Readout unit for reading information from a battery module, readout system and method for operating a readout unit

Abstract

The invention relates to a readout unit (10) for reading out information (M) that can be provided as a function of a sensor-detected measured value (T, U) of a battery module (12), which has a sensor (24) for detecting the measured value (T, U) and an interface device (17, 18) at which the information (M) can be provided for reading out, wherein the readout unit (10) is designed for wireless communication (36) with a device (30) external to the battery module and is configured to wirelessly transmit the information (M) read out from the battery module (12) to the device (30). The readout unit (10) is configured to be converted from an inactive idle state to an active readout state and / or to be supplied with energy by wirelessly receiving a signal (S) that can be provided by the device (30).

Description

The invention relates to a read-out unit for reading out information which can be provided as a function of a measured value of a battery module which is detected by a sensor, which has a sensor for detecting the measured value and an interface device at which the information can be provided for reading out, wherein the read-out unit is designed for wireless communication with a device external to the battery module and is designed to wirelessly transmit the information read out of the battery module to the device. Furthermore, the invention also relates to a readout system and a method for operating a readout unit.Battery modules, for example for motor vehicle batteries, such as high-voltage batteries, can comprise a plurality of battery cells. A motor vehicle battery, e.g. a high-voltage battery, can in turn comprise a plurality of such battery modules. If a defect occurs in such a battery module in a motor vehicle, it can ideally be replaced by a new battery module without having to replace the entire battery. However, the new battery module should have the same properties or generally be of the same module type as the remaining battery modules of the high-voltage battery, i.e. have the same cell chemistry, for example, in order to be compatible with the remaining modules. Since the technologies of battery cells and battery modules continue to develop steadily, it is necessary to keep a certain number of spare battery modules in stock for each battery type, which can function as replacement modules in the event of a defect in a battery module.Such backup battery modules may therefore have to be stored in large bearings for very long periods of time, for example for 12 years or longer. The individual battery modules are typically packaged very expensively and are located with numerous further battery modules, for example in a very large container in which, for example, a plurality of module layers each having a plurality of modules are stacked one above the other. A battery module weighs between 20 and 25 kilograms, for example, depending on the configuration of such a battery module. In the packaged state, it is therefore not possible to access the individual battery modules or only with extreme effort.The long storage time of the battery modules can have an effect on the module properties. For example, the battery modules may discharge over time. Therefore, it would be desirable to be able to monitor these modulus properties over time. Due to the difficulty of access to the packaged modules, however, this has not been possible up to now or is only possible with very complicated means.DE 10 2009 035 472 A1 describes a device for reading out the state of charge of a battery in a non-connected state, having a device for detecting the state of charge, wherein a device for wirelessly transmitting the detected state of charge to a reading device is arranged in the region of the battery. This device can be designed as a transponder. The device for detecting the state of charge and the device for wirelessly transmitting the detected state of charge may be embodied in the battery management system. The device for transmitting the state of charge can also be integrated into a connection device to which the battery management system is connected via an electrical connection. The connection device can also have its own voltage source or be connected to an external voltage source. The battery management system can be activated from time to time in order to determine the state of charge and in the process can activate itself from time to time or be activated by the connection device.This type of activation of the read-out process does not allow a great deal of flexibility, since fixed wake-up times or time intervals for this must be fixedly predefined, and furthermore costs a great deal of energy. If it is to be avoided that this energy is drawn from the battery itself in order to avoid additional discharge thereof, an additional energy source must be provided in the connection device itself, which, however, can likewise discharge over long times, or a coupling possibility with an external energy source must be provided. However, this is not possible or is possible again only with very great effort, especially when the battery or battery modules are in a very complicatedly packaged state.It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a readout unit, a readout system and a method which allow the simplest and efficient readout of information from a battery module possible, even if the battery module is in a state which is packaged in a complicated manner and in which direct accessibility to the battery module is not provided, and / or without the battery module itself being subjected to an excessive energy load.This object is achieved by a readout unit, a readout system and a method having the features according to the respective independent patent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent patent claims, the description and the figures.A reading unit according to the invention for reading out information which can be provided as a function of a measured value of a battery module which is detected by sensors, which reading unit has a sensor for detecting the measured value and an interface device at which the information can be provided for reading out, is designed for wireless communication with a device external to the battery module and is designed to transmit the information read out from the battery module wirelessly to the device. In this case, the read-out unit is designed to be transferred from an inactive idle state to an active read-out state and / or to be supplied with energy by wireless reception of a specific signal which can be provided by the device.The readout unit can thus advantageously be remotely activated and / or supplied with energy in a contactless manner. The read-out unit therefore does not itself need, for example, a separate integrated energy source in the form of a separate battery, nor does the read-out unit need to draw energy from the battery module, which would nevertheless be conceivable, for example alternatively or as a supplementary energy supply. In this case as well, the possibility of contactless external power supply of the readout unit can reduce the power consumption from other sources, such as an internal power source of the readout unit or the battery module itself. Both the waking up of the read-out unit and the energy supply of the read-out unit can be implemented wirelessly, i.e. contactless, for which reason it is advantageously not necessary to couple the read-out unit to a device external to the battery module via a cable or the like. The readout unit can thus also be used particularly easily and efficiently on a battery module which is in a state which is packaged in a complicated manner without direct accessibility to the battery module. The readout unit can be arranged, for example plugged onto, for example, before the packaging of the battery module, for example for storing the battery module, and is then packaged together with the battery module. If the information is then to be read out of the battery module as required, the read-out unit can advantageously be woken up and / or supplied with energy by the specific signal which can be provided or provided by the device and then correspondingly read out the information and transmit it wirelessly to the device. In particular, it is possible that a contactless provided energy supply for the readout unit is provided only when a readout process is to take place. In addition, read-out processes can be accomplished in a significantly more targeted manner by the external waking up. Read-out processes therefore do not have to take place at fixed regular time intervals by regular waking up of the read-out unit, but rather can be triggered more frequently in a targeted manner, for example, if information already read out beforehand shows certain salient features, or can be read out less frequently in a targeted manner, for example, if the battery module is still in a state which has not yet been specially heavily aged. This consequently also allows significantly more flexibility in the reading out of the information and enables the avoidance of unnecessary waking up and, in turn, the saving of energy is associated therewith. In addition, it is conceivable that the readout unit is also woken up by the specific signal, by which the readout unit can be supplied with energy in contactless fashion. The readout unit can thus be configured such that the contactless provision of the energy supply simultaneously also causes the readout unit to be woken up. Conversely, the termination of the provision of the specific signal for supplying energy to the read-out unit can cause the read-out unit to sleep, i.e. a transition to a rest state of the read-out unit. Thus, no separate signals need to be provided for the provision of the power supply and for the waking up of the read-out unit, which may nevertheless be the case, but rather the same specific signal can also be used.The battery module to which the readout unit is preferably applied may comprise a plurality of battery cells, for example lithium-ion cells. Such a battery module is preferably only part of a high-voltage battery, which can comprise a plurality of such battery modules, for example. The battery module itself therefore does not have to have a battery management system which is typically assigned to an entire high-voltage battery including its multiple battery modules. If at all, the battery module can also be configured, for example, merely with a cell module controller, which, however, likewise does not necessarily have to be the case. The battery module has, in particular, at least one sensor for detecting the measured value, and an interface device, at which the information dependent on the detected measured value can be provided, which information can be read out by the read-out unit when the latter is coupled to the battery module as intended.The sensor can be, for example, a temperature sensor and / or a voltage sensor and / or current sensor. The battery module can also have a plurality of sensors. These can be embodied in the same way and / or differently, for example one or more temperature sensors and / or one or more voltage sensors and / or one or more current sensors. Other sensors are also conceivable alternatively or additionally. The information can be, for example, such a sensor-detected measured value itself or also a variable or information derived therefrom, e.g. a voltage difference of two detected voltages and / or a diagnostic protocol, or the like. The battery module, if it does not have a cell module controller, for example, can be designed with a simple measurement circuit, for example, in order to acquire the measured value by means of the sensor and provide it at the interface device.The readout unit is designed for wireless communication with the device external to the battery module. For this purpose, the readout unit can comprise a communication device for wireless communication, in particular with the device external to the battery module. The wireless communication can be effected, for example, by means of Bluetooth and / or WLAN and / or radio and / or another wireless communication possibility. The communication device of the readout unit can consequently be designed for communication by means of Bluetooth and / or WLAN and / or radio and / or according to another wireless communication standard. The communication possibility is advantageously designed in such a way that there is no need for a visual connection between the read-out unit and the device external to the battery module. This enables reading out even if the battery module together with the reading unit is in a state which is packaged and / or installed in a complicated manner and / or inaccessible state, for example in a container having a plurality of battery modules and corresponding reading units. In this case, it is also sufficient if the communication device of the reading unit is designed for communication with the device over a distance of the device from the reading unit limited to a near field, e.g. of only a few meters, e.g. less than 100 meters or less than 10 meters. For wireless communication, therefore, near-field communication options, also called near field communication (NFC), for example, are also sufficient to realize communication between the read-out unit and the external device. The communication device of the readout unit can be designed, for example, with such a near-field communication possibility.The readout unit can also comprise a wake-up circuit which is designed such that, upon receipt of the specific signal, it sets the readout unit into the woken-up state, which is also referred to as the active readout state below. The wake-up circuit can be part of a control circuit or control device of the read-out unit. The control device can also be designed such that it enables the reading unit in the woken-up state to read out the information via the interface device and to transmit it or transmit it to the device. The control device can also comprise a read-out circuit for reading out the measured value and / or the above-mentioned communication device.The battery module-external device can be a hand-held device, for example. The battery module-external device may be a mobile device or a permanently installed device. A user can, for example, move with such a hand-held device into the vicinity of the reading unit, for example into the vicinity of a container or another packaging with a plurality of battery modules packaged therein, activate the reading unit via the device and / or supply it with energy, and obtain the information read by the reading unit from the reading unit by means of this hand-held device and read out and / or evaluate and / or store and / or display it via the hand-held device. However, such a hand-held device can also be guided and / or operated and / or controlled under computer control and / or under robot control. The reading of the information from the battery module can thus also be carried out in a completely automated manner. The device can also be installed in a fixed manner in a room, for example in a bearing for battery modules. The device can accordingly be configured to provide the particular signal or the particular signals to the readout unit, by means of which the readout unit can be supplied with energy and / or can be transferred from its inactive idle state into its active readout state, that is to say can be woken up. The device can also be correspondingly designed to receive the information provided by the reading unit via the wireless communication and, for example, to display and / or store it, for example for a later reading and / or evaluation and / or display. In general, the device can be designed to provide and / or output an information signal depending on the received information.The reading unit can advantageously be designed to be transferred from its inactive idle state into its active reading state by means of the device. The inactive idle state differs from the active read-out state on the one hand from the energy consumption of the read-out unit itself. This consumes less energy in its inactive idle state than in its active read-out state. Preferably, the read-out unit in its inactive state of rest consumes virtually no energy or no energy. In addition, the readout unit can be designed to wirelessly obtain a supply energy, namely the above-mentioned energy, from the device for operating the readout unit. The reference of such a supply energy can be associated with or correlated with the transfer of the readout unit from the inactive idle state into the active readout state. For example, the device can provide the read-out unit with a signal for energy supply, wherein the read-out unit is woken up simultaneously by this signal. In particular, the read-out unit can be designed such that it remains in the inactive idle state without this external wireless energy supply until it is externally supplied with energy by means of the signal. Accordingly, the reading unit can be transferred again from the active reading state to the inactive rest state correspondingly after the reading operation and the transmission operation for transmitting the information to the device, for example by the device ending the external wireless power supply for the reading unit.According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the read-out unit is designed such that the energy for operating the read-out unit can be drawn wirelessly from the device by means of contactless capacitive energy transmission and / or by means of contactless inductive energy transmission. The readout unit can have, for example, a corresponding capacitive and / or inductive receiver, for example a capacitor and / or a coil. As a result, energy can be transferred, e.g. induced, capacitively and / or inductively into the read-out unit, namely via a corresponding electric field, in particular also a temporally changing electric field and / or electromagnetic field. For example, to provide contactless inductive energy transfer, the device can be designed with a corresponding excitation coil to provide an alternating electromagnetic field as the specific signal, and the read-out unit can have a corresponding receiver coil. The operation of the excitation coil thus generates an alternating electromagnetic field, by means of which a corresponding voltage or a current can be induced or is induced in the receiver coil of the readout unit. The receiver coil of the readout unit can be coupled via connections to a circuit of the readout unit, e.g. a readout circuit, in order to supply it with energy. By deactivating the excitation coil in the device, the power supply of the read-out unit, in particular of its read-out circuit or control device, is also eliminated, as a result of which the read-out unit can be or is automatically put into its inactive state of rest.The activation and deactivation by means of capacitive energy transmission can be effected in a completely analogous manner.According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the readout unit has an electrical coupling interface, via which the readout unit can be reversibly releasably coupled to the interface device of the battery module and, in the state coupled to the interface device, is designed to acquire the information that can be provided or is provided at the interface device, in particular wherein the electrical coupling interface is designed as a plug connector. This represents a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, because it is thereby possible to reuse the read-out unit. This can be installed flexibly to a corresponding battery module, for example before packaging such a battery module, optionally together with further battery modules, for storage in a store, for transport purposes or for other purposes. As long as the battery module is to be stored and monitored, the read-out unit remains in the state coupled to the battery module, for example, in the inserted state. If the battery module is required at some time for replacement purposes or other purposes or for disposal purposes and is correspondingly depackaged or if monitoring of the battery module is no longer required for any other reasons, the read-out unit can be removed from the battery module again and used for another battery module. After the reading unit has provided its services to the battery module, it can easily be plugged back and plugged onto another battery module before the installation or packaging thereof and can then be used accordingly for monitoring this other battery module. The readout unit therefore does not have to remain installed fixedly on the battery module, but can be reversibly removed from the battery module in a non-destructive manner.This can be realized most easily if the coupling interface of the read-out unit is designed as a plug connector, e.g. a plug or socket. The readout unit can thus be easily plugged onto the battery module. The battery module, in particular its interface device, can have a corresponding plug connector, e.g. a socket or a plug. The two plug connectors, namely the interface device of the battery module and the coupling interface of the read-out unit, can be designed correspondingly complementary to one another, for example one as a plug and the other as a socket or vice versa. The coupling interface of the reading unit can thus be designed such that it can be plugged onto the cutting device by means of a plug-in process or that a reversibly detachable plug-in connection can be produced between the coupling interface and the interface device. By plugging the coupling interface and the interface device into one another, these can therefore be mechanically and electrically coupled to one another and, if required, can also be decoupled from one another again simply by plugging them apart.According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the electrical coupling interface is designed for coupling to a high-voltage plug or low-voltage plug formed by the battery module as the interface device or is designed for coupling to a diagnostic plug or signal plug or bus data plug formed by the battery module as the interface device.If the battery module does not have a cell module controller, for example, the battery module can be designed, for example, with a simple low-voltage plug or, less preferably, with a high-voltage plug. The coupling interface of the read-out unit can therefore be designed to correspond to such a low-voltage plug or high-voltage plug in order to be able to produce a corresponding plug connection with such a plug. If the battery module has a cell module controller, for example, the interface device can also be designed as a diagnostic plug or signal plug or bus data plug. The diagnostic connector, signal connector and bus data connector can be synonymous terms. In this case, the data transmission via such a plug takes place according to a corresponding transmission standard, which can be defined by a specific data bus. Such a plug is designed, in particular in contrast to the above-mentioned low-voltage plug and / or high-voltage plug, i.e. for the transmission of data according to a specific transmission standard. In the coupled state, the readout unit can obtain the information from the cell module controller of the battery module in this case.According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the read-out unit for reading out the measured value can be connected to the interface device via a high-impedance connection provided on the part of the read-out unit. In other words, the electrical connection between the read-out unit and the interface device can be embodied as high-ohmic, wherein this high-ohmic embodiment is provided by the embodiment of the read-out unit. Such a high-resistance connection can be implemented, for example, by a high-resistance resistor which is included in the read-out unit as part of this electrical connection, for example by an electrical resistor in the megaohm range. The read-out process therefore requires hardly any energy on the part of the battery module on account of this high-resistance connection. The battery module is therefore not subjected to energy loading or at least significantly subjected to load by the read-out process.According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the read-out unit is designed to transmit only information currently provided at the interface device to the device after the transfer into the active read-out state. The currently provided information can relate to a current measured value or be provided as a function of a currently detected or the last-in-time detected measured value. This enables a particularly simple design of the read-out unit. Thus, for each readout process, it is possible, for example, to read out and transmit to the device only the current measured value or the measured values currently provided at the interface device or the current information provided at the interface device as a function of these currently provided measured values.According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the read-out unit is designed, after the transfer into the active read-out state, to transmit to the device, in addition to information currently provided at the interface device, a second information provided and stored in a memory of the read-out unit during a temporally preceding transfer into the active read-out state. The read-out unit can therefore have a memory. Each time the reading unit wakes up and reads out a current measured value and / or generally current information via the interface device, it can transmit this read-out information on the one hand to the device and on the other hand store it in its memory. During the next read-out process, the read-out unit can in turn read out the information currently provided at the interface device and store it in the memory and transmit it to the device and additionally also transmit or transmit the information previously stored in the memory, which relate to previously carried out read-out processes, to the device. Thus, the read-out unit can advantageously also transmit the previously stored history of the read-out information to the device during each transmission process for transmitting the information to the device. The storage of previous information can be limited to a certain number of last read-out processes. For example, the ten or twenty or hundred or generally N information read out last in time in respective read-out processes can always be stored and transmitted to the device. N is a natural number less than a predefinable limit value.According to a further very advantageous embodiment of the invention, the readout unit is assigned an identifier, in particular a readout address, by means of which the readout unit can be identified, for example by the device, and / or can be identified as being assigned to a specific battery module. When transmitting the information to the device, the readout unit can additionally, that is to say previously, simultaneously or subsequently transmit its identifier, in particular the readout address, to the device. This is particularly advantageous if a plurality of battery modules are provided, for example are arranged in the same packaging, and a plurality of corresponding read-out units are plugged onto the respective battery modules. For reading out the respective read-out units, a common device can then be provided which can distinguish and identify the respective read-out units and the associated battery modules to which they are coupled on the basis of the respective identifiers. Each battery module can likewise be assigned an identifier or a characteristic number or the like. When the readout units are installed on the respective battery modules, a correspondence list can be created which defines or specifies which readout unit with which identifier was attached to which battery module and thus assigned to which battery module. Such a correspondence list can be stored in the device, for example. However, it can also be stored in another memory, for example another module-external evaluation unit for evaluating the data recorded by means of the device. The read values can thus be unambiguously assigned to a respective battery module.According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the information comprises the measured value and / or a diagnostic protocol which can be provided by a control unit of the battery module, in particular a cell module controller. Therefore, on the one hand, the measured value detected by the sensor of the battery module can be read directly as the information by means of the read-out unit and transmitted to the device, and additionally or alternatively also a diagnostic protocol which can be read out from the cell module controller by means of the read-out unit, or also other data or detection variables derived from the detected measured values. Extensive diagnostic data can thus be read out by the read-out unit and transmitted to the device.Furthermore, the invention also relates to a readout system having a readout unit according to the invention or one of its embodiments, and having the battery module and / or the device external to the battery module. The advantages described for the reading unit according to the invention and its embodiments thus apply in the same way to the reading system according to the invention. In addition, for example, the battery module can be configured in such a way as already described in connection with the description of the reading unit according to the invention and its embodiments. Alternatively or additionally, the readout system can also comprise the described battery module-external device. The battery module-external device can likewise be configured as described in connection with the descriptions of the reading unit according to the invention in its embodiments.Furthermore, the invention also relates to a method for operating a read-out unit for reading out information which can be provided as a function of a measured value of a battery module which is detected by sensors, which has a sensor for detecting the measured value and an interface device at which the information for reading can be provided, wherein the read-out unit is designed to transmit the information read out from the battery module wirelessly to a device external to the battery module. In this case, the reading unit wirelessly receives a signal provided by the device, by means of which the reading unit is transferred from an inactive idle state into an active reading state and / or is supplied with energy.Here too, the advantages described for the reading unit according to the invention and its embodiments apply in the same way to the method according to the invention.In this case, the information can be provided as a function of the measured value of the battery module recorded by sensors. The provision of the information at the interface device and / or the sensorial detection of the measured value can be triggered by the readout unit, e.g. by or after waking up the readout unit.The invention also includes developments of the method according to the invention, which have features as have already been described in connection with the developments of the reading unit according to the invention and of the reading system according to the invention. For this reason, the corresponding developments of the method according to the invention are not described again here.The control device of the read-out unit can have a data processing device or a processor device which is configured to carry out an embodiment of the method according to the invention. For this purpose, the processor device can have at least one microprocessor and / or at least one microcontroller and / or at least one FPGA (field programmable gate array) and / or at least one DSP (digital signal processor). In particular, a CPU (central processing unit), a GPU (graphic processing unit) or an NPU (neural processing unit) can be used as the microprocessor in each case. Furthermore, the processor device can have program code which is configured to carry out the embodiment of the method according to the invention when executed by the processor device. The program code can be stored in a data memory of the processor device. The processor device can be based on at least one circuit board and / or on at least one SoC (system on chip), for example.The invention also includes the combinations of the features of the described embodiments. The invention therefore also comprises implementations which each have a combination of the features of a plurality of the described embodiments, provided that the embodiments have not been described as mutually exclusive.Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below. The following shows: FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a readout unit in a state in which it is not plugged onto a battery module and in a state in which it is plugged onto a battery module according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; and FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a readout system having a readout unit according to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention.The exemplary embodiments explained below are preferred embodiments of the invention. In the exemplary embodiments, the described components of the embodiments each represent individual features of the invention that are to be considered independently of one another and that also develop the invention independently of one another. Therefore, the disclosure is intended to include combinations of the features of the embodiments other than those illustrated. Furthermore, the described embodiments can also be supplemented by further features of the invention that have already been described.In the figures, identical reference numerals designate functionally identical elements.FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a readout unit 10, which is illustrated on the right in FIG. 1 in a state not plugged onto a battery module 12 and on the left in FIG. 1 in a state plugged onto a battery module 12. The read-out unit 10 has an electrical coupling interface 14, which is designed as a plug connector 16 in this example. The battery module 12 can be designed with a corresponding or complementary plug connector 18, so that the readout unit 10 can be coupled to the corresponding plug connector 18 of the battery module 12 via its plug connector 16, in particular can be plugged onto the battery module 12. The battery module 12 can be designed, for example, with a low-voltage plug or data plug as plug connector 18. By plugging the readout unit 10 onto the battery module 12, which is illustrated by the arrow 19, the readout unit 10 is mechanically and electrically coupled to the battery module 12. Via this established connection between the readout unit 10 and the battery module 12, the readout unit 10 can advantageously read information M (compare FIG. 2 ) from the battery module 12, as will be explained in more detail later in connection with FIG. 2. The readout unit 10 can advantageously be designed to be very compact.In particular, the readout unit 10 may be provided as a small box as illustrated. The readout unit 10 can be, for example, just as large as the coupling point on the module 12, with a small protrusion for removal. In other words, the read-out unit 10 can be substantially as large as the interface device 17, in particular with respect to its cross-sectional area perpendicular to the plug-in direction, and in or opposite to the plug-in direction, the read-out unit can protrude slightly from the module outer side in order to simplify a plugging-off process. The read-out unit 10 has a slight protrusion B in the plugged-on state with respect to an outer side 12 aof the module 12. This is preferably a maximum of a few centimeters, in particular less than 5 cm, for example less than 3 cm, for example a maximum of 2 cm or 1 cm or even less. In principle, all external dimensions of the read-out unit 10 can be less than 10 cm, in particular less than 7 cm. The measuring unit, i.e. the readout unit 10, is thus of very small construction and can be used in a particularly simple manner, for example in a series package on the battery module 12.Due to the reversible plug-in possibility of the reading unit 10, the reading unit 10 is reusable and can be pulled off during use of the module 12, i.e. when the battery module 12 is removed from its packaging and used otherwise, and can be sent back to the corresponding automobile manufacturer or supplier, for example, in order to reuse it. The read-out unit 10 can, conversely, be simply plugged into the interface device 17 of a corresponding module 12 by the supplier or automobile manufacturer or corresponding operator, for example can be attached to the low-voltage plug or signal plug or diagnostic plug or bus data plug on the module 12. This advantageously makes it possible to provide a monitoring possibility for battery modules 12, even if they are packed in expensive cardboard boxes or containers, in particular together with numerous further modules 12, for the purpose of storage.The mode of operation of the read-out unit 10 will now be explained in more detail in conjunction with FIG. 2.FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a readout system 20 with a readout unit 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The readout unit 10 can be embodied as described above. In the present example, this is in a state plugged onto the module 12. The module 12 can likewise be part of the readout system 20. The battery module 12 includes a plurality of battery cells 22. In addition, the battery module 12 comprises at least one sensor 24 and, in the present example, three sensors 24 by way of example. the sensors 24 are each taught to record a measurement variable relating to the battery module 12 or the battery cells 22, such as, for example, a temperature T, a time period U, a battery voltage or the like. The recorded measured values T, U can be provided directly or indirectly at the interface device 17. In this example, the battery module 12 comprises a control device 26 in the form of a cell module controller 28, which is connected to the sensors 24. The sensors 24 consequently supply their measurement signals to the cell module controller 28. In general, the cell module controller 28 can provide information M that is dependent on at least one sensorially detected measurement value T, U. The cell module controller 28 can also provide a plurality of such information items M which can record the respective measured values T, U, variables derived from the measured values T, U or else a diagnostic protocol. This is the case at least when the cell module controller 28 or the battery module 12 is in an active state. In the stored state of the battery module 12, this is generally not the case. For this purpose, the read-out unit 10 can now advantageously be used to specifically trigger a measurement by means of the sensors 24 and to read out the measured values T, U and to transmit them wirelessly in the form of the information M to a device 30 external to the module, which device can optionally also be part of the read-out system 20. However, even if the reading unit 10 itself is in a state plugged onto the module 12, it can be in an inactive idle state first. The read-out unit 10 can be woken up as required by the device 30. In addition, the read-out unit 10 does not require its own energy supply. The power supply of the read-out unit 10 can be provided contactless by the device 30. To this end, the device 30 can wirelessly provide a signal S. The read-out unit 10 can be supplied with energy and / or woken up via this signal S. For example, the device 30 can provide an alternating electromagnetic field S as the signal S. The readout unit 10 can be embodied with a corresponding induction coil 32, by means of which a current or an operating voltage can be generated in the readout unit 10 by induction via the alternating field S in order to wake up and / or operate a control unit 34 of the readout unit 10. If the signal S is thus received by the read-out unit 10, it is woken up accordingly and additionally also supplied with energy.In the woken-up state, which can also be referred to as the active read-out state, the read-out unit 10 can optionally first cause the information M to be provided at the interface device 17 and / or the measured values T, U to be recorded, and then the read-out unit 10 reads out the information M provided by the module 12 at the interface device 17 and transmits it wirelessly via a suitable communication connection 36, for example radio or Bluetooth, to the device 30. after transmission or after transmission of this information M to the device 30 and / or after termination of the provision of the alternating field S, the read-out unit 10 can transition back into its idle state.The signal S for supplying power to the read-out unit 10 can be provided for the entire duration of the read-out operation and of the transmission operation for transmitting the read-out information M from the read-out unit 10 to the device 30. Subsequently, the device 30 can end the provision of this signal S for supplying energy to the read-out unit 10, whereupon the read-out unit 10 automatically changes back into its idle state.If, as in the present example, the module 12 has a cell module controller 28, the read-out unit 10, once this has been woken up, can also wake up the cell module controller 28 in order to obtain the information M via the interface device 17.The read-out unit 10 thus provides an inductive sensor in a certain way. Based on induction, the readout unit 10 can generate an intrinsic voltage as supply voltage, in particular by means of its induction coil 32. In addition, the readout unit 10 is designed to supply a signal, for example voltage values, differential voltage, evaluation data from, for example, the cell module controller 28, which represents an electrical unit, in a quasi load-free manner. In other words, the reading of the information M from the cell module controller 28 or from the module 12 is generally carried out virtually load-free, as a result of which the module 12 is not subjected to energy loading. For this purpose, the read-out unit 10 can have a high-impedance resistor in its read-out connection to the module 12.The readout unit 10, which can also be called the measurement unit 10, is additionally preferably characterized by a high readout speed and by the high internal resistance providing the high-resistance connection, as a result of which a very low load with respect to a possible discharge of the battery module 12 is made possible, and can be used in many applications.The power supply of the measurement adapter, i.e. of the readout unit 10, can therefore ideally be generated by induction in order not to change the battery charge of the battery module. The supply as well as the data transmission from the read-out unit 10 to the device 30 is possible and advantageous via such inductive transmission. The operation may be similar to that in a cashless system in modern shopping centers, according to which the goods are pulled and recognized only by an induction field. Alternatively or additionally, however, it is also conceivable for the energetic supply of the readout unit 10 to be provided at least partially by the battery itself, that is to say by the battery module 12.The measured values can be read out, i.e. transmitted to the device 30, for example via Bluetooth, WLAN, radio or other wireless bus. In addition, the readout unit 10 can have its own readout address. By means of these, it is unambiguously identifiable by the device 30. If a plurality of modules 12 with respectively plugged-on read-out units 10 are accommodated in a common packaging, each read-out unit 10 can be read individually by means of the device 30. The read data can then be easily assigned to the respective modules 12. The read-out unit 10 can therefore also be used in multiple packaging and in logistic fields with many high-voltage modules and / or batteries. In addition, the reading unit 10 can also be used in individual packaging, logistics areas, transport containers and / or series containers.Overall, the examples show how a readout unit can be provided by the invention, in particular as a sensor for battery monitoring in the aftersales, in the warehouse and in workshops.References included in the specificationThis list of documents cited by the applicant has been produced in an automated manner and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent application or utility model application. The DPMA does not take any adhesion for any faults or omissions.Patent Literature citedDE 10 2009 035 472 A1

[0005]

Claims

Reading unit (10) for reading out information (M) which can be provided as a function of a measured value (T, U) of a battery module (12) which is detected by a sensor, which has a sensor (24) for detecting the measured value (T, U) and an interface device (17, 18) at which the information (M) can be provided for reading out, - wherein the reading unit (10) is designed for wireless communication (36) with a device (30) external to the battery module and - is designed to wirelessly transmit the information (M) read out of the battery module (12) to the device (30), characterized in that the reading unit (10) is designed to transmit the information (M) read out from the battery module (12) to the device (30) in a wireless manner, by wirelessly receiving a signal (S) that can be provided by the device (30) - to be transferred from an inactive idle state into an active read state and / or - to be supplied with energy.The readout unit (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the readout unit (10) is configured such that the energy for operating the readout unit (10) can be drawn wirelessly from the device (30) by means of contactless capacitive energy transmission and / or by means of contactless inductive energy transmission (S).The readout unit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - the readout unit (10) has an electrical coupling interface (14, 16), via which the readout unit (10) can be coupled reversibly releasably to the interface device (17, 18) of the battery module (12) and - in the state coupled to the interface device (17, 18) is designed to acquire the information (M) that can be provided at the interface device (17, 18), - in particular wherein the electrical coupling interface (14, 16) is designed as a plug connector (16).Read-out unit (10) according to Claim 3, characterized in that the electrical coupling interface (14, 16) is designed for coupling to an HV plug or NV plug which is formed by the battery module (12) as the interface device (17, 18) or is designed for coupling to a diagnostic plug or signal plug or bus data plug which is formed by the battery module (12) as the interface device (17, 18).Read-out unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, for reading out the measured value (T, U), the read-out unit (10) can be connected to the interface device (17, 18) via a high-resistance connection provided on the part of the read-out unit (10).The reading unit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reading unit (10) is designed to - after the transfer into the active reading state, transmit only information (M) currently provided at the interface device (17, 18) to the device (30), or - after the transfer into the active reading state, transmit, in addition to information (M) currently provided at the interface device (17, 18), second information provided and stored in a memory of the reading unit (10) upon a temporally preceding transfer into the active reading state at the interface device (17, 18) to the device (30).The readout unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the readout unit (10) is assigned an identifier, in particular a readout address, by means of which the readout unit (10) is identifiable by the device (30) and / or is identifiable as being assigned to a specific battery module (12).Readout unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the information (M) comprises the measured value (T, U) and / or a diagnostic protocol which can be provided by a control unit (26, 28) of the battery module (12), in particular a cell module controller (28).Readout system (20) having a readout unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims and the battery module (12) and / or the device (30) external to the battery module.Method for operating a reading unit (10) for reading out information (M) which can be provided as a function of a measured value (T, U) of a battery module (12) which is detected by a sensor, which has a sensor (24) for detecting the measured value (T, U) and an interface device (17, 18) at which the information (M) can be provided for reading out, wherein the reading unit (10) is designed to transmit the information (M) read out from the battery module (12) wirelessly to a device (30) external to the battery module, characterized in that the reading unit (10) receives wirelessly a signal (S) provided by the device (30), by means of which the reading unit (10) - is transferred from an inactive state of rest into an active state of reading out and / or - is supplied with energy.

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