Battery system, especially for a vehicle

Abstract

Battery system, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one electrical battery and / or accumulator cell (5), a cell control unit (3) for operating at least one battery and / or accumulator cell (5), and a battery control unit (1) for monitoring and / or controlling the cell control unit (3), wherein a communication link for transmitting data and / or signals between the cell control unit (3) and the battery control unit (1) is provided, characterized in that the communication link (2') between the cell control unit (3) and the battery control unit (1) comprises optical means, and that the data and / or signal transmission is carried out by means of optical radiation.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a battery system according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

[0002] Such a battery system can be used particularly in motor vehicles, for example in high-voltage batteries for electric vehicles.

[0003] Such a battery system has at least one electrical battery and / or rechargeable battery cell. The battery system further comprises a cell control unit for operating the at least one battery and / or rechargeable battery cell. The cell control unit thus serves to monitor, control, regulate, or similarly control the battery and / or rechargeable battery cell. For example, the cell control unit can control charge equalization between several battery and / or rechargeable battery cells in order to increase the service life of the battery system. Finally, a battery control unit is provided for monitoring and / or controlling the cell control unit. A communication connection arranged between the cell control unit and the battery control unit via a wired interface then serves to transmit data and / or signals. The disadvantages here are the high complexity of the wired interface and the costs for the wiring.

[0004] The invention is based on the object of further developing the battery system in such a way that the communication connection is simplified.

[0005] This object is achieved in a generic battery system by the characterizing features of claim 1.

[0006] In the battery system according to the invention, the communication connection between the cell control unit and the battery control unit comprises optical means, and the data and / or signal transmission takes place via optical radiation. Such an optical connection advantageously offers a simple yet operationally and functionally reliable communication mechanism. Thus, the battery system according to the invention is cost-effective and highly reliable. Further embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0007] In a simple embodiment, a vehicle interface control unit can also be provided for transmitting data, for example, including the battery status, and / or signals between the battery control unit and a control unit, particularly one located in the motor vehicle. Furthermore, a communication connection for data and / or signal transmission can be provided between the vehicle interface control unit and the battery control unit. The communication connection between the vehicle interface control unit and the battery control unit can also comprise optical means, whereby the data and / or signal transmission can take place using optical radiation.

[0008] The optical radiation for data and / or signal transmission can expediently be visible light, infrared (IR) radiation, laser radiation, or similar. For the purpose of further simplification, the communication connection between the cell control unit and the battery control unit and / or the communication connection between the vehicle interface control unit and the battery control unit can be dispensed with optical fibers. In particular, it can be advantageous for the optical radiation for data and / or signal transmission to be transmitted without optical fibers between the battery control unit and the cell control unit and / or the vehicle interface control unit, i.e. only via the space in between. By omitting the optical fiber, assembly and / or material costs are eliminated. In addition, the battery system is easier to scale with regard to the number of battery and / or accumulator cells.

[0009] To protect the battery system from external influences, a housing having an interior can be provided for accommodating the battery and / or accumulator cell and / or the cell control unit and / or the battery control unit and / or the vehicle interface control unit. To prevent disruptive optical radiation, for example from external light sources outside the battery system, the housing can be designed to be opaque. In a further embodiment, at least one wall in the housing interior can be designed to reflect optical radiation. This wall in the housing interior can expediently be mirrored, polished, provided with a reflective layer, or similar. In particular, it may be appropriate for all walls of the housing to be designed to be reflective in this way.This primarily facilitates the elimination of optical fibers for data and / or signal transmission through optical radiation, which is reflected several times on the inner wall of the housing.

[0010] It may be advisable for the cell control unit to include a sensor for measuring the electrical voltage and / or temperature of the battery and / or accumulator cell. Furthermore, an electrical connection for an electrical consumer and / or an electrical generator, in particular of the motor vehicle, can be provided on the battery system. Finally, a supply line can be provided for electrically connecting the battery and / or accumulator cell to the electrical connection. The electrical connection can expediently be arranged on the housing, accessible from the outside. In a further compact embodiment, the electrical connection can also be integrated into the vehicle interface control unit.

[0011] The following can be stated for a particularly preferred embodiment of the battery system according to the invention.

[0012] Today's electric vehicles have a battery that provides the energy to operate the vehicle. These batteries are made up of many individual cells that are connected in series and / or parallel as appropriate to achieve the desired voltage and / or current. To achieve the longest possible service life and / or highest battery efficiency, the cells in the battery are monitored during operation, for example with regard to electrical voltage and / or temperature. Typically, several cells are monitored via a cell control unit. Several of these cell control units, in turn, communicate with a central battery control unit, for example using a star topology. The central battery control unit, in turn, communicates the battery status with a vehicle interface control unit, which forwards the battery status to the vehicle.In today's batteries, communication between all control units is ensured via a wired interface (see also . Fig. 1). Approaches to implement this communication via wireless RF (radio frequency) interfaces are also conceivable. The disadvantages of wired solutions are the cost of the wiring, the galvanic isolation of the high-voltage and low-voltage domains, and the weight. The RF interface is sensitive to RF radiation.

[0013] According to the invention, optical communication is used for communication between the control units, preferably without fiber optic cables. Enclosing the battery system in an opaque housing easily prevents any interfering optical radiation.

[0014] This creates communication between the control units within an E (electric) vehicle battery using optical transmission.

[0015] The advantages achieved by the invention are in particular the following: - There is no sensitivity to optical radiation and / or RF radiation. - No radio approval of the battery is necessary, as is the case with an RF interface, for example. - No wiring is required within the battery. - The electrical voltage domains within the battery are automatically galvanically separated. - Easy scaling when expanding the battery is possible.

[0016] Embodiments of the invention with various developments and refinements are shown in the drawings and are described in more detail below. Fig. 1 a schematic block diagram for a vehicle battery according to the state of the art, Fig. 2 a schematic block diagram for a vehicle battery according to the invention and Fig. 3 a schematic block diagram for a vehicle battery according to the invention according to a further embodiment.

[0017] In Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 shows a battery system 10 for a motor vehicle in more detail. The battery system 10 has at least one electrical battery and / or accumulator cell 5, preferably a plurality of battery and / or accumulator cells 5 connected electrically in parallel and / or in series. Furthermore, the battery system 10 has a cell control unit 3 for monitoring and / or controlling and / or regulating at least one of the battery and / or accumulator cells 5, i.e. for operating the battery and / or accumulator cell 5, and a central battery control unit 1. The central battery control unit 1 in turn serves to monitor and / or control the cell control unit 3 or to monitor and / or control a plurality of cell control units 3. Furthermore, a communication connection 2, 2' is provided for transmitting data and / or signals between the cell control unit 3 and the battery control unit 1, which according to the prior art is Fig. 1 this communication connection is a wired communication connection 2. According to the invention, however, the communication connection is according to Fig. 2 is designed as a communication link 2' comprising optical means between the cell control unit 3 and the battery control unit 1, wherein the data and / or signal transmission takes place by means of optical radiation. The optical radiation for the data and / or signal transmission can expediently be visible light, infrared (IR) radiation, laser radiation, or the like.

[0018] To monitor the battery and / or rechargeable battery cell 5, the cell control unit 3 includes a sensor 9 for measuring the electrical voltage and / or temperature of the battery and / or rechargeable battery cell 5. To record this measured value, the battery and / or rechargeable battery cell 5 is connected to the cell control unit 3 by means of a measuring line 4. If the measured value lies outside the specified limit values, the cell control unit 3 can control the battery and / or rechargeable battery cell 5 in a suitable manner to remedy the situation, for example by reducing the current consumption for the corresponding battery and / or rechargeable battery cell 5 or by balancing the charge between several battery and / or rechargeable battery cells 5.

[0019] As in Fig. 1 and Fig. As can be seen further in Figure 2, a vehicle interface control unit 6 is provided for the battery system 10 for transmitting data and / or signals between the battery control unit 1 and a control unit located in the motor vehicle. The data transmitted by the vehicle interface control unit 6 includes, for example, the battery status. Depending on the respective battery status, the control unit in the motor vehicle can then control the battery control unit 1 via the vehicle interface control unit 6 in a suitable manner using corresponding signals. For transmitting the data and / or signals between the battery control unit 1 and the vehicle interface control unit 6, a communication connection 7, 7' is again provided, wherein the communication connection 7 is wired according to the prior art.In contrast, the communication connection 7' ​​between the vehicle interface control unit 6 and the battery control unit 1 in the battery system 10 according to the invention comprises the following: Fig. 2 optical means, and the data and / or signal transmission takes place via optical radiation. The optical radiation used for data and / or signal transmission can be visible light, infrared (IR) radiation, laser radiation, or similar.

[0020] According to Fig. 2, a housing 8 is provided for the battery system 10, wherein the battery and / or accumulator cell 5 and / or the cell control unit 3 and / or the battery control unit 1 and / or the vehicle interface control unit 6 are accommodated in the housing interior 13. The optical communication connection 2' between the cell control unit 3 and the battery control unit 1 and / or the optical communication connection 7' ​​between the vehicle interface control unit 6 and the battery control unit 1 can preferably dispense with optical fibers. Specifically, the optical radiation for data and / or signal transmission is transmitted between the battery control unit 1 and the cell control unit 3 and / or the vehicle interface control unit 6 without optical fibers. In this case, the housing 8 is designed to be opaque to the optical radiation, i.e., for example, opaque, in order to prevent disruptive optical radiation from entering the battery system 1.

[0021] The fiber-free data and / or signal transmission via the communication connection 2', 7' can be further improved by increasing the intensity of the optical radiation by reflection at at least one wall of the housing 8. For this purpose, the wall in the housing interior 13 is designed to reflect the optical radiation. All walls of the housing 8 in the housing interior 13 are expediently designed to reflect the optical radiation by providing the walls in the housing interior 13 with a reflective layer 14, as shown in Fig. 3. This allows the optical radiation 15 reflected once or multiple times by the reflective layer 14 to be used for data and / or signal transmission. The reflective layer 14 can be a mirrored, polished, or similarly designed layer and / or surface of the wall of the housing 8.

[0022] How to continue in Fig. 2, an electrical connection 11 for an electrical consumer and / or an electrical generator of the motor vehicle is provided on the housing 8. For the electrical connection of the battery and / or accumulator cell 5 with the electrical connection 11, a supply line 12 is also provided in the housing 8. The electrical connection 11 is arranged on the housing 8, and the electrical connection 11 is accessible from the outside of the housing 8 for connecting the electrical supply lines to the consumer and / or generator. In a further embodiment, which is shown in Fig. As can be seen in Figure 3, the electrical connection 11 is integrated in a compact manner in the vehicle interface control unit 6. In this case, the supply lines 12 in the housing 8 lead from the battery and / or accumulator cells 5 and the cell control units 3 to the vehicle interface control unit 6.

[0023] The invention is not limited to the described and illustrated embodiment. Rather, it also encompasses all developments within the scope of the invention defined by the patent claims. Thus, the battery system 10 according to the invention can be used not only for motor vehicles but also for electric bicycles, pedelecs, or the like. It can also be advantageously used for other electrical devices that operate with a battery and / or accumulator, for example, for cordless power tools, cordless gardening tools, or the like. Reference symbol list: 1 (central) battery control unit 2 (wired) communication connection (between battery control unit and cell control unit) 2' (optical) communication link (between battery control unit and cell control unit) 3 Cell control unit 4 measuring leads (for recording battery characteristics) 5 Battery and / or accumulator cell 6 Vehicle interface control unit 7 (wired) communication connection (between battery control unit and vehicle interface control unit) 7' (optical) communication link (between battery control unit and vehicle interface control unit) 8 housings 9 Sensor (for recording battery characteristics) 10 Battery system 11 (electrical) connection 12 supply line 13 Housing interior (of housing) 14 Reflective layer 15 reflected optical radiation

Claims

[1] Battery system, in particular for a motor vehicle, with at least one electric battery and / or accumulator cell (5), with a cell control unit (3) for operating at least one battery and / or accumulator cell (5), and with a battery control unit (1) for monitoring and / or controlling the cell control unit (3), wherein a communication connection is provided for transmitting data and / or signals between the cell control unit (3) and the battery control unit (1), characterized by that the communication connection (2') between the cell control unit (3) and the battery control unit (1) comprises optical means, and that the data and / or signal transmission takes place by means of optical radiation. [2] Battery system according to claim 1, characterized bythat a vehicle interface control unit (6) is provided for the transmission of data and / or signals between the battery control unit (1) and a control unit, in particular located in the motor vehicle, that preferably a communication connection (7') for data and / or signal transmission is provided between the vehicle interface control unit (6) and the battery control unit (1), that further preferably the communication connection (7') between the vehicle interface control unit (6) and the battery control unit (1) comprises optical means, and that even more preferably the data and / or signal transmission takes place by means of optical radiation. [3] Battery system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the optical radiation for data and / or signal transmission is visible light, infrared (IR) radiation, laser radiation or similar. [4] Battery system according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized bythat the communication connection (2') between the cell control unit (3) and the battery control unit (1) and / or the communication connection (7') between the vehicle interface control unit (6) and the battery control unit (1) dispense with optical fibers, in particular such that the optical radiation for the data and / or signal transmission is transmitted without optical fibers between the battery control unit (1) and the cell control unit (3) and / or the vehicle interface control unit (6). [5] Battery system according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that a housing (8) with a housing interior (13) for receiving the battery and / or accumulator cell (5) and / or the cell control unit (3) and / or the battery control unit (1) and / or the vehicle interface control unit (6) is provided in the housing interior (13), and that preferably the housing (8) is designed to be opaque to optical radiation. [6] Battery system according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that at least one wall, in particular all walls of the housing (8) in the housing interior (13) are designed to reflect the optical radiation (15), wherein the wall in the housing interior (13) is preferably mirrored, polished, provided with a reflective layer (14) or the like. [7] Battery system according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by that the cell control unit (3) comprises a sensor (9) for measuring the electrical voltage and / or the temperature of the battery and / or accumulator cell (5). [8] Battery system according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized bythat an electrical connection (11) is provided for an electrical consumer and / or an electrical generator, in particular of the motor vehicle, and that preferably a supply line (12) is provided for the electrical connection of the battery and / or accumulator cell (5) to the electrical connection (11). [9] Battery system according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by that the electrical connection (11) is arranged on the housing (8), and that preferably the electrical connection (11) is integrated in the vehicle interface control unit (6).

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