Charging gun, charging pile and vehicle battery state determination method and display method

Abstract

The invention provides a charging gun, a charging pile, a vehicle battery state determination method and a vehicle battery state display method. The charging gun comprises a handle part, a middle extension part and a gun head part, a battery state determining module is arranged in the middle extending part, the gun head part is suitable for being connected with a charging interface of a vehicle, and the battery state determining module is configured to detect the health state of a vehicle battery when the charging gun charges the vehicle. According to the invention, rapid non-inductive battery health state detection can be realized by means of the charging gun.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of battery testing technology, and in particular to a charging gun, a charging pile, and a method for determining and displaying the status of a vehicle battery. Background Technology

[0002] With the global energy transition and increasing environmental awareness, new energy vehicles, especially pure electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, have developed rapidly. Charging guns, as energy replenishment devices for new energy vehicles, have also developed accordingly. The power battery, as the "heart" of a new energy vehicle, directly determines the vehicle's range, safety, lifespan, and resale value. During long-term use, power batteries undergo irreversible chemical aging due to factors such as charge-discharge cycles, ambient temperature, and overcharging / over-discharging, leading to capacity decay and increased internal resistance. The battery's health status is a key indicator for measuring its degree of aging.

[0003] In related technologies, the detection and evaluation of the health status of vehicle power batteries mainly rely on the following methods: (1) estimation by the built-in algorithm of the vehicle battery management system (BMS) or (2) detection by professional diagnostic equipment. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of this, this disclosure provides a charging gun, a charging pile, and a method for determining and demonstrating the status of a vehicle battery. The specific embodiments of this disclosure include the following aspects.

[0005] In one aspect, a charging gun is provided, including a handle portion, a middle extension portion, and a gun head; The intermediate extension contains a battery status determination module, the gun head is adapted to connect to the vehicle's charging interface, and the battery status determination module is configured to detect the health status of the vehicle's battery when the charging gun is charging the vehicle.

[0006] In some embodiments, the gun head also has a temperature acquisition module, which is configured to detect the temperature at the charging port of the vehicle or the battery ambient temperature. The battery status determination module is also used to correct the health status of the vehicle battery based on the temperature signal collected by the temperature acquisition module.

[0007] In some embodiments, the battery state determination module includes a voltage acquisition module, a current acquisition module, and a microcontroller; The voltage acquisition module is configured to acquire the voltage signal across the vehicle battery. The current acquisition module is configured to acquire the current signal flowing through the vehicle battery; The microcontroller is configured to calculate the current internal resistance of the vehicle battery based on the voltage signal and the current signal, and to determine the health status of the vehicle battery based on the relationship between the current internal resistance and the standard internal resistance.

[0008] In some embodiments, the intermediate extension further includes an indicator module configured to issue different indicator signals according to different health states of the vehicle battery.

[0009] In some embodiments, the intermediate extension further includes a communication module, which is signal-connected to the battery status determination module. The communication module is configured to receive battery status detection data sent by the battery status determination module and then send the battery status detection data to a target terminal or cloud server.

[0010] Secondly, a method for determining the state of a vehicle battery is provided, which is applied to a charging gun. The charging gun includes a handle, a middle extension, and a gun head. The middle extension has a battery state determination module, and the gun head is adapted to be connected to the charging interface of a vehicle. The method includes: In response to the establishment of a charging connection between the charging gun and the vehicle's charging interface, the charging gun is controlled to start charging the vehicle. During the charging process, the battery status determination module controls the determination of the vehicle battery's health status.

[0011] Thirdly, a charging station is provided, which has a charging gun as described above.

[0012] Fourthly, a method for displaying the status of a vehicle battery is provided, including: Receive battery status detection data sent by the charging gun as described above; Obtain the acquisition time and the corresponding battery resistance data from the battery state detection data; The comparison results are obtained by comparing the battery resistance data with the standard resistance data of the vehicle battery or the previous battery resistance data. Based on the comparison results and the data collection time, the trend of the vehicle battery's health status over time is displayed as a curve.

[0013] Fifthly, a vehicle battery status display device is provided, comprising: The receiving module is configured to receive battery status detection data sent by the charging gun as described above. The acquisition module is configured to acquire the acquisition time and the battery resistance value data corresponding to the acquisition time from the battery state detection data; The comparison module is configured to compare the battery resistance data with the standard resistance data of the vehicle battery or the previous battery resistance data to obtain a comparison result. The display module is configured to display the trend of the vehicle battery's health status over time in the form of a curve, based on the comparison results and the acquisition time.

[0014] In a sixth aspect, a computer device is provided, including a memory and a processor, the memory storing at least one computer instruction, which, when executed by the processor, causes the computer device to perform the vehicle battery status display method as described above.

[0015] This disclosure provides a charging gun, a charging station, and a method for determining and demonstrating the status of a vehicle battery. The charging gun has a handle, a middle extension, and a head, with a battery status determination module integrated within the middle extension. This module can detect the health status of the vehicle battery while the head is connected to the vehicle's charging interface and the charging gun is charging the vehicle. This achieves seamless battery health status detection during charging, with high accuracy and without requiring the user to take the vehicle to a specialized testing facility. Furthermore, since the battery status determination module is integrated within the charging gun, especially within the middle extension, existing charging station structures can be directly adapted to this improved charging gun without requiring excessive or complex adjustments. Additionally, the introduction of the battery status determination module does not significantly affect the arrangement of the charging circuitry on the charging gun handle, nor does it affect the compatibility between the charging connector on the head and the vehicle's charging interface. Attached Figure Description

[0016] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this disclosure, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of this disclosure. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a charging gun provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of another charging gun provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 3 A flowchart of a method for determining the state of a vehicle battery provided in an embodiment of this disclosure; Figure 4 A flowchart illustrating a method for displaying the status of a vehicle battery, as provided in this embodiment of the disclosure; Figure 5 A schematic diagram of a vehicle battery status display interface provided in an embodiment of this disclosure; Figure 6 A schematic diagram of a vehicle battery status display device provided in an embodiment of this disclosure; Figure 7 This is a structural diagram of a computer device provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0018] The reference numerals in the figure are respectively: 10-handle part; 11-Intermediate extension section; 111-Battery status determination module; 1111-Voltage acquisition module; 1112-Current acquisition module; 1113-Microcontroller; 112-Indicator module; 113-Communication module; 12 - Gun head; 121 - Temperature acquisition module.

[0019] The accompanying drawings have illustrated specific embodiments of this disclosure, which will be described in more detail below. These drawings and descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the concept in any way, but rather to illustrate the concepts of this disclosure to those skilled in the art through reference to particular embodiments. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this disclosure will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of this disclosure. Based on the embodiments of this disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this disclosure.

[0021] Unless otherwise defined, all technical terms used in the embodiments of this disclosure have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.

[0022] To make the technical solutions and advantages of this disclosure clearer, the embodiments of this disclosure will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0023] In related technologies, the following methods are used to detect and evaluate the health status of vehicle-mounted power batteries: 1. Estimation using built-in algorithms in vehicle BMS: Electric vehicles in related technologies are equipped with battery management systems, which estimate the state of charge and health of the battery by monitoring voltage, current, and temperature, using ampere-hour integration, open-circuit voltage methods, or model-based algorithms.

[0024] 2. Professional Diagnostic Equipment Testing: When a vehicle experiences a significant reduction in range or a system alarm, the user must take the vehicle to a 4S dealership or a professional repair shop. Technicians will use specialized, large-scale battery diagnostic equipment to perform a series of complex charge-discharge tests and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analyses on the battery pack to assess its health status.

[0025] However, the built-in algorithms of the vehicle BMS are relatively conservative and their accuracy is limited by the computing power of the vehicle chip; secondly, accurate estimation of the State of Health (SOH) usually requires a complete charge and discharge cycle, which is difficult to achieve in daily fragmented charging; finally, the BMS data is usually only displayed as a simple health percentage on the vehicle's dashboard, which is not transparent or intuitive, and it is difficult to obtain detailed historical data and trend analysis.

[0026] While professional diagnostic equipment offers relatively accurate testing, it has significant drawbacks: 1. Inconvenience: Users need to schedule time to visit service centers, which is time-consuming and disrupts their normal vehicle usage. 2. Discontinuity: It cannot achieve high-frequency, routine testing, resembling an "annual inspection" rather than a "routine check-up," making it difficult to promptly detect subtle performance degradation and potential risks in the battery. 3. High cost: Professional diagnostic equipment is expensive, and the cost is ultimately passed on to consumers, resulting in substantial testing service fees. 4. Complex process: The complete testing process is time-consuming and may require deep charging and discharging of the battery, affecting the user's immediate vehicle use.

[0027] In the daily use of new energy vehicles, charging is the most frequent and natural interaction with the power battery. However, the AC / DC charging guns in related technologies have highly limited functions, with their core design focusing solely on safely and reliably completing power transmission. Communication between the charging gun and the vehicle's BMS is also mostly limited to control guidance, charging parameter negotiation, and fault protection, failing to fully utilize the rich real-time electrochemical data (such as transient response) during charging to perform in-depth battery health diagnostics.

[0028] This disclosure is proposed to address the aforementioned shortcomings. According to the ideas outlined in this disclosure, ideally, the new battery health status detection solution should seamlessly integrate into users' existing charging habits, allowing users to quickly and cost-effectively obtain valuable battery health status information during each charge without additional operation, thereby achieving routine monitoring throughout the battery's lifecycle.

[0029] This disclosure aims to address at least one of the following issues: 1. How to break the dependence of battery health testing on professional venues and specialized equipment, making it accessible to ordinary users. 2. How to simplify the complex testing process and seamlessly integrate it into the most frequently used scenario—charging—achieving "unobtrusive testing." 3. How to significantly reduce the cost of a single test, enabling users to conveniently and routinely monitor battery health trends, just like checking their phone's battery level. 4. How to provide intuitive and traceable test results, not only showing the current status but also creating historical records to provide data support for vehicle maintenance and used car valuation.

[0030] To address these issues, this disclosure provides a charging gun, a charging pile, a method for determining and demonstrating the state of a vehicle battery, as well as related devices and equipment. The specific details of each solution are described below.

[0031] In one aspect, this disclosure provides a charging gun.

[0032] refer to Figure 1-2 The charging gun disclosed herein includes a handle portion 10, a middle extension portion 11, and a gun head 12; The intermediate extension 11 has a battery status determination module 111, and the gun head 12 is adapted to connect to the vehicle's charging interface. The battery status determination module 111 is configured to detect the health status of the vehicle's battery when the charging gun is charging the vehicle.

[0033] It should be noted that, in order to achieve the charging function, the charging gun also includes necessary power transmission components and control guidance circuits, etc. These components or circuits can be found in relevant technologies and will not be described in detail here. Furthermore, the charging gun body adopts a standard AC charging gun shell structure conforming to national standards (such as GB / T 20234.2-2015), with sufficient internal space to accommodate the added circuit board. This disclosed embodiment can be configured as an AC charging gun (slow charging gun) integrating battery health detection functions.

[0034] In this embodiment, the charging gun has a handle, a central extension, and a head. A battery status determination module is integrated within the central extension. This module can detect the health status of the vehicle's battery while the head is connected to the vehicle's charging port and the charging gun is charging the vehicle. This enables seamless battery health status detection during charging, offering high accuracy and eliminating the need for the user to take the vehicle to a specialized testing facility. Furthermore, because the battery status determination module is integrated within the charging gun, particularly in the central extension, existing charging pile structures can be directly adapted to this improved charging gun without requiring excessive or complex adjustments. Additionally, the introduction of the battery status determination module does not significantly affect the arrangement of the charging circuitry on the handle or the compatibility between the charging connector on the head and the vehicle's charging port.

[0035] In some embodiments, reference Figure 1 The gun head 12 also has a temperature acquisition module 121, which is configured to detect the temperature at the vehicle's charging port or the battery ambient temperature. The battery status determination module 111 is also used to correct the health status of the vehicle battery based on the temperature signal collected by the temperature acquisition module 121.

[0036] Because battery state data measured at different temperatures can drift, this embodiment also includes a temperature acquisition module within the charging gun head. The battery state determination module can further refine the initially determined vehicle battery health state based on the temperature acquisition module, thereby improving the accuracy of the battery health state determined by the charging gun. Since the temperature acquisition module is located at the gun head, which directly contacts the vehicle's charging port, it can obtain a more accurate temperature of the vehicle's charging port or the vehicle battery's ambient temperature, thus improving the accuracy of the subsequent battery health state determination by the charging gun.

[0037] In some embodiments, the temperature acquisition module includes a thermistor mounted on the power line terminals or contacts inside the charging gun. The thermistor measures temperature by utilizing the characteristic that its resistance changes with temperature. Alternatively, the temperature acquisition module includes a small infrared temperature sensor facing the vehicle charging socket to measure the temperature of the vehicle charging interface or the battery ambient temperature in a non-contact manner. The measured temperature is used to subsequently compensate for and correct the calculated internal resistance, improving the accuracy of the battery health level detection results.

[0038] In some embodiments, the aforementioned thermistor is a negative temperature coefficient thermistor. This thermistor is tightly attached to the conductive copper plate or the housing of the power relay inside the charging gun, which contacts the vehicle's charging socket, using thermally conductive adhesive, to sense the temperature rise at or near the vehicle's charging interface during charging.

[0039] In some embodiments, reference Figure 2 The battery status determination module 111 includes a voltage acquisition module 1111, a current acquisition module 1112, and a microcontroller 1113; The voltage acquisition module 1111 is configured to acquire the voltage signal across the vehicle battery. The current acquisition module 1112 is configured to acquire the current signal flowing through the vehicle battery; The microcontroller 1113 is configured to calculate the current internal resistance of the vehicle battery based on voltage and current signals, and to determine the health status of the vehicle battery based on the relationship between the current internal resistance and a standard internal resistance.

[0040] This disclosure provides a specific structural design scheme for a battery state determination module. In reality, depending on different measurement principles, the battery state determination module can also have design schemes different from the one described above.

[0041] Taking the above design as an example, the battery status determination module has a voltage acquisition module and a current acquisition module, which can respectively detect the voltage signal at both ends of the vehicle battery and the current signal flowing through the vehicle battery. The microcontroller can calculate the current internal resistance of the vehicle battery based on the built-in arithmetic algorithm circuit; then, it uses a built-in comparison algorithm to determine the relationship between the calculated current internal resistance and the standard internal resistance, and determines the health status of the vehicle battery based on this relationship. For example, if the microcontroller determines that the calculated current internal resistance is only 90% of the standard internal resistance, it can determine that the vehicle battery has slight degradation.

[0042] In some embodiments, the microcontroller 1113 is further configured to control the voltage acquisition module 1111 and the current acquisition module 1112 to acquire signals within a preset short time period after charging starts, or to acquire signals during a specific diagnostic pulse phase. The preset short time period can be a few seconds, tens of seconds, or several minutes from the start of charging. The specific duration can be obtained through calibration; this time period corresponds to the period during which the charging current rises from 0 to the target value after charging starts, and the transient charging response during this time period can be used to determine the battery's internal resistance. The specific diagnostic pulse phase can be a pulse charging mode specifically designed for battery state detection. That is, the microcontroller can control the charging gun to operate in pulse charging mode and control the voltage acquisition module and the current acquisition module to acquire signals in this mode. This ensures that the subsequently calculated internal resistance value is more accurate.

[0043] In some embodiments, the microcontroller 1113 is further configured to control the voltage acquisition module 1111 and the current acquisition module 1112 to sample data at their respective target frequencies. These target frequencies can affect the accuracy of the subsequently calculated internal resistance value, and the sampling frequencies of the voltage and current acquisition modules can be adjusted to achieve different levels of accuracy.

[0044] In some embodiments, the surface of the charging gun is further provided with a precision level adjustment component, which has at least two position states, such as high precision and low precision. The precision level adjustment component is signal-connected to the microcontroller. When the precision level adjustment component is in the high precision position state, it sends a first signal to the microcontroller, and when it is in the low precision position state, it sends a second signal to the microcontroller. The potential levels of the first signal and the second signal are different. The microcontroller sets a target frequency to a first frequency in response to the first signal and sets a target frequency to a second frequency in response to the second signal, where the first frequency is higher than the second frequency. In this way, the user can adjust the detection precision level by adjusting the position of the precision level adjustment component. At different precision levels, the amount of data collected is different, and thus the time required to determine the battery health status is also different. Therefore, this embodiment can meet different detection needs of users. For example, if the user only needs to know the approximate health level of the battery, they can adjust the precision level adjustment component to the low precision position state, in which case the calculation time required is shorter. If they want to obtain high precision detection results, they can adjust the precision level adjustment component to the high precision position state, in which case the calculation time required is longer. The precision leveling component here can be a structural component with a lever or a structural component with a push-pull mechanism, etc., and this disclosure does not specifically limit it.

[0045] In some embodiments, the voltage acquisition module 1111 and / or the current acquisition module 1112 may have an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) to perform analog-to-digital conversion of the signal.

[0046] In some embodiments, the voltage acquisition module 1111 may have a voltage sampling circuit based on the voltage divider principle to ensure the accuracy and safety of voltage sampling. Specifically, the voltage sampling circuit may have a high-precision resistor voltage divider network that directly acquires signals from the neutral wire (N-line) / live wire (L-line) or control pilot (CP) signals of the charging gun. Alternatively, the voltage sampling circuit may negotiate with the vehicle's BMS to directly acquire signals from the battery terminal voltage at specific times (vehicle support required). The divided signal can be sent to an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) for analog-to-digital conversion. The ADC may be, for example, a 16-bit precision ADC, such as the ADS1115.

[0047] In some embodiments, the current acquisition module 1112 is a non-contact current sensor based on the Hall effect to ensure the accuracy and safety of current sampling. For example, the current acquisition module is an open-type Hall current sensor, which can be fitted onto the live or neutral wire inside the charging gun. The current sensor can also convert the current signal into a proportional voltage signal, which is also sent to the ADC for sampling. It should be noted that for signal acquisition at the moment of charging start-up (within a preset short period of time after start-up), the voltage and current acquisition frequencies need to be high enough to capture the transient process during charging start-up. For example, the sampling frequency needs to be above 1kHz.

[0048] In some embodiments, for signal acquisition at the instant of charging initiation (within a preset short time period after initiation), the microcontroller can control the voltage acquisition module 1111 and the current acquisition module 1112 to start sampling at a target frequency when the current rises from 0 to exceed a preset threshold after detecting the start of charging. This avoids sampling during the period when the current is approximately 0 (data from this period has poor characterization of the battery state). The current here can be detected by a current sensor integrated inside the charging gun, and the current sensor is communicatively connected to the microcontroller to send a current signal to the microcontroller. The preset threshold can be set by a technician through calculation or obtained through calibration.

[0049] In some embodiments, the microcontroller 1113 acts as the "brain" of the system, with its signal input terminals electrically connected to the voltage acquisition module 1111, the current acquisition module 1112, and the temperature acquisition module 121, respectively. The microcontroller 1113 is responsible for controlling the sampling timing, receiving and digitally filtering the acquired voltage, current, and temperature data. The microcontroller 1113 internally incorporates a preset internal resistance calculation algorithm. For signal acquisition during the instant of charging startup (within a preset short time period after startup), the core of this algorithm is based on a first-order RC equivalent circuit model. By analyzing the voltage transient caused by the current step response during charging startup, Ohm's law is used to calculate the DC internal resistance. The specific formula can be simplified to: DC internal resistance R = (instantaneous voltage change ΔU) / (instantaneous current change ΔI). The microcontroller 1113 also calls the stored temperature-internal resistance compensation curve to correct the calculation results, obtaining a reference value for the internal resistance at the standard temperature. This process is the process of correcting the detected health status based on temperature.

[0050] In some embodiments, the microcontroller 1113 is a low-power ARM Cortex-M0 core microcontroller, such as STMicroelectronics' STM32L0 series. The microcontroller (Microprogrammed Control Unit, abbreviated as MCU) 1113 integrates multiple ADC channels and communication interfaces to meet system requirements.

[0051] The microcontroller 1113 also includes memory, such as flash memory. This memory stores a temperature compensation algorithm, reference data, and internal resistance calculation firmware. The temperature compensation algorithm is a temperature-internal resistance lookup table for the battery. Different lookup tables can be stored for different types of batteries; for example, a lookup table for a typical lithium-ion battery can be stored. Based on this lookup table, the microcontroller can look up the internal resistance reference value at a standard temperature (e.g., 25°C) based on the temperature signal acquired by the temperature acquisition module, thus correcting the calculated original internal resistance value. The aforementioned reference data may include pre-stored typical or standard internal resistance values ​​of the battery in the current charging vehicle model, or values ​​acquired or learned by the charging gun through communication with a mobile terminal or vehicle terminal. This reference data is used as a benchmark for comparison with the internal resistance reference value to determine the battery's health status. The aforementioned internal resistance calculation firmware can be used to trigger high-speed sampling at the moment the charging pile closes the contactor and the current begins to flow; record the corresponding change in voltage ΔU during the process of the current jumping from 0 (or from 0 to the moment when it exceeds the preset threshold) to a stable value I1 (e.g., 10A); and then perform the calculation of R=ΔU / I1.

[0052] In some embodiments, reference Figure 1 The intermediate extension 11 also has an indicator module 112, which is configured to issue different indicator signals according to different health states of the vehicle battery.

[0053] In this embodiment, an indicator module is also provided in the middle extension of the charging gun, which can then issue different prompt signals according to the different health statuses of the vehicle battery, so that the user can intuitively and quickly determine the current battery health level of the vehicle based on the prompt signals.

[0054] In some embodiments, the indicator module 112 is located on the housing of the charging gun. The indicator module 112 includes a multi-functional status indicator light, which is electrically connected to the microcontroller 1113. The microcontroller 1113 can drive the indicator light to intuitively indicate to the user the progress of battery health status detection (e.g., continuous flashing during sampling, and a single white light during calculation) and the final result (e.g., normal, slight decay, and severe decay correspond to color filtering, yellow, and red, respectively).

[0055] In some embodiments, the microcontroller can programmably control the indicator lights to display: flashing blue (indicating detection), solid green (indicating battery health), solid yellow (indicating slight battery degradation), and flashing red (indicating severe battery degradation or malfunction).

[0056] Optionally, the status indicator is a tri-color RGB LED.

[0057] In some embodiments, the indicator module is embedded in the middle extension or handle of the charging gun for greater visibility.

[0058] In some embodiments, reference Figure 2 The intermediate extension 11 also has a communication module 113, which is signal-connected to the battery status determination module 111. The communication module 113 is configured to receive the battery status detection data sent by the battery status determination module 111 and then send the battery status detection data to the target terminal or cloud server.

[0059] In this embodiment, the middle extension of the charging gun also integrates a communication module. This communication module can send the battery status detection data sent by the battery status determination module to a target terminal or a cloud server. This allows the user of the target terminal to observe the detected data through the terminal without needing to be near the charging gun. Alternatively, the cloud server can aggregate and analyze the battery status data before sending it to the target terminal, providing the user with more refined and intuitive vehicle battery detection data.

[0060] In some embodiments, the communication module 113 is a wireless communication module and is electrically connected to the microcontroller 1113. For example, it is electrically connected to the microcontroller 1113 via a Universal Asynchronous Receiver and Transmitter (UART) or a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI). The communication module 113 is responsible for packaging data such as the DC internal resistance value calculated by the microcontroller (the internal resistance reference value after temperature correction), the timestamp of this detection, and the temperature, and wirelessly transmitting it to an external device.

[0061] In some embodiments, the microcontroller 1113 also sends data in a specific format (e.g., {"R":0.0485, "T": 28.5, "time": "202310271930"}, where R represents resistance, T represents temperature, and time represents timestamp) to the communication module 113 via UART to improve data readability and transmission accuracy.

[0062] In some embodiments, the communication module 113 is a low-power Bluetooth module (such as Nordic Semiconductor's nRF52832), which can be easily paired with a user's mobile terminal (such as a mobile phone) and used to broadcast the data received from the microcontroller; in public sites, the communication module 113 can also be a Wi-Fi or 4G / 5G cellular network module to directly upload data to a cloud server; or a combination of both types of modules.

[0063] In other words, the present invention integrates a complete signal acquisition, processing and communication module in the middle extension of the charging gun, which can realize rapid detection and transmission of battery health status.

[0064] Secondly, this disclosure provides a method for determining the state of a vehicle battery. This method is applied to the aforementioned charging gun. The method can be executed, for example, by the aforementioned microcontroller integrated within the charging gun or by a control module separately located within the charging gun. The following description uses a control module as an example.

[0065] refer to Figure 3 The methods disclosed herein include: Step 301: In response to the established charging connection between the charging gun and the vehicle's charging interface, control the charging gun to start charging the vehicle.

[0066] In this step, the control module inside the charging gun can monitor the connection status of the charging gun. When it detects that a charging connection has been established between the charging gun and the vehicle's charging interface, it controls the charging gun to start charging the vehicle.

[0067] Step 302: During the charging process, control the battery status determination module 111 to determine the health status of the vehicle battery.

[0068] In this step, the control module inside the charging gun can control the operation of the battery status determination module, so that it starts to detect and analyze after charging begins (during the charging process), so that the battery status determination module can determine the health status of the vehicle battery.

[0069] It should be noted that the method disclosed herein is intended for use in conjunction with the aforementioned charging gun embodiments; therefore, for more details, please refer to the contents of the charging gun embodiments.

[0070] The vehicle battery status determination method provided in this embodiment can automatically detect the charging gun status. After meeting the necessary conditions for detecting the battery health status, it controls the battery status determination module in the charging gun to determine the health status of the vehicle battery, thus avoiding unnecessary energy consumption when the conditions are not met and avoiding inaccurate or invalid detection results.

[0071] Thirdly, embodiments of this disclosure provide a charging pile having the charging gun as described above.

[0072] The charging pile of this disclosure embodiment can also have a similar structure to charging piles in related technologies, with the only difference being the internal structure of the charging gun. For more details regarding the charging gun, please refer to the aforementioned embodiments of the charging gun. In this way, the charging pile of this disclosure embodiment can achieve functional enhancement at low cost and high efficiency, performing more functions beyond charging.

[0073] Fourthly, this disclosure provides a method for displaying the status of a vehicle battery. This method can be executed by a computer device or a mobile terminal, or by a cloud server. The following description uses a mobile terminal as the execution subject.

[0074] refer to Figure 4 The method in this disclosure includes: Step 401: Receive the battery status detection data sent by the charging gun as described above.

[0075] In this step, the mobile terminal can receive battery status detection data sent by the charging gun through the communication connection established with the charging gun's communication module. In other words, before this step, the mobile terminal can first establish a communication connection with the charging gun's communication module. When the charging gun's communication module is a Bluetooth module, the mobile terminal pairs and connects with the charging gun's Bluetooth module via Bluetooth.

[0076] Step 402: Obtain the data at the time of acquisition and the corresponding battery resistance value from the battery status detection data.

[0077] In this step, the mobile terminal can obtain the time and resistance data of the charging gun collecting battery resistance data from the received battery status detection data, so as to carry out subsequent analysis.

[0078] Step 403: Compare the battery resistance data with the standard resistance data of the vehicle battery or the previous battery resistance data to obtain the comparison result.

[0079] In this step, the mobile terminal compares the battery resistance value data received in this test with the standard resistance value data of the vehicle battery, or with the battery resistance value data received in the previous test, to obtain a comparison result. The comparison result can be expressed as the direction and amount of offset relative to the standard resistance value or the previous resistance value data, or the percentage change relative to the standard resistance value, etc.

[0080] Step 404: Based on the comparison results and the time of data collection, display the trend of the vehicle battery's health status over time in the form of a curve.

[0081] In this step, the mobile terminal can display the test results on a curve based on the comparison results and the time of data collection for this test, so that users can see the trend of the vehicle battery resistance over time and understand the test results more intuitively.

[0082] As can be seen, in this embodiment of the present disclosure, by acquiring battery status detection data from the charging gun and performing corresponding analysis and comparison operations, the detection data is finally added to the battery resistance change curve, so that users can see the change trend of battery resistance more intuitively and facilitate users to maintain battery status in a timely manner.

[0083] When the battery resistance change curve is a curve showing the change in health level over time, the aforementioned analysis and comparison operations may include: calculating the percentage of health level (e.g., (reference internal resistance / current internal resistance) * 100%), and adding this percentage of health level as a new data point to the curve.

[0084] In some embodiments, the method further includes: directly displaying the acquisition time and the corresponding battery resistance value data obtained from the battery state detection data, so as to achieve real-time reception and display of the detection results. For example, Figure 5 An interface is shown that displays battery resistance data, including detection time, current DC internal resistance, and health status.

[0085] In some embodiments, the method further includes: combining vehicle model, mileage and battery history data, comparing the current internal resistance value with the factory reference value or the last test value, and determining a quantitative health status percentage or a rating assessment result including levels such as "excellent", "good", and "needs attention" based on the comparison result, so that the user can more clearly understand the current health status of the battery.

[0086] In some embodiments, the method further includes: when a battery resistance value is detected to be abnormally larger than the previous battery resistance value (or, if this is the first time, compared to the standard resistance value), with the difference exceeding a preset value, issuing a warning message to prompt the user to maintain the battery's health status in a timely manner. For example, if an abnormal jump of more than 10% is detected in the internal resistance value compared to the previous detection value, or if the SOH (calculated as (reference internal resistance / current internal resistance) * 100%) is lower than a preset threshold (e.g., 70%), a notification will be pushed to the user, suggesting that they perform a check.

[0087] It should be noted that the above method can be implemented using an application built into a mobile terminal, leveraging the hardware of the mobile terminal. For example, the mobile terminal can execute the above method by installing and running a target application (APP) developed in conjunction with the aforementioned charging gun. The mobile terminal could be, for example, a user's smartphone or tablet, etc.

[0088] To further clarify the charging gun, vehicle battery status determination method, and display method involved in this disclosure, the following is a general exemplary description of the process of charging the vehicle, performing battery testing, and displaying the test results on a mobile terminal: 1. The user inserts the charging gun into the vehicle's charging port, and the charging station completes self-test and protocol handshake.

[0089] 2. The main contactor of the charging station engages, and charging officially begins. The current starts to rise from 0.

[0090] 3. The current sensor detects that the current exceeds the threshold, triggering the MCU to start the high-speed sampling program.

[0091] 4. The MCU synchronously records voltage and current data for approximately 5-10 seconds and reads the current temperature.

[0092] 5. The MCU executes the internal resistance calculation and temperature compensation algorithm to obtain the corrected DC internal resistance value.

[0093] 6. The MCU driver status indicator displays the corresponding color, and at the same time, it sends out data packets via the Bluetooth module.

[0094] 7. The APP on the user's mobile phone receives the data in the background, parses it and updates the interface: displaying the current internal resistance value, the calculated SOH percentage (e.g., (reference internal resistance / current internal resistance) * 100%), and adding the new data points to the historical trend chart.

[0095] 8. If the APP detects an abnormal change of more than 10% in the internal resistance value compared to the previous detection, or if the SOH is lower than the preset threshold (e.g., 70%), it will push a notification to the user and suggest that they check.

[0096] Through the aforementioned hardware and implementation methods, this disclosure successfully transforms a professional battery testing service into a routine function that is automatically completed during each charge and easily accessible to users, possessing strong practicality and market promotion value. However, it should be noted that the above is merely an example; depending on the design of the charging gun and adjustments to the functions of the app itself, solutions different from the above process can also be implemented.

[0097] Based on the foregoing disclosure, the technical effects achieved by this disclosure will be analyzed below.

[0098] Compared with related technologies, the embodiments of this disclosure achieve the following effects: Extremely convenient and seamless: This invention deeply integrates the testing function into the charging gun. Users do not need to perform any additional operations; they simply plug the charging gun in as usual to start charging, and the components inside the charging gun will automatically complete the testing within the first few tens of seconds to a few minutes of charging. It truly achieves "plug and test," transforming complex professional testing into an invisible daily activity.

[0099] The cost-effectiveness is significant and it is easy to promote: the hardware used in this disclosure consists of mature and universal electronic components (such as ADC chips, Hall sensors, general-purpose MCUs, and Bluetooth modules), which are inexpensive. Modifications to existing charging gun production lines are minimal, requiring only the addition of a small PCB board and the corresponding sensor, making it very easy to achieve mass production and widespread adoption. Whether for home charging stations or public charging stations, this high-value function can be added at extremely low marginal cost.

[0100] Achieving routine and trend-based monitoring: Due to the extremely low cost and convenient process of testing, users can perform tests every time they charge. This transforms battery health data acquisition from an "occasional" "snapshot" into a "continuously recorded" "video." The accumulated data over time can form a unique battery health profile. Clearly displaying the degradation trajectory through trend graphs is invaluable for predicting battery life, assessing the true value of a used vehicle, and making well-founded claims during the warranty period.

[0101] Providing instant and intuitive feedback: Through graphical displays on the mobile app and status indicator lights on the charging gun, users can obtain intuitive and easy-to-understand test results in the shortest possible time. This instant feedback greatly enhances users' perception and control over the vehicle's status, improving the user experience.

[0102] It possesses early warning capabilities: a sudden increase in battery internal resistance is often a precursor to battery malfunctions (such as internal short circuits, loose connections, or electrolyte drying). The routine detection method disclosed herein can detect such abnormal changes more sensitively than an onboard BMS and promptly alert the user, potentially nipping serious safety hazards in the bud and improving overall vehicle safety.

[0103] Fifthly, embodiments of this disclosure provide a vehicle battery status display device. (See reference...) Figure 6 This method includes: The receiving module 1001 is configured to receive battery status detection data sent by the charging gun as described in any one of claims 1-5; The acquisition module 1002 is configured to acquire the acquisition time and the corresponding battery resistance value data from the battery state detection data. Comparison module 1003 is configured to compare battery resistance data with standard resistance data of the vehicle battery or the previous battery resistance data to obtain a comparison result. The display module 1004 is configured to display the trend of the vehicle battery’s health status over time in the form of a curve, based on the comparison results and the time of data collection.

[0104] The apparatus of this disclosure embodiment is used to implement the method in the fourth aspect embodiment, and therefore more details and effects of the apparatus can be found in the method described in the fourth aspect embodiment.

[0105] Sixthly, this disclosure provides a computer device. (See reference) Figure 7 The computer device 1100 disclosed herein includes a processor 1101 and a memory 1102. The memory 1102 stores at least one computer instruction. When the processor 1101 executes at least one computer instruction, it causes the computer device 1100 to perform the vehicle battery status display method as previously described.

[0106] In a seventh aspect, this disclosure provides a storage medium storing at least one computer instruction, which, when executed by a processor of a computer device, causes the computer device to perform the vehicle battery status display method as described above.

[0107] Eighthly, this disclosure provides a computer program product including at least one computer instruction, which, when executed by a processor of a computer device, causes the computer device to perform the vehicle battery status display method as described above.

[0108] For the technical details and effects of the embodiments of the sixth, seventh and eighth aspects, please refer to the embodiments of the fourth aspect. This disclosure will not repeat them in too much detail.

[0109] In this disclosure, the terms “first” and “second” are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance. The term “multiple” means two or more, unless otherwise expressly defined.

[0110] Other embodiments of this disclosure will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the specification and practice of the disclosure herein. This disclosure is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of this disclosure that follow the general principles of this disclosure and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art not disclosed herein. The specification and examples are to be considered exemplary only.

[0111] It should be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the precise structures described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from its scope. The scope of this disclosure is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A charging gun, characterized in that, It includes a handle (10), a middle extension (11), and a gun head (12). The intermediate extension (11) has a battery status determination module (111), the gun head (12) is adapted to connect to the vehicle's charging interface, and the battery status determination module (111) is configured to detect the health status of the vehicle battery when the charging gun is charging the vehicle.

2. The charging gun according to claim 1, characterized in that, The gun head (12) also has a temperature acquisition module (121), which is configured to detect the temperature at the charging port of the vehicle or the battery ambient temperature. The battery status determination module (111) is also used to correct the health status of the vehicle battery based on the temperature signal collected by the temperature acquisition module (121).

3. The charging gun according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The battery status determination module (111) includes a voltage acquisition module (1111), a current acquisition module (1112), and a microcontroller (1113). The voltage acquisition module (1111) is configured to acquire the voltage signal across the vehicle battery. The current acquisition module (1112) is configured to acquire the current signal flowing through the vehicle battery; The microcontroller (1113) is configured to calculate the current internal resistance of the vehicle battery based on the voltage signal and the current signal, and to determine the health status of the vehicle battery based on the relationship between the current internal resistance and the standard internal resistance.

4. The charging gun according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The intermediate extension (11) also has an indicator module (112) configured to issue different indicator signals according to different health states of the vehicle battery.

5. The charging gun according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The intermediate extension (11) also has a communication module (113), which is signal-connected to the battery status determination module (111). The communication module (113) is configured to receive battery status detection data sent by the battery status determination module (111) and then send the battery status detection data to a target terminal or cloud server.

6. A method for determining the state of a vehicle battery, characterized in that, The charging gun is applied to a charging gun, which includes a handle (10), a middle extension (11) and a gun head (12); the middle extension (11) has a battery status determination module (111), and the gun head (12) is adapted to be connected to the charging interface of a vehicle. The method includes: In response to the establishment of a charging connection between the charging gun and the vehicle's charging interface, the charging gun is controlled to start charging the vehicle. During the charging process, the battery state determination module (111) determines the health status of the vehicle battery.

7. A charging pile, characterized in that, It has a charging gun as described in any one of claims 1-5.

8. A method for displaying the status of a vehicle battery, characterized in that, include: Receive battery status detection data sent by the charging gun as described in any one of claims 1-5; Obtain the acquisition time and the corresponding battery resistance data from the battery state detection data; The comparison results are obtained by comparing the battery resistance data with the standard resistance data of the vehicle battery or the previous battery resistance data. Based on the comparison results and the data collection time, the trend of the vehicle battery's health status over time is displayed as a curve.

9. A vehicle battery status display device, characterized in that, include: The receiving module (1001) is configured to receive battery status detection data sent by the charging gun as described in any one of claims 1-5; The acquisition module (1002) is configured to acquire the acquisition time and the battery resistance value data corresponding to the acquisition time from the battery state detection data; The comparison module (1003) is configured to compare the battery resistance data with the standard resistance data of the vehicle battery or the previous battery resistance data to obtain a comparison result. The display module (1004) is configured to display the trend of the vehicle battery’s health status over time in the form of a curve based on the comparison results and the acquisition time.

10. A computer device, characterized in that, The device includes a memory (1102) and a processor (1101), wherein the memory (1102) stores at least one computer instruction, which, when executed by the processor (1101), causes the computer device to perform the vehicle battery status display method as described in claim 8.

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