Charging Control System

Abstract

To provide a charging control system capable of suppressing costs when reusing a battery module.SOLUTION: A charging control system 1 includes a charging device 2, IPU 3-1 to IPU 3-n, and a CAN bus 4, each of the IPU 3-1 to IPU 3-n includes a battery 301, a contactor 302, and a battery ECU 303, and the battery ECU 303 controls the contactor 302 of one IPU among the IPU 3-1 to IPU 3-n to supply the power to the battery 301 of the one IPU based on operation information supplied from the CAN bus 4 and controls the contactor 302 of the other IPU to stop supplying the power to the battery 301 of the other IPU and to charge the one IPU from the charging device 2 and not to charge to the other IPU.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a charging control system. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, research and development has been conducted into charging mobility vehicles equipped with secondary batteries that contribute to energy efficiency, in order to ensure that more people have access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and advanced energy.

[0003] A battery module used in a vehicle can be reused for other purposes such as home use, etc. As a technology for reusing a battery module, for example, a technology such as that disclosed in Patent Document 1 has been proposed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2022-175595 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Incidentally, in technology relating to mobility equipped with secondary batteries, the battery module needs to be temporarily stored before being reused, and the batteries that make up the battery module need to be charged periodically to prevent deterioration.

[0006] However, when storing a plurality of such battery modules, a plurality of charging devices are required to charge all of the battery modules, which increases the cost of reusing the battery modules.

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the present application aims to achieve a charging control system that can reduce the cost of reusing a battery module, and ultimately contributes to improving energy efficiency. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A charging control system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a charging device, a plurality of battery modules electrically connected to the charging device, and a communication line for mutual communication between each battery module, each of the plurality of battery modules including a battery, a cut-off device that cuts off the supply of power from the charging device to the battery, and a battery control device that controls each battery module, and the communication line is capable of transmitting and receiving operation information of the cut-off device between each battery module, and the battery control device controls the cut-off device of one of the plurality of battery modules to supply power to the battery of the one battery module and the cut-off device of the other battery modules to cut off the supply of power to the battery of the other battery modules based on the operation information supplied by the communication line, and controls the one battery module to be charged from the charging device and not to be charged to the other battery modules.

[0009] In addition, in each battery module, the identifier for communicating with each other via the communication line may be the same. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a charge control system that can reduce costs when reusing a battery module. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a charge control system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an IPU according to the present embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the contents of CAN data transmitted via a CAN bus. [Figure 4] 4A to 4C are diagrams illustrating an example of a charging operation in two IPUs in a time series according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the charging control system of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the scale of each part in each drawing used in the following description of the embodiment may be changed as appropriate. Also, for the purpose of explanation, each drawing used in the following description of the embodiment may be shown with the configuration omitted. Also, in each drawing and in this specification, the same reference numerals indicate similar elements.

[0013] 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a charge control system 1 according to this embodiment. The charge control system 1 is used to temporarily store intelligent power units (IPUs) 3-1 to 3-n mounted on a vehicle before the IPUs 3-1 to 3-n are reused. The charge control system 1 periodically charges the batteries constituting the multiple IPUs 3-1 to 3-n in order to suppress deterioration of the batteries.

[0014] Here, if the multiple IPUs 3-1 to 3-n are charged simultaneously, an excessive load is placed on the charging device 2 and an external power supply device. In addition, the multiple IPUs 3-1 to 3-n having different rated voltages cannot be charged simultaneously. Furthermore, if separate charging devices are used, multiple charging control systems must be prepared, and the cost of charging increases. Therefore, the charging control system 1 according to this embodiment performs control so that only one of the IPUs 3-1 to 3-n is charged.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 1, the charging control system 1 includes a charging device 2, a plurality of IPUs 3-1 to 3-n serving as battery modules, a CAN (Controller Area Network) bus 4, and a cable 5.

[0016] The charging device 2 is constituted by, for example, an external power supply device, is electrically connected to the IPUs 3-1 to 3-n, and supplies power to each of the IPUs 3-1 to 3-n. In particular, the charging device 2 is connected in parallel to each of the multiple IPUs 3 via a cable 5. The charging device 2 charges the batteries in each of the IPUs 3-1 to 3-n by supplying power to each of the IPUs 3-1 to 3-n.

[0017] In addition, IPU3-1 to IPU3-n are each IPUs manufactured by a manufacturer (the same manufacturer or two or more cooperating manufacturers that are substantially the same) that implements the same specifications for the IPU, and were installed in different vehicles manufactured by manufacturers that implement the same specifications.

[0018] 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of IPUs 3-1 to 3-n according to this embodiment. Since IPUs 3-1 to 3-n have the same configuration, the configuration of IPU 3-1 will be described below. As shown in FIG. 2, IPU 3-1 includes a battery 301, a contactor 302, and a battery ECU (Electric Control Unit) 303.

[0019] The battery 301 is a high-voltage battery that is charged by the charging device 2 and supplies power to other devices by discharging. The battery 301 is, for example, a large-capacity battery in which a plurality of battery cells, each of which is made up of a lithium-ion secondary battery, are connected in series.

[0020] The contactor 302, under the control of the battery ECU 303, cuts off and opens the supply of power from the battery 301 to other electronic devices and the supply of power from the charging device 2 to the battery 301. In the charging control system 1 according to this embodiment, the contactor 302 cuts off and opens the supply of power from the charging device 2 to the battery 301.

[0021] The battery ECU 303 performs overall control of the IPU 3-1 and includes a processor such as a CPU, a storage device such as a semiconductor memory, an interface with an external device, and the like.

[0022] The CAN bus 4 is a communication line that electrically connects the IPUs 3-1 to 3-n to each other and allows the IPUs 3-1 to 3-n to communicate with each other. The CAN bus 4 is capable of transmitting and receiving operation information of the contactor 302 between each battery module. Specifically, the CAN bus 4 is used to transmit and receive bits for turning the contactor 302 ON / OFF as the operation information.

[0023] Furthermore, each of the IPU3-1 to IPU3-n has the same CAN_ID, which is an identifier for communicating between the IPU3-1 to IPU3-n via the CAN bus 4. Specifically, as described above, each of the IPU3-1 to IPU3-n was mounted on a different vehicle manufactured by the same manufacturer, and therefore each of the IPU3-1 to IPU3-n has the same CAN_ID.

[0024] Therefore, in the charging control system 1 of this embodiment, based on operation information supplied via the CAN bus 4, the battery ECU 303 controls the contactor 302 of one of the multiple IPUs 3-1 to 3-n (e.g., IPU 3-1) to supply power to the battery 301 of the one IPU, and controls the contactors 302 of the other IPUs (e.g., IPU 3-2 to IPU 3-n) to cut off the supply of power to the batteries 301 of the other IPUs, thereby charging the one IPU from the charging device 2 and not charging the other IPUs.

[0025] Specifically, the battery ECU 303 in the IPUs 3-1 to 3-n uses, as operation information, a bit in the CAN data for turning on / off the contactor 302. That is, the battery ECU 303 in the IPUs 3-1 to 3-n sets a bit to "0" when the contactor 302 is turned on, and sets a bit to "1" when the contactor 302 is turned off.

[0026] For example, when the battery ECU 303 in IPU3-1 transmits a bit "0" to the other IPU3-2 to IPU3-n via the CAN bus 4, if the battery ECU 303 in IPU3-1 receives a bit "1" from any of the other IPU3-2 to IPU3-n via the CAN bus 4, it determines that the contactor 302 in any of the other IPU3-2 to IPU3-n is ON and does not turn ON the contactor 302 in IPU3-1.

[0027] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the contents of CAN data transmitted via the CAN bus 4. In the example shown in FIG. 3, a transmission bit "1" means recessive, and when all IPUs transmit a transmission bit "1", the transmission bit "1" is transmitted to the CAN bus 4. Also, a transmission bit "0" means dominant, and when one IPU transmits a transmission bit "0", the transmission bit "0" is transmitted to the CAN bus 4. In a conventional example, when all IPUs transmit "1", the transmission bit "1" is transmitted to the CAN bus. In this case, all IPUs recognize that there is no IPU transmitting a bit "0".

[0028] When one IPU transmits a bit "0" and another IPU transmits a bit "1," the transmitted bit "0" is transmitted to the CAN bus. In this case, the IPU that transmitted "0" recognizes that its own data has priority, and the IPU that transmitted bit "1" recognizes that it transmitted a bit "0" and that there is another IPU that has priority.

[0029] When two IPUs transmit a bit "0" and another IPU transmits a bit "1," the transmitted bit "0" is transmitted to the CAN bus. In this case, the IPU that transmitted the bit "0" recognizes that its own data has priority, but it does not recognize that there is another IPU transmitting a bit "0." The IPU that transmitted a bit "1" recognizes that another IPU has transmitted a bit "0" and that there is an IPU that has priority.

[0030] In the conventional example, when there are multiple IPUs wanting to transmit data at the same time, the priority of the IPUs is determined by the ID of the CAN data shown in Figure 3, and if it is recognized that there is another IPU with priority, the transmission of the CAN data is stopped at that point. The prioritized IPU can transmit its ID until the end and can continue transmitting subsequent CAN data.

[0031] The charging control system 1 according to this embodiment extends the IPU superiority / inferiority determination function to the data field as well as the ID of the CAN data shown in Fig. 3. That is, the charging control system 1 holds a bit for turning the contactor 302 ON / OFF as operation information in the data field of the CAN data. In this way, the charging control system 1 extends the superiority / inferiority determination function to the data field of the CAN data, and enables other IPUs to recognize the presence of an IPU with the contactor 302 ON.

[0032] In addition, because the battery ECUs 303 in the IPUs 3-1 to 3-n have the same specifications, all of the IPUs 3-1 to 3-n transmit the same data, such as ID information prior to the operation information transmitted by the battery ECUs 303, and each IPU determines that its own data has been transmitted. To give priority to turning on the contactor 302, the battery ECU 303 sets a bit to "0" when the contactor 302 is turned on, and sets a bit to "1" when the contactor 302 is turned off.

[0033] When all IPU3-1 to IPU3-n transmit a bit "1" (contactor 302 OFF), the transmission bit "1" is transmitted to CAN bus 4. In this case, each IPU can recognize that none of IPU3-1 to IPU3-n are transmitting a bit "0", and therefore recognize that no IPU is charging by turning on contactor 302. This allows all IPU3-1 to IPU3-n to continue transmitting subsequent CAN data.

[0034] When one IPU (e.g., IPU3-1) transmits a bit "0" (contactor 302 ON) and another IPU (e.g., IPU3-2 to IPU3-n) transmits a bit "1" (contactor 302 OFF), a transmission bit "0" is transmitted to CAN bus 4. In this case, the one IPU transmitting the bit "0" can recognize that its own data has priority. The other IPU transmitting the bit "1" can recognize that the other IPU transmitted a bit "0", the other IPU's contactor 302 is ON, and charging is in progress.

[0035] As a result, one IPU that transmits a bit “0” continues transmitting subsequent CAN data and transmits information necessary for charging, such as battery voltage information, to the charging device 2. The other IPU that transmits a bit “1” stops transmitting subsequent CAN data and does not turn on the contactor 302.

[0036] When two IPUs (e.g., IPU3-1 and IPU3-2) transmit a bit "0" (contactor 302 ON) and another IPU (e.g., IPU3-3 to IPU3-n) transmits a bit "1" (contactor 302 OFF), a transmission bit "0" is transmitted to the CAN bus 4. However, due to the above-mentioned control in which one IPU (e.g., IPU3-1) transmits a bit "0" (contactor 302 ON) and another IPU (e.g., IPU3-2 to IPU3-n) transmits a bit "1", a situation in which two or more IPUs transmit a bit "0" at the same time will not occur.

[0037] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of charging operation in two IPUs 3-1 and 3-2 according to the present embodiment in a time series. Note that the fluctuation rate of the charge amount in Fig. 4 is an approximate one and differs from the actual fluctuation rate of the charge amount. In addition, the charge start threshold and the charge completion threshold are also different from those actually used.

[0038] IPU3-1 begins to naturally discharge from time t0, and transmits a bit "1" (contactor 302 OFF). After that, at time t1, IPU3-1 reaches the charge start threshold (10% of full charge), so transmits a bit "0" (contactor 302 ON) and starts charging. After that, at time t3, IPU3-1 reaches the charge completion threshold (90% of full charge), so transmits a bit "1" (contactor 302 OFF) and begins to naturally discharge.

[0039] IPU3-2 starts natural discharge from time t0 and transmits a bit "1" (contactor 302 OFF). After that, IPU3-2 reaches the charge start threshold (10% of full charge) at time t2, but since it has received the bit "0" (contactor 302 ON) transmitted by IPU3-1, it does not start charging and waits in natural discharge.

[0040] Thereafter, at time t3, IPU3-1 transmits a bit "1" (contactor 302 OFF), and when the bit transmitted on CAN bus 4 becomes "1", IPU3-2 transmits a bit "0" (contactor 302 ON) and starts charging. Note that at time t3, the bit transmitted on CAN bus 4 becomes "1" (contactor 302 OFF) for just an instant, and then immediately becomes "0" (contactor 302 ON). Thereafter, at time t4, IPU3-2 reaches the charge completion threshold (90% of full charge), so transmits a bit "1" (contactor 302 OFF) and begins natural discharge.

[0041] By performing the above-described control, the charge control system 1 according to the present embodiment can automatically turn on the contactor 302 in only one of the IPUs 3-1 to 3-n and automatically turn off the contactor 302 in the other IPUs using the same CAN_ID. Thus, the charge control system 1 can perform control so as to charge only the battery 301 in one of the IPUs 3-1 to 3-n and not to charge the battery 301 in the other IPUs.

[0042] The charge control system 1 according to this embodiment has the following advantages. The charging control system 1 includes a charging device 2, a plurality of IPUs 3-1 to 3-n electrically connected to the charging device 2, and a CAN bus 4 for mutual communication between the IPUs 3-1 to 3-n. Each of the IPUs 3-1 to 3-n includes a battery 301, a contactor 302 that cuts off the supply of power from the charging device 2 to the battery 301, and a battery ECU 303 that controls each of the IPUs 3-1 to 3-n. The CAN bus 4 transmits operation information of the contactor 302 between the IPUs 3-1 to 3-n. Based on the operation information supplied via the CAN bus 4, the battery ECU 303 controls the contactor 302 of one of the multiple IPUs 3-1 to 3-n (e.g., IPU 3-1) to supply power to the battery 301 of the one IPU, and controls the contactors 302 of the other IPUs (e.g., IPU 3-2 to IPU 3-n) to cut off the supply of power to the batteries 301 of the other IPUs, so that the one IPU is charged by the charging device 2 and the other IPUs are not charged.

[0043] By performing the above-described control, the charge control system 1 can perform control so as to charge only the battery 301 in one of the IPUs 3-1 to 3-n and not to charge the battery 301 in the other IPUs. Therefore, the charge control system 1 does not need to introduce a new mechanism into the charging device 2 and can charge only the battery 301 in one IPU, thereby reducing the cost of reusing the IPUs 3-1 to 3-n.

[0044] Further, each of the IPUs 3-1 to 3-n has the same CAN_ID, which is an identifier for communicating between the IPUs 3-1 to 3-n via the CAN bus 4. With this configuration, the charging control system 1 can automatically turn on the contactor 302 in only one of the IPUs 3-1 to 3-n by using the same CAN_ID between the IPUs 3-1 to 3-n.

[0045] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and the detailed configuration may be appropriately changed within the scope of the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 1. Charging control system 2 Charging device 3-1~3-n IPU (battery module) 4 CAN bus (communication line) 5 Cable 301 Battery 302 Contactor (breaker) 303 Battery ECU

Claims

1. A charging device; a plurality of battery modules electrically connected to the charging device; A communication line for mutual communication between each battery module; Equipped with Each of the plurality of battery modules is A battery; a cutoff device that cuts off the supply of power from the charging device to the battery; a battery control device for controlling each battery module; The communication line is capable of transmitting and receiving operation information of the cutoff device between each battery module, the battery control device controls, based on the operation information supplied by the communication line, to supply power to a battery of one of the plurality of battery modules using the cutoff device of the one battery module, and to cut off the supply of power to the batteries of the other battery modules using the cutoff devices of the other battery modules, to charge the one battery module from the charging device, and to not charge the other battery modules; In each battery module, an identifier for mutual communication between the battery modules via the communication line is the same, the battery control device uses, as the operation information, a bit in the CAN data for turning on / off the cutoff device, The battery control device holds a bit for turning on / off the cutoff device in a data field of the CAN data. Charging control system.

2. A charging control system as described in claim 1, wherein when there are multiple battery control devices in the multiple battery modules that attempt to transmit data simultaneously, one battery control device is determined to be prioritized in the data field of the CAN data, and the one prioritized battery control device continues transmitting the CAN data, while the other non-prioritized battery control devices stop transmitting the CAN data.

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