Battery discharging device and method thereof

Abstract

The present invention provides a battery discharging device including: a discharging unit; a monitoring unit connected to the discharging unit and including a plurality of power detection units to which a plurality of batteries are respectively connected; a plurality of temperature sensors connected to the monitoring unit and detecting temperatures of the plurality of batteries; and a plurality of gas sensors connected to the monitoring unit and detecting gas in the plurality of batteries.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery discharging device, and more particularly to a battery discharging device and a discharging method thereof, which are capable of discharging a number of batteries connected in parallel or series. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, automobiles that use internal combustion engines that use gasoline or heavy oil as their main fuel have a serious impact on the generation of pollution such as air pollution. As a result, there have been many efforts recently made to develop electric or hybrid automobiles in order to reduce the generation of pollution.

[0003] In particular, an electric vehicle is a vehicle that uses a battery engine that runs on electrical energy output from a battery. Since an electric vehicle uses a battery formed of a pack of multiple battery cells that can be charged and discharged as its main power source, it has the advantage of producing no exhaust gas and very little noise.

[0004] The secondary storage battery is discharged using a discharge device for testing, reuse, or recycling.

[0005] For example, when conducting a performance test on a battery that has a problem or reusing a battery in use in another device, the detached battery should be discharged to its final discharge voltage and transported at a 0% charge state.

[0006] When disassembling a battery that has reached the end of its life and recycling the materials, the detached battery is discharged to a voltage below the discharge end voltage and transported with a total voltage of 0V.

[0007] In this way, to ensure electrical safety, the detached battery is discharged through a discharge device.

[0008] In particular, batteries for material recycling are discharged by immersing them in salt water, but this type of salt water immersion discharge is difficult to do, increases the discharge time, and increases the discharge costs due to the need for additional equipment.

[0009] Meanwhile, a conventional discharge device is connected to one battery to perform a discharging operation.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a conventional discharge device.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional discharging device 10 includes a discharging unit 20 to which a single battery 60 is connected to perform a discharging operation.

[0012] As described above, in the conventional discharging device 10, the discharging unit 20 and the battery 60 are connected in a 1:1 manner to perform the discharging operation, which increases the time and cost required for discharging a large number of batteries 60. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0013] The present invention has been made to solve these problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a battery discharging device and a discharging method thereof, which reduces the time required for the discharging operation and saves costs by connecting a plurality of batteries in parallel or series to perform the discharging operation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a battery discharging device including a discharging unit; a monitoring unit including a plurality of power detection units each connected in parallel to a plurality of batteries; a plurality of temperature sensor units connected to the monitoring unit and configured to sense the temperature of the plurality of batteries; and a plurality of gas sensors connected to the monitoring unit and configured to sense gas in the plurality of batteries.

[0015] The first and second terminals of the discharge unit may be connected to the third and fourth terminals of the monitoring unit, respectively.

[0016] Also, each of the plurality of power detection units may include a first switch; a second switch connected to the first switch; a resistor connected to the second switch; a voltmeter connected to the second switch and the resistor; and an ammeter connected to the resistor.

[0017] In a discharge mode, the first switch of each of the plurality of power detection units is turned on and the second switch is turned off, so that the charge of the plurality of batteries can be transferred to the discharge unit.

[0018] Also, in a detection mode, the first switch of at least one of the multiple power detection units is turned off and the second switch is turned on, and the voltmeter and the ammeter can respectively detect the voltage and current of at least one of the multiple batteries corresponding to the at least one of the multiple power detection units.

[0019] A first electrode of the first switch is connected to a third terminal of the monitoring unit, a second electrode of the first switch is connected to a first electrode of the second switch, a first electrode of the voltmeter, and a fifth terminal of the monitoring unit, a first electrode of the second switch is connected to a second electrode of the first switch, a first electrode of the voltmeter, and a fifth terminal of the monitoring unit, a second electrode of the second switch is connected to a first electrode of the resistor, a first electrode of the resistor is connected to a second electrode of the second switch, and a second electrode of the resistor is connected to the monitoring unit. a fourth terminal of the monitoring unit, a second electrode of the voltmeter, and a first electrode of the ammeter, the first electrode of the voltmeter being connected to the second electrode of the first switch, the first electrode of the second switch, and a fifth terminal of the monitoring unit, the second electrode of the voltmeter being connected to the fourth terminal of the monitoring unit, the second electrode of the resistor, and the first electrode of the ammeter, the first electrode of the ammeter being connected to the fourth terminal of the monitoring unit, the second electrode of the resistor, and the second electrode of the voltmeter, and the second electrode of the ammeter being connected to a sixth terminal of the monitoring unit.

[0020] Additionally, the fifth and sixth terminals of the monitoring unit may be respectively connected to the ninth and tenth terminals of each of the plurality of batteries.

[0021] A seventh terminal of the monitoring unit may be connected to the plurality of temperature sensors, and an eighth terminal of the monitoring unit may be connected to the plurality of gas sensors.

[0022] The device may further include a status display unit that displays, as status information, discharge information of the discharge unit, power information of the multiple power detection units, temperature information of the multiple temperature sensors, and gas information of the multiple gas sensors; and a control unit that communicates with the discharge unit via wired / wireless and controls the multiple power detection units and the status display unit.

[0023] Meanwhile, the present invention provides a battery discharging device including a discharging unit; a monitoring unit including a plurality of power detection units each connected in series to a plurality of batteries; a plurality of temperature sensors connected to the monitoring unit for detecting temperatures of the plurality of batteries; and a plurality of gas sensors connected to the monitoring unit for detecting gas in the plurality of batteries.

[0024] The first and second terminals of the discharge unit may be connected to the third and fourth terminals of the monitoring unit, respectively.

[0025] Also, each of the multiple power detection units may include a first switch; a second switch connected to the first switch; a resistor connected to the second switch; a voltmeter connected to the second switch and the resistor; an ammeter connected to the resistor; a third switch connected to the resistor; and a fourth switch connected to the first and third switches.

[0026] In a discharge mode, the first and third switches of each of the multiple power detection units are turned on and the second and fourth switches are turned off, so that the charge of the multiple batteries can be transferred to the discharge unit.

[0027] Also, in a detection mode, the first and third switches of at least one of the multiple power detection units are turned off, and the second and fourth switches are turned on, and the voltmeter and the ammeter can respectively detect the voltage and current of at least one of the multiple batteries corresponding to the at least one of the multiple power detection units.

[0028] The plurality of power detection units are configured with 1st to nth stages connected in series to the discharge unit, a first electrode of the first switch of the first stage is connected to a third terminal of the monitoring unit and a first electrode of the fourth switch of the first stage, a first electrode of the first switch of the second to nth stages is connected to a second electrode of the third switch of a previous stage, a second electrode of the fourth switch, and a first electrode of the fourth switch of a current stage, and a second electrode of the first switch of the first to nth stages is connected to a first electrode of the second switch of a current stage, a first electrode of the voltmeter of a current stage, and a fifth terminal of the monitoring unit. a first electrode of the second switch of the 1st to nth stages is connected to a second electrode of the first switch of the current stage, a first electrode of the voltmeter of the current stage and a fifth terminal of the monitoring unit, a second electrode of the second switch of the 1st to nth stages is connected to a first electrode of the resistor, a first electrode of the third switch of the 1st to nth stages is connected to a second electrode of the resistor of the current stage, a second electrode of the voltmeter of the current stage and a first electrode of the ammeter of the current stage, a second electrode of the third switch of the 1st to (n-1)th stages is connected to a second electrode of the fourth switch of the current stage and a first electrode of the first switch of the next stage. a first electrode of the third switch in the nth stage is connected to a first electrode of the fourth switch in the next stage, a second electrode of the third switch in the nth stage is connected to a fourth terminal of the monitoring unit and a second electrode of the fourth switch in the current stage, a first electrode of the fourth switch in the first stage is connected to a third terminal of the monitoring unit and a first electrode of the first switch in the first stage, first electrodes of the fourth switches in the 2nd to nth stages are connected to a second electrode of the third switch in the previous stage and a second electrode of the fourth switch in the previous stage, and second electrodes of the fourth switches in the 1st to (n-1)th stages are connected to the third switch in the current stage. a second electrode of the fourth switch of the nth stage is connected to a first electrode of the first switch of the next stage and a first electrode of the fourth switch of the next stage, a second electrode of the fourth switch of the nth stage is connected to a second electrode of the third switch of the current stage and a fourth terminal of the monitoring unit, a first electrode of the resistor of the 1st to nth stages is connected to a second electrode of the second switch of the current stage, a second electrode of the resistor of the 1st to nth stages is connected to a first electrode of the third switch of the current stage, a second electrode of the voltmeter and a first electrode of the ammeter, and a first electrode of the voltmeter of the 1st to nth stages is connected to the second electrode of the first switch of the current stage,A first electrode of the second switch of the current stage is connected to a fifth terminal E5 of the monitoring unit, second electrodes of the voltmeters of the 1st to nth stages are connected to a first electrode of the third switch of the current stage, a second electrode of the resistor of the current stage, and a first electrode of the ammeter of the current stage, first electrodes of the ammeters of the 1st to nth stages are connected to a first electrode of the third switch of the current stage, a second electrode of the resistor of the current stage, and a second electrode of the voltmeter of the current stage, and second electrodes of the ammeters of the 1st to nth stages may be connected to a sixth terminal of the monitoring unit.

[0029] Additionally, the fifth and sixth terminals of the monitoring unit may be respectively connected to the ninth and tenth terminals of each of the plurality of batteries.

[0030] A seventh terminal of the monitoring unit may be connected to the plurality of temperature sensors, and an eighth terminal of the monitoring unit may be connected to the plurality of gas sensors.

[0031] In addition, the battery discharging device may further include a status display unit that displays discharge information of the discharging unit, power information of the multiple power detection units, temperature information of the multiple temperature sensors, and gas information of the multiple gas sensors as status information; and a control unit that communicates with the discharging unit via wired / wireless and controls the multiple power detection units and the status display unit.

[0032] The battery discharging device may further include a power supply unit connected to the monitoring unit, and the monitoring unit may further include a fifth switch connected between the discharging unit and the multiple power detection units; a sixth switch connected between the multiple power detection units and the power supply unit; and a seventh switch connected between the discharging unit and the power supply unit.

[0033] In addition, in an additional discharge mode, the first and third switches and the sixth and seventh switches of each of the multiple power detection units are turned on, the second and fourth switches and the fifth switch of each of the multiple power detection units are turned off, and the reverse potential voltage of the power supply unit can be applied to the multiple batteries.

[0034] The plurality of power detection units may be configured with 1st to nth stages connected in series to the discharge unit, a first electrode of the fifth switch may be connected to a second electrode of the third switch of the nth stage, a second electrode of the fourth switch of the nth stage, and a first electrode of the sixth switch S6, a second electrode of the fifth switch may be connected to a fourth terminal of the monitoring unit and a first electrode of the seventh switch, a first electrode of the sixth switch may be connected to a second electrode of the third switch of the nth stage, a second electrode of the fourth switch of the nth stage, and a first electrode of the fifth switch, a second electrode of the sixth switch may be connected to an eleventh terminal of the monitoring unit, a first electrode of the seventh switch may be connected to a fourth terminal of the monitoring unit and a second electrode of the fifth switch, and a second electrode of the seventh switch may be connected to a twelfth terminal of the monitoring unit.

[0035] On the other hand, the present invention provides a battery discharging device including a plurality of discharging units; a plurality of monitoring units to which a plurality of batteries are respectively connected and including a power detection unit connected to each of the plurality of discharging units; a plurality of temperature sensors connected to each of the plurality of monitoring units and detecting temperatures of the plurality of batteries, respectively; a plurality of gas sensors connected to each of the plurality of monitoring units and detecting gas in the plurality of batteries, respectively; a main control unit transmitting and receiving information between the plurality of discharging units and the plurality of monitoring units; and a plurality of power supply units connected to each of the plurality of monitoring units and supplying a reverse potential voltage to each of the plurality of batteries.

[0036] The power detection unit may include a first switch; a second switch connected to the first switch; a resistor connected to the second switch; a voltmeter connected to the second switch and the resistor; and an ammeter connected to the resistor.

[0037] In addition, the multiple monitoring units may further include a third switch connected between each of the multiple discharge units and the power detection unit; a fourth switch connected between the power detection unit and each of the multiple power supply units; and a seventh switch connected between each of the multiple discharge units and each of the multiple power supply units. Effect of the Invention

[0038] The present invention has the effect of reducing the time required for the discharging operation and saving costs by connecting a number of batteries in parallel or series to perform the discharging operation. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0039] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating a conventional discharge device. [Diagram 2] 1 is a diagram illustrating a battery discharging device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3a-3b] 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating operation states of a discharge mode and a detection mode of the battery discharging device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, respectively. [Figure 4] 4 is a diagram illustrating a battery discharging device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5a-5b] 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating operation states of a discharge mode and a detection mode of a battery discharging device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, respectively. [Figure 6] 13 is a diagram illustrating a battery discharging device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7a-7c] 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating operation states of a discharge mode, a detection mode, and an additional discharge mode of a battery discharging device according to a third embodiment of the present invention, respectively. [Figure 8] 13 is a diagram illustrating a battery discharging device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9a-9c] 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating operation states of a discharge mode, a detection mode, and an additional discharge mode of a battery discharging device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, respectively. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0040] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a battery discharging device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 2, the battery discharging device 110 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a discharging unit 120, a monitoring unit 130, a number of temperature sensors 140, and a number of gas sensors 150.

[0042] The discharging unit 120 is connected to the plurality of batteries 160 through the monitoring unit 130 and performs a discharging operation on the plurality of batteries 160 .

[0043] Specifically, the discharge unit 120 may include a number of rod resistors (not shown) and a number of switches (not shown) connected in series or parallel between the first and second terminals E1, E2, and the multiple rod resistors of the discharge unit 120 may convert the charge remaining in the multiple batteries 160 into heat and remove it.

[0044] The monitoring unit 130 is connected between the discharge unit 120 and the plurality of batteries 160 to transfer the charges remaining in the plurality of batteries 160 to the discharge unit 120 and to monitor (observe and manage) the states of the discharge unit 120 and the plurality of batteries 160 .

[0045] For example, the third and fourth terminals E3, E4 of the monitoring unit 130 may be connected to the first and second terminals E1, E2 of the discharge unit 120, respectively, the fifth and sixth terminals E5, E6 of the monitoring unit 130 may be connected to the ninth and tenth terminals E9, E10 of each of the multiple batteries 160, respectively, and the seventh and eighth terminals E7, E8 of the monitoring unit 130 may be connected to the temperature sensor 140 and the gas sensor 150, respectively.

[0046] The first, third, fifth and ninth terminals E1, E3, E5, E9 may correspond to a positive pole (+), and the second, fourth, sixth and tenth terminals E2, E4, E6, E10 may correspond to a negative pole (-).

[0047] Specifically, the monitoring unit 130 may include a number of power detection units 132 , a status display unit 134 , and a control unit 136 .

[0048] Each of the multiple power detection units 132 is connected to the discharge unit 120 to transfer the charge remaining in the multiple batteries 160 to the discharge unit 120, or detects power information such as the voltage and current of the multiple batteries 160 and transfers the detected power information of the multiple batteries 160 to the status display unit 134.

[0049] To this end, each of the multiple power detection units 132 may include first and second switches S1, S2, a resistor R, a voltmeter V, and an ammeter I, and the multiple power detection units 132 may be connected in parallel to the discharge unit 120.

[0050] The first switch S1 may be connected between the discharge unit 120 and the battery 160, the second switch S2 may be connected between the first switch S1 and a resistor R, the resistor R may be connected between the second switch S2 and the battery 160, a voltmeter V may be connected between the second switch S2 and the resistor R, and an ammeter I may be connected between the resistor R and the battery 160.

[0051] Specifically, a first electrode of the first switch S1 may be connected to the third terminal E3 of the monitoring unit 130, and a second electrode of the first switch S2 may be connected to the first electrode of the second switch S2, the first electrode of the voltmeter V, and the fifth terminal E5 of the monitoring unit 130.

[0052] The first electrode of the second switch S2 may be connected to the second electrode of the first switch S1, the first electrode of the voltmeter V, and the fifth terminal E5 of the monitoring unit 130, and the second electrode of the second switch S2 may be connected to the first electrode of the resistor R.

[0053] A first electrode of the resistor R may be connected to a second electrode of the second switch S2, and a second electrode of the resistor R may be connected to a fourth terminal E4 of the monitoring unit 130, a second electrode of the voltmeter V, and a first electrode of the ammeter I.

[0054] The first electrode of the voltmeter V may be connected to the second electrode of the first switch S1, the first electrode of the second switch S2, and the fifth terminal E5 of the monitoring unit 130, and the second electrode of the voltmeter V may be connected to the fourth terminal E4 of the monitoring unit 130, the second electrode of the resistor R, and the first electrode of the ammeter I.

[0055] The first electrode of the ammeter I may be connected to the fourth terminal E4 of the monitoring unit 130, the second electrode of the resistor R, and the second electrode of the voltmeter V, and the second electrode of the ammeter I may be connected to the sixth terminal E6 of the monitoring unit 130.

[0056] The status display unit 134 receives discharge information from the discharge unit 120, receives power information of the multiple batteries 160 from the multiple power detection units 132, and receives temperature information and gas information of the multiple batteries 160 from the multiple temperature sensors 140 and the multiple gas sensors 150, displays the discharge information as status information of the discharge unit 120, and displays the power information, temperature information and gas information as status information for each of the multiple batteries 160.

[0057] For example, the status display unit 134 may include a flat panel display device such as a liquid crystal display device or an organic light emitting diode display device.

[0058] In the embodiment of FIG. 2, one status display unit 134 displays status information of multiple batteries 160, but in other embodiments, multiple status display units may display status information of multiple batteries 160, respectively.

[0059] The control unit 136 transmits and receives information to and from the discharge unit 120 via wired / wireless communication, and controls the multiple power detection units 132 and the status display unit 134 .

[0060] For example, the discharge unit 120 may transmit discharge information such as the performance of the discharge operation of the discharge unit 120 and the completion of the discharge operation to the control unit 136 of the monitoring unit 130, and the control unit 136 of the monitoring unit 130 may transmit command information such as starting or stopping the discharge operation to the discharge unit 120. The multiple temperature sensors 140 and the multiple gas sensors 150 are each connected to the monitoring unit 130 and arranged adjacent to the multiple batteries 160 to sense temperature information and gas information of the multiple batteries 160 and transmit the sensed temperature information and gas information of the multiple batteries 160 to the status display unit 134.

[0061] For example, multiple temperature sensors 140 may be coupled to a seventh terminal E7 of the monitoring unit 130, and multiple gas sensors 150 may be coupled to an eighth terminal E8 of the monitoring unit 130.

[0062] The electrolyte contained in the multiple batteries 160 is sensitive to heat, so if a large current flows through the multiple batteries 160 or the multiple batteries 160 are exposed to high temperatures, a chemical reaction occurs due to the movement of electrons, generating heat or gas, and the generated heat or gas causes the multiple batteries 160 to swell, which can lead to fire or explosion.

[0063] Accordingly, the monitoring unit 130 can manage the presence or absence of abnormalities in the multiple batteries 160 by using the temperature information and gas information of the multiple batteries 160 .

[0064] The multiple batteries 160 may be connected in parallel to the discharge unit 120 through the monitoring unit 130. For example, the ninth and tenth terminals E9, E10 of each of the multiple batteries 160 may be connected to the fifth and sixth terminals E5, E6 of the monitoring unit 130, respectively.

[0065] That is, the ninth terminal E9 of each of the multiple batteries 160 can be connected to the second electrode of the first switch S1, the first electrode of the second switch S2, and the first electrode of the voltmeter V of each of the multiple power detection units 132 through the fifth terminal E5 of the monitoring unit 130, and the tenth terminal E10 of each of the multiple batteries 160 can be connected to the second electrode of the ammeter I of each of the multiple power detection units 132 through the sixth terminal E6 of the monitoring unit 130.

[0066] The monitoring unit 130 can be operated in a discharge mode or a detection mode under the control of the control unit 136, which will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0067] 3a and 3b are diagrams illustrating the operation states of the battery discharging device according to the first embodiment of the present invention in a discharge mode and a detection mode, respectively, which will be described with reference to FIG.

[0068] As shown in FIG. 3a, in the discharge mode, the first switch S1 of each of the multiple power detection units 132 is turned on and the second switch S2 is turned off under the control of the control unit 136, and the ninth and tenth terminals E9, E10 of each of the multiple batteries 160 are connected to the first and second terminals E1, E2 of the discharge unit 120, respectively.

[0069] Accordingly, the charge remaining in each of the batteries 160 is transferred to the discharge unit 120 through the monitoring unit 130, and each of the batteries 160 connected in parallel to the discharge unit 120 can be discharged.

[0070] As shown in FIG. 3b, in the detection mode, the first switch S1 of at least one of the multiple power detection units 132 is turned off and the second switch S2 is turned on under the control of the control unit 136, so that a closed circuit is formed between the ninth and tenth terminals E9, E10 of at least one corresponding one of the multiple batteries 160 and the resistor R of at least one of the multiple power detection units 132.

[0071] Accordingly, at least one voltmeter V and ammeter I of the plurality of power detectors 132 can detect power information such as voltage and current of at least one corresponding battery 160, respectively.

[0072] Here, the remaining first switches S1 of the multiple power detection units 132 are turned on and the second switches S2 are turned off to discharge the remaining of the multiple batteries 160, or the remaining first switches S1 of the multiple power detection units 132 are turned off and the second switches S2 are turned on to detect power information of the remaining of the multiple batteries 160.

[0073] As described above, in the battery discharging device 110 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the discharging unit 120 and a number of batteries 160 are connected in parallel in a 1:N ratio to perform a discharging operation, thereby reducing the time required for the discharging operation of the multiple batteries 160 and saving costs.

[0074] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a battery discharging device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0075] As shown in FIG. 4, a battery discharging device 210 according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes a discharging unit 220, a monitoring unit 230, a number of temperature sensors 240, and a number of gas sensors 250.

[0076] The discharging unit 220 is connected to the plurality of batteries 260 through the monitoring unit 230 and performs a discharging operation on the plurality of batteries 260 .

[0077] Specifically, the discharge unit 220 may include a number of rod resistors (not shown) and a number of switches (not shown) connected in series or parallel between the first and second terminals E1, E2, and the multiple rod resistors of the discharge unit 220 may convert the charge remaining in the multiple batteries 260 into heat and remove it.

[0078] The monitoring unit 230 is connected between the discharging unit 220 and the plurality of batteries 260 to transfer the charges remaining in the plurality of batteries 260 to the discharging unit 220 and to monitor (observe and manage) the states of the discharging unit 220 and the plurality of batteries 260 .

[0079] For example, the third and fourth terminals E3, E4 of the monitoring unit 230 may be respectively connected to the first and second terminals E1, E2 of the discharging unit 220, the fifth and sixth terminals E5, E6 of the monitoring unit 230 may be respectively connected to the ninth and tenth terminals E9, E10 of each of the multiple batteries 260, and the seventh and eighth terminals E7, E8 of the monitoring unit 230 may be respectively connected to the temperature sensor 240 and the gas sensor 250. The first, third, fifth and ninth terminals E1, E3, E5, E9 may correspond to the positive pole (+), and the second, fourth, sixth and tenth terminals E2, E4, E6, E10 may correspond to the negative pole (-).

[0080] Specifically, the monitoring unit 230 may include a number of power detection units 232 , a status display unit 234 , and a control unit 236 .

[0081] Each of the multiple power detection units 232 is connected to the discharge unit 220 to transfer the charge remaining in the multiple batteries 260 to the discharge unit 220, or detects power information such as the voltage and current of the multiple batteries 260 and transfers the detected power information of the multiple batteries 260 to the status display unit 234.

[0082] To this end, each of the power detection units 232 may include first to fourth switches S1 to S4, a resistor R, a voltmeter V, and an ammeter I, and the multiple power detection units 232 may be configured as multiple stages connected in series to the discharge unit 220.

[0083] The first switch S1 of the first stage is connected between the discharge unit 220 and the battery 260, the first switch S1 of the second stage to the last stage is connected between the third and fourth switches S3, S4 of the previous stage and the battery 260, the second switch S2 is connected between the first switch S1 and the resistor R, the third switch S3 of the first stage to the stage before the last stage is connected between the resistor R and the first switch S1 of the next stage, the third switch S3 of the last stage is connected between the discharge unit 220 and the resistor R, and the fourth switch S4 is connected between the first and third switches S1, S3.

[0084] Then, a resistor R may be connected between the second switch S2 and the battery 260, a voltmeter V may be connected between the second switch S2 and the resistor R, and an ammeter I may be connected between the resistor R and the battery 260.

[0085] The first electrode of the first switch S1 in the first stage is connected to the third terminal E3 of the monitoring unit 230 and the first electrode of the fourth switch S4, the first electrodes of the first switches S1 in the second stage to the last stage are connected to the second electrode of the third switch S3 in the previous stage, the second electrode of the fourth switch S4, and the first electrode of the fourth switch S4 in the current stage, and the second electrode of the first switch S2 is connected to the first electrode of the second switch S2, the first electrode of the voltmeter V, and the fifth terminal E5 of the monitoring unit 230.

[0086] The first electrode of the second switch S2 may be connected to the second electrode of the first switch S1, the first electrode of the voltmeter V, and the fifth terminal E5 of the monitoring unit 230, and the second electrode of the second switch S2 may be connected to the first electrode of the resistor R.

[0087] The first electrode of the third switch S3 is connected to the second electrode of the resistor R, the second electrode of the voltmeter V, and the first electrode of the ammeter I, the second electrode of the third switch S3 of the first to last previous stage is connected to the second electrode of the fourth switch S4 of the current stage, the first electrode of the first switch S1 of the next stage, and the first electrode of the fourth switch S4 of the next stage, and the second electrode of the third switch S3 of the last stage may be connected to the fourth terminal E4 of the monitoring unit 230 and the second electrode of the fourth switch S4 of the current stage.

[0088] A first electrode of the fourth switch S4 of the first stage is connected to the third terminal E3 of the monitoring unit 230 and a first electrode of the first switch S1 of the current stage, a first electrode of the fourth switch S4 of the second stage to the last stage is connected to the second electrode of the third switch S3 of the previous stage and the second electrode of the fourth switch S4 of the previous stage, a second electrode of the fourth switch S4 of the first stage to the last previous stage is connected to the second electrode of the third switch S3 of the current stage, a first electrode of the first switch S1 of the next stage and a first electrode of the fourth switch S4 of the next stage, and a second electrode of the fourth switch S4 of the last stage may be connected to the second electrode of the third switch S3 of the current stage and the fourth terminal E4 of the monitoring unit 230.

[0089] A first electrode of the resistor R may be coupled to a second electrode of the second switch S2, and a second electrode of the resistor R may be coupled to a first electrode of the third switch S3, a second electrode of the voltmeter V, and a first electrode of the ammeter I.

[0090] A first electrode of the voltmeter V may be connected to the second electrode of the first switch S1, the first electrode of the second switch S2, and the fifth terminal E5 of the monitoring unit 230, and a second electrode of the voltmeter V may be connected to the first electrode of the third switch S3, the second electrode of the resistor R, and the first electrode of the ammeter I.

[0091] The first electrode of the ammeter I may be connected to the first electrode of the third switch S3, the second electrode of the resistor R, and the second electrode of the voltmeter V, and the second electrode of the ammeter I may be connected to the sixth terminal E6 of the monitoring unit 230.

[0092] The status display unit 234 receives discharge information from the discharge unit 220, receives power information of the multiple batteries 260 from the multiple power detection units 232, and receives temperature information and gas information of the multiple batteries 260 from the multiple temperature sensors 240 and the multiple gas sensors 250, displays the discharge information as status information of the discharge unit 220, and displays the power information, temperature information and gas information as status information of each of the multiple batteries 260.

[0093] For example, the status display unit 234 may include a flat panel display device such as a liquid crystal display device or an organic light emitting diode display device.

[0094] In the embodiment of FIG. 4, one status display unit 234 displays status information of multiple batteries 260, but in other embodiments, multiple status display units may display status information of multiple batteries 260, respectively.

[0095] The control unit 236 transmits and receives information to and from the discharge unit 220 via wired / wireless communication, and controls the multiple power detection units 232 and the status display unit 234 .

[0096] For example, the discharge unit 220 may transmit discharge information such as the performance of the discharge operation of the discharge unit 220 and the completion of the discharge operation to the control unit 236 of the monitoring unit 230, and the control unit 236 of the monitoring unit 230 may transmit command information such as starting or stopping the discharge operation to the discharge unit 220.

[0097] The multiple temperature sensors 240 and the multiple gas sensors 250 are each connected to the monitoring unit 230 and disposed adjacent to the multiple batteries 260 to sense temperature information and gas information of the multiple batteries 260 and transmit the sensed temperature information and gas information of the multiple batteries 260 to the status display unit 234.

[0098] For example, multiple temperature sensors 240 may be coupled to a seventh terminal E7 of the monitoring unit 230, and multiple gas sensors 250 may be coupled to an eighth terminal E8 of the monitoring unit 230.

[0099] Since the electrolyte contained in the multiple batteries 260 is sensitive to heat, if a large current flows through the multiple batteries 260 or the multiple batteries 260 are exposed to high temperatures, a chemical reaction occurs due to the movement of electrons, generating heat or gas, and the generated heat or gas causes a swelling phenomenon in which the multiple batteries 260 swells, which may result in fire or explosion.

[0100] Accordingly, the monitoring unit 230 can manage the presence or absence of abnormalities in the multiple batteries 260 by using the temperature information and gas information of the multiple batteries 260 .

[0101] A number of batteries 260 may be connected in series to the discharge unit 220 via the monitoring unit 230 .

[0102] For example, the ninth and tenth terminals E9, E10 of each of the multiple batteries 260 may be coupled to the fifth and sixth terminals E5, E6 of the monitoring unit 230, respectively.

[0103] That is, the ninth terminal E9 of each of the multiple batteries 260 is connected to the second electrode of the first switch S1, the first electrode of the second switch S2, and the first electrode of the voltmeter V of each of the multiple power detection units 232 through the fifth terminal E5 of the monitoring unit 230, and the tenth terminal E10 of each of the multiple batteries 260 is connected to the second electrode of the ammeter I of each of the multiple power detection units 232 through the sixth terminal E6 of the monitoring unit 230.

[0104] The monitoring unit 230 can be operated in a discharge mode or a detection mode under the control of the control unit 236, which will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0105] 5a and 5b are diagrams illustrating the operation states of a discharge mode and a detection mode of a battery discharging device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, which will be described with reference to FIG.

[0106] As shown in FIG. 5a, in the discharge mode, the first and third switches S1, S3 of each of the multiple power detection units 232 are turned on and the second and fourth switches S2, S4 are turned off under the control of the control unit 236, so that the ninth terminal E9 of the battery 260 connected to the first stage is connected to the first terminal E1 of the discharge unit 220, the ninth terminal E9 of each of the multiple batteries 260 connected to the second stage to the last stage is connected to the tenth terminal E10 of the battery 260 connected to the previous stage, and the tenth terminal E10 of each of the multiple batteries 260 connected to the first stage to the last stage is connected to the ninth terminal E9 of the battery 260 connected to the next stage, and the tenth terminal E10 of the battery 260 connected to the last stage is connected to the second terminal E2 of the discharge unit 220.

[0107] Accordingly, the first terminal E1 of the discharge unit 220 is connected to the ninth terminal E9 of the battery 260 connected to the first stage, and the second terminal E2 of the discharge unit 220 is connected to the tenth terminal E10 of the battery 260 connected to the last stage, and the multiple batteries 260 are connected in series, and the remaining charge in each of the multiple batteries 260 is transferred to the discharge unit 220 through the monitoring unit 230, so that each of the multiple batteries 260 connected in series to the discharge unit 220 can be discharged.

[0108] As shown in FIG. 5b, in the detection mode, the first and third switches S1, S3 of at least one of the multiple power detection units 232 are turned off and the second and fourth switches S2, S4 are turned on under the control of the control unit 236, so that a closed circuit is formed between the ninth and tenth terminals E9, E10 of at least one corresponding one of the multiple batteries 260 and the resistor R of at least one of the multiple power detection units 232.

[0109] Accordingly, at least one voltmeter V and ammeter I of the plurality of power detectors 232 can detect power information such as voltage and current of at least one corresponding battery 260, respectively.

[0110] Here, the remaining first and third switches S1, S3 of the multiple power detection units 232 are turned on and the second and fourth switches S2, S4 are turned off, and the remaining of the multiple batteries 260 are connected in series to the discharge unit 220 to be discharged, or the remaining first and third switches S1, S3 of the multiple power detection units 232 are turned off and the second and fourth switches S2, S4 are turned on, and power information of the remaining of the multiple batteries 260 can be detected.

[0111] As described above, in the battery discharging device 210 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the discharging unit 220 and the multiple batteries 260 are connected in series in a 1:N ratio to perform the discharging operation, thereby reducing the time required for the discharging operation of the multiple batteries 260 and saving costs.

[0112] In another embodiment, a power supply unit can be used to perform extreme over-discharge for a number of batteries to make them permanently obsolete, which will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0113] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a battery discharging device according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and a description of the same parts as those in the first and second embodiments will be omitted.

[0114] As shown in FIG. 6, a battery discharging device 310 according to the third embodiment of the present invention includes a discharging unit 320, a monitoring unit 330, a number of temperature sensors 340, a number of gas sensors 350, and a power source 370.

[0115] The discharging unit 320 is connected to the plurality of batteries 360 through the monitoring unit 330 and performs a discharging operation on the plurality of batteries 360 .

[0116] Specifically, the discharge unit 320 may include a number of rod resistors (not shown) and a number of switches (not shown) connected in series or parallel between the first and second terminals E1, E2, and the multiple rod resistors of the discharge unit 320 may convert the charge remaining in the multiple batteries 360 into heat and remove it.

[0117] For example, the discharge unit 320 may start discharging the batteries 360 from a discharge start voltage, pass through a discharge end voltage, and perform a discharge operation up to a discharge completion voltage.

[0118] Here, the discharge end voltage is a voltage corresponding to a 0% charge state defined to prevent over-discharge, which is smaller than the discharge start voltage and larger than the discharge completion voltage. The maximum charging voltage, discharge start voltage, discharge end voltage, and discharge completion voltage of each of the multiple batteries 360 may be about 8V, about 5V, about 2.5V, and about 1V, respectively.

[0119] The monitoring unit 330 is connected between the discharge unit 320 and the plurality of batteries 360 to transfer the charges remaining in the plurality of batteries 360 to the discharge unit 320 and to monitor (observe and manage) the states of the discharge unit 320 and the plurality of batteries 360 .

[0120] For example, the third and fourth terminals E3, E4 of the monitoring unit 330 may be respectively connected to the first and second terminals E1, E2 of the discharging unit 320, the fifth and sixth terminals E5, E6 of the monitoring unit 330 may be respectively connected to the ninth and tenth terminals E9, E10 of each of the multiple batteries 360, and the seventh and eighth terminals E7, E8 of the monitoring unit 330 may be respectively connected to the temperature sensor 340 and the gas sensor 350. The first, third, fifth and ninth terminals E1, E3, E5, E9 may correspond to the positive pole (+), and the second, fourth, sixth and tenth terminals E2, E4, E6, E10 may correspond to the negative pole (-).

[0121] Specifically, the monitoring unit 330 may include a number of power detection units 332, fifth to seventh switches S5 to S7, a status display unit 334, and a control unit 336.

[0122] Each of the multiple power detection units 332 is connected to the discharge unit 320 to transfer the charge remaining in the multiple batteries 360 to the discharge unit 320, or detects power information such as the voltage and current of the multiple batteries 360 and transfers the detected power information of the multiple batteries 360 to the status display unit 334.

[0123] To this end, each of the power detection units 332 may include first to fourth switches S1 to S4, a resistor R, a voltmeter V, and an ammeter I, and the multiple power detection units 332 may be configured as multiple stages connected in series to the discharge unit 320.

[0124] The first switch S1 of the first stage is connected between the discharge unit 320 and the battery 360, the first switches S1 of the second stage to the last stage are connected between the third and fourth switches S3, S4 of the previous stage and the battery 360, the second switch S2 is connected between the first switch S1 and the resistor R, the third switch S3 of the first stage to the stage before the last stage is connected between the resistor R and the first switch S1 of the next stage, the third switch S3 of the last stage is connected between the discharge unit 320 and the resistor R, and the fourth switch S4 is connected between the first and third switches S1, S3.

[0125] Then, a resistor R may be connected between the second switch S2 and the battery 360, a voltmeter V may be connected between the second switch S2 and the resistor R, and an ammeter I may be connected between the resistor R and the battery 360.

[0126] Specifically, the first electrode of the first switch S1 in the first stage is connected to the third terminal E3 of the monitoring unit 330 and the first electrode of the fourth switch S4, the first electrodes of the first switches S1 in the second stage to the last stage are connected to the second electrode of the third switch S3 in the previous stage, the second electrode of the fourth switch S4, and the first electrode of the fourth switch S4 in the current stage, and the second electrode of the first switch S2 is connected to the first electrode of the second switch S2, the first electrode of the voltmeter V, and the fifth terminal E5 of the monitoring unit 330.

[0127] The first electrode of the second switch S2 may be connected to the second electrode of the first switch S1, the first electrode of the voltmeter V, and the fifth terminal E5 of the monitoring unit 330, and the second electrode of the second switch S2 may be connected to the first electrode of the resistor R.

[0128] The first electrode of the third switch S3 is connected to the second electrode of the resistor R, the second electrode of the voltmeter V, and the first electrode of the ammeter I, the second electrode of the third switch S3 of the first to last previous stage is connected to the second electrode of the fourth switch S4 of the current stage, the first electrode of the first switch S1 of the next stage, and the first electrode of the fourth switch S4 of the next stage, and the second electrode of the third switch S3 of the last stage may be connected to the fourth terminal E4 of the monitoring unit 330 and the second electrode of the fourth switch S4 of the current stage.

[0129] A first electrode of the fourth switch S4 of the first stage is connected to the third terminal E3 of the monitoring unit 330 and a first electrode of the first switch S1 of the current stage, a first electrode of the fourth switch S4 of the second stage to the last stage is connected to the second electrode of the third switch S3 of the previous stage and the second electrode of the fourth switch S4 of the previous stage, a second electrode of the fourth switch S4 of the first stage to the last previous stage is connected to the second electrode of the third switch S3 of the current stage, a first electrode of the first switch S1 of the next stage and a first electrode of the fourth switch S4 of the next stage, and a second electrode of the fourth switch S4 of the last stage may be connected to the second electrode of the third switch S3 of the current stage and the fourth terminal E4 of the discharging unit 330.

[0130] A first electrode of the resistor R may be coupled to a second electrode of the second switch S2, and a second electrode of the resistor R may be coupled to a first electrode of the third switch S3, a second electrode of the voltmeter V, and a first electrode of the ammeter I.

[0131] A first electrode of the voltmeter V may be connected to the second electrode of the first switch S1, the first electrode of the second switch S2, and the fifth terminal E5 of the monitoring unit 330, and a second electrode of the voltmeter V may be connected to the first electrode of the third switch S3, the second electrode of the resistor R, and the first electrode of the ammeter I.

[0132] The first electrode of the ammeter I may be connected to the first electrode of the third switch S3, the second electrode of the resistor R, and the second electrode of the voltmeter V, and the second electrode of the ammeter I may be connected to the sixth terminal E6 of the monitoring unit 330.

[0133] Meanwhile, the fifth switch S5 may be connected between the discharge unit 320 and the multiple power detection units 332, the sixth switch S6 may be connected between the multiple power detection units 332 and the power supply unit 370, and the seventh switch S7 may be connected between the discharge unit 320 and the power supply unit 370.

[0134] Specifically, the first electrode of the fifth switch S5 is connected to the second electrode of the third switch S3 in the last stage, the second electrode of the fourth switch S4 in the last stage, and the first electrode of the sixth switch S6, and the second electrode of the fifth switch S5 is connected to the fourth terminal E4 of the monitoring unit 330 and the first electrode of the seventh switch S7.

[0135] The first electrode of the sixth switch S6 may be connected to the second electrode of the third switch S3 of the last stage, the second electrode of the fourth switch S4 of the last stage, and the first electrode of the fifth switch S5, and the second electrode of the sixth switch S6 may be connected to the eleventh terminal E11 of the monitoring unit 330.

[0136] A first electrode of the seventh switch S7 may be connected to a fourth terminal E4 of the monitoring unit 330 and a second electrode of the fifth switch S5, and a second electrode of the seventh switch S7 may be connected to a twelfth terminal E12 of the monitoring unit 330.

[0137] The status display unit 334 receives discharge information from the discharge unit 320, receives power information of the multiple batteries 360 from the multiple power detection units 332, and receives temperature information and gas information of the multiple batteries 360 from the multiple temperature sensors 340 and the multiple gas sensors 350, displays the discharge information as status information of the discharge unit 320, and displays the power information, temperature information and gas information as status information of each of the multiple batteries 360.

[0138] For example, the status display unit 334 may include a flat panel display such as a liquid crystal display or an organic light emitting diode display.

[0139] In the embodiment of FIG. 4, one status display unit 334 displays status information of multiple batteries 360, but in other embodiments, multiple status display units may display status information of multiple batteries 360, respectively.

[0140] The control unit 336 transmits and receives information to and from the discharge unit 320 via wired / wireless communication, and controls the multiple power detection units 332 and status display units 334 .

[0141] For example, the discharge unit 320 may transmit discharge information such as the performance of the discharge operation of the discharge unit 320 and the completion of the discharge operation to the control unit 336 of the monitoring unit 330, and the control unit 336 of the monitoring unit 330 may transmit command information such as starting or stopping the discharge operation to the discharge unit 320.

[0142] Then, the control unit 336 controls the fifth to seventh switches S5 to S7.

[0143] For example, after the discharge unit 320 has completed discharging the multiple batteries 360, the control unit 336 can perform extreme over-discharge on the multiple batteries 360 by controlling the multiple power detection units 332 and the fifth to seventh switches S5 to S7 to connect the power supply unit 370 in series to the multiple batteries 360.

[0144] The multiple temperature sensors 340 and the multiple gas sensors 350 are each connected to the monitoring unit 330 and disposed adjacent to the multiple batteries 360 to sense temperature information and gas information of the multiple batteries 360 and transmit the sensed temperature information and gas information of the multiple batteries 360 to the status display unit 334.

[0145] For example, multiple temperature sensors 340 may be coupled to a seventh terminal E7 of the monitoring unit 330, and multiple gas sensors 350 may be coupled to an eighth terminal E8 of the monitoring unit 330.

[0146] The electrolyte contained in the multiple batteries 360 is sensitive to heat, so if a large current flows through the multiple batteries 360 or the multiple batteries 360 are exposed to high temperatures, a chemical reaction occurs due to the movement of electrons, generating heat or gas. The generated heat or gas causes the multiple batteries 360 to swell, resulting in a swelling phenomenon that may result in fire or explosion.

[0147] Accordingly, the monitoring unit 330 can manage whether or not the multiple batteries 360 have an abnormality by using the temperature information and gas information of the multiple batteries 360 .

[0148] A number of batteries 360 may be connected in series to the discharge unit 320 via the monitoring unit 330 .

[0149] For example, the ninth and tenth terminals E9, E10 of each of the multiple batteries 360 may be coupled to the fifth and sixth terminals E5, E6 of the monitoring unit 330, respectively.

[0150] That is, the ninth terminal E9 of each of the multiple batteries 360 is connected to the second electrode of the first switch S1, the first electrode of the second switch S2, and the first electrode of the voltmeter V of each of the multiple power detection units 332 through the fifth terminal E5 of the monitoring unit 330, and the tenth terminal E10 of each of the multiple batteries 360 is connected to the second electrode of the ammeter I of each of the multiple power detection units 332 through the sixth terminal E6 of the monitoring unit 330.

[0151] The power supply unit 370 is connected to the monitoring unit 330 and supplies a negative reverse potential voltage to the batteries 360 for over-discharging.

[0152] For example, the thirteenth and fourteenth terminals E13, E14 of the power supply unit 370 may be coupled to the eleventh and twelfth terminals E11, E12 of the monitoring unit 330, respectively.

[0153] The reverse potential voltage of the power supply unit 370 may be a voltage having the same magnitude and opposite polarity as the discharge completion voltage, and the reverse potential voltage of each of the plurality of batteries 360 may be about -1V.

[0154] Even if the battery is discharged to a total voltage of 0V, it can still be used even if it was not 100% charged when it was charged. Therefore, when disassembling a battery that has reached the end of its life and recycling the materials, it is necessary to discharge the battery by immersing it in salt water to make it permanently useless, or to keep it in a short-circuited state for a certain period of time to prevent rebound. However, discharging the battery by immersing it in salt water requires a longer process time and incurs additional costs such as environmental fees, and keeping the battery in a short-circuited state incurs additional costs due to loading space and management.

[0155] In the battery discharging device 310 according to the third embodiment of the present invention, the discharge unit 320 discharges the multiple batteries 360 to a discharge completion voltage, and then the power supply unit 370 discharges the multiple batteries 360 to a negative reverse potential voltage. In this case, the electrodes of the multiple batteries 360 are destroyed, and the batteries can be made permanently obsolete without additional processes such as immersion in salt water or maintaining a short-circuit state.

[0156] The monitoring unit 330 can be operated in a discharge mode, a detection mode, and an additional discharge mode under the control of the control unit 336, which will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0157] 7a, 7b and 7c are diagrams illustrating the operation states of the discharge mode, detection mode and additional discharge mode of the battery discharging device according to the third embodiment of the present invention, respectively, which will be described together with FIG.

[0158] 7a, in the discharge mode, the first and third switches S1, S3 and the fifth switch S5 of each of the power detection units 332 are turned on under the control of the control unit 336, and the second and fourth switches S2, S4 and the sixth and seventh switches S6, S7 of each of the power detection units 332 are turned off. The ninth terminal E9 of the battery 360 connected to the first stage is connected to the first terminal E1 of the discharge unit 320, the ninth terminal E9 of each of the batteries 360 connected to the second stage to the last stage is connected to the tenth terminal E10 of the battery 360 connected to the previous stage, the tenth terminal E10 of each of the batteries 360 connected to the first stage to the last stage is connected to the ninth terminal E9 of the battery 360 connected to the next stage, and the tenth terminal E10 of the battery 360 connected to the last stage is connected to the second terminal E2 of the discharge unit 320.

[0159] Accordingly, the first terminal E1 of the discharge unit 320 is connected to the ninth terminal E9 of the battery 360 connected to the first stage, and the second terminal E2 of the discharge unit 320 is connected to the tenth terminal E10 of the battery 360 connected to the last stage, and the multiple batteries 360 are connected in series, and the remaining charge in each of the multiple batteries 360 is transferred to the discharge unit 320 through the monitoring unit 330, so that each of the multiple batteries 360 connected in series to the discharge unit 320 can be discharged.

[0160] As shown in FIG. 7b, in the detection mode, the first and third switches S1, S3 of at least one of the multiple power detection units 332 are turned off and the second and fourth switches S2, S4 of at least one of the multiple power detection units 332 are turned on under the control of the control unit 336, so that a closed circuit is formed between the ninth and tenth terminals E9, E10 of at least one corresponding one of the multiple batteries 360 and the resistor R of at least one of the multiple power detection units 332.

[0161] Accordingly, at least one voltmeter V and ammeter I of the plurality of power detectors 332 can detect power information such as voltage and current of at least one corresponding battery 360, respectively.

[0162] Here, the remaining first and third switches S1, S3 and the fifth switch S5 of the multiple power detection units 332 are turned on, and the remaining second and fourth switches S2, S4 and the sixth and seventh switches S6, S7 of the multiple power detection units 332 are turned off, so that the remaining of the multiple batteries 360 can be connected in series to the discharge unit 320 and discharged, or the remaining first and third switches S1, S3 and the sixth and seventh switches S6, S7 of the multiple power detection units 332 are turned off, and the remaining second and fourth switches S2, S4 and the fifth switch S5 of the multiple power detection units 332 are turned on, so that power information of the remaining of the multiple batteries 360 can be detected.

[0163] As shown in FIG. 7c, in the additional discharge mode, the first and third switches S1, S3 and the sixth and seventh switches S6, S7 of each of the power detection units 332 are turned on, and the second and fourth switches S2, S4 and the fifth switch S5 of each of the power detection units 332 are turned off under the control of the control unit 336. The ninth terminal E9 of the battery 360 connected to the first stage is connected to the first terminal E1 of the discharge unit 320, and the ninth terminal E1 of the battery 360 connected to the second stage to the last stage is connected to the discharge unit 320. The ninth terminal E9 of each of the batteries 360 is connected to the tenth terminal E10 of the battery 360 connected in the previous stage, and the tenth terminal E10 of each of the batteries 360 connected from the first stage to the stage before the last is connected to the ninth terminal E9 of the battery 360 connected in the next stage, and the tenth terminal E10 of the battery 360 connected in the last stage is connected to the thirteenth terminal E13 of the power supply unit 370, and the fourteenth terminal E14 of the power supply unit 370 is connected to the second terminal E2 of the discharge unit 320.

[0164] Accordingly, the first terminal E1 of the discharge unit 320 is connected to the ninth terminal E9 of the battery 360 connected to the first stage, and the second terminal E2 of the discharge unit 320 is connected to the fourteenth terminal E14 of the power supply unit 370. The multiple batteries 360 and the power supply unit 370 are connected in series, and the reverse potential voltage of the power supply unit 370 is applied to the multiple batteries 360, thereby performing extreme over-discharge to permanently dispose of the multiple batteries 360.

[0165] As described above, in the battery discharging device 310 according to the third embodiment of the present invention, the discharging unit 320 and the multiple batteries 360 are connected in series in a 1:N ratio to perform the discharging operation, thereby reducing the time required for the discharging operation of the multiple batteries 360 and saving costs.

[0166] In addition, by performing extreme over-discharge on a number of batteries 360 using the reverse potential voltage of the power supply unit 370, it is possible to permanently dispose of the batteries for recycling without any additional process.

[0167] In another embodiment, a power supply unit can be connected to each of a number of batteries to perform over-discharging for permanent disposal, which will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0168] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a battery discharging device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and a description of the same parts as those in the first to third embodiments will be omitted.

[0169] As shown in FIG. 8, the battery discharging device 410 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention includes a number of discharging units 420, a main control unit 422, a number of monitoring units 430, a number of temperature sensors 440, a number of gas sensors 450, and a number of power sources 470.

[0170] Since the multiple discharging units 420, the multiple monitoring units 430, the multiple temperature sensors 440, the multiple gas sensors 450, the multiple batteries 460, and the multiple power supply units 470 correspond to each other in a 1:1 manner, one discharging unit 420, one monitoring unit 430, one temperature sensor 440, one gas sensor 450, one battery 460, and one power supply unit 470 will be described as an example.

[0171] The discharging unit 420 is connected to the battery 460 through the monitoring unit 430 to perform a discharging operation on the battery 460 .

[0172] Specifically, the discharge unit 420 may include a number of rod resistors (not shown) and a number of switches (not shown) connected in series or parallel between the first and second terminals E1 and E2, and the multiple rod resistors of the discharge unit 420 may convert the charge remaining in the battery 460 into heat and remove it.

[0173] For example, the discharge unit 420 may start discharging the battery 460 from a discharge start voltage, pass through a discharge end voltage, and perform a discharge operation up to a discharge completion voltage.

[0174] Here, the discharge end voltage is a voltage corresponding to a 0% charge state defined to prevent over-discharge, which is smaller than the discharge start voltage and larger than the discharge completion voltage. The maximum charging voltage, discharge start voltage, discharge end voltage, and discharge completion voltage of each battery 460 may be about 8V, about 5V, about 2.5V, and about 1V, respectively.

[0175] The main controller 422 transmits and receives information to and from the multiple dischargers 420 and the controllers 436 of the multiple monitoring units 430 via wired / wireless communication.

[0176] The monitoring unit 430 is connected between the discharging unit 420 and the battery 460 to transfer the charge remaining in the battery 460 to the discharging unit 420 and to monitor (observe and manage) the states of the discharging unit 420 and the battery 460 .

[0177] For example, the third and fourth terminals E3, E4 of the monitoring unit 430 may be connected to the first and second terminals E1, E2 of the discharging unit 420, the fifth and sixth terminals E5, E6 of the monitoring unit 430 may be connected to the ninth and tenth terminals E9, E10 of the battery 460, respectively, and the seventh and eighth terminals E7, E8 of the monitoring unit 430 may be connected to the temperature sensor 440 and the gas sensor 450, respectively. The first, third, fifth and ninth terminals E1, E3, E5, E9 may correspond to the positive pole (+), and the second, fourth, sixth and tenth terminals E2, E4, E6, E10 may correspond to the negative pole (-).

[0178] Specifically, the monitoring unit 430 may include a power detection unit 432, third to fifth switches S3 to S5, a status display unit 434, and a control unit 436.

[0179] The power detection unit 432 is connected to the discharge unit 420 to transfer the charge remaining in the battery 460 to the discharge unit 420, or detects power information such as the voltage and current of the battery 460 and transfers the detected power information of the multiple batteries 460 to the status display unit 434.

[0180] To this end, the power detection unit 432 may include first and second switches S1, S2, a resistor R, a voltmeter V, and an ammeter I.

[0181] The first switch S1 may be connected between the discharge unit 420 and the battery 460, the second switch S2 may be connected between the first switch S1 and a resistor R, the resistor R may be connected between the second switch S2 and the battery 460, a voltmeter V may be connected between the second switch S2 and the resistor R, and an ammeter I may be connected between the resistor R and the battery 460.

[0182] Specifically, the first electrode of the first switch S1 may be connected to the third terminal E3 of the monitoring unit 430, and the second electrode of the first switch S2 may be connected to the first electrode of the second switch S2, the first electrode of the voltmeter V, and the fifth terminal E5 of the monitoring unit 430.

[0183] The first electrode of the second switch S2 may be connected to the second electrode of the first switch S1, the first electrode of the voltmeter V, and the fifth terminal E5 of the monitoring unit 430, and the second electrode of the second switch S2 may be connected to the first electrode of the resistor R.

[0184] A first electrode of the resistor R may be connected to a second electrode of the second switch S2, and a second electrode of the resistor R may be connected to a second electrode of the voltmeter V, a first electrode of the ammeter I, a first electrode of the third switch S3, and a first electrode of the fourth switch S4.

[0185] A first electrode of the voltmeter V may be connected to the second electrode of the first switch S1, the first electrode of the second switch S2, and the fifth terminal E5 of the monitoring unit 430, and a second electrode of the voltmeter V may be connected to the second electrode of the resistor R, the first electrode of the ammeter I, the first electrode of the third switch S3, and the first electrode of the fourth switch S4.

[0186] The first electrode of the ammeter I may be connected to the second electrode of the resistor R, the second electrode of the voltmeter V, the first electrode of the third switch S3, and the first electrode of the fourth switch S4, and the second electrode of the ammeter I may be connected to the sixth terminal E6 of the monitoring unit 430.

[0187] Meanwhile, the third switch S3 may be connected between the discharge unit 420 and the power detection unit 432, the fourth switch S4 may be connected between the power detection unit 432 and the power supply unit 470, and the fifth switch S5 may be connected between the discharge unit 420 and the power supply unit 470.

[0188] Specifically, the first electrode of the third switch S3 may be connected to the first electrode of the fourth switch S4, the second electrode of the resistor R, the second electrode of the voltmeter V, and the first electrode of the ammeter I, and the second electrode of the third switch S3 may be connected to the fourth terminal E4 of the monitoring unit 430 and the first electrode of the fifth switch S5.

[0189] The first electrode of the fourth switch S4 may be connected to the first electrode of the third switch S3, the second electrode of the resistor R, the second electrode of the voltmeter V, and the first electrode of the ammeter I, and the second electrode of the fourth switch S4 may be connected to the 11th terminal E11 of the monitoring unit 430.

[0190] A first electrode of the fifth switch S5 may be connected to a fourth terminal E4 of the monitoring unit 430 and a second electrode of the third switch S3, and a second electrode of the fifth switch S5 may be connected to a twelfth terminal E12 of the monitoring unit 430.

[0191] Status display unit 434 receives discharge information from discharge unit 420, receives power information of battery 460 from power detection unit 432, and receives temperature information and gas information of battery 460 from temperature sensor 440 and gas sensor 450, displays the discharge information as status information of discharge unit 420, and displays the power information, temperature information and gas information as status information of battery 460.

[0192] For example, the status display unit 434 may include a flat panel display such as a liquid crystal display or an organic light emitting diode display.

[0193] In the embodiment of FIG. 8, one status display unit 434 displays status information of one battery 460, but in other embodiments, one status display unit can display status information of multiple batteries 460.

[0194] The control unit 436 transmits and receives information to and from the discharge unit 420 via wired / wireless communication, and controls the power detection unit 432 and the status display unit 434 .

[0195] For example, the discharge unit 420 may transmit discharge information such as the performance of the discharge operation of the discharge unit 420 and the completion of the discharge operation to the control unit 436 of the monitoring unit 430, and the control unit 436 of the monitoring unit 430 may transmit command information such as starting or stopping the discharge operation to the discharge unit 420.

[0196] Then, the control unit 436 controls the third to fifth switches S3 to S5.

[0197] For example, after the discharge unit 420 has completed discharging the battery 460, the control unit 436 can perform extreme over-discharge of the battery 460 by controlling the power detection unit 432 and the third to fifth switches S3 to S5 to connect the power supply unit 470 in series to the battery 460.

[0198] The temperature sensor 440 and the gas sensor 450 are respectively connected to the monitoring unit 430 and disposed adjacent to the battery 460 to sense temperature information and gas information of the battery 460 and transmit the sensed temperature information and gas information of the battery 460 to the status display unit 434.

[0199] For example, the temperature sensor 440 may be coupled to a seventh terminal E7 of the monitoring unit 430, and the gas sensor 450 may be coupled to an eighth terminal E8 of the monitoring unit 430.

[0200] The electrolyte contained in the battery 460 is sensitive to heat, so if a large current flows through the battery 460 or the battery 460 is exposed to high temperatures, a chemical reaction occurs due to the movement of electrons, generating heat or gas. The generated heat or gas causes a swelling phenomenon in which many batteries 460 swell, which can result in fire or explosion.

[0201] Accordingly, the monitoring unit 430 can manage whether or not the battery 460 has an abnormality by using the temperature information and gas information of the battery 460 .

[0202] The battery 460 may be connected to the discharge unit 420 through the monitoring unit 430 .

[0203] For example, the ninth and tenth terminals E9, E10 of the battery 460 may be coupled to the fifth and sixth terminals E5, E6 of the monitoring unit 430, respectively.

[0204] That is, the ninth terminal E9 of the battery 460 is connected to the second electrode of the first switch S1, the first electrode of the second switch S2, and the first electrode of the voltmeter V of the power detection unit 432 through the fifth terminal E5 of the monitoring unit 430, and the tenth terminal E10 of the battery 460 is connected to the second electrode of the ammeter I of the power detection unit 432 through the sixth terminal E6 of the monitoring unit 430.

[0205] The power supply unit 470 is connected to the monitoring unit 430 and supplies a negative reverse potential voltage to the battery 460 for over-discharging.

[0206] For example, the thirteenth and fourteenth terminals E13, E14 of the power supply unit 470 may be coupled to the eleventh and twelfth terminals E11, E12 of the monitoring unit 430, respectively.

[0207] The reverse potential voltage of the power supply unit 470 may be a voltage having the same magnitude and opposite polarity as the discharge end voltage, and the reverse potential voltage of each battery 460 may be about -1V.

[0208] Even if the battery is discharged to a total voltage of 0V, it can still be used even if it was not 100% charged when it was charged. Therefore, when disassembling a battery that has reached the end of its life and recycling the materials, it is necessary to discharge the battery by immersing it in salt water to make it permanently useless, or to keep it in a short-circuited state for a certain period of time to prevent rebound. However, discharging the battery by immersing it in salt water requires a longer process time and incurs additional costs such as environmental fees, and keeping the battery in a short-circuited state incurs additional costs due to loading space and management.

[0209] In the battery discharging device 410 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the battery 460 is discharged to a discharge completion voltage by the discharge unit 420, and then the battery 460 is discharged to a negative reverse potential voltage by the power supply unit 470. In this case, the electrodes of the battery 460 are destroyed, and the battery 460 can be made permanently useless without additional processes such as immersion in salt water or maintaining a short circuit state.

[0210] The monitoring unit 430 can be operated in a discharge mode, a detection mode, and an additional discharge mode under the control of the control unit 436, which will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0211] 9a, 9b and 9c are diagrams illustrating the operation states of the discharge mode, detection mode and additional discharge mode of the battery discharging device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, respectively, which will be described with reference to FIG.

[0212] As shown in FIG. 9a, in the discharge mode, under the control of the control unit 436, the first switch S1 and the third switch S3 of the power detection unit 432 are turned on, and the second switch S2 and the fourth and fifth switches S4 and S5 of the power detection unit 432 are turned off, so that the ninth terminal E9 of the battery 460 is connected to the first terminal E1 of the discharge unit 420, and the tenth terminal E10 of the battery 460 is connected to the second terminal E2 of the discharge unit 420.

[0213] Accordingly, the first terminal E1 of the discharge unit 420 is connected to the ninth terminal E9 of the battery 460, and the second terminal E2 of the discharge unit 420 is connected to the tenth terminal E10 of the battery 460, and the charge remaining in the battery 460 is transferred to the discharge unit 420 through the monitoring unit 430, thereby discharging the battery 460 connected to the discharge unit 420.

[0214] As shown in FIG. 9b, in the detection mode, the first switch S1 and the third to fifth switches S3 to S5 of the power detection unit 432 are turned off and the second switch S2 of the power detection unit 432 is turned on under the control of the control unit 436, so that a closed circuit is formed between the ninth and tenth terminals E9, E10 of the battery 460 and the resistor R of the power detection unit 432.

[0215] Accordingly, the voltmeter V and ammeter I of the power detection unit 432 can detect power information such as the voltage and current of the battery 460, respectively.

[0216] As shown in FIG. 9c, in the additional discharge mode, under the control of the control unit 436, the first switch S1 and the fourth and fifth switches S4 and S5 of the power detection unit 432 are turned on, the second switch S2 and the third switch S3 of the power detection unit 432 are turned off, and the ninth terminal E9 of the battery 460 is connected to the first terminal E1 of the discharge unit 420, the tenth terminal E10 of the battery 460 is connected to the thirteenth terminal E13 of the power supply unit 470, and the fourteenth terminal E14 of the power supply unit 470 is connected to the second terminal E2 of the discharge unit 420.

[0217] Accordingly, the first terminal E1 of the discharge unit 420 is connected to the ninth terminal E9 of the battery 460, and the second terminal E2 of the discharge unit 420 is connected to the fourteenth terminal E14 of the power supply unit 470, so that the battery 460 and the power supply unit 470 are connected in series and the reverse potential voltage of the power supply unit 470 is applied to the battery 460, thereby performing an extreme over-discharge to permanently dispose of the battery 460.

[0218] As described above, in the battery discharging device 410 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, a number of discharging units 420 and a number of batteries 460 are connected in a 1:1 relationship to perform a discharging operation, thereby reducing the time required for the discharging operation of the multiple batteries 460 and saving costs.

[0219] In addition, by performing extreme over-discharge on the multiple batteries 460 using the reverse potential voltage of the multiple power supply units 470, it is possible to achieve permanent disposal for recycling without additional processes.

[0220] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations of the present invention may be made without departing from the technical spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A discharge portion; a monitoring unit including a plurality of power detection units connected in parallel to the discharge unit, the plurality of batteries being respectively connected; a plurality of temperature sensors coupled to the monitoring unit for sensing temperatures of the plurality of batteries; The battery discharging device includes a number of gas sensors coupled to the monitoring unit for sensing gas in the number of batteries.

2. 2. The battery discharging device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second terminals of the discharging unit are respectively coupled to the third and fourth terminals of the monitoring unit.

3. The multiple power detection units each include A first switch; a second switch coupled to the first switch; a resistor coupled to the second switch; a voltmeter coupled to the second switch and to the resistor; 2. The battery discharge apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an ammeter coupled to said resistor.

4. In discharge mode, The first switch of each of the multiple power detection units is turned on and the second switch is turned off, 4. The battery discharging device according to claim 3, wherein the charges of the multiple batteries are transferred to the discharging section.

5. In detection mode, At least one of the first switches of the multiple power detection units is turned off and the second switch is turned on, 4. The battery discharging device according to claim 3, wherein the voltmeter and the ammeter detect the voltage and current of at least one of the plurality of batteries corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of power detection units, respectively.

6. a first electrode of the first switch is connected to a third terminal of the monitoring unit, and a second electrode of the first switch is connected to a first electrode of the second switch, a first electrode of the voltmeter, and a fifth terminal of the monitoring unit; a first electrode of the second switch is connected to a second electrode of the first switch, a first electrode of the voltmeter, and a fifth terminal of the monitoring unit, and a second electrode of the second switch is connected to a first electrode of the resistor; a first electrode of the resistor is connected to a second electrode of the second switch, and a second electrode of the resistor is connected to a fourth terminal of the monitoring unit, a second electrode of the voltmeter, and a first electrode of the ammeter; a first electrode of the voltmeter is connected to a second electrode of the first switch, a first electrode of the second switch, and a fifth terminal of the monitoring unit, and a second electrode of the voltmeter is connected to a fourth terminal of the monitoring unit, a second electrode of the resistor, and a first electrode of the ammeter; 4. The battery discharging device of claim 3, wherein a first electrode of the ammeter is connected to a fourth terminal of the monitoring unit, a second electrode of the resistor, and a second electrode of the voltmeter, and a second electrode of the ammeter is connected to a sixth terminal of the monitoring unit.

7. 2. The battery discharging device of claim 1, wherein the fifth and sixth terminals of the monitoring unit are respectively coupled to the ninth and tenth terminals of each of the plurality of batteries.

8. 2. The battery discharging device of claim 1, wherein a seventh terminal of the monitoring unit is connected to the plurality of temperature sensors, and an eighth terminal of the monitoring unit is connected to the plurality of gas sensors.

9. a status display unit that displays, as status information, discharge information of the discharge unit, power information of the multiple power detection units, temperature information of the multiple temperature sensors, and gas information of the multiple gas sensors; The battery discharging device according to claim 1 , further comprising a control unit that communicates with the discharging unit via wire / wireless and controls the multiple power detection units and the status display unit.

10. A discharge portion; A monitoring unit including a number of power detection units connected in series to the discharge unit, each of which is connected to a number of batteries; a plurality of temperature sensors coupled to the monitoring unit for sensing temperatures of the plurality of batteries; The battery discharging device includes a number of gas sensors coupled to the monitoring unit for sensing gas in the number of batteries.

11. The battery discharging device of claim 10 , wherein the first and second terminals of the discharging unit are respectively coupled to the third and fourth terminals of the monitoring unit.

12. The multiple power detection units each include A first switch; a second switch coupled to the first switch; a resistor coupled to the second switch; a voltmeter coupled to the second switch and to the resistor; an ammeter coupled to the resistor; a third switch coupled to the resistor; 11. The battery discharging device of claim 10, further comprising a fourth switch coupled to the first and third switches.

13. In discharge mode, the first and third switches of each of the multiple power detection units are turned on and the second and fourth switches are turned off; The battery discharging device according to claim 12, wherein the charges of the multiple batteries are transferred to the discharging section.

14. In detection mode, At least one of the power detection units has the first and third switches turned off and the second and fourth switches turned on, 13. The battery discharging device according to claim 12, wherein the voltmeter and the ammeter detect the voltage and current of at least one of the multiple batteries corresponding to the at least one of the multiple power detection units, respectively.

15. The plurality of power detection units are composed of first to nth stages connected in series to the discharge unit, a first electrode of the first switch of the first stage is connected to a third terminal of the monitoring unit and a first electrode of the fourth switch of the first stage, first electrodes of the first switches of the second to nth stages are connected to a second electrode of the third switch of a previous stage, a second electrode of the fourth switch, and a first electrode of the fourth switch of a current stage, and second electrodes of the first switches of the first to nth stages are connected to a first electrode of the second switch of a current stage, a first electrode of the voltmeter of a current stage, and a fifth terminal of the monitoring unit; a first electrode of the second switch of the first to nth stages is connected to a second electrode of the first switch of a current stage, a first electrode of the voltmeter of a current stage, and a fifth terminal of the monitoring unit, and a second electrode of the second switch of the first to nth stages is connected to a first electrode of the resistor; a first electrode of the third switch of the first to nth stages is connected to a second electrode of the resistor of a current stage, a second electrode of the voltmeter of a current stage, and a first electrode of the ammeter of a current stage; a second electrode of the third switch of the first to (n-1)th stages is connected to a second electrode of the fourth switch of a current stage, a first electrode of the first switch of a next stage, and a first electrode of the fourth switch of a next stage; and a second electrode of the third switch of the nth stage is connected to a fourth terminal of the monitoring unit and a second electrode of the fourth switch of a current stage; a first electrode of the fourth switch in the first stage is connected to a third terminal of the monitoring unit and a first electrode of the first switch in the first stage, a first electrode of the fourth switch in the second to n-th stages is connected to a second electrode of the third switch in a previous stage and a second electrode of the fourth switch in a previous stage, a second electrode of the fourth switch in the first to (n-1)-th stages is connected to a second electrode of the third switch in a current stage, a first electrode of the first switch in a next stage and a first electrode of the fourth switch in a next stage, and a second electrode of the fourth switch in the n-th stage is connected to a second electrode of the third switch in a current stage and a fourth terminal of the monitoring unit, a first electrode of the resistor of the first to nth stages is connected to a second electrode of the second switch of a current stage, and a second electrode of the resistor of the first to nth stages is connected to a first electrode of the third switch of a current stage, a second electrode of the voltmeter, and a first electrode of the ammeter; First electrodes of the voltmeters of the first to nth stages are connected to a second electrode of the first switch of a current stage, a first electrode of the second switch of a current stage, and a fifth terminal (E5) of the monitoring unit, and second electrodes of the voltmeters of the first to nth stages are connected to a first electrode of the third switch of a current stage, a second electrode of the resistor of a current stage, and a first electrode of the ammeter of a current stage; 13. The battery discharging device of claim 12, wherein first electrodes of the ammeters of the 1st to nth stages are connected to a first electrode of the third switch of a current stage, a second electrode of the resistor of a current stage, and a second electrode of the voltmeter of a current stage, and second electrodes of the ammeters of the 1st to nth stages are connected to a sixth terminal of the monitoring unit.

16. 11. The battery discharging device of claim 10, wherein the fifth and sixth terminals of the monitoring unit are respectively coupled to the ninth and tenth terminals of each of the multiple batteries.

17. 11. The battery discharging device of claim 10, wherein a seventh terminal of the monitoring unit is connected to the plurality of temperature sensors, and an eighth terminal of the monitoring unit is connected to the plurality of gas sensors.

18. a status display unit that displays, as status information, discharge information of the discharge unit, power information of the multiple power detection units, temperature information of the multiple temperature sensors, and gas information of the multiple gas sensors; The battery discharging device according to claim 10 , further comprising a control unit that communicates with the discharging unit via wire / wireless and controls the multiple power detection units and the status display unit.

19. The monitoring unit further includes a power supply unit connected to the power supply unit. The monitoring unit is a fifth switch connected between the discharge unit and the plurality of power detection units; a sixth switch coupled between the plurality of power detection units and the power supply unit; The battery discharging device of claim 12 , further comprising a seventh switch coupled between the discharging unit and the power supply unit.

20. In additional discharge mode, the first and third switches and the sixth and seventh switches of each of the multiple power detection units are turned on, and the second and fourth switches and the fifth switch of each of the multiple power detection units are turned off; 20. The battery discharge device of claim 19, wherein the reverse potential voltage of the power supply is applied to the multiple batteries.

21. The plurality of power detection units are composed of first to nth stages connected in series to the discharge unit, A first electrode of the fifth switch is connected to a second electrode of the third switch of the nth stage, a second electrode of the fourth switch of the nth stage, and a first electrode of the sixth switch S6, and a second electrode of the fifth switch is connected to a fourth terminal of the monitoring unit and a first electrode of the seventh switch, a first electrode of the sixth switch is connected to a second electrode of the third switch of the nth stage, a second electrode of the fourth switch of the nth stage, and a first electrode of the fifth switch, and a second electrode of the sixth switch is connected to an eleventh terminal of the monitoring unit; 20. The battery discharging device of claim 19, wherein a first electrode of the seventh switch is connected to a fourth terminal of the monitoring unit and a second electrode of the fifth switch, and a second electrode of the seventh switch is connected to a twelfth terminal of the monitoring unit.

22. A number of discharge parts; a plurality of monitoring units each including a power detection unit connected to a plurality of batteries and each connected to the plurality of discharge units; a plurality of temperature sensors respectively connected to the plurality of monitoring units and configured to sense temperatures of the plurality of batteries; a plurality of gas sensors respectively connected to the plurality of monitoring units and configured to sense gas in the plurality of batteries; a main control unit that transmits and receives information to and from the multiple discharge units and the multiple monitoring units; a plurality of power supply units respectively connected to the plurality of monitoring units and each supplying a reverse potential voltage to the plurality of batteries;

23. The power detection unit A first switch; a second switch coupled to the first switch; a resistor coupled to the second switch; a voltmeter coupled to the second switch and to the resistor; 23. The battery discharge apparatus of claim 22 including an ammeter coupled to the resistor.

24. The multiple monitoring units each include a third switch connected between each of the plurality of discharge units and the power detection unit; a fourth switch coupled between the power detection unit and each of the plurality of power supplies; 24. The battery discharging device of claim 23, further comprising a seventh switch coupled between each of the multiple discharge units and each of the multiple power supply units.

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