Cell module controller and battery device including the same

Abstract

The printed circuit board of the cell module controller that monitors the battery module is coated with a coating liquid, except for the exposed areas including the first and second points. A leak detection circuit is formed on the printed circuit board and includes at least one resistor connected to the first and second points via lines. A battery monitoring integrated circuit is formed on the printed circuit board and receives at predetermined pins the resistance value between the first and second points, which is determined based on the presence or absence of leaks in the battery pack, and a sensing voltage determined based on at least one resistor.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] [Cross-Citation to Related Application] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0070198 filed on May 29, 2024, and all contents disclosed in the document of said Korean patent application are incorporated as part of the present specification.

[0002] The disclosure relates to a cell module controller and a battery device including the same. [Background Art]

[0003] Electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles are vehicles that obtain power mainly by driving a motor using a battery as a power source, and active research has been conducted thereon as an alternative that can solve the pollution and energy problems of internal combustion engine vehicles. In addition, rechargeable batteries are used in various external devices other than electric vehicles.

[0004] When liquid such as coolant leaks inside the battery, there is a risk that insulation resistance may decrease or a fire may occur in the battery. Accordingly, battery management systems detect liquid leakage using a separate liquid leakage detection sensor. However, when a separate liquid leakage detection sensor is used, cost may increase. In addition, when an external liquid leakage detection sensor is used, liquid leakage cannot be detected by a battery monitoring integrated circuit. [Summary of Invention] [Problem to be Solved by the Invention]

[0005] An embodiment can provide a cell module controller capable of detecting liquid leakage and a battery device including the same. [Means for Solving the Problem]

[0006] According to one embodiment, a cell module controller can be provided for monitoring battery modules included in a battery pack. The cell module controller may include a printed circuit board coated with a coating liquid except for exposed areas including a first point and a second point; a leak detection circuit formed on the printed circuit board and including at least one resistor connected to the first point and the second point via lines; and a battery monitoring integrated circuit formed on the printed circuit board that receives at predetermined pins a resistance value between the first point and the second point determined based on the presence or absence of leaks in the battery pack, and a sensing voltage determined based on the at least one resistor.

[0007] A battery device according to one embodiment may include a battery module, a cell module controller for monitoring the battery module, and a master battery management system for controlling the cell module controller and receiving information monitored by the cell module controller. The cell module controller may include a printed circuit board coated with a coating liquid except for exposed areas including a first point and a second point, a first resistor and a second resistor formed on the printed circuit board and connected in series between a terminal that supplies a predetermined voltage and a terminal that has a potential lower than the predetermined voltage, wherein both terminals of the second resistor are connected to the first point and the second point, and a battery monitoring integrated circuit formed on the printed circuit board that receives the voltage at the contacts of the first resistor and the second resistor as a sensing voltage for detecting liquid leakage. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram of a battery device according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a drawing showing a printed circuit board assembly of a cell module controller according to one embodiment. [Figure 3]This is a diagram showing a leak detection circuit for a cell module controller according to one embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a diagram illustrating a leak detection mechanism in a battery device according to one embodiment. [Figure 5] This diagram illustrates leakage detection in sleep mode using a battery device according to one embodiment. [Figure 6] This is a drawing showing a printed circuit board assembly of a cell module controller according to one embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings, so that those with ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains can easily implement it. However, the present invention can be realized in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. Furthermore, in order to clearly illustrate the present invention with the drawings, unnecessary parts have been omitted, and similar parts throughout the specification are denoted by similar reference numerals.

[0010] When it is mentioned that one component is "linked" to another, it should be understood that it may be directly linked to the other component, or that other components may exist in between. On the other hand, when it is mentioned that one component is "directly linked" to another, it should be understood that there are no other components between them.

[0011] In the explanation below, expressions described as singular can be interpreted as either singular or plural unless explicitly stated otherwise, such as "one" or "single."

[0012] In the flowchart explained with reference to the diagram, the order of operations can be changed, various operations can be merged, certain operations can be split, and specific operations do not have to be performed.

[0013] Figure 1 is a block diagram of a battery device according to one embodiment.

[0014] Referring to Figure 1, the battery device 100 may include a battery module 111, a cell module controller (CMC) 130, a master battery management system (MBMS) 150, and switches 161 and 162.

[0015] The battery device 100 is connected to an external device via a positive link terminal (P+) and a negative link terminal (P-). In one embodiment, when the external device is a load, the battery device 100 can operate as a power source supplying power to the load and can be discharged. When the external device is a charger, the battery device 100 can receive external power via the charger and be charged. In one embodiment, the external device operating as a load may be, for example, an electronic device, a means of transport, or an energy storage system (ESS), and the means of transport may be a vehicle such as an electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or a smart mobility device. The battery device 100 may be called a battery pack.

[0016] The battery module 111 may include multiple battery cells. In one embodiment, the multiple battery cells in the battery module 111 may be connected in series. In one embodiment, the battery device 100 may include multiple battery modules 111, 112, 121, and 122, as shown in Figure 1. For ease of explanation, Figure 1 shows four battery modules 111, 112, 121, and 122, but the number of battery modules 111, 112, 121, and 122 is not limited to this. In one embodiment, the battery modules 111, 112, 121, and 122 may be connected in series or in parallel. For ease of explanation, Figure 1 shows the battery modules 111, 112, 121, and 122 connected in series.

[0017] The cell module controller 130 can monitor information from battery modules 111 and 112. The cell module controller 130 can also be called a cell monitoring unit (CMU), cell voltage and temperature node (CVTN), slave battery management system (SBMS), cell supervising electronics (CSE), cell supervision circuit (CSC), or cell sensor circuit (CSC). In one embodiment, the battery device 100 may include multiple cell module controllers 130 and 140, as shown in Figure 1. Although Figure 1 shows two cell module controllers 130 and 140 for illustrative purposes, the number of cell module controllers 130 and 140 is not limited to this. In this case, the cell module controller 130 can monitor information from the corresponding battery modules 111 and 112, and the cell module controller 140 can monitor information from the corresponding battery modules 121 and 122.

[0018] Each of the cell module controllers 130 and 140 can be formed on a printed circuit board (PCB). The cell module controller 130 includes one or more battery monitoring integrated circuits (BMICs) 131 and 132, and the cell module controller 140 may also include one or more BMICs 141 and 142. In one embodiment, BMICs 131 and 132 may correspond to battery modules 111 and 112, respectively, and BMICs 141 and 142 may correspond to battery modules 121 and 122, respectively. In one embodiment, one BMIC (e.g., 131) may correspond to two or more battery modules (e.g., 111 and 112), or two or more BMICs (e.g., 131 and 132) may correspond to one battery module (e.g., 111). In one embodiment, each of the BMICs 131, 132, 141, and 142 can sense the voltage of the battery cells contained in the corresponding battery modules 111, 112, 121, and 122, sense the temperature of the corresponding battery modules 111, 112, 121, and 122, balance the battery cells, and perform other functions.

[0019] In one embodiment, the cell module controllers 130 and 140 may further include coupling circuits 135 and 145, respectively. The coupling circuits 135 and 145 can transmit monitored battery module information to the master battery management system 150 and receive control signals from the master battery management system 150. In one embodiment, the coupling circuits 135 and 145 can connect the cell module controllers 130 and 140 to the master battery management system 150 via wired communication. In one embodiment, the coupling circuits 135 and 145 can connect the cell module controllers 130 and 140 to the master battery management system 150 via wireless communication.

[0020] The master battery management system 150 can measure information of the battery modules 111, 112, 121, and 122 and control the cell module controllers 130 and 140 based on information received from the cell module controllers 130 and 140. The master battery management system 150 can output control signals for controlling the switches 161 and 162.

[0021] The switch 161 may be connected between the positive terminal of the battery module 111 and the positive link terminal (P+), and the switch 162 may be connected between the negative terminal of the battery module 122 and the negative link terminal (P-). The switches 161 and 162 are controlled by the master battery management system 150, and can control the connection between the battery device 100 and an external device. In some embodiments, the switches 161 and 162 may each include a contactor including a relay. In some embodiments, the switches 161 and 162 may each include an electrical switch such as a transistor. In some embodiments, the battery device 100 may further include a drive circuit (not shown) that respectively drives the switches 161 and 162 in response to control signals from the master battery management system 150.

[0022] The cell module controllers 130 and 140 may further respectively include leakage detection circuits 133, 134, 143, and 144 that detect liquid leakage in the battery device 100. A leakage detection circuit (e.g., 133) may provide a voltage determined based on liquid leakage of the battery device 100 to a BMIC (e.g., 131) formed in the corresponding cell module controller (e.g., 130). Although FIG. 1 shows that one leakage detection circuit 133, 134, 143, 144 is respectively connected to the BMICs 131, 132, 141, 142, the connection relationship is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the leakage detection circuit may be formed only in some of the plurality of cell module controllers 130 and 140. In some embodiments, the leakage detection circuit may be connected to only some of the plurality of BMICs 131, 132, 141, 142. In some embodiments, a plurality of leakage detection circuits may be connected to one BMIC.

[0023] In some embodiments, when a PCB on which the cell module controllers 130 and 140 are formed is subjected to conformal coating, a partial region (exposed region) of the PCB may not be conformally coated, and a conductive material (e.g., copper) may be exposed. The leakage detection circuits 133, 134, 143, 144 may be formed in the region where the conductive material is exposed. When liquid leakage occurs in the battery device 100, the leaked liquid contacts the exposed conductive material, and the resistance value of the resistor formed on the conductive material changes due to the contact of the leaked liquid. The leakage detection circuit (e.g., 133) may provide a voltage that changes in accordance with the change in the resistance value to the corresponding BMIC (e.g., 131). In some embodiments, the BMIC 131 may determine whether liquid leakage occurs based on the magnitude of the voltage. In some embodiments, the BMIC 131 transmits information indicating the voltage value to the master battery management system 150, and the master battery management system 150 may determine whether liquid leakage occurs based on the magnitude of the voltage.

[0024] As described above, by implementing the leak detection circuit using conductive material on the PCB without using a separate sensor, the unit cost of the leak detection circuit can be reduced. Furthermore, by forming the leak detection circuit in the cell module controller rather than the master battery management system, it is possible to wake up only the BMIC when the battery device is in sleep mode to detect leaks.

[0025] Figure 2 is a diagram showing a printed circuit board assembly of a cell module controller according to one embodiment, Figure 3 is a diagram showing a leak detection circuit of a cell module controller according to one embodiment, Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating leak detection in a battery device according to one embodiment, and Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating leak detection in sleep mode in a battery device according to one embodiment.

[0026] Referring to Figure 2, the surface of PCB 210 may be conformally coated. That is, the surface of PCB 210, which has a circuit plated onto a conductive material (e.g., copper foil), may be coated with a coating solution (e.g., PSR (photosolder resist) coating solution) 240. Also, BMICs 221 and 222 may be formed on PCB 210. In one embodiment, a coupling circuit 230 for communication with a master battery management system may be formed on PCB 210. In this way, the PCB assembly 200 for the cell module controller can be realized on PCB 210 with BMICs 221 and 222 and the coupling circuit 230 formed on PCB 210.

[0027] In this case, some areas (one or more areas) 250, 260 on the surface of PCB 210 are not coated with the coating liquid 240, and conductive material can be exposed. In one embodiment, some areas 250, 260 may be areas where leakage is likely to occur. Figure 2 shows two areas 250, 260 that expose conductive material, but the number of areas 250, 260 is not limited to this. Two or more points (P11, P12) can be set in area 250, and two or more points (P21, P22) can be set in area 260. In one embodiment, test points used for testing the PCB assembly 200 may be set as points (P11, P12, P21, P22).

[0028] If a leak occurs in region 250, the resistance between points (P11, P12) may increase. In some cases, the resistance between points (P11, P12) may increase, resulting in an open circuit between points (P11, P12). Similarly, if a leak occurs in region 260, the resistance between points (P21, P22) may increase, or an open circuit between points (P21, P22) may occur. Therefore, BMIC221 corresponding to region 250 can receive a voltage determined based on the resistance between points (P11, P12), and BMIC222 corresponding to region 260 can receive a voltage determined based on the resistance between points (P21, P22). A leak detection circuit may be connected to points (P11, P12) to determine a voltage based on the resistance between points (P11, P12), and a leak detection circuit may be connected to points (P21, P22) to determine a voltage based on the resistance between points (P21, P22). In one embodiment, BMICs 221 and 222 can determine the presence or absence of fluid leakage based on the received voltage. In another embodiment, BMICs 221 and 222 transmit information indicating the received voltage to the master battery management system, which can then determine the presence or absence of fluid leakage based on the received voltage.

[0029] Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the leak detection circuit 270 may include resistors (R1, R2) connected in series. The resistors (R1, R2) may be formed in a region coated with coating liquid 240 on the PCB 210. The resistors (R1, R2) may be connected in series between a terminal supplying a predetermined voltage (Vs) and a terminal having a potential lower than the predetermined voltage (Vs). In one embodiment, the terminal having a potential lower than the predetermined voltage (Vs) may be a ground terminal. The leak detection circuit 270 can transmit a voltage corresponding to the contact (or node) (N1) of the resistors (R1, R2) as a sensing voltage (V1) to the BMIC 221. One terminal (or first terminal) (N1) of resistor (R2) can be connected to one of the points (P11, P12) (P11) via a line (or first line), and the other terminal (or second terminal) of resistor (R2) can be connected to the other point (P12) via a line (or second line). That is, resistor (R2) can be connected between the first line and the second line. Resistor (R1) may be connected between the terminal supplying a predetermined voltage (Vs) and the first line (the first terminal (N1) of resistor (R2)). The region between the two points (P11, P12) can be represented as a variable resistor because its resistance changes due to leakage.

[0030] In this case, if no leakage occurs in the area where points (P11, P12) are set, the resistance between points (P11, P12) is very small due to the conductive material, so the voltage (V1) at the contact point (N1) of the two resistors (R1, R2) can be close to the Vs voltage. For example, if the Vs voltage is 5V, the voltage (V1) at the contact point (N1) of the resistors (R1, R2) can be 4 to 4.5V. If leakage occurs in the area where points (P11, P12) are set, the resistance between points (P11, P12) is very large due to the leakage, so the voltage (V1) at the contact point (N1) of the two resistors (R1, R2) can be the voltage obtained by dividing the Vs voltage by the resistors (R1, R2). For example, if the Vs voltage is 5V, the voltage (V1) at the contact point (N1) of the resistors (R1, R2) can be 1 to 3.5V.

[0031] Therefore, as shown in Figure 4, the BMIC221 or the master battery management system can determine the presence or absence of a leak based on the sensing voltage (V1) of the leak detection circuit 270. In one embodiment, if the sensing voltage (V1) is greater than the first voltage, the BMIC221 or the master battery management system can determine that there is no leak and the system is in a normal state. If the sensing voltage (V1) is less than the second voltage, the BMIC221 or the master battery management system can determine that a leak has occurred. In this case, the second voltage may be less than or equal to the first voltage.

[0032] In one embodiment, the sensing voltage (V1) of the leak detection circuit 270 can be input to a predetermined pin of the BMIC221 (for example, an ADC (analog-to-digital) pin). The BMIC221 can convert the voltage (V1) received at the ADC pin into a digital signal.

[0033] In one embodiment, the leak detection circuit 270 may further include a resistor (R3) connected between the contact (N1) of resistors (R1, R2) and the ADC pin of the BMIC 221. The resistor (R3) can limit the current input to the BMIC 221. In one embodiment, the leak detection circuit 270 may further include a capacitor (C1) connected between the ADC pin and the ground terminal. The capacitor (C1) can perform noise filtering. The resistors (R3) and capacitor (C1) can be formed in a region of the PCB 210 coated with coating liquid 240.

[0034] In one embodiment, as shown in Figure 5, when the battery device enters sleep mode, the BMIC221 can periodically (at predetermined intervals) wake up to detect the presence or absence of fluid leakage. That is, the BMIC221 can wake up at predetermined intervals to receive a sensed voltage (V1) via a predetermined pin. If fluid leakage is detected, the BMIC221 can wake up the master battery management system. In one embodiment, the master battery management system can transmit a warning signal to an external device (e.g., a vehicle) to which the battery device is connected, or enter a safe state that prevents switches (e.g., 161 and 162 in Figure 1) from closing.

[0035] Figure 6 is a drawing showing a PCB assembly of a cell module controller according to one embodiment. Referring to Figure 6, the PCB assembly 600 may include BMICs 621, 622 and coupling circuits 630 formed on the PCB 610, as described with reference to Figure 2. The surface of the PCB 610 may be coated with a coating liquid (e.g., PSR coating liquid) 640. In this case, some areas on the surface of the PCB 610 where leak detection points are set may not be coated with the coating liquid 640, potentially exposing conductive material.

[0036] If the points are exposed, contamination may occur at the points. In this case, the contamination may prevent proper detection of leaks from the points. In one embodiment, elements 651, 652, 661, and 662 can be mounted on the points to prevent contamination.

[0037] In one embodiment, elements 651, 652, 661, and 662 may include SMT (surface mount technology) contact pads connected to the point. In another embodiment, elements 651, 652, 661, and 662 may include pogo pins connected to the point.

[0038] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications and improvements by those skilled in the art that utilize the basic concepts of the present invention as defined in the following claims also fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A cell module controller for monitoring battery modules included in a battery pack, A printed circuit board coated with a coating solution, excluding the exposed area including the first and second points, A leak detection circuit formed on the printed circuit board and including at least one resistor connected to the first point and the second point via a line, A battery monitoring integrated circuit formed on the printed circuit board receives a resistance value between the first point and the second point, which is determined based on whether or not leakage has occurred in the battery pack, and a sensing voltage determined based on the at least one resistance, at a predetermined pin. A cell module controller, including the one mentioned above.

2. The aforementioned line includes a first line connected to the first point and a second line connected to the second point. The at least one resistor is A first resistor connected between a terminal that transmits a predetermined voltage and the first line, Includes a second resistor connected between the first line and the second line, The leak detection circuit outputs the voltage at the contacts of the first resistor and the second resistor as the detection voltage. The cell module controller according to claim 1.

3. The cell module controller according to claim 2, wherein the leak detection circuit further includes a third resistor connected between the contact and the predetermined pin.

4. The cell module controller according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the leak detection circuit further includes a capacitor connected between the predetermined pin and the ground terminal.

5. The aforementioned battery monitoring integrated circuit is If no leakage occurs in the battery pack, the sensing voltage, which is higher than the first voltage, is received. If leakage occurs in the battery pack, the sensing voltage, which is lower than the second voltage, is received. The cell module controller according to claim 2 or 3.

6. The cell module controller according to claim 5, wherein the second voltage is less than or equal to the first voltage.

7. A cell module controller according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising elements mounted on the first point and the second point.

8. The cell module controller according to claim 7, wherein the element includes an SMT contact pad.

9. The cell module controller according to claim 7, wherein the element includes a pogo pin.

10. The cell module controller according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein when the battery pack enters sleep mode, the battery monitoring integrated circuit periodically wakes up to receive the sensed voltage.

11. Battery module, A cell module controller that monitors the aforementioned battery module, Includes a master battery management system that controls the cell module controller and receives information monitored by the cell module controller, The aforementioned cell module controller is A printed circuit board coated with coating liquid, excluding the exposed area including the first and second points. A first resistor and a second resistor are formed on the printed circuit board and connected in series between a terminal that supplies a predetermined voltage and a terminal that has a potential lower than the predetermined voltage, wherein both terminals of the second resistor are connected to the first point and the second point, respectively. A battery monitoring integrated circuit formed on the printed circuit board receives the voltage at the contacts of the first resistor and the second resistor as a sensing voltage for detecting fluid leakage. A battery device, including a battery.

12. The aforementioned battery monitoring integrated circuit is If the sensing voltage is higher than the first voltage, it is determined that no fluid leakage has occurred in the battery device. If the sensing voltage is lower than the second voltage, it is determined that fluid leakage has occurred in the battery device. The battery device according to claim 11.

13. The battery monitoring integrated circuit transmits information indicating the sensed voltage to the master battery management system. The aforementioned master battery management system is If the sensing voltage is higher than the first voltage, it is determined that no fluid leakage has occurred in the battery device. If the sensing voltage is lower than the second voltage, it is determined that fluid leakage has occurred in the battery device. The battery device according to claim 11 or 12.

14. The battery device according to claim 11 or 12, wherein if fluid leakage occurs in the battery device, the master battery management system transmits a warning signal to an external device to which the battery device is connected.

15. The system further includes a switch that controls the electrical connection between the battery module and an external device, If a leak occurs in the battery device, the master battery management system prevents the switch from closing. The battery device according to claim 11 or 12.

16. The battery device according to claim 11 or 12, wherein when the battery device enters sleep mode, the battery monitoring integrated circuit periodically wakes up to receive the sensed voltage.

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