10 and the second battery 20.

[0116] In operation S204 , the controller 230 may compare the capacity of the first battery 10 with the capacity of the second battery 20 .

[0117] In operation S205 , the controller 230 may control operations of the plurality of first switches 210 by comparing the capacity of the first battery 10 with the capacity of the second battery 20 .

[0118] In operation S205, when the capacity of the first battery 10 exceeds the capacity of the second battery 20, the controller 230 may discharge the first battery 10 until the capacity of the first battery 10 is equal to the capacity of the second battery 20. In operation S205, for example, when the capacity of the first battery 10 is 8000 mA, the voltage of the first battery 10 is 60 V, the capacity of the second battery 20 is 4000 mAh, and the voltage of the second battery 20 is 50 V, the controller 230 may discharge the first battery 10 until the capacity of the first battery 10 is equal to the capacity of the second battery 20. In operation S102, the controller 230 may turn on a first switch 211 for connecting the first battery 10 to the first resistor R1 connected to the first battery 10 among the plurality of first switches 210, and turn off the plurality of other first switches 212, 213, 214, and 215.

[0119] In operation S206, when the capacity of the first battery 10 is less than the capacity of the second battery 20, the controller 230 may discharge the second battery 20 until the capacity of the second battery 20 is equal to the capacity of the first battery 10. In operation S206, for example, when the capacity of the first battery 10 is 4000 mA, the voltage of the first battery 10 is 50 V, the capacity of the second battery 20 is 8000 mAh, and the voltage of the second battery 20 is 60 V, the controller 230 may discharge the second battery 20 until the capacity of the second battery 20 is equal to the capacity of the first battery 10. In operation S206, the controller 230 may turn on the first switch 212 for connecting the second battery 20 to the second resistor R2 connected to the second battery 20 among the plurality of first switches 210, and turn off the plurality of other first switches 211, 213, 214, and 215.

[0120] In operation S207 , when the capacity of the first battery 10 is equal to the capacity of the second battery 20 , the controller 230 may discharge the first battery 10 and the second battery 20 simultaneously.

[0121] In operation S207, the controller 230 may turn on the first switch 211 for connecting the first battery 10 to the first resistor R1 connected to the first battery 10, turn on the first switch 212 for connecting the second battery 20 to the second resistor R2 connected to the second battery 20, and turn off the other plurality of first switches 213, 214, and 215. In addition, in operation S207, the controller 230 may turn on at least any one of the plurality of second switches 220 to adjust the distribution ratio of the discharge current applied to the plurality of resistors R of the first battery 10 and the second battery 20.

[0122] Figure 7is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a computing system for executing an operating method of a battery management device according to an embodiment disclosed herein.

[0123] Reference Figure 7 , the computing system 2000 according to the embodiments disclosed herein may include an MCU 2100 , a memory 2200 , an input / output I / F 2300 , and a communication I / F 2400 .

[0124] The MCU 2100 may be a processor that executes various programs (eg, a battery capacity calculation program) stored in the memory 2200, processes various data including SOC, SOH, etc. of a plurality of battery cells through these programs, and executes the above-mentioned reference Figure 1 The functions of the battery management device 200 described herein, or the execution of the reference Figure 4 A method of operating a battery management device is described.

[0125] The memory 2200 may store various programs regarding SOH calculation of the battery cell, cell target determination, etc. In addition, the memory 2200 may store various data such as SOC data, SOH data, etc. of each battery cell.

[0126] A plurality of memories 2200 may be provided depending on needs. The memory 2200 may be a volatile memory or a nonvolatile memory. For the memory 2200 as a volatile memory, a random access memory (RAM), a dynamic RAM (DRAM), a static RAM (SRAM), etc. may be used. For the memory 2200 as a nonvolatile memory, a read-only memory (ROM), a programmable ROM (PROM), an electrically variable ROM (EAROM), an erasable PROM (EPROM), an electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM), a flash memory, etc. may be used. The examples of the memory 220 listed above are merely examples and are not limited thereto.

[0127] The input / output I / F 2300 may provide an interface for transmitting and receiving data by connecting an input device (not shown) such as a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, etc. and an output device (not shown) such as a display, etc. to the MCU 2100 .

[0128] The communication I / F 2300, which is a component capable of sending and receiving various data to and from a server, may be various devices capable of supporting wired or wireless communication. For example, a program or various data for SOH calculation or target determination of a battery cell may be sent to and received from a separately provided external server through the communication I / F 2300.

[0129] Therefore, the operating method of the battery management device according to the embodiment disclosed herein may be recorded in the memory 2200 and executed by the MCU 2100 .

[0130] The above description merely illustrates the technical concept of the present disclosure, and various modifications and changes may be made by a person skilled in the art to which the embodiments disclosed herein belong without departing from the basic features of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0131] Therefore, the embodiments disclosed herein are intended to describe rather than limit the technical spirit of the embodiments disclosed herein, and the scope of the technical spirit of the present disclosure is not limited by these embodiments disclosed herein. The protection scope of the technical spirit disclosed herein should be interpreted by the attached claims, and all technical spirits within the same scope should be understood to be included in the scope of the present disclosure.

[0132] Description of Reference Numerals

[0133] 10, 20, 30, 40, 50: Multiple batteries

[0134] 1000: Battery swap station

[0135] 100: Battery slot unit

[0136] 110, 120, 130, 140: Multiple battery slots

[0137] T1, T2, T3, T4, T5: Multiple temperature measurement sensors

[0138] 200: Battery management device

[0139] R1: First resistor

[0140] R2: Second resistor

[0141] R3: The third resistor

[0142] R4: The fourth resistor

[0143] R5: Fifth resistor

[0144] 211, 212, 213, 214, 215: a plurality of first switches

[0145] 221, 222, 223, 224: multiple second switches

[0146] 230: Controller

[0147] 240: Communication unit

[0148] 300: Charger

[0149] 2000: Computing Systems

[0150] 2100: MCU

[0151] 2200: Memory

[0152] 2300: Input / Output I / F

[0153] 2400: Communication I / F

Claims

1. A battery management device, comprising: a plurality of resistors, the plurality of resistors being connected to the plurality of batteries respectively; a plurality of first switches configured to connect the plurality of resistors to output terminals of the plurality of batteries, respectively; a plurality of second switches configured to connect the plurality of resistors in parallel; as well as A controller is configured to determine whether each of the plurality of batteries is abnormal, and control operations of the plurality of first switches and the plurality of second switches based on whether each of the plurality of batteries is abnormal.

2. The battery management device according to claim 1, wherein: The plurality of resistors are connected in series to the plurality of batteries, respectively, and The plurality of second switches are connected in series with each other.

3. The battery management device according to claim 2, further comprising a communication unit configured to receive an abnormality signal of the plurality of batteries from a battery management system (BMS) of each of the plurality of batteries, in, The controller is further configured to determine, based on the abnormal signal, a first battery in which the abnormal signal is sensed and at least one second battery related to the first battery among the plurality of batteries.

4. The battery management device according to claim 3, wherein: The controller is further configured to obtain temperature information of the plurality of batteries from a plurality of temperature measurement sensors that measure the temperatures of the plurality of batteries, and determine a first battery among the plurality of batteries sensed to have an abnormal temperature and at least one second battery related to the first battery based on the temperature information.

5. The battery management device according to claim 4, wherein: The controller is further configured to, when an abnormal temperature or an abnormal signal of a first battery among the plurality of batteries is sensed, determine the at least one second battery adjacent to the first battery based on an arrangement order of the plurality of batteries.

6. The battery management device according to claim 4, wherein: The controller is further configured to calculate a capacity of the first battery and a capacity of the at least one second battery, and compare the capacity of the first battery with the capacity of the second battery to control operations of the plurality of first switches and the plurality of second switches.

7. The battery management device according to claim 6, wherein: When the capacity of the first battery exceeds the capacity of the at least one second battery, the controller is also configured to: turn on a first switch among the plurality of first switches for connecting the first battery to a resistor connected to the first battery, and turn on at least any second switch among the plurality of second switches.

8. The battery management device according to claim 6, wherein: When the capacity of the first battery is less than the capacity of the at least one second battery, the controller is also configured to: turn on a first switch among the plurality of first switches for connecting the second battery to a resistor connected to the second battery, and turn on at least any second switch among the plurality of second switches.

9. An operating method of a battery management device, the operating method comprising: determining whether each of the plurality of batteries is abnormal; controlling operations of a plurality of first switches for connecting a plurality of resistors respectively connected to the plurality of batteries to battery current output terminals of the plurality of batteries respectively based on whether each of the plurality of batteries is abnormal; as well as Operations of a plurality of second switches for connecting the plurality of resistors in parallel are controlled.

10. The operating method according to claim 9, wherein: Determining whether each of the plurality of batteries is abnormal includes: receiving an abnormality signal of the plurality of batteries from a battery management system (BMS) of each of the plurality of batteries; and A first battery in which an abnormal signal is sensed and at least one second battery related to the first battery among the plurality of batteries are determined based on the abnormal signal.

11. The operating method according to claim 10, wherein: Determining whether each of the plurality of batteries is abnormal includes: obtaining temperature information of the plurality of batteries from a plurality of temperature measurement sensors that measure temperatures of the plurality of batteries; and A first battery of the plurality of batteries, of which an abnormal temperature is sensed, and at least one second battery related to the first battery are determined based on the temperature information.

12. The operating method according to claim 11, wherein: Determining whether each of the plurality of batteries is abnormal includes determining the at least one second battery adjacent to a first battery among the plurality of batteries based on an arrangement order of the plurality of batteries when an abnormal temperature or an abnormal signal of the first battery is sensed.

13. The operating method according to claim 12, wherein: Determining whether each of the plurality of batteries is abnormal includes calculating a capacity of the first battery and a capacity of the at least one second battery, and comparing the capacity of the first battery with the capacity of the second battery to control operations of the plurality of first switches and the plurality of second switches.

14. The operating method according to claim 13, wherein: The operation of controlling a plurality of first switches for connecting a plurality of resistors respectively connected to the plurality of batteries to battery current output terminals of the plurality of batteries respectively based on whether each of the plurality of batteries is abnormal comprises: when the capacity of the first battery exceeds the capacity of the at least one second battery, turning on a first switch of the plurality of first switches for connecting the first battery to the resistor connected to the first battery; and Controlling the operation of the plurality of second switches for connecting the plurality of resistors in parallel includes turning on at least any one of the plurality of second switches.

15. The operating method according to claim 13, wherein: The operation of controlling a plurality of first switches for connecting a plurality of resistors respectively connected to the plurality of batteries to battery current output terminals of the plurality of batteries respectively based on whether each of the plurality of batteries is abnormal comprises: when the capacity of the first battery is smaller than the capacity of the at least one second battery, turning on a first switch of the plurality of first switches for connecting the second battery to the resistor connected to the second battery; and Controlling the operation of the plurality of second switches for connecting the plurality of resistors in parallel includes turning on at least any one of the plurality of second switches.

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