Battery monitoring system and identification number assignment method

Abstract

This reduces the time required to set the appropriate identification number for each voltage monitoring unit. [Solution] A battery monitoring system comprising: a plurality of voltage monitoring units connected in series, each receiving an allocation command containing an identification number to be allocated, setting the identification number contained in the received allocation command to itself, and transmitting the allocation command with the identification number incremented by a predetermined number to the next stage; and a control unit that transmits the allocation command to the first stage voltage monitoring unit and receives the allocation command from the final stage voltage monitoring unit.

Description

Technical Field

[0002] ,

[0005]

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery monitoring system and an identification number allocation method.

Background Art

[0002] In order to monitor the voltage of each battery cell of a battery composed of a plurality of battery cells connected in series, a battery monitoring system including a plurality of voltage monitoring units for monitoring the voltage of one or more battery cells included in the battery is known. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a battery monitoring system in which a plurality of voltage monitoring units are connected in series.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

[0004] [[ID=②⑨]][Summary] By the way, an identification number for identifying each of the plurality of voltage monitoring units provided in the battery monitoring system is set. In the technique described in Patent Document 1, identification information such as ID (Identification) is set for each of the plurality of voltage monitoring units. In order to set an appropriate identification number for each voltage monitoring unit, it is necessary to set the identification number and confirm the set identification number.

[0005] However, in the conventional technique, it has taken time to set an appropriate identification number for each voltage monitoring unit. For example, when setting an identification number for each of the plurality of voltage monitoring units 12 and then separately confirming the identification number, since each is a separate operation, it takes time to set the identification number.

[0006] The technique of the present disclosure has been made in view of the above points, and can suppress the time required to set an appropriate identification number for each voltage monitoring unit. <⑩③0000> The battery monitoring system of this disclosure comprises a plurality of voltage monitoring units connected in series, each receiving an allocation command that includes an identification number to be allocated, setting the identification number included in the received allocation command to itself, and transmitting the allocation command with the identification number incremented by a predetermined number to the next stage; and a control unit that transmits the allocation command to the first stage voltage monitoring unit and receives the allocation command from the final stage voltage monitoring unit. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a battery monitoring system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating a method for assigning identification numbers to each voltage monitoring IC in the battery monitoring system according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a time chart showing an example of the flow of allocation commands and response signals. [Detailed explanation]

[0009] An example of an embodiment of the disclosed technology will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensional ratios in the drawings are exaggerated for illustrative purposes and may differ from actual ratios.

[0010] Figure 1 shows a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the battery monitoring system 10 of this embodiment. The battery monitoring system 10 monitors the voltage of each battery cell in a battery (battery pack) composed of multiple battery cells (not shown) connected in series, and is, for example, a BMS (Battery Management System).

[0011] As shown in Figure 1, the battery monitoring system 10 of this embodiment includes a plurality of voltage monitoring ICs (Integrated Circuits) 12 and a control unit 14. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, a case in which there are four voltage monitoring ICs 12, namely voltage monitoring ICs 12_1 to 12_4, is described as an example, but the number of voltage monitoring ICs 12 in the battery monitoring system 10 is not limited to four, and may be three or less, or four or more. Also, when referring to voltage monitoring ICs 12_1 to 12_4 collectively without distinguishing between them, they are referred to as voltage monitoring IC 12. The voltage monitoring IC 12 of this embodiment is an example of the voltage monitoring unit of this disclosure.

[0012] The voltage monitoring IC 12 monitors the voltage of one or more cells in the battery in accordance with the control unit 14 and outputs the monitoring results to the control unit 14. Each voltage monitoring IC 12 is connected in series to enable the transmission and reception of various signals. Each voltage monitoring IC 12 is assigned an identification number as an ID (Identification) to identify it individually.

[0013] The control unit 14 includes a communication IC 20 and an MCU (Micro Controller Unit) 22.

[0014] The communication IC 20 has a communication unit 20_1 and a communication unit 20_2. Communication unit 20_1 is an element for communicating with the first stage voltage monitoring IC 12_1 of the multiple voltage monitoring ICs 12. On the other hand, communication unit 20_2 is an element for communicating with the final stage voltage monitoring IC 12_4 of the multiple voltage monitoring ICs 12. It is not essential that the communication IC 20 has both communication units 20_1 and 20_2; the communication IC 20 only needs to have the function to communicate with the first stage voltage monitoring IC 12_1 and the final stage voltage monitoring IC 12_4, respectively.

[0015] The MCU22 has the function of controlling the entire battery monitoring system 10. The MCU22 is connected to each of the voltage monitoring ICs 12 via the communication IC20.

[0016] The method for assigning identification numbers to each voltage monitoring IC 12 in the battery monitoring system 10 of this embodiment will be explained with reference to Figures 2 and 3.

[0017] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, when assigning an identification number, the MCU22 sends an assignment command to the communication IC20 instructing the assignment of the identification number. The assignment command includes the identification number to be assigned and instructions for setting that identification number. Hereinafter, the identification number included in the assignment command sent from the MCU22 to the communication IC20 will be referred to as the "initial identification number".

[0018] The communication IC 20 increments the identification number included in the received allocation command by a predetermined number and transmits it from the communication unit 20_1 to the first stage voltage monitoring IC 12_1 of the voltage monitoring IC 12. In this embodiment, the predetermined number is incremented by "1", so the identification number included in the allocation command output from the communication unit 20_1 will be the initial identification number + 1.

[0019] When the voltage monitoring IC 12_1 receives a message from the communication unit 20_1, it sets the identification number included in the received allocation command as its own identification number. For example, the voltage monitoring IC 12_1 has a setting register, and it assigns the identification number included in the received allocation command to this setting register.

[0020] Furthermore, the voltage monitoring IC 12_1 transmits a response signal containing the identification number it has set for itself to the communication unit 20_1 of the preceding communication IC 20. In this embodiment, the identification number included in this response signal is the initial identification number + 1. When the communication unit 20_1 receives the response signal from the voltage monitoring IC 12_1, it transmits the response signal to the MCU 22. In this way, the MCU 22 receives the response signal containing the identification number assigned to the voltage monitoring IC 12_1.

[0021] Also, the voltage monitoring IC 12_1 increments the identification number included in the received allocation command by a predetermined number, and transmits an allocation command including the incremented identification number to the next-stage voltage monitoring IC 12_2. In this embodiment, as the predetermined number, it increments by "1", so the identification number included in the allocation command output from the voltage monitoring IC 12_1 is the initial identification number + 2.

[0022] When the voltage monitoring IC 12_2 receives the allocation command from the voltage monitoring IC 12_1, it sets the identification number included in the received allocation command as its own identification number, similar to the voltage monitoring IC 12_1.

[0023] Also, the voltage monitoring IC 12_2 transmits a response signal including the identification number set for itself to the previous-stage voltage monitoring IC 12_1. In this embodiment, the identification number included in this response signal is the initial identification number + 2. This response signal is received by the MCU 22 via the communication unit 20_1 of the voltage monitoring IC 12_1 and the communication IC 20. Thus, the MCU 22 receives the response signal including the identification number assigned to the voltage monitoring IC 12_2.

[0024] Also, the voltage monitoring IC 12_2 increments the identification number included in the received allocation command by a predetermined number, and transmits an allocation command including the incremented identification number to the next-stage voltage monitoring IC 12_3. In this embodiment, as the predetermined number, it increments by "1", so the identification number included in the allocation command output from the voltage monitoring IC 12_2 is the initial identification number + 3.

[0025] When the voltage monitoring IC 12_3 receives the allocation command from the voltage monitoring IC 12_2, it sets the identification number included in the received allocation command as its own identification number, similar to the voltage monitoring IC 12_1.

[0026] Also, the voltage monitoring IC 12_3 transmits a response signal including the identification number set for itself to the previous-stage voltage monitoring IC 12_2. In this embodiment, the identification number included in this response signal is the initial identification number + 3. This response signal is received by the MCU 22 via the communication units 20_1 of the voltage monitoring ICs 12_2, 12_1, and the communication IC 20. Thus, the MCU 22 receives a response signal including the identification number assigned to the voltage monitoring IC 12_3.

[0027] Also, the voltage monitoring IC 12_3 increments the identification number included in the received allocation command by a predetermined number, and transmits an allocation command including the incremented identification number to the next-stage voltage monitoring IC 12_4. In this embodiment, as the predetermined number, it increments by "1", so the identification number included in the allocation command output from the voltage monitoring IC 12_3 is the initial identification number + 4.

[0028] When the voltage monitoring IC 12_4 receives an allocation command from the voltage monitoring IC 12_3, it sets the identification number included in the received allocation command as its own identification number, similar to the voltage monitoring IC 12_1.

[0029] Also, the voltage monitoring IC 12_4 transmits a response signal including the identification number set for itself to the previous-stage voltage monitoring IC 12_3. In this embodiment, the identification number included in this response signal is the initial identification number + 4. This response signal is received by the MCU 22 via the communication units 20_1 of the voltage monitoring ICs 12_3, 12_2, 12_1, and the communication IC 20. Thus, the MCU 22 receives a response signal including the identification number assigned to the voltage monitoring IC 12_4.

[0030] Furthermore, the voltage monitoring IC 12_4 increments the identification number included in the received allocation command by a predetermined number, and transmits the allocation command containing the incremented identification number to the communication unit 20_2 of the corresponding communication IC 20 in the next stage. In this embodiment, the predetermined number is incremented by "1", so the identification number included in the allocation command output from the voltage monitoring IC 12_4 will be the initial identification number + 5.

[0031] When communication IC20 receives an allocation command from voltage monitoring IC12_4, it sends the received allocation command to MCU22. Therefore, the identification number included in the allocation command received by MCU22 will be the original identification number + 5.

[0032] Thus, the allocation command transmitted from the final stage voltage monitoring IC12_4 of the voltage monitoring IC12 to the communication IC20, that is, the allocation command received by the control unit 14, will be a value obtained by adding 4 (the number of voltage monitoring IC12s) and 1 to the initial identification number (initial identification number + 5).

[0033] Thus, when each voltage monitoring IC12 is appropriately assigned an identification number, the identification number included in the allocation command received by the control unit 14 will be the value obtained by multiplying the number of voltage monitoring IC12s (4 in this embodiment) by 1, incrementing a predetermined number (1 in this embodiment), and adding this value to the initial identification number, as shown in equation (1) below.

[0034] Identification number = Initial identification number + (Number of voltage monitoring ICs + 1) × predetermined number ... (1)

[0035] Therefore, the control unit 14 can confirm that each voltage monitoring IC 12 has been appropriately assigned an identification number by comparing the identification number included in the received assignment command with the value obtained by equation (1) above.

[0036] As an example, in this embodiment, if the identification number included in the received allocation command matches the value obtained by equation (1) above, the communication IC 20 determines that an identification number has been appropriately assigned to each voltage monitoring IC 12 and sets "0" in the internal register (not shown) of the communication IC 20. On the other hand, if the identification number included in the received allocation command does not match the value obtained by equation (1) above, the communication IC 20 determines that an identification number has not been appropriately assigned to each voltage monitoring IC 12 and sets "1" in the internal register of the communication IC 20. The MCU 22 refers to the value set in the internal register of the communication IC 20 and confirms whether an identification number has been appropriately assigned to each voltage monitoring IC 12. The confirmation result may be output to the outside of the control unit 14, or further output to the outside of the battery monitoring system 10.

[0037] As described above, each voltage monitoring IC 12, once it has set an identification number for itself, transmits a response signal containing that identification number. The control unit 14 receives the response signals sequentially according to the identification number set in each voltage monitoring IC 12. That is, the control unit 14 receives the response signals the same number of times as the number of voltage monitoring ICs 12 in the battery monitoring system 10. Therefore, the control unit 14 can confirm whether an identification number has been properly assigned based on the number of response signals received by the communication IC 20. For example, in this embodiment, if the communication IC 20 has received a response signal four times, the communication IC 20 determines that an identification number has been properly assigned to each voltage monitoring IC 12 and sets "0" in the register (not shown) inside the communication IC 20. On the other hand, if the communication IC 20 has received a response signal more than four times, the communication IC 20 determines that an identification number has not been properly assigned to each voltage monitoring IC 12 and sets "1" in the register inside the communication IC 20.

[0038] Furthermore, the response signal received by the control unit 14 in this embodiment includes an identification number set by each voltage monitoring IC 12. Therefore, the control unit 14 can also confirm whether an appropriate identification number has been assigned based on the identification number included in the response signal.

[0039] The method by which the control unit 14 ultimately confirms whether an identification number has been properly assigned to the voltage monitoring IC 12, based on the confirmation result from the allocation command and the confirmation result from the response signal, is not limited. For example, the communication IC 20 may be equipped with two registers: one for setting the judgment result based on the allocation command and another for setting the judgment result based on the response signal. Then, for example, the MCU 22 may output a confirmation result indicating that an identification number has been properly assigned only when "0" is set in both registers. Alternatively, for example, if the confirmation result from either the allocation command or the response signal indicates that an identification number has not been properly assigned to the voltage monitoring IC 12, the other confirmation may not be performed, and the result indicating that the number has not been properly assigned may be used as the embroidered result.

[0040] Furthermore, although the battery monitoring system 10 of this embodiment was described as performing both confirmation by allocation commands and confirmation by response signals, it is not limited to this, and any configuration that performs confirmation by response signals is acceptable.

[0041] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a configuration was described in which the communication IC 20 determines whether an appropriate identification number has been assigned to the voltage monitoring IC 12 based on the allocation command and the response signal, respectively. However, this determination may also be performed by an MCU 22 or other device other than the communication IC 20.

[0042] As described above, the battery monitoring system 10 of this embodiment comprises a plurality of voltage monitoring units 12 connected in series and a control unit 14. Each voltage monitoring IC 12 receives an allocation command containing an identification number to be assigned, sets the identification number included in the received allocation command to itself, and transmits an allocation command with the identification number incremented by a predetermined number to the next stage. The control unit 14 transmits an allocation command to the first stage voltage monitoring unit 12_1 and receives an allocation command from the final stage voltage monitoring unit 12_4.

[0043] The control unit 14 can confirm whether an identification number has been appropriately assigned to each voltage monitoring IC 12 based on the allocation command received from the final stage voltage monitoring unit 12_4. Therefore, for example, the control unit 14 does not need to separately perform communication operations for setting an identification number for each of the multiple voltage monitoring units 12 and communication operations for information to confirm the identification number. Accordingly, the battery monitoring system 10 of this embodiment can reduce the time required to set an appropriate identification number for each voltage monitoring unit 12.

[0044] Furthermore, the above embodiments are merely illustrative, and any modifications or improvements may be applied.

[0045] Furthermore, one or more elements included in one of the above multiple embodiments can be combined with one or more elements included in other embodiments of the above multiple embodiments.

[0046] (Additional notes) (Additional note 1) A plurality of voltage monitoring units connected in series, each receiving an assignment command containing an identification number to be assigned, setting the identification number included in the received assignment command to itself, and transmitting the assignment command with the identification number incremented by a predetermined number to the next stage, A control unit that transmits the allocation command to the first-stage voltage monitoring unit and receives the allocation command from the final-stage voltage monitoring unit, A battery monitoring system equipped with this system.

[0047] (Additional note 2) The control unit confirms the allocation status of the identification numbers to the plurality of voltage monitoring units based on the identification number included in the transmitted allocation command, the identification number included in the received allocation command, the number of voltage monitoring units, and the predetermined number. The battery monitoring system described in Appendix 1.

[0048] (Additional note 3) The control unit determines that the identification number has been successfully allocated if the identification number included in the received allocation command matches the value obtained by multiplying the number of voltage monitoring units plus 1 by the predetermined number and adding the result to the identification number included in the transmitted allocation command. The battery monitoring system described in Appendix 2.

[0049] (Additional note 4) Each of the aforementioned voltage monitoring units transmits a response signal that includes the identification number set for itself. The control unit receives the response signal transmitted from each of the plurality of voltage monitoring units. A battery monitoring system as described in any one of the appendices 1 to 3.

[0050] (Additional note 5) The control unit confirms the assignment status of the identification numbers to the plurality of voltage monitoring units based on the received response signal. The battery monitoring system described in Appendix 4.

[0051] (Additional note 6) The control unit determines that the identification number has been assigned correctly if the number of times the response signal has been received matches the number of times the voltage monitoring unit has received the response signal. The battery monitoring system described in Appendix 5.

[0052] (Additional note 7) Each of the multiple voltage monitoring units connected in series receives an allocation command containing an identification number to be assigned, sets the identification number included in the received allocation command to itself, and transmits the allocation command with the identification number incremented by a predetermined number to the next stage. The control unit transmits the allocation command to the first-stage voltage monitoring unit, receives the allocation command from the final-stage voltage monitoring unit, and confirms the allocation status of the identification numbers to the multiple voltage monitoring units based on the identification numbers included in the transmitted allocation command, the identification numbers included in the received allocation command, the number of voltage monitoring units, and the predetermined number. Method for assigning identification numbers. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0053] 10 Battery monitoring system 12, 12_1~12_4 Voltage Monitoring IC 14 Control Unit 20 Communication IC, 20_1, 20_2 Communication section 22 MCU

Claims

1. A plurality of voltage monitoring units connected in series, each receiving an assignment command containing an identification number to be assigned, setting the identification number included in the received assignment command to itself, and transmitting the assignment command with the identification number incremented by a predetermined number to the next stage, A control unit that transmits the allocation command to the first-stage voltage monitoring unit and receives the allocation command from the final-stage voltage monitoring unit, A battery monitoring system equipped with this system.

2. The control unit confirms the allocation status of the identification numbers to the plurality of voltage monitoring units based on the identification number included in the transmitted allocation command, the identification number included in the received allocation command, the number of voltage monitoring units, and the predetermined number. The battery monitoring system according to claim 1.

3. The control unit determines that the identification number has been successfully allocated if the identification number included in the received allocation command matches the value obtained by multiplying the number of voltage monitoring units plus 1 by the predetermined number and adding the result to the identification number included in the transmitted allocation command. The battery monitoring system according to claim 2.

4. Each of the aforementioned voltage monitoring units transmits a response signal that includes the identification number set for itself. The control unit receives the response signal transmitted from each of the plurality of voltage monitoring units. The battery monitoring system according to claim 1.

5. The control unit confirms the assignment status of the identification numbers to the plurality of voltage monitoring units based on the received response signal. The battery monitoring system according to claim 4.

6. The control unit determines that the identification number has been assigned correctly if the number of times the response signal has been received matches the number of times the voltage monitoring unit has received the response signal. The battery monitoring system according to claim 5.

7. Each of the multiple voltage monitoring units connected in series receives an allocation command containing an identification number to be assigned, sets the identification number included in the received allocation command to itself, and transmits the allocation command with the identification number incremented by a predetermined number to the next stage. The control unit transmits the allocation command to the first-stage voltage monitoring unit, receives the allocation command from the final-stage voltage monitoring unit, and confirms the allocation status of the identification numbers to the multiple voltage monitoring units based on the identification numbers included in the transmitted allocation command, the identification numbers included in the received allocation command, the number of voltage monitoring units, and the predetermined number. Method for assigning identification numbers.

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