Charging protocol setting device and method

Abstract

A charging protocol setting device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes: a charging unit configured to charge the battery so that the battery repeatedly enters a charging state and a resting state; a measuring unit configured to measure the voltage of the battery while the battery is being charged; a temperature control unit configured to adjust the temperature of the battery while the battery is being charged; and a control unit configured to control the charging unit so that the battery is charged at a preset first C rate, calculate the resistance of the battery for each SOC (State of Charge) based on the voltage drop in the resting state, determine a first charge limit SOC corresponding to the first C rate based on the SOC and the resistance, and set a charging protocol including the correspondence between the first C rate and the first charge limit SOC.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a charging protocol setting apparatus and method, and more particularly, to a charging protocol setting apparatus and method for setting a charging protocol of a battery.

[0002] This application claims priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0190291 filed on December 22, 2023, and all contents disclosed in the specification and drawings of the said application are incorporated into the present application.

Background Art

[0003] Recently, as demand for portable electronic products such as notebook PCs (Personal Computers), video cameras, mobile phones and the like has increased rapidly, and development of electric vehicles, power storage batteries, robots, artificial satellites and the like has entered full swing, active research has been conducted on 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, lithium batteries, and the like. Among these, lithium batteries have almost no memory effect compared to nickel-based batteries, allow free charging and discharging, have a very low self-discharge rate and high energy density, and thus have been in the spotlight for these advantages.

[0005] As power-driven devices such as electric vehicles, electric motorcycles and electric bicycles have been commercialized, the demand for high-capacity and high-performance batteries is increasing. However, as the capacity of batteries increases, there is a disadvantage that the time required for charging the battery also increases. To solve such problems, techniques for rapidly charging batteries have been developed, but there is a concern that rapid charging may accelerate the deterioration of batteries. Therefore, in order to prevent battery deterioration caused by rapid charging, a rapid charging protocol capable of efficiently charging a battery is required.

Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a charging protocol setting device and method for setting a charging protocol.

[0007] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood by the embodiments of the invention described below. Furthermore, it will be understood that the objects and advantages of the present invention can be realized by the means and combinations thereof set forth in the claims. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A charging protocol setting device according to one aspect of the present invention may include: a charging unit configured to charge the battery so that the battery repeatedly enters a charging state and a resting state; a measuring unit configured to measure the voltage of the battery while the battery is being charged; a temperature control unit configured to adjust the temperature of the battery while the battery is being charged; and a control unit configured to control the charging unit so that the battery is charged at a preset first C rate, calculate the resistance for each State of Charge (SOC) of the battery based on the voltage drop in the resting state, determine a first charge limit SOC corresponding to the first C rate based on the SOC and the resistance, and set a charging protocol including the correspondence between the first C rate and the first charge limit SOC.

[0009] The control unit may be configured to control the charging unit so that the battery is charged at a second C rate different from the first C rate, to determine a second charge limit SOC corresponding to the second C rate for the battery, and to include the correspondence between the second C rate and the second charge limit SOC in the charging protocol.

[0010] The second upper limit of charge SOC may be less than the first upper limit of charge SOC if the first C rate is less than the second C rate.

[0011] The second upper limit of charge SOC may exceed the first upper limit of charge SOC if the first C rate exceeds the second C rate.

[0012] The temperature control unit may be configured to circulate a refrigerant so that the temperature of the battery is maintained below a preset critical temperature.

[0013] The measuring unit may be further configured to measure the temperature of the battery.

[0014] The temperature control unit may be configured to increase at least one of the amount of refrigerant and the flow rate as the temperature of the battery approaches the critical temperature.

[0015] The control unit may be configured to set a resistance profile showing the correspondence between the resistance and the SOC, select a target point that satisfies predetermined conditions from the resistance profile, and determine the SOC corresponding to the selected target point as the first charge limit SOC.

[0016] The control unit may be configured to select the feature point with the largest corresponding SOC among the feature points included in the resistance profile as the target point.

[0017] The control unit may be configured to determine the maximum points included in the resistance profile as the feature points.

[0018] The control unit may be configured not to determine the first charge limit SOC if there is no target point in the resistance profile that satisfies the predetermined conditions.

[0019] Furthermore, a charging control device according to another aspect of the present invention may be configured to control the charging of a battery to be charged based on the charging protocol set by a charging protocol setting device according to one aspect of the present invention.

[0020] A battery pack according to yet another aspect of the present invention may include a charging control device according to yet another aspect of the present invention.

[0021] An automobile according to another aspect of the present invention may be equipped with a charging control device according to another aspect of the present invention.

[0022] A charging protocol setting method according to another aspect of the present invention may include: a resistance calculation step for each SOC of the battery, which calculates the resistance for each SOC of the battery based on the voltage drop in the rest state while the battery is repeatedly charged in a charged state and a rest state at a preset first C rate; a charging limit SOC determination step, which determines a first charging limit SOC corresponding to the first C rate based on the SOC and the resistance; and a charging protocol setting step, which sets a charging protocol that includes a correspondence between the first C rate and the first charging limit SOC.

[0023] A charging protocol setting method according to another aspect of the present invention may be configured such that the charging protocol includes a step of calculating the resistance for each SOC based on the second C rate, a step of determining the charging limit SOC, and a step of setting the charging protocol, so that the charging protocol includes a correspondence between a second C rate different from the first C rate and a second charging limit SOC corresponding to the second C rate. [Effects of the Invention]

[0024] According to one aspect of the present invention, battery degradation due to charging is prevented, allowing for safe charging of the battery and extending its expected lifespan.

[0025] The effects of the present invention are not limited to those described above, and other effects of the present invention not mentioned herein will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the claims.

[0026] The following drawings attached to the present specification serve to further understand the technical idea of the present invention together with the detailed description of the invention described below, and the present invention should not be construed as being limited only to the matters described in the drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a charging protocol setting device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a charging process according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing an example of resistance for each SOC of a first battery according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing an example of temperature for each SOC of the first battery according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing a comparative example of resistance for each SOC of a second battery according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing a comparative example of temperature for each SOC of the second battery according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing a first charging protocol and a second charging protocol according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing a charging control device according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically showing a battery pack according to still another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing a charging device according to still another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram schematically showing an automobile according to still another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a diagram schematically showing a charging protocol setting method according to still another embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0028] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. Prior to this, terms and words used in this specification and in the claims shall not be interpreted to be limited to their usual or dictionary meanings, but rather to be interpreted in terms and concepts appropriate to the technical idea of ​​the present invention, in accordance with the principle that inventors may appropriately define the concepts of terms in order to best describe their invention.

[0029] Therefore, the embodiments described herein and the configurations shown in the drawings represent only one of the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent the entire technical concept of the invention. It should be understood that there are various equivalents and modifications that can be substituted for these at the time of filing this application.

[0030] In addition, when describing the present invention, if it is determined that a specific description of a related known configuration or function would unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention, such description will be omitted.

[0031] Terms that include ordinal numbers, such as "1st," "2nd," etc., are used to distinguish one of several components from the rest, and such terms do not limit the components themselves.

[0032] Throughout the specification, when a part of it is said to "include" or "equip" a certain component, unless otherwise specified, it means that other components are not excluded and may further include other components.

[0033] Furthermore, when a part of the specification is described as being "connected" to another part, this includes not only cases where it is "directly connected," but also cases where it is "indirectly connected" through other elements in between.

[0034] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings.

[0035] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing a charging protocol setting device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] Referring to Figure 1, the charging protocol setting device 100 may include a charging unit 110, a measuring unit 120, a temperature control unit 130, and a control unit 140.

[0037] The charging unit 110 may be configured to charge the battery by having the battery repeatedly switch between a charging state and a rest state.

[0038] Here, a battery can mean a single, physically separable, independent cell equipped with a negative terminal and a positive terminal. For example, a lithium-ion battery or a lithium polymer battery may be considered a battery. The type of battery can be cylindrical, prismatic, or pouch type. A battery can also refer to a battery bank, battery module, or battery pack in which multiple cells are connected in series and / or parallel. For the sake of explanation, below, a battery will be described as a single, independent cell.

[0039] Specifically, the charging unit 110 can charge the battery with a constant current CC and / or constant power CP. For example, when the charging unit 110 receives a battery charging command from the control unit 140, it can charge the battery. Here, the charging command may include C rate information for charging. For example, if C rate information related to 1C is included in the charging command, the charging unit 110 can charge the battery at 1C.

[0040] Furthermore, the charging unit 110 may enter a dormant state during charging. Here, the dormant state is a state in which charging is stopped. For example, when the charging unit 110 is in a dormant state, the battery is in an unloaded state. In other words, charging periods and dormant periods may be repeated during the battery charging process.

[0041] Preferably, the charging unit 110 may enter a dormant state each time the battery's SOC (State of Charge) increases by a preset unit of SOC. Here, the dormant period may be a preset unit of time.

[0042] For example, the charging unit 110 may remain in a dormant state for 1 second for each 1% increase in the battery's State of Charge (SOC). After that, the charging unit 110 may continue charging the battery until the battery's SOC increases by another 1%.

[0043] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing the charging process according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the charging unit 110 can charge the battery. Here, the charging current is Ic. The charging unit 110 is in a charging state before Ts and after Td, and in a rest state between Ts and Td. That is, the charging period is the period before Ts and the period after Td, and the rest period is the period between Ts and Td. During the rest period, the battery voltage may decrease from Vs to Vd. After that, the state of the charging unit 110 is switched to the charging state, and the battery voltage may further increase.

[0045] The measuring unit 120 may be configured to measure the battery voltage while the battery is being charged.

[0046] Specifically, the measuring unit 120 can measure the voltage across both ends of the battery. The measuring unit 120 can be connected to the positive terminal of the battery to measure the positive voltage, and can be connected to the negative terminal of the battery to measure the negative voltage. The measuring unit 120 can then measure the battery voltage by calculating the difference between the positive and negative voltages.

[0047] For example, the measurement unit 120 can measure the battery voltage according to a preset voltage measurement cycle. Furthermore, the measurement unit 120 can measure the battery voltage when the charging unit 110 is in a dormant state and the battery is unloaded.

[0048] Preferably, the measurement unit 120 can measure the battery voltage during the charging period according to a preset voltage measurement cycle. The measurement unit 120 can also measure the battery voltage at the start and end of the idle period.

[0049] For example, in the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the measurement unit 120 can measure the battery voltage according to a preset voltage measurement cycle during the charging period (the period before Ts and the period after Td). The measurement unit 120 can measure the battery voltage as Vs(V) at Ts, which is the start of the rest period, and measure the battery voltage as Vd(V) at Td, which is the end of the rest period.

[0050] The temperature control unit 130 may be configured to regulate the temperature of the battery while it is being charged.

[0051] Specifically, the temperature control unit 130 may be configured to circulate a cooling medium so that the battery temperature is maintained below a preset critical temperature. For example, the temperature control unit 130 can maintain the battery temperature below the critical temperature by circulating at least one of the following: cooling water, antifreeze, insulating oil, and cooling gas.

[0052] Preferably, the temperature control unit 130 can maintain the battery temperature below the critical temperature during the battery charging process. For example, during the battery charging process, the charging unit 110 may repeatedly switch between a charging state and a rest state, but the temperature control unit 130 can maintain the battery temperature below the critical temperature even when the charging unit 110 is in a rest state.

[0053] For example, in the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the temperature control unit 130 can circulate a refrigerant so that the battery temperature is maintained below the critical temperature before Ts, between Ts and Td, and after Td.

[0054] On the other hand, as long as the temperature control unit can control the battery temperature using a refrigerant, there are no particular restrictions on the structure, shape, or connection relationship with the battery of the temperature control unit.

[0055] The control unit 140 can control the charging unit 110 so that the battery is charged at a preset first C rate.

[0056] Specifically, the control unit 140 may send a charging command to the charging unit 110. Here, the charging command may include C-rate information.

[0057] The control unit 140 may be configured to calculate the resistance of each State of Charge (SOC) of the battery based on the voltage drop in the idle state.

[0058] Specifically, the control unit 140 may be connected to the measurement unit 120 via wired and / or wireless communication. The control unit 140 may receive battery voltage information from the measurement unit 120.

[0059] The control unit 140 can then calculate the battery resistance due to voltage drop based on the received voltage information. In other words, the control unit 140 can calculate the battery resistance based on the voltage drop during the idle period. Specifically, the control unit 140 can calculate the battery resistance each time the charging unit 110 enters a idle state.

[0060] For example, the control unit 140 can calculate the battery resistance by considering the charging current and the voltage drop during the rest period. Assuming that the charging unit 110 enters a rest state each time the battery's SOC increases by 1%, the control unit 140 can calculate the resistance corresponding to the SOC of each battery.

[0061] For example, in the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the voltage drop is Vs-Vd and the charging current is Ic. The control unit 140 can calculate the resistance corresponding to the SOC using the formula "(Vs-Vd)÷Ic".

[0062] The control unit 140 may be configured to determine a first charge limit SOC corresponding to a first C rate based on the SOC and resistance.

[0063] Specifically, the control unit 140 may be configured to set a resistance profile that shows the correspondence between resistance and state of charge (SOC). Here, the resistance profile is a profile that shows the correspondence between SOC and resistance. For example, if the X-axis is set as SOC and the Y-axis is set as resistance, the resistance profile may be shown as a two-dimensional graph.

[0064] The control unit 140 may be configured to select a target point that satisfies predetermined conditions from the resistance profile. Here, the target point is a point in the resistance profile that satisfies predetermined conditions, and the SOC of the target point may be determined as the upper limit charge SOC corresponding to the first C rate.

[0065] Specifically, the control unit 140 may be configured to select the feature point with the largest corresponding SOC among the feature points included in the resistance profile as the target point.

[0066] More specifically, the control unit 140 may be configured to determine a local maximum point included in the resistance profile as a feature point. Here, a local maximum point is a point in the resistance profile where the instantaneous rate of change of resistance with respect to the state of clock (SOC) is 0, and the profile exhibits an upward-bulging shape. That is, with respect to the local maximum point, the slope of the SOC immediately preceding it is a positive number, and the slope of the SOC immediately following it is a negative number. In other words, the control unit 140 may select as a target point the feature point where the SOC is maximum among at least one local maximum point included in the resistance profile.

[0067] Preferably, the resistance profile may include one or more feature points. The control unit 140 may then select a target point from among the one or more feature points included in the resistance profile.

[0068] For example, if the resistance profile includes one feature point, the control unit 140 may select that feature point as the target point.

[0069] In another example, if the resistance profile contains multiple feature points, the control unit 140 may select the feature point with the largest corresponding SOC among the multiple feature points as the target point.

[0070] The control unit 140 may be configured to determine the SOC corresponding to the selected target point as the first charge limit SOC. Here, the first charge limit SOC means the charge termination SOC of the battery when the battery is charged at a first C rate.

[0071] Generally, during the rapid charging process, lithium plating (Li-plating) can occur, where lithium metal is deposited due to uneven reactions within the battery. In particular, the target point in the resistance profile is the point where the battery resistance decreases, and this decrease in battery resistance is due to the deposition of lithium metal. In other words, the target point in the resistance profile can be considered the point where lithium plating begins. Therefore, the first charge limit SOC, which is the SOC at the target point, means the charge limit SOC or charge termination SOC in the first C-rate charge.

[0072] The control unit 140 may be configured to set a charging protocol that includes a correspondence between a first C rate and a first charge limit SOC.

[0073] Specifically, the control unit 140 can set a charging protocol by mapping a first C rate to a first charge limit SOC. That is, the charging protocol may include mapping information between the first C rate and the first charge limit SOC.

[0074] For example, if the battery is charged at a first C rate by the charging protocol, charging may be terminated when the battery's SOC reaches a first maximum charge SOC.

[0075] The charging protocol setting device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention can effectively prevent lithium plating from occurring during the charging process by determining the maximum charge SOC for each C rate. Therefore, by preventing battery degradation due to charging, the battery is charged safely and the expected lifespan of the battery is extended.

[0076] On the other hand, the control unit 140 provided in the charging protocol setting device 100 may selectively include known processors, ASICs (application-specific integrated circuits), other chipsets, logic circuits, registers, communication modems, data processing devices, etc., in order to execute the various control logics performed in the present invention. Furthermore, when the control logic is embodied as software, the control unit 140 may be embodied by a collection of program modules. In this case, the program modules are stored in memory and can be executed by the control unit 140. The memory may be located inside or outside the control unit 140 and can be connected to the control unit 140 by various known means.

[0077] The charging protocol setting device 100 may further include a storage unit 150. The storage unit 150 may store data and programs necessary for each component of the charging protocol setting device 100 to operate and function, or data generated during the process of operation and functioning. The type of storage unit 150 is not particularly limited, as long as it is a known information storage means capable of recording, erasing, updating, and reading data. For example, information storage means may include RAM, flash memory, ROM, EEPROM, registers, etc. The storage unit 150 may also store program code that defines processes executable by the control unit 140.

[0078] For example, battery voltage information, resistance profile, and charging protocol can be stored in the storage unit 150.

[0079] Specifically, the control unit 140 can set up a charging protocol that corresponds to multiple C rates. That is, the control unit 140 can set up a charging protocol that shows the correspondence between multiple C rates and multiple charge limit SOCs.

[0080] The control unit 140 may be configured to control the charging unit 110 so that the battery is charged at a second C rate different from the first C rate.

[0081] Preferably, after a charging protocol using a first C-rate has been set, the control unit 140 may send a charging command to the charging unit 110 so that the battery is charged at a second C-rate. Upon receiving the charging command, the charging unit 110 may charge the battery at the second C-rate by repeatedly switching between charging and resting states.

[0082] For example, if a charging protocol using a first C rate is set, the battery may be in a fully charged state. Here, a fully charged state means that the battery is fully charged until its State of Charge (SOC) reaches a preset end-of-charge SOC or 100% SOC. Therefore, the battery may be discharged until its SOC reaches a preset end-of-discharge SOC or 0% SOC. In one embodiment, after discharge is complete, the battery may enter a stable state after a predetermined rest period (e.g., 30 minutes). Thereafter, the battery may be charged at a second C rate.

[0083] The control unit 140 may be configured to determine a second charge limit SOC corresponding to a second C rate for the battery.

[0084] The control unit 140 can generate a resistance profile showing the correspondence between the battery's state of charge (SOC) and its resistance. The control unit 140 can then select a target point from the resistance profile and determine the SOC at the selected target point as the second upper limit SOC for charging.

[0085] The control unit 140 may be configured to include a correspondence between a second C rate and a second charge limit SOC in the charging protocol.

[0086] Ideally, the C-rate and the maximum charge SOC should be inversely proportional. That is, as the C-rate increases, the corresponding maximum charge SOC may decrease. Conversely, as the C-rate decreases, the corresponding maximum charge SOC may increase.

[0087] For example, if the first C-rate is less than the second C-rate, the second maximum charge SOC may be less than the first maximum charge SOC. Conversely, if the first C-rate exceeds the second C-rate, the second maximum charge SOC may exceed the first maximum charge SOC.

[0088] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the resistance values ​​for each state of charge (SOC) of the first battery according to one embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, Figure 3 shows six resistance profiles set by charging the first battery at 0.5C, 1C, 1.5C, 2C, 2.5C, and 3C, respectively.

[0089] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the temperature of the first battery for each SOC according to one embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, the temperature control unit 130 can adjust the temperature of the first battery so that the temperature of the first battery is maintained below the critical temperature K during the charging process of the first battery. Therefore, the temperature of the first battery was maintained below the critical temperature K during the charging process for each C rate.

[0090] In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the target points for each resistance profile are indicated by the "●" marks. When the first battery is charged at 0.5C, the SOC at the target point is s1, so the upper limit of charge SOC corresponding to 0.5C is s1. When the first battery is charged at 1C, the SOC at the target point is s2, so the upper limit of charge SOC corresponding to 1C is s2. When the first battery is charged at 1.5C, the SOC at the target point is s3, so the upper limit of charge SOC corresponding to 1.5C is s3. When the first battery is charged at 2C, the SOC at the target point is s4, so the upper limit of charge SOC corresponding to 2C is s4. When the first battery is charged at 2.5C, the SOC at the target point is s5, so the upper limit of charge SOC corresponding to 2.5C is s5. When the first battery is charged at 3C, the SOC at the target point is s6, so the upper limit of charge SOC corresponding to 3C is s6.

[0091] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating comparative examples of resistance values ​​for each state of charge (SOC) of a second battery according to one embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, Figure 5 shows six resistance profiles set by charging the second battery at 0.5C, 1C, 1.5C, 2C, 2.5C, and 3C, respectively.

[0092] Figure 6 schematically shows comparative examples of temperatures for each SOC of a second battery according to one embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, unlike the first battery, the second battery was not adjusted during the charging process to maintain its temperature below the critical temperature K. Therefore, the higher the C rate, the higher the measured temperature for each SOC.

[0093] In the comparative example in Figure 5, the target points for each resistance profile are indicated by the "●" marks. When the second battery is charged at 0.5C, the SOC at the target point is c1, so the upper limit of charge SOC corresponding to 0.5C is c1. When the second battery is charged at 1C, the SOC at the target point is c2, so the upper limit of charge SOC corresponding to 1C is c2. When the second battery is charged at 1.5C, the SOC at the target point is c3, so the upper limit of charge SOC corresponding to 1.5C is c3. When the second battery is charged at 2C, the SOC at the target point is c4, so the upper limit of charge SOC corresponding to 2C is c4. When the second battery is charged at 2.5C or 3C, there is no target point, so the upper limit of charge SOC has not been determined.

[0094] Specifically, if the battery temperature is not controlled during the charging process, the battery resistance may increase due to heat generation. Furthermore, since the battery temperature can continuously increase due to heat generation, the battery resistance may also continuously increase as charging progresses. In other words, the target point is selected as one of the feature points (e.g., local maximums) included in the resistance profile, but if the resistance continuously increases due to battery heat generation, the feature points may cease to exist. Therefore, if the temperature is not controlled during the battery charging process, the resistance profile may not include any feature points.

[0095] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram showing a first charging protocol P1 and a second charging protocol P2 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, the first charging protocol P1 is a charging protocol set for the first battery, and the second charging protocol P2 is a charging protocol set for the second battery. The second charging protocol P2 includes a charge limit SOC affected by the heat generated by the second battery, and therefore does not include charge limit SOCs corresponding to 2.5C and 3C.

[0096] Furthermore, the maximum charge SOC included in the first charging protocol P1 and the second charging protocol P2 differs at 0.5C, 1C, and 2C. Specifically, at 0.5C, the maximum charge SOC according to the first charging protocol P1 is s1, and the maximum charge SOC according to the second charging protocol P2 is c1. At 1C, the maximum charge SOC according to the first charging protocol P1 is s2, and the maximum charge SOC according to the second charging protocol P2 is c2. At 1.5C, the maximum charge SOC according to the first charging protocol P1 is s3, and the maximum charge SOC according to the second charging protocol P2 is c3.

[0097] The charging protocol setting device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention can determine the maximum charge SOC for each C rate, minimizing the impact of battery heat generation by maintaining the battery temperature below the critical temperature during the charging process. Therefore, the optimal maximum charge SOC that prevents lithium deposition is determined for each C rate, enabling the battery to be safely charged by the charging protocol set by the charging protocol setting device 100.

[0098] On the other hand, the measurement unit 120 may be configured to further measure the battery temperature.

[0099] The temperature control unit 130 may be configured to increase at least one of the amount of refrigerant and the flow rate as the battery temperature approaches the critical temperature.

[0100] Specifically, because the battery temperature rises during the charging process, it may not be possible to maintain the battery temperature below the critical temperature using a temperature maintenance control system at a certain level.

[0101] For example, in the comparative example shown in Figure 5, if the battery temperature is not controlled during the charging process, the battery temperature can rise continuously. In particular, the temperature rise is more rapid in the lower SOC range than in the higher SOC range. That is, the rate of temperature rise in the lower SOC range is greater than the rate of temperature rise in the higher SOC range.

[0102] Therefore, the temperature control unit 130 may be configured to increase at least one of the amount of refrigerant and the flow rate as the battery temperature approaches the critical temperature. That is, the temperature control unit 130 may increase the total amount of refrigerant so that more refrigerant affects the battery, or increase the flow rate of the refrigerant so that the refrigerant affects the battery more frequently.

[0103] For example, suppose the temperature control unit 130 controls the battery temperature using cooling water. The temperature control unit 130 can control the battery temperature to below the critical temperature by increasing the amount and / or flow rate of the cooling water as the battery temperature approaches the critical temperature.

[0104] In another example, the temperature control unit 130 may further control the battery temperature by adding a cooling gas while the battery temperature is being controlled using cooling water.

[0105] The charging protocol setting device 100 can set a charging protocol that minimizes the effects of heat generation by controlling the battery temperature during the charging process. Therefore, according to the charging protocol set by the charging protocol setting device 100, the battery is charged safely, preventing unintended degradation of the battery due to charging. In other words, the charging protocol setting device 100 has the advantage of being able to set a charging protocol that can extend the expected lifespan of the battery by preventing unnecessary degradation of the battery.

[0106] On the other hand, the control unit 140 may be configured not to determine the first charge limit SOC if there is no target point in the resistance profile that satisfies predetermined conditions.

[0107] When the temperature control unit 130 adjusts the battery temperature, the resistance profile generated by the control unit 140 minimizes the effect of battery heat generation. Therefore, preferably, the resistance profile may include at least one feature point, making it possible to determine the upper limit of charge (SOC) corresponding to the C rate.

[0108] However, if the battery is severely degraded, or if the degradation accelerates, the resistance of each SOC may continuously increase, even if it is not due to battery overheating. In this case, since the resistance profile shows the correspondence between SOC and resistance, the resistance profile may not contain characteristic points.

[0109] The control unit 140 may not determine the upper limit of charge (SOC) corresponding to the C rate if the battery temperature is controlled during the charging process but a target point cannot be selected from the resistance profile. In other words, since information related to the C rate is excluded from the charging protocol, the battery may not be charged at that C rate according to the charging protocol.

[0110] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram showing a charging control device 200 according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0111] Referring to Figure 8, the charging control device 200 may include a memory 210 and a processor 220.

[0112] Specifically, the charging protocol set by the charging protocol setting device 100 can be stored in the memory 210. Then, when the processor 220 needs to control the charging of the battery to be charged, it can retrieve the stored charging protocol by accessing the memory 210. The processor 220 can then be configured to control the charging of the battery to be charged based on the charging protocol.

[0113] Ideally, since the charging protocol is one that minimizes the effects of battery heat generation, the temperature of the battery to be charged does not need to be specifically controlled during the process in which the charging control device 200 charges the battery according to the charging protocol.

[0114] On the other hand, the processor 220 provided in the charge control device 200 may selectively include known processors, ASICs (application-specific integrated circuits), other chipsets, logic circuits, registers, communication modems, data processing devices, etc., in order to execute the various control logics performed in the present invention. Furthermore, when the control logic is embodied as software, the processor 220 may be embodied by a collection of program modules. In this case, the program modules are stored in memory and can be executed by the processor 220. The memory may be located inside or outside the processor 220 and can be connected to the processor 220 by various known means.

[0115] Furthermore, the memory 210 mounted on the charging control device 200 can store data and programs necessary for the operation and functioning of each component of the charging control device 200, or data generated during the process of operation and functioning. The type of memory 210 is not particularly limited as long as it is a known information storage means capable of recording, erasing, updating, and reading data. Examples of information storage means include RAM, flash memory, ROM, EEPROM, and registers. The memory 210 can also store program code that defines processes executable by the processor 220.

[0116] Furthermore, the charging control device 200 according to the present invention may be provided in the battery pack 1. That is, the battery pack 1 according to the present invention may include the aforementioned charging control device 200 and one or more battery cells. The battery pack 1 may further include electrical components (relays, fuses, etc.) and a case.

[0117] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram showing a battery pack 1 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0118] The positive terminal of battery 10 may be connected to the positive terminal P+ of battery pack 1, and the negative terminal of battery 10 may be connected to the negative terminal P- of battery pack 1.

[0119] The measuring unit 20 may be connected to a first sensing line SL1, a second sensing line SL2, and a third sensing line SL3. Specifically, the measuring unit 20 may be connected to the positive terminal of the battery 10 via the first sensing line SL1 and to the negative terminal of the battery 10 via the second sensing line SL2. The measuring unit 20 may measure the voltage of the battery 10 based on the voltages measured in the first sensing line SL1 and the second sensing line SL2, respectively.

[0120] The measurement unit 20 can be connected to the current measurement unit A via the third sensing line SL3. For example, the current measurement unit A may be an ammeter or shunt resistor capable of measuring the charging and discharging currents of the battery 10. The measurement unit 20 can measure the charging and discharging currents of the battery 10 via the third sensing line SL3.

[0121] Battery information measured by the measurement unit 20 can be transmitted to the charge control device 200. For example, the measurement unit 20 and the charge control device 200 can be connected to each other via wired and / or wireless communication. Battery information received from the measurement unit 20 can be stored in the memory 210 and input to the processor 220. The processor 220 can also access the memory 210 to retrieve the stored battery information.

[0122] A charging device 2 can be connected to the positive terminal P+ and negative terminal P- of the battery pack 1. Here, the charging device 2 is a device for charging the battery 10.

[0123] The processor 220 may be connected to the charging device 2 via a communication line CL in a wired and / or wireless manner. For example, the processor 220 may communicate with the charging device 2 using power-line communication (PLC). Based on the charging protocol stored in the memory 210, the processor 220 may determine whether the SOC of the battery 10 has reached the upper charge limit SOC corresponding to the current C rate. If the SOC of the battery 10 has reached the upper charge limit SOC, the processor 220 may instruct the charging device 2 to reduce the C rate. Preferably, the processor 220 may select a C rate smaller than the current C rate according to the charging protocol and instruct the charging device 2 to charge at the selected C rate.

[0124] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram showing a charging device according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0125] The battery pack 1 may include a battery 10, a measurement unit 20, and a BMS (Battery Management System) 30. Here, the BMS 30 is a battery management system that diagnoses the state of the battery and controls the charging and discharging of the battery. For example, the BMS 30 may be a configuration that has been widely used conventionally.

[0126] The charging device 2 may include a charging control device 200. For example, the charging device 2 may output a charging current at a C rate set by the charging control device 200.

[0127] The BMS30 can be connected to the charging device 2 via a communication line CL, enabling communication by wire and / or wirelessly. Preferably, the charging device 2 can receive battery information from the BMS30. The battery information can then be stored in the memory 210 and input to the processor 220. The processor 220 can also access the memory 210 to retrieve the stored battery information.

[0128] The processor 220 can determine, based on the charging protocol stored in the memory 210, whether the SOC of the battery 10 has reached the upper limit SOC corresponding to the current C rate. If the SOC of the battery 10 has reached the upper limit SOC, the processor 220 can reduce the charging C rate. That is, the processor 220 can reduce the charging current output from the charging device 2. Preferably, the processor 220 can select a C rate lower than the current C rate according to the charging protocol and change the C rate of the charging current output from the charging device 2 to the selected C rate. Therefore, the charging device 2 can output a charging current corresponding to the lower C rate to the battery 10.

[0129] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram showing an automobile according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0130] Referring to Figure 11, the battery pack 1110 according to an embodiment of the present invention may be included in an automobile 1100 such as an electric vehicle (EV) or a hybrid vehicle (HV). The battery pack 1110 can drive the automobile 1100 by supplying power to a motor via an inverter provided in the automobile 1100. Here, the battery pack 1110 may include a charging control device. That is, the automobile 1100 may include a charging control device.

[0131] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating a method for setting a charging protocol according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0132] Referring to Figure 12, the method for setting the charging protocol may include a resistance calculation step S100 for each SOC, a charging upper limit SOC determination step S200, and a charging protocol setting step S300.

[0133] Preferably, each step of the charging protocol setting method can be performed by the charging protocol setting device 100. For the sake of clarity, any content that overlaps with what has been described above will be omitted or explained in a simplified manner below.

[0134] The resistance calculation step S100 for each SOC is a step in which the resistance of each SOC of the battery is calculated based on the voltage drop in the idle state while the battery is repeatedly charged in a charged state and idle state at a preset first C rate, and this step may be performed by the control unit 140.

[0135] Specifically, the charging unit 110 can charge the battery based on command signals received from the control unit 140. The measuring unit 120 can measure the battery voltage while the battery is being charged. The control unit 140 receives battery voltage information from the measuring unit 120 and can calculate the resistance of each state of charge (SOC) of the battery based on the voltage drop during the idle period.

[0136] The charge limit SOC determination step S200 is a step in which a first charge limit SOC corresponding to a first C rate is determined based on the SOC and resistance, and can be performed by the control unit 140.

[0137] Specifically, the control unit 140 can generate a resistance profile showing the correspondence between SOC and resistance. The control unit 140 can then select a target point from the resistance profile and determine the SOC at the selected target point as the upper limit charge SOC corresponding to the C rate.

[0138] The charging protocol setting step S300 is a step in which a charging protocol is set, which includes a correspondence between a first C rate and a first charge limit SOC, and can be performed by the control unit 140.

[0139] Specifically, the control unit 140 can map a first C rate to a first charge limit SOC to set up a charging protocol. That is, the charging protocol may include mapping information between the first C rate and the first charge limit SOC.

[0140] The charging protocol can be set up by performing a resistance calculation step S100 for each SOC, a charging limit SOC determination step S200, and a charging protocol setting step S300 based on the second C rate, such that the charging protocol includes a correspondence between a second C rate different from the first C rate and a second charging limit SOC corresponding to the second C rate.

[0141] Specifically, the control unit 140 can set up a charging protocol that corresponds to multiple C rates. That is, the control unit 140 can set up a charging protocol that shows the correspondence between multiple C rates and multiple charge limit SOCs.

[0142] For example, the control unit 140 can include mapping information between multiple C rates and the maximum charge SOC in the charging protocol by performing a resistance calculation step S100 for each SOC, a charge limit SOC determination step S200, and a charging protocol setting step S300 for multiple C rates.

[0143] The embodiments of the present invention described above are not necessarily carried out through apparatus and methods, but may also be carried out through a program that performs functions corresponding to the configuration of the embodiments of the present invention, or through a recording medium on which such a program is recorded. Such implementation should be easily carried out by experts in the art to which the present invention belongs, based on the above-described embodiments.

[0144] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to limited embodiments and drawings, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited thereto, and that a wide range of modifications and variations are possible within the equivalent scope of the technical idea and claims of the present invention by persons with ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains.

[0145] Furthermore, since the present invention described above can be substituted, modified, and altered in various ways by a person with ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs, without departing from the technical spirit of the invention, it is not limited by the embodiments described above and the accompanying drawings, and all or part of each embodiment can be selectively combined to form a variety of modifications. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0146] 1 Battery Pack 2 Charging device 10 batteries 20 Measuring part 30 BMS 100 Charging Protocol Setting Device 110 Live parts 120 Measuring section 130 Temperature control section 140 Control Unit 150 Preservation Department 200 Charging control device 210 memory 220 processors 1100 automobile 1110 Battery Pack

Claims

1. A charging unit that charges the battery so that the battery repeatedly cycles between a charging state and a resting state, A measuring unit that measures the voltage of the battery while the battery is being charged, A temperature control unit that adjusts the temperature of the battery while the battery is being charged, A charging protocol setting device comprising: a control unit configured to control the charging unit so that the battery is charged at a preset first C rate; calculate the resistance of each SOC of the battery based on the voltage drop in the idle state; determine a first charging upper limit SOC corresponding to the first C rate based on the SOC and the resistance; and set a charging protocol including the correspondence between the first C rate and the first charging upper limit SOC.

2. The charging protocol setting device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the charging unit so that the battery is charged at a second C rate different from the first C rate, determines a second charge limit SOC corresponding to the second C rate for the battery, and includes the correspondence between the second C rate and the second charge limit SOC in the charging protocol.

3. The above-mentioned second charge limit SOC is, If the first C rate is less than the second C rate, then the charge limit SOC will be less than the first SOC. The charging protocol setting device according to claim 2, wherein if the first C rate exceeds the second C rate, the first charging upper limit SOC is exceeded.

4. The charging protocol setting device according to claim 1, wherein the temperature control unit is configured to circulate a refrigerant so that the temperature of the battery is maintained below a preset critical temperature.

5. The measuring unit is further configured to measure the temperature of the battery, The charging protocol setting device according to claim 4, wherein the temperature control unit is configured to increase at least one of the amount of refrigerant and the flow rate as the temperature of the battery approaches the critical temperature.

6. The charging protocol setting device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to set a resistance profile showing the correspondence between the resistor and the SOC, select a target point that satisfies predetermined conditions from the resistance profile, and determine the SOC corresponding to the selected target point as the first charge limit SOC.

7. The charging protocol setting device according to claim 6, wherein the control unit is configured to select the feature point with the largest corresponding SOC among the feature points included in the resistance profile as the target point.

8. The charging protocol setting device according to claim 7, wherein the control unit is configured to determine the maximum points included in the resistance profile as the feature points.

9. The charging protocol setting device according to claim 6, wherein the control unit is configured not to determine the first charge limit SOC if there is no target point in the resistance profile that satisfies the predetermined conditions.

10. A charging control device configured to control the charging of a battery to be charged based on the charging protocol set by the charging protocol setting device according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

11. A battery pack comprising the charging control device described in claim 10.

12. An automobile equipped with the charging control device described in claim 10.

13. While the battery is being charged by repeatedly switching between a charging state and a resting state at a preset first C rate, the process includes a resistance calculation step for each SOC of the battery, which calculates the resistance for each SOC based on the voltage drop during the resting state, A charge limit SOC determination step in which a first charge limit SOC corresponding to the first C rate is determined based on the SOC and the resistance, A charging protocol setting method, comprising: a charging protocol setting step of setting a charging protocol that includes a correspondence between the first C rate and the first charge limit SOC.

14. A charging protocol setting method according to claim 13, configured to perform a resistance calculation step for each SOC, a charging limit SOC determination step, and a charging protocol setting step based on the second C rate, such that the correspondence between a second C rate different from the first C rate and a second charge limit SOC corresponding to the second C rate is included in the charging protocol.

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