BATTERY-OPERATED MULTIFUNCTIONAL UNIT AND ITS USE, AS WELL AS DEVICE FOR COLLECTING MEASURING AND / OR CONSUMPTION DATA

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a battery-operated multifunctional unit and its use as well as a device for recording measurement and / or consumption data.

[0002] Battery-powered multifunction units with a battery, such as a lithium-ion battery, offer significant advantages in terms of application and service life. For example, lithium batteries have a service life of 15 years or more. With regard to higher loads, especially current loads, the service life of a battery is limited. Higher current load pulses can reduce service life and place a strain on the battery. The higher the current drawn from the battery, the shorter the battery service life.

[0003] US Pat. No. 6,628,107 B1 describes a power management system for a portable electronic device. A supercapacitor is connected in parallel with a main battery of the portable electronic device. When the main battery is disconnected, the supercapacitor is used to supply power to the portable electronic device. The supercapacitor is also used to compensate for the internal impedance of the main battery and the path impedance between the main battery and the load.

[0004] A battery-operated hazard detector with a power buffer device is known from DE 10 2008 003 811 A1. The hazard detector comprises a battery terminal configured for connecting a battery, the power buffer device connected in parallel to the battery terminal, and a hazard detection module connected to the battery terminal without the interposition of a clocked voltage converter. The power buffer device is configured such that, during periods of high power consumption by the hazard detection module, power can be provided from the power buffer device to the hazard detection module, and during periods of low power consumption by the hazard detection module, power can be transferred from the battery to the power buffer device.

[0005] The invention is based on the object of providing an improved battery-operated multifunctional unit that has a long service life even under high current peaks. Furthermore, an improved device for recording measurement and / or consumption data and a use of the improved multifunctional unit are to be provided.

[0006] The object is achieved according to the invention by a battery-operated multifunctional unit having the features of patent claim 1. With regard to a device for recording measurement and / or consumption data and a use of the multifunctional unit, in particular in such a device, the objects are achieved by the features of patent claims 6 and 7, respectively.

[0007] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the subclaims.

[0008] The battery-operated multifunctional unit according to the invention comprises at least one battery terminal configured for connecting a battery and also the battery connected thereto, a capacitor connected in parallel to the battery terminal, and a multifunctional module having at least one data collection and / or storage unit and at least one radio module, and connected in parallel to the battery and the capacitor, wherein, by means of the capacitor, current can be provided from the capacitor for the multifunctional module in time periods with a high current draw by the multifunctional module and current can be transferred from the battery to the capacitor in time periods with a low current draw by the multifunctional module.

[0009] For example, the multifunctional unit is designed as a gateway with a radio module. The gateway is connected to a radio transmission network, for example a mobile radio network, such as a GSM network and / or UMTS network and / or LTE network, via the radio module. In one possible embodiment, the gateway is part of a device for recording measurement and / or consumption data in a property and transmits, for example, consumption and / or measurement data from consumption data recording units, heat cost allocators, or other devices to a central server of the radio transmission network, in particular to a QSMP server. This consumption data transmission, particularly in the mobile radio network, for example using GPRS data transmission, typically requires high current peaks of, for example, up to 1.6 A for 3 ms at a frequency of 200 Hz and a duration of 30 seconds for, for example, 100 kB of data to be transmitted.The radio transmission network is in particular a wireless data transmission device, in particular a mobile radio network.

[0010] These high current peaks and thus power peaks generally cause a battery voltage loss of up to 2.2 V from the nominal value and shorten the battery life.

[0011] In the battery-operated multifunctional unit according to the invention, a capacitor, for example an electrical double-layer capacitor, in accordance with the invention a so-called EDLC capacitor (electric double-layer capacitor or electrochemical double-layer capacitor), is therefore connected in parallel with the battery and the radio module. The capacitor thus acts as a buffer for these high current peaks. Compared to conventional battery-operated multifunctional units with a radio module, in particular for GPRS radio transmission, the battery-operated multifunctional unit according to the invention has, for example, a value of less than 500 mA as the highest pulse peak drawn from the battery during a GPRS data transmission cycle; advantageously, 250 mA is not exceeded. This significantly reduces the current load on the battery. Compared to a current peak of 1.6 A without a capacitor, this is a considerable improvement.With the solution described, for example, the battery only experiences a voltage drop of 0.2 V. This is a significant improvement over a voltage drop of 1.4 V or up to 2.2 V without a capacitor.

[0012] In one possible embodiment, the capacitor is a double-layer capacitor (also called an EDLC capacitor, with EDLC = Electrochemical Double Layer Capacitor). The EDLC capacitor according to the invention is, for example, a lithium-ion capacitor (LiC).

[0013] The battery is a lithium-based battery, according to the invention a lithium-thionyl chloride battery, preferably a lithium-thionyl chloride (LiSOCl2) battery. In non-inventive embodiments, the battery is a lithium-iron-sulfur battery, a lithium-carbon-fluorine battery, a lithium-manganese-oxygen battery, a lithium-manganese dioxide battery (LiM), and / or a lithium-sulfur-oxygen battery. The described solution thus overcomes the limitations to which the battery, in particular the lithium-based battery, in particular the lithium-thionyl chloride battery, is subject.The problem with such batteries is that while they have a beneficially long service life of, say, 15 years or more, this service life is limited with respect to higher loads, especially current loads, since higher current load pulses can reduce the battery's service life and place a strain on the battery. The higher the current drawn from the battery, the shorter the time the voltage can be maintained. The double-layer capacitor, especially the EDLC capacitor, has a significantly higher pulse current capability than the battery.By combining a battery and a capacitor, in particular a lithium-based battery, in particular a lithium thionyl chloride battery, and a double-layer capacitor, in particular an EDLC capacitor, in parallel, their advantages are combined and, in particular, the problem of such a battery described above is avoided, since high loads acting on the battery, in particular high current peaks, ie high current load pulses, are avoided.

[0014] The double-layer capacitor, for example, is a supercapacitor or ultracapacitor.

[0015] Furthermore, according to the invention, the radio module is provided for packet data transmissions using mobile radio technologies, such as GPSR and / or EDGE methods and / or UMTS methods and / or LTE methods.

[0016] The multifunctional unit can be provided for monitoring measuring devices, in particular electronic heat cost allocators, and / or network nodes of a data transmission device within a property and can be configured accordingly.

[0017] According to a further embodiment, the multifunctional unit is provided for automatic, preferably packet-wise data transmission, in particular by means of GPRS and / or EDGE methods and / or UMTS methods and / or LTE methods.

[0018] According to the invention, the battery-operated multifunctional unit is used as a gateway in a property for monitoring measuring devices, in particular electronic heat cost allocators, and / or network nodes of a data transmission device within the property.

[0019] According to the invention, the battery-operated multifunctional unit comprises the battery connection configured for connecting the battery, the battery connected to this battery connection, the capacitor connected in parallel to the battery connection, the radio module, and the multifunctional module having at least one data collection and / or storage unit and connected in parallel to the battery and the capacitor, wherein, by means of the capacitor, current can be provided from the capacitor for the multifunctional module in time periods with a high current consumption by the multifunctional module, and current can be transferred from the battery to the capacitor in time periods with a low current consumption by the multifunctional module.

[0020] The battery is a lithium-based battery, according to the invention a lithium thionyl chloride battery. The capacitor is, for example, a double-layer capacitor. According to the invention, the capacitor is an EDLC (electrochemical double-layer capacitor), i.e. an electrochemical double-layer capacitor, for example a lithium-ion capacitor. For example, the capacitor is a supercapacitor or ultracapacitor. The multifunctional unit, in particular its radio module, is advantageously provided for remote data transmission, in particular for automatic remote data transmission, via a mobile radio network, wherein this remote data transmission takes place in particular as packet data transmission and thus as packet-by-packet data transmission. The mobile radio technology provided for the remote data transmission is, for example, GSM, GPRS, EDGE, UMTS and / or LTE.

[0021] The device for recording measurement and / or consumption data advantageously comprises a plurality of measuring devices and / or heat cost allocators and / or network nodes which are data-technically connected to the server by means of a wireless data transmission device via the gateway, according to the invention via this battery-operated multifunctional unit, in particular are data-technically connected to the server via a mobile radio network, ie the battery-operated multifunctional unit designed as a gateway is data-technically connected to the server via the mobile radio network, for example by means of GSM, GPRS, EDGE, UMTS and / or LTE.

[0022] The battery-operated multifunctional unit is thus used as a gateway, particularly within a property, for monitoring measuring devices, in particular electronic heat cost allocators, and / or network nodes of a data transmission system within a property. The battery-operated multifunctional unit thus serves as a gateway between two networks, i.e., between the property's data transmission system with the measuring devices and / or network nodes and the mobile network.

[0023] The described solution, in particular the electrical parallel connection of battery and capacitor, offers particular advantages here, especially when the battery is a lithium-based battery, in particular a lithium thionyl chloride battery, and when the capacitor is advantageously a double-layer capacitor, in particular an EDLC, and / or a supercapacitor or ultracapacitor. The battery, in particular the lithium thionyl chloride battery, has very good capacity, in particular a very good energy density, but low current pulse capacity, meaning it is severely affected by current load pulses, i.e., current peaks.

[0024] By electrically connecting such a battery in parallel with the capacitor, which is designed in particular as a double-layer capacitor, in particular as a supercapacitor or ultracapacitor, in particular as an EDLC, in particular as a lithium-ion capacitor, this combination of battery and capacitor has a very good current pulse capacity, i.e. it is not affected by current load pulses, i.e. current peaks. The required voltage can be well maintained during the duration of the current draw. This solution combines the advantages of this battery and the capacitor and avoids the disadvantages of this battery, as current load pulses are absorbed by the capacitor and thus do not affect the battery, because in periods with a high current draw by the multifunctional module, i.e.During periods of high current loads, particularly current load pulses, the power for the multifunction module is provided by the capacitor, which is then recharged by the battery during periods of low current consumption by the multifunction module, by transferring current from the battery to the capacitor. These high current loads, particularly current load pulses, which do not affect the battery due to the parallel connection of the capacitor, occur particularly during remote data transmission via the mobile network. The described solution thus enables such remote data transmission via the mobile network and also ensures a long battery life, as the battery is not subjected to high current load pulses.

[0025] The described solution, in particular the described electrical parallel connection of battery and capacitor, is suitable for current load pulses of two amperes, for example, but can also be used for smaller currents and in particular for smaller batteries. For example, with this solution, for an application that requires 200 mA current load pulses, a small battery can be used which can continuously provide a direct current of 50 mA and is designed for current load pulses of 100 mA, for example an AA battery, i.e. a battery in AA format, since the higher current load pulses do not act on the battery, or at least to a much lesser extent, but rather on the capacitor. Compared to current load pulses of two amperes, the capacitor can also be designed accordingly smaller.

[0026] Particularly advantageous for the described solution is the design of the capacitor as a double-layer capacitor, in particular a supercapacitor or ultracapacitor. Such capacitors are insensitive to current peaks during charging and discharging and thus particularly resistant to high current peaks, such as those that occur when using the battery-operated multifunctional unit as a gateway for remote data transmission via a cellular network. This makes it the ideal complement to the battery described above, which has the particular advantage of being particularly long-lasting, particularly due to its high energy density and thus capacity, but is sensitive to current peaks.Particularly advantageous in this case is the design of the capacitor, especially the double-layer capacitor, especially the supercapacitor or ultracapacitor, as an EDLC, especially as a lithium-ion capacitor, due to its advantageous size, its advantageous internal resistance (low ESR), its advantageous capacitance, and its price. This capacitor enables rapid charging, i.e., it is a particularly fast capacitor.

[0027] Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to drawings.

[0028] Showing: Figure 1 schematically shows a block diagram of a battery-operated multifunctional unit for use in a property, and Figure 2 a diagram.

[0029] Corresponding parts are provided with the same reference numerals in all figures.

[0030] Figure 1shows a battery-operated multifunctional unit 1 with an exploded view of a battery-operated gateway 2.

[0031] For example, the battery-operated multifunctional unit 1 is designed as a gateway 2 for remote reading of sensors or data acquisition units 6, such as smoke detectors, heat meters, water meters, and / or heat cost allocators 7 and / or data collectors.

[0032] The gateway 2 includes a radio module 2.1 for remote transmission of the recorded consumption and / or measurement data. Via the radio module 2.1, the gateway 2 is a component in a radio transmission network 3 and is connected to it, for example, to a GSM network.

[0033] In one possible embodiment, the gateway 2 is part of a device 4 for recording consumption data V in a property 5 and transmits, for example, the consumption data V from consumption data recording units 6 or heat cost allocators 7 or other devices to a central server 8 of the radio transmission network 3, in particular to a QSMP server. In other words, the gateway 2 handles the remote reading of the consumption data recording units 6 and / or the heat cost allocators 7. The radio module 2.1 is designed for this purpose as a mobile radio interface (GSM network) or a wireless internet interface (WLAN network).

[0034] The battery-operated multifunctional unit 1, in particular the gateway 2, comprises at least one battery terminal 2.2 configured for connecting a battery 9. Furthermore, the battery-operated multifunctional unit 1 comprises a capacitor 10 connected in parallel to the battery terminal 2.2. The battery terminal 2.2 comprises a positive pole and a negative pole.

[0035] The battery-operated multifunctional unit 1 further comprises a multifunctional module 2.3, which includes at least one data collection and / or storage unit 2.4. The multifunctional module 2.3 is connected in parallel with the battery 9 and the capacitor 10.

[0036] The components of the battery-operated multifunctional unit 1, such as the multifunctional module 2.3 and the radio module 2.1, are supplied with power by means of the battery 9 and the capacitor 10, as described below.

[0037] The multifunction module 2.3 is configured such that, by means of the capacitor 10, current can be provided from the capacitor 10 for the multifunction module 2.3 or the radio module 2.1 in time periods with a high current consumption by the multifunction module 2.3 and / or the radio module 2.1, and current can be transferred from the battery 9 to the capacitor 10 in time periods with a low current consumption by the multifunction module 2.3 and / or the radio module 2.1.

[0038] The capacitor 10 is, for example, a so-called EDLC capacitor and is connected in parallel to the battery 9 and the radio module 2.1. Compared to conventional battery-operated multifunctional units with a radio module for GPRS radio transmission, the battery-operated multifunctional unit 1 according to the invention with the radio module 2.1 has a value of less than 500 mA as the highest pulse peak discharged by the battery 9 during a GPRS data transmission cycle.

[0039] Figure 2 shows a current-time diagram, which clearly shows the low current peaks. This significantly reduces the current load on battery 9.

[0040] The battery 9 is, for example, a lithium-based battery, preferably a lithium thionyl chloride battery, a lithium iron sulfur battery, a lithium carbon fluorine battery, a lithium manganese oxygen battery, and / or a lithium sulfur oxygen battery, and particularly preferably a lithium thionyl chloride (LiSOCl2) battery.

[0041] The double-layer capacitor can also be designed as a supercapacitor or ultracapacitor.

[0042] The radio module 2.1 is intended in particular for packet data transmissions, preferably using mobile radio technologies such as GPSR or EDGE methods.

[0043] The battery-operated multifunctional unit 1 can be provided and configured for monitoring measuring devices, in particular electronic heat cost allocators 7, and / or network nodes of a data transmission device within a property 5 and for automatic, preferably packet-wise data transmission, in particular by means of GPRS and / or EDGE methods. LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0044] 1 Battery-operated multifunctional unit 2 Gateway 2.1 Radio module 2.2 Battery connection 2.3 Multifunctional module 2.4 Data collection and / or storage unit 3 Radio transmission network 4 Device 5 Property 6 Consumption data acquisition unit 7 Heat cost allocator 8 Central server 9 Battery 10 Capacitor Consumption data

Claims

1. Battery-operated multifunction unit (1) - having a battery connection (2.2), which is configured for connecting a battery (9), and the battery (9) connected thereto, - having a capacitor (10), which is connected in parallel with the battery connection (2.2), - having a radio module (2.1) and - having a multifunction module (2.3) that • has at least one data collection and / or storage unit (2.4), and • is connected in parallel with the battery (9) and the capacitor (10), wherein the capacitor (10) - is used to supply current from the capacitor (10) for the multifunction module (2.3) during periods of high current draw by the multifunction module (2.3), and - can be used to transfer current from the battery (9) to the capacitor (10) during periods of low current draw by the multifunction module (2.3), and wherein the battery (9) is a lithium thionyl chloride battery, characterized in that - the capacitor (10) is an electrochemical double layer capacitor, and - the radio module (2.1) is intended for packet data transmissions by means of mobile radio technologies.

2. Battery-operated multifunction unit (1) according to Claim 1, wherein the capacitor (10) is a double layer capacitor.

3. Battery-operated multifunction unit (1) according to Claim 2, wherein the double layer capacitor is a supercapacitor or ultracapacitor.

4. Battery-operated multifunction unit (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the battery-operated multifunction unit (1) is intended for monitoring measuring devices (6), in particular electronic heat cost allocators (7), and / or network nodes of a data transmission device (3) within a property (5).

5. Battery-operated multifunction unit (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the battery-operated multifunction unit (1) is intended for automatic, preferably packet-wise remote data transmission, in particular by means of GPRS and / or EDGE methods.

6. Use of a battery-operated multifunction unit (1) according to one of the preceding claims as a gateway (2) in a property (5) for monitoring measuring devices (6), in particular electronic heat cost allocators (7), and / or network nodes of a data transmission device within the property (5).

7. Device (4) for capturing measurement and / or consumption data (V), comprising multiple measuring devices (6) and / or heat cost allocators (7) and / or network nodes that are connected for data purposes to a server (8) by means of a wireless data transmission device (3), in particular by means of a mobile radio network, via a gateway (2) that is in the form of a battery-operated multifunction unit (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 5.