Battery rapid charging device and method

Abstract

The battery rapid charging device and method according to an embodiment of the present invention can shorten the rapid charging time by adding a compensation current considering a current gain according to an initial charging state of a battery to a charging current of the battery obtained by considering only the temperature and real-time charging state of an existing battery and supplying the same to the battery.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application claims the benefit of the filing date of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0129626, filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office on October 11, 2022, and all of the content disclosed in the document of the Korean patent application is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to a battery rapid charging device and method, and more specifically, to a battery rapid charging device and method that measure an initial charge amount of a battery and reflect a compensation current corresponding thereto.

Background Art

[0003] Due to the depletion of fossil fuels, the price of energy sources has risen, and the concern about environmental pollution has increased rapidly. As an environmentally friendly alternative energy source, the demand for secondary batteries is rapidly increasing.

[0004] Such secondary batteries can be repeatedly charged and regenerated, and as a countermeasure to current environmental regulations and high crude oil prices, they are applied to small devices such as mobile phones and notebook computers, as well as large industrial fields such as automobiles, robots, and energy storage devices.

[0005] Among secondary batteries, lithium secondary batteries have attracted attention due to advantages such as almost no memory effect, low self-discharge rate, and high energy density compared to nickel-based secondary batteries.

[0006] Conventionally, in response to the increasing use frequency of lithium batteries, rapid charging technologies for quickly charging batteries have been introduced.

[0007] Conventionally, a method has been provided in which a rapid charging map is used to obtain information on the magnitude of a charging current for rapid charging based on the temperature and state of charge (SOC) of the battery to be charged, and the battery is rapidly charged.

[0008] However, in the conventional rapid charging map, since the initial charge state of the battery to be charged is not considered, when the initial charge state of the battery exceeds the lowest range, even if a charging current above the current upper limit defined in the rapid charging map is provided, the charging current is limited and the efficiency is reduced, although it is possible to charge without lithium precipitation.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0009] An object of the present invention for solving the above problems is to provide a battery rapid charging device.

[0010] Another object of the present invention for solving the above problems is to provide a battery rapid charging method.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0011] A rapid charging device according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object includes a memory and a processor that executes at least one instruction stored in the memory, and the at least one instruction includes an instruction to check the initial charge state (State Of Charge, SOC) of the battery to be charged and the temperature information of the battery, an instruction to calculate the magnitude of the initial charging current based on the initial charge state of the battery, and an instruction to provide the calculated magnitude of the initial charging current to the battery to rapidly charge the battery.

[0012] At this time, the instruction to calculate may include an instruction to calculate the magnitude of the initial charging current of the battery based on a rapid charging map that defines a current upper limit according to the charge state of the battery and a compensation current map that defines a compensation current according to the initial charge state of the battery.

[0013] Here, the instruction to calculate as described above may include an instruction to check the magnitude of the current limit according to the initial state of charge of the battery using the rapid charging map, an instruction to check the magnitude of the compensation current according to the initial state of charge of the battery using the compensation current map, and an instruction to calculate the magnitude of the initial charging current based on the magnitudes of the current limit and the compensation current.

[0014] Also, the magnitude of the initial charging current may be a value obtained by adding the magnitudes of the current limit and the compensation current.

[0015] On the other hand, the instruction to check may further include an instruction to check the real-time state of charge of the battery.

[0016] Also, at least one instruction may further include an instruction to monitor the real-time state of charge of the battery, and an instruction to provide a charging current corresponding to the magnitude of the changed current limit to the battery for rapid charging when the current limit in the rapid charging map is changed according to the change in the real-time state of charge of the battery.

[0017] Another embodiment of the battery rapid charging method according to the present invention for achieving the above object includes a step of checking the initial state of charge (State Of Charge, SOC) of the battery to be charged and the temperature information of the battery, a step of calculating the magnitude of the initial charging current based on the initial state of charge of the battery, and a step of providing the calculated magnitude of the initial charging current to the battery to rapidly charge the battery.

[0018] At this time, in the calculating step, the magnitude of the initial charging current of the battery can be calculated based on a rapid charging map defining a current limit according to the state of charge of the battery and a compensation current map defining a compensation current according to the initial state of charge of the battery.

[0019] Here, the above calculating step may include a step of checking the magnitude of the current upper limit according to the initial state of charge of the battery using the above rapid charging map, a step of checking the magnitude of the compensation current according to the initial state of charge of the battery using the above compensation current map, and a step of calculating the magnitude of the initial charging current based on the magnitude of the current upper limit and the compensation current.

[0020] Further, the magnitude of the initial charging current may be a value obtained by adding the magnitude of the current upper limit and the compensation current.

[0021] On the other hand, the above checking step may further include a step of checking the real-time state of charge of the battery.

[0022] In addition, the battery rapid charging method may further include a step of monitoring the real-time state of charge of the battery, and a step of providing a charging current corresponding to the changed current upper limit to the battery for rapid charging when the current upper limit in the rapid charging map is changed according to the change in the real-time state of charge of the battery.

Advantages of the Invention

[0023] The battery rapid charging device and method according to the embodiments of the present invention can shorten the rapid charging time by adding a compensation current considering the current gain according to the initial state of charge of the battery to the charging current of the battery obtained by only considering the temperature and real-time state of charge of the existing battery and supplying it to the battery.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0024]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0025] Since the present invention can be subjected to various modifications and can have various embodiments, specific embodiments will be illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the detailed description. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to specific embodiments, but it should be understood to include all modifications, equivalents, or alternatives included in the spirit and technical scope of the present invention. Similar reference numerals are used for similar components while explaining each drawing.

[0026] Terms such as first, second, A, B, etc. can be used to describe various components, but the above components should not be limited by the above terms. The above terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the rights of the present invention, the first component can be named the second component, and similarly, the second component can also be named the first component. The term "and / or" includes a combination of a plurality of relatedly described items or one of the plurality of relatedly described items.

[0027] When it is mentioned that a certain component is "connected to" or "connected with" another component, it should be understood that it may be directly connected to or connected with the other component, but there may also be another component in the middle. On the contrary, when it is mentioned that a certain component is "directly connected to" or "directly connected with" another component, it should be understood that there is no other component in the middle.

[0028] The terms used in this application are only used to explain specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this application, terms such as "including" or "having" are intended to specify the existence of features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, and it should be understood that the existence or possibility of addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof is not precluded in advance.

[0029] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present invention pertains. Terms defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the meaning in the context of the related art, and should not be interpreted as having an ideal or overly formal meaning unless clearly defined in this application.

[0030] Figure 1 is a table of a fast charging map used in a conventional battery fast charging device.

[0031] Referring to Figure 1, a conventional battery fast charging device can perform fast charging of a battery using a fast charging map that provides a limit current for each charging section according to temperature.

[0032] More specifically, a conventional battery fast charging device monitors the temperature and state of charge (SOC) of the battery, and can provide a charging current to the battery at the upper limit value of the current provided in the section corresponding to the fast charging map based on the monitoring information. As a result, the battery is fast charged.

[0033] The upper limit value of the current provided in the fast charging map may be the magnitude of the current limited to prevent lithium plating that may occur on the surface of the negative electrode of the battery during fast charging. In other words, the limiting current may be the upper limit value of the current set to prevent lithium plating during fast charging.

[0034] At this time, the magnitude of the limiting current can vary not only according to the temperature and the state of charge of the battery, but also according to the initial state of charge of the battery.

[0035] According to an embodiment, the limiting current can increase as the initial state of charge of the battery increases.

[0036] However, in the fast charging map, the limiting current by temperature is provided assuming that the initial state of charge of the battery to be charged is in the lowest section without considering the initial state of charge of the battery. Therefore, a conventional battery fast charging device that provides a charging current using the fast charging map has a disadvantage in that the charging current is limited and the efficiency is reduced even though it is possible to charge without lithium plating even when a charging current above the current upper limit defined in the fast charging map is provided when the initial state of charge of the battery exceeds the lowest section.

[0037] Therefore, in the present invention, a battery fast charging device and method that reflect a compensation current corresponding thereto during initial charging of the battery in consideration of the initial state of charge of the battery are disclosed.

[0038] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0039] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a battery fast charging device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] Referring to FIG. 2, a battery fast charging device according to an embodiment of the present invention can provide a charging current in consideration of the initial state of charge (State of Charge, hereinafter referred to as SOC) of the battery to be charged using a fast charging map and a compensation current map.

[0041] Specifically explaining the battery rapid charging device according to an embodiment of the present invention by component, the battery rapid charging device can include a memory 100, a processor 200, a transceiver 300, an input interface device 400, an output interface device 500, and a storage device 600.

[0042] According to an embodiment, each component 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 included in the control unit 4000 can be connected by a bus 700 to communicate with each other.

[0043] Among the above components 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, the memory 100 and the storage device 600 can be composed of at least one of a volatile storage medium and a non-volatile storage medium. For example, the memory 100 and the storage device 600 can be composed of at least one of a read only memory (ROM) and a random access memory (RAM).

[0044] Among these, the memory 100 can include at least one instruction executed by the processor 200.

[0045] According to an embodiment, the at least one instruction can include an instruction to check the initial state of charge (SOC) of the battery to be charged and the temperature information of the battery, an instruction to calculate the magnitude of the initial charging current based on the initial state of charge of the battery, and an instruction to provide the calculated magnitude of the initial charging current to the battery to rapidly charge the battery.

[0046] At this time, the instruction to calculate can include an instruction to calculate the magnitude of the initial charging current of the battery based on a rapid charging map defining a current upper limit according to the charging state of the battery and a compensation current map defining a compensation current according to the initial state of charge of the battery.

[0047] Here, the instruction to calculate as described above may include an instruction to use the rapid charging map to check the magnitude of the current upper limit according to the initial charge state of the battery, an instruction to use the compensation current map to check the magnitude of the compensation current according to the initial charge state of the battery, and an instruction to calculate the magnitude of the initial charging current based on the magnitudes of the current upper limit and the compensation current.

[0048] Also, the magnitude of the initial charging current may be a value obtained by adding the magnitudes of the current upper limit and the compensation current.

[0049] On the other hand, the instruction to check may further include an instruction to check the real-time charge state of the battery.

[0050] Also, at least one instruction may further include an instruction to monitor the real-time charge state of the battery, and an instruction to provide a charging current corresponding to the magnitude of the changed current upper limit to the battery for rapid charging when the current upper limit in the rapid charging map is changed according to the change in the real-time charge state of the battery.

[0051] On the other hand, the processor 200 may mean a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or a dedicated processor for performing the method according to the embodiments of the present invention.

[0052] As described above, the processor 200 can execute at least one program command stored in the memory 100.

[0053] FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a battery rapid charging method operated by a processor in a battery rapid charging device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0054] Referring to FIG. 3, the battery rapid charging device according to the embodiment of the present invention can confirm rapid charging conditions by the operation of the above-mentioned processor 200 (S1000).

[0055] Here, the rapid charging condition may be at least one battery condition necessary for determining the magnitude of the charging current for rapid charging of the battery. According to the embodiment, the rapid charging condition can include the initial charging state of the battery to be charged and the temperature information of the battery.

[0056] Then, the battery rapid charging device can calculate the magnitude of the initial charging current (S2000). Here, the initial charging current may be the magnitude of the charging current that satisfies the rapid charging conditions of the battery to be rapidly charged. The method for calculating the initial charging current will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 below.

[0057] FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a method for calculating an initial charging current among the battery rapid charging methods according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0058] Referring to FIG. 4, the battery rapid charging device can confirm the magnitude of the current upper limit corresponding to the corresponding charging state at the corresponding temperature by using a rapid charging map (S2100).

[0059] Here, the rapid charging map may be a table that divides the charging state of the battery into intervals within a certain range and defines the current upper limit at a certain temperature. More specifically, the rapid charging map can be provided in five intervals of the battery charging state interval of 10% or more to less than 20%, 20% or more to less than 40%, 40% or more to less than 60%, 60% or more to less than 80%, and 80% or more to less than 90%, and can provide the current upper limit in the corresponding charging state interval when it is 25°C, 35°C, and 45°C.

[0060] For example, the rapid charging map may be the same as the rapid charging map provided by the conventional battery rapid charging device disclosed in FIG. 1.

[0061] Thereafter, the battery rapid charging device can confirm the magnitude of the compensation current corresponding to the corresponding state of charge at the corresponding temperature using the compensation current map (S2300).

[0062] In the present invention, it is possible to further provide a compensation current between the current upper limit confirmed by the rapid charging map and the limit current at which lithium does not precipitate considering the initial state of charge of the battery.

[0063] FIG. 5 is a table of the compensation current map of the battery rapid charging method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0064] Referring to FIG. 5, the compensation current map may be a table that provides the magnitude of the compensation current according to temperature corresponding to the initial state of charge of the battery in order to consider the current gain corresponding to the initial state of charge of the battery that is not considered in the rapid charging map.

[0065] More specifically, as described above, the rapid charging map can provide a limit current defined by considering only the temperature of the battery to be charged and the real-time state of charge after assuming that the initial state of charge of the battery before charging is the lowest section, i.e., the 10% state.

[0066] Accordingly, in the battery rapid charging method according to an embodiment of the present invention, when the initial state of charge of the battery to be charged exceeds the lowest section, in other words, when the initial state of charge of the battery is 20% or more, in addition to the current upper limit of the rapid charging map, it is possible to confirm the magnitude of the compensation current corresponding to the initial state of charge of the battery according to the compensation current map.

[0067] According to the embodiment, it can be confirmed that in the compensation current map, the compensation current value increases as the initial state of charge (SOC) of the battery increases.

[0068] Referring back to FIG. 4, the battery rapid charging device can calculate an initial charging current based on the current limit in the rapid charging map and the magnitude of the compensation current according to the compensation current map (S2500). According to an embodiment, the initial charging current may be a value obtained by adding the current limit and the compensation current corresponding to the temperature of the battery to be charged and the initial state of charge.

[0069] For example, when the temperature of the battery to be charged is 35° C. and the state of charge is 50%, the battery rapid charging device can obtain 250 A as the magnitude of the current limit through the rapid charging map. Here, since the charging of the battery to be charged has not proceeded, the state of charge of the battery to be charged may be the same as the initial state of charge.

[0070] On the other hand, the battery rapid charging device can obtain 11 A as the magnitude of the compensation current under the same rapid charging conditions (battery temperature 35° C., initial state of charge 50%) using the compensation current map.

[0071] Thereby, the battery rapid charging device can calculate the sum of 250 A, which is the magnitude of the current limit, and 11 A, which is the magnitude of the compensation current, to obtain 265 A as the magnitude of the initial charging current.

[0072] Referring back to FIG. 3, thereafter, the battery rapid charging device can provide an initial charging current corresponding to the calculated initial charging current information to rapidly charge the battery (S3000).

[0073] Thereafter, the battery rapid charging device can continuously monitor the state of charge of the battery.

[0074] According to an embodiment, when the real-time state of charge section of the battery exceeds the section to which the initial state of charge belongs, in other words, when the state of charge section of the battery is changed (S5000), the battery rapid charging device can use the rapid charging map to set the magnitude of the current limit corresponding to the real-time state of charge section of the battery as the magnitude of the charging current, and provide the charging current to the battery (S7000).

[0075] After that, when the real-time charging state of the battery is changed by continuous rapid charging, the battery rapid charging device can charge the battery with the magnitude of the charging current corresponding to the real-time charging state section of the battery based on the rapid charging map, as in step S7000.

[0076] As described above, the battery rapid charging device and method according to the embodiments of the present invention have been described.

[0077] The battery rapid charging device and method according to the embodiments of the present invention can shorten the rapid charging time by adding a compensation current considering the current gain according to the initial charging state of the battery to the charging current of the battery obtained by only considering the temperature and real-time charging state of the existing battery and supplying it to the battery.

[0078] The operation of the method according to the embodiments of the present invention can be embodied as a computer-readable program or code on a computer-readable recording medium. The computer-readable recording medium includes all kinds of recording devices in which data that can be read by a computer system is stored. Also, the computer-readable recording medium can be distributed to a computer system connected by a network, and a computer-readable program or code can be stored and executed in a distributed manner.

[0079] In addition, the computer-readable recording medium can include a hardware device specially configured to store and execute program instructions, such as a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a flash memory, etc. The program instructions can include not only machine language code generated by a compiler but also high-level language code that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter or the like.

[0080] Some aspects of the present invention have been described in the context of an apparatus, which can also be presented in terms of a corresponding method, where a block or apparatus corresponds to a method step or a feature of a method step. Similarly, aspects described in the context of a method can be presented in terms of corresponding blocks or items or features of a corresponding apparatus. Some or all of the method steps can be performed by (or with) a hardware apparatus such as, for example, a microprocessor, a programmable computer, or an electronic circuit. In some embodiments, one or more of the most important method steps can be performed by such an apparatus.

[0081] As described above with reference to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention can be variously modified and changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the following claims.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0082] 100: Memory 200: Processor 300: Transceiver 400: Input Interface Device 500: Output Interface Device 600: Storage Device 700: Bus

Claims

1. An apparatus for rapidly charging a battery, comprising: a memory; and a processor configured to execute at least one instruction stored in the memory, wherein the at least one instruction includes: an instruction to check an initial charge state of a battery to be charged; an instruction to calculate a magnitude of an initial charging current based on the initial charge state of the battery; and an instruction to provide the calculated magnitude of the initial charging current to the battery to rapidly charge the battery, the apparatus for rapidly charging a battery.

2. The instruction to calculate includes: an instruction to calculate a magnitude of the initial charging current of the battery based on a rapid charging map defining a current upper limit according to a charge state of the battery and a compensation current map defining a compensation current according to the initial charge state of the battery, the apparatus for rapidly charging a battery according to Claim 1.

3. The instruction to calculate includes: an instruction to check a magnitude of a current upper limit according to the initial charge state of the battery using the rapid charging map; an instruction to check a magnitude of a compensation current according to the initial charge state of the battery using the compensation current map; and an instruction to calculate a magnitude of the initial charging current based on the magnitudes of the current upper limit and the compensation current, the apparatus for rapidly charging a battery according to Claim 2.

4. The magnitude of the initial charging current is a value obtained by adding the magnitudes of the current upper limit and the compensation current, the apparatus for rapidly charging a battery according to Claim 3.

5. The instruction to check further includes: an instruction to check a real-time charge state of the battery, the apparatus for rapidly charging a battery according to Claim 1.

6. an instruction to monitor a real-time charge state of the battery; and when a current upper limit in the rapid charging map is changed according to a change in the real-time charge state of the battery, an instruction to provide a charging current corresponding to the changed magnitude of the current upper limit to the battery to rapidly charge the battery, the apparatus for rapidly charging a battery according to Claim 5.

7. A method for rapidly charging a battery, comprising: checking an initial charge state of a battery to be charged; calculating a magnitude of an initial charging current based on the initial charge state of the battery; and providing the calculated magnitude of the initial charging current to the battery to rapidly charge the battery, the method for rapidly charging a battery.

8. The step of calculating: The method for rapid charging of a battery according to claim 7, comprising the step of calculating the magnitude of the initial charging current of the battery based on a rapid charging map that defines a current upper limit according to the charging state of the battery and a compensation current map that defines a compensation current according to the initial charging state of the battery.

9. The step of calculating comprises: the step of using the rapid charging map to confirm the magnitude of the current upper limit according to the initial charging state of the battery; the step of using the compensation current map to confirm the magnitude of the compensation current according to the initial charging state of the battery; and the method for rapid charging of a battery according to claim 8, comprising the step of calculating the magnitude of the initial charging current based on the magnitudes of the current upper limit and the compensation current.

10. The method for rapid charging of a battery according to claim 9, wherein the magnitude of the initial charging current is a value obtained by adding the magnitudes of the current upper limit and the compensation current.

11. The step of confirming further comprises: the method for rapid charging of a battery according to claim 7, further comprising the step of confirming the real-time charging state of the battery.

12. the step of monitoring the real-time charging state of the battery; and the method for rapid charging of a battery according to claim 11, further comprising the step of providing a charging current corresponding to the magnitude of the changed current upper limit to the battery for rapid charging when the current upper limit in the rapid charging map is changed according to the change in the real-time charging state of the battery.

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