Apparatus and method for providing battery information

Abstract

A battery information providing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a curve acquiring unit that acquires a differential curve based on a capacity and a voltage of a battery; and a control unit that determines a target cycle corresponding to the battery and a target C-rate (current rate) corresponding to the differential curve, and corrects the differential curve based on an overvoltage curve corresponding to the target cycle and the target C-rate, thereby generating a corrected curve.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application is based on and claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0012259, filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office on January 26, 2024, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0002] This disclosure relates to a battery information providing apparatus and method, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for efficiently generating and providing battery-related information. Background Technology

[0003] In recent years, with the rapid growth in demand for portable electronic products such as laptops, cameras and mobile phones, as well as the accelerated development of electric vehicles, energy storage batteries, robots and satellites, research on high-performance batteries that allow for repeated charging and discharging is actively underway.

[0004] Currently, commercially available batteries include, for example, nickel-cadmium (NiCd) batteries, nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries, nickel-zinc (NiZn) batteries, and lithium-ion batteries. Among these, lithium-ion batteries have gained considerable attention compared to nickel-based batteries due to their advantages, including a significantly low memory effect allowing for highly flexible charging and discharging, a very low self-discharge rate, and high energy density.

[0005] While much research is focused on high-capacity and high-density batteries, improving battery lifespan and safety is also crucial. To enhance battery safety, a technology capable of accurately diagnosing the current state of a battery is needed.

[0006] In related technologies, the state of a battery has been diagnosed by analyzing a battery curve that represents the correspondence between the battery's capacity and voltage. For example, capacity and voltage are measured during the battery's charging process, and the battery's state is diagnosed by analyzing the battery curve that represents the correspondence between the measured capacity and voltage. In another example, the battery's state can be diagnosed based on the capacity and voltage measured during the battery's discharging process.

[0007] To more accurately diagnose the current state of a battery, a battery profile that accurately reflects that state is needed. However, there is a problem that requires charging and discharging at a low rate, such as 0.05C (C rate), to obtain the battery profile. In other words, existing technologies require low-rate charging and discharging to diagnose battery state, thus limiting their effectiveness in this area.

[0008] For example, when a battery is charged and discharged at a rate of 0.33C or higher, the resulting battery profile includes overvoltage, and therefore, due to the effect of overvoltage, the battery profile cannot accurately reflect the current state of the battery. When using battery profiles that include overvoltage, there is a problem of inaccurate diagnosis of the battery's state, which necessitates low-rate charging and discharging to accurately diagnose the battery's state. Summary of the Invention

[0009] Technical problems to be solved

[0010] Embodiments of this disclosure provide a battery information providing apparatus and method for rapidly generating curves for diagnosing battery status.

[0011] Various aspects of this disclosure may be understood from the description herein and may become more apparent with reference to embodiments thereof. Furthermore, it will be readily recognized that various aspects of this disclosure may be implemented by the means described in the claims and combinations thereof.

[0012] Technical solution

[0013] A battery information providing apparatus according to one aspect of this disclosure may include: a curve acquisition unit that acquires a differential curve based on the battery's capacity and voltage; and a control unit that determines a target cycle corresponding to the battery and a target C-rate (current rate) corresponding to the differential curve, and corrects the differential curve based on an overvoltage curve corresponding to the target cycle and the target C-rate, thereby generating a corrected curve.

[0014] The control unit can be configured to calculate the difference between the differential curve and the overvoltage curve to generate a corrected curve.

[0015] Overvoltage profiles can be pre-stored for each of multiple charge and discharge cycles and multiple C rates.

[0016] The control unit can be configured to select an overvoltage curve corresponding to the target cycle and the target C rate from a plurality of pre-stored overvoltage curves.

[0017] The overvoltage curve can be preset based on the reference differential curve of the first reference cell for the target cycle and the reference C rate, and the target differential curve of the second reference cell for the target cycle and the target C rate.

[0018] Based on the first target differential curve corresponding to the first target cycle and the second target differential curve corresponding to the second target cycle, multiple overvoltage curves can be set to correspond to multiple cycles included in the first target cycle and the second target cycle, respectively.

[0019] The overvoltage curve can be set by interpolating the difference between the first and second target differential curves proportional to each of the multiple cycles.

[0020] The overvoltage curve can be preset to represent the difference between the reference differential curve and the target differential curve.

[0021] The target C rate can be set to be greater than the reference C rate.

[0022] The curve acquisition unit can be configured to acquire a first differential curve representing the correspondence between capacity and differential voltage.

[0023] The control unit can be configured to correct the first differential curve based on a first overvoltage curve representing the correspondence between capacity and differential voltage.

[0024] The curve acquisition unit can be configured to acquire a second differential curve representing the correspondence between voltage and differential capacity.

[0025] The control unit can be configured to correct the second differential curve based on a second overvoltage curve representing the correspondence between voltage and differential capacity.

[0026] The control unit can be configured to output a calibrated curve to the outside to provide information about the battery.

[0027] According to another aspect of this disclosure, the battery pack may include a battery information providing device according to another aspect of this disclosure.

[0028] A vehicle according to another aspect of this disclosure may include a battery information providing device according to another aspect of this disclosure.

[0029] A battery information provision method according to another aspect of this disclosure may include: a curve acquisition step, which acquires a differential curve based on the battery's capacity and voltage; a target determination step, which determines a target cycle corresponding to the battery and a target C-rate (current rate) corresponding to the differential curve; and a calibrated curve generation step, which calibrates the differential curve based on an overvoltage curve corresponding to the target cycle and the target C-rate, thereby generating a calibrated curve.

[0030] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium may store therein a program for performing a battery information provision method, the method comprising: a curve acquisition step, which acquires a differential curve based on the battery's capacity and voltage; a target determination step, which determines a target cycle corresponding to the battery and a target C-rate (current rate) corresponding to the differential curve; and a calibrated curve generation step, which calibrates the differential curve based on an overvoltage curve corresponding to the target cycle and the target C-rate, thereby generating a calibrated curve.

[0031] Technical effect

[0032] According to one aspect of this disclosure, the battery information providing device can generate a calibrated curve for diagnosing the state of the battery relatively quickly, thereby reducing the total time required to diagnose the state of the battery.

[0033] The effects of this disclosure are not limited to those described above, and other effects not described herein will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art based on the description of the claims. Attached Figure Description

[0034] Since the accompanying drawings are provided to facilitate understanding of the technical concept of this disclosure in conjunction with the following detailed description of the invention, this disclosure should not be construed as being limited to the contents shown in the drawings.

[0035] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating a battery information providing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0036] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the battery curves according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0037] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram illustrating a first differential curve according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0038] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating a second differential curve according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0039] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram illustrating an overvoltage curve according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0040] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the corrected curves according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0041] Figure 7 This is a diagram schematically illustrating multiple overvoltage curves according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0042] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram illustrating a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0043] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram illustrating a vehicle according to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0044] Figure 10 This is a diagram schematically illustrating a method for providing battery information according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0045] The words and terms used in the detailed description and claims herein should not be construed as limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, but rather as having meanings and concepts corresponding to the technical concept of this disclosure that are consistent with the principles by which the inventors may properly define terms and concepts for the purposes of best describing this disclosure.

[0046] Therefore, it can be understood that the embodiments described herein and the configurations shown in the accompanying drawings are merely examples of this disclosure and do not represent the technical concept of this disclosure in detail. Various equivalents and modifications can be made to replace this disclosure when it is submitted.

[0047] When describing this disclosure, a detailed description of a relevant known configuration or function may be omitted if it is determined that such detailed description would obscure the essential points of this disclosure.

[0048] Terms with ordinal numbers such as first, second, etc., can be used to distinguish one component from another among various components, but should not be interpreted as limiting the component.

[0049] Throughout this description, unless otherwise defined, when a part “includes” a particular component, the description does not indicate that the part excludes other components, but rather that the part may also include other components.

[0050] Furthermore, throughout the description herein, when two components are “connected” to each other, the description indicates not only that the two components are “directly connected” to each other, but also that the two components are “indirectly connected” to each other via another component.

[0051] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating a battery information providing device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0052] refer to Figure 1 The battery information providing device 100 may include a curve acquisition unit 110, a control unit 120, and a storage unit 130.

[0053] A battery can refer to a physically separable, single, isolated cell with a negative and a positive terminal. For example, a lithium-ion battery or a lithium polymer battery can be considered a battery. Batteries can be cylindrical, prismatic, or pouch-shaped. Furthermore, a battery can refer to a battery bank, battery module, or battery pack in which multiple cells are connected in series and / or parallel to each other. In the following description, for ease of description, it is assumed that a battery refers to a single, isolated cell.

[0054] The curve acquisition unit 110 can be configured to acquire differential curves based on the battery's capacity and voltage.

[0055] For example, the battery curve BP is a curve that represents the relationship between the battery's voltage (V) and capacity (Q) as the battery progresses from a preset start-of-charge state of charge (SOC) or 0% charge to a preset end-of-charge state of charge (SOC) or 100%. In another example, the battery curve BP could represent the relationship between the battery's voltage (V) and capacity (Q) as the battery progresses from a preset start-of-discharge state of charge (SOC) or 100% discharge to a preset end-of-discharge state of charge (SOC) or 0%.

[0056] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating a battery curve BP according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The battery curve BP can be represented as an XY curve, where the X-axis is set to capacity (Q) and the Y-axis is set to voltage (V). The battery voltage ranges from Vi to Vf, and the battery capacity ranges from Qi to Qf.

[0057] Then, by differentiating the battery curve BP with respect to capacity, a differential curve can be generated, which represents the correspondence between the differential voltage (dV / dQ) and the capacity (Q). The differential voltage is the differential value of the voltage with respect to capacity, obtained by differentiating the voltage with respect to capacity. In the following text, the differential curve generated by differentiating the voltage with respect to capacity will be referred to as the first differential curve DP1.

[0058] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram illustrating a first differential curve DP1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The first differential curve DP1 can be represented as an XY curve, where the X-axis is set to capacitance (Q) and the Y-axis is set to differential voltage (dV / dQ).

[0059] When the battery curve BP is differentiated with respect to voltage, a differential curve is generated, which represents the correspondence between differential capacity (dQ / dV) and voltage (V). Here, differential capacity is the differential value of capacity with respect to voltage, obtained by differentiating capacity with respect to voltage. In the following text, the differential curve generated by differentiating capacity with respect to voltage will be referred to as the second differential curve DP2.

[0060] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating a second differential curve DP2 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The second differential curve DP2 can be represented as an XY curve, where the X-axis is set to voltage (V) and the Y-axis is set to differential capacitance (dQ / dV).

[0061] For example, there is no particular limitation on the charging or discharging rate (C) used to generate the battery curve BP. To obtain a more accurate battery curve BP and differential curve, the battery can be charged or discharged at a low rate. For example, the battery curve BP can be generated during the process of charging or discharging the battery at a low rate such as 0.05C.

[0062] For example, curve acquisition unit 110 can directly receive the differential curve of the battery from the outside. For example, curve acquisition unit 110 can acquire the differential curve by being connected to the outside via a wired and / or wireless network to receive the differential curve.

[0063] In another example, the curve acquisition unit 110 can directly receive the battery curve BP from an external source. The curve acquisition unit 110 can then generate a differential curve based on the received battery curve BP. For example, the curve acquisition unit 110 can be connected to an external source via a wired and / or wireless network to receive the battery curve BP and directly generate a differential curve from the received battery curve BP to obtain the differential curve.

[0064] In another example, curve acquisition unit 110 can generate battery information regarding the battery's voltage and capacity. Then, curve acquisition unit 110 can generate a battery curve BP based on the received battery information, and can generate a differential curve based on the generated battery curve BP. Curve acquisition unit 110 can acquire a differential curve by directly generating the differential curve based on the received battery information.

[0065] The curve acquisition unit 110 can be connected to the control unit 120 for communication. For example, the curve acquisition unit 110 can be connected to the control unit 120 via wired or wireless means. The curve acquisition unit 110 can send the acquired differential curve to the control unit 120.

[0066] The control unit 120 can be configured to determine the target cycle corresponding to the battery and the target C rate corresponding to the differential curve.

[0067] In addition, the control unit 120 can obtain information about the target cycle and the target C rate, as well as the differential curve, from the curve acquisition unit 110.

[0068] For example, when the battery's charge and discharge cycle is the thirtieth cycle, the target cycle corresponding to the battery could be the thirtieth cycle. The control unit 120 can receive the differential curve and information about the thirtieth cycle from the curve acquisition unit 110. Then, the control unit 120 can determine the thirtieth cycle corresponding to the battery as the target cycle.

[0069] For example, when the battery is charged at 0.33C, the target C rate corresponding to the differential curve can be 0.33C. The control unit 120 can receive the differential curve and information about 0.33C from the curve acquisition unit 110. Then, the control unit 120 can determine 0.33C corresponding to the differential curve as the target C rate.

[0070] The control unit 120 can be configured to correct the differential curve based on the overvoltage curve OP corresponding to the target cycle and the target C rate, thereby generating the corrected curve CP.

[0071] The overvoltage curve OP can be preset to represent the overvoltage portion included in the differential curve. For example, the overvoltage curve OP can be preset based on a reference differential curve of a first reference cell for a target cycle and a reference C rate, and a target differential curve of a second reference cell for a target cycle and a target C rate. The target C rate can be set to be greater than the reference C rate. According to an embodiment, the overvoltage curve OP can be preset to represent the difference between the reference differential curve and the target differential curve.

[0072] For example, when the target cycle is the thirtieth cycle, the reference C rate is 0.05C, the target C rate is 0.33C, and the first reference battery is charged (or discharged) at 0.05C during the thirtieth cycle, a reference battery curve for the reference C rate can be obtained, and a reference differential curve can be obtained based on the reference battery curve. Then, when the second reference battery is charged (or discharged) at 0.33C during the thirtieth cycle, a target battery curve for the target C rate can be obtained, and a target differential curve can be obtained based on the target battery curve. Based on the difference between the reference differential curve and the target differential curve corresponding to the same charge and discharge cycle, an overvoltage curve OP corresponding to the thirtieth cycle and the C rate of 0.33C can be generated. When the battery is charged and discharged at a target C rate greater than the reference C rate, the measured voltage of the battery may include overvoltage. Therefore, the control unit 120 can remove the reference differential curve based on the reference C rate from the target differential curve based on the target C rate to generate the overvoltage curve OP.

[0073] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram illustrating an overvoltage curve OP according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 5 The overvoltage curve OP corresponding to the first differential curve DP1 is shown.

[0074] according to Figure 5 The overvoltage curve OP of the embodiment can be represented as an XY curve, where the X-axis is set to capacity and the Y-axis is set to differential voltage. When the differential curve obtained by the curve acquisition unit 110 is the first differential curve DP1, the overvoltage curve OP can represent the correspondence between capacity and differential voltage.

[0075] The overvoltage curve OP corresponding to the second differential curve DP2 can be represented as an XY curve, where the X-axis is set to voltage and the Y-axis is set to differential capacity. When the differential curve obtained by the curve acquisition unit 110 is the second differential curve DP2, the overvoltage curve OP can represent the correspondence between voltage and differential capacity.

[0076] Then, the control unit 120 can be configured to select an overvoltage curve OP corresponding to the target cycle and the target C rate from a plurality of pre-stored overvoltage curve OPs.

[0077] Overvoltage profiles (OPs) can be pre-stored for each of multiple charge and discharge cycles and multiple C rates.

[0078] Multiple overvoltage curves (OPs) can be provided, and the charging and discharging cycles and C-rates corresponding to these multiple overvoltage curves can be different from each other. For example, based on a unit charging and discharging cycle and a unit C-rate, overvoltage curves (OPs) corresponding to different C-rates can be pre-stored.

[0079] The control unit 120 can be configured to calculate the difference between the differential curve and the overvoltage curve OP to generate the corrected curve CP.

[0080] For example, the control unit 120 can generate the corrected curve CP by calculating the difference between the differential curve and the overvoltage curve OP in the same way as generating the overvoltage curve OP based on the difference between the reference differential curve and the target differential curve.

[0081] For example, when the differential curve is the first differential curve DP1, the control unit 120 can calculate the differential voltage difference between the first differential curve DP1 and the overvoltage curve OP for each capacity to generate the corrected curve CP.

[0082] In another embodiment, when the differential curve is the second differential curve DP2, the control unit 120 can calculate the differential capacity difference between the second differential curve DP2 and the overvoltage curve OP for each voltage to generate the corrected curve CP.

[0083] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the corrected curve CP according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 5 and Figure 6 In one embodiment, a corrected curve CP can be generated based on the capacity-specific differential voltage difference between the first differential curve DP1 and the overvoltage curve OP. The control unit 120 can calculate the difference between the first differential curve DP1 and the overvoltage curve OP to generate the corrected curve CP, wherein the overvoltage portion included in the first differential curve DP1 is removed.

[0084] According to embodiments of this disclosure, charging and discharging the battery at a low C rate (e.g., 0.05C) is not mandatory to obtain an accurate differential curve, allowing for the rapid acquisition of a calibrated curve CP, free from overvoltage. Furthermore, since the calibrated curve CP is used to diagnose the battery's state, it is advantageous that the battery information providing device 100 can quickly generate and provide curves for diagnosing the battery's state.

[0085] For example, when forcibly charging and discharging at a low rate of 0.05C to obtain the battery profile BP, it might take approximately 20 hours just to obtain the BP. Furthermore, additional time may be required to perform the process of converting the obtained BP into a differential curve and diagnosing the battery's state based on that differential curve. When charging and discharging at a low C rate as described above, the significant time required to obtain the BP makes it difficult to quickly diagnose the battery's state.

[0086] As in embodiments of this disclosure, when the battery is charged and discharged at a C rate of 0.33C, the battery profile BP can be obtained in approximately 3 hours. According to embodiments of this disclosure, the time required to obtain the battery profile BP can be reduced compared to performing charging and discharging at a low C rate such as 0.05C.

[0087] The battery curve BP obtained according to embodiments of the present disclosure includes overvoltages corresponding to noise. By calculating the difference between the differential curve and the overvoltage curve OP, the battery information providing device 100 can quickly remove the noise included in the differential curve. Therefore, compared to methods that force low-rate charging and discharging, the battery information providing device 100 according to embodiments of the present disclosure, even taking into account the time required during the process of generating the calibrated curve CP, has the advantage of relatively very fast diagnosis of the battery's state.

[0088] The curve acquisition unit 110 and control unit 120 disposed in the battery information providing device 100 may optionally include, for example, processors, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), other chipsets, logic circuits, registers, communication modems, and data processing devices known in the art, to execute the various control logics performed in this disclosure. When the control logic is implemented by software, the curve acquisition unit 110 and control unit 120 may be implemented as a set of program modules. In this case, the program modules may be stored in memory and can be executed by the curve acquisition unit 110 and control unit 120. The memory may be disposed internally or externally to the curve acquisition unit 110 and control unit 120 and may be connected to the curve acquisition unit 110 and control unit 120 in various known ways.

[0089] The battery information providing device 100 may further include a storage unit 130. The storage unit 130 may store, for example, data or programs required when each component of the battery information providing device 100 performs its operation and function, or data generated during the performance of its operation and function. The type of storage unit 130 is not particularly limited and may be a known information storage device capable of recording, erasing, updating, and retrieving data. For example, the information storage device may include, for example, random access memory (RAM), flash memory, read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), and registers. Furthermore, the storage unit 130 may store program code that defines processes that can be executed by the curve acquisition unit 110 and / or the control unit 120.

[0090] The storage unit 130 can store the battery curve BP, the differential curves DP1 and DP2, the overvoltage curve OP, and the corrected curve CP.

[0091] In one embodiment, the curve acquisition unit 110 may be configured to acquire a first differential curve DP1 representing the correspondence between capacity and differential voltage. The control unit 120 may be configured to correct the first differential curve DP1 based on a first overvoltage curve OP representing the correspondence between capacity and differential voltage.

[0092] In another embodiment, the curve acquisition unit 110 may be configured to acquire a second differential curve DP2 representing the correspondence between voltage and differential capacity. The control unit 120 may be configured to correct the second differential curve DP2 based on a second overvoltage curve representing the correspondence between voltage and differential capacity.

[0093] Since the difference between the differential curve and the overvoltage curve OP should be calculated in order to generate the corrected curve CP, the differential curve and the overvoltage curve OP can have the same format.

[0094] When the differential curve represents the relationship between capacitance and differential voltage, the overvoltage curve OP can also represent the relationship between capacitance and differential voltage. Similarly, when the differential curve represents the relationship between voltage and differential capacitance, the overvoltage curve OP can also represent the relationship between voltage and differential capacitance.

[0095] For example, refer to Figure 3 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 The first differential curve DP1 and the overvoltage curve OP represent the correspondence between capacity and differential voltage. Therefore, the control unit 120 can calculate the differential voltage difference between the first differential curve DP1 and the overvoltage curve OP for each capacity to generate a corrected curve CP.

[0096] Based on the first target differential curve corresponding to the first target cycle and the second target differential curve corresponding to the second target cycle, multiple overvoltage curves OP can be set to correspond to multiple charging and discharging cycles included in the first target cycle and the second target cycle, respectively.

[0097] The overvoltage curve OP can be set by interpolating the difference between the first target differential curve and the second target differential curve in proportion to each of the multiple charge and discharge cycles.

[0098] Overvoltage curves OP that are not experimentally obtained can be acquired and stored through interpolation or extrapolation between similar overvoltage curves OP for charging and discharging cycles and C rates. For example, in addition to pre-stored overvoltage curves OP, control unit 120 can also generate overvoltage curves OP for various charging and discharging cycles and C rates through interpolation or extrapolation, and store the generated overvoltage curves OP in storage unit 130.

[0099] For example, when a first overvoltage curve OP corresponding to the C rate of the tenth cycle and 1C and a second overvoltage curve OP corresponding to the C rate of the tenth cycle and 1.2C are stored in advance, an overvoltage curve corresponding to the C rate of the tenth cycle and 1.1C can be further obtained based on the difference between the first overvoltage curve OP and the second overvoltage curve OP.

[0100] In another example, when a first overvoltage curve OP corresponding to the C rate of the tenth cycle and 1C and a third overvoltage curve OP corresponding to the C rate of the tenth cycle and 1C are pre-stored, an overvoltage curve OP corresponding to the C rate of the eleventh cycle and 1C can be further obtained based on the difference between the first overvoltage curve OP and the third overvoltage curve OP.

[0101] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram illustrating multiple overvoltage curves according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Figure 7 In the embodiments, the target C rate corresponding to the nth overvoltage curve and the mth overvoltage curve is the same, where "n" is a natural number equal to or greater than 1, and "m" is a natural number equal to or greater than n+2.

[0102] exist Figure 7In one embodiment, when the nth overvoltage curve OPn corresponds to the nth cycle and the mth overvoltage curve OPm corresponds to the mth cycle, and overvoltage curves corresponding to cycles n+1 to m-1 are not stored, overvoltage curves OP corresponding to cycles n+1 to m-1 can be generated and stored proportionally to the difference between the nth overvoltage curve OPn and the mth overvoltage curve OPm. For example, the differential voltage of capacity Qt corresponding to the nth overvoltage curve OPn is dVn, and the differential voltage of capacity Qt corresponding to the mth overvoltage curve OPm is dVm. The differential voltage difference (dVm-dVn) between dVm and dVn can be interpolated to be proportional to each of cycles n+1 to m-1. For example, the differential voltage of capacity Qt corresponding to the kth cycle can be calculated according to the arithmetic formula "dVn + (dVm-dVn) ÷ (mn) × (kn)" (where "k" is a natural number above n+1 and below m-1). The differential voltage difference (dVm-dVn) can be interpolated to be proportional to the k-th cycle.

[0103] According to an embodiment, when the charging and discharging cycle corresponding to the first overvoltage curve OP is the first cycle and the differential voltage corresponding to the first capacity is 11, and when the charging and discharging cycle corresponding to the tenth overvoltage curve OP is the tenth cycle and the differential voltage corresponding to the first capacity is 20, the differential voltage corresponding to the first capacity of the fifth overvoltage curve OP corresponding to the fifth cycle is 15. In the above arithmetic formula, when 11 is substituted into dVn, 20 is substituted into dVm, 1 is substituted into "n", 10 is substituted into "m", and 5 is substituted into "k", 15 is obtained according to the arithmetic formula "11 + (20-11) ÷ (10-1) × (5-1)".

[0104] Since multiple overvoltage curves OP are set to correspond to multiple charge and discharge cycles and multiple C rates, the overvoltage curve OP corresponding to the target cycle and target C rate can be quickly determined.

[0105] The control unit 120 can be configured to output the calibrated curve CP to the outside to provide information about the battery.

[0106] The control unit 120 can be connected to an external device capable of diagnosing the battery's state based on the calibrated curve CP, for communication via wired or wireless network. The control unit 120 can transmit the calibrated curve CP to the external device via wired and / or wireless communication. For example, the external device is not particularly limited, as long as it includes diagnostic equipment or a server and is capable of analyzing the calibrated curve CP to diagnose the battery's state.

[0107] Since the calibrated curve CP represents the current state of the battery, the battery state can be diagnosed based on the behavior of the peaks included in the calibrated curve CP. A peak refers to the maximum or minimum point of the calibrated curve CP. When diagnosing the battery state based on a differential curve that includes overvoltage, the battery state cannot be accurately diagnosed due to the influence of overvoltage. Since the battery information providing device 100 generates and provides a calibrated curve CP that removes overvoltage from the differential curve, the battery state can be diagnosed relatively accurately based on the calibrated curve CP. The battery information providing device 100 quickly generates the calibrated curve CP for diagnosing the battery state, thereby reducing the total time required to diagnose the battery state.

[0108] The battery information providing device 100 according to this disclosure can be applied to a battery management system (BMS). For example, a BMS according to this disclosure may include the battery information providing device 100 described above. In this configuration, at least a portion of the corresponding components of the battery information providing device 100 can be implemented by supplementing or adding the functionality of components included in a known BMS. For example, the curve acquisition unit 110, control unit 120, and storage unit 130 of the battery information providing device 100 may be implemented as components of a BMS.

[0109] Furthermore, the battery information providing device 100 according to this disclosure can be disposed in a battery pack. A battery pack according to this disclosure may include the aforementioned battery information providing device 100 and one or more individual battery cells. The battery pack may also include, for example, electrical components (e.g., relays and fuses) and a housing.

[0110] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram illustrating a battery pack 10 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0111] The positive terminal of battery 11 can be connected to the positive terminal P+ of battery pack 10, and the negative terminal of battery 11 can be connected to the negative terminal P- of battery pack 10.

[0112] The measuring unit 12 can be connected to a first sensing line SL1, a second sensing line SL2, and a third sensing line SL3. The measuring unit 12 can be connected to the positive terminal of the battery 11 via the first sensing line SL1 and to the negative terminal of the battery 11 via the second sensing line SL2. The measuring unit 12 can measure the voltage of the battery 11 based on the voltage measured in each of the first sensing line SL1 and the second sensing line SL2.

[0113] The measuring unit 12 can be connected to the current measuring unit A via the third sensing line SL3. For example, the current measuring unit A can be an ammeter or a shunt resistor capable of measuring the charging current and discharging current of the battery 11. The measuring unit 12 can measure the charging current of the battery 11 via the third sensing line SL3 to calculate the amount of charge. In addition, the measuring unit 12 can measure the discharging current of the battery 11 via the third sensing line SL3 to calculate the amount of discharge.

[0114] For example, the curve acquisition unit 110 can receive battery information about the battery's voltage and current from the measurement unit 12. Then, the curve acquisition unit 110 can generate a battery curve and a differential curve based on the battery information.

[0115] In another example, curve acquisition unit 110 can receive battery curve BP from measurement unit 12. Then, curve acquisition unit 110 can generate a differential curve based on battery curve BP.

[0116] In yet another example, curve acquisition unit 110 can receive differential curves from measurement unit 12.

[0117] An external device can be connected to the positive terminal P+ and the negative terminal P- of the battery pack 10. For example, the external device can be a charging device or a load. The positive terminal of the battery 11, the positive terminal P+ of the battery pack 10, the external device, the negative terminal P- of the battery pack 10, and the negative terminal of the battery 11 can be electrically connected to each other.

[0118] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram illustrating a vehicle according to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0119] refer to Figure 9 The battery pack according to embodiments of this disclosure may be included in a vehicle 900, such as an electric vehicle (EV) or a hybrid vehicle (HV). The battery pack 910 may supply power to a motor via an inverter disposed in the vehicle 900 to drive the vehicle 900. Here, the battery pack 910 may include a battery information providing device 100. For example, the vehicle 900 may include the battery information providing device 100. In this case, the battery information providing device 100 may be an on-board device included in the vehicle 900.

[0120] Figure 10 This is a diagram schematically illustrating a method for providing battery information according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0121] refer to Figure 10 The battery information provision method may include a curve acquisition step S100, a target determination step S200, and a calibrated curve (CP) generation step S300.

[0122] Each step of the battery information providing method can be performed by the battery information providing device 100.

[0123] The curve acquisition step S100 is a step of acquiring a differential curve based on the battery's capacity and voltage, and can be executed by the curve acquisition unit 110.

[0124] For example, curve acquisition unit 110 can directly receive the differential curve of the battery from the outside. For example, curve acquisition unit 110 can acquire the differential curve by being connected to the outside via a wired and / or wireless network to receive the differential curve.

[0125] In another example, curve acquisition unit 110 can directly receive the battery curve BP from an external source. Then, curve acquisition unit 110 can generate a differential curve based on the received battery curve BP. Curve acquisition unit 110 can be connected to an external source via a wired and / or wireless network to receive the battery curve BP and directly generate the differential curve from the received battery curve BP to obtain the differential curve.

[0126] In another example, curve acquisition unit 110 can generate battery information regarding the battery's voltage and capacity. Then, curve acquisition unit 110 can generate a battery curve BP based on the received battery information, and can generate a differential curve based on the generated battery curve BP. Curve acquisition unit 110 can acquire a differential curve by directly generating the differential curve based on the received battery information.

[0127] The target determination step S200 is the step of determining the target cycle corresponding to the battery and the target C rate corresponding to the differential curve, and can be executed by the control unit 120.

[0128] For example, control unit 120 can acquire information about the differential curve, charge and discharge cycles, and target C rate from curve acquisition unit 110. Then, control unit 120 can determine the received charge and discharge cycles as the target cycles and the received C rate as the target C rate.

[0129] The step S300 of generating the corrected curve (CP) is a step of correcting the differential curve to generate the corrected curve CP based on the overvoltage curve OP corresponding to the target cycle and the target C rate, and can be executed by the control unit 120.

[0130] Then, the control unit 120 can be configured to select an overvoltage curve OP corresponding to the target cycle and the target C rate from a plurality of pre-stored overvoltage curves OP. The control unit 120 can be configured to calculate the difference between the differential curve and the overvoltage curve OP to generate a corrected curve CP.

[0131] For example, when the differential curve is the first differential curve DP1, the control unit 120 can calculate the differential voltage difference between the first differential curve DP1 and the overvoltage curve OP for each capacity to generate the corrected curve CP.

[0132] In another embodiment, when the differential curve is the second differential curve DP2, the control unit 120 can calculate the differential capacity difference between the second differential curve DP2 and the overvoltage curve OP for each voltage to generate the corrected curve CP.

[0133] The embodiments of this disclosure described above can be implemented not only by apparatus and methods, but also by programs that implement the functions of components corresponding to the embodiments of this disclosure, or by recording media that stores programs. Based on the description of the above embodiments, those skilled in the art to which this disclosure pertains can readily implement these implementations.

[0134] Although this disclosure has been described with limited embodiments and drawings, it is not limited thereto, and it will be understood that various modifications and alterations can be made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technical concept of this disclosure and the equivalents of the claims set forth below.

[0135] Furthermore, since those skilled in the art can make various substitutions, modifications and alterations without departing from the technical concept of this disclosure, the above disclosure is not limited to the foregoing embodiments and drawings, but can selectively combine all or part of the embodiments to make various modifications.

[0136] (Description of reference numerals in the attached figures)

[0137] 10: Battery Pack

[0138] 11: Battery

[0139] 12: Measurement Unit

[0140] 100: Battery Information Providing Device

[0141] 110: Curve Acquisition Unit

[0142] 120: Control Unit

[0143] 130: Storage unit

[0144] 800: Vehicles

[0145] 810: Battery Pack

Claims

1. A battery information providing apparatus comprising: a curve acquisition unit configured to acquire a differential curve based on a capacity and a voltage of a battery; and a control unit configured to determine a target cycle corresponding to the battery and a target C-rate (current rate) corresponding to the differential curve, and correct the differential curve based on an overvoltage curve corresponding to the target cycle and the target C-rate, thereby generating a corrected curve.

2. The battery information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein The control unit is configured to calculate a difference between the differential curve and the overvoltage curve to generate the corrected curve.

3. The battery information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein The overvoltage curve is pre-stored for each of a plurality of charging and discharging cycles and a plurality of C-rates, and The control unit is configured to select the overvoltage curve corresponding to the target cycle and the target C-rate from among a plurality of pre-stored overvoltage curves.

4. The battery information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein The overvoltage curve is pre-set based on a reference differential curve for the target cycle and a reference C-rate of a first reference battery and a target differential curve for the target cycle and the target C-rate of a second reference battery.

5. The battery information providing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein A plurality of overvoltage curves are set to correspond to a plurality of cycles included in a first target cycle and a second target cycle, respectively, based on a first target differential curve corresponding to the first target cycle and a second target differential curve corresponding to the second target cycle.

6. The battery information providing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein The overvoltage curves are set by interpolating a difference between the first target differential curve and the second target differential curve to be proportional to each of the plurality of cycles.

7. The battery information providing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein The overvoltage curve is pre-set to represent a difference between the reference differential curve and the target differential curve.

8. The battery information providing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein The target C-rate is set to be greater than the reference C-rate.

9. The battery information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein The curve acquisition unit is configured to acquire a first differential curve representing a correspondence between the capacity and a differential voltage, and The control unit is configured to correct the first differential curve based on a first overvoltage curve representing the correspondence between the capacity and the differential voltage.

10. The battery information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein The curve acquisition unit is configured to acquire a second differential curve representing a correspondence between the voltage and a differential capacity, and The control unit is configured to correct the second differential curve based on a second overvoltage curve representing the correspondence between the voltage and the differential capacity.

11. The battery information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein The control unit is configured to output the corrected curve to an outside to provide information on the battery.

12. A battery pack comprising the battery information providing apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 11.

13. A vehicle comprising the battery information providing apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 11.

14. A battery information providing method comprising: a curve acquisition step of acquiring a differential curve based on a capacity and a voltage of a battery; a target determination step of determining a target cycle corresponding to the battery and a target C-rate (current rate) corresponding to the differential curve; and a correction step of correcting the differential curve based on an overvoltage curve corresponding to the target cycle and the target C-rate, thereby generating a corrected curve. a corrected curve generation step of correcting the differential curve based on an overvoltage curve corresponding to a target cycle and a target C-rate of the battery, thereby generating a corrected curve.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium in which a program for executing a battery information providing method is stored, the battery information providing method comprising: a curve acquisition step of acquiring a differential curve based on a capacity and a voltage of a battery; a target determination step of determining a target cycle corresponding to the battery and a target C-rate (current rate) corresponding to the differential curve; and a corrected curve generation step of correcting the differential curve based on an overvoltage curve corresponding to a target cycle and a target C-rate of the battery, thereby generating a corrected curve.

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