Power supply device, electric vehicle equipped with the power supply device, and power storage device

Abstract

A power supply device in which a plurality of battery modules (10) provided with a plurality of cells (1) are connected by power lines (42). The battery modules (10) are each provided with a cell monitor circuit (6) for detecting battery information. The plurality of cell monitor circuits (6) respectively provided to the battery modules (10) are cascade-connected via communication lines (44). The cell monitor circuits (6) are provided with a communication interface (48) provided with connection parts (43) to which the communication lines (44) are connected. The communication interface (48) is such that the withstand voltage applied to the connection parts (43) is higher than the output voltage of the power supply device.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a power supply device consisting of a plurality of battery modules, and an electric vehicle and a power storage device equipped with this power supply device, and in particular to a power supply device for a motor mounted on an electric vehicle such as a hybrid car, an electric automobile, a fuel cell automobile, an electric motorcycle, etc. to run the vehicle, or a large current power supply device used for home or factory power storage purposes, etc., and further to an electric vehicle and a power storage device equipped with this power supply device. [Background technology]

[0002] A power supply device can increase the charge / discharge capacity and output current by connecting multiple battery modules in series or parallel. This power supply device is used as a power source for vehicles such as hybrid cars and electric cars, and as a power source for factory and home power storage systems. Battery modules for use in this power supply device have been developed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] As shown in the exploded perspective view of Fig. 14, this battery module is provided with a battery stack 902 formed by stacking multiple battery cells 901, and a cell monitor circuit 906 that is connected to this battery stack 902 and detects battery information such as the voltage of the battery cells 901. This battery module 910 is connected in series or parallel to each other and used in a high-output power supply device. This power supply device cascades cell monitor circuits that detect battery information of multiple battery modules and transmits battery information to an external battery control unit (BCU) or the like. A power supply device that cascades multiple cell monitor circuits can transmit battery information to the outside world over a single communication line, even though it is equipped with multiple battery modules. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2014 / 024452 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] A power supply device in which the cell monitor circuits of a plurality of battery modules are cascaded with a communication line can transmit battery information and the like to the outside with a single communication line, but this power supply device has battery modules 810 connected in series with a power line 842 cascaded with a communication line 844 as shown in the schematic configuration diagram of FIG. 15. This power supply device 800 has the power line 842 and the communication line 844 wired in parallel, the battery modules 810 connected in series, and the cell monitor circuits 806 cascaded. In this power supply device 800, the communication line 844 is wired between the battery modules 810 in order to cascade the plurality of cell monitor circuits 806, so it is necessary to provide a wiring space 845 for the communication line 844 between the battery modules 810. The wiring space 845 has the disadvantage of making the entire power supply device larger, so the power supply device can be made compact by narrowing this wiring space 845, but the communication line wired in the narrow wiring space has the disadvantage of being easily damaged by being pinched between the battery modules on both sides. Since the communication line is an important line for transmitting information about the battery cells, damage to the communication line is a factor that impairs the reliability and safety of the power supply device. Therefore, a power supply device in an environment where the communication line is damaged cannot stably transmit battery information signals to an external battery control unit or the like for a long period of time, and has the disadvantage of reduced reliability and safety. In particular, power supply devices mounted on vehicles, etc. are subjected to vibration and shock, and are used in environments with harsh external conditions such as temperature and humidity, making it difficult to reliably prevent damage to the communication line for a long period of time and transmit important battery information to the outside, which is a factor that impedes the maintenance of the reliability of the power supply device over a long period of time.

[0006] The present invention was developed with the further aim of preventing the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technology that can cascade-connect the cell monitor circuits of multiple battery modules while maintaining high reliability over a long period of time and making the entire system compact. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A power supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention is a power supply device in which a plurality of battery modules each having a plurality of battery cells are connected by a power line, the battery modules each having a cell monitor circuit for detecting battery information, and the plurality of cell monitor circuits provided in each battery module are cascaded via a communication line. The cell monitor circuit includes a communication interface having a connection part connecting the communication lines, and the communication interface has a withstand voltage applied to the connection part that is higher than the output voltage of the power supply device.

[0008] An electric vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises the above-mentioned power supply device, a motor for driving that is supplied with power from the power supply device, a vehicle body equipped with the power supply device and the motor, and wheels driven by the motor to drive the vehicle body.

[0009] An energy storage device according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises the above-mentioned power supply device and a power supply controller that controls charging and discharging of the power supply device, and the power supply controller enables charging of the power supply device using external power and controls the charging of the power supply device. Effect of the Invention

[0010] The power supply device described above has the advantage that it can be made compact overall while maintaining high reliability over a long period of time, by cascading multiple battery modules via communication lines. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a power supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a cell monitor circuit. [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing another example of a cell monitor circuit. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing another example of a cell monitor circuit. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a battery module. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a battery module. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the battery module shown in FIG. [Figure 8] 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of the battery module shown in FIG. 6. [Figure 9] 7 is a plan view showing an end portion of the battery module shown in FIG. 6. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of a power supply device according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] 1 is a block diagram showing an example in which a battery module is mounted on a hybrid vehicle that runs on an engine and a motor. [Figure 12] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example in which a battery module is mounted on an electric vehicle that runs only on a motor. [Figure 13] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example in which a battery module is used in a power storage device. [Figure 14] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional battery module. [Figure 15] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a conventional power supply device. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a block diagram of the power supply device shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, terms indicating specific directions or positions (e.g., "upper", "lower", and other terms including these terms) are used as necessary, but the use of these terms is for the purpose of facilitating understanding of the invention with reference to the drawings, and the meanings of these terms do not limit the technical scope of the present invention. In addition, parts with the same reference numerals appearing in multiple drawings indicate the same or equivalent parts or members. Furthermore, the embodiments shown below are specific examples of the technical ideas of the present invention, and do not limit the present invention to the following. Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative positions, etc. of the components described below are intended to be illustrative and not to limit the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the contents described in one embodiment or example can be applied to other embodiments or examples. Furthermore, the sizes and positional relationships of the components shown in the drawings may be exaggerated to clarify the explanation.

[0013] A power supply device according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of battery modules, each of which includes a cell monitor circuit for detecting battery information such as cell voltage, and the plurality of cell monitor circuits are cascaded together via a communication line. The cell monitor circuit includes a communication interface, and the communication interface includes a connection section for connecting the communication line. The communication interface has a withstand voltage applied to the connection section that is higher than the output voltage of the power supply device.

[0014] In the above power supply device, the battery module to which the communication line for cascading the cell monitor circuits is connected is not specified, and the communication line can be connected to the cell monitor circuit of any battery module for cascading, so the communication line that was wired between adjacent battery modules in conventional devices can be arranged in a separate space to cascade the cell monitor circuits. Conventional power supply devices wired the power line and the communication line in parallel, in other words, it was necessary to connect the communication line to the cell monitor circuit of the battery module connected by the power line, so the battery module to which the communication line is connected was specified, and the communication line could not be connected to a battery module that could be optimally wired, and it was necessary to provide a space between the battery modules to wire the communication line.

[0015] In the power supply device described above, the battery module to which the communication line is connected is not specified, and the cell monitor circuits can be cascaded by connecting the communication line to a battery module that can be optimally wired, so the wiring space required between battery modules in conventional battery modules can be omitted and multiple cell monitor circuits can be cascaded with communication lines.This has the advantage of eliminating the wiring space between battery modules and making the entire device compact.

[0016] Here, FIG. 16 shows a block diagram of a conventional power supply device 800. In this power supply device 800, a plurality of battery modules 810 are connected in series by a power line 842, and cell monitor circuits 806 are cascaded by a communication line 844. As shown in the block diagram, in this power supply device 800, the cell monitor circuits 806 that share a common ground line 859 that connects the communication line 844 are connected by the communication line 844, and all the cell monitor circuits 806 are cascaded. The battery module 810 is provided with two sets of cell monitor circuits 806 whose positive and negative outputs are the ground lines 859. In the figure, the cell monitor circuit 806 whose positive output is the ground line 859 is connected to the cell monitor circuit 806 whose negative output is the ground line 859 connected to the upper stage, and the ground line 859 is shared with the cell monitor circuit 806 whose negative output is the ground line 859, and the upper and lower cell monitor circuits 806 are connected by the communication line 844. Cell monitor circuits that share a common ground line can be connected with a communication line to transmit signals such as battery information, but cell monitor circuits that do not share a common ground line cannot be connected with a communication line because there is a potential difference in the ground line. The power supply device in Figure 16 can only connect with a communication line cell monitor circuits with ground lines that have no potential difference, so the cell monitor circuit to which the communication line is connected is specified. A power supply device in which the battery modules that can be connected are specified cannot place the communication line in the optimal position for wiring, and it is necessary to wire it in an inconvenient position, and problems such as long wiring occur.

[0017] In the power supply device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the battery module to which the communication line is connected is not specified, and the communication line can be placed in an ideal position. This is because the withstand voltage of the communication interface of the cell monitor circuit is set to a high withstand voltage higher than the output voltage of the battery module, so that the cell monitor circuit having a potential difference can be connected to the ground line. Since the battery module to which the communication line is connected is not limited and there is no need to wire the communication line between the battery modules, the wiring space for the communication line between the battery modules can be omitted, and the entire device can be made compact. In addition, since there is no need to place the communication line in an area where it is easily damaged, the battery information of the battery module can be reliably transmitted to an external battery control unit, etc. for a long period of time, and the reliability of the power supply device can be maintained at a high level. In particular, in a harsh operating environment, damage to the communication line can be prevented, and high reliability can be ensured.

[0018] A power supply device according to a second embodiment of the present invention includes a non-parallel communication line connected to a cell monitor circuit of a battery module different from the battery module to which the power line is connected.

[0019] The power supply device described above can be connected to a battery module different from the power line, allowing the non-parallel communication lines to be wired in a free space and multiple cell monitor circuits to be cascaded. This power supply device has the advantage that the communication lines are placed in a safe space that is difficult to damage, preventing damage to the communication lines and ensuring the reliability and safety of the device.

[0020] In a power supply device of a third embodiment of the present invention, a communication interface is provided on the output side with a coupling element that blocks direct current and passes alternating current, and the withstand voltage of the coupling element is higher than the output voltage of the power supply device.

[0021] The power supply device described above has a coupling element to make the communication interface withstand high voltages, and therefore has the advantage of being able to achieve high voltage resistance with a simple circuit configuration.

[0022] In a power supply device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, the coupling element is any one of a coupling capacitor, a transformer for signal transmission, and an optical transmission element.

[0023] A power supply device that uses a coupling capacitor as a coupling element to provide a high voltage resistance for the communication interface has the advantage of being able to achieve high voltage resistance using extremely inexpensive components. A power supply device that uses a coupling element as a signal transmission transformer and has a communication interface that withstands high voltage has the advantage of being able to realize a communication interface that can reliably transmit battery information at low cost and with high reliability and stability over a long period of time. A power supply device that uses a coupling element as an optical transmission element and has a communication interface that withstands high voltages has the advantage of being able to realize a communication interface that can transmit battery information stably and reliably for a long period of time without being affected by noise, etc.

[0024] A power supply device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention has a plurality of battery modules arranged in multiple rows and columns, with vertical and horizontal compartment areas provided in a checkerboard pattern between adjacent battery modules, with one of the vertical or horizontal compartment areas being a wiring space in which communication lines are wired, and the other being a non-wiring space in which no communication lines are wired.

[0025] In a power supply device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention, the width of the non-wiring space is narrower than the width of the wiring space.

[0026] In a power supply device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention, the battery module has a connection portion disposed at an end portion facing the wiring space.

[0027] The power supply device described above has the advantage that the communication lines connected to the connection parts can be routed in the wiring space, allowing the communication lines to be routed efficiently and simply, with high space efficiency.

[0028] In the power supply device of the eighth embodiment of the present invention, the battery module is a rectangular parallelepiped extending in the stacking direction of the battery cells, with both ends of the battery cells in the stacking direction as module ends, both sides in the stacking direction as module side faces, and the connection portion is located at the module end.

[0029] In a power supply device of a ninth embodiment of the present invention, the space where the module ends of adjacent battery modules face each other is used as a wiring space, communication lines are wired in the wiring space, and the gap where the module side surfaces of adjacent battery modules face each other is used as a non-wiring space where communication lines are not wired.

[0030] A power supply device of a tenth embodiment of the present invention has a battery module comprising a battery stack formed by stacking a number of battery cells, end plates arranged at both ends of the battery stack, and bind bars arranged on both side surfaces of the battery stack and connecting the end plates, with the battery module being a rectangular parallelepiped that is elongated in the stacking direction of the battery cells, with the longitudinal ends being the module ends.

[0031] In a power supply device according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention, the battery module has a cell monitor circuit disposed on an end plate.

[0032] The power supply device described above has a communication line connected to a cell monitor circuit disposed on an end plate, and therefore has the advantage that the communication line is connected to the end plate via the cell monitor circuit, ensuring a reliable and stable connection.

[0033] A power supply device according to a twelfth embodiment of the present invention has a battery module with a connection portion disposed at one end.

[0034] In a power supply device according to a thirteenth embodiment of the present invention, a battery module has a pair of connecting parts disposed at one end thereof, and communication lines are connected to the pair of connecting parts.

[0035] (Embodiment 1) 1 has the cell monitor circuits 6 of multiple battery modules 10 cascaded via a communication line 44. Furthermore, this power supply device 100 connects adjacent battery modules 10 in series via a power line 42. The power line 42 connects the battery assemblies 7 of the battery modules 10 in series, and the communication line 44 connects the cell monitor circuits 6 of the battery modules 10 in cascade.

[0036] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the cell monitor circuit 6. The cell monitor circuit 6 in this figure includes a communication interface 48. The communication interface 48 includes a connection portion 43 to which a communication line 44 is connected. The communication interface 48 includes a coupling element 46 on the output side, which makes the withstand voltage applied to the connection portion 43 higher than the output voltage of the power supply device 100. The connection portion 43 is connected to a transmission / reception circuit 49 of the communication interface 48 via the coupling element 46. The coupling element 46 is preferably an element that blocks direct current and passes alternating current. The coupling element 46 is an element that withstands a higher voltage than the output voltage of the power supply device 100. In the communication interface 48 in the figure, the coupling element 46 is configured with a coupling capacitor 46A. The coupling capacitor 46A is a capacitor that withstands a higher voltage than the output voltage of the power supply device. A ceramic capacitor with excellent durability is suitable for the coupling capacitor 46A, but other capacitors such as a film capacitor can also be used. The communication interface 48, which uses the coupling capacitor 46A as the coupling element 46, has the advantage of being able to reduce component costs and make the device smaller. 2 is provided with two sets of connection parts 43 for cascading the cell monitor circuits 6. The connection parts 43 have a pair of terminals, each of which is connected to a transmission / reception circuit 49 via a coupling capacitor 46A.

[0037] 3 uses a signal transmission transformer 46B as the coupling element 46. In this communication interface 48, the signal transmission transformer 46B is connected between the transmitting / receiving circuit 49 and the connection unit 43. This communication interface 48 also has two sets of connection units 43, and each connection unit 43 is connected to the transmitting / receiving circuit 49 via the transformer 46B. The transformer 46B of the coupling element 46 connects a primary winding to the transmitting / receiving circuit 49 and a secondary winding to the connection unit 43.

[0038] 4, the coupling element 46 is an optical transmission element 46C. In this communication interface 48, the optical transmission element 46C is connected between the transmitting / receiving circuit 49 and the connection unit 43. This communication interface 48 also has two sets of connection units 43, and each connection unit 43 is connected to the transmitting / receiving circuit 49 via the optical transmission element 46C. The optical transmission element 46C has a light source 46c that blinks in response to a signal from the transmitting / receiving circuit 49, and an optical-electrical converter 46d that detects the blinking of the light source 46c and converts it into an electrical signal. In the optical transmission element 46C, the light source 46c and the optical-electrical converter 46d are connected to the transmitting / receiving circuit 49 and the connection unit 43, respectively.

[0039] A communication interface 48 having a coupling element 46, which cuts DC and passes AC signal components, connected between the connection unit 43 and the transmission / reception circuit 49 can connect a communication interface 48 of a ground line with a potential difference via the communication line 44. This is because the DC of the ground line is cut by the coupling element 46, and only signal components such as battery information are transmitted. When a communication interface 48 with a potential difference is connected to the ground line, a DC voltage is applied to both ends of the coupling element 46, so an element with a higher withstand voltage than the output voltage of the power supply device 100 is used for the coupling element 46. A communication interface 48 using a high-withstand-voltage coupling element 46 blocks DC components with the coupling element 46, so the communication interface 48 to which the communication line 44 is connected is not specified.

[0040] A battery module 10 shown in the schematic perspective view of Fig. 5 has a cell monitor circuit 6 disposed at an end of one end plate 3 of a battery assembly 7. The battery assembly 7 has a pair of end plates 3 disposed at both ends of a battery stack 2 in which multiple battery cells 1 are stacked, connected by a bind bar 4. The pair of end plates 3 connected to the bind bar 4 fix the battery stack 2 in a pressurized state. As shown in Fig. 2, the cell monitor circuit 6 includes a voltage detection circuit 22 that detects the voltage of the battery cells 1, and a communication interface 48 that outputs battery information such as the cell voltage of each battery cell 1 detected by the voltage detection circuit 22 to an external battery control unit (BCU).

[0041] The cell monitor circuit 6 shown in the block diagram of FIG. 2 includes a voltage detection circuit 22 that detects the voltage of the battery cell 1 in order to prevent overcharging and overdischarging of the battery cell 1, a cell balance circuit 23 that adjusts the cell balance of the battery cell 1, a temperature detection circuit 29 that detects the temperature of the battery cell 1, and a communication interface 48 that communicates battery information detected by these circuits. The voltage detection circuit 22 is connected to the electrode terminals of the battery cell 1 via the voltage detection lines 19 and detects the voltage of each battery cell 1. The cell balance circuit 23 equalizes the voltage differences of the battery cells 1 to balance the cells. The temperature detection circuit 29 detects the temperature of the battery cells 1. The battery module 10 of FIG. 5 has the cell monitor circuit 6 disposed on the outer surface of the end plate 3. This battery module 10 can prevent damage to the cell monitor circuit 6 from high-temperature, high-pressure exhaust gas ejected by the battery cell 1 in the event of an abnormality.

[0042] The cell monitor circuit 6 in Fig. 1 has two sets of connection parts 43 for connecting the communication line 44. In the battery module in Fig. 1, the connection parts 43 are provided in the cell monitor circuit 6, but the connection parts 43 can also be disposed on the end plate 3. In the power supply device 100 in Fig. 1, the cell monitor circuits 6 provided in each battery module 10 are cascaded via the communication line 44, and battery information and the like are transmitted to an external battery control unit (BCU) 35 and the like over a single line.

[0043] (Battery Assembly 7) A battery assembly 7 includes a battery stack 2 in which multiple battery cells 1 are stacked in the thickness direction, a pair of end plates 3 arranged at both ends of the battery stack 2 in the stacking direction of the battery cells 1, and bind bars 4 connected to the end plates 3 at both ends of the battery stack 2. A battery module 10 shown in Figs. 6 and 7 has a cell monitor circuit 6 arranged on one of the end plates 3 and connected to the battery cells 1 of the battery stack 2 via a voltage detection line 19. The battery module 10 shown in the figures also includes a gas duct 5 connected to the exhaust valve 1a of each battery cell 1 to exhaust exhaust gas ejected from the exhaust valve 1a to the outside, a cover case 8 arranged above the battery stack 2 and on the gas duct 5, and a base plate 9 arranged below the battery stack to fix the end plate 3.

[0044] (Battery cell 1) As shown in FIG. 7, the battery cells 1 are rectangular secondary batteries that are wider than their thickness, in other words thinner than their width, and are stacked in the thickness direction to form a battery stack 2. The battery cells 1 are lithium-ion secondary batteries. However, the battery cells may be any other rechargeable secondary batteries, such as nickel-metal hydride batteries and nickel-cadmium batteries. The battery cells 1 are housed in a sealed outer can with positive and negative electrode plates together with an electrolyte. The outer can is formed by pressing a metal plate such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy into a rectangular shape, and the opening is airtightly sealed with a sealing plate. The sealing plate is made of the same aluminum or aluminum alloy as the outer can, and has positive and negative electrode terminals 11 fixed thereto, with an exhaust valve provided between the electrode terminals 11. At least one of the positive and negative electrode terminals 11 is insulated from the sealing plate. The battery cell 1 is provided with positive and negative electrode terminals 11, with the sealing plate serving as the terminal surface 1X. Furthermore, the bottom and side surfaces of the outer can of the battery cell 1 are covered with an insulating film.

[0045] Multiple battery cells 1 are stacked so that the thickness direction of each battery cell 1 is the stacking direction to form a battery stack 2. One of the rectangular outer surfaces of each battery cell 1 serves as a terminal surface 1X on which positive and negative electrode terminals 11 are provided, and multiple battery cells 1 are stacked to form the battery stack 2 with the terminal surfaces 1X arranged on the same plane.

[0046] (Battery stack 2) As shown in Fig. 7, the battery stack 2 has insulating spacers 12 sandwiched between the stacked battery cells 1. The insulating spacers 12 in the figure are made in the shape of a thin plate or sheet from an insulating material such as resin. The insulating spacer 12 shown in the figure is in the shape of a plate with a size roughly equal to the opposing surfaces of the battery cells 1, and this insulating spacer 12 is stacked between adjacent battery cells 1 to insulate the adjacent battery cells 1 from each other. Note that the spacer placed between adjacent battery cells 1 can also be a spacer that has a shape that forms a flow path for cooling gas between the battery cell and the spacer.

[0047] In the battery stack 2, metal bus bars 14 are connected to the positive and negative electrode terminals 11 of adjacent battery cells 1, and the bus bars 14 connect multiple battery cells 1 in series or in parallel, or in series and parallel. The output voltage and charge / discharge capacity of the battery stack 2 are set according to the number of battery cells 1 stacked. The output voltage of the battery stack 2 can be increased by the number of battery cells 1 connected in series, and the charge / discharge capacity can be increased by the number of battery cells 1. The output voltage and capacity of the battery module 10 are set according to the number of battery cells 1 that make up the battery stack 2 and the connection state in which they are connected in parallel and in series, so the number of battery cells 1 and the connection state are optimized taking into account the application.

[0048] The busbar 14 has a connection portion (not shown) for connecting to the electrode terminal 11. The busbar 14 is connected to the electrode terminal 11 by irradiating a laser beam to the boundary connecting the connection portion and the electrode terminal 11 and welding the busbar 14 to the electrode terminal 11. However, the busbar can be connected to the electrode terminal by providing a male thread on the electrode terminal, opening a through hole for inserting the electrode terminal, and screwing a nut onto the male thread of the electrode terminal inserted into the through hole, or by providing a female threaded hole on the electrode terminal and screwing a set screw that penetrates the busbar into the female threaded hole. The battery module 10 can be provided with a resin insulating cover (not shown) on the upper surface of the battery stack 2. The insulating cover has an opening through which the electrode terminal 11 is exposed, and a metal busbar 14 is connected to the electrode terminal 11 exposed from the opening of the insulating cover on the upper surface side of the insulating cover, thereby connecting the multiple battery cells 1 in a predetermined arrangement.

[0049] (End surface spacer 13) To insulate the battery stack 2 from the metal end plates 3, end plates 3 can be placed on both end faces with end spacers 13 sandwiched between them. The end spacers 13 are placed between the battery stack 2 and the end plates 3 to insulate the end plates 3 from the battery stack 2. The end spacers 13 are made in the shape of a thin plate or sheet and made of insulating material such as resin. The end spacers 13 have plate sections large enough to cover the entire opposing faces of the battery cells 1, and these plate sections are layered between the battery cells 1 and the end plates 3, which are located at both ends of the battery stack 2.

[0050] (End plate 3) The end plates 3 are located on both end faces of the battery stack 2 in the stacking direction of the battery cells 1, and fix the battery stack 2. The end plates 3 are metal plates, and are rectangular plates whose outer shape is almost the same as that of the battery cells 1, or slightly larger than that of the battery cells 1. The end plates 3 can be made of high tensile steel to have a strong structure. The end plates 3 can be made of a single metal plate, or a structure in which multiple metal plates are laminated, or a laminate of metal plates and plastic. The end plates 3 made of a single metal plate have a large heat capacity and can efficiently absorb the thermal energy of the cell monitor circuits 6. Furthermore, the end plates 3 made of multiple laminated plates have at least a metal plate on the surface side where the cell monitor circuits 6 are fixed. This is because the cell monitor circuits 6 are fixed in a thermally coupled state, improving the heat dissipation characteristics. Furthermore, the end plates can be made of a laminated structure of aluminum plates and high tensile steel plates. The front side of the end plate can be an aluminum plate to which the cell monitor circuit 6 is fixed, and the aluminum plate and the high tensile steel plate can be laminated in surface contact to provide a structure that allows efficient heat conduction from the aluminum plate to the high tensile steel plate. However, the end plate does not necessarily have to be made of metal, and can be made of plastic with excellent strength, such as engineering plastic.

[0051] (Binding bar 4) The bind bars 4 extend in the stacking direction of the battery cells 1 and have both ends fixed to the end plates 3, with the battery stack 2 being fixed by the pair of end plates 3. The bind bars 4 shown in Figures 6 and 7 are metal plates with a prescribed vertical width and thickness that fit along the side of the battery stack 2, and are arranged facing both sides of the battery stack 2. The bind bars 4 apply strong pressure to both end faces of the battery stack 2, to hold the battery cells 1 that tend to expand as they are charged and discharged in fixed positions. The metal plate of the bind bars 4 is preferably made of high tensile steel. The metal plate bind bars 4 are press-formed into the prescribed shape.

[0052] 7, in order to secure both ends of the bind bar 4 to the pair of end plates 3, fixing sections 4A are provided by bending both ends in the stacking direction of the battery stack 2 so that the ends conform to the outer surfaces of the end plates 3. The bind bar 4 fastens the pair of end plates 3 by, for example, screwing the fixing sections 4A into the end plates 3.

[0053] Furthermore, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the lower end of the bind bar 4 is bent into an L-shape to form a lower connecting piece 4B. This lower connecting piece 4B is stacked on the lower surface side of both sides of the base plate 9 and connected to the base plate 9. Furthermore, the upper end of the bind bar 4 is bent to form a pressing piece 4C that presses the end of the upper surface of the battery stack 2. This pressing piece 4C is separated for each battery cell 1 so that it can press the upper surface of the battery cell 1 of the battery stack 2 individually. As a result, each pressing piece 4C can press the battery cell 1 toward the base plate 9 independently of the adjacent pressing piece 4C. In this way, each battery cell 1 is prevented from floating up from the base plate 9 and is held in the height direction, and even if vibrations, shocks, etc. are applied to the battery stack 2, each battery cell 1 can be prevented from shifting in the vertical direction. In this way, the bind bar 4 covers and holds the corners of the upper and lower surfaces of the battery stack 2 on both left and right sides of the battery stack 2.

[0054] The shape of the bind bar 4 and the fastening structure with the end plate 3 can be appropriately made of known structures. For example, both ends of the bind bar may be flat without being bent into an L-shape, and may be configured to screw into the side surface of the end plate. Alternatively, the portion of the bind bar facing the side surface of the end plate may have an engagement structure that engages in a stepped shape, and the bind bar may be further screwed into the side surface of the end plate after being locked by an engagement structure.

[0055] An insulating sheet may also be interposed between the bind bar 4 and the battery stack 2. The insulating sheet is made of an insulating material, such as resin, and provides insulation between the metal bind bar 4 and the battery cells 1.

[0056] (Base Plate 9) As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the base plate 9 is disposed on the bottom surfaces of the battery stack 2 and the end plates 3. The end plates 3, and preferably the lower ends of the bind bars 4, are fixed to the base plate 9. The end plates 3 and the bind bars 4 are fixed to the base plate 9 via fixing screws 15 and 16. The fixing screws 15 that fix the end plates 3 pass through the end plates 3 in the vertical direction to fix the end plates 3 to the base plate 9. The fixing screws 16 that fix the bind bars 4 also pass through the lower connecting pieces 4B, which are the lower ends of the bind bars 4, and are fixed to the base plate 9.

[0057] The battery stack 2 is arranged such that each battery cell 1 is in contact with the base plate 9 and in a thermally coupled state with the base plate 9. The battery cells 1 that are thermally coupled to the base plate 9 dissipate thermal energy to the base plate 9. Furthermore, the base plate 9 can be forcibly cooled to dissipate the thermal energy of the battery cells 1 more efficiently. Although not shown, the forcibly cooled base plate 9 can be forcibly cooled by circulating a refrigerant or coolant inside. Furthermore, the base plate can be forcibly cooled by providing heat dissipation fins on its underside. Furthermore, a cooling plate can be stacked in surface contact with the underside of the base plate, and forcibly cooled by the cooling plate. The cooling plate can be forcibly cooled by circulating a refrigerant or coolant inside.

[0058] (Gas Duct 5) As shown in Figs. 5 to 8, the gas duct 5 is disposed on the upper surface of the battery cell 1, that is, at a position facing the terminal surface 1X of the battery cell 1. The gas duct 5 is cylindrical in internal volume for smoothly discharging the discharged gas from the opening of the exhaust valve 1a, and is open at the bottom and connected to the opening of the exhaust valve 1a of each battery cell 1. The gas duct 5 in Fig. 8 has a square tubular shape with a wide rectangular cross section. The gas duct 5 is disposed in close contact with the upper surface of the battery stack 2 so that there is no gap between the gas duct 5 and the terminal surface 1X of the battery cell 1, so that the exhaust gas discharged from the exhaust valve 1a is discharged to the outside, and the opening 5a that opens at the bottom is connected to the exhaust valve 1a of each battery cell 1. The gas duct 5 can also be disposed so that the exhaust gas does not leak by disposing a packing or a sealant between the gas duct 5 and the terminal surface 1X.

[0059] Furthermore, although not shown, the gas duct can also be configured with a collecting duct arranged on the top surface of the battery stack in an orientation extending in the stacking direction of the battery cells, and a branch duct connected to the collecting duct and having its tip connected to the exhaust valve. This gas duct can have the collecting duct arranged away from the terminal surface, and the tip of the branch duct connected to the opening of the exhaust valve.

[0060] (Cell monitor circuit 6) The cell monitor circuit 6 includes a battery information detection circuit 50 that detects battery information of the battery cells 1 that make up the battery stack 2, and a communication interface 48 for signals indicating the battery information detected by this detection circuit 50. In the cell monitor circuit 6 shown in the block diagram of Figure 2, the detection circuit 50 is made up of a voltage detection circuit 22 that detects the voltage of the battery cells 1, a cell balancing circuit 23, and a temperature detection circuit 29. The voltage detection circuit 22 of the cell monitor circuit 6 is connected to each battery cell 1 via a voltage detection line 19, and detects the voltage of the battery cell 1.

[0061] The voltage detection circuit 22 preferably detects the voltage of all the battery cells 1. However, the voltage detection circuit 22 does not necessarily detect the voltage of all the battery cells 1. For example, the battery cells 1 constituting the battery stack 2 can be divided into a plurality of battery units and the voltage of each battery unit can be detected. A battery unit in which a plurality of battery cells 1 are connected in parallel can detect the voltage of the battery unit and detect the voltage of all the battery cells. A battery unit in which a plurality of battery cells are connected in series can detect the voltage of the battery unit and detect the total voltage of the cascaded battery cells. A battery unit in which a plurality of battery cells are connected in cascade is composed of 2 to 5 battery cells. This battery unit detects the voltage of the battery unit and detects the total voltage of the 2 to 5 battery cells 1, so the voltage of the battery cell is 1 / 2 to 1 / 5 of the detected total voltage. The voltage of the battery cell 1 changes depending on the remaining capacity. When the battery cell 1 is overcharged, the voltage becomes higher than the preset maximum voltage, and when it is overdischarged, the voltage becomes lower than the preset minimum voltage. If the battery cell 1 is overcharged or overdischarged, its electrical characteristics will deteriorate and its safety will also decrease. The voltage detection circuit 22 detects the voltage of the battery cell 1 and transmits it to a control circuit (not shown), which controls the charging and discharging current so that the voltage of the battery cell 1 falls within a set range.

[0062] In the battery module 10, as charging and discharging are repeated, the remaining capacity and voltage of each battery cell 1 become unbalanced. The battery cells 1 connected in series are charged and discharged with the same current. Although they are charged and discharged with the same current, the electrical characteristics of each battery cell 1 are not completely the same. Therefore, in the battery module 10 in which multiple battery cells 1 are connected in series, as charging and discharging are repeated, the voltage and remaining capacity of each battery cell 1 become unbalanced. The unbalance of the battery cells 1 causes a specific battery cell 1 to be overcharged or overdischarged. Since the battery module 10 charges and discharges all the battery cells 1 at the same time, the unbalance of the battery cells 1 causes a specific battery cell 1 to be overcharged or overdischarged. Overcharging and overdischarging of the battery cells 1 cause the electrical characteristics of the battery cells 1 to deteriorate and deteriorate, and also reduce the safety of the battery module 10. The power supply device 100 is provided with a cell balance circuit 23 that eliminates the unbalance of the voltage of the battery cells 1, thereby equalizing the battery cells.

[0063] The cell monitor circuit 6 in Fig. 2 includes a cell balance circuit 23. This cell monitor circuit 6 utilizes the voltage detection line 19 of the voltage detection circuit 22 to discharge high voltage batteries and charge low voltage batteries, thereby equalizing the voltages of the battery cells 1 and eliminating the imbalance. The cell balance circuit 23 can equalize the remaining capacities by discharging high voltage battery cells with large remaining capacities.

[0064] The cell monitor circuit 6 is preferably fixed to the end plate 3 in an insulated manner. As shown in FIG. 9, the cell monitor circuit 6 is fixed by disposing an insulating sheet 18 between the end plate 3 and the cell monitor circuit 6. The insulating sheet 18 is an elastic sheet made of a rubber-like elastic material, and can always keep the curved end plate 3 and the cell monitor circuit 6 in a thermally coupled state. The cell monitor circuit 6 fixed to the end plate 3 in an insulated manner has a structure in which the metal heat sink 21 and other components are exposed on the surface to efficiently dissipate heat, while improving the insulation characteristics and increasing reliability with respect to the battery stack 2 disposed inside the end plate 3. A battery module 10 in which end plates 3 are disposed on both end faces of the battery stack 2 can prevent electric shock and leakage by insulating the end plates 3 from the ground line. The high-voltage battery stack 2 is disposed inside the end plate 3 insulated from the ground line. The end plate 3 insulated from the battery stack 2 maintains a high leakage resistance with the battery stack 2, but the leakage resistance may decrease due to various factors. For example, condensation between the end plates 3 and the battery stack 2 can cause a decrease in leakage resistance. The cell monitor circuit 6, which is arranged insulated from the end plates 3, is insulated from the end plates 3, preventing adverse effects such as leakage and electric shock, even if the contact resistance between the end plates 3 and the battery stack 2 decreases, ensuring high safety and reliability. However, since the end plates are insulated from the battery stack, the end plates can also be connected to the ground line.

[0065] The battery module 10 described above has a feature that the end plates 3 can efficiently dissipate heat from the heat-generating components of the cell balance circuit 23 of the cell monitor circuit 6, and therefore the cell balance circuit 23 can quickly equalize the battery cells 1. This is because the power consumption of the cell balance circuit 23 can be increased to discharge the battery cells 1 with a large current, and the voltage of the high-voltage battery cells 1 can be quickly reduced. The cell balance circuit 23 discharges the high-voltage battery cells 1 to eliminate the voltage imbalance, or charges the low-voltage battery cells 1 with the high-voltage battery cells 1 to equalize them. The circuit that discharges and equalizes the high-voltage battery cells 1 discharges the high-voltage battery cells 1 with a discharge resistor, and the cell balance circuit 23 that charges the low-voltage battery cells 1 with the high-voltage battery cells 1 supplies power from the high-voltage battery cells 1 to the low-voltage battery cells 1 to equalize them. The circuit that discharges and equalizes the battery cells 1 with a discharge resistor generates heat from the discharge resistor that discharges the battery cells 1 and the semiconductor element that is a switching element that controls the discharge current of this discharge resistor. This circuit has a structure that efficiently discharges the thermal energy of the discharge resistors and semiconductor elements, and can shorten the time to equalize by increasing the discharge current of the discharge resistors and semiconductor elements. Increasing the discharge current also increases the amount of heat generated, so efficient discharge can be achieved to increase the discharge current. Also, in the cell balance circuit 23 that charges low-voltage battery cells with high-voltage battery cells, the semiconductor elements that control the charging current from the high-voltage battery cells to the low-voltage battery cells generate heat, so the current of these semiconductor elements can be increased to shorten the time to equalize.

[0066] (Powerline 42) The power line 42 connects multiple battery modules 10 in series to increase the output voltage, enabling them to be effectively used as a power source for electric vehicles such as hybrid cars and electric cars, and also as a power storage device. In the power supply device 100 in Fig. 1, adjacent battery modules 10 are connected in series by the power line 42, and the cell monitor circuits 6 of each battery module 10 are cascade-connected by the communication line 44.

[0067] 1 does not connect the power line 42 and the communication line 44 in parallel, but connects the non-parallel communication line 44 to the cell monitor circuit 6 of a battery module 10 different from the battery module 10 connected by the power line 42. The non-parallel communication line 44 cascade-connects the cell monitor circuits 6 of the battery modules 10 that have a potential difference with the ground line.

[0068] The power supply device 100 in Fig. 1 has a plurality of battery modules 10 arranged in multiple rows and columns, with vertical compartment areas 51 and horizontal compartment areas 52 arranged in a checkerboard pattern between adjacent battery modules 10. In the power supply device 100 in this figure, the vertical compartment area 51 is used as a wiring space 53 for wiring the communication line 44, and the horizontal compartment area 52 is used as a non-wiring space 54 in which the communication line 44 is not wired, and the horizontal compartment area 52 of the non-wiring space 54 is made narrower than the vertical compartment area 51, thereby narrowing the gap between the battery modules 10. In this power supply device 100, the cell monitor circuit 6 is disposed at the end opposite the wiring space 53, and the communication line 44 connected to the connection part 43 of the cell monitor circuit 6 is disposed in the wiring space 53. 1 has the battery module 10 as a rectangular parallelepiped extending in the stacking direction of the battery cells 1, with both ends of the battery cells 1 in the stacking direction as module ends and both sides in the stacking direction as module side surfaces, with the cell monitor circuit 6 provided on the end plate 3 and the connection part 43 of the cell monitor circuit 6 disposed at the module end. In this power supply device 100, the space where the module ends of adjacent battery modules 10 face each other is used as wiring space 53, communication lines 44 are wired in the wiring space 53, and the gap where the module side surfaces of adjacent battery modules 10 face each other is used as non-wiring space 54 where the communication lines 44 are not wired.

[0069] 10, a vertical partition area 51 is used as a wiring space for wiring the communication lines 44, all communication lines 44 are wired only in this vertical partition area 51, and a horizontal partition area 52 is used as a non-wiring space 54 where the communication lines 44 are not wired, and the horizontal partition area 52 of the non-wiring space 54 is made narrower than the vertical partition area 51, thereby narrowing the gap between the battery modules 10. In this power supply device 200, all cell monitor circuits 6 are arranged at the end opposite the wiring space 53, and the communication lines 44 connected to the connection parts 43 of the cell monitor circuits 6 are arranged in the wiring space.

[0070] This power supply device 200 is realized by arranging battery modules 10A, each having a cell monitor circuit 6 arranged at the module end on the side where the negative output terminal 41 is provided out of the positive and negative output terminals 41 provided on the battery assembly 7, alternately in a parallel posture with battery modules 10B, each having a cell monitor circuit 6 arranged at the module end on the side where the positive output terminal 41 is provided, and arranging the module end on the side where the cell monitor circuit 6 is provided on the vertical partition area 51 side. Since this power supply device 200 allows the communication lines 44 to be concentrated and arranged in the central vertical partition area 51, the communication lines 44 can be wired in a more space-saving manner, effectively preventing the communication lines 44 from being damaged, and by shortening the overall length of the communication lines 44, adverse effects such as noise can be reduced.

[0071] The power supply device described above can be used as a vehicle power supply that supplies power to a motor that drives an electric vehicle. Electric vehicles equipped with the power supply device include hybrid vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles that run on both an engine and a motor, and electric vehicles that run only on a motor, and the power supply device is used as a power supply for these vehicles. In order to obtain power to drive the vehicle, it is preferable to construct and install a large-capacity, high-output power supply device by connecting a large number of the above-mentioned battery modules in series or in parallel and adding necessary control circuits.

[0072] (Battery equipment for hybrid vehicles) FIG. 11 shows an example of a power supply device mounted on a hybrid vehicle that runs on both an engine and a motor. The vehicle HV equipped with the power supply device shown in this figure includes a vehicle body 91, an engine 96 and a motor 93 for running the vehicle body 91, wheels 97 driven by the engine 96 and the motor 93 for running, a power supply device 100 that supplies power to the motor 93, and a generator 94 that charges the battery of the power supply device 100. The power supply device 100 is connected to the motor 93 and the generator 94 via a DC / AC inverter 95. The vehicle HV runs on both the motor 93 and the engine 96 while charging and discharging the battery of the power supply device 100. The motor 93 is driven in an area where the engine efficiency is poor, such as during acceleration or low-speed running, to run the vehicle. The motor 93 is driven by power supplied from the power supply device 100. The generator 94 is driven by the engine 96 or by regenerative braking when braking the vehicle, and charges the battery of the power supply device 100. As shown in the figure, the vehicle HV may be provided with a charging plug 98 for charging the power supply device 100. The power supply device 100 can be charged by connecting this charging plug 98 to an external power source.

[0073] (Power supply unit for electric vehicles) FIG. 12 shows an example of a power supply device mounted on an electric vehicle that runs only on a motor. The vehicle EV equipped with the power supply device shown in this figure includes a vehicle body 91, a motor 93 for driving the vehicle body 91, wheels 97 driven by the motor 93, a power supply device 100 that supplies power to the motor 93, and a generator 94 that charges the battery of the power supply device 100. The power supply device 100 is connected to the motor 93 and the generator 94 via a DC / AC inverter 95. The motor 93 is driven by power supplied from the power supply device 100. The generator 94 is driven by energy generated when the vehicle EV is subjected to regenerative braking, and charges the battery of the power supply device 100. The vehicle EV also includes a charging plug 98, which can be connected to an external power source to charge the power supply device 100.

[0074] (Power supply device for power storage device) Furthermore, the present invention does not limit the use of the power supply device to a power supply for a motor that runs a vehicle. The power supply device according to the embodiment can also be used as a power supply for a power storage device that charges a battery with power generated by solar power generation, wind power generation, or the like and stores the power. Fig. 13 shows a power storage device that charges a battery of a power supply device 100 with a solar cell 82 and stores the power.

[0075] The power storage device shown in FIG. 13 charges a battery of a power supply device 100 with power generated by a solar cell 82 arranged on the roof or rooftop of a building 81 such as a house or a factory. This power storage device charges the battery of the power supply device 100 with a charging circuit 83 using the solar cell 82 as a charging power source, and then supplies power to a load 86 via a DC / AC inverter 85. For this reason, this power storage device has a charging mode and a discharging mode. The power storage device shown in the figure connects the DC / AC inverter 85 and the charging circuit 83 to the power supply device 100 via a discharge switch 87 and a charge switch 84, respectively. The discharge switch 87 and the charge switch 84 are switched ON / OFF by a power storage device power supply controller 88. In the charge mode, the power supply controller 88 switches the charge switch 84 ON and the discharge switch 87 OFF to allow charging from the charging circuit 83 to the power supply device 100. Furthermore, when charging is completed and the battery is fully charged, or when a predetermined charged capacity or more has been reached, the power supply controller 88 switches the charging switch 84 OFF and the discharging switch 87 ON to switch to a discharging mode, permitting discharging from the power supply device 100 to the load 86. Furthermore, if necessary, the charging switch 84 can be turned ON and the discharging switch 87 can be turned ON to supply power to the load 86 and charge the power supply device 100 at the same time.

[0076] Furthermore, although not shown, the power supply device can also be used as a power source for a power storage device that uses late-night power at night to charge and store electricity in a battery. A power supply device that is charged with late-night power is charged with late-night power, which is surplus electricity from power plants, and outputs electricity during the day when the power load is high, making it possible to limit daytime peak power to a low level. Furthermore, the power supply device can also be used as a power source that charges with both the output of solar cells and late-night power. This power supply device effectively uses both the power generated by solar cells and the late-night power, and can efficiently store electricity while taking into account the weather and power consumption.

[0077] The above-described power storage device can be suitably used for applications such as a backup power supply device that can be mounted on a computer server rack, a backup power supply device for wireless base stations for mobile phones and the like, a power supply for home or factory storage, a power supply for street lights, a power storage device combined with a solar cell, and a backup power supply for traffic lights and road traffic indicators. [Industrial Applicability]

[0078] The power supply device according to the present invention can be suitably used as a power supply for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, electric vehicles, etc., that can switch between EV driving mode and HEV driving mode. It can also be suitably used for applications such as a backup power supply that can be mounted on a computer server rack, a backup power supply for wireless base stations for mobile phones and the like, a power supply for home and factory storage, a power supply for street lights, a power storage device combined with a solar cell, a backup power supply for traffic lights, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0079] 100, 200…Power supply device 1. Battery cell 1a…Exhaust valve 1X…Terminal surface 2…Battery stack 3…End plate 4. Binding bar 4A…Fixed part 4B…Lower connection piece 4C...Press piece 5...Gas duct 5a...Opening 6…Cell monitor circuit 7…Battery assembly 8…Cover case 9…Base plate 10, 10A, 10B…Battery module 11...Electrode terminal 12…Insulating spacer 13...End surface spacer 14…Busbar 15…Fixing screw 16…Fixing screw 18...Insulating sheet 19…Voltage detection line 21...Radiator 22...Voltage detection circuit 23...Cell balance circuit 29...Temperature detection circuit 35…Battery control unit 41...Output terminal 42…Power line 43…Connection 44…Communication line 46...Coupling element 46A…Coupling capacitor 46B...transformer 46C...Optical transmission element 46c…Light source 46d...Opto-electrical converter 48…Communication interface 49...Transmitting and receiving circuit 50…Detection circuit 51...Vertical partition area 52...Horizontal area 53…Wiring space 54…Non-wired space 81…Building 82…Solar cell 83…Charging circuit 84…Charging switch 85…DC / AC inverter 86…Load 87…Discharge switch 88…Power supply controller 91…Vehicle body 93…Motor 94…Generator 95…DC / AC inverter 96…Engine 97...Wheel 98…Charging plug 800…Power supply device 806…Cell monitor circuit 810…Battery module 842…Power line 844…Communication line 845…Wiring space 859...Grand Line 901…Battery cell 902...Battery stack 906…Cell monitor circuit 910…Battery module HV, EV...Vehicles

Claims

1. A power supply device in which a plurality of battery modules each including a plurality of battery cells are connected by a power line, The battery module includes a cell monitor circuit for detecting battery information, The cell monitor circuits provided in the battery module are cascaded via a communication line, the cell monitor circuit includes a communication interface having a connection part to which the communication line is connected; the communication interface sets a withstand voltage applied to the connection part to be higher than an output voltage of the battery module, The power supply device is characterized in that the plurality of battery modules have a non-wired space between adjacent battery modules in a direction intersecting a stacking direction of the plurality of battery cells, where the communication lines and the power lines are not wired.

2. A power supply device comprising a plurality of battery modules each having a plurality of battery cells connected by a power line, The battery module includes a cell monitor circuit for detecting battery information, The cell monitor circuits provided in the battery module are cascaded via a communication line, the cell monitor circuit includes a communication interface having a connection part to which the communication line is connected; the communication interface sets a withstand voltage applied to the connection part to be higher than an output voltage of the battery module, a power supply device, wherein one of the plurality of battery modules is capable of connecting the communication line to the cell monitor circuit of a battery module different from an adjacent battery module to which the power line is connected in series.

3. 3. The power supply device according to claim 1, The communication interface is The output side is equipped with a coupling element that blocks direct current and passes alternating current. The withstand voltage of the coupling element is A power supply device having a withstand voltage higher than an output voltage of the power supply device.

4. 4. The power supply device according to claim 3, The coupling element is A coupling capacitor; A transformer for signal transmission; A power supply device characterized in that it is any one of the optical transmission elements.

5. 5. The power supply device according to claim 1, A plurality of the battery modules are arranged in multiple rows and columns, Between adjacent battery modules, The vertical and horizontal partition areas are arranged in a checkerboard pattern, A wiring space in which the communication lines are wired is provided in either the vertical partition area or the horizontal partition area, the other of said power supply devices being a non-wired space in which said communication lines are not wired.

6. 6. The power supply device according to claim 5, The width of the non-wiring space is A power supply device characterized in that the width of the power supply device is narrower than the width of the wiring space.

7. 7. The power supply device according to claim 5 or 6, The battery module comprises: A power supply device, characterized in that the connection portion is disposed at an end portion facing the wiring space.

8. 8. The power supply device according to claim 1, The battery module comprises: A rectangular parallelepiped extending in the stacking direction of the battery cells, Both ends of the battery cells in the stacking direction are defined as module ends, Both sides of the stacking direction are the module sides, A power supply device, characterized in that the connection portion is disposed at an end portion of the module.

9. 9. The power supply device according to claim 8, A space where the module ends of the adjacent battery modules face each other is used as a wiring space, The communication lines are wired in the wiring space, A gap between the module side surfaces of the adjacent battery modules is formed. The power supply device is characterized in that the communication line serves as a non-wiring space in which no wiring is provided.

10. 10. The power supply device according to claim 8, The battery module comprises: a battery stack formed by stacking the plurality of battery cells; end plates disposed at both ends of the battery stack; a bind bar disposed on each side of the battery stack and connecting the end plates, The battery module comprises: The battery cells are each a rectangular parallelepiped that is elongated in a stacking direction, A power supply device, characterized in that an end portion in a longitudinal direction is the module end portion.

11. 11. The power supply device of claim 10, The battery module comprises: A power supply device, characterized in that the cell monitor circuit is disposed on the end plate.

12. 12. A power supply device according to claim 1, The battery module comprises: A power supply device, characterized in that the connection portion is disposed at one end thereof.

13. 13. The power supply device of claim 12, The battery module comprises: A pair of the connection parts is disposed at one end, A power supply device comprising a pair of said connection parts and said communication lines connected thereto.

14. An electric vehicle comprising the power supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, The power supply device; a driving motor supplied with power from the power supply device; a vehicle body having the power supply device and the motor mounted thereon; a wheel driven by the motor to move the vehicle body; An electric vehicle comprising:

15. A power storage device comprising the power supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, The power supply device; a power supply controller for controlling charging and discharging of the power supply device; Equipped with With the power supply controller, The battery cell can be charged by external power, The power storage device is characterized by controlling the battery cell to be charged.

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