Battery sharing device

Abstract

This application can provide a battery swapping device (BSS, Battery Swapping Station) and a method of using the same. In this application, two types of wireless communication means using different frequency bands are applied to solve problems such as frequent battery replacement in the battery swapping device and communication errors that may be induced by an emergency state of the battery, and to enable accurate and efficient confirmation and handling of information about the emergency state. A battery swapping device and a method of using the same can be provided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0065240, filed on May 27, 2022, and all the contents disclosed in the document of the Korean Patent Application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0002] This application relates to a battery sharing device and a method of using the same.

Background Art

[0003] Electric driving means is driving means that uses a battery such as a secondary battery as a driving energy source, and typical examples thereof include electric two-wheel vehicles such as electric vehicles and E-scooters.

[0004] In the use of electric driving means, efficiently charging the battery is an important issue. For example, if there is no charging station around when urgent movement is required, or if the charging time is long even if there is a charging station, the utilization efficiency of the electric driving means decreases.

[0005] One of the means proposed in consideration of these problems is a so-called battery sharing device (BSS, Battery Swapping Station). The battery sharing device is a device configured to allow a user of electric driving means to exchange a discharged battery for a charged battery, and currently, it is mainly applied to devices such as electric two-wheel vehicles where battery replacement is relatively easy, but an expansion of the future application range is expected.

[0006] The battery sharing device includes a plurality of charging stations capable of charging individual batteries, and communication terminals are provided at each individual charging station to communicate about the state information of the batteries.

[0007] In the case of currently known battery sharing devices, there is a problem that frequent battery replacement causes frequent failures and malfunctions of the communication terminals, leading to communication errors. Also, even when problems such as abnormal ignition of the battery occur during the charging process of the battery, there is a problem that the communication error problem occurs and the use is restricted.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0008] The present application aims to provide a battery sharing device (BSS, Battery Swapping Station) and a method of using the same.

[0009] In the present application, two types of wireless communication means using different frequency bands are applied to solve the problem of communication errors induced by frequent battery replacement or the like in the battery sharing device or induced by an emergency, and to enable accurate and efficient confirmation and handling of information about the emergency. An object is to provide a battery sharing device and a method of using the same.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0010] The present application relates to a battery sharing device (BSS, Battery Swapping Station).

[0011] The battery sharing device of the present application may include a plurality of charging stations where charging of a battery module or a battery pack proceeds, a first wireless communication means provided to be able to communicate with a battery management system of the battery module or the battery pack, and a second wireless communication means installed to enable data transmission and reception between battery management systems of battery modules or battery packs in the plurality of charging stations.

[0012] The first and second wireless communication means are wireless communication means having different communication frequency bands. In one example, the frequency band of the second wireless communication means may be a higher frequency band than the communication frequency band of the first wireless communication means.

[0013] In one example, the first wireless communication means may be so-called Near Field Communication means, for example, contact or non-contact near field communication means with a communication frequency band of about 13.56 MHz.

[0014] In one example, the second wireless communication means can use a communication frequency in a band within the range of 300 GHz to 10 GHz.

[0015] In the battery sharing device, when the battery module or battery pack is in a normal state, the first wireless communication means is activated and can maintain a communication state with the battery management system (BMS, Battery Management System) of the battery module or battery pack. At this point, the second wireless communication means can be controlled to maintain an inactivated state (for example, a transmission inactivated state) or a reception standby state.

[0016] In the battery sharing device, when an emergency state occurs in one or more battery modules or battery packs, it can be controlled such that information about the emergency state is transmitted by the second wireless communication means to the battery management system of other battery modules or battery packs.

[0017] When the state of the charging station of the battery management system that has received the emergency state information is in a normal state when the emergency state information is transmitted, the second wireless communication means of the charging station can be controlled to maintain an inactivated state (for example, a transmission inactivated state) or a reception standby state.

[0018] When the state of the charging station of the battery management system that has received the emergency state information is in an emergency state when the emergency state information is transmitted, the emergency state information can be controlled to be transmitted by the second wireless communication means of the charging station to the battery management systems of other charging stations.

[0019] This application also relates to a method of using a battery sharing device, and the battery sharing device may include first and second wireless communication means having different communication frequency bands from a plurality of charging stations where charging of a battery module or a battery pack is in progress.

[0020] The battery sharing device may be the battery sharing device described above.

[0021] The method of use may include the steps of communicating with the battery management system of the battery module or the battery pack using the first wireless communication means, and controlling the state of the second wireless communication means according to the state information of the battery module or the battery pack.

[0022] The communication frequency band of the second wireless communication means may be higher compared to the communication frequency band of the first wireless communication means.

[0023] In the method of use, when the battery module or the battery pack is in a normal state, the step of maintaining the second wireless communication means in an inactive state (for example, a transmission inactive state) or a reception standby state may be performed.

[0024] In the method of use, when an emergency occurs in one or more battery modules or battery packs, the step of transmitting information about the emergency to the battery management systems of other battery modules or battery packs using the second wireless communication means may be performed.

[0025] In the above usage method, when the state of the charging station of the battery management system that has received the emergency state information is normal when the emergency state information is transmitted, a step of maintaining the second wireless communication means of the charging station of the battery management system that has received the emergency state information in an inactive state (for example, a transmission inactive state) or a reception standby state may be performed.

[0026] In the above usage method, when the state of the charging station of the battery management system that has received the emergency state information is in an emergency state when the emergency state information is transmitted, a step of transmitting by the second wireless communication means of the charging station of the battery management system that has received the emergency state information to the battery management system of another charging station may be performed.

Advantages of the Invention

[0027] This application can provide a battery sharing device (BSS, Battery Swapping Station) and its usage method. In this application, two types of wireless communication means using different frequency bands are applied to solve problems such as frequent battery replacement in the battery sharing device and communication errors that may be induced by the emergency state of the battery, and to enable accurate and efficient confirmation and handling of information about the emergency state. A battery sharing device and its usage method can be provided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0028]

Figure 1

[0029]

Figure 2

[0030]

Figure 3

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0031] This application relates to a battery swapping station (BSS). FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a normal battery swapping station. FIG. 1 shows a general configuration of the battery swapping station, and the configuration of the swapping station applicable in this application is not limited to that shown in FIG. 1.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 1, usually, the battery swapping station includes charging stations 1 to 8 provided so that charging of a battery module or a battery pack can proceed, and a plurality of these charging stations may exist in the battery swapping station. Further, the battery swapping station may include a display part 10 for displaying the battery state of each charging station.

[0033] In such a battery swapping station, there is a need for communication means that can monitor the state of the battery module or battery pack existing in each charging station and share information about the state.

[0034] In this application, at least two types of communication means are applied as the communication means. Specifically, two types of wireless communication means having different use frequency bands are applied.

[0035] For example, in this application, different communication means can be used as communication means for communication with a battery management system (BMS) of a battery module or a battery pack at each individual charging station of the battery swapping station and as communication means for data transmission and reception between the entire charging stations.

[0036] For example, the battery sharing device may include first wireless communication means installed so as to be able to communicate with the battery management system (BMS) of the battery module or battery pack at each individual charging station. The first wireless communication means may be, for example, near field communication means. The first wireless communication means may be communication means for communication with the battery management system (BMS, Battery Management System) of the battery module or battery pack at each individual charging station.

[0037] As is well known, near field communication means is a communication means that uses a frequency of about 13.56 MHz, is a technology for wireless communication at a relatively short distance, and is generally a means utilized in services such as transportation, tickets, and / or payments. Such near field communication means can be utilized in a contact or non-contact manner.

[0038] In the present application, the first wireless communication means is applied as communication means for communication with the battery management system (BMS, Battery Management System) of the battery module or battery pack at each individual charging station, and information about the state of each individual battery module or pack can be obtained.

[0039] The method of performing communication at each individual charging station using the first wireless communication means is not particularly limited, and general communication methods can be utilized.

[0040] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a communication state within any one of the charging stations 1 to 8 of the battery sharing device of FIG. 1.

[0041] For example, when near field communication means is applied as the first wireless communication means as shown in FIG. 2, a chip and transceiver means 101 capable of communication may be provided in the battery module or pack and its battery management system (BMS), and the same means 102 may also be provided at the charging station to perform the communication.

[0042] The battery sharing device of the present application may include a second wireless communication means different from the first wireless communication means, and such a second wireless communication means can be used as a means for transmitting and receiving state information of battery modules or battery packs at a plurality of charging stations in the battery sharing device to each other.

[0043] That is, the second wireless communication means may be provided so that data can be transmitted and received between battery management systems of battery modules or battery packs in a plurality of charging stations of the battery sharing device.

[0044] At this time, as the second wireless communication means, any communication means different from the first wireless communication means can be applied without particular limitation, but preferably, a second wireless communication means that utilizes a communication frequency with a higher bandwidth compared to the first wireless communication means can be applied.

[0045] For example, the second wireless communication means may be a second wireless communication means using a frequency in the band of about 300 MHz to 10 GHz. Examples of such second wireless communication means include Bluetooth (registered trademark) communication means and Wi-Fi (registered trademark) communication means using a frequency in the band of about 2.4 GHz, Wi-Fi communication means using a frequency in the band of about 5 GHz, or EnOcean communication means using a frequency in the band of about 315 MHz, 868 MHz, 905 MHz, and / or 902 MHz, but is not limited thereto.

[0046] In the present application, an appropriate battery sharing device can be provided by controlling the operation modes of the two types of communication means.

[0047] For example, when the battery sharing device is in a normal state, the first wireless communication means can be activated to maintain a communication state with the battery management system (BMS, Battery Management System), and the second wireless communication means can be controlled to maintain a deactivated state or a reception standby state.

[0048] The normal state refers to the state before, during, or after charging of the battery module or battery pack, and means a state in which no abnormal state has occurred in the module or pack. The abnormal state includes cases where abnormal high temperature or heat generation occurs in the battery module or pack, or abnormal states such as overcharge state or ignition state.

[0049] On the other hand, in the battery sharing device, when an emergency state occurs in one or more battery modules or battery packs, the information about the emergency state can be controlled to be transmitted by the second wireless communication means to the battery management system of other battery modules or battery packs.

[0050] The emergency state refers to the state before, during, or after charging of the battery module or battery pack, and means a case where an abnormal state has occurred in the module or pack. The abnormal state includes cases where abnormal high temperature or heat generation occurs in the battery module or pack, or abnormal states such as overcharge state or ignition state.

[0051] When the battery sharing device receives the emergency state information of the charging station where the emergency state has occurred from the battery management system of other charging stations, it can also control the driving of the communication means according to the state of the battery management system that has received the emergency state information.

[0052] For example, when the state of the charging station of the battery management system that has received the emergency state information is in the normal state, the second wireless communication means of the charging station can be controlled to maintain the deactivated state or the reception standby state. At this time, the communication state between the first wireless communication means of the charging station and the battery management system of the charging station can be maintained in the active state.

[0053] Further, when the state of the charging station of the battery management system that has received the emergency state information is in an emergency state, the transmission state of the second wireless communication means of the station is activated, and the information about the emergency state can be transmitted by the second wireless communication means whose transmission state is activated to the battery management systems of other charging stations.

[0054] Figure 3 is a flowchart for explaining the state of the communication means.

[0055] For example, assuming the usage state of the battery sharing device, at at least one of the charging stations of the sharing device, a fully charged battery module or pack is exchanged with a discharged battery module or pack. In Figure 3, it is assumed that the exchange has been performed at two charging stations (the first and second charging stations) of the battery sharing device.

[0056] If the battery module or pack is exchanged as described above, the connection and initialization with the battery management system (BMS) proceed at each charging station, and then it can proceed to the charging mode. However, it does not necessarily proceed through all the charging modes, and it can proceed to other modes such as the standby mode as required.

[0057] The state of the battery module or pack is diagnosed in the charging mode. At this time, the first wireless communication means (NFC) has its communication state activated and enters a communication state with each individual battery management system. If a normal state in which no abnormal state occurs in the battery module or pack is maintained, the charging mode proceeds until full charge. In such a normal state, the second wireless communication means maintains an inactivated state or a reception standby state.

[0058] When an abnormal state occurs at any charging station in the aforementioned state and an emergency state is detected, the transmission of the second wireless communication means is activated. At this point, the transmission states of the first wireless communication means and the second wireless communication means can be activated simultaneously. Figure 3 assumes that an emergency state has been detected at the first charging station. As described above, when an emergency state is detected at the first charging station, the second wireless communication means transmits information about the emergency state to other charging stations. In Figure 3, it shows the case where information on the emergency state of the first charging station is transmitted to the second charging station by the second wireless communication means. However, the information about the emergency state of the first charging station can be transmitted to at least a part or all of the other charging stations other than the first charging station within the battery sharing device.

[0059] Also, the information transmitted in this way can be transmitted to the integrated management system.

[0060] The operation of the communication means of the second charging station that has received the emergency state information of the first charging station can be adjusted differently according to the state of the second charging station.

[0061] For example, when the second charging station is in a normal state, the first wireless communication means of the second charging station is controlled to maintain the communication state with the battery management system, and the second wireless communication means maintains a reception standby state or an inactivated state, or at least the transmission state can maintain an inactivated state.

[0062] On the other hand, when the second charging station is in an emergency state, both the transmission states of the first wireless communication means and the second wireless communication means of the second charging station are activated, and the information about the emergency state of the second charging station can be transmitted to other charging stations by the second wireless communication means.

[0063] In this application, by appropriately operating the two communication means as described above, it is possible to prevent communication error problems even when the battery module or pack is frequently replaced, and when an emergency occurs, it is possible to effectively and quickly detect the location and degree of occurrence of the emergency and efficiently respond to the emergency.

[0064] This application also relates to a method of using a battery sharing device.

[0065] Specifically, the usage method may relate to the battery sharing device described above, and a plurality of charging stations where charging of the battery module or battery pack is in progress, and a method of using a battery sharing device including a first wireless communication means and a second wireless communication means.

[0066] The specific description of the usage method is the same as that described in the battery sharing device.

[0067] Therefore, the usage method may include a step of communicating with the battery management system of the battery module or battery pack using the first wireless communication means, and a step of controlling the state of the second wireless communication means according to the state information of the battery module or battery pack.

[0068] The communication frequency band of the second wireless communication means may be higher than that of the first wireless communication means.

[0069] In the usage method, when the battery module or battery pack is in a normal state, a step of maintaining the second wireless communication means in an inactive state or a reception standby state may be performed.

[0070] In the above usage method, when an emergency occurs in one or more battery modules or battery packs, the step of transmitting information about the emergency to the battery management system of other battery modules or battery packs using the second wireless communication means may be performed.

[0071] In the above usage method, when the state of the charging station of the battery management system that has received the emergency state information is in a normal state when the emergency state information is transmitted, the step of maintaining the second wireless communication means of the charging station of the battery management system that has received the emergency state information in an inactive state or a reception standby state may be performed.

[0072] In the above usage method, when the state of the charging station of the battery management system that has received the emergency state information is in an emergency state when the emergency state information is transmitted, the step of transmitting the emergency state information to the battery management system of other charging stations by the second wireless communication means of the charging station of the battery management system that has received the emergency state information may be performed.

Claims

1. A plurality of charging stations where charging of a battery module or a battery pack proceeds, First wireless communication means provided so as to be able to communicate with a battery management system of the battery module or the battery pack, Second wireless communication means installed so as to enable data transmission and reception between battery management systems of battery modules or battery packs within the plurality of charging stations, and The first and second wireless communication means are battery sharing devices having different communication frequency bands from each other.

2. The battery sharing device according to claim 1, wherein the communication frequency band of the second wireless communication means is higher than the communication frequency band of the first wireless communication means.

3. The battery sharing device according to claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication means is non-contact or contact proximity communication means.

4. The battery sharing device according to claim 1, wherein the communication frequency band of the second wireless communication means is within a range of 300 MHz to 10 GHz.

5. In a normal state of the battery module or the battery pack, the first wireless communication means is in a communication state with the battery management system, and the second wireless communication means is controlled to be in a transmission deactivated state or a reception standby state. The battery sharing device according to claim 1.

6. When an emergency state of a battery module or a battery pack is detected at a charging station, transmission of the second wireless communication means of the charging station is activated. The battery sharing device according to claim 1.

7. When an emergency state occurs in one or more battery modules or battery packs, emergency state information about the emergency state is controlled to be transmitted by the second wireless communication means to battery management systems of other charging stations. The battery sharing device according to claim 1.

8. The state of the second wireless communication means of the charging station of the battery management system that has received the emergency state information is controlled according to the state of the charging station. The battery sharing device according to claim 7.

9. When the state of the charging station of the battery management system that has received the emergency state information is a normal state, the charging station is controlled to maintain the transmission deactivated state or the reception standby state of the second wireless communication means. The battery sharing device according to claim 7.

10. When the state of the charging station of the battery management system that has received the emergency state information is an emergency state, the emergency state information is controlled to be transmitted by the second wireless communication means of the charging station to the battery management systems of other charging stations. The battery sharing device according to claim 7.

11. A method of using a battery sharing device including a plurality of charging stations where charging of a battery module or a battery pack is in progress and first and second wireless communication means having different communication frequency bands from each other, communicating with the battery management systems of the battery modules or battery packs at the plurality of charging stations using the first wireless communication means; controlling the state of the second wireless communication means that enables data transmission and reception between the battery management systems of the battery modules or battery packs at the plurality of charging stations according to the state information of the battery module or battery pack. A method of using a battery sharing device including.

12. The method of using a battery sharing device according to claim 11, wherein the communication frequency band of the second wireless communication means is higher than the communication frequency band of the first wireless communication means.

13. The method of using a battery sharing device according to claim 11, wherein the second wireless communication means is maintained in a transmission deactivated state or a reception standby state in a normal state of the battery module or the battery pack.

14. When an emergency state of a battery module or a battery pack is detected at a charging station, activating transmission of the second wireless communication means of the charging station. The method of using a battery sharing device according to claim 11.

15. When an emergency state occurs in one or more battery modules or battery packs, transmitting emergency state information about the emergency state to the battery management systems of other charging stations by the second wireless communication means. The method of using a battery sharing device according to claim 11.

16. The step of controlling the state of the second wireless communication means includes the step of controlling the state of the second wireless communication means of the charging station of the battery management system that has received the emergency state information according to the state of the charging station. The method of using a battery sharing device according to claim 15.

17. The method of using the battery sharing device according to claim 15, wherein when the state of the charging station of the battery management system that has received the emergency state information is a normal state, the second wireless communication means of the charging station is maintained in a transmission inactivated state or a reception standby state.

18. The method of using the battery sharing device according to claim 15, wherein when the state of the charging station of the battery management system that has received the emergency state information is an emergency state, the emergency state information is transmitted to the battery management system of another charging station by the second wireless communication means of the charging station.

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