Battery management system and its operation method

Abstract

A battery operation management system according to an embodiment disclosed in this document may include a data acquisition unit that acquires load operation data related to a load type and status information of the battery pack from a battery pack, and a processor that evaluates a usage grade of a user who operated the load based on the operation data and the status information of the battery pack, and selects a battery pack to be provided to the user based on the usage grade of the user in response to a user's request for provision of a battery pack.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] [CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0107039, filed on August 13, 2021, and all contents disclosed in the documents of that Korean patent application are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The embodiments disclosed herein relate to a battery management system and method of operation. [Background technology]

[0003] Recently, research and development into secondary batteries has been actively conducted. Secondary batteries are batteries that can be charged and discharged, and include both conventional Ni / Cd batteries, Ni / MH batteries, and the latest lithium-ion batteries. Among secondary batteries, lithium-ion batteries have the advantage of having a much higher energy density than conventional Ni / Cd batteries, Ni / MH batteries, etc. Furthermore, lithium-ion batteries can be manufactured in a compact and lightweight form, and are used as power sources for mobile devices. Recently, their use has expanded to include power sources for electric vehicles, drawing attention as a next-generation energy storage medium.

[0004] To further improve the usability and portability of such lithium-ion batteries, battery exchange services are being offered. However, typical battery exchange services merely replace discharged batteries with safely charged batteries, and are limited in terms of the utility of the service and the management of the batteries provided for the service. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] One objective of the embodiments disclosed herein is to provide a battery management system and an operating method thereof that can provide a battery exchange service taking into account a user's battery usage grade.

[0006] Another object of the embodiments disclosed herein is to provide a battery management system and an operating method thereof that can stably manage battery life.

[0007] The technical problems of the embodiments disclosed in this document are not limited to the technical problems mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A battery operation management system according to an embodiment disclosed herein may include a data acquisition unit that acquires load operation data related to a type of load and status information of the battery pack from a battery pack, and a processor that evaluates a usage grade of a user who operated the load based on the operation data and the status information of the battery pack, and selects a battery pack to be provided to the user based on the usage grade of the user in response to a user's request for provision of a battery pack.

[0009] In one embodiment, the processor may select a battery pack with a lower degree of degradation as the battery pack to be provided to the user, as the usage grade of the user is higher.

[0010] In one embodiment, the processor can calculate the fuel efficiency of the load based on the operation data of the load and the status information of the battery pack, and evaluate the usage grade of the user based on the calculated fuel efficiency.

[0011] In one embodiment, the type of load may include a first moving body that travels on the ground and a second moving body that flies.

[0012] In one embodiment, the operational data of the first mobile unit may include a travel distance, a location, and an altitude, and the operational data of the second mobile unit may include a travel distance, a location, a wind speed, and a wind direction.

[0013] In one embodiment, when the load is the first moving body, the processor can evaluate the user's usage class by comparing the travel route of the first moving body obtained based on the position with an optimal route that takes into account altitude, and when the load is the second moving body, the processor can evaluate the user's usage class by comparing the travel route of the second moving body obtained based on the position with an optimal route that takes into account wind speed and wind direction.

[0014] In one embodiment, the processor may evaluate the usage grade of the user based on data storing usage grades of multiple users.

[0015] In one embodiment, the data acquisition unit may acquire the operational data from an internal memory of the battery pack.

[0016] An operating method of a battery management system according to one embodiment disclosed in this document may include a step of acquiring load operation data related to a type of load and status information of the battery pack from a battery pack, a step of evaluating a usage grade of a user who operated the load based on the operation data and the status information of the battery pack, and a step of selecting a battery pack to be provided to the user based on the usage grade of the user in response to a user's request for provision of a battery pack.

[0017] In one embodiment, in the step of selecting a battery pack to be provided to the user based on a usage grade of the user in response to the user's request for a battery pack, a battery pack having a lower degree of degradation may be selected as the battery pack to be provided to the user as the usage grade of the user is higher.

[0018] In one embodiment, the step of evaluating the usage grade of the user who operated the load based on the operation data and the status information of the battery pack may include calculating the fuel efficiency of the load based on the operation data of the load and the status information of the battery pack, and evaluating the usage grade of the user based on the calculated fuel efficiency.

[0019] In one embodiment, the type of load may include a first moving body that travels on the ground and a second moving body that flies.

[0020] In one embodiment, the operational data of the first mobile unit may include a travel distance, a location, and an altitude, and the operational data of the second mobile unit may include a travel distance, a location, a wind speed, and a wind direction.

[0021] In one embodiment, the step of evaluating the usage class of the user who operated the load based on the operation data and the status information of the battery pack may include, if the load is the first mobile object, evaluating the usage class of the user by comparing a movement route of the first mobile object obtained based on the position with an optimal route taking into account altitude, and, if the load is the second mobile object, evaluating the usage class of the user by comparing a movement route of the second mobile object obtained based on the position with an optimal route taking into account wind speed and wind direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0022] The battery management system and its operating method according to an embodiment disclosed herein can provide a battery exchange service in consideration of the user's battery usage grade.

[0023] Furthermore, the battery management system and its operating method according to an embodiment disclosed herein can stably manage the battery life. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 conceptually illustrates a battery management system according to one embodiment disclosed herein. [Figure 2] 1 is a block diagram illustrating a battery management system according to one embodiment disclosed herein. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the operation of a battery management system according to an embodiment disclosed herein. [Figure 4] 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating a battery management system according to one embodiment disclosed herein. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 illustrates a computing system according to another embodiment disclosed herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] Hereinafter, the embodiments disclosed herein will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. When assigning reference numerals to components in each drawing, care should be taken to assign the same numerals to identical components even if they appear in different drawings. Furthermore, when describing the embodiments disclosed herein, if a detailed description of related known structures or functions is deemed to hinder understanding of the embodiments disclosed herein, such detailed description will be omitted.

[0026] When describing components of the embodiments disclosed herein, terms such as "first," "second," "A," "B," "(a)," and "(b)" may be used. These terms are used to distinguish a component from other components and do not limit the nature, order, or sequence of the components. Furthermore, unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical and scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art to which the embodiments disclosed herein pertain. Terms similar to those defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as meanings consistent with the meanings they have in the context of the relevant art, and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly defined in this application.

[0027] FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a battery operation management system according to one embodiment disclosed herein.

[0028] 1, a battery management system 100 according to an embodiment disclosed herein may provide a battery exchange service. For example, the battery management system 100 may collect the battery packs 10, 20, and 30 returned by the user and provide another pre-charged battery pack to the user, thereby providing the user with a battery exchange service.

[0029] Here, the battery packs 10, 20, and 30 may be attached to various types of loads and used to supply power. For example, the battery pack 10 may be attached to a vehicle that runs on land or underground and supply power, and the battery packs 20 and 30 may be attached to a flying vehicle and supply power, but are not limited thereto. Meanwhile, the battery operation management system 100 may recharge the collected battery packs 10, 20, and 30 using a charging device (not shown) to provide a battery exchange service.

[0030] Depending on the embodiment, the battery operation management system 100 may be implemented in the form of a server, and may be located in a service station where a battery exchange service is provided, or in a space separate from the service station. The battery operation management system 100 may also be implemented in the form of an application.

[0031] The battery management system 100 can manage user information for each user. For example, the battery management system 100 can manage the usage grade of a user who has attached each of the battery packs 10, 20, and 30 to a load and used it. The battery management system 100 can also manage the SOC (State of Charge) and / or SOH (State of Health) of a battery pack used to provide a service. The battery management system 100 can provide another pre-charged battery pack to the user based on the user's usage grade.

[0032] The battery operation management system 100 can acquire various data from the battery packs 10, 20, and 30. Depending on the embodiment, the acquired various data may be used by the battery operation management system 100 to evaluate the usage grade of the user. The battery operation management system 100 can acquire, from each of the battery packs 10, 20, and 30, operation data of the load to which each of the battery packs 10, 20, and 30 is attached and status information of each of the battery packs 10, 20, and 30.

[0033] Depending on the embodiment, the load operation data may include different data depending on the type of load. The load operation data will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 3 below. For example, the load operation data and the status information of each of the battery packs 10, 20, and 30 may be stored in the internal memory of the battery packs 10, 20, and 30. Meanwhile, the battery management system 100 may acquire the load operation data and the status information from the battery packs 10, 20, and 30 via various wired or wireless networks.

[0034] The battery operation management system 100 may evaluate the usage grade of a user who operates a load to which each of the battery packs 10, 20, and 30 is attached, based on the operation data of the load and the status information of the battery packs 10, 20, and 30. For example, the battery operation management system 100 may calculate the usage grade of a user based on the fuel efficiency (or electricity efficiency) of the load calculated based on the operation data of the load and the status information of the battery packs 10, 20, and 30.

[0035] The battery management system 100 may select a battery pack to be provided to a user based on the user's usage grade in response to a user's battery pack provision request. For example, the battery management system 100 may select a battery pack with a lower degree of degradation as the battery pack to be provided to the user as the user has a higher usage grade. That is, a user with a higher usage grade may be able to replace a battery pack with a lower degree of degradation than a user with a relatively lower usage grade. This is because a user with a higher usage grade is more likely to operate a load stably, which may ultimately be linked to the lifespan of the battery pack. Therefore, the battery management system 100 may stably manage the lifespan of battery packs used to provide services.

[0036] In addition, the battery operation management system 100 provides a battery exchange service to users taking into consideration their usage grade, thereby encouraging users to make efforts to improve their usage grade, thereby increasing the service utilization rate of users with high usage grades and improving the utility of the service.

[0037] Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the battery management system 100 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS.

[0038] 2 is a block diagram illustrating the operation of a battery management system according to an embodiment disclosed herein. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the operation of a battery management system according to an embodiment disclosed herein.

[0039] First, referring to FIG. 2, the battery management system 100 may include a data acquisition unit 110 and a processor 120.

[0040] The data acquisition unit 110 may acquire load operation data related to the type of load and status information of each of the battery packs 10, 20, and 30 from the battery packs 10, 20, and 30. For example, the load may include a first moving object that travels above or below ground and a second moving object that flies.

[0041] 3, according to an embodiment, when the battery pack 10 is attached to a first mobile body and used, the data acquisition unit 110 may acquire, as load operation data, information on a traveling distance, a position, and an altitude from the battery pack 10. According to an embodiment, when the battery packs 20 and 30 are attached to a second mobile body and used, the data acquisition unit 110 may acquire, as load operation data, information on a traveling distance, a position, a wind speed, and a wind direction from the battery packs 20 and 30.

[0042] Meanwhile, the status information of the battery packs 10, 20, and 30 may include, but is not limited to, the voltage (V), current (I), temperature (T), SOC (State of Charge), and SOH (State of Health) of each of the battery packs 10, 20, and 30. The data acquisition unit 110 may transmit the acquired load operation data and battery pack status information to the processor 120.

[0043] 2, the processor 120 may evaluate the usage grade of the user who operated the load based on the operation data of the load and the status information of the battery pack. For example, the processor 120 may calculate the fuel efficiency (or electricity efficiency) of the load while the user used the battery pack 10, 20, or 30 based on the operation data of the load and the status information of the battery pack. Depending on the embodiment, the processor 120 may calculate the fuel efficiency of the load based on the SOC decrease amount and the driving distance while the user used the battery pack 10, 20, or 30.

[0044] The processor 120 may evaluate the usage grade of the user based on the calculated fuel efficiency. For example, the processor 120 may evaluate the usage grade of the user to be higher as the calculated fuel efficiency is higher.

[0045] When the load is a first mobile object, the processor 120 may acquire a movement route of the load based on the location and altitude included in the operation data of the load. The processor 120 may evaluate the user's usage grade by comparing the acquired movement route of the load with a previously stored optimal route. According to an embodiment, the previously stored optimal route may refer to a route that has the shortest distance and the smallest change in altitude among various routes between a departure location and a destination location. The processor 120 may evaluate the user's usage grade higher the closer the acquired movement route of the load is to the previously stored optimal route. The processor 120 may evaluate the user's usage grade based on the degree of match between the movement route of the load and the previously stored optimal route and the user's usage grade based on fuel efficiency comprehensively.

[0046] When the load is a second moving object, the processor 120 may acquire a movement path of the load based on the location included in the operation data of the load. The processor 120 may evaluate a user's usage grade by comparing the acquired movement path with an optimal route that takes into account wind speed and wind direction. According to an embodiment, the pre-stored optimal route may refer to a route with the highest wind speed among various routes between a departure location and a destination location, where the wind direction corresponds to the movement direction of the load. The processor 120 may evaluate a user's usage grade higher the closer the degree of agreement between the acquired movement path of the load and the pre-stored optimal route. The processor 120 may evaluate a final usage grade by comprehensively considering a user's usage grade based on the degree of agreement between the load's movement path and the pre-stored optimal route and a user's usage grade based on fuel efficiency.

[0047] Depending on the embodiment, the processor 120 may evaluate the user's usage grade based on data storing usage grades of multiple users, i.e., the user's usage grade may be a relative grade.

[0048] The processor 120 may select a battery pack to provide to a user based on the user's usage grade. For example, the processor 120 may select a battery pack with a lower degree of degradation as the battery pack to provide to the user as the user has a higher usage grade. This is because a user with a higher usage grade is more likely to operate a load stably, which may ultimately be linked to the lifespan of the battery pack. Therefore, the battery management system 100 can stably manage the lifespan of battery packs used to provide services.

[0049] In addition, the battery operation management system 100 provides a battery exchange service to users taking into consideration their usage grade, thereby encouraging users to make efforts to improve their usage grade, thereby increasing the service utilization rate of users with high usage grades and improving the utility of the service.

[0050] FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method of operation of a battery management system according to one embodiment disclosed herein.

[0051] Referring to FIG. 4, an operating method of a battery operation management system according to an embodiment disclosed herein may include a step of acquiring load operation data related to a load type and battery pack status information from a battery pack (S110), a step of evaluating a usage grade of a user who operated the load based on the operation data and the battery pack status information (S120), and a step of selecting a battery pack to be provided to the user based on the user's usage grade in response to the user's request for battery pack provision (S130).

[0052] Steps S110 to S130 will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS.

[0053] In step S110, the data acquisition unit 110 may acquire load operation data related to the type of load and status information of each of the battery packs 10, 20, and 30 from the battery packs 10, 20, and 30. For example, the load may include a first moving object that travels above or below ground and a second moving object that flies.

[0054] Meanwhile, the status information of the battery packs 10, 20, and 30 may include, but is not limited to, the voltage (V), current (I), temperature (T), SOC (State of Charge), and SOH (State of Health) of each of the battery packs 10, 20, and 30.

[0055] In step S120, the processor 120 may evaluate a usage grade of a user who operated the load based on the operation data of the load and the state information of the battery pack. According to an embodiment, the processor 120 may calculate the fuel efficiency of the load based on the SOC decrease amount and the driving distance while the user used the battery pack 10, 20, or 30. The processor 120 may evaluate the usage grade of the user based on the calculated fuel efficiency. For example, the processor 120 may evaluate the usage grade of the user to be higher as the calculated fuel efficiency is higher.

[0056] For example, if the load is a first moving object, the processor 120 may acquire a movement path of the load based on the location and altitude included in the operation data of the load. The processor 120 may compare the acquired movement path of the load with a previously stored optimum path to evaluate the user's usage grade. The processor 120 may evaluate the user's usage grade higher as the degree of agreement between the acquired movement path of the load and the previously stored optimum path increases.

[0057] For example, if the load is a second moving object, the processor 120 may acquire a movement path of the load based on the location included in the operation data of the load. The processor 120 may evaluate the user's usage grade by comparing the acquired movement path with an optimal path that takes into account wind speed and wind direction. The processor 120 may evaluate the user's usage grade higher as the degree of agreement between the acquired movement path of the load and the previously stored optimal path increases.

[0058] In step S130, the processor 120 may select a battery pack to be provided to the user based on the user's usage grade. For example, the processor 120 may select a battery pack with a lower degree of degradation as the battery pack to be provided to the user when the user's usage grade is higher.

[0059] FIG. 5 illustrates a computing system according to another embodiment disclosed herein.

[0060] Referring to FIG. 5, a computing system 200 according to one embodiment disclosed herein may include an MCU 210, a memory 220, an input / output I / F 230, and a communication I / F 240.

[0061] The MCU 210 may be a processor that executes various programs (e.g., an SOH calculation program, a cell balancing execution target determination program, etc.) stored in the memory 220, processes various data including the SOC, SOH, etc. of multiple battery cells through such programs, and performs the functions of the battery management system 100 described with reference to FIG. 1, or a processor that executes the operating method of the battery management system described with reference to FIG. 4.

[0062] The memory 220 may store various programs related to calculating the SOH of the battery cells and determining whether cell balancing should be performed, and may also store various data such as SOC and SOH data of each battery cell.

[0063] A plurality of such memories 220 may be provided as necessary. The memories 220 may be volatile memories or non-volatile memories. As the volatile memories 220, RAM, DRAM, SRAM, etc. may be used. As the non-volatile memories 220, ROM, PROM, EAROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory (registered trademark), etc. may be used. The examples of the memories 220 listed above are merely illustrative and are not limited to these examples.

[0064] The input / output I / F 230 can provide an interface that connects input devices (not shown) such as a keyboard, mouse, or touch panel and output devices such as a display (not shown) to the MCU 210, enabling data to be transmitted and received.

[0065] The communication I / F 230 is configured to be able to transmit and receive various data to and from a server and may be any device capable of supporting wired or wireless communication. For example, programs and various data for calculating the SOH of battery cells and determining balancing targets may be transmitted and received from a separately provided external server via the communication I / F 230.

[0066] Thus, the method of operation of the battery protection device according to one embodiment disclosed herein can be stored in the memory 220 and executed by the MCU 210 .

[0067] The above description is merely an illustrative example of the technical ideas disclosed in this document, and various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the essential characteristics of the embodiments disclosed in this document, if one has ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the embodiments disclosed in this document belong.

[0068] Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in this document are intended to illustrate, not limit, the technical ideas disclosed in this document, and such embodiments do not limit the scope of the technical ideas disclosed in this document. The scope of protection of the technical ideas disclosed in this document should be interpreted according to the scope of the following claims, and all technical ideas within the scope equivalent thereto should be interpreted as being included in the scope of rights of this document. [Explanation of symbols]

[0069] 10, 20, 30 battery packs 100 Battery Management System 110 Data Acquisition Unit 120 processors 200 Computing Systems 210 MCU 220 Memory 230 Input / Output Interface 240 communication interface

Claims

1. a data acquisition unit that acquires load operation data related to a type of load and status information of the battery pack from the battery pack; a processor that evaluates a usage grade of a user who operated the load based on the operation data and state information of the battery pack, and selects a battery pack to be provided to the user based on the usage grade of the user in response to a battery pack provision request from the user, The processor selects a battery pack having a lower degree of degradation as a battery pack to be provided to the user as the usage grade of the user is higher, The processor calculates fuel efficiency of the load based on operation data of the load and state information of the battery pack, and evaluates a usage grade of the user based on the calculated fuel efficiency.

2. The battery operation management system according to claim 1 , wherein the types of the loads include a first mobile object that runs on the ground and a second mobile object that flies.

3. The operational data of the first moving object includes a travel distance, a position, and an altitude; The battery operation management system according to claim 2 , wherein the operational data of the second mobile object includes a travel distance, a position, a wind speed, and a wind direction.

4. When the load is the first moving body, the processor compares a travel route of the first moving body obtained based on the position with an optimal route taking into consideration altitude to evaluate a usage class of the user; 4. The battery operation management system of claim 3, wherein when the load is the second moving body, the movement route of the second moving body obtained based on the position is compared with an optimal route taking into account wind speed and wind direction to evaluate the usage class of the user.

5. The battery operation management system of claim 1 , wherein the processor evaluates the usage grade of the user based on stored data of usage grades of a plurality of users.

6. The battery operation management system according to claim 1 , wherein the data acquisition unit acquires the operation data from an internal memory of the battery pack.

7. acquiring load operation data relating to a type of load and status information of the battery pack from the battery pack; evaluating a usage grade of a user who operated the load based on the operation data and state information of the battery pack; selecting a battery pack to be provided to the user based on a usage grade of the user in response to a battery pack provision request from the user, In the step of selecting a battery pack to be provided to the user based on a usage grade of the user in response to the user's request for provision of a battery pack, a battery pack having a lower degree of degradation is selected as a battery pack to be provided to the user as the usage grade of the user is higher, The step of evaluating the usage grade of the user who operated the load based on the operation data and the status information of the battery pack includes calculating fuel efficiency of the load based on the operation data of the load and the status information of the battery pack, and evaluating the usage grade of the user based on the calculated fuel efficiency.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the load types include a first moving object that runs on the ground and a second moving object that flies.

9. The operational data of the first moving object includes a travel distance, a position, and an altitude; The method of claim 8 , wherein the operational data of the second mobile object includes a travel distance, a location, a wind speed, and a wind direction.

10. In the step of evaluating a usage class of a user who operated the load based on the operation data and the status information of the battery pack, when the load is the first moving body, the usage class of the user is evaluated by comparing a movement route of the first moving body obtained based on the position with an optimal route taking into consideration altitude; 10. The method of claim 9, wherein, when the load is the second moving body, a travel route of the second moving body obtained based on the position is compared with an optimal route taking into account wind speed and wind direction to evaluate a usage class of the user.

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