Battery circuits, control methods, control units, and vehicles supporting dual voltage output

Abstract

This application provides a battery circuit, control method, control unit, and vehicle supporting dual voltage output. The battery circuit includes: N battery cell groups connected in series, a control unit, multiple electronically controlled switches, a first voltage output terminal, and a second voltage output terminal. The two ends of each of the N battery cell groups are connected to the first voltage output terminal via electronically controlled switches. Each battery cell group's corresponding power supply link is connected to the second voltage output terminal, and each power supply link is equipped with an electronically controlled switch. The control unit is connected to each of the electronically controlled switches. The control unit controls the switching states of the electronically controlled switches to control the N battery cell groups to output a first voltage through the first voltage output terminal; controls one of the N battery cell groups to output a second voltage through the second voltage output terminal; and controls the switching of the battery cell group used to output the second voltage. This achieves dual voltage output power supply in a vehicle and reduces the vehicle's hardware costs.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of battery technology, and specifically to a battery circuit, control method, control unit, and vehicle that support dual voltage output. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of new energy vehicles, the types of electrical equipment in vehicles are increasing. Some potential onboard electrical equipment may require higher voltage power supply.

[0003] In related technologies, a separate high-voltage battery is used to power onboard electrical equipment that requires high voltage. However, the above technologies suffer from high hardware costs.

[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a low-cost solution to achieve dual-voltage power output in vehicles. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The battery circuit, control method, control unit, and vehicle supporting dual voltage output provided in this application embodiment are used to realize dual voltage output power supply in the vehicle without the need for a separate additional battery, thereby reducing the hardware cost of the vehicle.

[0006] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a battery circuit supporting dual voltage output, comprising:

[0007] The system consists of N battery cell groups, a control unit, multiple electronically controlled switches, a first voltage output terminal, and a second voltage output terminal connected in series; where N is an integer greater than 1.

[0008] The two ends of the N battery cell groups are respectively connected to the first voltage output terminal through electronically controlled switches;

[0009] Each battery cell group has its corresponding power supply link connected to the second voltage output terminal, and each power supply link is equipped with an electronically controlled switch.

[0010] The control unit is connected to each of the electronic control switches;

[0011] The control unit is used to control the switching state of the electronically controlled switching device to control N battery cell groups to output a first voltage through a first voltage output terminal; and / or, to control the switching state of the electronically controlled switching device to control one of the N battery cell groups to output a second voltage based on a second voltage output terminal through a corresponding power supply link;

[0012] The control unit is also used to control the switching state of the electronically controlled switching components to switch the battery cell group used to output the second voltage.

[0013] Based on the above technical means, dual-voltage parallel output power supply can be achieved without adding an independent power supply or a complex step-down cascade structure. This allows the battery cell group responsible for the second voltage output to take turns working, thereby making the discharge load distribution of each battery cell group more balanced, reducing the widening of state differences caused by a single battery cell group being in a fixed low-voltage power supply state for a long time, and simplifying the configuration of the vehicle's power supply link and control interface.

[0014] In one possible implementation, the switching state of the electronically controlled switching device is controlled to switch the battery cell group used for outputting the second voltage. Specifically, the control unit is used to:

[0015] When the preset switching cycle is reached, the switching state of the electronic control switch corresponding to the current cell group is switched from closed to open, and the switching state of the electronic control switch corresponding to other cell groups is switched from open to closed, so that the cell group used to output the second voltage is switched from the current cell group to other cell groups.

[0016] The switching cycle is calculated based on the first power, the second power, the rated capacity, and the preset ratio; the first power is the total power of the electrical equipment powered by the first voltage, the second power is the total power of the electrical equipment powered by the second voltage, and the rated capacity is the rated capacity of the battery pack.

[0017] Based on the above technical means, it can adapt to the actual load intensity and changes in cell capacity, avoiding power supply fluctuations and discharge deviations caused by excessively frequent or delayed switching. This enables the periodic switching of the second voltage output cell group, which not only reduces the inconsistent attenuation caused by long-term overload discharge of a single cell group, but also helps to improve the system resource utilization and the continuity of dual-voltage power supply for the entire vehicle.

[0018] In one possible implementation, the current cell group is the i-th cell group among N cell groups, and the other cell groups are the (i+1)-th cell groups; where i is an integer greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to N.

[0019] Based on the above technical means, the discharge load of each cell group can be gradually distributed within the series group, reducing the capacity decay differences caused by long-term high-load discharge of local cell groups, and improving the balance and lifespan consistency of the entire battery pack. This facilitates status recording, fault tracking, and cyclic scheduling by the control unit, thereby reducing control complexity and improving system feasibility in dual-voltage power supply scenarios while maintaining a stable second voltage output.

[0020] In one possible implementation, when the current cell group is the Nth cell group, the control unit is further configured to:

[0021] When the preset switching cycle is reached, the switching state of the electronic control switch corresponding to the Nth cell group is switched from closed to open, and the switching state of the electronic control switch corresponding to the 1st cell group is switched from open to closed, so that the cell group used to output the second voltage is switched from the Nth cell group to the 1st cell group.

[0022] Based on the above technical means, it is possible to avoid the inability to continue switching after the rotation sequence terminates at the end, while enabling the periodic replacement of cell groups that have been bearing low-voltage output for a long time. This reduces the continuous load pressure on a single cell group and lowers the risk of inconsistent local capacity decay and uneven discharge. Stable and repeatable closed-loop rotation control can be achieved under boundary conditions, thereby improving the power supply balance and operational reliability of the battery circuit in dual-voltage output scenarios.

[0023] In one possible implementation, the battery circuit further includes: at least one acquisition unit, which is connected to each cell group respectively, for acquiring the voltage and temperature of the cell group;

[0024] At least one acquisition unit is connected to the control unit, which is used to acquire the voltage and temperature of the battery cell group and determine the operating status of the battery cell group based on the voltage and temperature of the battery cell group; wherein, the operating status is used to characterize whether the battery cell group has malfunctioned.

[0025] Based on the above technical means, dual monitoring of the electrical and thermal states of the battery cell pack can be achieved. This enables the dual-voltage output process to not only switch power outputs but also simultaneously complete the perception of operating status and fault identification. This improves the safety and operational stability of the battery circuit and provides a basis for subsequent switching control, protection control, and fault isolation.

[0026] In one possible implementation, the battery circuit further includes: a plurality of current sensors; the current sensors are respectively disposed at the first voltage output terminal and the second voltage output terminal, and the current sensors are used to collect the current flowing through the first voltage output terminal and the current flowing through the second voltage output terminal;

[0027] Multiple current sensors are connected to the control unit, which is also used to acquire the current flowing through the first voltage output terminal and the current flowing through the second voltage output terminal;

[0028] The control unit is also used to determine the remaining capacity of the battery pack based on the current data, as well as the voltage and temperature of the battery pack; wherein the current data includes: the current flowing through the first voltage output terminal and / or the current flowing through the second voltage output terminal;

[0029] The control unit is also used to control the switching state of the electronically controlled switching device according to the remaining capacity of the cell pack, so as to switch the cell pack used to output the second voltage.

[0030] Based on the above technical means, the actual discharge process of the cell group can be reflected more accurately, reducing the risk of partial over-discharge caused by a single cell group bearing a second voltage load for a long time, and helping to improve the capacity utilization balance and service life consistency among cell groups. While maintaining the stability of dual-voltage power supply, the accuracy of capacity estimation and the rationality of cell group rotation switching are improved, thereby reducing the continuous load on a single cell group and improving the reliability of system operation.

[0031] In one possible implementation, there are two acquisition units, one of which is connected to the control unit via a daisy chain; the acquisition units are connected to each other via a daisy chain.

[0032] Based on the above technical means, while ensuring sampling continuity and control real-time performance, wiring complexity can be reduced, the number of connectors can be decreased, and system assembly consistency can be improved. This is beneficial for improving the integration and stability of the dual-voltage output battery circuit, as well as the reliability of monitoring the cell pack status.

[0033] In one possible implementation, the battery circuit further includes: at least one protocol conversion unit, which is used to convert communication protocols;

[0034] The protocol conversion unit is located between the acquisition unit and the control unit, which are connected via a daisy chain; and / or,

[0035] The protocol conversion unit is located between the control unit and the external device.

[0036] Based on the above technical means, the communication compatibility and system scalability between the acquisition unit, control unit and external devices can be improved, the signal conversion path can be shortened and the integration and maintenance convenience of the vehicle battery circuit can be improved, while also helping to improve the stability of data interaction and fault isolation capability.

[0037] In one possible implementation, the battery circuit also includes a plurality of diodes;

[0038] The diodes are placed in the power supply links corresponding to each cell group and are located between the cell group and the electronic control switch.

[0039] Based on the above technical means, the safety and stability during power switching can be improved, and the abnormal charging or reverse surge of the battery pack caused by reverse current can be reduced, thereby helping to extend the service life of related devices and improve the reliability of dual-voltage output battery circuits.

[0040] In one possible implementation, the battery pack includes multiple battery cells, which are lithium iron phosphate cells.

[0041] Based on the above technical means, the thermal stability of the battery circuit can be guaranteed, as well as its cycle life and safety. The good durability and safety performance of lithium iron phosphate cells can be used to improve the adaptability of the battery circuit, and the risk of local overload and imbalance can be reduced through the internal consistency control of the cell pack. This helps to extend the service life of the battery circuit and improve the stability of vehicle power supply.

[0042] In a second aspect, embodiments of this application provide a control method for a battery circuit, applied to a control unit in the battery circuit provided in the first aspect above; the method includes:

[0043] In response to a discharge request, a control command is generated and sent to the electronic control switch in the battery circuit to control the cell group in the battery circuit to output a first voltage and / or a second voltage;

[0044] When the preset switching cycle is reached, a first switching command is generated and sent to the electronic control switch in the battery circuit to control the switching of the cell group used to output the second voltage; wherein, the switching cycle is calculated based on the first power, the second power, the rated capacity and the preset ratio; the first power is the total power of the electrical equipment powered by the first voltage, the second power is the total power of the electrical equipment powered by the second voltage, and the rated capacity is the rated capacity of the cell group.

[0045] Based on the above technical means, it is possible to combine battery circuits to achieve simultaneous dual-voltage output power supply or single-voltage selective output power supply. Furthermore, by switching the cell group used to output the second voltage based on the switching cycle, the continuous discharge burden of a single cell group is reduced, the discharge balance between cell groups is improved, and it helps to delay local aging, improve the lifespan consistency and power supply stability of the entire battery pack.

[0046] In one possible implementation, the method further includes:

[0047] The voltage and temperature of the battery cell assembly are obtained, and the operating status of the battery cell assembly is determined based on the voltage and temperature of the battery cell assembly; the operating status is used to characterize whether the battery cell assembly has malfunctioned.

[0048] Based on the above technical means, operation monitoring and fault identification can be completed simultaneously during dual voltage output. This allows the switching of battery cells to not only consider discharge balance, but also safety and reliability, thereby reducing the risk of power outages, performance degradation, or fault expansion caused by abnormal battery cells participating in power supply.

[0049] In one possible implementation, the method further includes:

[0050] Obtain the current flowing through the first voltage output terminal and the current flowing through the second voltage output terminal in the battery circuit;

[0051] Based on the current data, as well as the voltage and temperature of the battery cell pack, determine the remaining capacity of the battery cell pack; wherein, the current data includes: the current flowing through the first voltage output terminal and / or the current flowing through the second voltage output terminal;

[0052] If it is determined that the remaining capacity of the battery cell pack is less than a preset threshold, a second switching command is generated and sent to the electronic control switch in the battery circuit to control the switching of the battery cell pack used to output the second voltage.

[0053] Based on the above technical means, the available power of the battery cell pack can be reflected more accurately under load changes and ambient temperature fluctuations. This avoids long-term deep discharge of a single battery cell pack while improving the switching timeliness and control accuracy of the second voltage power supply path, thereby improving the capacity utilization balance, power supply stability and battery cell pack lifespan of the battery circuit.

[0054] Thirdly, embodiments of this application provide a control device for a battery circuit, comprising:

[0055] The first control module is used to generate control commands in response to a discharge request and send them to the electronic control switching device in the battery circuit to control the cell group in the battery circuit to output a first voltage and / or a second voltage.

[0056] The second control module is used to generate a first switching command when a preset switching cycle is reached, and send it to the electronic control switch in the battery circuit to control the switching of the cell group used to output the second voltage; wherein, the switching cycle is calculated based on the first power, the second power, the rated capacity and the preset ratio; the first power is the total power of the electrical equipment powered by the first voltage, the second power is the total power of the electrical equipment powered by the second voltage, and the rated capacity is the rated capacity of the cell group.

[0057] In one possible implementation, the second control module is further configured to:

[0058] The voltage and temperature of the battery cell assembly are obtained, and the operating status of the battery cell assembly is determined based on the voltage and temperature of the battery cell assembly; the operating status is used to characterize whether the battery cell assembly has malfunctioned.

[0059] In one possible approach, the second control module is also used for:

[0060] Obtain the current flowing through the first voltage output terminal and the current flowing through the second voltage output terminal in the battery circuit;

[0061] Based on the current data, as well as the voltage and temperature of the battery cell pack, determine the remaining capacity of the battery cell pack; wherein, the current data includes: the current flowing through the first voltage output terminal and / or the current flowing through the second voltage output terminal;

[0062] If it is determined that the remaining capacity of the battery cell pack is less than a preset threshold, a second switching command is generated and sent to the electronic control switch in the battery circuit to control the switching of the battery cell pack used to output the second voltage.

[0063] Fourthly, embodiments of this application provide a control unit, including: a memory and a processor;

[0064] The memory stores the instructions that the computer executes;

[0065] The processor executes computer execution instructions stored in memory, causing the processor to perform the second aspect and / or various possible implementations of the second aspect as described above.

[0066] Fifthly, embodiments of this application provide a vehicle including the battery circuit supporting dual voltage output as provided in the first aspect above and / or various possible implementations of the first aspect.

[0067] In a sixth aspect, embodiments of this application provide a computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions, which, when executed by a processor, are used to implement the second aspect and / or various possible implementations of the second aspect as described above.

[0068] In a seventh aspect, embodiments of this application provide a computer program product, including a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the second aspect and / or various possible implementations of the second aspect as described above.

[0069] The battery circuit, control method, control unit, and vehicle supporting dual voltage output provided in this application embodiment, by setting up N battery cell groups connected in series, multiple electronic control switches, a first voltage output terminal, a second voltage output terminal, and a control unit connected to the battery cell groups and electronic control switches, and the control unit controls the switching state of each electronic control switch, so that the N battery cell groups can output a first voltage through the first voltage output terminal, and one of the battery cell groups can output a second voltage based on the second voltage output terminal through the corresponding power supply link, and the battery cell group used to output the second voltage can be switched at the same time. This can realize dual voltage output in the same battery circuit and reduce the configuration of additional power supply devices, thereby improving system integration, improving the discharge balance of each battery cell group, and enhancing power supply stability. Attached Figure Description

[0070] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this application.

[0071] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an exemplary single-voltage output battery circuit;

[0072] Figure 2 The schematic diagram of the battery circuit supporting dual voltage output provided in this application Figure 1 ;

[0073] Figure 3 The schematic diagram of the battery circuit supporting dual voltage output provided in this application Figure 2 ;

[0074] Figure 4 The schematic diagram of the battery circuit supporting dual voltage output provided in this application Figure 3 ;

[0075] Figure 5 The schematic diagram of the battery circuit supporting dual voltage output provided in this application Figure 4 ;

[0076] Figure 6 Flowchart of the control method for the battery circuit provided in this application Figure 1 ;

[0077] Figure 7 Flowchart of the control method for the battery circuit provided in this application Figure 2 ;

[0078] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of an exemplary data flow;

[0079] Figure 9 A schematic diagram of the control device for the battery circuit provided in this application;

[0080] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the control unit provided in this application.

[0081] The accompanying drawings illustrate specific embodiments of this application, 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 concept of this application to those skilled in the art through reference to particular embodiments. Detailed Implementation

[0082] Exemplary embodiments will now be described in detail, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description relates to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings denote the same or similar elements. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with this application. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatuses and methods consistent with some aspects of this application.

[0083] Dual-voltage output battery circuits involve power supply technology for the electrical systems of new energy vehicles, and are suitable for mixed power supply scenarios where vehicles have both high-voltage and low-voltage electrical equipment. With the gradual popularization of 48V electrical architecture, the entire vehicle typically needs the higher voltage side to bear the loads of motors, electric accessories, etc., while the lower voltage side needs to maintain the stable operation of lighting, instruments, controllers, and other equipment.

[0084] In some embodiments, dual-voltage power supply is achieved based on two independent battery circuits by separately configuring a battery for high-voltage (e.g., 48V) power supply and the corresponding battery circuit. However, in the above embodiments, the hardware structure is complex and the construction cost is high.

[0085] In other embodiments, the hybrid power supply system is typically built around a high-voltage battery, a step-down device, and a low-voltage power supply. A higher voltage is output from the high-voltage side, then stepped down to supply power to low-voltage devices, or a separate low-voltage power supply directly handles the 12V load. However, in the above embodiments, the system links are relatively long, and the connections and control relationships between devices are quite complex.

[0086] Furthermore, in the two embodiments described above, the low-voltage side power supply path is often relatively fixed, with the same power supply unit consistently undertaking the task of low-voltage output. This can easily cause the corresponding battery cell or power supply unit to remain under a high load, while other parts participate less. This not only increases the risk of uneven discharge but also leads to problems such as increased capacity decay differences and poor lifespan consistency, further affecting the overall vehicle power supply stability and subsequent management effectiveness.

[0087] Meanwhile, the additional step-down device and independent low-voltage power supply will increase system hardware redundancy, space occupation, and control complexity. As the number of power supply links increases, the burden on the vehicle in terms of energy scheduling, fault isolation, and maintenance management also increases, making it difficult to meet the requirements of structural simplification, balanced discharge, and stable power supply.

[0088] Please refer to the accompanying drawings for explanation. Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an exemplary single-voltage output battery circuit. Figure 1 The battery circuit shown in [a] can achieve a 12V voltage output independently, such as Figure 1 The battery circuit shown in [b] can achieve a voltage output of 48V on its own.

[0089] In view of this, how to reduce hardware redundancy in the power supply system under a hybrid electrical architecture and achieve flexible switching of lower voltage output paths has become an urgent technical problem to be solved. This application provides a battery circuit that supports dual voltage output. Through the coordinated configuration of N cell groups connected in series, multiple electronically controlled switches, a first voltage output terminal, and a second voltage output terminal, under the control of the control unit, the N cell groups output a first voltage through the first voltage output terminal, and one of the cell groups outputs a second voltage through a corresponding power supply link and the second voltage output terminal. Simultaneously, the cell group used to output the second voltage is switched, thereby improving discharge balance and reducing system complexity while maintaining dual voltage power supply.

[0090] The technical solution of this application and how it solves the above-mentioned technical problems will be described in detail below with specific embodiments. These specific embodiments can be combined with each other, and the same or similar concepts or processes may not be described again in some embodiments. The embodiments of this application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0091] Figure 2 The schematic diagram of the battery circuit supporting dual voltage output provided in this application Figure 1 ,like Figure 2 As shown, the battery circuit 10 supporting dual voltage output includes:

[0092] The system comprises N battery cell groups 101, a control unit 102, multiple electronically controlled switches 103, a first voltage output terminal 104, and a second voltage output terminal 105 connected in series; where N is an integer greater than 1.

[0093] The two ends of the N battery cell groups 101 are respectively connected to the first voltage output terminal 104 through the electronic control switch 103.

[0094] Each battery cell group 101 has its corresponding power supply link connected to the second voltage output terminal 105, and each power supply link is equipped with an electronically controlled switch 103.

[0095] The control unit 102 is connected to the electronic control switch 103 respectively.

[0096] The control unit 102 is used to control the switching state of the electronic control switch 103 to control the N battery cell groups 101 to output a first voltage through the first voltage output terminal 104; and / or, to control the switching state of the electronic control switch 103 to control one of the N battery cell groups 101 to output a second voltage based on the second voltage output terminal 105 through the corresponding power supply link.

[0097] The control unit 102 is also used to control the switching state of the electronic control switch 103 to switch the battery cell group 101 used to output the second voltage.

[0098] For example, N cell groups refer to batteries connected in series within a battery circuit. Specifically, the two ends of the battery composed of N cell groups are connected to a first voltage output terminal via electronically controlled switches. When the electronically controlled switches are in the ON state, the battery composed of N cell groups outputs the first voltage. Furthermore, each of the N cell groups has a corresponding power supply link, which is connected to a second voltage output terminal. Each power supply link is equipped with an electronically controlled switch. When the electronically controlled switch of a power supply link is in the ON state, the cell group corresponding to that power supply link outputs the second voltage.

[0099] The aforementioned electrically controlled switches are electrically connected to the control unit, which can control the state of each switch via control commands. It should be noted that, as... Figure 1 In the battery circuit shown, the control unit 102 is communicatively connected to each electronic control switch, and the state of the electronic control switch can be controlled by control commands.

[0100] In some cases, N battery cell groups are arranged sequentially along the length, width, or stacking direction of the battery pack. Adjacent battery cell groups are connected in series through conductive connectors. The positive and negative terminals of the battery cell groups are then connected to the first voltage output terminal or the corresponding power supply link via electronic control switches.

[0101] In some cases, a battery cell assembly can be composed of multiple cells connected in a preset series relationship and housed in an insulating bracket, module housing, or battery tray. The insulating bracket can be made of flame-retardant engineering plastics, glass fiber reinforced plastics, or epoxy insulating boards.

[0102] In other cases, the battery pack can be encased in a metal shell, a composite material shell, or a flame-retardant plastic shell to suit the vehicle installation environment.

[0103] In some other cases, the number N of battery cells can be set to 2, 4 or more depending on the vehicle voltage platform and load configuration. The capacity, volume and series voltage level of each battery cell can be configured in equal proportion or non-equal proportion according to the load distribution, and its external dimensions must match the mounting cavity and conductive connection spacing.

[0104] For example, the control unit refers to a logic control component that receives information and outputs switch drive commands. It controls each electronically controlled switch according to the cell group status and load requirements, thereby realizing the switching and coordination between the first voltage output and the second voltage output.

[0105] In some cases, the control unit is located in the control cavity, end plate area, or independent electronic compartment inside the battery pack, and is electrically connected to the cell assembly and electronic control switches via signal harnesses, flexible ribbon cables, or printed circuits.

[0106] In some cases, the control unit can be implemented by a circuit with logic control function, and its carrier can be a PCB (Printed Circuit Board), a metal substrate or a multilayer insulating substrate, and can be encapsulated in an aluminum alloy shell, a flame-retardant plastic shell or a composite material shell.

[0107] In some cases, the installation area of ​​the control unit is usually smaller than the area of ​​the battery cell assembly. The number of its interfaces corresponds to the number of battery cell assemblies and switches connected to it, and the layout density of the relevant channels should be coordinated with the circuit wiring space.

[0108] For example, multiple electronically controlled switching components refer to controllable switching elements respectively disposed on the first voltage output path and each power supply link, which are used to selectively conduct or disconnect the corresponding circuit under the drive of the control unit, so as to establish or disconnect the electrical connection between the battery cell assembly and the first voltage output terminal and the second voltage output terminal.

[0109] In some cases, the electronically controlled switch located on the side of the first voltage output terminal is connected between the two ends of each cell group and the first voltage output terminal, and the electronically controlled switch located on the side of the second voltage output terminal is connected in series in the power supply link corresponding to each cell group. Together, they constitute a path switching mechanism for dual voltage output.

[0110] In some cases, the electronically controlled switching device can be implemented using a controllable switching device. Its mounting carrier can be a PCB board, a power module base plate, or a metal substrate with heat sinks. The housing material can be high-temperature resistant plastic, ceramic encapsulation material, or a metal shielding shell.

[0111] In some cases, the rated current, rated voltage, contact gap, or withstand voltage rating of the electronically controlled switching components should match the series voltage of the battery pack and the single-unit power supply current, and their installation spacing, creepage distance, and heat dissipation area should meet automotive-grade electrical safety requirements.

[0112] For example, the first voltage output terminal refers to an external power supply interface for outputting a first voltage formed by N battery cell groups connected in series, which is used to provide power to higher voltage level loads or larger power loads in the vehicle.

[0113] Optionally, the first voltage output terminal is located at the end, side wall, or top of the battery pack casing, and is connected to the two ends of the N battery cell groups through a corresponding electronic control switch.

[0114] Optionally, the first voltage output terminal can be a copper busbar terminal, a tin-plated copper terminal, or a high-conductivity alloy terminal; it can also be a bolt-fit connector, a plug-in connector, or a busbar connection structure; furthermore, the first voltage output terminal can be fitted with an insulating cover, a heat-resistant seal, or a waterproof connector.

[0115] Optionally, the conductor cross-sectional area, terminal thickness, and contact area of ​​the first voltage output terminal correspond to its output current rating, and the connection interface size is adapted to the interface specifications of the external load bus or the vehicle high-voltage wiring harness.

[0116] For example, the second voltage output terminal refers to an external power supply interface for outputting a second voltage formed by one of the battery cells through a corresponding power supply link, which is used to provide power to electrical equipment on the low-voltage side or another load level.

[0117] Optionally, the second voltage output terminal is connected to the power supply link corresponding to each cell group, and the control unit selects one of the cell groups to be connected, so that the voltage of the cell group is output to the outside through an independent path.

[0118] Optionally, the second voltage output terminal can be a low-voltage copper terminal, a conductive connector, or a wire harness plug; it can also be a board-end connector, a quick-connect terminal, or a crimp terminal; furthermore, the second voltage output terminal can be provided with an insulating shell, a snap-lock structure, or an anti-misinsertion structure.

[0119] Optionally, the conductor cross-sectional area and contact end face of the second voltage output terminal can be configured according to the low-voltage side load current. Its external dimensions are usually smaller than the corresponding structure of the first voltage output terminal and are compatible with the interface standards of low-voltage electrical equipment.

[0120] For example, a power supply link refers to an independent conductive path connecting each battery cell group to the second voltage output terminal, which is used to separately draw the power of a battery cell group to the second voltage output terminal when a battery cell group is selected.

[0121] For example, in combination Figure 2 Here is an explanation. In one example, during implementation, the control unit 102 controls the two electronically controlled switches connected to the first voltage output terminal 104 to conduct, so that N battery cell groups 101 can jointly output the first voltage through the first voltage output terminal 104.

[0122] In one example, during implementation, the control unit 102 controls the electrical control switch on the power supply link corresponding to one of the N battery cell groups 101 to turn on, so that the battery cell group 101 can output a second voltage to the second voltage output terminal 105.

[0123] It should be noted that the two examples above can be implemented individually or in combination.

[0124] In another example, such as Figure 2As shown, the control unit 102 controls the electronic control switch 103 connected to the first battery cell group 101 to conduct, so that the first battery cell group 101 outputs a second voltage to the second voltage output terminal 105 through the corresponding power supply link. Further, the control unit 102 controls the electronic control switch 103 connected to the second battery cell group 101 to conduct, and then the control unit 102 controls the electronic control switch 103 connected to the first battery cell group 101 to deactivate, thereby switching the battery cell group 101 used for outputting the second voltage.

[0125] It is understandable that the control unit first configures the status of each electronic control switch according to the status information of the battery pack and the external load requirements. When the battery system as a whole needs to supply power to a higher voltage load, the control unit closes the electronic control switch corresponding to the first voltage output terminal, so that the N battery packs connected in series form the first voltage output path through the first voltage output terminal.

[0126] When it is necessary to supply power to a lower voltage load or a load of another voltage level, the control unit closes the electronic control switch in the power supply link corresponding to a certain battery cell group, while keeping the other power supply links open, so that the battery cell group outputs a second voltage through the second voltage output terminal.

[0127] Furthermore, as the operating time continues, the control unit can select and switch another cell group as the second voltage output source according to the preset control strategy, and complete the path replacement by controlling the state of the corresponding electronic control switches, so that the second voltage output is distributed in turn between different cell groups.

[0128] It is understandable that, in the above structure, the battery composed of N cell groups connected in series outputs a first voltage, and one of the N cell groups outputs a second voltage. In this application scenario, the second voltage is less than the first voltage. In a specific embodiment, N is 4, and the second voltage is 12V, then the first voltage is 48V.

[0129] It should be understood that the above examples are merely illustrative and not limiting. Without departing from the concept of this application, the electronic control switch, control unit, first voltage output terminal, second voltage output terminal form and power supply link structure can be equivalently replaced or adapted according to the vehicle electrical architecture.

[0130] The battery circuit supporting dual voltage output provided in this application achieves dual voltage output by using different switching paths and power supply links for the first and second voltage outputs, respectively. Furthermore, the source of the second voltage output can be switched according to the control unit. Therefore, dual voltage parallel output power supply can be achieved without adding an independent power supply or a complex step-down cascade structure. This allows the cell groups responsible for the second voltage output to take turns working, thereby balancing the discharge load distribution among the cell groups and reducing the widening of state differences caused by a single cell group being in a fixed low-voltage power supply state for a long time. It also simplifies the configuration of the vehicle's power supply link and control interface.

[0131] Based on the above embodiments, the control unit can switch the battery cell group used to output the second voltage according to a preset switching cycle.

[0132] In one example, the control unit controls the switching state of the electronically controlled switch to switch the battery cell group used to output the second voltage. Specifically, the control unit is used to:

[0133] When the preset switching cycle is reached, the switching state of the electronic control switch corresponding to the current cell group is switched from closed to open, and the switching state of the electronic control switch corresponding to other cell groups is switched from open to closed, so that the cell group used to output the second voltage is switched from the current cell group to other cell groups.

[0134] The switching cycle is calculated based on the first power, the second power, the rated capacity, and the preset ratio; the first power is the total power of the electrical equipment powered by the first voltage, the second power is the total power of the electrical equipment powered by the second voltage, and the rated capacity is the rated capacity of the battery pack.

[0135] For example, the control unit can control the switching state of the electronically controlled switching components to switch the cell group used to output the second voltage. Specifically, the control unit performs rotation control on the cell group currently undertaking the task of outputting the second voltage and other candidate cell groups according to a preset switching cycle, so that the second voltage output path alternates between the cell groups, thereby avoiding a single cell group from being in a high discharge load state for a long time.

[0136] For example, the preset switching cycle can be calculated based on the first power, the second power, the rated capacity, and the preset ratio. The first power represents the total power of the electrical equipment powered by the first voltage, the second power represents the total power of the electrical equipment powered by the second voltage, the rated capacity represents the rated capacity of a single battery cell group, and the preset ratio is used to limit the switching threshold, the depth of discharge, or the rotation duration, so that the switching cycle can be matched with the load state and the battery cell capacity.

[0137] Taking a first voltage of 48V and a second voltage of 12V as an example, the first power is the total power of the current vehicle's 48V electrical architecture, and the second power is the total power of the current vehicle's 12V electrical architecture. The aforementioned first and second powers can be predetermined based on the vehicle model and its electrical configuration, or they can be manually input.

[0138] Based on the examples above, each cell group outputs 12V, and N is 4. The four cell groups output a total of 48V. The rated capacity of each cell group is based on its configuration, such as 5Ah (ampere-hours). The preset percentage can be a percentage, and the specific value can be selected according to the actual application, such as 20%, 25%, or other values.

[0139] Based on the above exemplary description, the calculation of the switching cycle will be explained. An exemplary formula is as follows:

[0140] ;

[0141] in, For first power, For the second power, This is the rated capacity, with 80% being the preset percentage; The switching period. Combining the above formula, the switching period... By solving the equations with the unknown variable in mind, the specific value of the preset switching cycle can be obtained.

[0142] Regarding the formula above This can be understood as the current value of each battery cell group when it is used to output 48V voltage; This can be understood as the current value of each battery cell assembly when used to output 12V. Furthermore, This can be understood as the total current output of each battery cell group when it is working.

[0143] In some cases, the final calculation formula for the above switching cycle can be as follows:

[0144] ;

[0145] in, For first power, This is the second power.

[0146] For example, in specific implementation, the control unit forms an electrical connection and a control connection with each electronic control switch and battery cell group. The control unit can determine whether the switching cycle has been reached by sampling voltage, current, temperature or timing information, and output a control command (such as a pulse signal) after the switching condition is met, so that the electronic control switch corresponding to the current battery cell group is switched from the closed state to the open state, and at the same time, the electronic control switch corresponding to other battery cell groups is switched from the open state to the closed state, thereby realizing the switching of the battery cell group used to output the second voltage.

[0147] To reduce potential current surges during switching, in one possible embodiment, the control unit may first perform a brief dead-zone control before closing and connecting the next cell group.

[0148] In another possible embodiment, the control unit may also employ a step-by-step switching method to reduce transient voltage fluctuations. Specifically, when the control unit switches the 12V battery pack for discharge, the new 12V cell pack is connected first, and the previous cell pack is disconnected.

[0149] By switching the cell group used to output the second voltage through the switching cycle control, the second voltage load can be periodically distributed among multiple cell groups. This helps to improve the discharge balance of each cell group, reduce the probability of continuous high load operation of local cell groups, and thus reduce the difference in capacity decay, thereby improving the overall power supply stability and service life of the battery circuit.

[0150] Optionally, the calculation logic for the switching cycle can be implemented by the processor, memory and program instructions inside the control unit. The processor performs calculations based on the first power and the second power collected in real time, combined with the rated capacity and the preset ratio, and outputs the corresponding switching time or switching duration.

[0151] For example, the calculation logic can also be pre-defined as lookup table rules or piecewise functions to adapt to the load configuration of different vehicle platforms. Alternatively, the control unit can be mounted on a control board with a metal heat sink, and internally includes an MCU (Microcontroller Unit), drive circuits, and level conversion circuits. The electronic control switching components can be relays, MOS (Metal Oxide Semiconductor), IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor), or other power devices suitable for battery-side on / off control, and their packaging can be ceramic packaged, plastic-encapsulated, or modular power devices.

[0152] Optionally, the control unit is installed by screw connection, and the wiring harness between it and each electronic control switch uses shielded twisted pair cable to reduce the impact of electromagnetic interference on the control signal.

[0153] Optionally, the control unit is usually located close to the battery pack and power supply link to shorten the length of the control harness and reduce voltage drop and interference. It can be connected to each electronic control switch via wires, ribbon cables or control buses.

[0154] In some cases, the control unit may be a standalone control module, an integrated battery management module, or a control board integrated with the vehicle's battery management system.

[0155] In the above scenarios, the control board can be made of an insulating substrate, FR-4 (Flame Retardant 4) copper-clad board, or ceramic substrate, and the switch drive section can be made of heat-resistant encapsulation material or metal heat sink housing to meet the requirements of thermal stability and electromagnetic compatibility in the vehicle environment.

[0156] Optionally, in practice, the switching cycle is inversely proportional to the load power; that is, the greater the load power on the second voltage side, the shorter the switching cycle. Simultaneously, the switching cycle should typically be greater than the minimum stable conduction time of the switching device, with millisecond to second-level protection intervals reserved to ensure that the current cell group completes its release and other cell groups take over before entering the next rotation.

[0157] For example, in a specific implementation, after the system is started, the control unit first obtains the first power and the second power according to the power demand of the first voltage side and the second voltage side, and determines the switching cycle in combination with the rated capacity of each battery cell group and the preset ratio. Then, it controls the corresponding electronic control switch to establish the first voltage output path and the second voltage output path, wherein the second voltage output path is only powered by the current battery cell group.

[0158] As the operating time progresses, the control unit continuously monitors the timing results or charging / discharging status. When it detects that the preset switching cycle has been reached, it issues a switching command, first switching the electronic control switches corresponding to other cell groups from open to closed, and then switching the electronic control switches corresponding to the current cell group from closed to open, thereby transferring the second voltage output task to other cell groups. It should be understood that the above example is for demonstration purposes only and is not limiting.

[0159] In the above embodiments, since the switching cycle is calculated based on the first power, the second power, the rated capacity, and a preset ratio, the switching process of the cell group used to output the second voltage can be adapted to the actual load intensity and cell capacity changes, avoiding power supply fluctuations and discharge deviations caused by overly frequent or delayed switching. This achieves periodic switching of the second voltage output cell group, reducing the inconsistency in attenuation caused by long-term overload discharge of a single cell group, and also helps improve system resource utilization and the continuity of dual-voltage power supply for the entire vehicle.

[0160] In one possible implementation, the current cell group is the i-th cell group among N cell groups, and the other cell groups are the (i+1)-th cell groups; where i is an integer greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to N.

[0161] For example, the current cell group is used to output the second voltage, and other cell groups are adjacent to the current cell group in terms of serial number, and take over the output of the second voltage from the current cell group during subsequent switching.

[0162] For example, the sequence number relationship is used to specify that the battery cell groups used to output the second voltage are transferred in a predetermined order, so that the control unit can uniformly manage the switching process according to the battery cell group number.

[0163] For example, in a specific implementation, when the battery circuit is in a dual-voltage power supply state, the control unit sets the i-th cell group as the current cell group, and after reaching the preset switching cycle, first switches the electronic control switch corresponding to the (i+1)-th cell group from open to closed, and then switches the electronic control switch corresponding to the i-th cell group from closed to open, so as to transfer the responsibility of the second voltage output from the current cell group to other cell groups.

[0164] Where i is an integer greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to N, used to represent the cell group number currently participating in the second voltage output, and corresponds to the overall number of the N cell groups connected in series.

[0165] In one possible embodiment, the i-th cell group and the (i+1)-th cell group can be defined as physically adjacent cell groups, adjacent battery partitions, or logically adjacent series unit groups. This index relationship using i as the number can be mapped to either independently packaged cell groups or cell units within the same battery pack divided by busbar partitions.

[0166] For example, the function of the current cell group is to output a second voltage through the corresponding power supply link during the current cycle, while the function of other cell groups is to take over from the previous cell group to output a second voltage through the corresponding power supply link when the switching cycle is reached, so as to maintain the continuous power supply to the low-voltage side load.

[0167] In some cases, the current battery pack and other battery packs are all connected to the control unit, and each is electrically connected to the second voltage output terminal through the corresponding power supply link. The control unit determines the order relationship between the current battery pack and the battery pack to be switched by identifying the battery pack number, remaining capacity, temperature or health status, and uses the process of switching from the i-th battery pack to the (i+1)-th battery pack as the basic rotation method.

[0168] In some cases, battery packs can be constructed using modular lithium iron phosphate cell arrays, series-connected pouch cells, or partitioned battery modules formed by assembling cylindrical cells.

[0169] In other cases, the battery pack can also be composed of square battery cells, which, together with the insulating support, busbar and end plate, form an independent battery pack unit.

[0170] Each cell group can typically be configured with the same or nearly the same rated capacity and geometry to allow for rotation control according to a uniform switching cycle. Cell groups can also be configured with slightly different capacities depending on vehicle space, load power, and temperature rise conditions, but the i-th cell group and the (i+1)-th cell group generally maintain comparable capacity levels to reduce voltage fluctuations and load shocks during switching.

[0171] For example, in a specific implementation, the control unit selects one of the series-connected battery cell groups as the current battery cell group according to the load requirements of the first voltage side and the second voltage side, and connects it to the second voltage output terminal through the corresponding electronic control switch, so that it undertakes the low-voltage side power supply task for a predetermined time.

[0172] When the preset switching cycle is reached, the control unit, according to the index sequence, disconnects the i-th cell group from the second voltage output path and simultaneously connects the (i+1)-th cell group to the corresponding power supply link, thus completing a smooth transfer of output responsibility. It should be understood that the above example is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to be limiting.

[0173] By rotating the current cell group with other cell groups according to their adjacent sequence numbers, a single cell group will not be permanently responsible for the second voltage output task. This allows the discharge load of each cell group to be gradually distributed within the series group, reducing the capacity decay differences caused by long-term high-load discharge of local cell groups and improving the overall battery pack's balance and lifespan consistency. Simultaneously, the cell group switching is achieved by accumulating the value of i. The control logic has clear index boundaries and continuity, facilitating status recording, fault tracking, and cyclic scheduling by the control unit. This maintains a stable second voltage output while reducing control complexity and improving system feasibility in dual-voltage power supply scenarios.

[0174] Furthermore, when the current cell pack is the Nth cell pack, the control unit is also used to:

[0175] When the preset switching cycle is reached, the switching state of the electronic control switch corresponding to the Nth cell group is switched from closed to open, and the switching state of the electronic control switch corresponding to the 1st cell group is switched from open to closed, so that the cell group used to output the second voltage is switched from the Nth cell group to the 1st cell group.

[0176] For example, the boundary switching logic when the current cell group is the Nth cell group refers to the control unit synchronously adjusting the state of the corresponding electronic control switches of the end cell group and the first cell group according to the preset switching cycle when the current cell group corresponding to the second voltage output has been rotated to the end of the series cell group sequence, so that the control method of the second voltage output source wraps back from the Nth cell group to the 1st cell group.

[0177] Specifically, the control unit is typically a battery management controller, a microcontroller, a logic control module, or a combination thereof. It stores switch control tables corresponding to the first to the Nth cell groups and can output disconnect or conduct commands based on timing results, which are then applied to each electronic control switch via a drive circuit.

[0178] In one possible embodiment, the electronically controlled switching device may be a relay, contactor, MOSFET power switch, IGBT switch, or a composite switching unit formed by combining the above devices. The electronically controlled switching device corresponding to the Nth battery cell group is used to connect or isolate the battery cell group in the second voltage output link, while the electronically controlled switching device corresponding to the first battery cell group is used to switch the first battery cell group to the second voltage output link.

[0179] In some cases, the relevant electronic control switches for the current cell group and other cell groups are respectively set on the power supply link from each cell group to the second voltage output terminal, and are electrically connected to the control unit so as to receive control signals and complete state switching.

[0180] Optionally, in the N battery cell groups connected in series, the Nth battery cell group is located at the end and the first battery cell group is located at the beginning. The two form a closed-loop switching boundary interface through the corresponding switching relationship between the beginning and the end.

[0181] In some cases, electrically controlled switching devices can be implemented using metal contact structures, semiconductor junction structures, or composite drive structures. Among them, relay-type switches can have silver alloy contacts and insulating housings, semiconductor-type switches can be integrated onto the power module substrate and operate with heat sinks, and composite switching units can connect mechanical contacts and semiconductor devices in parallel or series to improve switching reliability.

[0182] Furthermore, the electronically controlled switch can be fixed by a mounting base plate, which can be a fiberglass board, an aluminum substrate, or an insulating bracket.

[0183] In some cases, the rated current, rated voltage, and switching response time of electronically controlled switches are typically matched to the load power required for the voltage output. Specifically, for electronically controlled switches connected to the first voltage output terminal, they can be matched to the load power corresponding to the first voltage (e.g., 48V), while for electronically controlled switches on the power supply links corresponding to each battery cell group, they can be matched to the load power corresponding to the second voltage (e.g., 12V).

[0184] Furthermore, the contact gap, on-resistance, and heat dissipation area can be selected according to the system capacity. The pull-in time of relay-type devices can be in the millisecond range, and the control response of power semiconductors can be in the microsecond to millisecond range. However, the timing period used to form the switching control should be greater than the switching settling time to avoid parallel surges or power interruptions during switching. It should be understood that the above examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not limiting.

[0185] For example, in specific implementation, the control unit first determines the current battery cell group used to output the second voltage based on the load demand of the second voltage side, and continues to time until the preset switching cycle. When the current battery cell group has been switched to the Nth battery cell group, the control unit outputs a switching command when the preset switching cycle is reached. First, it controls the electronic control switch corresponding to the first battery cell group to switch from open to closed, and then it switches the electronic control switch corresponding to the Nth battery cell group from closed to open, thereby disconnecting the Nth battery cell group from the second voltage output terminal, so that the first battery cell group can reconnect to the second voltage output terminal link through the corresponding power supply link and output the second voltage.

[0186] In the above embodiments, by cyclically executing the output of the second voltage through N cell groups, the switching sequence is prevented from failing to switch after its end. Simultaneously, cell groups that have been bearing low-voltage output for extended periods are periodically replaced, thereby reducing the continuous load pressure on a single cell group and mitigating the risks of inconsistent local capacity decay and uneven discharge. Stable and repeatable closed-loop switching control can be achieved under boundary conditions, thus improving the power supply balance and operational reliability of the battery circuit in dual-voltage output scenarios.

[0187] Figure 3 The schematic diagram of the battery circuit supporting dual voltage output provided in this application Figure 2 This embodiment is in Figure 2 Based on the illustrated embodiment, the battery circuit will be described in detail.

[0188] like Figure 3 As shown in the example above, the value of N is 4, meaning the battery circuit has 4 cell groups. The first voltage output from the first voltage output terminal is 48V, and the second voltage output from the second voltage output terminal is 12V.

[0189] More specifically, such as Figure 3 As shown, the first voltage output terminal includes a 48V positive output terminal (e.g., Figure 3 The “48V+” and 48V negative output terminals shown in the diagram (e.g.) Figure 3 The second voltage output terminal includes a 12V positive output terminal (as shown in "48V-"). Figure 3 The “12V+” and 12V negative output terminals shown in the diagram (e.g.) Figure 3 (as shown in "12V-").

[0190] Combination Figure 3 The electronic control switches are explained. A total of 4 groups of battery cells are connected in series to form a 48V battery. The positive terminal of the 48V battery is connected to the 48V positive output terminal through switch P1, and the negative terminal of the 48V battery is connected to the 48V negative output terminal through switch N1.

[0191] Each battery cell group is connected to the second voltage output terminal via a corresponding power supply link and an electronically controlled switch on that link. Specifically, the positive terminal of the first battery cell group is connected to the 12V positive output terminal via switch P2, and the negative terminal is connected to the 12V negative terminal via switch N2. The positive terminal of the second battery cell group is connected to the 12V positive output terminal via switch P3, and the negative terminal is connected to the 12V negative terminal via switch N3. The positive terminal of the third battery cell group is connected to the 12V positive output terminal via switch P4, and the negative terminal is connected to the 12V negative terminal via switch N4. The positive terminal of the fourth battery cell group is connected to the 12V positive output terminal via switch P5, and the negative terminal is connected to the 12V negative terminal via switch N5.

[0192] In summary, this battery circuit can support 12V voltage output, 48V voltage output, and simultaneous output of 12V and 48V.

[0193] In some cases, this battery circuit outputs a 12V voltage. For example... Figure 3 As shown, by controlling the N1 switch and P1 switch to be open by the control unit, and at the same time controlling the N2 switch and P2 switch to be closed by the control unit, the first group of battery cells can output a separate 12V voltage.

[0194] Understandably, the control unit can also control the closing of switches N3 and P3 to achieve a separate 12V voltage output for the second group of battery cells; the control unit can also control the closing of switches N4 and P4 to achieve a separate 12V voltage output for the third group of battery cells; and the closing of switches N5 and P5 can achieve a separate 12V voltage output for the fourth group of battery cells.

[0195] Furthermore, it can be understood that the control unit can control the switching of different switch groups to achieve the control of switching the battery cell group used to output 12V voltage.

[0196] For example, by first closing switches N2 and P2, the first group of battery cells can output a single 12V voltage. When the preset switching cycle is reached, by first closing switches N3 and P3, and then opening switches N2 and P2, the system can switch to the second group of battery cells outputting a single 12V voltage. Closing the control switch corresponding to the next battery cell group before opening the control switch corresponding to the current battery cell group ensures that there is no short circuit during switching.

[0197] In some cases, when switches N5 and P5 in the battery circuit are closed, the fourth cell group outputs 12V. Upon reaching the switching cycle, switches N2 and P2 are first closed, then switches N5 and P5 are opened, switching from the fourth cell group to the first cell group for 12V output.

[0198] Figure 4 The schematic diagram of the battery circuit supporting dual voltage output provided in this application Figure 3 .like Figure 4 As shown, the battery circuit also includes: at least one acquisition unit, which is connected to each cell group respectively, for acquiring the voltage and temperature of the cell group.

[0199] At least one acquisition unit is connected to the control unit, which is used to acquire the voltage and temperature of the battery cell group and determine the operating status of the battery cell group based on the voltage and temperature of the battery cell group; wherein, the operating status is used to characterize whether the battery cell group has malfunctioned.

[0200] For example, the acquisition unit is used to detect, convert and transmit the voltage and temperature parameters of each cell group. Its function is to provide the control unit with basic data reflecting the operating status of the cell group, so that the control unit can identify abnormal trends of the cell group and determine whether there is a risk of failure.

[0201] In one possible embodiment, the acquisition unit may be implemented as an integrated analog front end (AFE) chip, a sampling board, a sensor acquisition module, or a combination thereof, and each acquisition unit is electrically connected to each cell group to synchronously acquire the voltage and temperature of the corresponding cell group through the voltage sampling terminal and the temperature sampling terminal.

[0202] Furthermore, the acquisition unit is also connected to the control unit to transmit the acquired data to the control unit via wired communication, daisy-chain communication, isolated communication, or bus communication.

[0203] In some cases, the acquisition unit can be set up near the battery cell assembly, on the control board, or in the area adjacent to the battery cell assembly. It is connected to the battery cell assembly through sampling harnesses, signal lines, or flexible circuits. The positive and negative sampling nodes and temperature detection nodes of the battery cell assembly are electrically connected to the input interface of the acquisition unit to ensure the reliability of the detection path and the response speed.

[0204] In one possible embodiment, in some cases, the acquisition unit may be composed of an integrated circuit chip in conjunction with discrete sampling resistors and thermistors.

[0205] In other cases, the acquisition unit can be fabricated as a sampling module mounted on a flexible circuit board to accommodate the compact arrangement of the battery cells.

[0206] In other cases, the acquisition unit can be made into a modular acquisition box encapsulated in a flame-retardant plastic shell, with its internal conductors made of copper foil, silver-plated leads, or aluminum wires to balance conductivity, vibration resistance, and environmental resistance.

[0207] In one possible embodiment, the external dimensions of the acquisition unit typically correspond to the number of battery cells it covers, the number of sampling channels, and the number of communication interfaces. The wiring length, spacing between lines, and contact area between the temperature sampling element and the outer surface of the battery cell for a single sampling channel should meet the requirements for electrical insulation, thermal response speed, and installation space. The length of the sampling line is generally limited to the point where it can be stably led out without affecting assembly.

[0208] In another possible embodiment, each cell group is connected to a data acquisition unit. Each cell group may include multiple cells connected in series. Furthermore, each cell may also be connected to a data acquisition unit. It is understood that, based on the above structure, the data acquisition unit can acquire not only the voltage and temperature of the cell group, but also the voltage and temperature of each individual cell within the cell group.

[0209] For example, in a specific implementation, the control unit is used to acquire the voltage and temperature of the battery cell group, and determine the operating status of the battery cell group based on the voltage and temperature. The operating status is used to characterize whether the battery cell group has malfunctioned. For instance, if the voltage of a battery cell group suddenly drops or the temperature rises abnormally, the control unit can determine that its operating status has malfunctioned (such as over-discharge or thermal runaway), and trigger fault protection logic (such as cutting off the output path of the battery cell group), thereby avoiding performance degradation or safety risks caused by the faulty battery cell group participating in power supply.

[0210] It is understandable that the system can perform status judgment and anomaly identification based on the voltage and temperature data collected by the acquisition unit from the battery cell assembly. Optionally, it can output alarm information or control commands when the judgment result meets preset conditions.

[0211] In some cases, the control unit combines preset thresholds, time windows, change rate judgment rules, or state models to determine the working status.

[0212] In other cases, the control unit and the electronic control switches can also be linked to adjust the participation mode of the corresponding cell group when an abnormality is detected. It should be understood that the above examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not limiting.

[0213] For example, in specific implementation, the acquisition unit continuously samples the terminal voltage and surface temperature of each cell group periodically, and sends the sampled signals to the control unit after filtering, analog-to-digital conversion and data processing. The control unit judges the working status of each cell group based on the received voltage value, temperature value and its changing trend, thereby identifying whether the cell group is in an overvoltage, undervoltage, overtemperature, abnormal temperature rise or other fault precursor state.

[0214] When the control unit determines that a certain cell group is abnormal, it can mark the state as a fault state and combine it with the dual voltage output control logic to constrain or adjust the operation of the corresponding electronic control switches, so that the cell group with fault risk can avoid continuing to undertake unsuitable output tasks.

[0215] In the above embodiments, by setting up a data acquisition unit, the voltage or temperature parameters of the battery cell pack can be acquired. Combined with the control unit, this forms a dual monitoring of the electrical and thermal states of the battery cell pack. This enables the dual voltage output process to not only switch power outputs but also simultaneously complete the perception of operating status and fault identification. This improves the safety and operational stability of the battery circuit and provides a basis for subsequent switching control, protection control, and fault isolation.

[0216] Based on the above embodiments, in one example, such as Figure 4 As shown, the battery circuit also includes: multiple current sensors; the current sensors are respectively disposed at the first voltage output terminal and the second voltage output terminal, and the current sensors are used to collect the current flowing through the first voltage output terminal and the current flowing through the second voltage output terminal.

[0217] Multiple current sensors are connected to the control unit, which is also used to acquire the current flowing through the first voltage output terminal and the current flowing through the second voltage output terminal.

[0218] The control unit is also used to determine the remaining capacity of the battery pack based on the current data, as well as the voltage and temperature of the battery pack; wherein the current data includes the current flowing through the first voltage output terminal and / or the current flowing through the second voltage output terminal.

[0219] The control unit is also used to control the switching state of the electronically controlled switching device according to the remaining capacity of the cell pack, so as to switch the cell pack used to output the second voltage.

[0220] For example, such as Figure 4 As shown, there are two current sensors, which are respectively located at the first voltage output terminal and the second voltage output terminal. Specifically, one current sensor is located at the negative terminal of the first voltage output terminal (e.g., ...). Figure 4 The “48V-” shown in the diagram, another current sensor is located at the negative terminal of the second voltage output (e.g., Figure 4 (as shown in "12V-").

[0221] For example, multiple current sensors are used to detect current information at the first voltage output terminal and the second voltage output terminal. Their function is to provide real-time current data to the control unit to assist in estimating the remaining capacity of the battery pack and optimizing the battery pack switching decision.

[0222] In some cases, the current sensor preferably includes a Hall current sensor, a shunt resistor sensor, a fluxgate sensor, or a Rogowski coil sensor, which are respectively disposed at the first voltage output terminal and the second voltage output terminal to collect the current flowing through the corresponding output terminal.

[0223] In some cases, the current sensor can be connected in series in the output circuit or sleeved outside the output conductor and electrically or communicatively connected to the control unit, thereby transmitting the current at the first voltage output terminal and the current at the second voltage output terminal to the control unit.

[0224] Furthermore, the control unit combines the battery cell voltage and temperature data to calculate the remaining capacity and controls the electronic control switches accordingly.

[0225] In some cases, the current sensor can be a Hall chip mounted on a PCB with a magnetic core structure; or a module with a shunt resistor integrated on a copper busbar; or an independently packaged ring or clamp sensor with a housing made of flame-retardant engineering plastic or metal shielding.

[0226] In some cases, the rated current of the current sensor should not be less than the maximum operating current of the corresponding output terminal, and the conductor opening size, magnetic core size or shunt resistor value should match the range. The accuracy of the sensor is usually positively correlated with the accuracy of the remaining capacity estimation.

[0227] For example, in a specific implementation, the current sensor samples the current in the conductor in real time and outputs an electrical signal or a digital signal during operation. Optionally, multiple current sensors can be replaced by a single multi-channel acquisition module, or voltage drop method, magnetic sensing method, or optical current measurement method can be used. The output interface can be analog, SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface), I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit), or CAN (Controller Area Network) communication. It should be understood that the above examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not limiting.

[0228] For example, in a specific implementation, after the control unit acquires the current data from the first voltage output terminal and the second voltage output terminal, it can fuse the current data with the cell group voltage and temperature information output by the acquisition unit.

[0229] Specifically, the remaining capacity or corresponding state of charge value of each cell group is calculated through methods such as coulomb measurement, open-circuit voltage correction, filter compensation, or Kalman estimation.

[0230] In some cases, for current information simultaneously connected to the first voltage output terminal and the second voltage output terminal, the control unit can select one or more channels as capacity estimation input according to the system operating mode. The current at the first voltage output terminal is suitable for characterizing the total discharge load of the entire series-connected battery cell group, and the current at the second voltage output terminal is suitable for characterizing the local load of the battery cell group currently undertaking the lower voltage output. Therefore, both types of current data can be used as dynamic basis for capacity decay and discharge consumption.

[0231] Furthermore, after determining the remaining capacity of each cell group, the control unit can compare the capacity value with a preset threshold or switching strategy, and further drive the corresponding electronic control switch to operate. This causes the cell group currently used to output the second voltage to be disconnected when its capacity drops to a set range, while other cell groups with higher remaining capacity and normal operating status are connected to the second voltage output circuit, thereby realizing the rotational switching of the second voltage output cell groups. It should be understood that the above example is only for demonstration and not a limitation.

[0232] It should be noted that, in Figure 4 The current sensor shown should be connected in communication with the control unit in practical applications, because... Figure 4 Due to image size limitations and the requirement to ensure the clarity of the accompanying drawings, Figure 4 The communication links between the current sensors and the control unit are not shown. However, in practical applications, the current sensors and the control unit communicate with each other through one or more communication methods.

[0233] In the example above, because the current sensor continuously provides the actual load current at the output, the control unit no longer relies solely on the static voltage value to estimate the remaining capacity of the battery pack. Instead, it dynamically corrects the estimate by combining load current, temperature changes, and voltage changes. Therefore, it can more accurately reflect the actual discharge process of the battery pack, reducing the risk of partial over-discharge caused by a single battery pack bearing the second voltage load for an extended period. This also helps improve the capacity utilization balance and lifespan consistency among battery packs. Determining the remaining capacity based on current data and the battery pack's voltage and temperature, and then controlling the electronic control switches to switch the battery pack used for outputting the second voltage, can improve the accuracy of capacity estimation and the rationality of battery pack rotation while maintaining the stability of dual-voltage power supply. This reduces the continuous load on a single battery pack and improves system reliability.

[0234] Based on the above embodiments, in one example, such as Figure 4 As shown, there are two acquisition units, one of which is connected to the control unit via a daisy chain; the acquisition units are connected to each other via a daisy chain.

[0235] For example, in combination Figure 4 To clarify, for the first and second battery cell groups, voltage and temperature can be collected using one acquisition unit; for the third and fourth battery cell groups, voltage and temperature can be collected using another acquisition unit.

[0236] Furthermore, a daisy-chain communication connection is established between the two acquisition units. The acquisition unit used to acquire data from the third and fourth battery cell groups is connected to the control unit via a daisy-chain. For example, the two acquisition units are connected sequentially via a daisy-chain, requiring only one pair of communication buses to upload data from all battery cell groups, reducing the number of cables compared to independent communication interfaces.

[0237] For example, two acquisition units are respectively arranged at the sampling positions of the corresponding battery cell groups. They are usually connected to the positive and negative terminals and temperature detection points of the battery cell groups by terminals, sampling harnesses or flexible connectors. One acquisition unit acts as the end node in the cascaded link and communicates directly with the control unit in a daisy chain manner. The other acquisition unit is connected to the aforementioned acquisition unit in a daisy chain manner, so that the two form a data link for sequential transmission.

[0238] In some cases, the daisy-chain connection can adopt a cascaded digital communication structure. The acquisition unit can be an independent board that integrates voltage sampling, temperature sampling and communication interface, or it can be a sampling board that matches the same model of AFE (Analog Front End) chip, or it can be an acquisition module set in the module housing. The communication link can be implemented using shielded twisted pair, flat cable or printed circuit board to reduce the number of wire harnesses and reduce the complexity of cross-module wiring.

[0239] In other cases, the acquisition unit can also be in the form of a flexible circuit board, a rigid-flex board, or a module box with an isolation interface to adapt to different battery pack spatial layouts and electromagnetic compatibility requirements.

[0240] In one possible embodiment, the shape of the acquisition unit is usually matched with the number of its sampling channels. The communication interface area can be located at the edge of the board or the end of the module. The link length, impedance and communication rate between two acquisition units should meet the requirements for complete data transmission. The link routing path should be as short and straight as possible and far away from high current loops to reduce interference.

[0241] Specifically, when there are two acquisition units, the front-end acquisition unit can forward the data collected by the battery cell group to the back-end node or control unit, and the back-end acquisition unit will superimpose the local sampling information into the link and upload it together, thus forming a continuous cascaded transmission process.

[0242] For example, in a practical implementation, the two acquisition units simultaneously collect voltage and temperature data from their respective cell groups, and transmit the sampling results to the control unit level by level via a daisy-chain link. After obtaining the status data of each cell group, the control unit can identify its operating status and provide a basis for the subsequent switching control of the electronic control components. It should be understood that the above example is only for demonstration and is not limiting.

[0243] In the example above, by setting up two acquisition units and cascading them in a daisy-chain configuration, the battery circuit requires only fewer communication interfaces and shorter communication wiring harnesses to complete the data aggregation of multiple sampling nodes. This reduces wiring complexity, connector count, and improves system assembly consistency while ensuring sampling continuity and real-time control. Furthermore, the cascaded topology clarifies the data transmission path between the acquisition units and the control unit, facilitating fault location and battery pack maintenance. This, in turn, enhances the integration, stability, and reliability of the dual-voltage output battery circuit for monitoring the cell status.

[0244] Figure 5 The schematic diagram of the battery circuit supporting dual voltage output provided in this application Figure 4 .like Figure 5As shown, the battery circuit also includes at least one protocol conversion unit, which is used to convert communication protocols.

[0245] The protocol conversion unit is located between the acquisition unit and the control unit, which are connected via a daisy chain; and / or, the protocol conversion unit is located between the control unit and an external device.

[0246] For example, the protocol conversion unit is an intermediate module used to bridge and adapt between different communication protocols. It can receive the first type of communication data from the upstream link and output it after completing the reassembly, encoding, rate matching and frame structure adjustment according to the protocol format required by the downstream link, so that the acquisition unit, control unit and external devices can achieve stable interaction when the communication standards are inconsistent.

[0247] In some cases, combined Figure 5 To explain further, a protocol conversion unit is set up between the acquisition units corresponding to the third and fourth battery cell groups and the control unit. When this protocol conversion unit forms an internal communication interface bridge with the acquisition units and control unit connected via a daisy chain, it can summarize, translate, and forward the voltage, temperature, and status information uploaded level by level from multiple acquisition units, enabling the control unit to complete data processing under a unified protocol system.

[0248] Specifically, the protocol conversion unit can take the form of a daisy-chain isolated communication converter, which can convert to the SPI protocol and then communicate with the control unit.

[0249] In other cases, combined Figure 5 To explain further, a protocol conversion unit is located between the control unit and external devices. This protocol conversion unit can convert internal control messages output by the control unit into a communication format recognizable by external diagnostic tools, host computers, vehicle controllers, or charging management devices, or convert configuration, query, and diagnostic commands sent by external devices into protocol messages executable within the control unit.

[0250] Specifically, the protocol conversion unit can take the form of a system base chip (SBC) to convert the SPI protocol to the CAN protocol, thereby enabling communication with external devices.

[0251] It should be noted that the solutions shown in the two scenarios above can be implemented individually or in combination.

[0252] For example, the protocol conversion unit can be implemented using a standalone chip, a communication gateway, a protocol bridging module, or an interface conversion circuit integrated on a control board. Specifically, the protocol conversion unit can be a monolithic packaged device, a modular circuit board with a transceiver, or a communication daughterboard with isolation functionality. Its package form can be QFP (Quad Flat Package), BGA (Ball Grid Array), or SOP (Small Outline Package), and it can also be housed within a flame-retardant housing to adapt to the vehicle environment.

[0253] Furthermore, the housing of the protocol conversion unit can be made of flame-retardant engineering plastics, metal shielding shells, or composite insulating materials, and the internal conductive and connection parts can use copper-based circuit layers, tin-plated terminals, or flexible connection cables to balance electrical performance and assembly reliability.

[0254] Furthermore, the number of interfaces, communication bandwidth, and processing power of the protocol conversion unit are typically matched with the number of cascaded acquisition units, the message refresh frequency of the control unit, and the protocol rate of external devices. Its board size can be set according to the vehicle's layout space and isolation requirements, for example, a compact structure ranging from tens to hundreds of millimeters, with sufficient spacing between input and output ports to meet electrical isolation and heat dissipation needs. It should be understood that the above examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not limiting.

[0255] For example, in specific implementation, the protocol conversion unit first establishes a handshake relationship with the daisy chain acquisition link or external communication link, and performs protocol identification and field parsing on the input data frame. Then, according to the preset mapping relationship, it completes address rewriting, check code generation, byte order adjustment and communication timing shaping, and then sends the converted data to the target port.

[0256] In some cases, for acquisition units connected via a daisy chain, the protocol conversion unit can send the voltage and temperature information distributed on each acquisition node in a unified format required by the control unit, so that the control unit can complete status judgment, remaining capacity estimation and switching control without having to be directly compatible with multiple acquisition protocols.

[0257] In other cases, for communication between the control unit and external devices, the protocol conversion unit can perform message relay and protocol isolation functions, avoiding direct coupling between external devices and the internal control bus, thereby reducing the risk of communication failure between different devices due to protocol inconsistency, rate mismatch or frame format differences.

[0258] In the above embodiments, the protocol conversion unit can improve the communication compatibility and system scalability between the acquisition unit, control unit and external devices without increasing the complexity of the main control logic, shorten the signal conversion path and improve the integration and maintenance convenience of the vehicle battery circuit, while also helping to improve the stability of data interaction and fault isolation capability.

[0259] Continue to combine Figure 5 To illustrate, in one example, the battery circuit also includes multiple diodes. The diodes are positioned in the power supply links corresponding to each cell group and between the cell group and the electronic control switching device.

[0260] For example, a diode is a semiconductor device used to implement unidirectional conduction control, which in a power supply link restricts the current to flow only in a predetermined direction, thereby constraining the direction of the process by which each cell group supplies power to the second voltage output terminal.

[0261] It is understandable that the main function of a diode is to suppress reverse current, prevent backflow between different cell groups and different power supply paths, and provide basic isolation for transient voltage and current when the electronically controlled switching device switches on and off, so as to improve circuit safety and power supply stability during the switching process.

[0262] For example, in a specific implementation, the diode is placed in the power supply link corresponding to each cell group and is located between the cell group and the electronic control switch. Specifically, it can be connected in series between the output terminal of the cell group and the input terminal of the corresponding electronic control switch, so that it is constrained by the current direction before the switch, thereby preventing the potential on the second voltage output terminal side from acting in reverse on the unselected cell group when the electronic control switch is in the open state or during switching.

[0263] For each power supply link, the diodes can be arranged in the same forward conduction direction as the battery cell group supplying power to the second voltage output terminal. Therefore, when the target battery cell group is selected, the current can be output to the second voltage output terminal through the diode and the corresponding electronic control switch. When other battery cell groups are in the non-selected state, the diodes are cut off to isolate the branch.

[0264] It is understandable that the forward conduction direction of the diode is consistent with the direction in which the battery pack supplies power to the second voltage output terminal.

[0265] Optionally, the diode can be one or more of silicon diodes, Schottky diodes, or fast recovery diodes to meet different forward voltage drop, reverse recovery speed, and withstand voltage requirements. Further optionally, the diode can be fabricated as a surface-mount device, a leaded device, or a device integrated into a power module to adapt to different circuit board layouts and assembly methods.

[0266] In addition, diodes can be packaged in plastic, metal or ceramic packages, and the internal chip material can be silicon-based, silicon carbide-based or other semiconductor materials suitable for power rectification to meet the heat dissipation, insulation and reliability requirements in automotive environments.

[0267] Optionally, the diode's withstand voltage, average forward current, and reverse recovery time should be matched with the operating voltage, maximum output current, and switching frequency of the corresponding power supply link and electronic control switching device. Typically, its rated withstand voltage should be higher than the highest reverse voltage of the corresponding power supply link, and its rated current should not be lower than the continuous operating current that the branch may withstand. In scenarios with high efficiency requirements, devices with low forward voltage drop and short reverse recovery time should be selected.

[0268] For example, the control unit coordinates the control of each electronic switch according to the power supply requirements of the first voltage output terminal and the second voltage output terminal, so that the N battery cell groups connected in series can output the first voltage through the first voltage output terminal, and at the same time, one of the battery cell groups provides the second voltage to the second voltage output terminal through the corresponding power supply link.

[0269] In this process, the diodes installed in each power supply link first constrain the current direction in one direction, so that only the selected battery cell group can output energy to the second voltage output terminal, while the unselected battery cell group is electrically isolated from the second voltage output terminal due to the reverse cutoff of the diode.

[0270] As the control unit changes the on / off state of each electronically controlled switch according to the preset switching logic, when the battery cell group used to output the second voltage rotates between different branches, the diode located between the battery cell group and the electronically controlled switch can suppress the reverse current from the output terminal at the moment of switching, avoiding the battery cell group to be switched from being affected by external potential backflow, thereby reducing the possibility of mutual interference between branches. It should be understood that the above example is only for demonstration and not a limitation.

[0271] In the above example, by setting diodes on the power supply link corresponding to each cell group, it is beneficial to improve the safety and stability when switching power supply, and can also reduce abnormal charging or reverse power surge of cell groups caused by reverse current, thereby helping to extend the service life of related devices and improve the reliability of dual-voltage output battery circuit.

[0272] Based on any of the foregoing embodiments or examples, the battery pack includes multiple battery cells, which are lithium iron phosphate cells.

[0273] For example, a cell pack is formed by combining multiple individual cells in a predetermined series configuration. In one possible embodiment, it consists of 16 cells connected in series, using lithium iron phosphate cells with a rated voltage of 3.2V. Every four cells connected in series form a cell pack, with a rated voltage of 12.8V, which meets the output requirement of the second voltage. Furthermore, based on four cell packs connected in series, a 48V battery can be formed, meeting the output requirement of the first voltage.

[0274] Optionally, cells 1-4 form the first cell group, cells 5-8 form the second cell group, cells 9-12 form the third cell group, and cells 12-16 form the fourth cell group.

[0275] For example, multiple cells are screened for consistency in capacity, internal resistance, and open-circuit voltage before being grouped or assembled at the factory, so that the electrochemical characteristics within the same cell group are as similar as possible, thereby reducing the impact of imbalance within the group on dual-voltage output.

[0276] In some cases, multiple battery cells can be installed in the same battery cell group and formed into a battery cell group through tabs, busbars, laser welding, screwing or other conductive connection methods. The battery cell group then works in conjunction with electronic control switches, acquisition units and control units to provide power to the first voltage output path and the second voltage output path.

[0277] In some cases, the battery cell is a lithium iron phosphate cell, which is designed to balance safety, cycle life and thermal stability in the automotive environment, and is suitable for dual-voltage output scenarios that require frequent switching of power supply paths.

[0278] In one possible embodiment, the battery cell can be a cylindrical steel-cased battery cell, a square aluminum-cased battery cell, or a pouch battery cell. The positive electrode material can be a lithium iron phosphate system, the negative electrode material can be a graphite, hard carbon, or silicon-carbon composite material, the electrolyte can be an organic electrolyte system containing lithium salt, and the separator can be polyethylene, polypropylene, or their composite microporous membrane.

[0279] In another possible embodiment, multiple cells can be encapsulated in an aluminum alloy cell assembly, a flame-retardant plastic housing, or a metal composite housing, and are limited and fixed by insulating gaskets, end plates, and fasteners.

[0280] In yet another possible embodiment, the battery cells may also be either thinner, more compact cells or larger, higher-capacity cells, depending on the overall vehicle layout requirements.

[0281] In some cases, the diameter, thickness, or side length of a single battery cell can be configured according to the target capacity and installation space. The differences in capacity, voltage, and internal resistance between multiple cells are typically controlled within preset ranges to meet the consistency requirements of the cell assembly and to maintain a design relationship where the rated voltage matches the first and second voltages. It should be understood that the above examples are merely illustrative and not limiting.

[0282] In the above embodiments, lithium iron phosphate cells are used, which have high thermal stability, long cycle life, and good safety, making them more suitable for long-term operation under conditions of frequent output path switching and periodic secondary voltage supply tasks. Furthermore, the consistency of each cell within the cell group is controlled through grouping, which reduces voltage and capacity deviations between individual cells, allowing the cell group to maintain a relatively stable operating state during power supply switching.

[0283] While meeting the dual-voltage output requirements, the good durability and safety performance of lithium iron phosphate cells can be used to improve the adaptability of the battery circuit, and the risk of local overload and imbalance can be reduced through the internal consistency control of the cell pack, which helps to extend the service life of the battery circuit and improve the stability of vehicle power supply.

[0284] This application also provides a control method for a battery circuit. This method is applied to the control unit in the battery circuit provided in any of the foregoing embodiments or examples.

[0285] Figure 6 Flowchart of the control method for the battery circuit provided in this application Figure 1 .like Figure 6 As shown, the method includes:

[0286] Step 601. In response to the discharge request, generate a control command and send it to the electronic control switch in the battery circuit to control the cell group in the battery circuit to output a first voltage and / or a second voltage.

[0287] Step 602. When the preset switching cycle is reached, a first switching command is generated and sent to the electronic control switch in the battery circuit to control the switching of the cell group used to output the second voltage.

[0288] The switching cycle is calculated based on the first power, the second power, the rated capacity, and the preset ratio; the first power is the total power of the electrical equipment powered by the first voltage, the second power is the total power of the electrical equipment powered by the second voltage, and the rated capacity is the rated capacity of the battery pack.

[0289] For example, when the control unit receives a discharge request from the vehicle, it generates a control command. This discharge request may indicate whether a first voltage output, a second voltage output, or both are required for the battery circuitry.

[0290] Based on the received discharge request, the current discharge requirements are analyzed to obtain the current discharge demand, such as the need for a first voltage output and the need for the first group of battery cells to output a second voltage. Then, according to the structure provided in the aforementioned embodiment, control commands are generated.

[0291] In some possible implementations, the control commands can take the form of high and low level signals for multiple interfaces. Each interface corresponds to an electronically controlled switch, setting the signal of the interface corresponding to the electronically controlled switch that needs to be in a conducting state to a high level, and setting the signal of the interface corresponding to the electronically controlled switch that needs to be in a de-conducting state to a low level.

[0292] In combination with the above discharge requirements, and Figure 5 The battery circuit shown uses control commands generated by the control unit to set the signals of the interfaces corresponding to switches N1, P1, N2, and P2 to a high level, and the signals of the interfaces corresponding to the other electronically controlled switches to a low level. This achieves the discharge requirement indicated in the aforementioned discharge request.

[0293] As the first group of battery cells continues to discharge, a first switching command is generated when the preset switching cycle is reached. This first switching command performs the following operations: Operation 1: Set the signals of the interfaces corresponding to switches N3 and P3 to a high level; Operation 2: After Operation 1, set the signals of the interfaces corresponding to switches N2 and P2 to a low level. This switches the battery cell group used to output the second voltage (12V) from the first group of battery cells to the second group of battery cells.

[0294] It should be noted that the calculation of the switching cycle can be referred to the explanation in the foregoing embodiments, and will not be elaborated here. It should be understood that the above examples are merely illustrative and not limiting.

[0295] In the above embodiments, the battery circuit can be combined to achieve simultaneous output of dual voltages or selective output of a single voltage. Furthermore, the switching of the cell group used to output the second voltage is based on the switching cycle, which reduces the continuous discharge burden of a single cell group, improves the discharge balance between cell groups, and helps to delay local aging, improve the lifespan consistency and power supply stability of the entire battery pack.

[0296] In one possible implementation, the method further includes:

[0297] The voltage and temperature of the battery cell assembly are obtained, and the operating status of the battery cell assembly is determined based on the voltage and temperature of the battery cell assembly; the operating status is used to characterize whether the battery cell assembly has malfunctioned.

[0298] For example, by combining the acquisition unit in the battery circuit provided in the foregoing embodiments, the voltage and temperature of each cell group and the cells in each cell group can be acquired. The control unit obtains the above data acquired by the acquisition unit and determines the working status of the cell group.

[0299] Specifically, the data is filtered, de-jittered, and validated, and then compared with a preset threshold or threshold range to determine whether the battery cell pack has overvoltage, undervoltage, overtemperature, abnormal low temperature, excessively rapid temperature rise, or distorted sampling signal.

[0300] If the above phenomenon is confirmed, the corresponding cell group's operating status will be determined as a fault; otherwise, the cell group's operating status will be determined as fault-free.

[0301] In one possible embodiment, the voltage value is compared with the rated voltage, upper limit voltage, and lower limit voltage of the battery pack, the temperature value is compared with the upper and lower limits of the allowable operating temperature and the alarm threshold, and the presence of a thermal runaway trend can be determined by combining the rate of temperature change.

[0302] In another possible embodiment, trend analysis is performed on the voltage and temperature over several consecutive sampling periods. When the voltage continues to drop and the temperature rises abnormally, or when the temperature does not exceed the absolute threshold but the slope of change exceeds the limit, the battery pack can also be identified as a warning or fault state.

[0303] Furthermore, for a cell group whose operating status is determined to be faulty, an alarm can be generated, or a protection command can be automatically generated. The protection command is used to switch to the next cell group to take over the second voltage output when the faulty cell group is outputting the second voltage.

[0304] Optionally, the operating status of the battery pack can be indicated by a status identifier. This status identifier can be further uploaded to the upper-level vehicle controller or external diagnostic equipment for maintenance prompts or fault logging. It should be understood that the above example is for illustrative purposes only and is not limiting.

[0305] In the above embodiments, by combining the acquisition of voltage and temperature of the battery cell group by the acquisition unit and the judgment of the working status, operation monitoring and fault identification are completed simultaneously during the dual voltage output process. This allows the battery cell group switching to not only consider discharge balance, but also take into account safety and reliability, thereby reducing the risk of power interruption, performance degradation or fault expansion caused by abnormal battery cell groups participating in power supply.

[0306] Figure 7 Flowchart of the control method for the battery circuit provided in this application Figure 2 .like Figure 7 As shown, the method also includes:

[0307] Step 701. Obtain the current flowing through the first voltage output terminal and the current flowing through the second voltage output terminal in the battery circuit.

[0308] Step 702. Determine the remaining capacity of the battery cell group based on the current data, as well as the voltage and temperature of the cell group. The current data includes the current flowing through the first voltage output terminal and / or the current flowing through the second voltage output terminal.

[0309] Step 703. If it is determined that the remaining capacity of the cell pack is less than a preset threshold, a second switching command is generated and sent to the electronic control switch in the battery circuit to control the switching of the cell pack used to output the second voltage.

[0310] For example, as can be seen from the battery circuit provided in the foregoing embodiments, current sensors are respectively provided at the first voltage output terminal and the second voltage output terminal, and the current sensors are communicatively connected to the control unit.

[0311] Therefore, the control unit can acquire the current data collected by the aforementioned current sensor. Specifically, the current data includes the current flowing through the first voltage output terminal in the battery circuit and the current flowing through the second voltage output terminal in the battery circuit.

[0312] Furthermore, based on the voltage and temperature of the battery pack obtained in the aforementioned embodiments, combined with current data, and based on a preset SOX model, the remaining capacity of the battery pack can be calculated.

[0313] The SOX (State of X) model refers to an algorithm model built into the memory of the control unit. Specifically, the SOX model can calculate at least one of the following based on the aforementioned current data, cell voltage, and temperature: State of Charge (SOC), State of Health (SOH), State of Energy (SOE), and State of Power (SOP).

[0314] Based on the calculated remaining capacity of each cell group, if it is determined that the remaining capacity of the cell group is less than a preset threshold, and the cell group is outputting a second voltage through the second voltage output terminal, a second switching command is generated.

[0315] The second switching instruction is used to perform the following operations: Operation 1, set the state of the electronic control switch in the power supply link of the next cell group corresponding to the current cell group to closed; Operation 2, after Operation 1, set the state of the electronic control switch in the power supply link of the current cell group to open. This achieves the switching of the cell group that is used to output the second voltage (12V) and has a low current remaining capacity to other cell groups for 12V voltage output.

[0316] The preset threshold can correspond to 10% to 30% of the remaining capacity to maintain a safety margin for the battery pack and prevent over-discharge under low temperature, high load, or cyclic aging conditions. It is understood that other values ​​can be selected for the above preset threshold in practical applications.

[0317] In the above embodiments, based on the aforementioned embodiments, current data is introduced to calculate the remaining capacity of the battery pack based on current, voltage, and temperature. This further enables a more accurate reflection of the available power of the battery pack under load changes and ambient temperature fluctuations. This avoids prolonged deep discharge of a single battery pack while improving the switching timeliness and control accuracy of the second voltage power supply path, thereby improving the capacity utilization balance, power supply stability, and battery pack lifespan of the battery circuit.

[0318] Figure 8 This is an example data flow diagram, such as Figure 8 As shown, the battery circuit provided in this application corresponds to Figure 8 The 48V battery system shown includes four 12V battery systems. This means that, in the aforementioned embodiment, one cell group corresponds to one 12V battery system, and N is 4.

[0319] Furthermore, through the acquisition unit (such as...) Figure 8 The “AFE-1” shown above collects the voltage and temperature data of the first and second battery cell groups; the data is collected by the acquisition unit (e.g., AFE-1). Figure 8 The “AFE-2” shown collects the voltage and temperature of the third and fourth battery cell groups.

[0320] Furthermore, based on the voltage and temperature of the aforementioned battery cell assembly, a daisy-chain communication method is used, with the communication protocol converted via an isolated daisy-chain communication converter. This is converted to SPI communication, and the voltage and temperature of the aforementioned battery cell assembly are sent to the control unit. It can be understood that the control unit is... Figure 8 The MCU shown.

[0321] Correspondingly, the current sensor configured at the voltage output terminal of the battery circuit is also connected to the control unit via communication. Figure 8 Connect the MCU shown. Send the acquired current sampling data to the control unit.

[0322] like Figure 8 As shown, in the MCU, based on the SOX calculation model, the remaining capacity of each cell group can be calculated for the cell data, and the working status of each cell group can be determined based on the fault judgment module.

[0323] Based on one or more of the above information, the drive control module can control the conduction state of the switch (i.e. the aforementioned electronically controlled switch) to switch the battery cell group used to output 12V voltage, that is, control which 12V system group to discharge.

[0324] Furthermore, based on the CAN communication transceiver, the MCU can communicate with external devices or the entire vehicle.

[0325] Figure 9 A schematic diagram of the control device for the battery circuit provided in this application is shown below. Figure 9 As shown, the control device 70 for the battery circuit provided in this embodiment includes:

[0326] The first control module 901 is used to generate control commands in response to a discharge request and send them to the electronic control switch in the battery circuit to control the cell group in the battery circuit to output a first voltage and / or a second voltage.

[0327] The second control module 902 is used to generate a first switching command when a preset switching cycle is reached, and send it to the electronic control switch in the battery circuit to control the switching of the cell group used to output the second voltage; wherein, the switching cycle is calculated based on the first power, the second power, the rated capacity and the preset ratio; the first power is the total power of the electrical equipment powered by the first voltage, the second power is the total power of the electrical equipment powered by the second voltage, and the rated capacity is the rated capacity of the cell group.

[0328] In one possible implementation, the second control module 902 is further configured to:

[0329] The voltage and temperature of the battery cell assembly are obtained, and the operating status of the battery cell assembly is determined based on the voltage and temperature of the battery cell assembly; the operating status is used to characterize whether the battery cell assembly has malfunctioned.

[0330] In one possible approach, the second control module 902 is also used for:

[0331] Obtain the current flowing through the first voltage output terminal and the current flowing through the second voltage output terminal in the battery circuit;

[0332] Based on the current data, as well as the voltage and temperature of the battery cell pack, determine the remaining capacity of the battery cell pack; wherein, the current data includes: the current flowing through the first voltage output terminal and / or the current flowing through the second voltage output terminal;

[0333] If it is determined that the remaining capacity of the battery cell pack is less than a preset threshold, a second switching command is generated and sent to the electronic control switch in the battery circuit to control the switching of the battery cell pack used to output the second voltage.

[0334] The control device for the battery circuit provided in this embodiment can execute the method provided in the above method embodiment. Its implementation principle and technical effect are similar, and will not be described in detail here.

[0335] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the control unit provided in this application. Figure 10 As shown, the control unit 102 provided in this embodiment includes at least one processor 1001 and a memory 1002. Optionally, the control unit 102 further includes a communication component 1003. The processor 1001, the memory 1002, and the communication component 1003 are connected via a bus 1004.

[0336] In a specific implementation, at least one processor 1001 executes computer execution instructions stored in memory 1002, causing at least one processor 1001 to perform the above-described method.

[0337] The specific implementation process of processor 1001 can be found in the above method embodiments, and its implementation principle and technical effect are similar. It will not be repeated here.

[0338] In the above embodiments, it should be understood that the processor can be a Central Processing Unit (CPU), or other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), etc. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor. The steps of the method disclosed in this invention can be directly implemented by a hardware processor, or implemented by a combination of hardware and software modules within the processor.

[0339] The memory may include random access memory (RAM) and may also include non-volatile memory (NVM), such as at least one disk storage device.

[0340] The bus can be an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, or an Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) bus, etc. Buses can be categorized as address buses, data buses, control buses, etc. For ease of illustration, the buses shown in the accompanying drawings are not limited to a single bus or a single type of bus.

[0341] This application also provides a vehicle including the battery circuit provided in the above embodiment. Based on the above battery circuit, and the control unit in the above battery circuit, the control method of the battery circuit provided in the above embodiment can be executed. The implementation principle and technical effect are similar, and will not be described again here.

[0342] This application also provides a computer program product, including a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the above-described method.

[0343] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions, which, when executed by a processor, implement the above-described method.

[0344] The aforementioned readable storage medium can be implemented by any type of volatile or non-volatile storage device or a combination thereof, such as static random access memory (SRAM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), read-only memory (ROM), magnetic storage, flash memory, magnetic disk, or optical disk. The readable storage medium can be any available medium accessible to a general-purpose or special-purpose computer.

[0345] An exemplary readable storage medium is coupled to a processor, enabling the processor to read information from and write information to the readable storage medium. Of course, the readable storage medium can also be a component of the processor. The processor and the readable storage medium can reside in an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC). Alternatively, the processor and the readable storage medium can exist as discrete components in the device.

[0346] The division of units is merely a logical functional division; in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, devices, or units, and may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0347] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0348] In addition, the functional units in the various embodiments of the present invention can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit.

[0349] If a function is implemented as a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this invention, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or a part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods of the various embodiments of this invention. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0350] Those skilled in the art will understand that all or part of the steps of the above-described method embodiments can be implemented by hardware related to program instructions. The aforementioned program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. When executed, the program performs the steps of the above-described method embodiments; and the aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as ROM, RAM, magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0351] Finally, it should be noted that other embodiments of the invention will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. This invention is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention that follow the general principles of the invention and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art not disclosed herein, and 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.

Claims

1. A battery circuit supporting dual voltage output, characterized in that, include: The system consists of N battery cell groups, a control unit, multiple electronically controlled switches, a first voltage output terminal, and a second voltage output terminal connected in series; where N is an integer greater than 1. The two ends of the N battery cell groups are respectively connected to the first voltage output terminal through the electronically controlled switch; Each of the battery cell groups has a power supply link connected to the second voltage output terminal, and each of the power supply links is equipped with the electronic control switch. The control unit is connected to each of the electronically controlled switching components; The control unit is used to control the switching state of the electronically controlled switch to control the N battery cell groups to output a first voltage through the first voltage output terminal; and / or, to control the switching state of the electronically controlled switch to control one of the N battery cell groups to output a second voltage based on the second voltage output terminal through the corresponding power supply link; The control unit is also used to control the switching state of the electronically controlled switch to switch the battery cell group used to output the second voltage.

2. The battery circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control unit controls the switching state of the electronically controlled switch to switch the cell group used for outputting the second voltage. Specifically, the control unit is used to: When the preset switching cycle is reached, the switching state of the electronic control switch corresponding to the current cell group is switched from closed to open, and the switching state of the electronic control switch corresponding to other cell groups is switched from open to closed, so that the cell group used to output the second voltage is switched from the current cell group to other cell groups. The switching cycle is calculated based on the first power, the second power, the rated capacity, and a preset ratio; the first power is the total power of the electrical equipment powered by the first voltage, the second power is the total power of the electrical equipment powered by the second voltage, and the rated capacity is the rated capacity of the battery pack.

3. The battery circuit according to claim 2, characterized in that, The current cell group is the i-th cell group among N cell groups, and the other cell groups are the (i+1)-th cell groups; where i is an integer greater than or equal to 1 and i is less than or equal to N.

4. The battery circuit according to claim 3, characterized in that, When the current cell group is the Nth cell group, the control unit is further configured to: When the preset switching cycle is reached, the switching state of the electronic control switch corresponding to the Nth cell group is switched from closed to open, and the switching state of the electronic control switch corresponding to the 1st cell group is switched from open to closed, so that the cell group used to output the second voltage is switched from the Nth cell group to the 1st cell group.

5. The battery circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The battery circuit further includes: at least one acquisition unit, which is connected to each of the battery cell groups respectively, for acquiring the voltage and temperature of the battery cell groups; The at least one acquisition unit is connected to the control unit, which is used to acquire the voltage and temperature of the battery cell group and determine the operating status of the battery cell group based on the voltage and temperature of the battery cell group; wherein the operating status is used to characterize whether the battery cell group has malfunctioned.

6. The battery circuit according to claim 5, characterized in that, The battery circuit further includes: a plurality of current sensors; the current sensors are respectively disposed at the first voltage output terminal and the second voltage output terminal, and the current sensors are used to collect the current flowing through the first voltage output terminal and the current flowing through the second voltage output terminal; The plurality of current sensors are connected to the control unit, and the control unit is further configured to acquire the current flowing through the first voltage output terminal and the current flowing through the second voltage output terminal; The control unit is also configured to determine the remaining capacity of the battery cell group based on the current data, as well as the voltage and temperature of the battery cell group; wherein the current data includes: the current flowing through the first voltage output terminal and / or the current flowing through the second voltage output terminal; The control unit is also configured to control the switching state of the electronically controlled switch according to the remaining capacity of the battery cell group, so as to switch the battery cell group used to output the second voltage.

7. The battery circuit according to claim 5, characterized in that, The number of acquisition units is two, one of which is connected to the control unit via a daisy chain; the acquisition units are connected to each other via a daisy chain.

8. The battery circuit according to claim 7, characterized in that, The battery circuit further includes: at least one protocol conversion unit, which is used to convert communication protocols; The protocol conversion unit is positioned between the acquisition unit and the control unit, which are connected via a daisy chain; and / or, The protocol conversion unit is located between the control unit and the external device.

9. The battery circuit according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The battery circuit also includes multiple diodes; The diode is disposed in the power supply link corresponding to each of the battery cells, and is disposed between the battery cell and the electronic control switch.

10. The battery circuit according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The battery pack includes multiple battery cells, which are lithium iron phosphate cells.

11. A control method for a battery circuit, characterized in that, The method is applied to a control unit in a battery circuit as described in any one of claims 1-10; the method includes: In response to a discharge request, a control command is generated and sent to the electronic control switch in the battery circuit to control the cell group in the battery circuit to output a first voltage and / or a second voltage; When a preset switching cycle is reached, a first switching command is generated and sent to the electronic control switch in the battery circuit to control the switching of the cell group used to output the second voltage; wherein, the switching cycle is calculated based on the first power, the second power, the rated capacity and a preset ratio; the first power is the total power of the electrical equipment powered by the first voltage, the second power is the total power of the electrical equipment powered by the second voltage, and the rated capacity is the rated capacity of the cell group.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that, The method further includes: The voltage and temperature of the battery cell assembly are obtained, and the operating status of the battery cell assembly is determined based on the voltage and temperature of the battery cell assembly; wherein the operating status is used to characterize whether the battery cell assembly has malfunctioned.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that, The method further includes: Obtain the current flowing through the first voltage output terminal and the current flowing through the second voltage output terminal in the battery circuit; The remaining capacity of the battery cell group is determined based on the current data, as well as the voltage and temperature of the battery cell group; wherein the current data includes: the current flowing through the first voltage output terminal and / or the current flowing through the second voltage output terminal; If it is determined that the remaining capacity of the battery cell group is less than a preset threshold, a second switching command is generated and sent to the electronic control switch in the battery circuit to control the switching of the battery cell group used to output the second voltage.

14. A control unit, characterized in that, include: Memory, processor; The memory stores computer-executed instructions; The processor executes computer execution instructions stored in the memory, causing the processor to perform the method as described in any one of claims 11-13.

15. A vehicle, characterized in that, Includes the battery circuit as described in any one of claims 1-10.

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