Battery charging device and method

Abstract

A battery charging apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a current output unit configured to output a charging current to a battery for a preset charging time; a voltage measurement unit configured to measure the voltage of the battery; and a control unit configured to calculate a voltage change amount of the battery during the charging time, calculate a delay time according to a difference between a preset reference time corresponding to the voltage change amount and the charging time, and set charging conditions corresponding to the battery based on the calculated delay time.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This application claims priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0168437, filed on December 6, 2022, and the entire contents disclosed in the specification and drawings of that application are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to a battery charging device and method, and more particularly to a battery charging device and method capable of rapid charging a battery. [Background technology]

[0003] In recent years, the demand for portable electronic products such as laptops, video cameras, and mobile phones has grown rapidly, and as the development of electric vehicles, energy storage batteries, robots, satellites, and other products has gained momentum, there has been active research into high-performance batteries that can be repeatedly charged and discharged.

[0004] Currently, commercially available batteries include nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, nickel-zinc batteries, and lithium batteries. Among these, lithium batteries are attracting attention due to their advantages of being able to be freely charged and discharged since they have almost no memory effect compared to nickel-based batteries, as well as their extremely low self-discharge rate and high energy density.

[0005] Recent advances in the commercialization of electrode-driven devices, such as electric vehicles, electric motorcycles, and electrically assisted bicycles, have been remarkable, leading to an increasing need for high-capacity, high-performance batteries. However, as battery capacities increase, the time required to charge the battery also becomes longer. To address this issue, active efforts are being made to develop technologies for rapid battery charging.

[0006] However, fast charging requires specific information about the battery being charged. For example, prior information about the battery's specifications, state of health (SOH), and maximum allowable charging rate is required. Without this battery information, indiscriminate fast charging can lead to lithium deposition on the surface of the battery's negative electrode (lithium plating). Lithium deposition on the negative electrode can lead to side reactions with the electrolyte and changes in the battery's kinetic balance, resulting in battery degradation. Furthermore, the deposition of lithium metal on the negative electrode can cause an internal short circuit in the battery, posing a risk of fire and explosion.

[0007] Therefore, there is a need to develop technology that can safely and quickly charge batteries by directly obtaining battery information, even when there is no prior information about the battery. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] The present invention has been created to solve the above problems, and its purpose is to provide a battery charging device and method that acquires battery information and safely fast charges a battery.

[0009] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a semiconductor device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] A battery charging device according to one aspect of the present invention may include a current output unit configured to output a charging current to a battery for a preset charging time, a voltage measurement unit configured to measure the voltage of the battery, and a control unit configured to calculate a voltage change amount of the battery during the charging time, calculate a delay time according to a difference between a reference time preset to correspond to the voltage change amount and the charging time, and set charging conditions corresponding to the battery based on the calculated delay time.

[0011] The control unit may be configured to determine a charge C rate corresponding to the battery based on the delay time, and set the determined charge C rate as the charging condition.

[0012] The control unit may be configured to determine the charge C rate corresponding to the delay time based on a charge profile set to indicate a correspondence relationship between the delay time and the charge C rate.

[0013] The control unit may be configured to calculate a charging current amount during the charging time, and calculate a resistance of the battery based on the voltage change amount and the charging current amount.

[0014] The control unit may be configured to set a preset reference time corresponding to the resistance.

[0015] The controller may be configured to determine the charge C-rate based on the delay time and the resistance.

[0016] When a charging profile set to indicate a correspondence between the delay time and the charging C rate is set for each of a plurality of resistors, the control unit may be configured to select a charging profile corresponding to the resistor from among the plurality of charging profiles, and determine the charging C rate corresponding to the delay time based on the selected charging profile.

[0017] The control unit may be configured to set a maximum C rate corresponding to the delay time, set a threshold C rate corresponding to the resistance, and determine the smaller of the maximum C rate and the threshold C rate as the charging C rate.

[0018] The control unit may be configured to set the maximum C rate based on a first C rate profile indicating a correspondence relationship between the delay time and the maximum C rate, and to set the threshold C rate based on a second C rate profile indicating a correspondence relationship between the resistance and the threshold C rate.

[0019] The current output unit may be configured to charge the battery according to the charging conditions after the charging conditions are set.

[0020] The control unit may be configured to calculate a full charge time for the battery according to the charging conditions.

[0021] The battery charging device according to another aspect of the present invention may further include a display unit configured to output at least one of the charging conditions and the full charge time.

[0022] A charging station according to yet another aspect of the present invention may include a battery charging device according to one aspect of the present invention.

[0023] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a method for charging a battery may include a charging current output step of outputting a charging current to a battery for a preset charging time; a voltage measurement step of measuring the voltage of the battery; a voltage change amount calculation step of calculating an amount of change in voltage of the battery during the charging time; a delay time calculation step of calculating a delay time according to a difference between a reference time preset to correspond to the amount of change in voltage and the charging time; and a charging condition setting step of setting charging conditions corresponding to the battery based on the calculated delay time.

[0024] A battery charging method according to yet another aspect of the present invention may further include, after the charging condition setting step, a charging step of charging the battery according to the charging condition. [Effects of the Invention]

[0025] According to one aspect of the present invention, the battery charging device can set the charge C rate corresponding to the connected battery in real time, which has the advantage of being able to safely fast charge even batteries for which there is no prior information.

[0026] The effects of the present invention are not limited to the effects described above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the claims.

[0027] The drawings attached to this specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and serve to further understand the technical concepts of the present invention as well as the content of the invention, and therefore the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited to only the matters depicted in the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating a battery charging device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of a battery charging device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] 3 is a diagram illustrating a charging current output by a battery charging device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 4 is a diagram illustrating a voltage change of a battery according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a voltage profile according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a charging profile according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7]FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a schematic of multiple charging profiles according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a first C-rate profile according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a second C-rate profile according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] 10 is a diagram illustrating a method for charging a battery according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] 10 is a diagram illustrating a method for charging a battery according to another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] The terms and words used in this specification and claims should not be interpreted as being limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, but should be interpreted as having meanings and concepts corresponding to the technical ideas of the present invention, in accordance with the principle that the inventor can appropriately define the concepts of terms himself / herself in order to best explain the invention.

[0030] Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations shown in the drawings are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent the entire technical idea of ​​the present invention, and that there may be various equivalents and modifications that can be substituted therefor at the time of this application.

[0031] Furthermore, when describing the present invention, if it is recognized that a specific description of a known configuration or function related to the present invention may obscure the gist of the present invention, such a detailed description will be omitted.

[0032] Any phrases containing ordinal numbers such as "first," "second," etc. are used to distinguish one of the various components from the other components, and are not used to limit the components by these phrases.

[0033] Throughout this specification, when a part is said to "comprise" a certain element, this does not mean that it may further include other elements, unless otherwise specified.

[0034] Furthermore, throughout this specification, when a part is said to be "connected (coupled)" to another part, this includes not only the case where it is "directly connected (coupled)" but also the case where it is "indirectly connected (coupled)" with another element in between.

[0035] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0036] Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating a battery charging device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of the battery charging device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] Referring to FIG. 1, a battery charging apparatus 100 may include a current output unit 110, a voltage measurement unit 120, and a control unit .

[0038] Here, the battery 10 refers to a single independent cell that has a negative terminal and a positive terminal and can be physically separated. For example, a lithium ion battery or a lithium polymer battery may be considered a battery. The battery 10 may also refer to a battery module or a battery pack that includes multiple cells.

[0039] The current output unit 110 may be configured to output a charging current to the battery for a preset charging time.

[0040] Specifically, the current output unit 110 may be communicably connected to the control unit 130. When the current output unit 110 receives a current output signal from the control unit 130, the current output unit 110 may output a charging current for a preset charging time. For example, the charging time may be preset to a time less than one second.

[0041] Here, the strength of the charging current can be preset to a specific value, preferably, the strength of the charging current can be set to a specific value without taking into account the capacity of the battery.

[0042] For example, when a battery is connected to the battery charging apparatus 100, the control unit 130 may transmit a current output signal to the current output unit 110. Upon receiving the current output signal, the current output unit 110 may output a current of a preset strength to the battery. That is, the current output unit 110 may charge the battery with the current of the preset strength for a preset charging time.

[0043] 2, the current output unit 110 may be electrically connected to the positive and negative terminals of the battery 10. When the current output unit 110 receives a current output signal from the control unit 130, the current output unit 110 may output a charging current to the battery 10.

[0044] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a charging current output by a battery charging device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the X axis may represent the time at which the current is output, and the Y axis may represent the intensity of the current. For example, assume that the current output unit 110 receives a current output signal from the control unit 130 at time t1. The current output unit 110 may output a current having an intensity of X (mA) for a preset charging time Δt. Preferably, the current output unit 110 may output a pulse current having an intensity of X (mA) for the preset charging time Δt. The current output unit 110 may output a charging current to the battery from time t1 to time t2.

[0046] The voltage measurement unit 120 may be configured to measure the voltage of the battery.

[0047] Specifically, the voltage measurement unit 120 may be configured to measure the voltage of the battery while the battery is being charged by the charging current.

[0048] 2, while the current output unit 110 supplies a charging current to the battery 10, the voltage measurement unit 120 may measure the voltage of the battery 10 using the first sensing line SL1 and the second sensing line SL2. Specifically, the voltage measurement unit 120 may measure the positive electrode potential of the battery 10 via the first sensing line SL1 and the negative electrode potential of the battery 10 via the second sensing line SL2. The voltage measurement unit 120 may then measure the voltage of the battery 10 by calculating the difference between the positive electrode potential and the negative electrode potential.

[0049] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a change in the voltage of a battery according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0050] 4, the voltage measurement unit 120 may measure the voltage of the battery during the charging time Δt during which the charging current is output. The voltage of the battery measured at time t1 may be V1, and the voltage of the battery measured at time t2 may be V2.

[0051] It should be noted that while the embodiment of FIG. 3 shows an embodiment in which a pulsed current is output during the charging time Δt, for ease of explanation, the embodiment of FIG. 4 shows an embodiment in which a constant current is output during the charging time Δt.

[0052] The control unit 130 may be configured to calculate the amount of change in the voltage of the battery during the charging time.

[0053] Specifically, the voltage measurement unit 120 may be connected to the control unit 130 so as to be able to communicate with the control unit 130. The voltage measurement unit 120 may transmit measured battery voltage information to the control unit 130. The control unit 130 may calculate the amount of change in the battery voltage during the charging time based on the voltage information received from the voltage measurement unit 120. Here, the amount of change in voltage refers to the amount of increase in the battery voltage according to the charging current output from the current output unit 110. That is, the control unit 130 may calculate the amount of increase in the battery voltage during the charging time.

[0054] 4, the control unit 130 may receive voltage information during the charging time Δt from the voltage measurement unit 120. If the voltage measured at time t1 is V1 and the voltage measured at time t2 is V2, the control unit 130 may calculate the voltage change amount (ΔV) based on the formula "V2-V1."

[0055] 4, the control unit 130 may receive only voltage information at time t1 and time t2 from the voltage measurement unit 120. Then, the control unit 130 may calculate "V2-V1" to calculate the voltage change amount (ΔV).

[0056] The control unit 130 may be configured to calculate the delay time based on the difference between a reference time that is preset to correspond to the amount of voltage change and the charging time.

[0057] Specifically, the control unit 130 may determine a preset reference time corresponding to the amount of voltage change. Then, the control unit 130 may calculate the delay time by calculating the difference between the determined reference time and the charging time. Here, the charging time is the time it takes for the battery to be charged by the charging current, and corresponds to Δt in the embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0058] FIG. 5 is a diagram that schematically illustrates a voltage profile (VP) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0059] 5, the voltage profile (VP) may be preset to indicate a correspondence relationship between the voltage change amount and the reference time, and the control unit 130 may determine the reference time corresponding to the voltage change amount calculated based on the voltage profile (VP).

[0060] For example, assume that the charging time is Δt. If the calculated voltage change amount is ΔV1, the reference time may be determined to be S1. Then, the control unit 130 may calculate the delay time by calculating the difference between the reference time S1 and the measurement time Δt.

[0061] For example, the control unit 130 may calculate the delay time based on the formula "measurement time-reference time."

[0062] The control unit 130 may be configured to set a charging condition corresponding to the battery based on the calculated delay time.

[0063] Here, the charging condition may be a fast charging condition corresponding to the battery. Specifically, the control unit 130 may be configured to determine a charging C rate corresponding to the battery based on the delay time, and set the determined charging C rate as the charging condition.

[0064] That is, the control unit 130 can determine the fast charge C rate for the battery based on the voltage change amount during the charging time and the calculated delay time without receiving separate information about the battery.

[0065] More specifically, the control unit 130 may be configured to determine the charge C rate corresponding to the delay time based on a charge profile (P) set to indicate the correspondence relationship between the delay time and the charge C rate.

[0066] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a charging profile (P) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0067] 6, the charging profile (P) may be preset to indicate a correspondence relationship between the delay time and the charging C rate. The control unit 130 may determine the charging C rate corresponding to the delay time calculated based on the charging profile (P). That is, the control unit 130 may determine the charging C rate at which the battery can be rapidly charged based on the delay time.

[0068] After the charging conditions are set, the current output unit 110 may be configured to charge the battery according to the charging conditions.

[0069] The battery charging device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention can set the charge C rate corresponding to the connected battery in real time, which has the advantage of being able to safely and quickly charge a battery even if there is no prior information about the battery.

[0070] Meanwhile, the control unit 130 provided in the battery charging device 100 may optionally include a processor, application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), other chipsets, logic circuits, registers, communication modems, data processing devices, and the like, as known in the art, to execute the various control logics implemented in the present invention. When the control logic is implemented in software, the control unit 130 may be implemented as a collection of program modules. In this case, the program modules are stored in memory and can be executed by the control unit 130. The memory may be internal or external to the processor and may be connected to the processor by various well-known computer components. The memory may be internal or external to the control unit 130 and may be connected to the control unit 130 by various well-known means.

[0071] The battery charging device 100 may further include a memory unit 140. The memory unit 140 may store data and programs required for each component of the battery charging device 100 to operate and function, or data generated during the operation and function. The memory unit 140 may be any known information storage means capable of recording, erasing, updating, and reading data. Examples of information storage means include random access memory (RAM), flash memory, read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), and registers. The memory unit 140 may store program code defining processes executable by the control unit 130.

[0072] For example, the memory unit 140 may store a voltage profile (VP) and a charge profile (P). The control unit 130 may access the memory unit 140 to acquire the voltage profile (VP) and the charge profile (P). The memory unit 140 may also store the voltage value of the battery 10 measured by the voltage measurement unit 120.

[0073] The control unit 130 may be configured to calculate the amount of charging current during the charging time.

[0074] For example, the control unit 130 can calculate the amount of charging current by multiplying the current intensity of the charging current output from the current output unit 110 by the charging time.

[0075] The control unit 130 may be configured to calculate the resistance of the battery based on the amount of voltage change and the amount of charging current.

[0076] Specifically, the control unit 130 may calculate the resistance according to the voltage change amount and the charging current amount based on Ohm's law. For example, the control unit 130 may calculate the battery resistance based on the formula "voltage change amount ÷ charging current amount."

[0077] In the following, an embodiment will be described in which the charging conditions are set using the resistance calculated by the control unit 130.

[0078] In one embodiment, the control unit 130 may be configured to set a preset reference time to correspond to the resistance.

[0079] Specifically, a reference time can be preset not only for the voltage change amount but also for the resistance. Therefore, the control unit 130 can set a reference time corresponding to the resistance and calculate a delay time based on the difference between the reference time and the measured time. Then, the control unit 130 can set the charging conditions for the battery based on the calculated delay time.

[0080] In other embodiments, the controller 130 may be configured to determine the charge C rate based on the delay time and the resistance.

[0081] When a charging profile (P) set to indicate a correspondence between the delay time and the charging C rate is set for each of a plurality of resistors, the control unit 130 can be configured to select a charging profile (P) corresponding to the resistor from among the plurality of charging profiles (P).

[0082] Specifically, one charging profile (P) may be preset for each of the plurality of resistors.

[0083] FIG. 7 is a diagram that schematically illustrates multiple charging profiles (P) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0084] 7, a charging profile (P) can be preset for each of the plurality of resistors R1 to Rn, that is, a total of n charging profiles (P) can be preset.

[0085] The control unit 130 may select the charging profile (P) corresponding to the calculated resistance from among the multiple charging profiles (P). For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 7, if the calculated resistance is R1, the control unit 130 may select the charging profile (P) corresponding to the R1 resistance.

[0086] The control unit 130 may be configured to determine a charge C rate corresponding to the delay time based on the selected charge profile (P).

[0087] Specifically, the control unit 130 can determine the charge C rate for the battery by substituting the calculated delay time into the selected charge profile (P). Then, the control unit 130 can set the determined charge C rate as the charge condition for the battery. In this case, the current output unit 110 can charge the battery at the charge C rate according to the set charge condition.

[0088] The battery charging device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention can determine an optimized charge C rate for a battery by taking into account both the resistance and the delay time, thereby enabling safe rapid charging of the battery so as to prevent lithium metal deposition.

[0089] In yet another embodiment, the control unit 130 may be configured to set a maximum C-rate corresponding to the delay time.

[0090] Specifically, the control unit 130 may not directly set a charging C rate corresponding to the delay time, but may first set a maximum C rate corresponding to the delay time. Here, the maximum C rate is a value that is preset for the delay time, and may refer to the theoretical maximum value of the C rate that can be applied to the battery corresponding to the delay time.

[0091] Specifically, the control unit 130 can be configured to set the maximum C-rate based on a first C-rate profile (CP1) that indicates the correspondence relationship between delay time and the maximum C-rate.

[0092] 8 is a diagram schematically illustrating a first C-rate profile (CP1) according to an embodiment of the present invention. For example, the storage unit 140 may store the first C-rate profile (CP1). The control unit 130 may access the storage unit 140 to obtain the first C-rate profile (CP1).

[0093] 8, the first C-rate profile (CP1) may be preset to indicate a correspondence relationship between the delay time and the maximum C-rate. The control unit 130 may determine the maximum C-rate corresponding to the delay time calculated based on the first C-rate profile (CP1).

[0094] For example, if the delay time is Δd1, the maximum C rate may be determined to be M1.

[0095] The control unit 130 may be configured to set a threshold C-rate that corresponds to the resistance.

[0096] Specifically, the control unit 130 may first set a threshold C-rate corresponding to the resistance, rather than directly setting a charging C-rate corresponding to the resistance. Here, the threshold C-rate is a value that is preset for the resistance, and the critical C-rate may refer to the theoretical maximum value of the C-rate that can be applied to the battery corresponding to the resistance.

[0097] Specifically, the control unit 130 can be configured to set the threshold C-rate based on a second C-rate profile (CP2) that indicates the correspondence between the resistance and the threshold C-rate.

[0098] 9 is a diagram schematically illustrating a second C-rate profile (CP2) according to an embodiment of the present invention. For example, the storage unit 140 may store the second C-rate profile (CP2). The control unit 130 may access the storage unit 140 to obtain the second C-rate profile (CP2).

[0099] 9, the second C-rate profile (CP2) may be preset to indicate a correspondence relationship between the resistance and the threshold C-rate. The control unit 130 may determine the threshold C-rate corresponding to the resistance calculated based on the second C-rate profile (CP2).

[0100] For example, if the resistance is R1, the threshold C rate may be determined to be Th1.

[0101] The control unit 130 may be configured to determine the charging C-rate to be the smaller of the maximum C-rate and the threshold C-rate.

[0102] Preferably, the maximum C rate and the threshold C rate may be independent values. That is, the maximum C rate is a C rate corresponding to the delay time of the battery, and the threshold C rate is a C rate corresponding to the resistance of the battery. Therefore, the maximum C rate and the threshold C rate are independent from each other and can be compared by the control unit 130 for safer rapid charging.

[0103] Generally, the higher the charge C rate, the faster the battery can be charged. However, stress may be applied to the battery during fast charging, which may result in lithium metal deposition on the surface of the negative electrode. Therefore, determining a charge C rate that prevents lithium metal deposition and allows the battery to be fast charged is very important from the perspective of fast charging and stability. The control unit 130 can set charging conditions that allow the battery to be safely fast charged by determining the charge C rate to be the smaller of the maximum C rate and the threshold C rate.

[0104] The control unit 130 may be configured to calculate the full charge time of the battery according to the charging conditions.

[0105] Specifically, the control unit 130 may calculate a full charge time required for the battery to be fully charged when charging the battery under set charging conditions. Preferably, the control unit 130 may calculate a full charge time required for the battery voltage to reach a preset end-of-charge voltage.

[0106] For example, the control unit 130 may calculate a full charge time until the battery voltage reaches a predetermined end-of-charge voltage according to the charge C rate based on the amount of voltage change according to the charging current during the charging time.

[0107] In one embodiment, the control unit 130 may calculate the full charge time using the following formula:

[0108] [Number 1] ΔV:(C1×Δt)=(Vf-Vi):(C2×tc) Here, formula 1 can be summarized as formula 2.

[0109] [Number 2] tc=(C1×Δt)×(Vf-Vi)÷(ΔV×C2) Here, Δt is the charging time, ΔV is the amount of voltage change during the charging time, and C1 is the value obtained by converting the charging current during the charging time into a C-rate value. For example, in the embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 4, the control unit 130 may calculate the amount of voltage change (ΔV) and then determine a predetermined battery capacity corresponding to the calculated amount of voltage change (ΔV). Then, the control unit 130 may convert the charging current X into a C-rate value by comparing the determined battery capacity with the charging current X.

[0110] Furthermore, Vf is a preset charge end voltage, Vi is the current voltage of the battery, C2 is the charge C rate determined by the control unit 130, and tc is the full charge time. The control unit 130 can calculate the full charge time tc based on Equation 1 and / or Equation 2.

[0111] Referring to FIG. 1, the battery charging device 100 may further include a display unit 150 configured to output at least one of a charging condition and a full charge time.

[0112] The display unit 150 may output the charging conditions set by the control unit 130 and / or the full charge time calculated by the control unit 130. Therefore, the user can easily check under what charging conditions the battery is being charged and when it will be fully charged.

[0113] The battery charging device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention may be included in a charging station, i.e., a charging station according to another embodiment of the present invention may include the battery charging device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0114] Specifically, a charging station is a station capable of charging batteries. For example, a charging station may charge batteries included in transportation means such as electric cars, electric motorcycles, and electrically assisted bicycles, as well as portable batteries. More specifically, a charging station may be a charging station capable of charging batteries.

[0115] Preferably, a charging station may include one or more battery charging devices 100. For example, a charging station may include one or more terminals, each of which may include a battery charging device 100. Batteries electrically connected to the battery charging devices 100 may then be charged according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0116] According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is an advantage that even a battery without prior information can be safely and quickly charged at a charging station.

[0117] 10 and 11 are diagrams schematically illustrating a method for charging a battery according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0118] Preferably, each step of the battery charging method can be performed by the battery charging device 100. In the following, for ease of explanation, the overlapping content with the content explained above will be omitted or explained briefly.

[0119] Referring to FIG. 10, the battery charging method may include a charging current output step (S100), a voltage measurement step (S200), a voltage change amount calculation step (S300), a delay time calculation step (S400), and a charging condition setting step (S500).

[0120] The charging current output step (S100) is a step of outputting a charging current to the battery for a preset charging time, and can be performed by the current output unit 110.

[0121] For example, when the battery charging apparatus 100 is connected to a battery, the current output unit 110 may receive a current output signal from the control unit 130. The current output unit 110 may output a charging current of a preset strength to the battery for a preset charging time from the time when the current output signal is received.

[0122] The voltage measuring step (S200) is a step of measuring the voltage of the battery, and can be performed by the voltage measuring unit 120.

[0123] For example, the voltage measurement unit 120 may measure the voltage of the battery during charging.

[0124] The voltage change calculation step (S300) is a step of calculating the voltage change amount of the battery during the charging time, and can be performed by the control unit 130.

[0125] For example, the control unit 130 may calculate the voltage change amount by calculating the difference between the voltage at the time when charging starts and the voltage at the time when charging ends. That is, the control unit 130 may calculate the voltage change amount of the battery according to the amount of charging current applied during the charging time.

[0126] For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 4, the control unit 130 can calculate the amount of voltage change (ΔV) during the charging time Δt.

[0127] The delay time calculation step (S400) is a step of calculating a delay time according to the difference between a reference time preset to correspond to the amount of voltage change and a charging time, and can be performed by the control unit 130.

[0128] For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 5, the control unit 130 may first determine a reference time corresponding to the voltage change amount (ΔV) based on the voltage profile (VP). Then, the control unit 130 may calculate the delay time based on the difference between the charging time Δt and the reference time. Here, the reference time is a theoretical time corresponding to the voltage change amount, and the charging time is the time during which the charging current is actually applied. Therefore, the control unit 130 can calculate the delay time it takes for the battery voltage to change by calculating the difference between the charging time and the reference time.

[0129] The charging condition setting step (S500) is a step of setting charging conditions corresponding to the battery based on the calculated delay time, and can be performed by the control unit 130.

[0130] Since such a delay time reflects the state of the battery, the control unit 130 can set charging conditions corresponding to the battery according to the delay time even if it is unable to obtain prior information about the battery.

[0131] 6, the control unit 130 may determine a charge C rate corresponding to the delay time based on the charge profile (P), and may set the charge C rate as a charge condition for the battery.

[0132] Referring to FIG. 11, the battery charging method may further include a charging step (S600).

[0133] The charging step (S600) is a step of charging the battery according to the charging conditions after the charging condition setting step (S500), and can be performed by the current output unit 110.

[0134] For example, when the charging conditions for the battery are set by the control unit 130, the current output unit 110 can rapidly charge the battery under the set charging conditions (specifically, the set charging C rate).

[0135] The above-described embodiments of the present invention can be realized not only by the apparatus and method but also by a program that realizes the functions corresponding to the configurations of the embodiments of the present invention or a recording medium on which the program is recorded. Such realization can be easily achieved by a person skilled in the technical field to which the present invention pertains from the description of the above-described embodiments.

[0136] Although the present invention has been described above using limited embodiments and drawings, the present invention is not limited to these, and it goes without saying that various modifications and variations can be made by a person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains within the technical spirit of the present invention and the scope of equivalents of the claims.

[0137] Furthermore, the present invention described above is susceptible to various substitutions, modifications, and alterations by a person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains, within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and the accompanying drawings, but may be configured by selectively combining all or part of each embodiment for various modifications. [Explanation of symbols]

[0138] 10 Battery 100 Battery charging device 110 Current output section 120 Voltage measurement section 130 control section 140 Storage section 150 Display unit

Claims

1. a current output unit configured to output a charging current to the battery for a predetermined charging time; a voltage measurement unit configured to measure the voltage of the battery; a control unit configured to calculate a voltage change amount of the battery during the charging time, calculate a delay time according to a difference between a reference time preset to correspond to the voltage change amount and the charging time, and set charging conditions corresponding to the battery based on the calculated delay time; a battery charging device,

2. The control unit 2. The battery charging device according to claim 1, further comprising: a charging C rate corresponding to the battery based on the delay time; and a charging condition set to the determined charging C rate.

3. The control unit 3. The battery charging device according to claim 2, configured to determine the charge C rate corresponding to the delay time based on a charge profile set to indicate a correspondence relationship between the delay time and the charge C rate.

4. The control unit 3. The battery charging device according to claim 2, further comprising: a charging current amount during the charging time; and a resistance of the battery based on the voltage change amount and the charging current amount.

5. The control unit 5. The battery charging device of claim 4, configured to set a preset reference time corresponding to the resistance.

6. The control unit 5. The battery charging device of claim 4, configured to determine the charge C-rate based on the delay time and the resistance.

7. The control unit 7. The battery charging device according to claim 6, wherein when a charging profile set to indicate a correspondence relationship between the delay time and the charging C rate is set for each of a plurality of resistors, the charging device is configured to select a charging profile corresponding to the resistor from among the plurality of charging profiles, and determine the charging C rate corresponding to the delay time based on the selected charging profile.

8. The control unit 5. The battery charging device according to claim 4, configured to set a maximum C rate corresponding to the delay time, set a threshold C rate corresponding to the resistance, and determine the smaller value of the maximum C rate and the threshold C rate as the charging C rate.

9. The control unit 9. The battery charging device according to claim 8, wherein the maximum C-rate is set based on a first C-rate profile indicating a correspondence relationship between the delay time and the maximum C-rate, and the threshold C-rate is set based on a second C-rate profile indicating a correspondence relationship between the resistance and the threshold C-rate.

10. The current output unit The battery charging device according to claim 1 , configured to charge the battery in accordance with the charging conditions after the charging conditions are set.

11. The control unit a full charge time of the battery is calculated according to the charging conditions; The battery charging device according to claim 1 , further comprising a display unit configured to output at least one of the charging conditions and the full charge time.

12. A charging station including a battery charging device according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. a charging current output step of outputting a charging current to the battery for a preset charging time; a voltage measuring step of measuring a voltage of the battery; a voltage change calculation step of calculating a voltage change amount of the battery during the charging time; a delay time calculation step of calculating a delay time according to a difference between a reference time preset to correspond to the voltage change amount and the charging time; a charging condition setting step of setting a charging condition corresponding to the battery based on the calculated delay time; How to charge the battery, including:

14. 14. The battery charging method according to claim 13, further comprising, after the charging condition setting step, a charging step of charging the battery in accordance with the charging condition.

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