Battery diagnostic apparatus and method of operating same

Abstract

A battery diagnosis apparatus according to an embodiment disclosed herein includes: a pulse application unit configured to apply a plurality of pulses to a battery; and a controller configured to obtain a first voltage corresponding to at least any one of the plurality of pulses, calculate a voltage change rate based on the first voltage and a time during which the first voltage is obtained, and diagnose an abnormality of the battery based on the voltage change rate.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0105935, filed on August 11, 2023, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0003] Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a battery diagnostic device and an operating method thereof. BACKGROUND

[0004] Recently, research and development of secondary batteries have been actively performed. Here, the secondary battery, which is a battery that can be charged / discharged, can include all conventional nickel (Ni) / cadmium (Cd) batteries, Ni / metal hydride (MH) batteries, etc., and recent lithium ion batteries. Among the secondary batteries, the lithium ion battery has much higher energy density than the conventional Ni / Cd battery, Ni / MH battery, etc. In addition, the lithium ion battery can be manufactured to be small and light in weight, so that the lithium ion battery has been used as a power source of a mobile device, and recently, its use range has been extended to a power source of an electric vehicle, thereby attracting attention as a next-generation energy storage medium.

[0005] A battery measures and determines its state through a battery management system (BMS) mounted thereon in order to be normally used. Therefore, for a case where various information measured through the BMS exceeds a normal range or shows an abnormality, there are various diagnosis methods. However, the behavior of the battery can be differently changed with respect to a state of charge (SOC) and a state of health (SOH), so that it is difficult to accurately derive an abnormality diagnosis. SUMMARY

[0006] [TECHNICAL PROBLEM]

[0007] Embodiments disclosed herein aim to provide a battery diagnostic device and an operating method thereof in which a battery can be accurately diagnosed.

[0008] Embodiments disclosed herein aim to provide a battery diagnostic device and an operating method thereof in which a battery can be diagnosed based on a response to a pulse applied to the battery.

[0009] Technical problems of embodiments disclosed herein are not limited to the above-mentioned technical problems, and other unmentioned technical problems will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

[0010] [TECHNICAL SCHEME]

[0011] A battery diagnostic apparatus according to embodiments disclosed herein includes a pulse application unit configured to apply a plurality of pulses to a battery, and a controller configured to obtain a first voltage corresponding to at least any one of the plurality of pulses, calculate a voltage change rate based on the first voltage and a time at which the first voltage is obtained, and diagnose an abnormality of the battery based on the voltage change rate.

[0012] In an embodiment, the pulse application unit can be further configured to apply at least any one of a charge pulse and a discharge pulse to the battery.

[0013] In an embodiment, the pulse application unit can be further configured to alternately apply a charge pulse, a rest period, and a discharge pulse to the battery.

[0014] In an embodiment, the pulse application unit can be further configured to obtain a voltage corresponding to a discharge pulse among the plurality of pulses as the first voltage.

[0015] In an embodiment, the controller can be further configured to calculate an average value of the first voltage corresponding to at least any one of the pulses as an average voltage, and

[0016] diagnose an abnormality of the battery based on a change rate of the average voltage.

[0017] In an embodiment, the controller can be further configured to calculate an average value of the first voltage corresponding to each of the plurality of pulses as an average voltage, and diagnose an abnormality of the battery based on a change rate of the average voltage.

[0018] In an embodiment, the controller can be further configured to convert a time axis of the first voltage into a logarithmic scale, and calculate a change rate of the first voltage with respect to the time axis converted into the logarithmic scale as the voltage change rate.

[0019] In an embodiment, the controller can be further configured to calculate the voltage change rate by calculating a differential value (dV / d(log(t))) of the first voltage with respect to the logarithmic scale time.

[0020] In an embodiment, the controller can be further configured to diagnose an abnormality of the battery based on at least one of a change rate of the differential value of the first voltage with respect to the logarithmic scale time, a peak value of the differential value of the first voltage with respect to the logarithmic scale time, a maximum value of the differential value of the first voltage with respect to the logarithmic scale time, a minimum value of the differential value of the first voltage with respect to the logarithmic scale time, and a normal distribution of the differential value of the first voltage with respect to the logarithmic scale time.

[0021] In an embodiment, the controller can be further configured to obtain the first voltage based on a voltage after a set time from applying a discharge pulse among the plurality of pulses.

[0022] In an embodiment, the controller can be further configured to fit the first voltage into an equation, and calculate the voltage change rate based on the equation.

[0023] In an embodiment, the controller can be further configured to diagnose an abnormality of each of the plurality of battery cells included in the battery when each of the plurality of battery cells has the same degree of deterioration.

[0024] In an embodiment, the controller can be further configured to extract the first voltage by correcting a temperature imbalance of the battery.

[0025] An operation method of a battery diagnosis apparatus according to an embodiment disclosed herein includes applying a plurality of pulses to a battery, obtaining a first voltage corresponding to at least any one of the plurality of pulses, calculating a voltage change rate based on the first voltage and a time at which the first voltage is obtained, and diagnosing an abnormality of the battery based on the voltage change rate.

[0026] In an embodiment, the applying of the plurality of pulses to the battery can include alternately applying a charging pulse, a rest period, and a discharging pulse to the battery.

[0027] In an embodiment, the obtaining of the first voltage corresponding to at least any one of the plurality of pulses can include calculating an average value of the first voltage of at least any one of the pulses as an average voltage.

[0028] In an embodiment, the obtaining of the first voltage corresponding to at least any one of the plurality of pulses can include calculating an average value of the first voltage corresponding to each of the plurality of pulses as an average voltage.

[0029] In an embodiment, the calculating of the voltage change rate based on the first voltage and the time at which the first voltage is obtained can include converting a time axis of the first voltage into a logarithmic scale, and calculating a rate of change of the first voltage with respect to the time axis converted into the logarithmic scale as the voltage change rate.

[0030] In an embodiment, the calculating of the rate of change of the first voltage with respect to the time axis converted into the logarithmic scale as the voltage change rate can include calculating a differential value of the first voltage with respect to the logarithmic scale time (dV / d(log(t)).

[0031] In an embodiment, the diagnosing of the abnormality of the battery based on the voltage change rate can include diagnosing the abnormality of the battery based on at least one of a rate of change of the differential value of the first voltage with respect to the logarithmic scale time, a peak value of the differential value of the first voltage with respect to the logarithmic scale time, a maximum value of the differential value of the first voltage with respect to the logarithmic scale time, a minimum value of the differential value of the first voltage with respect to the logarithmic scale time, and a normal distribution of the differential value of the first voltage with respect to the logarithmic scale time.

[0032] [Advantageous Effects]

[0033] The battery diagnostic device according to the embodiments disclosed herein and the method of operating the same can accurately diagnose a battery.

[0034] The battery diagnostic device according to the embodiments disclosed herein and the method of operating the same can create standardized situations for a battery and analyze differences in corresponding situations to accurately diagnose the battery.

[0035] The battery diagnostic device according to the embodiments disclosed herein and the method of operating the same can apply a pulse to a battery and diagnose the battery based on a change in a voltage response to the pulse.

[0036] In addition, various effects directly or indirectly recognized through the present document can be provided. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0037] Figure 1 is a block diagram of a battery diagnostic device according to the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0038] Figure 2 An example in which the battery diagnostic device applies a pulse according to the embodiments disclosed herein is illustrated.

[0039] Figure 3 An example in which the battery diagnostic device obtains a response to a pulse according to the embodiments disclosed herein is illustrated.

[0040] Figure 4 is a view illustrating a method of operating a battery diagnostic device according to the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0041] Figure 5 is a flowchart illustrating in detail a method of operating a battery diagnostic device according to the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0042] Figure 6 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a computing system for performing a method of operating a battery diagnostic device according to the embodiments disclosed herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] Hereinafter, the embodiments disclosed herein will be described in detail by example with reference to the accompanying drawings. In adding reference numerals to the components in each drawing, it should be noted that the same components have the same number as far as possible even if they are shown in different drawings. Also, in describing the embodiments disclosed herein, when it is determined that a detailed description of the related known configuration or function interferes with the understanding of the embodiments disclosed herein, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0044] 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 used only to distinguish one component from another and do not limit the components in terms of their nature, order, sequence, etc. The terms used herein, including technical and scientific terms, have the same meaning as those commonly understood by those skilled in the art, provided that these terms are not defined differently. Terms defined in common dictionaries should be interpreted as having the same meaning as in the context of the relevant art and should not be interpreted as having an ideal or exaggerated meaning unless they are explicitly defined in this application.

[0045] Figure 1 A battery diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment disclosed herein is shown.

[0046] refer to Figure 1 The battery diagnostic apparatus 100 according to the embodiments disclosed herein may include a pulse application unit 110 and a controller 120.

[0047] According to one embodiment, the battery diagnostic device 100 may be included in a battery management system (BMS), or a server, cloud server, etc. According to another embodiment, the battery diagnostic device 100 may be included in a device for charge / discharge testing, such as a charge / discharge cycler, or may be included in various devices for diagnosing or testing batteries.

[0048] The pulse application unit 110 can apply multiple pulses to the battery. For example, the pulse application unit 110 can apply at least one of a charging pulse and a discharging pulse to the battery. In another example, the pulse application unit 110 can alternately apply charging pulses and discharging pulses to the battery.

[0049] According to one embodiment, the pulse application unit 110 can alternately apply charging pulses and discharging pulses to the battery, and may not set a rest period between the charging pulses and discharging pulses. According to another embodiment, the pulse application unit 110 can alternately apply charging pulses and discharging pulses to the battery, and may set a rest period between them.

[0050] According to an embodiment, the pulse application unit 110 can continuously apply charging pulses to the battery. For example, the pulse application unit 110 can apply charging pulses to the battery, set a rest period, and apply charging pulses again, thereby continuously applying charging pulses during the set period.

[0051] According to an embodiment, the pulse application unit 110 can continuously apply discharge pulses to the battery. For example, the pulse application unit 110 can apply discharge pulses to the battery, set a rest period, and apply discharge pulses again, thereby continuously applying discharge pulses during the set period.

[0052] According to an embodiment, the pulse application unit 110 can alternately apply charging pulses, rest periods, and discharging pulses to the battery according to specific conditions. For example, the pulse application unit 110 applies pulses to the battery by applying a 0.1-second charging pulse, having a 0.1-second rest period, applying a 0.1-second discharging pulse, and repeating the aforementioned process. However, this disclosure is not limited to this, and the pulse application unit 110 can apply pulses to the battery by determining the application time of the charging pulse, whether a charging pulse is applied, whether there is a rest period, the duration of the rest period, the application time of the discharging pulse, and whether a discharging pulse is applied.

[0053] According to an embodiment, the pulse application unit 110 can alternately apply charging pulses and discharging pulses multiple times. For example, the pulse application unit 110 can alternately apply charging pulses and discharging pulses three to ten times. However, this disclosure is not limited thereto, and the pulse application unit 110 can alternately apply charging pulses and discharging pulses n times (n is a natural number).

[0054] According to an embodiment, the pulse application unit 110 can apply charging pulses and discharging pulses as current.

[0055] Figure 2 An example is shown in which a battery diagnostic device applies a pulse according to an embodiment disclosed herein.

[0056] refer to Figure 2 The pulse application unit 110 of the battery diagnostic device 100 can apply pulses to the battery. Although in Figure 2 The pulse application unit 110 alternately applies charging pulses and discharging pulses, but this disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0057] According to an embodiment, the pulse application unit 110 can apply various pulses to the battery by repeating charging pulses and discharging pulses, repeating charging pulses and rest periods, repeating discharging pulses and rest periods, repeating charging pulses, rest periods and discharging pulses, etc.

[0058] Return to reference Figure 1 The controller 120 can obtain a first voltage corresponding to at least one of the plurality of pulses. For example, the controller 120 can obtain a voltage corresponding to a discharge pulse among the plurality of pulses as the first voltage. In another example, the controller 120 can obtain a first voltage corresponding to one or all of the plurality of pulses. In yet another example, the controller 120 can obtain a voltage response corresponding to each of the plurality of pulses, and obtain all or some of the obtained voltage responses as the first voltage.

[0059] According to an embodiment, the controller 120 can calculate the average value of a first voltage corresponding to at least one pulse as an average voltage. For example, the controller 120 can extract at least one pulse from a plurality of pulses according to a criterion and calculate the average voltage as the average value of the first voltage corresponding to the extracted at least one pulse. In another embodiment, the controller 120 can calculate the average voltage as the average value of the first voltage corresponding to all or some of the pulses in the plurality of pulses. According to an embodiment, the controller 120 can calculate the average voltage by calculating the average value of the first voltage corresponding to the pulse with low noise among the plurality of pulses. In this case, the controller 120 can diagnose battery abnormalities based on the rate of change of the average voltage.

[0060] According to an embodiment, the controller 120 can calculate the average value of a first voltage corresponding to each of a plurality of pulses as an average voltage. In this case, the controller 120 can diagnose battery abnormalities based on the rate of change of the average voltage.

[0061] According to an embodiment, when the charging pulse and the discharging pulse are repeated 5 times, the controller 120 can obtain the voltage response corresponding to the 5 repeated discharging pulses as 5 first voltages corresponding to the 5 discharging pulses, or calculate the average value of all or some of the 5 first voltages as the average voltage. That is, the controller 120 can obtain the first voltage corresponding to one or more pulses and diagnose the battery based on the obtained first voltage.

[0062] The controller 120 can calculate the rate of change of voltage based on a first voltage and the time during which the first voltage is obtained. For example, the controller 120 can calculate the rate of change of the first voltage per time. In another example, the controller 120 can calculate d(first voltage) / dt.

[0063] The controller 120 can diagnose battery anomalies based on the rate of change of voltage. For example, the controller 120 can diagnose battery anomalies based on the rate of change of voltage, peak value, maximum value, minimum value, normal distribution, etc. According to an embodiment, the controller 120 can analyze the rate of change of voltage of one battery and the rate of change of voltage of another battery by comparing them with each other to diagnose battery anomalies.

[0064] According to one embodiment, the controller 120 can diagnose a battery as an abnormal battery if it has a higher rate of change gradient than another battery or a normal battery. In another example, the controller 120 can diagnose a battery as an abnormal battery if it has a voltage rate of change gradient higher than a threshold.

[0065] According to one embodiment, the controller 120 can diagnose a battery as an abnormal battery if it has a peak voltage change rate higher than that of another battery or a normal battery. In another example, the controller 120 can diagnose a battery as an abnormal battery if it has a peak voltage change rate higher than a threshold.

[0066] According to one embodiment, the controller 120 can diagnose a battery as an abnormal battery if it has a minimum or maximum voltage change rate that is higher than that of another battery or a normal battery. In another example, the controller 120 can diagnose a battery as an abnormal battery if it has a minimum or maximum voltage change rate that is higher than a threshold.

[0067] According to one embodiment, the controller 120 can calculate a normal distribution of the voltage change rate and diagnose batteries that have a difference from another battery or a normal battery as abnormal batteries. In another example, the controller 120 can calculate a normal distribution of the voltage change rate and diagnose batteries that have a difference of at least a threshold from a normal battery as abnormal batteries.

[0068] According to an embodiment, the controller 120 can convert the time axis of the first voltage to a logarithmic scale and calculate the rate of change of the first voltage relative to the logarithmic time axis as the voltage change rate. For example, the controller 120 can calculate the voltage change rate by using d(first voltage) / d(log(t)) to calculate the derivative of the first voltage with respect to the logarithmic scale (logarithmic) time.

[0069] According to an embodiment, the controller 120 can diagnose battery abnormalities based on at least one of the rate of change of the derivative of the first voltage with respect to logarithmic scaling time, the peak value of the first voltage with respect to logarithmic scaling time, the maximum value of the first voltage with respect to logarithmic scaling time, the minimum value of the first voltage with respect to logarithmic scaling time, and the normal distribution of the first voltage with respect to logarithmic scaling time. For example, the controller 120 can compare the diagnostic factor of the first voltage with logarithmic scaling time with the diagnostic factor of another battery to diagnose whether the battery is abnormal.

[0070] According to one embodiment, controller 120 can diagnose a battery as abnormal if it has a higher rate of change of a first voltage relative to the derivative of logarithmic time than another battery or a normal battery. In another example, controller 120 can diagnose a battery as abnormal if it has a higher rate of change of a first voltage relative to the derivative of logarithmic time than a threshold.

[0071] According to one embodiment, controller 120 can diagnose a battery as an abnormal battery if it has a peak value of a first voltage relative to the derivative of logarithmic time that is higher than that of another battery or a normal battery. In another example, controller 120 can diagnose a battery as an abnormal battery if it has a peak value of a first voltage relative to the derivative of logarithmic time that is higher than a threshold.

[0072] According to one embodiment, controller 120 can diagnose a battery as abnormal if it has a minimum or maximum value of the derivative of a first voltage with respect to logarithmic scale time that is higher than that of another battery or a normal battery. In another example, controller 120 can diagnose a battery as abnormal if it has a minimum or maximum value of the derivative of a first voltage with respect to logarithmic scale time that is higher than a threshold.

[0073] According to one embodiment, controller 120 can calculate a normal distribution of the derivative of the first voltage with respect to logarithmic-scaled time and diagnose batteries that are worse than another battery or a normal battery as abnormal batteries. In another example, controller 120 can calculate a normal distribution of the derivative of the first voltage with respect to logarithmic-scaled time and diagnose batteries that are worse than normal batteries by at least a threshold value as abnormal batteries.

[0074] According to an embodiment, the controller 120 can easily identify trends, improve the discriminative power of the obtained values, and process the exponential components into linear forms by processing the first voltage based on a logarithmic scale.

[0075] Figure 3 An example is shown in which a battery diagnostic device receives a response to a pulse according to an embodiment disclosed herein.

[0076] refer to Figure 3 According to the embodiments disclosed herein, the controller 120 of the battery diagnostic device 100 can apply a pulse to the battery and calculate the rate of change of a first voltage obtained in response thereto.

[0077] Although Figure 3 The diagram shows the derivative of the first voltage with respect to logarithmic scale time, but this disclosure is not limited thereto, and the controller 120 of the battery diagnostic apparatus 100 according to the embodiments disclosed herein can calculate the voltage change rate of the first voltage, process noise of the first voltage, calculate the voltage change rate, calculate the average value of a plurality of first voltages, and calculate the average voltage change rate.

[0078] The controller 120 can diagnose battery abnormalities based on the calculated rate of voltage change. For example, the controller 120 can diagnose battery abnormalities based on the peak value of the rate of voltage change.

[0079] Return to reference Figure 1The controller 120 may obtain the first voltage based on the voltage after a set time following the discharge pulse of a plurality of pulses. For example, the set time may correspond to current stabilization. In another example, the controller 120 may obtain the first voltage based on the voltage after either the rise time or the fall time.

[0080] According to an embodiment, the controller 120 can fit a first voltage to an equation and calculate the rate of change of voltage based on the equation. For example, the equation can include various expressions, such as polynomial expressions, exponential expressions, etc.

[0081] According to an embodiment, when each of the plurality of battery cells has the same degree of degradation, the controller 120 can diagnose anomalies in each of the plurality of battery cells included in the battery.

[0082] According to an embodiment, the controller 120 can obtain a first voltage by correcting for temperature imbalances in the battery. For example, when a charging pulse or a discharging pulse is applied to the battery, the battery temperature may rise and may exhibit different behaviors, making it possible to obtain a first voltage based on the temperature behavior.

[0083] The battery diagnostic device 100 according to the embodiments disclosed herein can accurately diagnose batteries.

[0084] The battery diagnostic apparatus 100 according to the embodiments disclosed herein can create standardized conditions for batteries and analyze the differences in the corresponding conditions to accurately diagnose the batteries.

[0085] The battery diagnostic apparatus 100 according to the embodiments disclosed herein can apply a pulse to the battery and diagnose the battery based on changes in the voltage response to the pulse.

[0086] Figure 4 This is a view illustrating an operation method of a battery diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment disclosed herein. According to the embodiment, Figure 4 The operations shown can be performed by Figure 1 The battery diagnostic device 100 is executed.

[0087] refer to Figure 4 In operation 410, the pulse application unit 110 can apply multiple pulses to the battery. For example, the pulse application unit 110 can apply at least one of a charging pulse and a discharging pulse to the battery. In another example, the pulse application unit 110 can alternately apply charging pulses and discharging pulses to the battery.

[0088] According to one embodiment, the pulse application unit 110 can alternately apply charging pulses and discharging pulses to the battery, and may not set a rest period between the charging pulses and discharging pulses. According to another embodiment, the pulse application unit 110 can alternately apply charging pulses and discharging pulses to the battery, and may set a rest period between them.

[0089] According to an embodiment, the pulse application unit 110 can continuously apply charging pulses to the battery. For example, the pulse application unit 110 can apply charging pulses to the battery, set a rest period, and apply charging pulses again, thereby continuously applying charging pulses during the set period.

[0090] According to an embodiment, the pulse application unit 110 can continuously apply discharge pulses to the battery. For example, the pulse application unit 110 can apply discharge pulses to the battery, set a rest period, and apply discharge pulses again, thereby continuously applying discharge pulses during the set period.

[0091] According to an embodiment, the pulse application unit 110 can alternately apply charging pulses and discharging pulses multiple times. For example, the pulse application unit 110 can alternately apply charging pulses and discharging pulses three to ten times. However, this disclosure is not limited thereto, and the pulse application unit 110 can alternately apply charging pulses and discharging pulses n times (n is a natural number).

[0092] In operation 420, controller 120 may obtain a first voltage corresponding to at least any one of the plurality of pulses. For example, controller 120 may obtain a voltage corresponding to a discharge pulse among the plurality of pulses as the first voltage. In another example, controller 120 may obtain a first voltage corresponding to one or all of the plurality of pulses. In yet another example, controller 120 may obtain a voltage response corresponding to each of the plurality of pulses, and obtain all or some of the obtained voltage responses as the first voltage.

[0093] According to an embodiment, the controller 120 can calculate the average value of a first voltage corresponding to at least one pulse as an average voltage. For example, the controller 120 can extract at least one pulse from a plurality of pulses according to a criterion and calculate the average value of the first voltage corresponding to the extracted at least one pulse as an average voltage. In another embodiment, the controller 120 can calculate the average value of the first voltage corresponding to all or some of the pulses in the plurality of pulses as an average voltage. According to an embodiment, the controller 120 can calculate the average voltage by calculating the average value of the first voltage corresponding to pulses with low noise among the plurality of pulses. In this case, the controller 120 can diagnose battery abnormalities based on the rate of change of the average voltage.

[0094] According to an embodiment, the controller 120 can calculate the average value of a first voltage corresponding to each of a plurality of pulses as an average voltage. In this case, the controller 120 can diagnose battery abnormalities based on the rate of change of the average voltage.

[0095] In operation 430, controller 120 can calculate the rate of change of voltage based on the first voltage and the time during which the first voltage is obtained. For example, controller 120 can calculate the rate of change of the first voltage per time. In another example, controller 120 can calculate d(first voltage) / dt.

[0096] In operation 440, controller 120 can diagnose battery anomalies based on the rate of change of voltage. For example, controller 120 can diagnose battery anomalies based on the rate of change of voltage, peak value, maximum value, minimum value, normal distribution, etc. According to an embodiment, controller 120 can analyze the rate of change of voltage of one battery and the rate of change of voltage of another battery by comparison to diagnose battery anomalies.

[0097] According to one embodiment, the controller 120 can diagnose a battery as an abnormal battery if it has a higher rate of change gradient than another battery or a normal battery. In another example, the controller 120 can diagnose a battery as an abnormal battery if it has a voltage rate of change gradient higher than a threshold.

[0098] According to one embodiment, the controller 120 can diagnose a battery as an abnormal battery if it has a peak voltage change rate higher than that of another battery or a normal battery. In another example, the controller 120 can diagnose a battery as an abnormal battery if it has a peak voltage change rate higher than a threshold.

[0099] According to one embodiment, the controller 120 can diagnose a battery as an abnormal battery if it has a minimum or maximum voltage change rate that is higher than that of another battery or a normal battery. In another example, the controller 120 can diagnose a battery as an abnormal battery if it has a minimum or maximum voltage change rate that is higher than a threshold.

[0100] According to one embodiment, the controller 120 can calculate a normal distribution of the voltage change rate and diagnose batteries that have a difference from another battery or from a normal battery as abnormal batteries. In another example, the controller 120 can calculate a normal distribution of the voltage change rate and diagnose batteries that have a difference of at least a threshold from a normal battery as abnormal batteries.

[0101] Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating in detail the operation method of a battery diagnostic apparatus according to embodiments disclosed herein. According to the embodiments, Figure 5 The operations shown can be performed by Figure 1 The battery diagnostic device 100 is executed.

[0102] refer to Figure 5 In operation 510, controller 120 can convert the time axis of the first voltage to a logarithmic scale.

[0103] In operation 520, controller 120 can calculate the rate of change of voltage based on the rate of change of the first voltage relative to a time axis converted to a logarithmic scale. For example, controller 120 can calculate the rate of change of voltage by using d(first voltage) / d(log(t)) to calculate the derivative of the first voltage with respect to a logarithmic scale (logarithmic) time.

[0104] According to the embodiment, operations 510 and 520 may be included Figure 4 In operation 430.

[0105] In this scenario, controller 120 can diagnose battery abnormalities based on at least one of the rate of change of the derivative of the first voltage with respect to logarithmic-scale time, the peak value of the first voltage with respect to logarithmic-scale time, the maximum value of the first voltage with respect to logarithmic-scale time, the minimum value of the first voltage with respect to logarithmic-scale time, and the normal distribution of the first voltage with respect to logarithmic-scale time. For example, controller 120 can analyze the diagnostic factor of the first voltage with respect to logarithmic-scale time in comparison with the diagnostic factor of another battery to diagnose whether the battery is abnormal.

[0106] According to one embodiment, controller 120 can diagnose a battery as abnormal if it has a higher rate of change of a first voltage relative to the derivative of logarithmic time than another battery or a normal battery. In another example, controller 120 can diagnose a battery as abnormal if it has a higher rate of change of a first voltage relative to the derivative of logarithmic time than a threshold.

[0107] According to one embodiment, controller 120 can diagnose a battery as abnormal as a battery that has a peak value of a first voltage relative to the derivative of logarithmic time that is higher than that of another battery or a normal battery. In another example, controller 120 can diagnose a battery as abnormal as a battery that has a peak value of a first voltage relative to the derivative of logarithmic time that is higher than a threshold.

[0108] According to one embodiment, controller 120 can diagnose a battery as abnormal if it has a minimum or maximum value of the derivative of a first voltage with respect to logarithmic scale time that is higher than that of another battery or a normal battery. In another example, controller 120 can diagnose a battery as abnormal if it has a minimum or maximum value of the derivative of a first voltage with respect to logarithmic scale time that is higher than a threshold.

[0109] According to one embodiment, controller 120 can calculate a normal distribution of the derivative of the first voltage with respect to logarithmic-scaled time and diagnose batteries that are worse than another battery or a normal battery as abnormal batteries. In another example, controller 120 can calculate a normal distribution of the derivative of the first voltage with respect to logarithmic-scaled time and diagnose batteries that are worse than normal batteries by at least a threshold value as abnormal batteries.

[0110] Figure 6 This is a block diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of a computing system for performing an operation method of a battery diagnostic device according to embodiments disclosed herein.

[0111] refer to Figure 6 The computing system 1000 according to the embodiments disclosed herein may include a microcontroller unit (MCU) 1010, a memory 1020, an input / output interface (I / F) 1030, and a communication I / F 1040.

[0112] The MCU 1010 can be a processor that executes various programs stored in the memory 1020 (e.g., pulse generation program, voltage extraction program, voltage change rate calculation program, etc.). These programs process various information, including battery voltage, battery voltage change rate, and battery malfunctions, and execute... Figure 1 The battery diagnostic device shown in the diagram includes the aforementioned functions of the controller.

[0113] The memory 1020 can store various programs, such as pulse generation programs, voltage extraction programs, and voltage change rate calculation programs. In addition, the memory 1020 can store various information, such as battery voltage, battery voltage change rate, and battery abnormalities.

[0114] Depending on the needs, multiple memory units 1020 may be provided. Memory units 1020 may be volatile or non-volatile. For memory units 1020 as volatile memory, random access memory (RAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), static RAM (SRAM), etc., may be used. For memory units 1020 as non-volatile memory, read-only memory (ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), electrically variable ROM (EAROM), erasable PROM (EPROM), electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM), flash memory, etc., may be used. The examples of memory units 1020 listed above are merely examples and are not limited to these.

[0115] The Input / Output I / F 1030 provides an interface for sending and receiving data by connecting input devices (not shown) such as a keyboard, mouse, touch panel, etc., and output devices such as a display (not shown) to the MCU 1010.

[0116] The communication I / F1040, as a component capable of sending and receiving various types of data from a server, can be various types of devices that support wired or wireless communication. For example, a battery diagnostic device can send and receive various information from an external server provided separately via the communication I / F1040, including information such as battery voltage, rate of change of battery voltage, and battery abnormalities.

[0117] Thus, the computer program according to the embodiments disclosed herein can be recorded in memory 1020 and processed by MCU 1010, thereby being implemented to execute... Figure 1 The module that provides the shown functions.

[0118] The above description is merely an illustration of the technical ideas disclosed herein, and various modifications and variations will be possible for those skilled in the art without departing from the basic characteristics of the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0119] Therefore, the embodiments disclosed herein are intended to describe, and not limit, the technical spirit of the embodiments disclosed herein, and the scope of the technical spirit disclosed herein is not limited by these embodiments. The scope of protection of the technical spirit disclosed herein should be interpreted by the appended claims, and all technical spirit within the same scope should be understood to be included within the scope of this document.

Claims

1. A battery diagnostic device, comprising: A pulse application unit configured to apply multiple pulses to a battery; as well as The controller is configured to: Obtain a first voltage corresponding to at least one of the plurality of pulses; The rate of change of voltage is calculated based on the first voltage and the time during which the first voltage is obtained; and The abnormality of the battery is diagnosed based on the voltage change rate.

2. The battery diagnostic device according to claim 1, wherein, The pulse application unit is also configured to apply at least one of a charging pulse and a discharging pulse to the battery.

3. The battery diagnostic device according to claim 2, wherein, The pulse application unit is also configured to alternately apply the charging pulse, the rest period, and the discharging pulse to the battery.

4. The battery diagnostic device according to claim 1, wherein, The controller is also configured to obtain a voltage corresponding to a discharge pulse among the plurality of pulses as the first voltage.

5. The battery diagnostic device according to claim 1, wherein, The controller is also configured to: The average value of the first voltage corresponding to at least one of the pulses is calculated as the average voltage; and The abnormality of the battery is diagnosed based on the rate of change of the average voltage.

6. The battery diagnostic device according to claim 1, wherein, The controller is also configured to: The average voltage is calculated by taking the average value of the first voltage corresponding to each of the plurality of pulses; and The abnormality of the battery is diagnosed based on the rate of change of the average voltage.

7. The battery diagnostic device according to claim 1, wherein, The controller is also configured to: Convert the time axis of the first voltage to a logarithmic scale; and The rate of change of the first voltage relative to the time axis converted to the logarithmic scale is calculated as the voltage change rate.

8. The battery diagnostic device according to claim 7, wherein, The controller is also configured to calculate the rate of change of voltage by calculating the differential of the first voltage with respect to logarithmic-scale time (dV / d(log(t))).

9. The battery diagnostic device according to claim 8, wherein, The controller is further configured to diagnose battery anomalies based on at least one of the following: the rate of change of the derivative of the first voltage with respect to logarithmic time, the peak value of the derivative of the first voltage with respect to logarithmic time, the maximum value of the derivative of the first voltage with respect to logarithmic time, the minimum value of the derivative of the first voltage with respect to logarithmic time, and the normal distribution of the derivative of the first voltage with respect to logarithmic time.

10. The battery diagnostic device according to claim 1, wherein, The controller is also configured to obtain the first voltage based on the voltage after a set time following the application of the discharge pulse among the plurality of pulses.

11. The battery diagnostic device according to claim 1, wherein, The controller is also configured to: The first voltage is fitted into an equation; and The voltage change rate is calculated based on the equation.

12. The battery management device according to claim 1, wherein, The controller is also configured to diagnose anomalies in each of the plurality of battery cells included in the battery when each of the battery cells has the same degree of degradation.

13. The battery diagnostic device according to claim 1, wherein, The controller is also configured to extract the first voltage by correcting for temperature imbalances in the battery.

14. A method for operating a battery diagnostic device, the method comprising: Multiple pulses are applied to the battery; Obtain a first voltage corresponding to at least one of the plurality of pulses; The rate of change of voltage is calculated based on the first voltage and the time during which the first voltage is obtained; and The abnormality of the battery is diagnosed based on the voltage change rate.

15. The operating method according to claim 14, wherein, Applying the plurality of pulses to the battery includes alternately applying charging pulses and discharging pulses to the battery.

16. The operating method according to claim 14, wherein, Obtaining the first voltage corresponding to at least one of the plurality of pulses includes: calculating the average value of the first voltages corresponding to the at least one pulse as an average voltage.

17. The operating method according to claim 14, wherein, Obtaining the first voltage corresponding to at least one of the plurality of pulses includes: calculating the average value of the first voltage corresponding to each of the plurality of pulses as an average voltage.

18. The operating method according to claim 14, wherein, Calculating the rate of change of voltage based on the first voltage and the time during which the first voltage is obtained includes: Convert the time axis of the first voltage to a logarithmic scale; and The rate of change of the first voltage relative to the time axis converted to the logarithmic scale is calculated as the voltage change rate.

19. The operating method according to claim 18, wherein, Calculating the rate of change of the first voltage relative to a time axis converted to a logarithmic scale as the rate of change of voltage includes: calculating the differential value of the first voltage relative to logarithmic scale time, dV / d(log(t)).

20. The operating method according to claim 19, wherein, Diagnosing battery anomalies based on the voltage change rate includes diagnosing battery anomalies based on at least one of the following: the rate of change of the derivative of the first voltage with respect to logarithmic time, the peak value of the derivative of the first voltage with respect to logarithmic time, the maximum value of the derivative of the first voltage with respect to logarithmic time, the minimum value of the derivative of the first voltage with respect to logarithmic time, and a normal distribution of the derivative of the first voltage with respect to logarithmic time.

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