Battery Control Unit

Abstract

To make it possible to prevent a battery control device for a stationary battery device from being used on a device other than the stationary battery device.SOLUTION: A battery ECU 2 (battery control device) includes connection terminals 2a to 2c (communication units) capable of communicating with a predetermined system in each of a plurality of devices including a stationary battery device 100 and a processor 2d (control unit) for controlling a battery stack 1 (stationary battery). The connection terminal 2b is capable of acquiring a signal 12a (first signal) from the predetermined system of each of the plurality of devices. The battery ECU 2 activates the processor 2d (control unit) when the signal 12a acquired by the connection terminal 2b is transmitted from an IFECU 3 (predetermined system) of the stationary battery device 100.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a battery control device. [Background technology]

[0002] Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2017-005939 (Patent Document 1) discloses a stationary electricity storage system that uses a used battery pack in a vehicle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2017-005939 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In Patent Document 1, as described above, a battery pack used in a vehicle is used in a stationary energy storage system. Although not specified in Patent Document 1, it is considered that the battery pack is provided with a control device for controlling the battery of the vehicle. In addition, in order to use the battery pack in a stationary energy storage system, it is necessary to use a control device for controlling the battery of the stationary energy storage system instead of the control device for the battery of the vehicle. Here, when a battery pack provided with a control device for controlling the battery of the stationary energy storage system is used in equipment (for example, a vehicle) other than the stationary energy storage system, it may be difficult for the control device to operate the equipment normally. Therefore, it is desired to prevent a control device (battery control device) for a stationary energy storage system (stationary battery device) from being used in equipment other than the stationary energy storage system.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a battery control device that can prevent a battery control device for a stationary battery device from being used in equipment other than the stationary battery device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A battery control device according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a battery control device that controls a stationary battery used in a stationary battery device, and includes a communication unit capable of communicating with a predetermined system in each of a plurality of devices including the stationary battery device, and a control unit that controls the stationary battery. The communication unit is capable of acquiring a first signal from the predetermined system in each of the plurality of devices. The battery control device activates the control unit when the first signal acquired by the communication unit is transmitted from the predetermined system of the stationary battery device.

[0007] In the battery control device according to one aspect of the present disclosure, as described above, when the first signal acquired by the communication unit is transmitted from a predetermined system of the stationary battery device, the control unit is activated. This makes it possible to prevent the control unit from being activated when the first signal acquired by the communication unit is transmitted from a predetermined system of a device other than the stationary battery device. As a result, it is possible to prevent the battery control device for a stationary battery device from being used in a device other than the stationary battery device.

[0008] In the battery control device according to the above aspect, the control unit is preferably started when the first signal acquired by the communication unit has a first value. With this configuration, the control unit can be started simply by referring to the value of the first signal, thereby simplifying the process related to starting the control unit.

[0009] In this case, preferably, the control unit continues to be in a standby state when the first signal acquired by the communication unit has a second value different from the first value. With this configuration, the control unit can be placed in a standby state simply by referring to the value of the first signal, thereby simplifying the process related to the standby state of the control unit.

[0010] In the battery control device according to the above aspect, the control unit is preferably started based on a first signal transmitted from a predetermined system of the stationary battery device when the stationary battery device is started up. With this configuration, the control unit can be started up when the stationary battery device is started up.

[0011] In the battery control device according to the above aspect, the communication unit preferably transmits a second signal to a predetermined system of the stationary battery pack for switching on and off a startup standby state of the predetermined system of the stationary battery pack. With this configuration, startup of the system of the stationary battery pack can be easily adjusted based on the second signal. Effect of the Invention

[0012] According to the present disclosure, a battery control device for a stationary battery pack can be prevented from being used in equipment other than the stationary battery pack. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a stationary battery device according to one embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a battery pack according to one embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 illustrates signals between the battery ECU and the IFECU according to one embodiment. [Figure 4] 1 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a battery ECU and a vehicle system according to an embodiment are connected to each other; [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a circuit configuration that controls the startup of a processor in a battery ECU according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference characters and the description thereof will not be repeated.

[0015] 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a stationary battery device 100 according to this embodiment. The stationary battery device 100 supplies single-phase AC power to a house 200. The stationary battery device 100 is installed adjacent to the house 200.

[0016] The stationary battery device 100 includes a battery pack 10, a DC / DC converter 20, and a PCS (Power Conditioning System) 30.

[0017] The DC / DC converter 20 boosts the DC voltage from the battery pack 10. The PCS 30 converts the DC voltage from the DC / DC converter 20 into an AC voltage and supplies it to the house 200 and a power grid (not shown).

[0018] The battery pack 10 includes a battery stack 1, a battery ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 2, and an IFECU (Interface Electronic Control Unit) 3. The battery ECU 2 and the IFECU 3 are examples of a "battery control device" and a "predetermined system", respectively, in the present disclosure.

[0019] The battery stack 1 is composed of multiple battery cells (not shown) stacked on top of each other. One or multiple battery stacks 1 are provided in the battery pack 10. The battery stack 1 is an example of the "stationary battery" of the present disclosure.

[0020] The battery ECU 2 controls the battery cells of the battery stack 1. Specifically, the battery ECU 2 monitors and controls the temperature, voltage, current, and the like of each battery cell of the battery stack 1.

[0021] The IFECU 3 performs conversion processing from the communication standard of the battery ECU 2 (for example, CAN (Controller Area Network)) to the communication standard of the DC / DC converter 20 and the PCS 30 (for example, RS485). In addition, the IFECU 3 has an electrical insulation function between the battery ECU 2 and the DC / DC converter 20.

[0022] As shown in Fig. 2, the battery ECU 2 has a connection terminal 2a, a connection terminal 2b, and a connection terminal 2c. The IFECU 3 has a connection terminal 3a, a connection terminal 3b, and a connection terminal 3c. The connection terminals 2a and 3a are communicatively connected to each other by a communication line 11. The connection terminals 2b and 3b are communicatively connected to each other by a communication line 12. The connection terminals 2c and 3c are communicatively connected to each other by a communication line 13. Each of the connection terminals 2a to 2c is an example of a "communication unit" in the present disclosure.

[0023] The battery ECU 2 also includes a processor 2d and a memory 2e. The processor 2d controls the operation of the system in the battery ECU 2. The IFECU 3 also includes a processor 3d. The processor 3d controls the operation of the system in the IFECU 3.

[0024] The memory 2e stores programs executed by the processor 2d as well as information used in the programs (for example, maps, mathematical expressions, and various parameters).

[0025] The battery ECU 2 receives (acquires) a signal 12a from the IFECU 3 through the connection terminal 2b (communication line 12).

[0026] Here, when the battery ECU 2 for the stationary battery device 100 is used in equipment other than the stationary battery device 100 (for example, the vehicle 300, see FIG. 4), it may be difficult for the battery ECU 2 to operate the equipment normally. Therefore, it is desirable to prevent the battery ECU 2 for the stationary battery device 100 from being used in equipment other than the stationary battery device 100. Note that the equipment other than the stationary battery device 100 may be equipment other than a vehicle.

[0027] Therefore, in this embodiment, the battery ECU 2 activates the processor 2d when the signal 12a acquired by the connection terminal 2b is transmitted from the IFECU 3. For example, as shown in Fig. 5, a configuration may be adopted in which a circuit 2f between the connection terminal 2b and the processor 2d is switched to an open state by the signal 12a, thereby supplying power (voltage) from a power source 2g in the battery ECU 2 to the processor 2d. Note that the use of the circuit 2f and the power source 2g is merely an example, and the activation of the processor 2d may be controlled by other configurations.

[0028] In detail, the battery ECU 2 activates the processor 2d when the logical value of the signal 12a acquired by the connection terminal 2b is 1. That is, the signal 12a is a digital signal. The IFECU 3 is configured to transmit the signal 12a having a logical value of 1 through the connection terminal 3b (communication line 12) (see FIG. 3(B)). Note that the logical value of 1 is an example of the "first value" in the present disclosure.

[0029] On the other hand, a vehicle system 310 (see FIG. 4) different from the IFECU 3 is configured to transmit a signal 12a (see FIG. 3(D)) having a logical value of 0 through the communication line 12. Therefore, when the battery ECU 2 and the vehicle system 310 are connected, the connection terminal 2b of the battery ECU 2 receives (acquires) the signal 12a having a logical value of 0 through the communication line 12. The vehicle 300 and the vehicle system 310 are examples of a "device" and a "predetermined system," respectively, in the present disclosure. The logical value of 0 is an example of a "second value" in the present disclosure.

[0030] In this case, the battery ECU 2 continues the startup standby state of the processor 2d. Specifically, the circuit 2f (see FIG. 5) provided between the connection terminal 2b and the processor 2d is not opened by the signal 12a whose logic value is 0, and is maintained in a closed state. Therefore, the startup standby state of the processor 2d continues without power (voltage) being supplied from the power source 2g (see FIG. 5) in the battery ECU 2 to the processor 2d.

[0031] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the processor 2d is started based on the signal 12a transmitted from the IFECU 3 when the stationary battery device 100 is started. Specifically, the processor 2d is started when the logical value of the signal 12a changes from 0 to 1 as the stationary battery device 100 is started. Therefore, the stationary battery device 100 and the processor 2d are started substantially simultaneously.

[0032] The processor 2d may also be started based on the signal 12a transmitted from the IFECU 3 when the stationary battery device 100 resumes operation after being temporarily stopped (when the stationary battery device 100 is restarted).

[0033] 2 again, the battery ECU 2 transmits a signal 11a having a logic value of 1 through the connection terminal 2a (communication line 11) (see FIGS. 3(A) and (C)). When the IFECU 3 receives the signal 11a having a logic value of 1 through the connection terminal 3a, it activates the processor 3d. When the IFECU 3 receives the signal 11a having a logic value of 0 from an ECU other than the battery ECU 2 (e.g., a vehicle ECU), it keeps the processor 3d in a standby state.

[0034] In this embodiment, the connection terminal 2c transmits a signal 13a for switching on and off the standby state of the IFECU 3 to the IFECU 3. The signal 13a is a digital signal. The signal 13a is an example of a "second signal" in the present disclosure.

[0035] The IFECU 3 releases the startup standby state when it acquires the signal 13a having a logical value of 1 through the connection terminal 3c. Specifically, when the IFECU 3 receives the signal 11a having a logical value of 1 in a state in which the startup standby state has been released by the signal 13a, the IFECU 3 starts up the processor 3d.

[0036] On the other hand, even if the IFECU 3 receives the signal 11a having a logical value of 1 in a state where the startup standby state has not been released by the signal 13a, the IFECU 3 does not start the processor 3d and continues the startup standby state of the processor 3d. In this case, the startup standby state of the processor 3d continues until the logical value of the signal 13a becomes 1.

[0037] As described above, in this embodiment, the battery ECU 2 starts the processor 2d when the signal 12a acquired by the connection terminal 12b is transmitted from the IFECU 3. This makes it possible to prevent the processor 2d from being started when the battery ECU 2 is not connected to the IFECU 3. This makes it possible to prevent the battery ECU 2 from being erroneously assembled with another system and used as is.

[0038] In the above embodiment, the battery ECU 2 and the IFECU 3 communicate with each other via wires, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. The battery ECU 2 and the IFECU 3 may communicate with each other wirelessly.

[0039] The configurations described in the above embodiment and the various modified examples may be implemented in any combination.

[0040] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. The scope of the present disclosure is defined by the claims, not by the description of the embodiments described above, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 1 battery stack (stationary battery), 2 battery ECU (battery control device), 2a to 2c connection terminals (communication unit), 2d processor (control unit), 3 IFECU (prescribed system), 12a signal (first signal), 13a signal (second signal), 100 stationary battery device, 300 vehicle (equipment), 310 vehicle system (prescribed system).

Claims

1. A battery control device for controlling a stationary battery used in a stationary battery device, A communication unit capable of communicating with a predetermined system in each of a plurality of devices including the stationary battery device; A control unit that controls the stationary battery, The communication unit is A first signal is obtainable from the predetermined system of each of the plurality of devices; Transmitting a second signal to the predetermined system for switching on / off a standby state of the predetermined system of the stationary battery device; A battery control device that activates the control unit when the first signal acquired by the communication unit is transmitted from the specified system of the stationary battery device.

2. The battery control device according to claim 1 , further comprising: a first control unit configured to start up the control unit when the first signal acquired by the communication unit has a first value.

3. The battery control device according to claim 2 , wherein the startup standby state of the control unit is continued when the first signal acquired by the communication unit has a second value different from the first value.

4. A battery control device as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control unit is started based on the first signal transmitted from the specified system of the stationary battery device when the stationary battery device is started.

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