Battery management apparatus and method

Abstract

A battery management device according to an aspect of the disclosure includes a curve obtaining unit configured to obtain a battery curve representing a correspondence between a voltage and a capacity of a battery, and a control unit configured to generate a differential curve representing a correspondence between the voltage and a differential capacity based on the battery curve, determine a target peak among at least one peak included in the differential curve, and classify a type of the battery based on a voltage and the differential capacity of the target peak.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application is based on and claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0183869, filed on December 11, 2024, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0002] This disclosure relates to a battery management apparatus and method, and more specifically, to a battery management apparatus and method for classifying battery types and managing batteries based on the classification results. Background Technology

[0003] In recent years, with the rapid growth in demand for portable electronic products such as laptops, cameras, and mobile phones, and the comprehensive development of electric vehicles, energy storage batteries, robots, and satellites, research on high-performance batteries that can be repeatedly charged and discharged is actively underway.

[0004] Currently commercially available batteries include nickel-cadmium (NiCd), nickel-metal hydride (NiMH), nickel-zinc (NiZn), and lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. Among these, lithium-ion batteries are gaining attention due to their advantages—such as virtually no memory effect compared to nickel-based batteries, free charging and discharging, very low self-discharge rate, and high energy density.

[0005] Because batteries are assembled through high-temperature bonding, welding, and adhesive application, the connectors may be damaged during disassembly. Furthermore, the process of reassembling disassembled batteries can significantly degrade their performance due to internal structural deformation, seal failure, or damage to the connectors. Additionally, microscopic damage may occur at the reassembled battery site, significantly increasing the risk of explosion. Therefore, disassembling and reassembling batteries is practically impossible.

[0006] Furthermore, proper battery management becomes difficult if the internal configuration of the battery is unknown. For example, if the internal configuration of the battery is unknown, it may be possible to charge and discharge the battery at inappropriately high rates. This can lead to swelling, which may increase the risk of battery fire or explosion. Therefore, a technology is needed to non-destructively determine the battery type and manage the corresponding battery accordingly. Summary of the Invention

[0007] Technical issues

[0008] This disclosure is designed to address the problems of related technologies, and therefore, this disclosure aims to provide a battery management device and method capable of classifying and managing unknown batteries.

[0009] These and other objects and advantages of this disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description and will become even more fully apparent from exemplary embodiments of this disclosure. Moreover, it will be readily understood that the objects and advantages of this disclosure can be achieved by the means and combinations thereof as shown in the appended claims.

[0010] Technical solution

[0011] A battery management device according to one aspect of the present disclosure may include: a curve acquisition unit configured to acquire a battery curve representing the correspondence between the voltage and capacity of the battery; and a control unit configured to generate a differential curve representing the correspondence between voltage and differential capacity based on the battery curve, determine a target peak among at least one peak included in the differential curve, and classify the battery type based on the voltage and differential capacity of the target peak.

[0012] The control unit can be configured to compare the voltage with a preset reference voltage, compare the differential capacity with a preset reference differential capacity, and classify the battery based on the comparison results.

[0013] The control unit can be configured to classify the battery type into one of several types of batteries based on a comparison between the voltage and a reference voltage, and a comparison between the differential capacity and a reference differential capacity.

[0014] The control unit can be configured to classify the battery as a first battery when the voltage is less than the reference voltage and the differential capacity is greater than or equal to the reference differential capacity.

[0015] The control unit can be configured to classify the battery type as a second battery when the voltage is greater than or equal to the reference voltage and the differential capacity is greater than or equal to the reference differential capacity.

[0016] The control unit can be configured to classify the battery as a third battery type when the voltage is less than the reference voltage and the differential capacity is less than the reference differential capacity.

[0017] The control unit can be configured to classify the battery type as a fourth battery when the voltage is greater than or equal to the reference voltage and the differential capacity is less than the reference differential capacity.

[0018] Multiple batteries can be provided.

[0019] The control unit can be configured to: determine a target peak from the differential curve of each of the multiple batteries, group the multiple batteries based on the voltage and differential capacity of the determined multiple target peaks, and classify the type of the battery belonging to each group into one of multiple batteries based on the comparison results between the representative voltage and the reference voltage and the comparison results between the representative differential capacity and the reference differential capacity.

[0020] The control unit can be configured to set battery usage conditions based on battery classification results.

[0021] The control unit can be configured to classify the type of the battery's positive electrode based on the target peak voltage and differential capacity.

[0022] The control unit can be configured to determine at least one peak from the differential curve, and to determine the peak with the largest corresponding voltage among the at least one peak as the target peak.

[0023] The control unit is configured to normalize the capacity of the battery curve and generate a differential curve based on the voltage and the normalized capacity.

[0024] A battery management method according to another aspect of this disclosure may include: a battery curve obtaining step, which obtains a battery curve representing the correspondence between the battery's voltage and capacity; a differential curve generating step, which generates a differential curve representing the correspondence between voltage and differential capacity based on the battery curve; a target peak determining step, which determines a target peak among at least one peak included in the differential curve; and a classification step, which classifies the battery type based on the voltage and differential capacity of the target peak.

[0025] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a computer-readable storage medium may store a program for performing a battery management method.

[0026] Beneficial effects

[0027] According to one aspect of this disclosure, the battery management device has the advantage of non-destructively classifying the battery type based on the battery's charging / discharging information, even when the battery type is unknown.

[0028] The effects of this disclosure are not limited to those described above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art based on the description of the claims. Attached Figure Description

[0029] The accompanying drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the foregoing disclosure, serve to provide a further understanding of the technical features of the present disclosure; therefore, the present disclosure is not to be construed as limited to the drawings.

[0030] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a battery management device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0031] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a battery curve according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0032] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a differential curve according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0033] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the classification results of batteries according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0034] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram showing the classification results of multiple batteries according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0035] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of normalized curves according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0036] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0037] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of a battery management method according to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0038] It should be understood that the terms used in the specification and appended claims should not be construed as limited to their general and dictionary meanings, but rather as being interpreted based on their meanings and concepts corresponding to the technical aspects of this disclosure, on the basis of the principle that the inventors are allowed to define the terms appropriately for the best interpretation.

[0039] Therefore, the description presented herein is merely a preferred example for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. It should be understood that other equivalents and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

[0040] In addition, when describing this disclosure, a detailed description of a relevant known element or function is omitted herein if it is considered to obscure the key subject matter of this disclosure.

[0041] Ordinal terms such as “first” and “second” can be used to distinguish one element from another among various elements, but are not intended to limit these elements by these terms.

[0042] Throughout this specification, when a section is referred to as “comprising” or “including” any element, it means that the section may further include other elements without excluding them, unless otherwise specifically stated.

[0043] Furthermore, throughout the specification, when one part is referred to as "connected" to another part, it is not limited to the case where they are "directly connected," but also includes the case where they are "indirectly connected" when another element is inserted between them.

[0044] Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0045] Figure 1This is a schematic diagram of a battery management device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0046] refer to Figure 1 The battery management device 100 may include a curve acquisition unit 110 and a control unit 120.

[0047] The curve acquisition unit 110 can be configured to acquire a battery curve BP that represents the relationship between the battery's voltage and capacity.

[0048] Here, a battery refers to a single, physically separable cell with a negative and a positive terminal. For example, a lithium-ion battery or a lithium polymer battery can be considered a battery. Additionally, batteries can be cylindrical, prismatic, or pouch-shaped. Furthermore, a battery can refer to a battery bank, battery module, or battery pack in which multiple cells are connected in series and / or parallel. Below, for ease of explanation, a battery is explained as referring to a single, independent cell.

[0049] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the battery curve BP according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 2 In this embodiment, the battery curve BP can be expressed as an XY curve, where the X-axis is set to capacity (Q) and the Y-axis is set to voltage (V). However, it should be noted that... Figure 2 The battery curve BP is presented as a graph for ease of explanation only, and there are no restrictions on the form in which the battery curve BP is presented, as long as the correspondence between the battery capacity and voltage is shown.

[0050] exist Figure 2 In this embodiment, a battery curve BP is generated during the charging process until the battery capacity reaches Qf from Qi. That is, the battery voltage and capacity at the start of charging are Vi and Qi, and the voltage and capacity at the end of charging are Vf and Qf.

[0051] For example, there is no specific limitation on the C-rate during the charging or discharging process used to generate the battery profile BP. However, preferably, the battery should be charged or discharged at a low rate to obtain a more accurate battery profile BP. For example, the battery profile BP can be generated during the charging or discharging process at 0.05°C.

[0052] For example, the curve acquisition unit 110 can communicate with the outside via a wired and / or wireless connection. Furthermore, the curve acquisition unit 110 can acquire the battery curve BP by receiving the battery curve BP from the outside.

[0053] As another example, the curve acquisition unit 110 can be electrically connected to the battery and directly measure the battery's voltage and current. The curve acquisition unit 110 can then calculate the battery's capacity based on the measured current. The curve acquisition unit 110 can generate a battery curve BP to represent the correspondence between the measured voltage and the calculated capacity. In other words, the curve acquisition unit 110 can obtain the battery curve BP by directly generating the battery curve BP.

[0054] The curve acquisition unit 110 can be connected to the control unit 120 to enable communication. For example, the curve acquisition unit 110 can be connected to the control unit 120 via wired and / or wireless means. The curve acquisition unit can send the acquired battery curve BP to the control unit 120.

[0055] The control unit 120 can be configured to generate a differential curve DP representing the correspondence between voltage and differential capacity based on the battery curve BP.

[0056] Here, differential capacity is expressed as "dQ / dV" or "dQdV", and refers to the value obtained by differentiating the capacity (Q) with respect to the voltage (V). In other words, differential capacity can be described as the instantaneous rate of change of capacity (Q) with respect to voltage (V). By differentiating the battery curve BP with respect to voltage, the control unit 120 can generate a differential curve DP representing the correspondence between the battery voltage (V) and differential capacity (dQdV).

[0057] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the differential curve DP according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 3 In this embodiment, the differential curve DP can be expressed as an XY curve, where the X-axis is set to voltage (V) and the Y-axis is set to differential capacitance (dQdV). However, it should be noted that... Figure 3 The differential curve DP is expressed as a graph for ease of explanation only, and there are no restrictions on the form in which the battery curve DP is expressed, as long as the correspondence between the battery capacity and the differential voltage is shown.

[0058] The control unit 120 can be configured to determine a target peak tp among at least one peak included in the differential curve DP.

[0059] Here, a peak is a point in the differential curve DP where the instantaneous rate of change is 0, and the slope of the differential curve DP can change from positive to negative based on the peak. In other words, a peak refers to the maximum point included in the differential curve DP.

[0060] Specifically, the control unit 120 can be configured to determine at least one peak in the differential curve DP.

[0061] Typically, the battery curve BP is a curve that includes multiple inflection points. Furthermore, the inflection points of the battery curve BP correspond to local maxima or local minima of the differential curve DP. In other words, the differential curve DP may include at least one local maxima and one local minima. As described above, since the local maxima of the differential curve DP is defined as a peak, the control unit 120 can determine at least one peak included in the differential curve DP.

[0062] exist Figure 3 In one embodiment, the control unit 120 can determine the first peak p1, the second peak p2, the third peak p3, and the fourth peak p4 in the differential curve DP.

[0063] Additionally, the control unit 120 can be configured to identify the peak with the largest corresponding voltage among at least one peak as the target peak tp.

[0064] Specifically, the control unit 120 can identify the peak with the maximum corresponding voltage among at least one peak included in the differential curve DP as the target peak tp. In other words, the control unit 120 can identify the peak located on the highest potential side among at least one peak as the target peak tp.

[0065] exist Figure 3 In one embodiment, the control unit 120 can determine the fourth peak p4 as the target peak tp.

[0066] The control unit 120 can be configured to classify the battery type based on the voltage and differential capacity of the target peak tp.

[0067] The control unit 120 can be configured to compare the voltage with a preset reference voltage (Vr), and the control unit 120 can be configured to compare the differential capacity with a preset reference differential capacity (dQdVr).

[0068] Specifically, the control unit 120 can be configured to classify the battery type into one of a variety of batteries based on a comparison of voltage and reference voltage (Vr) and a comparison of differential capacity and reference differential capacity (dQdVr).

[0069] Here, the reference voltage (Vr) is set as the first reference value for classifying the battery type. Specifically, the reference voltage (Vr) can be set for each type of battery to be classified based on a reference battery.

[0070] For example, suppose the first reference cell through the fourth reference cell are different types of cells. The reference voltage (Vr) can be set to a voltage that can distinguish the first reference cell through the fourth reference cell from at least one type of cell based on the voltage of the target peak tp of the first reference cell through the fourth reference cell.

[0071] In one embodiment, the reference voltage (Vr) can be configured such that the first to fourth reference cells can be divided and distinguished. For example, the reference voltage (Vr) can be configured such that the voltage of the target peak tp of the first and fourth reference cells is less than the reference voltage (Vr), and the voltage of the target peak tp of the second and third reference cells is greater than or equal to the reference voltage (Vr).

[0072] In another embodiment, multiple reference voltages (Vr) can be set, allowing differentiation of the target peak tp voltages of the first four reference cells through the fourth reference cell. In this case, the number of cell types to be classified may increase compared to the previous embodiment.

[0073] Additionally, the reference differential capacity (dQdVr) is set as a second reference value for classifying battery types. Specifically, the reference differential capacity (dQdVr) can be set for each type of battery to be classified based on a reference battery.

[0074] For example, suppose the first reference cell through the fourth reference cell are different types of cells. The reference differential capacity (dQdVr) can be set as the differential capacity, which can distinguish the first reference cell through the fourth reference cell into at least one type of cell based on the differential capacity of the target peak tp of the first reference cell through the fourth reference cell.

[0075] In one embodiment, a reference differential capacity (dQdVr) can be set such that the first reference cell to the fourth reference cell can be divided and distinguished. For example, the reference differential capacity (dQdVr) can be set such that the differential capacity of the target peak tp of the first and second reference cells is greater than or equal to the reference differential capacity (dQdVr), and the differential capacity of the target peak tp of the third and fourth reference cells is less than the reference differential capacity (dQdVr).

[0076] In another embodiment, multiple reference differential capacities (dQdVr) can be set, allowing differentiation of the differential capacities at the target peak tp of the first to fourth reference cells. In this case, the number of cell types to be classified may increase compared to the previous embodiment.

[0077] In other words, a reference voltage (Vr) and a reference differential capacity (dQdVr) can be set to distinguish between the first and fourth reference cells. For example, the first and fourth reference cells, as well as the second and third reference cells, can be distinguished based on their relationship to the reference voltage (Vr). Furthermore, the first and second reference cells, as well as the third and fourth reference cells, can be distinguished based on their relationship to the reference differential capacity (dQdVr). Therefore, considering both their relationship to the reference voltage (Vr) and their relationship to the reference differential capacity (dQdVr), the first to fourth reference cells can be distinguished.

[0078] The control unit 120 can determine which of the first to fourth reference cells a battery belongs to based on a comparison between the voltage of the battery's target peak tp and a reference voltage (Vr), and a comparison between the differential capacity of the battery's target peak tp and a reference differential capacity (dQdVr). Furthermore, the control unit 120 can classify the battery type as the corresponding reference cell among the first to fourth reference cells based on the classification results.

[0079] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the battery management device 100 can determine a reference battery corresponding to a battery among a plurality of reference batteries based on the voltage and differential capacity of a target peak tp, and classify the battery type to correspond to the determined reference battery. In other words, the battery management device 100 has the advantage that it can classify the battery type based on the battery's charging / discharging information even when the battery type is unknown.

[0080] Meanwhile, the control unit 120 disposed in the battery management device 100 may optionally include processors, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), other chipsets, logic circuits, registers, communication modems, data processing devices, etc., known in the art, to execute the various control logics performed in this disclosure. Furthermore, when the control logic is implemented in software, the control unit 120 can be implemented as a set of program modules. In this case, the program modules can be stored in memory and executed by the control unit 120. The memory can be located internally or externally to the control unit 120 and can be connected to the control unit 120 by various known means.

[0081] Additionally, the battery management device 100 may also include a storage unit 130. The storage unit 130 may store data required for the operation and function of each component of the battery management device 100, data generated during the execution of operations or functions, etc. The type of storage unit 130 is not particularly limited, as long as it is a known information storage device capable of recording, erasing, updating, and retrieving data. As examples, the information storage device may include RAM, flash memory, ROM, EEPROM, registers, etc. Furthermore, the storage unit 130 may store program code, which defines the procedures that can be executed by each component of the battery management device 100.

[0082] For example, storage cell 130 can store information such as battery curve BP, differential curve DP, reference voltage (Vr), and reference differential capacity (dQdVr).

[0083] The control unit 120 can be configured to classify the type of the positive electrode of the battery based on the voltage and differential capacity of the target peak tp.

[0084] For example, the first to fourth reference cells can be configured to have different positive electrode types.

[0085] The first to third reference cells are NCM cells that use oxides containing nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), and manganese (Mn) as positive electrode materials. Specifically, the first to third reference cells can be distinguished by their nickel content.

[0086] The first reference battery is a low-nickel battery with a nickel content of less than about 60%, or a medium-nickel battery with a nickel content of about 60% or more but less than 70%.

[0087] The second reference cell is a high-nickel cell with a nickel content of approximately 70% or more.

[0088] The third reference cell is a high-voltage medium-nickel battery with a nickel content of approximately 60% or more but less than 70%. Here, a high-voltage medium-nickel battery has a nickel content similar to that of a medium-nickel battery, but with special treatments applied to the electrolyte and cathode materials for high output and high capacity. For example, the difference between a high-voltage medium-nickel battery and a medium-nickel battery is that it contains a high-voltage resistant electrolyte and uses cathode material particles (monoparticles) formed as single crystals.

[0089] The fourth reference battery is a manganese-rich (Mn-rich) battery that uses a cathode material that is a mixture of nickel manganese oxide and lithium manganese oxide with a high manganese content. Manganese-rich batteries have the advantage of stable operation even at high voltages due to the structural stability of manganese.

[0090] The control unit 120 can be configured to classify the battery type as a first battery if the voltage is less than a reference voltage (Vr) and the differential capacity is greater than or equal to the reference differential capacity (dQdVr). That is, the control unit 120 can classify the battery type as a first battery corresponding to a first reference battery. For example, if the voltage of the battery's target peak tp is less than the reference voltage (Vr) and the differential capacity of the target peak tp is greater than or equal to the reference differential capacity (dQdVr), the control unit 120 can classify the battery as a low-nickel battery or a medium-nickel battery.

[0091] The control unit 120 can be configured to classify the battery type as a second battery if the voltage is greater than or equal to a reference voltage (Vr) and the differential capacity is greater than or equal to a reference differential capacity (dQdVr). That is, the control unit 120 can classify the battery type as a second battery corresponding to a second reference battery. For example, if the voltage of the battery's target peak tp is greater than or equal to the reference voltage (Vr) and the differential capacity of the target peak tp is greater than or equal to the reference differential capacity (dQdVr), then the control unit 120 can classify the battery as a high-nickel battery.

[0092] The control unit 120 can be configured to classify the battery type as a third battery if the voltage is greater than or equal to the reference voltage (Vr) and the differential capacity is less than the reference differential capacity (dQdVr). That is, the control unit 120 can classify the battery type as a third battery corresponding to a third reference battery. For example, if the voltage of the battery's target peak tp is greater than or equal to the reference voltage (Vr) and the differential capacity of the target peak tp is less than the reference differential capacity (dQdVr), then the control unit 120 can classify the battery as a high-voltage nickel-cadmium battery.

[0093] The control unit 120 can be configured to classify the battery type as a fourth battery if the voltage is less than a reference voltage (Vr) and the differential capacity is less than a reference differential capacity (dQdVr). That is, the control unit 120 can classify the battery type as a fourth battery corresponding to a fourth reference battery. For example, if the voltage of the battery's target peak tp is less than the reference voltage (Vr) and the differential capacity of the target peak tp is less than a reference differential capacity (dQdVr), then the control unit 120 can classify the battery as a manganese-rich battery.

[0094] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the classification results of batteries according to embodiments of this disclosure. Figure 4In this embodiment, the voltage (Vt) of the target peak tp of the battery is greater than or equal to the reference voltage (Vr), and the differential capacity (dQdVt) of the target peak tp is greater than or equal to the reference differential capacity (dQdVr). Therefore, the control unit 120 can classify the battery type as a second battery. For example, the control unit 120 can classify the battery as a high-nickel battery.

[0095] An unknown battery is a battery with an unknown chemical composition, such as a battery recovered for reuse. When such an unknown battery is charged / discharged using a preset charging / discharging protocol, overcharging or over-discharging may occur because the chemical composition of the unknown battery is not taken into account. In other words, if an unknown battery is used without knowing its chemical composition, the possibility of accidents such as fire or explosion increases significantly. Furthermore, since the charging / discharging of an unknown battery is not properly controlled, there are problems with reduced charging / discharging efficiency and reduced cycle life. Therefore, since the battery management device 100 can classify the type of unknown battery using a non-destructive method, the utility value of the unknown battery can be significantly increased according to the battery management device 100.

[0096] In another embodiment, multiple batteries may be provided.

[0097] The control unit 120 can be configured to determine the target peak tp from the differential curve DP of each of the multiple cells.

[0098] Specifically, the curve acquisition unit 110 can receive the battery curve BP of each of the multiple batteries. Additionally, the control unit 120 can generate multiple differential curves DP based on the multiple battery curves BP. The control unit 120 can determine multiple peaks in each differential curve DP, and among the determined peaks, the peak with the largest corresponding voltage can be determined as the target peak tp.

[0099] For example, if curve acquisition unit 110 acquires n battery curves BP, then control unit 120 can generate n differential curves DP. Furthermore, control unit 120 can determine the target peak tp in each of the n differential curves DP. That is, the total number of determined target peaks tp is n.

[0100] The control unit 120 can be configured to group multiple cells based on the voltage and differential capacity of multiple target peaks tp.

[0101] The control unit 120 can classify multiple target peaks tp based on voltage and differential capacity.

[0102] For example, the control unit 120 can determine the quadrant based on preset values ​​of reference voltage (Vr) and reference differential capacity (dQdVr). Then, the control unit 120 can group multiple batteries by examining the distribution of multiple target peaks tp based on the determined quadrant.

[0103] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the classification results of multiple batteries according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Specifically, Figure 5 It is a schematic scatter plot showing multiple batteries.

[0104] exist Figure 5 In this embodiment, the control unit 120 can determine the first region ( ), Second area ( ), third region ( ) and the fourth region ( The control unit 120 can control the area belonging to the first region (). The batteries belonging to the first group G1 are set as the first group, and those belonging to the second region ( The battery is set to the second group G2. Additionally, the control unit 120 can be set to belong to the third area ( The battery is set as the third group G3, and belongs to the fourth region ( The battery is set to the fourth group, G3.

[0105] As another example, the control unit 120 can group multiple batteries using a preset classification model. Here, the classification model is a model preset to group multiple batteries, and can be a model that applies various clustering techniques. For example, the classification model can apply K-means clustering, DBSCAN (density-based spatial clustering with noise), hierarchical clustering, etc.

[0106] The control unit 120 can be configured to classify the type of battery belonging to each group into one of a variety of batteries based on the comparison results of the representative voltage and the reference voltage (Vr) and the comparison results of the representative differential capacity and the reference differential capacity (dQdVr).

[0107] Specifically, the control unit 120 can determine the representative voltage and representative differential capacity of each group in order to classify the types of batteries belonging to each group. For example, the control unit 120 can determine the average voltage of at least one battery belonging to each group as the representative voltage of the corresponding group. Similarly, the control unit 120 can determine the average differential capacity of at least one battery belonging to each group as the representative differential capacity of the corresponding group.

[0108] In addition, the control unit 120 can compare the representative voltage of each group with the reference voltage (Vr) and compare the representative differential capacity with the reference differential capacity (dQdVr).

[0109] exist Figure 5 In this embodiment, the representative voltage of the first group G1 is less than the reference voltage (Vr), and the representative differential capacity of the first group G1 is greater than or equal to the reference differential capacity (dQdVr). Therefore, the control unit 120 can classify the batteries belonging to the first group G1 as first batteries. That is, the batteries belonging to the first group G1 can be classified as low-nickel batteries or medium-nickel batteries.

[0110] The representative voltage of the second group G2 is greater than or equal to the reference voltage (Vr), and the representative differential capacity of the second group G2 is greater than or equal to the reference differential capacity (dQdVr). Therefore, the control unit 120 can classify batteries belonging to the second group G2 as second batteries. In other words, batteries belonging to the second group G2 can be classified as high-nickel batteries.

[0111] The representative voltage of the third group G3 is greater than or equal to the reference voltage (Vr), and the representative differential capacity of the third group G3 is less than the reference differential capacity (dQdVr). Therefore, the control unit 120 can classify batteries belonging to the third group G3 as third batteries. In other words, batteries belonging to the third group G3 can be classified as high-voltage nickel batteries.

[0112] The representative voltage of group G4 is lower than the reference voltage (Vr), and the representative differential capacity of group G4 is lower than the reference differential capacity (dQdVr). Therefore, the control unit 120 can classify batteries belonging to group G4 as fourth batteries. In other words, batteries belonging to group G4 can be classified as manganese-rich batteries.

[0113] Since the battery management device 100 according to the embodiments of this disclosure classifies multiple battery types in a non-destructive manner, it can prevent accidents such as fires and explosions of unknown batteries in advance.

[0114] The control unit 120 can be configured to set battery usage conditions based on battery classification results.

[0115] Specifically, the control unit 120 can set the optimal operating conditions for each battery by taking into account the characteristics of the classified batteries.

[0116] Specifically, the control unit 120 can set the usage conditions for each battery by taking into account the high voltage stability and lifespan characteristics of low-nickel batteries, medium-nickel batteries, high-nickel batteries, high-voltage medium-nickel batteries, and manganese-rich batteries.

[0117] The control unit 120 can set the upper limit voltage of a battery classified as a first battery to be lower than a preset threshold voltage. For example, low-nickel or medium-nickel batteries do not have high energy density but have excellent stability and lifespan characteristics. Low-nickel and medium-nickel batteries operate stably below 4.2 [V], and electrode deformation or side reactions may occur at high voltages. Therefore, the control unit 120 can improve the utilization efficiency of the first battery by setting the upper limit voltage of the first battery to be lower than the threshold voltage.

[0118] The control unit 120 can set the upper limit voltage of batteries classified as second batteries to be lower than a preset threshold voltage. For example, high-nickel batteries have a high nickel content and therefore a large energy storage capacity, but they have low structural stability. Therefore, the control unit 120 can improve the utilization efficiency of the second battery by setting its upper limit voltage relatively low, below the threshold voltage. The control unit 120 can also set the upper limit voltage of batteries classified as third batteries to be higher than the threshold voltage. For example, high-voltage nickel batteries have high energy density and excellent high voltage stability and lifespan characteristics. Therefore, the control unit 120 can improve the utilization efficiency of the third battery by setting its upper limit voltage relatively high, above or equal to the threshold voltage.

[0119] The control unit 120 can set the upper limit voltage of a battery classified as a fourth battery to a voltage higher than or equal to a threshold voltage. For example, manganese-rich batteries have improved thermal stability due to their increased manganese content, which reduces side reactions with the electrolyte even at high voltages, resulting in improved cycle life. Furthermore, manganese-rich batteries can be operated to store energy at higher voltages than NCM batteries. This increases the energy density of manganese-rich batteries, making them suitable for high-power applications. Therefore, the control unit 120 can maintain a balance between the energy density and stability of the fourth battery by setting the upper limit voltage of the fourth battery relatively high to be higher than or equal to the threshold voltage.

[0120] For example, considering the high voltage stability and lifespan characteristics of low-nickel, medium-nickel, high-nickel, high-voltage medium-nickel, and manganese-rich batteries, the threshold voltage can be preset to 4.25 [V] or less. Therefore, the upper limit voltage of the first and second batteries can be set to a value less than 4.25 [V], and the upper limit voltage of the third and fourth batteries can be set to a value greater than or equal to 4.25 [V].

[0121] The control unit 120 can be configured to normalize the capacity of the battery curve BP and generate the differential curve DP based on the voltage and the normalized capacity.

[0122] Specifically, the control unit 120 can generate a differential curve DP from the battery curve BP, and classify the batteries according to the target peak tp determined from the generated differential curve DP. If the battery capacity is not normalized, there will be a large deviation in the differential capacity at the target peak tp for each battery, so the batteries cannot be classified according to a specific criterion. Therefore, the control unit 120 can classify the batteries according to a specific criterion by generating a differential curve DP that represents the correspondence between voltage and normalized capacity.

[0123] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of normalized curves according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Figure 6 In one embodiment, the control unit 120 can normalize the capacity of the battery curve BPo to generate a normalized battery curve BPn. Additionally, the control unit 120 can generate the derivative curve DP of the normalized battery curve BPn.

[0124] Even if the control unit 120 classifies the types of multiple batteries, the control unit 120 can normalize the battery curve BP of multiple batteries to the capacity range Qin to Qfn, and generate the differential curve DP from the normalized battery curve BP.

[0125] In other words, by preventing incorrect classification of batteries based on differences in battery capacity, the battery management device 100 can more accurately classify the type of unknown batteries.

[0126] The battery management device 100 according to this disclosure can be applied to a BMS (Battery Management System). That is, a BMS according to this disclosure may include the aforementioned battery management device 100. In this configuration, at least some components of the battery management device 100 can be implemented by supplementing or adding the functions of components included in a conventional BMS. For example, the curve acquisition unit 110, control unit 120, and storage unit 130 of the battery management device 100 can be implemented as components of a BMS.

[0127] Furthermore, the battery management device 100 according to this disclosure can be disposed in a battery pack. That is, the battery pack according to this disclosure may include the aforementioned battery management device 100 and one or more individual battery cells. In addition, the battery pack may also include electrical equipment (relays, fuses, etc.) and a housing.

[0128] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of a battery pack 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0129] The positive terminal of battery 11 can be connected to the positive terminal P+ of battery pack 10, and the negative terminal of battery 11 can be connected to the negative terminal P- of battery pack 10.

[0130] The measuring unit 12 can be connected to a first sensing line SL1, a second sensing line SL2, and a third sensing line SL3. Specifically, the measuring unit 12 can be connected to the positive terminal of the battery 11 via the first sensing line SL1 and to the negative terminal of the battery 11 via the second sensing line SL2. The measuring unit 12 can measure the voltage of the battery 11 based on the voltage measured at each of the first sensing line SL1 and the second sensing line SL2.

[0131] The measuring unit 12 can be connected to the current measuring unit A via the third sensing line SL3. For example, the current measuring unit A can be an ammeter or a shunt resistor capable of measuring the charging current and discharging current of the battery 11. The measuring unit 12 can measure the charging current of the battery 11 via the third sensing line SL3 to calculate the amount of charge. In addition, the measuring unit 12 can measure the discharging current of the battery 11 via the third sensing line SL3 to calculate the amount of discharge.

[0132] For example, the curve acquisition unit 110 can receive battery information about the battery's voltage and current from the measurement unit 12. Then, the curve acquisition unit 110 can generate a battery curve BP based on the battery information.

[0133] As another example, curve acquisition unit 110 can receive battery curve BP from measurement unit 12.

[0134] An external device can be connected to the positive terminal P+ and the negative terminal P- of the battery pack 10. For example, the external device can be a charging device or a load. In addition, the positive terminal of the battery 11, the positive terminal P+ of the battery pack 10, the external device, the negative terminal P- of the battery pack 10, and the negative terminal of the battery 11 can be electrically connected.

[0135] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of a battery management method according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0136] refer to Figure 8 The battery management method may include a step of obtaining the battery curve BP, a step of generating the differential curve (S200), a step of determining the target peak (S300), and a step of classifying (S400).

[0137] Preferably, each step of the battery management method can be performed by the battery management device 100. In the following description, for ease of explanation, content overlapping with the previously described content will be omitted or briefly described.

[0138] The battery curve BP acquisition step is the step of obtaining the battery curve BP that represents the correspondence between the battery's voltage and capacity, and can be performed by the curve acquisition unit 110.

[0139] For example, the curve acquisition unit 110 can be connected to an external device via wired and / or wireless means to enable communication. Alternatively, the curve acquisition unit 110 can acquire the battery curve BP by receiving the battery curve BP from an external source.

[0140] As another example, the curve acquisition unit 110 can be electrically connected to the battery and directly measure the battery's voltage and current. The curve acquisition unit 110 can then calculate the battery's capacity based on the measured current. The curve acquisition unit 110 can generate a battery curve BP to represent the correspondence between the measured voltage and the calculated capacity. In other words, the curve acquisition unit 110 can obtain the battery curve BP by directly generating the battery curve BP.

[0141] The differential curve generation step (S200) is a step of generating a differential curve DP that represents the correspondence between voltage and differential capacity based on the battery curve BP, and can be executed by the control unit 120.

[0142] For example, the control unit 120 can generate a differential curve DP that represents the correspondence between the battery voltage (V) and differential capacity (dQdV) by differentiating the battery curve BP relative to the voltage.

[0143] The target peak determination step (S300) is a step of determining the target peak tp among at least one peak included in the differential curve DP, and can be executed by the control unit 120.

[0144] For example, control unit 120 can be configured to determine at least one peak in the differential curve DP. Additionally, control unit 120 can be configured to determine the peak with the largest corresponding voltage among the at least one peaks as the target peak tp.

[0145] The classification step (S400) is a step for classifying the battery type based on the voltage and differential capacity of the target peak tp, and can be executed by the control unit 120.

[0146] For example, the control unit 120 can be configured to classify the battery type into one of a variety of batteries based on a comparison of voltage with a reference voltage (Vr) and a comparison of differential capacity with a reference differential capacity (dQdVr).

[0147] The embodiments of this disclosure described above can be implemented not only by apparatus and methods, but also by a program that implements functions corresponding to the configuration of the embodiments of this disclosure, or a recording medium that records the program. Those skilled in the art can readily implement such a program or recording medium from the description of the above embodiments.

[0148] Another embodiment of this disclosure may provide a computer-readable storage medium having programs recorded thereon for executing the various embodiments described above on a computer.

[0149] A program can be implemented as hardware components, software components, and / or a combination of hardware and software components. The program can be executed by any system capable of executing computer-readable instructions.

[0150] Software may include computer programs, code, instructions, or combinations thereof, which may configure processing equipment to perform desired operations or may independently or jointly command processing equipment.

[0151] Software can be implemented as a computer program that includes instructions stored on a computer-readable storage medium. Examples of computer-readable storage media include magnetic storage media (e.g., read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), floppy disks, hard disks, etc.) and optically readable media (e.g., CD-ROMs, DVDs, etc.). Computer-readable storage media can be distributed across network-connected computer systems, allowing computer-readable code to be stored and executed in a distributed manner. The storage medium can be computer-readable, stored in memory, and executed by a processor.

[0152] Computer-readable storage media may be provided in the form of non-transitory storage media. Here, the term "non-transitory storage media" simply means that it is a tangible device and does not contain signals (e.g., electromagnetic waves), and the term does not distinguish between cases where data is stored semi-permanently on the storage medium and cases where data is temporarily stored. For example, a "non-transitory storage medium" may include a buffer in which data is temporarily stored.

[0153] In addition, the program can be provided as part of a computer program product. The computer program product can be traded as a commodity between the seller and the buyer.

[0154] A computer program product may include a software program and a computer-readable storage medium storing the software program. For example, a computer program product may include a product in the form of a software program (e.g., a downloadable application) distributed electronically by a manufacturer of an electronic device or through an electronic marketplace. For electronic distribution, at least a portion of the software program may be stored on the storage medium or temporarily generated. In this case, the storage medium may be the storage medium of a server belonging to the manufacturer of the electronic device, a server of an electronic marketplace, or a relay server temporarily storing the software program.

[0155] This disclosure has been described in detail. However, while the detailed description and specific examples indicate preferred embodiments of this disclosure, they are given by way of illustration only, as various changes and modifications within the scope of this disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description.

[0156] Furthermore, without departing from the technical aspects of this disclosure, those skilled in the art can make many substitutions, modifications and changes to the disclosure described above, and this disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments and drawings, and each embodiment can be selectively combined in part or in whole to allow various modifications.

[0157] (Explanation of reference symbols)

[0158] 10: Battery Pack

[0159] 11: Battery

[0160] 12: Measurement Unit

[0161] 100: Battery Management Device

[0162] 110: Curve Acquisition Unit

[0163] 120: Control Unit

[0164] 130: Storage unit

Claims

1. A battery management device, comprising: A curve acquisition unit is configured to acquire a battery curve representing the relationship between the battery's voltage and capacity. as well as A control unit is configured to generate a differential curve representing the correspondence between voltage and differential capacity based on the battery curve, determine a target peak among at least one peak included in the differential curve, and classify the battery type based on the voltage and differential capacity of the target peak.

2. The battery management device according to claim 1, in, The control unit is configured to compare the voltage with a preset reference voltage, compare the differential capacity with a preset reference differential capacity, and classify the battery based on the comparison results.

3. The battery management device according to claim 2, in, The control unit is configured to classify the battery type into one of a variety of batteries based on a comparison between the voltage and the reference voltage and a comparison between the differential capacity and the reference differential capacity.

4. The battery management device according to claim 3, in, The control unit is configured to: When the voltage is less than the reference voltage and the differential capacity is greater than or equal to the reference differential capacity, the battery is classified as a first battery. When the voltage is greater than or equal to the reference voltage and the differential capacity is greater than or equal to the reference differential capacity, the battery is classified as a second type of battery. When the voltage is less than the reference voltage and the differential capacity is less than the reference differential capacity, the battery type is classified as a third battery. and When the voltage is greater than or equal to the reference voltage and the differential capacity is less than the reference differential capacity, the battery is classified as a fourth type of battery.

5. The battery management device according to claim 2, in, Provide multiple of the aforementioned batteries, The control unit is configured as follows: The target peak is determined from the differential curve of each of the plurality of batteries. The multiple batteries are grouped based on the voltage and differential capacity of the identified multiple target peaks, and Based on the comparison results between the representative voltage and the reference voltage, and the comparison results between the representative differential capacity and the reference differential capacity, the type of the battery belonging to each group is classified into one of a variety of batteries.

6. The battery management device according to claim 1, in, The control unit is configured to set the battery's usage conditions based on the battery's classification results.

7. The battery management device according to claim 1, in, The control unit is configured to classify the type of the positive electrode of the battery based on the voltage of the target peak and the differential capacity.

8. The battery management device according to claim 1, in, The control unit is configured to determine the at least one peak from the differential curve, and to determine the peak with the largest corresponding voltage among the at least one peak as the target peak.

9. The battery management device according to claim 1, in, The control unit is configured to normalize the capacity of the battery curve and generate the differential curve based on the voltage and the normalized capacity.

10. A battery management method, comprising: The battery curve acquisition step obtains a battery curve that represents the relationship between the battery's voltage and capacity. The differential curve generation step generates a differential curve representing the correspondence between the voltage and the differential capacity based on the battery curve. The target peak determination step determines the target peak among at least one peak included in the differential curve; as well as The classification step classifies the battery type based on the voltage and differential capacity of the target peak.

11. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for performing the battery management method according to claim 10.

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