Circuit for overvoltage protection and electronic device having the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a circuit (100) for overvoltage protection, for example for a battery management system (200), the circuit having: at least one first branch (10), particularly a passive branch, and at least one second branch (20), particularly a passive branch, the first branch and the second branch being electrically connected in parallel with each other, the first branch (10) having a first overvoltage protection component (1), the second branch (20) having a second overvoltage protection component (2), at least one resistor (12) being provided in series with the first overvoltage protection component (1) in the first branch (10), and at least one resistor (22) being provided in series with the second overvoltage protection component (2) in the second branch (20).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a circuit for overvoltage protection, such as that used in a battery management system. Furthermore, this invention relates to a corresponding electronic device, such as a battery management system, having the same circuit. Background Technology

[0002] Circuits for overvoltage protection are known in principle. Such circuits incorporate overvoltage components, for example, in the form of TVS diodes (TVS stands for "Transient Voltage Suppressor"). A disadvantage in known circuits is that the current is not well distributed among the overvoltage components due to structural tolerances in these components (e.g., regarding the breakdown voltage of the TVS diode). This results in perceptible differences in current and power distribution among the overvoltage components. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide an improved circuit for overvoltage protection, such as for a battery management system, which enables improved, preferably uniform current distribution and improved, preferably uniform power distribution among the overvoltage protection components (e.g., in the form of TVS diodes), which may occur due to tolerances in the structural technology between the overvoltage components.

[0004] The task is accomplished by a circuit having the features of claim 1. Furthermore, the task is accomplished by a corresponding electronic device having the features of the co-claims. Here, the features and details described in connection with different embodiments and / or aspects of the invention are of course also applicable in relation to other embodiments and / or aspects, and vice versa, so that the disclosures regarding the various embodiments and / or aspects can always be cross-referenced.

[0005] According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a circuit for overvoltage protection, for example, for a battery management system. Here, the circuit has the following components:

[0006] At least one first branch, particularly a passive branch, and at least one second branch, particularly a passive branch, wherein the first branch and the second branch are electrically connected in parallel to each other.

[0007] The first branch has a first overvoltage protection component.

[0008] The second branch has a second overvoltage protection component.

[0009] In the first branch, at least one resistor is connected in series with the first overvoltage protection component.

[0010] Furthermore, at least one resistor is provided in series with the second overvoltage protection component in the second branch.

[0011] With the addition of an additional resistor, current and power can be distributed more evenly among the overvoltage protection components. Furthermore, this results in lower losses within a voltage range below the corresponding breakdown voltage. Additionally, since the resistor converts a portion of the induced energy, the additional resistor can reduce the accumulation of energy stored in the inductance of the corresponding branch.

[0012] In principle, the first overvoltage protection component and the second overvoltage protection component can be constructed as the same component or as different components with the same function as an overvoltage discharger. This allows for a variety of circuit variations.

[0013] Advantageously, the first overvoltage protection component can be configured as a TVS diode. Furthermore, the second overvoltage protection component can also be configured as a TVS diode. In this way, two passive branches requiring no control can be formed for overvoltage protection.

[0014] Furthermore, in the first branch, at least one, two, or more resistors can be provided on the n-junction side of the TVS diode. Similarly, in the second branch, at least one, two, or more resistors can be provided on the n-junction side of the TVS diode. Depending on the application, this can achieve suitable results in terms of uniform current distribution and / or significant reduction in power loss.

[0015] In the context of this invention, the at least one resistor may be, for example, an NTC thermistor or a PTC thermistor. If more than one resistor is provided, the more than one resistor may also be an NTC thermistor or a PTC thermistor. However, other embodiments are also conceivable. The resistors present may be implemented in the same or different ways.

[0016] Furthermore, it is conceivable that the first overvoltage protection component could be configured as a solid-state discharge chip, a metal oxide varistor, a gas discharge device, or a thyristor overvoltage discharge device. Similarly, it is conceivable that the second overvoltage protection component could be configured as a solid-state discharge chip, a metal oxide varistor, a gas discharge device, or a thyristor overvoltage discharge device. This approach allows for greater flexibility in circuit design.

[0017] In principle, at least one, two or more resistors can be connected in series with the corresponding overvoltage protection components in the first and / or second branches to cover different application scenarios in a targeted manner.

[0018] Advantageously, the first and second branches are configured to be purely passive and / or uncontrolled. In this way, a simple and cost-effective circuit can be realized, which can operate simply, safely, and reliably without the need for additional electronic components and / or computational power for control.

[0019] Furthermore, it can be specified that more than two branches with corresponding overvoltage protection components and resistors are connected in parallel in the circuit. This approach can also be used to specifically cover different application scenarios.

[0020] Furthermore, the present invention also provides a corresponding electronic device with appropriate circuitry. This electronic device achieves the same advantages as described above in conjunction with the circuitry.

[0021] In the context of this invention, the electronic device may be, for example, one of the following devices:

[0022] - Battery Management System

[0023] - Batteries with a battery management system,

[0024] - Controller

[0025] - Converters, etc. Attached Figure Description

[0026] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[0027] Figure 1 A known circuit for overvoltage protection is shown.

[0028] Figure 2 A circuit for overvoltage protection according to the present invention is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0029] Figure 2 This diagram illustrates a circuit 100 for overvoltage protection, for example, in a battery management system 200, as understood in this invention. Here, circuit 100 has the following components:

[0030] At least one first branch 10, particularly a passive branch, and at least one second branch 20, particularly a passive branch, wherein the first branch and the second branch are electrically connected in parallel to each other.

[0031] The first branch 10 has a first overvoltage protection component 1.

[0032] The second branch 20 has a second overvoltage protection component 2.

[0033] In the first branch 10, at least one resistor 12 is provided that is connected in series with the first overvoltage protection component 1.

[0034] Furthermore, at least one resistor 22 is provided in the second branch 20 that is connected in series with the second overvoltage protection component 2.

[0035] When, for example, voltage spikes and / or voltage surges occur, high voltages can reach up to 6000V in a low-voltage power grid. This can damage low-voltage components, such as the battery management system 200. Voltage spikes and / or voltage surges can occur, for example, due to faulty current regulation, power outages in adjacent power grids, or similar conditions.

[0036] With the aid of additional resistors 12 and 22, current and power can be more evenly distributed between overvoltage protection components 1 and 2. Additionally, since the resistors convert a portion of the induced energy, the additional resistors 12 and 22 can reduce the accumulation of energy stored in the inductance of the respective branches.

[0037] If, for example, a current of 1500A needs to be distributed, then it is possible that in a known circuit (see...), Figure 1 The following measurements were detected with slight tolerances between TVS diodes:

[0038] The first TVS diode, TVS1, has, for example, a breakdown voltage of V_BR = 20V.

[0039] The second TVS diode, TVS2, has, for example, a breakdown voltage of V_BR = 22V.

[0040] The current flowing through the first TVS diode, TVS1, reaches a value of I1 = 950A.

[0041] The power that must be received by the first TVS diode, TVS1, is 950A*20V=19kW.

[0042] The current flowing through the second TVS diode, TVS2, reaches a value of I2 = 550A.

[0043] The power that must be received by the second TVS diode, TVS2, is 550A*22V=12.1kW.

[0044] With the help of the proposed circuit (see Figure 2 At the same high current of 1500A, the following improved measurement values ​​can be obtained:

[0045] The first TVS diode, TVS1, has, for example, a breakdown voltage of V_BR = 20V.

[0046] The second TVS diode, TVS2, has, for example, a breakdown voltage of V_BR = 22V.

[0047] The current flowing through the first TVS diode, TVS1, reaches a value of I1 = 800A.

[0048] The power that must be received by the first TVS diode, TVS1, is 800A*20V=16kW.

[0049] The current flowing through the second TVS diode, TVS2, reaches a value of I2 = 700A.

[0050] The power that must be received by the second TVS diode, TVS2, is 700A*22V=15.4kW.

[0051] TVS diodes TVS1 and TVS2 in Figure 2 The diagram shows a combination of diode D1 or D2 and internal resistor 11 or 21, respectively.

[0052] In principle, the first overvoltage protection component 1 and the second overvoltage protection component 2 can be configured as the same component or as different components having the same function as an overvoltage discharger.

[0053] like Figure 1 As shown, the first overvoltage protection component 1 can be configured as a TVS diode TVS1 (formed by components D1 and 11) and the second overvoltage protection component 2 can also be configured as a TVS diode TVS2 (formed by components D2 and 21).

[0054] In addition, two or more resistors 12 can be provided on the n-junction side of the TVS diode TVS1 in the first branch 10.

[0055] In addition, two or more resistors 22 can be provided on the n-junction side of the TVS diode TVS2 in the second branch 20.

[0056] However, in principle, it is also conceivable that the first overvoltage protection component 1 and / or the second overvoltage protection component 2 can be configured as a solid-state discharge chip TVS, a metal oxide varistor MOV, a gas discharge device GDR, or a thyristor overvoltage discharge device TSS.

[0057] In principle, at least one, two or more resistors 12, 22 can be connected in series with the corresponding overvoltage protection components 1, 2 in the first branch 10 and / or the second branch 20 in order to cover different application scenarios in a targeted manner.

[0058] like Figure 2 As shown, the first branch 10 and the second branch 20 are configured to be purely passive and / or uncontrolled.

[0059] Not shown, but it is feasible to provide more than two branches 10, 20 with corresponding overvoltage protection components 1, 2 and resistors 12, 22 in parallel in circuit 100.

[0060] A corresponding electronic device having the corresponding circuit 100 is also an aspect of the present invention.

[0061] In the context of this invention, the electronic device may be, for example,:

[0062] - Battery Management System 200

[0063] - A battery with a battery management system 200.

[0064] - Controller

[0065] - A converter, or something similar.

[0066] The above description of the accompanying drawings illustrates the invention only within the scope of examples. Of course, various features of the embodiments can be freely combined with each other without departing from the scope of the invention, as long as it is technically meaningful.

[0067] List of reference numerals

[0068] 100 circuit

[0069] 200 Battery Management System

[0070] 10 First Branch Road

[0071] 1. First overvoltage component, such as a TVS diode

[0072] TVS1TVS diode

[0073] D1 diode

[0074] Internal resistance of 11TVS diode

[0075] 12 At least one additional resistor in the first branch

[0076] 20 Second Branch Road

[0077] 2. Second overvoltage component, such as a TVS diode

[0078] TVS2TVS diode

[0079] D2 diode

[0080] Internal resistance of a 21TVS diode

[0081] 22 At least one additional resistor in the second branch

Claims

1. A circuit (100) for overvoltage protection, said circuit being used, for example, in a battery management system (200). The circuit has: At least one first branch (10), particularly a passive branch, and at least one second branch (20), particularly a passive branch, wherein the first branch and the second branch are electrically connected in parallel to each other. The first branch (10) has a first overvoltage protection component (1). The second branch (20) has a second overvoltage protection component (2). At least one resistor (12) is provided in series with the first overvoltage protection component (1) in the first branch (10). Furthermore, at least one resistor (22) is provided in series with the second overvoltage protection component (2) in the second branch (20).

2. The circuit (100) according to claim 1, wherein, The first overvoltage protection component (1) and the second overvoltage protection component (2) are constructed as the same component or as different components having the same function as an overvoltage discharger.

3. The circuit (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The first overvoltage protection component (1) is constructed as a TVS diode (TVS1). And / or, the second overvoltage protection component (2) is configured as a TVS diode (TVS2).

4. The circuit (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein In the first branch (10), at least one, two or more resistors (12) are provided on the n-junction side of the TVS diode (TVS1). And / or, in the second branch (20), at least one, two or more resistors (22) are provided on the n-junction side of the TVS diode (TVS2).

5. The circuit (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The first overvoltage protection component (1) is constructed as a solid-state discharge chip (TVS), a metal oxide varistor (MOV), a gas discharge device (GDR), or a thyristor overvoltage discharge device (TSS). And / or, the second overvoltage protection component (2) is configured as a solid-state discharge chip (TVS), a metal oxide varistor (MOV), a gas discharger (GDR), or a thyristor overvoltage discharger (TSS).

6. The circuit (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, At least one, two or more resistors (12, 22) are provided in series with the corresponding overvoltage protection components (1, 2) in the first branch (10) and / or the second branch (20).

7. The circuit (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The at least one resistor (12, 22), the two or more resistors (12, 22) are implemented as NTC thermistors or PTC thermistors.

8. The circuit (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The first branch (10) and the second branch (20) are configured to be purely passive and / or uncontrolled.

9. The circuit (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, More than two branches (10, 20) with corresponding overvoltage protection components (1, 2) and resistors (12, 22) are connected in parallel.

10. An electronic device having a circuit (100) according to any one of the preceding claims.

11. The electronic device according to the preceding claim, wherein, The electronic device is configured to be at least one of the following: - Battery Management System (200). - A battery with a battery management system (200), - Controller, or - Converter.

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