BATTERY SYSTEM

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a battery and / or an accumulator according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

[0002] Such rechargeable batteries or accumulators serve to supply energy to electrical devices and are used in a variety of battery-operated devices, such as power tools, electric garden equipment, etc., as well as in electric vehicles, such as electric cars, hybrid vehicles, e-bikes, electric scooters, etc. These batteries or accumulators can be either replaceable or permanently installed in the devices.

[0003] Such a battery and / or accumulator has at least one electrical cell, i.e. a battery and / or accumulator cell. The battery and / or accumulator has an electrical connection for the electrical consumer. Furthermore, a supply line is provided for electrically connecting the cell to the electrical connection, wherein the supply line serves to transport the electrical energy from the cell to the electrical connection. It has been found that some users misuse batteries and / or accumulators to power devices despite a lack of authorization and / or for devices for which these batteries and / or accumulators are not intended. Furthermore, these batteries and / or accumulators are not intended for temporary use.

[0004] WO 2015 / 175350 A1 describes a device for remotely interrupting the energy supply of a consumer from a battery.

[0005] The document US 2003 / 0102842 describes a battery pack with an authorization unit that communicates with an electrical device that is connected to the battery pack.

[0006] The invention is based on the object of designing the battery and / or accumulator in such a way that the aforementioned misuse is prevented. In particular, the battery and / or accumulator should also be suitable for temporary use. This is intended, in particular, to create a sharing-type battery and / or accumulator rental system such that the battery and / or accumulator can only be used by an authorized user during the booked times, i.e., for temporary use, and thus the usage time can also be verifiably billed.

[0007] This object is achieved in a generic battery and / or accumulator by the characterizing features of claim 1.

[0008] The battery and / or accumulator according to the invention comprises an authorization unit for monitoring temporary or permanent authorization for the energy supply, in particular for the energy supply to the consumer, as well as a switching means for the supply line that can be actuated by the authorization unit. The supply line can be switched off by means of the switching means if temporary or permanent authorization is missing and switched on if temporary or permanent authorization is present. The switching means can thus be activated by the authorization unit in the manner of a current release switch only if the authorization unit positively determines the temporary or permanent authorization of the battery and / or accumulator to supply energy via the battery and / or accumulator itself and / or to supply energy to the respective consumer.Advantageously, this effectively prevents the battery and / or accumulator from supplying power to a consumer inappropriately. Furthermore, temporary use of the battery and / or accumulator is also verifiably possible. Further embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0009] In a simple and functionally reliable further embodiment, the switching device can be an electrical switch, a relay, a semiconductor switch, or the like. The switching device can also be arranged in the supply line.

[0010] For the purpose of simple and convenient handling for the user, the temporary or permanent authorization can be transferred from an authorization holder to the authorization unit.

[0011] The authorization carrier is a mobile authorization carrier that can be carried and / or carried by the user, such as an electronic key, a chip card, a mobile device, for example a smartphone, or the like.

[0012] The authorization holder can manage and / or make available for execution flexible authorizations, which, for example, include authorization for multiple consumers, and / or temporary, i.e., time-limited, authorizations for energy supply. In other words, such flexible authorizations can, for example, be a time-limited authorization, an authorization valid for various consumers, or similar. In particular, in battery and / or accumulator rental systems such as sharing, this can ensure that the batteries and / or accumulators can only be used by authorized users during the booked times, i.e., for temporary use. Consequently, the actual usage time can also be verifiably billed, since all authorizations are stored in the authorization unit.To further enhance user-friendliness, a wireless interface can be connected to the authorization unit, allowing the authorization to be transferred wirelessly from the credential holder to the authorization unit. Furthermore, the wireless interface for transmitting the authorization can be cryptographically secured, further increasing security against misuse. Finally, security can be achieved asymmetrically cryptographically by encrypting the authorization transferred from the credential holder to the wireless interface.

[0013] In a compact and functionally reliable design, a battery control unit can be provided to monitor and / or control the operation of the cell. The authorization unit can be connected to the battery control unit in such a way that the authorization unit shuts off the supply line in the event of an impermissible operating condition. This advantageously increases the operational reliability of the battery and / or accumulator at the same time.

[0014] A communication interface can expediently be provided for the authorization unit to communicate with the consumer, in particular with a control unit in the consumer. The identity of the consumer can be transmitted via the communication interface, in particular by means of the control unit, such that the authorization unit disconnects the power supply if the identity is invalid. This ensures that only authorized consumers can be operated using the battery and / or accumulator. Furthermore, theft protection for the battery and / or accumulator is also achieved.

[0015] To protect against external influences, a housing can be provided for the cell and / or for the battery control unit and / or for the authorization unit and / or for the wireless interface. The electrical connection and / or the communication interface for connecting the consumer can expediently be arranged in an accessible manner on the housing. Such a configuration allows the user to easily replace the battery and / or the accumulator for the associated electrical device. Furthermore, the switching means and / or the authorization unit and / or the battery control unit can be arranged inaccessibly in the housing. This at least makes tampering with the battery and / or the accumulator more difficult, effectively preventing misuse and / or unauthorized operation of the battery and / or the accumulator.

[0016] The invention further provides a method for operating a battery and / or an accumulator, wherein the battery and / or the accumulator comprise an authorization unit and a wireless interface. The method according to the invention is characterized in that an encrypted authorization request is transmitted from a, in particular mobile, authorization carrier to the authorization unit via the wireless interface. The authorization request is subsequently checked by the authorization unit for authorization. If authorization is present, the current flow from the battery cell to the electrical connection is then activated or switched on by means of the authorization unit. Depending on the requirements, the activation can be temporary, i.e., time-limited, or permanent.

[0017] In a further embodiment of the method according to the invention which increases functional reliability, the current flow from the battery cell to the electrical connection is deactivated or switched off by means of the authorization unit if the battery control unit detects an inadmissible operating condition.

[0018] In yet another embodiment, the current flow from the battery cell to the electrical connection can only be activated or connected by the authorization unit if the consumer's identity transmitted to the authorization unit is valid. Advantageously, the authorization process can then also check whether the battery and / or accumulator is permitted for use in the respective application. This simultaneously provides flexible theft protection for the battery and / or accumulator, as well as for the corresponding device powered by the battery and / or accumulator.

[0019] The following can be stated for a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0020] There are a variety of battery-powered devices, such as electric hedge trimmers, e-bikes, e-scooters, and the like, that use interchangeable battery packs to ensure the most continuous operation possible. Some of the battery packs can also be easily swapped between different applications. However, this flexibility also opens the door to misuse.

[0021] Published patent application DE 10 2015 220 084 A1 discloses a pedelec in which the pedelec's subsystems, including the battery pack, are interconnected in such a way that the battery pack only works with that pedelec. Such a system only provides theft protection for a specific pedelec. However, it does not provide for the secure and / or flexible swapping of battery packs between different pedelecs. Furthermore, patent application EP 1 910 134 B1 discloses a system in which flexible authorizations can be distributed to conventional motor vehicles via a smartphone.

[0022] In the invention, the battery pack is equipped with an authorization unit that communicates with a smartphone as the authorization holder via an asymmetrically cryptographically secured wireless interface. The authorization holder can manage and / or execute flexible authorizations. If an encrypted authorization request is transmitted from the authorization holder to the authorization unit via the wireless interface, the authorization unit checks it. If authorized, the authorization unit activates the flow of current from the battery cells in the battery pack to the battery pack's connection terminal, provided the internal battery management permits this for security reasons. The battery pack thus supplies power for the battery-operated application.With the help of an additional communication interface between the battery pack's authorization unit and the control unit of the battery-powered application, the application can securely communicate its identity to the authorization unit, and then, during authorization, it can additionally check whether the battery pack is permitted to be used in this application. This simultaneously provides flexible theft protection for the application. The result is a flexibly activated battery pack.

[0023] The advantages achieved by the invention are, in particular, that it enables flexible activation of the battery and / or accumulator. Activation can be limited to specific users and / or for a specific time. Furthermore, electronic theft protection is enabled for the respective application. Theft protection can, in turn, be limited to specific users and / or for a specific time. Asymmetric cryptography eliminates the need for pairing between the credential carrier and the battery and / or accumulator. Maximum energy efficiency is achieved because unauthorized and thus unwanted use, as well as the associated energy consumption of the battery and / or accumulator, is avoided. Furthermore, simple, authorized sharing of replaceable batteries and / or accumulators between different applications is enabled.For example, this could make it possible to exchange a battery between a pedelec and an electric scooter.

[0024] An embodiment of the invention with various developments and refinements is shown in the drawing and is described in more detail below.

[0025] It shows the Fig. a consumer with a battery and / or an accumulator in a schematic representation.

[0026] The figure shows an electrical consumer 14 in a motor vehicle, which consumer can be supplied with electrical energy for its operation by a battery and / or an accumulator 1. The battery and / or the accumulator 1 has at least one electrical cell 2. Of course, depending on requirements, several cells 2 can also be arranged in the battery and / or the accumulator 1, although this is not described in more detail below for the sake of simplicity. An electrical connection 6 for the electrical consumer 14 is located on the battery and / or the accumulator 1, wherein the consumer 14 is connected to the electrical connection 6 by means of a supply line 13. Finally, a supply line 5 for electrically connecting the cell 2 to the electrical connection 6 is arranged in the battery and / or the accumulator 1.

[0027] An authorization unit 9 is provided in the battery and / or accumulator 1 for monitoring authorization for the energy supply to the consumer 14. Of course, the authorization unit 9 can also be used to monitor authorization for the energy supply by the battery and / or accumulator 1 itself. Furthermore, a switching means 4 for the supply line 5, which can be actuated by the authorization unit 9, is provided in the battery and / or accumulator 1. The supply line 5 can be switched off by means of the switching means 4 if authorization is missing and switched on if authorization is present. The switching means 4 thus functions like a current release switch for activating the supply line 5 when authorization is present. The switching means 4, which is an electrical switch, a relay, a semiconductor switch, or the like, is arranged in the supply line 5.From cell 2, a power line 3 leads to the switching device 4.

[0028] The authorization for the energy supply to the consumer 14 is transferable from a mobile authorization carrier 16 to the authorization unit 9. The authorization carrier 16, which is portable by the user, can be an electronic key, a chip card, a mobile device, or the like. It is particularly preferred to use a mobile device embodied as a smartphone for the authorization carrier 16. The authorization carrier 16 manages flexible authorizations and / or makes these authorizations available for execution for the energy supply via the battery and / or the accumulator 1. The authorizations can be time-limited, i.e., temporary, for the consumer 14 and / or can also be provided for several, diverse consumers 14.Furthermore, a wireless interface 11 is connected to the authorization unit 9 via an authorization request line 10, such that the authorization can be transmitted from the authorization carrier 16 to the authorization unit 9 by means of a wireless transmission 15, for example via radio. To prevent misuse, the wireless interface 11 is asymmetrically cryptographically secured for transmitting the authorization, so that the authorization is transmitted from the authorization carrier 16 to the wireless interface 11 in encrypted form.

[0029] Furthermore, a battery control unit 7 is provided for monitoring and / or controlling the operation of cell 2. The authorization unit 9 is connected to the battery control unit 7 via a fault reporting line 8, such that the authorization unit 9 switches off the supply line 5 in the event of an impermissible operating condition for cell 2. The battery control unit 7 therefore serves as a type of battery management system that generates a fault report in the event of a fault and disconnects the current flow between cell 2 and electrical connection 6 by means of the authorization unit 9 and with the aid of the switching means 4. Finally, a communication interface 12 is provided for the authorization unit 9 to the consumer 14, specifically to a control unit 17 in the consumer 14. The identity of the consumer 14 can be transmitted to the authorization unit 9 by means of the control unit 17 via the communication interface 12.This enables the authorization unit 9 to switch off the supply line 5 in the event of an invalid identity.

[0030] The battery and accumulator 1 comprise a housing 18. The cell 2 and / or the battery control unit 7 and / or the authorization unit 9 and / or the wireless interface 11 and / or the switching means 4 are arranged in the housing 18. The electrical connection 6 and / or the communication interface 12 are arranged on the housing 18 in an accessible manner for connecting the load 14. The switching means 4 and / or the authorization unit 9 and / or the battery control unit 7, however, are arranged inaccessibly in the housing 18 to protect against tampering.

[0031] In the method for operating the battery and / or accumulator 1, an encrypted authorization request is transmitted from the authorization holder 16 to the authorization unit 9 via the wireless interface 11. The authorization request is checked by the authorization unit 9 for authorization. If authorization is present, the authorization unit 9 then activates the current flow from the battery cell 2 to the electrical connection 6. In other words, the authorization unit 9 switches the supply line 5 on if the corresponding authorization is present and off otherwise. Depending on the authorization, the supply line 5 can then be permanently or temporarily switched on. Furthermore, the authorization unit 9 deactivates the current flow from the battery cell 2 to the electrical connection 6 or switches the current flow off if the battery control unit 7 detects an impermissible operating condition.Finally, the authorization unit 9 activates the current flow from the battery cell 2 to the electrical connection 6, or only connects the current flow, if the identity of the consumer 14 transmitted to the authorization unit 9 is valid. Thus, during authorization or when determining the existence of authorization, it can also be checked whether this battery and / or accumulator 1 is permitted for use in the respective application. This also ensures flexible theft protection in the respective application.

[0032] The invention is not limited to the described and illustrated embodiments. Rather, it also encompasses all developments within the scope of the invention defined by the patent claims. Thus, the invention can be used not only in motor vehicles, but also in all other battery-powered applications, such as pedelecs, electric scooters, household appliances, gardening equipment, for example, electric hedge trimmers, power tools, or the like. Reference symbol list:

[0033] 1:Battery and / or accumulator 2:(electrical) cell / battery cell 3:Power line 4:Switching device 5:Supply line 6:(electrical) connection 7:Battery control unit 8:Fault reporting line 9:Authorization unit 10:Authorization request line 11:Wireless interface 12:Communication interface 13:Supply line 14:Consumer 15:(wireless) transmission 16:Authorization carrier 17:Control unit (in the consumer) 18:Housing

Claims

1. A battery and / or an accumulator for energy supply of an electrical consumer (14), with at least one electrical cell (2), with an electrical port (6) for the electrical consumer (14), and with a supply line (5) for the electrical connection of the cell (2) to the electrical port (6), wherein an authorisation unit (9) for monitoring the permission for the energy supply, in particular the consumer (14), is provided, wherein the permission can be transferred from a mobile permission carrier (16), such as an electronic key, a chip card, a mobile device, for example a smartphone, or the like, to the authorisation unit (9) and a switching means (4) operable by the authorisation unit (9) is provided for the supply line (5), so that the supply line (5) can be switched off by means of the switching means (4) in case of a lacking permission and can be switched on if a permission is present, characterised in that a communication interface (12) for the authorisation unit (9) for communication with the consumer (14) to a control device (17) in the consumer (14) is provided, and in that the identity of the consumer (14) can be transferred by means of the control device (17) over the communication interface (12) so that the authorisation unit (9) switches the supply line (5) off in case of an unauthorised identity.

2. The battery and / or the accumulator according to claim 1, characterised in that the switching means (4) is an electrical switch, a relay, a semiconductor switch or the like, and in that preferably the switching means (4) is arranged in the supply line (5).

3. The battery and / or the accumulator according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the permission carrier (16) manages flexible permissions, in particular for several consumers (14), and / or temporary permissions for the energy supply and / or provides them for execution, that further preferably a wireless interface (11) is connected to the authorisation unit (9) so that the permission can be wirelessly transmitted from the permission carrier (16) to the authorisation unit (9), and in that still further preferably the wireless interface (11) for transmission of the permission is asymmetrically cryptographically secured.

4. The battery and / or the accumulator according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that a battery control device (7) for monitoring and / or controlling the operation of the cell (2) is provided and in that preferably the authorisation unit (9) is connected to the battery control device (7) so that the authorisation unit (9) switches the supply line (5) off in case of an unauthorised operating condition.

5. The battery and / or the accumulator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that a housing (18) for the cell (2) and / or for the battery control device (7) and / or for the authorisation unit (9) and / or for the wireless interface (11) is provided, and in that preferably the electrical port (6) and / or the communication interface (12) is arranged on the housing (18) so that it is accessible for the port of the consumer (14), and in that further preferably the switching means (4) and / or the authorisation unit (9) and / or the battery control device (7) are arranged in the housing (18) in an inaccessible manner.

6. A method for operating a battery and / or an accumulator (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that an encrypted authorisation request is transmitted to the authorisation unit (9) by the permission carrier (16) via the wireless interface (11), that the authorisation request is checked by the authorisation unit (9) with regard to the permission, and that, if a permission is present, the authorisation unit (9) activates the current flow from the battery cell (2) to the electrical port (6), in particular temporarily or permanently.

7. The method for operating a battery and / or an accumulator (1) according to claim 6, characterised in that the authorisation unit (9) deactivates the current flow from the battery cell (2) to the electrical port (6) if the battery control device (7) determines an unauthorised operating condition.

8. The method for operating a battery and / or an accumulator (1) according to claim 6 or 7, characterised in that the authorisation unit (9) only activates the current flow from the battery cell (2) to the electrical port (6) if the identity of the consumer (14) transmitted to the authorisation unit (9) is permitted.