Charging control method for multi-battery architecture

Abstract

A charging control method for a multi-battery architecture includes: defining timing protection time adjustment conditions for a charger by a battery management system, wherein the battery management system comprises multiple batteries, and the charger is electrically connected to the multiple batteries to sequentially supply power to the multiple batteries; the charger also receives control signals from the battery management system; and during the power supply process, the battery management system changes the control signals according to the timing protection time adjustment conditions, thereby resetting or changing the timing protection time of the charger, wherein the charger activates a timing protection mechanism according to the timing protection time. The method provided by this invention can avoid accidental activation of the timing protection mechanism during charging, ensuring that multiple batteries are sequentially fully charged.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a charging control method, and more particularly to a charging control method for a multi-battery architecture. Background Technology

[0002] Generally, battery chargers are designed with a timing protection mechanism. There are three common types of timing protection mechanisms, each targeting one of the three charging stages: pre-charge, constant current (CC) charging, and constant voltage (CV) charging. The purpose is to automatically stop charging the battery when the charger detects abnormal charging time (e.g., charging for too long without full charge), thus protecting the battery. However, this timing protection mechanism is often designed for a single battery (past multi-battery architectures did not specifically address timing protection for chargers). In multi-battery charging applications, this timing protection mechanism may unexpectedly activate and terminate the charging process, preventing multiple batteries from being fully charged.

[0003] Battery chargers typically have a timer protection period for various charging stages that is 2 to 3 times longer than the actual battery charging time. Figure 1 As shown, Bat#1, Bat#2, ..., Bat#N represent N batteries, Pre-Charge#1, Pre-Charge#2, ..., Pre-Charge#N represent the charging time of each battery during the pre-charging phase, CC#1, CC#2, ..., CC#N represent the charging time of each battery during the constant current charging phase, and CV#1, CV#2, ..., CV#N represent the charging time of each battery during the constant voltage charging phase. This design will not trigger the timing protection mechanism when a single battery is fully charged or when a small number of batteries are charged in parallel (e.g., two batteries charged in parallel). However, for multi-battery architectures, this may cause the timing protection mechanism to erroneously activate. Figure 2 As shown, if the requirement of the constant current charging stage is to charge each battery to 80% before switching to the next battery and continuing to charge it to 80%, and so on, and each battery starts at approximately the beginning of the constant current charging stage, then the charging time of the constant current charging stage will accumulate to CC#1 + CC#2 + ... + CC#N. Therefore, as the value of N increases, the following may occur: Figure 2 The example shown illustrates a situation where the cumulative charging time exceeds the timing protection time of the constant current charging stage.

[0004] In view of the above issues, it is necessary to propose a charging control method for a multi-battery architecture, which allows the battery charger to charge multiple connected batteries sequentially without accidentally activating the timing protection mechanism during the charging process. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This invention proposes a charging control method for a multi-battery architecture that can prevent the timing protection mechanism from being accidentally activated during the charging process, thereby ensuring that multiple batteries are charged sequentially.

[0006] According to some embodiments of the present invention, a charging control method for a multi-battery architecture is proposed, comprising: defining timing protection time adjustment conditions for a charger by a battery management system, wherein the battery management system is composed of multiple batteries, the charger is electrically connected to the multiple batteries to sequentially supply power to the multiple batteries, and the charger is also configured to receive control signals from the battery management system; and during the power supply process of the charger, the battery management system changes the control signals according to the timing protection time adjustment conditions so that the charger can reset or change the timing protection time of the charger, wherein the charger activates a timing protection mechanism according to the timing protection time.

[0007] In some embodiments, the timing protection time adjustment condition includes: the time point at which the charging of one of the plurality of batteries ends and the charging of another of the plurality of batteries is to be switched.

[0008] In some embodiments, when the battery management system determines that the timing protection time adjustment condition is met, the battery management system changes the control signal so that the charger can reset the timing protection time accordingly.

[0009] In some embodiments, the timing protection time adjustment condition is that a fixed time period has elapsed and all of the plurality of batteries have not yet finished charging.

[0010] In some embodiments, when the battery management system determines that the timing protection time adjustment condition is met, the battery management system changes the control signal so that the charger can reset the timing protection time accordingly.

[0011] In some embodiments, the timing protection time adjustment condition is that the charger starts supplying power to the plurality of batteries.

[0012] In some embodiments, when the battery management system determines that the timing protection time adjustment condition is met, the battery management system changes the control signal according to the charging method and quantity of the plurality of batteries so that the charger can change the timing protection time accordingly.

[0013] In some embodiments, during the power supply process of the charger, one of the plurality of batteries powered by the charger is in a constant current charging phase and the battery management system changes the control signal according to the timing protection time adjustment condition.

[0014] In some embodiments, the control signal is a voltage signal, wherein the battery management system changes the voltage level of the control signal according to the timing protection time adjustment conditions so that the charger can reset or change the timing protection time accordingly.

[0015] In some embodiments, the control signal is a periodic signal, wherein the battery management system changes the period of the control signal according to the timing protection time adjustment conditions so that the charger can reset or change the timing protection time accordingly.

[0016] In some embodiments, the control signal is a pulse width modulation signal, wherein the battery management system changes the duty cycle of the control signal according to the timing protection time adjustment conditions so that the charger can reset or change the timing protection time accordingly.

[0017] In some embodiments, the battery management system is electrically connected to the negative temperature coefficient pin of the charger to transmit the control signal to the charger.

[0018] In some embodiments, the battery management system communicates with the charger via a communication interface to transmit the control signals to the charger.

[0019] In some embodiments, the communication interface is a general asynchronous transceiver interface or a controller area network communication interface.

[0020] To make the above features and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, specific embodiments are described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0021] A better understanding of the invention can be obtained from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that, according to industry standard practice, the features are not drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions of the features can be arbitrarily increased or decreased for clarity of discussion.

[0022] Figure 1 This is a diagram illustrating the timing protection time and charging time for various charging stages;

[0023] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the timing protection time when the cumulative charging time exceeds the constant current charging stage;

[0024] Figure 3This is a system block diagram of an application system of a charging control method for a multi-battery architecture according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 4 This is a flowchart of a charging control method for a multi-battery architecture according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the timing protection time of the switching reset charger according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the timing protection time of the periodic reset charger according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of dynamically changing the timing protection time of the charger according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0029] The embodiments of the present invention will be discussed in detail below. However, it will be understood that the embodiments provide many applicable concepts that can be implemented in a wide variety of specific contexts. The discussed and disclosed embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The terms "first," "second," etc., as used herein, do not specifically refer to any order or sequence, but are merely used to distinguish components or operations described using the same technical terms.

[0030] Figure 3 This is a system block diagram of an application system 10 for a charging control method based on a multi-battery architecture according to an embodiment of the present invention. The application system 10 includes a charger 12 and a battery management system (BMS) 14. The battery management system 14 is composed of multiple batteries Bat#1, Bat#2, Bat#3, ..., Bat#N, and manages the current state (e.g., but not limited to voltage, current, temperature, etc.) of the multiple batteries Bat#1, Bat#2, Bat#3, ..., Bat#N through a charging circuit. The charger 12 is electrically connected to the multiple batteries Bat#1, Bat#2, Bat#3, ..., Bat#N through a charging circuit to sequentially supply power to the multiple batteries Bat#1, Bat#2, Bat#3, ..., Bat#N. The battery management system 14 transmits control signals to the charger 12, so that the charger 12 receives control signals from the battery management system 14.

[0031] In some embodiments of the present invention, the charger 12 is an integrated circuit chip and has a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) pin. The battery management system 14 is electrically connected to the NTC pin of the charger 12 to transmit control signals to the charger 12. In other embodiments of the present invention, the battery management system 14 communicates with the charger 12 through a communication interface to send specific instructions to transmit control signals to the charger 12. The aforementioned communication interface is, for example, but not limited to, a universal asynchronous receiver / transmitter (UART) communication interface, a controller area network (CAN or CANBUS) communication interface, an RS-485 communication interface, or a USB communication interface.

[0032] Figure 4 This is a flowchart of a charging control method 1000 for a multi-battery architecture according to an embodiment of the present invention. In step S1, the battery management system 14 defines the timing protection time adjustment conditions for the charger 12. In step S2, during the power supply process of the charger 12, the battery management system 14 changes the control signal according to the timing protection time adjustment conditions so that the charger 12 can reset or change the timing protection time of the charger 12, wherein the charger 12 activates the timing protection mechanism according to the timing protection time.

[0033] Specifically, in step S2, during the power supply process of the charger 12, one of the multiple batteries powered by the charger 12 is in the constant current charging stage and the battery management system 14 changes the control signal according to the timing protection time adjustment condition.

[0034] In some embodiments of the present invention, the control signal is a voltage signal. In step S2, the battery management system 14 changes the voltage level of the voltage signal according to the timing protection time adjustment conditions, so that the charger 12 can reset or change the timing protection time of the charger 12 accordingly. In other embodiments of the present invention, the control signal is a periodic signal. In step S2, the battery management system 14 changes the period of the periodic signal according to the timing protection time adjustment conditions, so that the charger 12 can reset or change the timing protection time of the charger 12 accordingly. In still other embodiments of the present invention, the control signal is a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal. In step S2, the battery management system 14 changes the duty cycle of the PWM signal according to the timing protection time adjustment conditions, so that the charger 12 can reset or change the timing protection time of the charger 12 accordingly.

[0035] Regarding the charging control method 1000 of the multi-battery architecture of the present invention, the adjustment of the timing protection time of the charger 12 is divided into the following three states: switching reset (e.g., ... Figure 5 ), periodic reset (such as Figure 6 ), dynamic changes (such as Figure 7 ).

[0036] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the timing protection time of the switching reset charger 12 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the first embodiment of the present invention, the timing protection time adjustment condition in step S1 includes: whenever one of the multiple batteries finishes charging and the charging of another of the multiple batteries is to be switched, and the specific method of step S2 is that when the battery management system 14 determines that the timing protection time adjustment condition is met, the battery management system 14 changes the control signal so that the charger 12 resets the timing protection time of the charger 12 accordingly.

[0037] For example, such as Figure 5 As shown, at time t11, when battery Bat#1 finishes charging (more specifically, the constant current charging mode of battery Bat#1 ends, CC#1 represents the charging time of battery Bat#1 in the constant current charging stage) and it is time to switch to battery Bat#2 for charging (more specifically, the constant current charging mode of battery Bat#2 begins, CC#2 represents the charging time of battery Bat#2 in the constant current charging stage), the battery management system 14 changes the control signal so that the charger 12 resets the timing protection time of the charger 12 accordingly. For example, as... Figure 5 As shown, at time t12 when battery Bat#2 finishes charging and it is time to switch to battery Bat#3 for charging, the battery management system 14 changes the control signal so that the charger 12 can reset its timing protection time. And so on.

[0038] In other words, such as Figure 5 The switching reset shown is to reset the timing protection time of the charger 12 each time the battery switches to charge to solve the problem that the cumulative charging time of multiple batteries exceeds the timing protection time, and to prevent the timing protection mechanism from being accidentally activated during the charging process, so as to ensure that the charger 12 can charge multiple connected batteries in sequence.

[0039] Figure 6This is a schematic diagram of the periodic reset of the charging time protection time of the charger 12 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment of the present invention, the timing protection time adjustment condition of step S1 is that after a fixed time period has elapsed and the plurality of batteries have not all finished charging, and the specific method of step S2 is that when the battery management system 14 determines that the timing protection time adjustment condition is met, the battery management system 14 changes the control signal so that the charger 12 resets the timing protection time of the charger 12 accordingly.

[0040] For example, such as Figure 6 As shown, after a fixed time period T1 (e.g., a timer exists within the battery management system 14), and before all batteries have been fully charged (specifically, after the batteries have finished the constant current charging mode), the battery management system 14 changes the control signal to reset the charger 12's timing protection time. This process continues. For example, as... Figure 6 As shown on the right, when multiple batteries have finished charging (specifically, when the constant current charging mode of battery Bat#N has ended), the battery management system 14 no longer changes the control signal and therefore no longer resets the timing protection time of the charger 12.

[0041] In other words, such as Figure 6 The periodic reset shown is to periodically reset the timing protection time of the charger 12 during the charging process (every fixed time period T1) to solve the problem that the cumulative charging time of multiple batteries exceeds the timing protection time, and to prevent the timing protection mechanism from being mistakenly activated during the charging process, so as to ensure that the charger 12 can charge multiple connected batteries in sequence.

[0042] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the dynamic adjustment of the timing protection time of the charger 12 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In the third embodiment of the present invention, the timing protection time adjustment condition in step S1 is that the charger 12 starts supplying power to multiple batteries (specifically, the time point t31 when the charger 12 supplies power to battery Bat#1 in a constant current charging mode). Furthermore, the specific method of step S2 is that when the battery management system 14 determines that the timing protection time adjustment condition is met, the battery management system 14 adjusts the timing protection time according to the charging method of the multiple batteries (specifically, the constant current charging mode) and the number of multiple batteries (e.g., ...). Figure 7 The control signal (N) is used to change the timing protection time of the charger 12.

[0043] For example, such as Figure 7As shown, when charger 12 starts supplying power to multiple batteries (i.e., time point t31), battery management system 14 changes the control signal according to the charging method of multiple batteries (i.e., constant current charging mode) and the number of multiple batteries (i.e., N), so that charger 12 can change the timing protection time of charger 12 accordingly (e.g., ...). Figure 7 As shown, the original timer protection time is changed to the modified timer protection time.

[0044] In other words, such as Figure 7 The dynamic change shown refers to the intelligent and dynamic adjustment of the charger 12's timing protection time at the start of charging, based on the charging method and the number of batteries. Figure 7 The original timing protection time is increased to a modified timing protection time to solve the problem of the cumulative charging time of multiple batteries exceeding the timing protection time, so as to prevent the timing protection mechanism from being mistakenly activated during the charging process, and to ensure that the charger 12 can charge multiple connected batteries in sequence.

[0045] It is worth mentioning that in the third embodiment of the present invention, if the time protection time of the charger 12 is set to a maximum value, the effect is equivalent to turning off the time protection mechanism of the charger 12. In this way, the time protection mechanism will not be accidentally activated during the charging process, so as to ensure that the charger 12 can charge multiple connected batteries in sequence.

[0046] In summary, this invention proposes a charging control method for a multi-battery architecture. By resetting or changing the timing protection time of the charger, the timing protection mechanism can be prevented from being accidentally activated during the charging process, thus ensuring that multiple batteries are charged sequentially.

[0047] The foregoing has outlined the features of several embodiments, thus enabling those skilled in the art to better understand the nature of the invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize that this invention can be readily used as a basis to design or modify other processes and structures, thereby achieving the same objectives and / or advantages as the embodiments described herein. Those skilled in the art will also understand that these equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that various changes, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0048] [Symbol Explanation]

[0049] 10: Application Systems

[0050] 12: Charger

[0051] 14: Battery Management System

[0052] 1000: Charging control method for multi-battery architecture

[0053] Bat#1, Bat#2, Bat#3, Bat#N: Batteries

[0054] CC#1,CC#2,CC#3,CC#N,CV#1,CV#2,CV#N,Pre-Charge#1,Pre-Charge

[0055] #2, Pre-Charge#N: Charging time

[0056] S1, S2: Steps

[0057] t11, t12, t31: Time points

[0058] T1: Fixed time period.

Claims

1. A charging control method for a multi-battery architecture, characterized in that, include: The battery management system defines the timing protection time adjustment conditions of the charger, wherein the battery management system is composed of multiple batteries, the charger is electrically connected to the multiple batteries to supply power to the multiple batteries in sequence, and the charger is also used to receive control signals from the battery management system. and During the power supply process of the charger, the battery management system changes the control signal according to the timing protection time adjustment condition so that the charger can reset or change the timing protection time of the charger, wherein the charger activates the timing protection mechanism according to the timing protection time.

2. The charging control method for a multi-battery architecture according to claim 1, characterized in that, The timed protection time adjustment conditions include: The time point at which the charging of one of the plurality of batteries ends and the charging of another of the plurality of batteries is to be switched.

3. The charging control method for a multi-battery architecture according to claim 2, characterized in that, When the battery management system determines that the timing protection time adjustment condition is met, the battery management system changes the control signal so that the charger can reset the timing protection time accordingly.

4. The charging control method for a multi-battery architecture according to claim 1, characterized in that, The time protection adjustment condition is that a fixed time period has elapsed and all of the batteries have not yet finished charging.

5. The charging control method for a multi-battery architecture according to claim 4, characterized in that, When the battery management system determines that the timing protection time adjustment condition is met, the battery management system changes the control signal so that the charger can reset the timing protection time accordingly.

6. The charging control method for a multi-battery architecture according to claim 1, characterized in that, The timing protection time adjustment condition is when the charger starts supplying power to the plurality of batteries.

7. The charging control method for a multi-battery architecture according to claim 6, characterized in that, When the battery management system determines that the timing protection time adjustment condition is met, the battery management system changes the control signal according to the charging method and quantity of the multiple batteries so that the charger can change the timing protection time accordingly.

8. The charging control method for a multi-battery architecture according to claim 1, characterized in that, During the power supply process of the charger, one of the plurality of batteries powered by the charger is in a constant current charging phase and the battery management system changes the control signal according to the timing protection time adjustment condition.

9. The charging control method for a multi-battery architecture according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control signal is a voltage signal, wherein the battery management system changes the voltage level of the control signal according to the timing protection time adjustment condition so that the charger can reset or change the timing protection time accordingly.

10. The charging control method for a multi-battery architecture according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control signal is a periodic signal, wherein the battery management system changes the period of the control signal according to the timing protection time adjustment condition so that the charger can reset or change the timing protection time accordingly.

11. The charging control method for a multi-battery architecture according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control signal is a pulse width modulation signal, wherein the battery management system changes the duty cycle of the control signal according to the timing protection time adjustment condition so that the charger can reset or change the timing protection time accordingly.

12. The charging control method for a multi-battery architecture according to claim 1, characterized in that, The battery management system is electrically connected to the negative temperature coefficient pin of the charger to transmit the control signal to the charger.

13. The charging control method for a multi-battery architecture according to claim 1, characterized in that, The battery management system communicates with the charger via a communication interface to transmit the control signals to the charger.

14. The charging control method for a multi-battery architecture according to claim 13, characterized in that, The communication interface is a general asynchronous transceiver communication interface or a controller area network communication interface.

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