Communication device, communication method, and power storage system

Abstract

To allow a state monitoring device to acquire a plurality of types of state information about a plurality of storage batteries, in a power storage system in which the plurality of types of state information are transmitted from a side of the plurality of storage batteries to a side of the state monitoring device through serial communication.SOLUTION: A communication device 100 is a communication device executing state information transmission processing of transmitting a plurality of types of battery state information from a side of a battery B1 to a side of a BMS 10 through serial communication, and the state information transmission processing includes: processing of transmitting a frame including the plurality of types of battery state information from the side of the battery B1; processing of replacing the order of the plurality of types of battery state information in the frame transmitted from the side of the battery B1 with a predetermined order common to the other frame; processing of providing battery No. information to the frame in which the order of the plurality of types of battery state information is replaced with the predetermined order; and processing of transmitting, to the side of the BMS 10, the frame in which the order of the plurality of types of battery state information is replaced with the predetermined order, the frame provided with the battery No. information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a communication device, a communication method, and a power storage system.

Background Art

[0002] A system for collecting information about the state of a battery (hereinafter referred to as state information) and remotely monitoring the battery is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The system described in Patent Document 1 includes various sensors for detecting the state of a battery, such as a voltage sensor, a current sensor, and a temperature sensor, a controller to which a detection signal of the sensor is input, and a communication interface for communicating the state information of the battery input to the controller.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Assume a case where a power storage system is configured using a storage battery used in an electric vehicle or an unused storage battery for an electric vehicle, and a communication module for an electric vehicle that transmits multiple types of battery state information according to a protocol of a predetermined serial communication such as UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver / Transmitter). In this assumption, when multiple storage batteries are those used in different vehicle types or prepared for different vehicle types, it is assumed that the order of serial data transmitted from multiple communication modules is mutually different. For example, it is assumed that a UART frame for a certain vehicle type is designed such that serial data is arranged in the order of voltage, current, and SOC, and a UART frame for another vehicle type is set such that serial data is arranged in the order of SOC, voltage, and current. In that case, there is a possibility that the state monitoring device cannot acquire multiple types of state information about multiple storage batteries.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a communication device, a communication method, and a power storage system that enable a state monitoring device to acquire multiple types of state information about multiple storage batteries in a power storage system in which multiple types of state information are transmitted from the multiple storage battery sides to the state monitoring device side by serial communication.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The communication device of the present invention is provided in a power storage system including a plurality of storage batteries and a state monitoring device that monitors the states of the plurality of storage batteries based on state information, which is information about the states of the storage batteries transmitted from the storage battery side. The communication device is a communication device that executes a state information transmission process for transmitting a plurality of types of the state information from the storage battery side to the state monitoring device side by serial communication. The state information transmission process includes a process of transmitting a first frame including a plurality of types of the state information from the storage battery side, a process of rearranging the order of the plurality of types of the state information in the first frame transmitted from the storage battery side into a predetermined order common to other first frames, a process of adding battery identification information for identifying the storage battery to the first frame in which the order of the plurality of types of the state information has been rearranged into the predetermined order, and a process of transmitting the first frame in which the order of the plurality of types of the state information has been rearranged into the predetermined order and the battery identification information has been added to the state monitoring device side.

[0007] The communication method of the present invention is a communication method for transmitting a plurality of types of state information from the storage battery side to the state monitoring device side by serial communication in a power storage system including a plurality of storage batteries and a state monitoring device that monitors the states of the plurality of storage batteries based on state information, which is information about the states of the storage batteries transmitted from the storage battery side. The method includes steps of transmitting a frame including a plurality of types of the state information from the storage battery side, rearranging the order of the plurality of types of the state information in the frame transmitted from the storage battery side into a predetermined order common to other frames, adding battery identification information for identifying the storage battery to the frame in which the order of the plurality of types of the state information has been rearranged into the predetermined order, and transmitting the frame in which the order of the plurality of types of the state information has been rearranged into the predetermined order and the battery identification information has been added to the state monitoring device side.

[0008] The power storage system of the present invention includes a plurality of storage batteries, a state monitoring device that monitors the states of the plurality of storage batteries based on state information, which is information about the states of the storage batteries transmitted from the storage battery side, and a communication device that transmits the plurality of types of state information from the storage battery side to the state monitoring device side by serial communication. The communication device executes a process of transmitting a frame including the plurality of types of state information from the storage battery side, a process of rearranging the order of the plurality of types of state information in the frame transmitted from the storage battery side into a predetermined order common to other frames, a process of adding battery identification information for identifying the storage battery to the frame in which the order of the plurality of types of state information has been rearranged into the predetermined order, and a process of transmitting the frame in which the order of the plurality of types of state information has been rearranged into the predetermined order and the battery identification information has been added to the state monitoring device side.

Advantages of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, in a power storage system in which a plurality of types of state information are transmitted from a plurality of storage battery sides to a state monitoring device side by serial communication, the state monitoring device can acquire the plurality of types of state information about the plurality of storage batteries.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

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Figure 8

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in accordance with preferred embodiments. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown below, and the embodiments can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention. Also, in the embodiments shown below, there are some places where the illustration and description of some configurations are omitted. However, for the details of the omitted technology, well-known or publicly known technologies are appropriately applied within the range where there is no contradiction with the content described below.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing the circuit configuration of a power storage system 1 including a communication device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The power storage system 1 shown in this figure is a stationary or in-vehicle power supply, and includes a plurality or a single string STR, a power converter PC, and a BMS (Battery Management System) 10. When there are a plurality of strings STR, the plurality of strings STR are connected in parallel.

[0013] String STR includes a plurality of batteries B1 to Bn connected in series. Each of the batteries B1 to Bn includes a plurality of cells C1 to Cn connected in series. The batteries B1 to Bn in the present embodiment are those recovered after being used in an electric vehicle or those prepared but unused for an electric vehicle. Therefore, there may be a difference in the degree of deterioration among the batteries B1 to Bn. The batteries B1 to Bn are lithium-ion batteries or the like, and discharge through a power converter PC described later to supply power to an external system (not shown). The external system includes a load, a generator, and the like. When the power storage system 1 is for stationary use, home appliances and commercial power supply systems in a house serve as loads, and a solar power generation system or the like serves as a generator. On the other hand, when the power storage system 1 is for in-vehicle use, a drive motor, an air conditioner, various in-vehicle electrical components, etc. serve as loads. Note that the drive motor serves as a load and also as a generator. On the other hand, the power generated by the generator is supplied to the batteries B1 to Bn through the power converter PC, and the batteries B1 to Bn are charged.

[0014] String STR includes a plurality of battery modules BM1 to BMn and a current sensor 14. Each of the battery modules BM1 to BMn includes batteries B1 to Bn, a battery ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 11, a cell protection IC (Integrated Circuit) 12, a communication module 13, and bypass units BU1 to BUn. The batteries B1 to Bn, the cell protection IC 12, and the communication module 13 are those recovered after being used in an electric vehicle or those prepared but unused for an electric vehicle.

[0015] The battery ECU 11 detects the states of the batteries B1 to Bn, judges the states of the batteries B1 to Bn, and controls the bypass units BU1 to BUn, etc. The cell protection IC 12 detects overcharge, overdischarge, discharge overcurrent, charge overcurrent of the cells C1 to Cn, detects and cuts off short-circuit current, detects disconnection, restores the cells C1 to Cn from the overcharged state and overdischarged state, and performs cell balancing of the cells C1 to Cn, etc.

[0016] The battery ECU 11 transmits information about the states of the batteries B1 to Bn (hereinafter referred to as battery state information) to the communication module 13. On the other hand, the battery ECU 11 receives information about the control of the batteries B1 to Bn (hereinafter referred to as battery control information) from the communication module 13. Examples of the battery state information transmitted from the battery ECU 11 include the SOC (State of Charge). Also, examples of the battery control information received by the battery ECU 11 include a voltage instruction value, a current instruction value, and control information for the bypass units BU1 to BUn (ON / OFF of the switches S1 and S2 described later).

[0017] Each cell protection IC 12 transmits the battery state information to each communication module 13 and receives the battery control information from each communication module 13. Examples of the battery state information transmitted from each cell protection IC 12 include the voltages of the cells C1 to Cn and the currents of the batteries B1 to Bn. Also, examples of the battery control information received by the cell protection IC 12 include a voltage instruction value and a current instruction value.

[0018] The communication module 13 transmits the battery state information to the BMS 10 side and receives the battery control information from the BMS 10 side in accordance with the protocol of serial communication such as UART by the communication device 100. The communication device 100 will be described later.

[0019] The power converter PC is a bidirectional converter and is connected to the string bus 3. Also, the positive electrode of the starting battery B1 and the negative electrode of the ending battery Bn are connected to the power converter PC.

[0020] During charging of the string STR, the power converter PC converts the voltage input from the string bus 3 according to the indicated value of the charging power (or charging current) and outputs it to the plurality of batteries B1 to Bn. Here, the voltage on the string STR side changes according to the bypass state of the batteries B1 to Bn (the number of batteries B1 to Bn that are bypassed) and the charging state of the batteries B1 to Bn. Therefore, during charging of the string STR, the power converter PC converts the voltage input from the string bus 3 into the voltage on the string STR side and outputs it to the plurality of batteries B1 to Bn.

[0021] During discharging of the string STR, the power converter PC converts the voltage input from the plurality of batteries B1 to Bn according to the indicated value of the discharging power (or discharging current) and outputs it to the string bus 3. Here, the input voltage of the power converter PC during discharging changes according to the bypass state of the batteries B1 to Bn and the charging state of the batteries B1 to Bn. Thereby, when performing parallel operation of the plurality of strings STR, a variation occurs in the input voltage of the power converter PC between the strings STR during discharging. Therefore, during discharging of the string STR, the power converter PC converts the input voltage into a voltage that matches the other string STR and outputs it to the string bus 3. When the current flowing through the string bus 3 is alternating current, the power converter PC is provided with synchronization means for following the change in the instantaneous value.

[0022] The bypass units BU1 to BUn are provided for each of the batteries B1 to Bn. Each bypass unit BU1 to BUn includes a bypass line BL and switches S1, S2. The bypass line BL is a power line that bypasses each of the batteries B1 to Bn. The switch S1 is provided on the bypass line BL. This switch S1 is, for example, a mechanical switch, a semiconductor switch, or a relay. The switch S2 is provided between the positive electrode of each of the batteries B1 to Bn and one end of the bypass line BL. This switch S2 is, for example, a mechanical switch, a semiconductor switch, or a relay.

[0023] The battery B1 at the start and the battery Bn at the end are connected to an external power grid via the power converter PC and the string bus 3. When the switch S1 is turned off and the switch S2 is turned on in all bypass units BU1 to BUn, all batteries B1 to Bn are connected in series. On the other hand, when the switch S2 is turned off and the switch S1 is turned on in any of the bypass units BU1 to BUn, the batteries B1 to Bn corresponding to the bypass units BU1 to BUn are bypassed.

[0024] The current sensor 14 is provided on the power line of the string STR. This current sensor 14 detects the charge and discharge current of the string STR and transmits a detection signal to the BMS10. In addition, the string STR is provided with a voltage sensor, a temperature sensor, etc. (not shown). The voltage sensor detects the total voltage of the string STR and transmits a detection signal to the BMS10. The temperature sensor detects the ambient temperature of the string STR and transmits a detection signal to the BMS10.

[0025] The BMS10 communicates with a higher-level controller (not shown), a plurality of battery ECUs 11, and a plurality of cell protection ICs 12 to control and manage a plurality of battery modules BM1 to BMn. In addition, the BMS10 controls and manages the accessories provided in the string STR. Examples of such accessories include the power converter PC and the current sensor 14.

[0026] Based on the battery state information received from the battery ECU 11 and the cell protection IC 12, the BMS 10 monitors the states of the batteries B1 to Bn and generates and transmits battery control information. The battery control information includes information about the control of the bypass units BU1 to BUn and information about the voltage command values and current command values of the batteries B1 to Bn. Here, the BMS 10 receives an instruction value of the charge / discharge power (or charge / discharge current) of the string STR from the upper controller, and calculates the voltage command values and current command values of the batteries B1 to Bn based on the instruction value and the state information of the batteries B1 to Bn. Further, the BMS 10 determines whether or not to accept the control requests of the bypass units BU1 to BUn transmitted from the battery ECU 11, and transmits bypass control information corresponding to the determination result to the battery ECU 11.

[0027] The communication device 100 includes a plurality of frame switching devices 101-1 to 101-n and a frame information input unit 102. Each of the frame switching devices 101-1 to 101-n is provided for each of the battery modules BM1 to BMn. Note that it is not essential to provide a plurality of the frame switching devices 101-1 to 101-n and make them correspond one-to-one to the battery modules BM1 to BMn. A single frame switching device may be provided with a plurality of input / output terminals and the input / output terminals may be made to correspond one-to-one to the battery modules BM1 to BMn.

[0028] Each of the frame switching devices 101-1 to 101-n includes a frame switching unit 101A and a battery number assigning unit 101B. The frame switching unit 101A stores frame switching information 101C. This frame switching information 101C includes information about frames defined for each of the battery modules BM1 to BMn and information about frames defined for the purpose of transmission / reception by the BMS 10. The frame information includes information about the order of a plurality of types of serial data in the frame. The information about the frames defined for each of the battery modules BM1 to BMn is manually input from the frame information input unit 102 to the frame switching information 101C.

[0029] Here, the order of multiple types of serial data within the frame defined for the transmission and reception of the BMS 10 and the order of multiple types of serial data within the frame defined for each of the battery modules BM1 to BMn are in a one-to-one relationship with each other. That is, the order of multiple types of serial data within the frame defined for the transmission and reception of the BMS 10 is a predetermined order common to the multiple battery modules BM1 to BMn.

[0030] When multiple types of serial data are transmitted from the communication module 13, the frame replacement unit 101A refers to the frame replacement information 101C to replace the order of multiple types of serial data within the frame with the above-mentioned predetermined order. Then, the frame replacement unit 101A transmits the multiple types of serial data after the replacement with the above-mentioned predetermined order to the battery No. assignment unit 101B. On the other hand, when multiple types of serial data are transmitted from the battery No. assignment unit 101B, the frame replacement unit 101A refers to the frame replacement information 101C to replace the order of multiple types of serial data within the frame. At this time, the order of multiple types of serial data is replaced from the above-mentioned predetermined order to the order defined for each of the battery modules BM1 to BMn. Then, the frame replacement unit 101A transmits the multiple types of serial data after the order replacement to the communication module 13.

[0031] The battery No. assignment unit 101B stores battery No. information for identifying the batteries B1 to Bn. When multiple types of serial data are transmitted from the frame replacement unit 101A, the battery No. assignment unit 101B assigns a battery No. to the frame. Then, the battery No. assignment unit 101B transmits a frame including the multiple types of serial data replaced with the above-mentioned predetermined order and the battery No. to the BMS 10. Also, when multiple types of serial data and the battery No. are transmitted from the BMS 10, the battery No. assignment unit 101B removes the battery No. from the frame. Then, the battery No. assignment unit 101B transmits the multiple types of serial data with the battery No. removed from the frame to the frame replacement unit 101A.

[0032] Figure 2 is a functional block diagram showing an example of functions realized by the communication device 100 shown in FIG. 1. Although the communication between the battery module BM1 and the BMS10 is shown in FIG. 2, the communication between the other battery modules BM2 to BMn and the BMS10 is also performed in the same manner.

[0033] The frame replacement device 101-1 shown in FIG. 2 is installed in advance between the battery module BM1 and the BMS10 before the battery B1 is newly connected to the power storage system 1 (see FIG. 1). Here, in the present embodiment, the battery B1, the cell protection IC12, and the communication module 13 are those used in an electric vehicle or prepared for an electric vehicle. On the other hand, the bypass unit BU1, the battery ECU11, and the frame replacement device 101-1 are newly installed. When using the battery module BM1 including the bypass unit BU1, the bypass unit BU1 may also be used. Also, when the battery ECU11 can be reused, there is no need to newly install it.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 2, the battery state information is transmitted from the communication module 13 to the frame replacement device 101-1 as serial data. Here, a plurality of types of battery state information such as voltage, current, and SOC are transmitted from the communication module 13 to the frame replacement device 101-1 as a plurality of types of serial data. These plurality of types of serial data are arranged in a predetermined order in a frame designed according to the serial communication protocol.

[0035] FIG. 3 is a table showing an example of the configuration of a frame of serial data transmitted from the battery B1 side. As shown in this table, the frame of serial data transmitted from the communication module 13 is composed of a header, a plurality of types of serial data, and a footer. In the case of UART, in addition to the header, serial data, and footer, the frame includes a command, the data length per command, CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check), etc. Also, in UART, the header and footer are unique identifiers for determining whether communication is being performed with an appropriate device. Note that in UART, the footer is referred to as a trailer and is added to the end of the serial data.

[0036] Here, in the power storage system 1 of the present embodiment, the batteries B1 to Bn that have been used in an electric vehicle or are unused for an electric vehicle, and a communication module 13 for an electric vehicle that transmits a plurality of types of battery state information by serial communication are used. In this power storage system 1, the plurality of batteries B1 to Bn are those used in different vehicle types or prepared for different vehicle types. In such a case, it is assumed that the order of the plurality of types of serial data transmitted from the plurality of communication modules 13 is mutually different. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the frame of serial data for vehicle type A is designed such that the serial data continues in the order of voltage, current, and SOC. On the other hand, the frame of serial data for vehicle type B is set such that the serial data continues in the order of SOC, voltage, and current. Therefore, there is a possibility that the BMS 10 cannot acquire a plurality of types of battery state information about the plurality of batteries B1 to Bn.

[0037] Therefore, in the present embodiment, the frame replacement processing units 101D (see FIG. 2) of the frame replacement devices 101-1 to 101-n refer to the frame replacement information 101C and change the order of the plurality of types of serial data in the frame transmitted from the battery B1 to Bn sides to the above-described predetermined order.

[0038] FIG. 4 is a table showing an example of the frame replacement information 101C shown in FIG. 2. As shown in this table, the frame replacement information 101C is a table showing the relationship between the order of a plurality of types of battery state information transmitted from the communication module 13 side and the order of a plurality of types of battery state information transmitted to the BMS 10 side. The order of a plurality of types of serial data transmitted from the communication module 13 side is manually input from the frame information input unit 102 and registered in the frame replacement information 101C. On the other hand, the order of a plurality of types of battery state information transmitted to the BMS 10 side corresponds to the above-mentioned predetermined order, is common to the plurality of frame replacement devices 101-1 to 101-n, and is registered in the frame replacement information 101C in advance.

[0039] FIGS. 5 and 6 are diagrams showing an example of a procedure for swapping the order of a plurality of types of serial data in a frame and attaching battery No. information to the frame. As shown in FIG. 5, in each of the frame replacement devices 101-1 to 101-n (see FIG. 1), the order of a plurality of types of battery state information in the frame is swapped to the above-mentioned predetermined order that the BMS 10 can handle.

[0040] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, in each of the frame replacement devices 101-1 to 101-n (see FIG. 1), the order of a plurality of types of battery control information in the frame is swapped from the above-mentioned predetermined order that the BMS 10 can handle to the order that each battery module BM1 to BMn can handle.

[0041] Here, as shown in FIG. 5, the serial data transmitted from the batteries B1 to Bn side is not provided with identifiers for identifying the batteries B1 to Bn. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the battery No. assigning unit 101B (see FIG. 2) assigns a battery No. to a frame including a plurality of types of serial data arranged in the above-mentioned predetermined order. Specifically, the battery No. assigning unit 101B adds a header, a battery No., and a footer to a frame including a header, a plurality of types of serial data after being swapped in the above-mentioned predetermined order, and a footer.

[0042] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, the battery modules BM1 to BMn cannot correspond to the frame of the serial data including the battery number. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the battery number assigning unit 101B removes the battery number from the frame including a plurality of types of serial data and the battery number transmitted from the BMS 10. Specifically, the battery number assigning unit 101B removes the header, the battery number, and the footer from the frame including a plurality of types of serial data arranged in the predetermined order, the battery number, and the like.

[0043] FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a procedure for updating the frame replacement information 101C. The update of the frame replacement information 101C shown in this flowchart is performed when new batteries B1 to Bn are connected to the power storage system 1.

[0044] First, in step S1, the frame replacement processing unit 101D determines whether new batteries B1 to Bn are connected to the power storage system 1 based on whether serial data is received from the battery modules BM1 to BMn. If an affirmative determination is made in step S1, the process proceeds to step S2. If a negative determination is made in step S1, the process proceeds to step S3.

[0045] In step S2, the operator manually inputs the frame information corresponding to the newly connected batteries B1 to Bn, particularly the order of the serial data, from the frame information input unit 102 to the frame replacement information 101C. This frame information includes the order of a plurality of types of battery state information in the frame and the order of battery control information in the frame. Thereby, the frame replacement information 101C is updated each time new batteries B1 to Bn are connected.

[0046] The processes of steps S1 and S2 above are repeated while the BMS 10 is operating (NO in step S3) and end when the operation of the BMS 10 ends (YES in step S3).

[0047] FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining communication between the battery B1 to Bn side and the BMS10 side. The process shown in this flowchart starts with the activation of the BMS10.

[0048] First, in step S11, the frame replacement processing unit 101D determines whether it has received a frame including battery state information from the communication module 13. If an affirmative determination is made in step S11, the process proceeds to step S12; if a negative determination is made in step S11, the process proceeds to step S15.

[0049] In step S12, the frame replacement processing unit 101D refers to the frame replacement information 101C and rearranges the order of the plurality of types of battery state information received from the communication module 13 into the predetermined order. Next, in step S13, the battery No. assigning unit 101B adds a header, a battery No., and a footer to the first frame including the plurality of types of battery state information rearranged in the predetermined order. Next, in step S14, the battery No. assigning unit 101B transmits the header, the battery No., the first frame, and the footer to the BMS10.

[0050] Next, in step S15, the battery No. assigning unit 101B determines whether it has received a second frame including a plurality of types of battery control information and a battery No. from the BMS10. If an affirmative determination is made in step S15, the process proceeds to step S16; if a negative determination is made in step S15, the process proceeds to step S20.

[0051] In step S16, the battery No. assigning unit 101B determines whether the battery No. assigned to the received second frame matches the stored battery No. information 101E. If an affirmative determination is made in step S16, the process proceeds to step S17; if a negative determination is made in step S16, the process proceeds to step S20.

[0052] In step S17, the battery No. assigning unit 101B removes the header, battery No., and footer of the second frame received from the BMS10. Next, in step S18, the frame replacement processing unit 101D refers to the frame replacement information 101C and changes the order of the plurality of types of battery control information from the above-mentioned predetermined order to an order that each battery module BM1 to Bn can handle. Next, in step S19, the frame replacement processing unit 101D transmits a frame including the plurality of types of battery control information whose order has been changed to the communication modules 13 of each battery module BM1 to BMn.

[0053] The processes of steps S11 to S19 above are repeated while the BMS10 is operating (NO in step S20), and end with the end of the operation of the BMS10 (YES in step S20).

[0054] As described above, the communication device 100 of the present embodiment includes frame replacement devices 101-1 to 101-n. These frame replacement devices 101-1 to 101-n first transmit a frame including a plurality of types of battery state information from the battery B1 to Bn side. Next, the frame replacement devices 101-1 to 101-n execute frame replacement processing and battery No. assigning processing. In the frame replacement processing, the frame replacement devices 101-1 to 101-n change the order of the plurality of types of battery state information in the frame transmitted from the battery B1 to Bn side to a predetermined order common to other frames. Also, in the battery No. assigning processing, the frame replacement devices 101-1 to 101-n assign a battery No. for identifying the batteries B1 to Bn to the frame in which the order of the plurality of types of battery state information has been changed to the above-mentioned predetermined order. Then, the frame replacement devices 101-1 to 101-n transmit the frame in which the order of the plurality of types of battery state information has been changed to the above-mentioned predetermined order and the battery No. has been assigned to the BMS10 side.

[0055] As a result, even when different frames with mutually different orders of multiple types of battery state information are transmitted from the battery B1 to Bn sides, in the frame replacement devices 101-1 to 101-n, the orders of the multiple types of battery state information of all the frames match. Therefore, even when the batteries B1 to Bn for different vehicle types are used to configure the power storage system 1, the BMS 10 can be made to acquire multiple types of battery state information transmitted by serial communication from the battery B1 to Bn sides. Then, the BMS 10 can identify which of the batteries B1 to Bn the acquired multiple types of battery state information correspond to by referring to the battery No. assigned to the frame.

[0056] Also, the communication device 100 of the present embodiment executes a process of transmitting battery control information from the BMS 10 side to the battery B1 to Bn sides by serial communication. In this process, the frame replacement devices 101-1 to 101-n first transmit a frame including multiple types of battery control information and the battery No. from the BMS 10 side. Next, the frame replacement devices 101-1 to 101-n execute a battery No. removal process and a frame replacement process. In the battery No. removal process, the frame replacement devices 101-1 to 101-n remove the battery No. from the frame transmitted from the BMS 10 side. Also, in the frame replacement process, the frame replacement devices 101-1 to 101-n swap the order of the multiple types of battery control information in the frame from which the battery No. has been removed to the order defined for each of the batteries B1 to Bn. Then, the frame replacement devices 101-1 to 101-n transmit the frame from which the battery No. has been removed and in which the order of the multiple types of battery control information has been swapped to the order defined for each of the batteries B1 to Bn to the battery B1 to Bn sides.

[0057] Thus, even when the order of multiple types of battery control information in the frame transmitted from the BMS 10 does not match the order defined for each of the batteries B1 to Bn, they match in the frame switching devices 101-1 to 101-n. Also, in the frame switching devices 101-1 to 101-n, after the battery No. is removed, a frame containing multiple types of battery control information is transmitted to the batteries B1 to Bn side. Therefore, even when different types of batteries B1 to Bn for different vehicle models are used to configure the power storage system 1, the multiple types of battery control information transmitted from the BMS 10 side can be acquired by the communication modules 13 on the batteries B1 to Bn side.

[0058] Furthermore, in the communication device 100 of the present embodiment, the frame switching information 101C can be updated. Therefore, it is possible to cope with the increase or decrease of the batteries B1 to Bn in the power storage system 1.

[0059] As described above, the present invention has been described based on the above-described embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention, or known and well-known technologies may be appropriately combined.

[0060] For example, in the above-described embodiment, a storage battery is used as the battery, but the storage battery may be another secondary battery such as a capacitor. Also, in the above-described embodiment, a serial communication frame including a header, serial data, and a footer is taken as an example, but it is not essential to include a header or a footer.

[0061] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the frame switching information 101C was updated at the timing when the batteries B1 to Bn were newly connected. However, the connection of new batteries B1 to Bn may be checked every predetermined time, and when the connection is confirmed, the frame switching information 101C may be updated.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0062] 1: Power storage system 10: BMS (State monitoring device) 100: Communication device B1~Bn: Battery

Claims

1. A communication device provided in a power storage system including a plurality of power storage batteries and a state monitoring device that monitors the states of the plurality of power storage batteries based on state information which is information about the states of the power storage batteries transmitted from the power storage battery side, the communication device executing a state information transmission process for transmitting a plurality of types of the state information from the power storage battery side to the state monitoring device side by serial communication, wherein the state information transmission process includes: a process of transmitting a first frame including a plurality of types of the state information from the power storage battery side; a process of rearranging the order of the plurality of types of the state information in the first frame transmitted from the power storage battery side into a predetermined order common to other first frames; a process of attaching battery identification information for identifying the power storage battery to the first frame in which the order of the plurality of types of the state information has been rearranged into the predetermined order; and a process of transmitting the first frame in which the order of the plurality of types of the state information has been rearranged into the predetermined order and to which the battery identification information has been attached to the state monitoring device side. The communication device according to claim 1, comprising:

2. executing a control information transmission process for transmitting control information which is information about the control of the power storage battery from the state monitoring device side to the power storage battery side by serial communication, wherein the control information transmission process includes: a process of transmitting a second frame including a plurality of types of the control information and the battery identification information from the state monitoring device side; a process of removing the battery identification information from the second frame transmitted from the state monitoring device side; a process of rearranging the order of the plurality of types of the control information in the second frame from which the battery identification information has been removed into an order defined for each power storage battery; and a process of transmitting the second frame from which the battery identification information has been removed and in which the order of the plurality of types of the control information has been rearranged into the order defined for each power storage battery to the power storage battery side. The communication device according to claim 1, comprising:

3. In a power storage system including a plurality of power storage batteries and a state monitoring device that monitors the states of the plurality of power storage batteries based on state information, which is information about the states of the power storage batteries transmitted from the power storage battery side, a communication method for transmitting a plurality of types of the state information from the power storage battery side to the state monitoring device side by serial communication, comprising: transmitting a frame including a plurality of types of the state information from the power storage battery side; rearranging the order of the plurality of types of the state information in the frame transmitted from the power storage battery side into a predetermined order common to other frames; adding battery identification information for identifying the power storage battery to the frame in which the order of the plurality of types of the state information has been rearranged into the predetermined order; transmitting the frame in which the order of the plurality of types of the state information has been rearranged into the predetermined order and to which the battery identification information has been added to the state monitoring device side. A communication method for performing the above steps.

4. A power storage system including a plurality of power storage batteries, a state monitoring device that monitors the states of the plurality of power storage batteries based on state information, which is information about the states of the power storage batteries transmitted from the power storage battery side, and a communication device that transmits a plurality of types of the state information from the power storage battery side to the state monitoring device side by serial communication, wherein the communication device performs a process of transmitting a frame including a plurality of types of the state information from the power storage battery side, a process of rearranging the order of the plurality of types of the state information in the frame transmitted from the power storage battery side into a predetermined order common to other frames, a process of adding battery identification information for identifying the power storage battery to the frame in which the order of the plurality of types of the state information has been rearranged into the predetermined order, and a process of transmitting the frame in which the order of the plurality of types of the state information has been rearranged into the predetermined order and to which the battery identification information has been added to the state monitoring device side. A power storage system that executes

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