Shunt resistor, shunt resistor monitoring device, and shunt resistor monitoring program

Abstract

To provide a technique capable of monitoring abnormality in a conductive jointing section of a shunt resistor.SOLUTION: A shunt resistor 100 includes: a plate-like resistor 130; first and second electrodes 110, 120 connected to both the sides of the resistor in a first direction along a plate surface of the resistor; and a board 140 that is disposed while being overlapped with them, and has a pair of voltage detection points provided in each electrode side. The resistor and the respective electrodes, and the respective electrodes and the board are joined by conductive jointing sections 111, 121, 114, 124 along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. As a pair of voltage detection points, first detection points 116h, 126h, and second detection points 117h, 127h positioned in edge sides in the second direction of the respective electrodes relative to the first detection points are provided. A monitoring device 20 for measuring voltage across the respective electrodes in the resistor by a detection voltage in the pair of voltage detection points has a malfunction determination section 21 for determining jointing abnormality of the conductive jointing sections on the basis of detection voltages of the first and second detection points.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a shunt resistor, a monitoring device for the shunt resistor, and a monitoring program for the shunt resistor.

Background Art

[0002] The shunt resistor described in Patent Document 1 includes a resistor body, a first electrode and a second electrode connected to both sides of the resistor body, and a substrate laminated on its upper surface. The substrate is provided with a first through hole located above the first electrode and a second through hole located above the second electrode. The first through hole and the second through hole are filled with solder, and the substrate is joined to the first electrode and the second electrode through the solder. The solder filled in the first through hole and the second through hole is used as a voltage detection terminal to detect the voltage across the resistor body.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Due to the heat history such as heat generation caused by the current flowing through the shunt resistor, joint abnormalities may occur in conductive joints such as solder. When the conduction between the substrate and the first electrode and the second electrode is through solder as in Patent Document 1, the joint abnormality of the solder reduces the conductive area, and the detection accuracy of the voltage across the resistor body decreases.

[0005] In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of monitoring abnormalities in the conductive joints of a shunt resistor body.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The present invention provides a monitoring device for a shunt resistor, comprising a plate-shaped resistor, a first electrode and a second electrode respectively connected to both sides of the resistor in a first direction along the plate surface of the resistor, and a substrate arranged on top of the resistor and each electrode, having a pair of voltage detection points provided on the first electrode side and the second electrode side, respectively, wherein the resistor and each electrode, and the electrodes and the substrate are joined by a conductive junction along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and the device measures the voltage across both ends of the resistor between the first electrode side and the second electrode side based on the detected voltages at the pair of voltage detection points. The substrate is provided with a first detection point and a second detection point located closer to the end of each electrode than the first detection point in the second direction. The monitoring device includes a fault determination unit that determines a bonding abnormality of the conductive junction based on the detected voltages of the first and second detection points.

[0007] According to the present invention, the resistive element of the shunt resistor and each electrode are joined by a conductive junction, and current flows through this conductive junction in the order of the first electrode, the resistive element, and the second electrode, or in the reverse order, generally along the first direction. The current flowing between each electrode and the resistive element has a lower current density towards the center of each electrode in the second direction and a higher current density towards the ends. Furthermore, the electrodes of the shunt resistor are joined to the substrate by a conductive junction, and current flows through the conductive junction between the first detection point provided on the substrate and the first electrode, and current flows through the conductive junction between the second detection point provided on the substrate and the second electrode. In the shunt resistor according to the present invention, on the substrate, the second detection point is located closer to the ends of each electrode than the first detection point in the second direction. That is, the second detection point is located closer to the ends than the first detection point, where the current density of the current flowing between each electrode and the resistive element is higher. Therefore, if there is no bonding abnormality in the conductive joint, the detected voltage at the first detection point and the detected voltage at the second detection point will differ. If a bonding abnormality occurs in the conductive joint, the difference between the detected voltage at the first detection point and the detected voltage at the second detection point will change. The monitoring device according to the present invention includes a fault determination unit that determines a bonding abnormality in the conductive joint based on the detected voltages at the first and second detection points. For example, by monitoring the difference between the detected voltage at the first detection point and the detected voltage at the second detection point, it is possible to determine an abnormality in the conductive joint.

[0008] The present invention can also provide a shunt resistor capable of suitably determining a bonding abnormality in a conductive junction. This shunt resistor comprises a plate-shaped resistor, a first electrode and a second electrode connected to both sides of the resistor in a first direction along the plate surface of the resistor, and a substrate arranged on top of the resistor and each electrode, having a pair of voltage detection points provided on the first electrode side and the second electrode side, respectively. The resistor and each electrode, and the electrodes and the substrate are bonded by a conductive junction along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The substrate is provided with a first detection point and a second detection point located closer to the end of each electrode than the first detection point in the second direction.

[0009] The present invention can also be provided as a monitoring program for the above-described shunt resistor. This monitoring program causes a computer to perform a detection step of measuring the voltage across the first electrode side and the second electrode side of the resistor based on the detected voltages at the pair of voltage detection points, and a fault determination step of determining a junction abnormality in the conductive junction based on the detected voltages at the first and second detection points. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] A power supply system including a shunt resistor and a shunt resistor monitoring device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] An exploded view of a shunt resistor according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] A top view of a shunt resistor according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view along line IV-IV. [Figure 5] Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view along line VV. [Figure 6] Current density distribution diagram of the current flowing between each electrode and the resistor of the shunt resistor according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] A diagram showing the detected voltage values ​​at the first and second detection points. [Figure 8] A flowchart illustrating the monitoring process of the shunt resistor according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] A flowchart illustrating a method for monitoring a shunt resistor in a modified configuration. [Figure 10] A top view of a shunt resistor according to the second embodiment. [Figure 11] A top view showing the resistor and electrodes of a shunt resistor according to the second embodiment. [Figure 12] Figure 11 shows a cross-sectional view of the line IIX-IIX. [Figure 13] A top view of a shunt resistor according to the third embodiment. [Figure 14] A top view of a shunt resistor according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 15] Flowchart showing the monitoring process of the shunt resistor according to the fourth embodiment.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] (First Embodiment) Fig. 1 shows a power supply system 10 including a monitoring device 20 for a resistor 13 according to an embodiment. The power supply system 10 includes a storage battery 11, a resistor 13, a detection circuit 15, a monitoring device 20, a first relay RL1, and a second relay RL2. As shown in Fig. 1, the resistor 13 is connected to the high potential side of the storage battery 11, the first relay RL1 is connected to the high potential side of the resistor 13, and the second relay RL2 is connected to the low potential side of the storage battery 11, but the connection order is not limited to this. For example, the storage battery 11 may be connected between the first relay RL1 and the resistor 13. The power supply system 10 is connected to a load 30. The power supply system 10 is mounted on a vehicle, and the load 30 represents various in-vehicle electrical loads.

[0012] The detection circuit 15 includes a first AD converter ADC1 and a second AD converter ADC2 connected in parallel to the resistor 13. When the first relay RL1 and the second relay RL2 are in the closed state, the resistor 13 is in the energized state. The monitoring device 20 acquires the voltage across both ends of the resistor 13 from the detection circuit 15. The monitoring device 20 acquires a first voltage V1 as a detected value of the voltage from the first AD converter ADC1 and a second voltage V2 as a detected value of the voltage from the second AD converter ADC2. The resistor 13 is a shunt resistor, and the monitoring device 20 detects the current flowing through the storage battery 11 by detecting the voltage across both ends of the resistor 13.

[0013] Figs. 2 to 5 show a shunt resistor 100 used as the resistor 13 shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the shunt resistor 100, Fig. 3 is a top view of the shunt resistor 100, and Figs. 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views of the shunt resistor 100.

[0014] The shunt resistor 100 includes a plate-shaped first electrode 110, a second electrode 120, a plate-shaped resistor 130, and a substrate 140.

[0015] Examples of the material of the resistor 130 include, but are not limited to, nickel-chromium alloys, copper-nickel alloys, copper-manganese alloys, copper-manganese-nickel alloys, etc. The first electrode 110 and the second electrode 120 can be exemplified by bus bars made of, for example, copper, but are not limited thereto. The first electrode 110 and the second electrode 120 are provided with a first through hole 113 and a second through hole 123, respectively. The substrate 140 is a printed circuit board, and may be a rigid substrate impregnated with an epoxy resin or the like in glass or the like, or may be a flexible substrate made of a polyimide resin or the like. Wiring patterns are provided on the upper surface (the surface on the positive direction side of the z-axis) and the lower surface (the surface on the negative direction side of the z-axis) of the substrate 140.

[0016] The first electrode 110 and the second electrode 120 are respectively connected to both sides of the resistor 130 in a first direction (the x-axis direction shown in FIG. 2) along the plate surface of the resistor 130. The surface of the first electrode 110 in the positive direction of the x-axis is joined to the surface of the resistor 130 in the negative direction of the x-axis, and the surface of the second electrode 120 in the negative direction of the x-axis is joined to the surface of the resistor 130 in the positive direction of the x-axis. In a second direction (the y-axis direction shown in FIG. 2) orthogonal to the first direction, the lengths of the first electrode 110, the second electrode 120, and the resistor 130 are substantially the same. The first electrode 110, the second electrode 120, and the resistor 130 are in a flat plate shape substantially parallel to the xy plane shown in FIG. 2. The thicknesses of the first electrode 110 and the second electrode 120 in a third direction (the z-axis direction shown in FIG. 2) orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction are substantially the same. The thickness of the resistor 130 in the third direction is thinner than the thicknesses of the first electrode 110 and the second electrode 120.

[0017] The first electrode 110, the second electrode 120, and the resistor 130 are aligned in the positive and negative directions of the y-axis and in the negative direction of the z-axis, and are joined by welding. The first electrode 110 and the resistor 130 are joined to each other via a first weld 111, and the second electrode 120 and the resistor 130 are joined to each other via a second weld 121. The first weld 111 and the second weld 121 correspond to conductive joints. The first electrode 110 and the resistor 130 are joined to each other and electrically connected via the first weld 111. The second electrode 120 and the resistor 130 are joined to each other and electrically connected via the second weld 121.

[0018] A pair of first top surface wirings 116, 126 and a pair of second top surface wirings 117, 127 are provided on the upper surface of the substrate 140. A first bonding wiring 115 and a second bonding wiring 125 are provided on the lower surface of the substrate 140.

[0019] A pair of first detection points 116h, 126h and a pair of second detection points 117h, 127h are provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the substrate 140. The first detection points 116h, 126h and the second detection points 117h, 127h are formed by wiring provided on the periphery and inner surface of via holes that penetrate the substrate 140 in the vertical direction.

[0020] On the upper surface of the substrate 140, the first detection points 116h and 126h are connected to the first upper surface wirings 116 and 126, respectively, and the second detection points 117h and 127h are connected to the second upper surface wirings 117 and 127, respectively. The first upper surface wirings 116 and 126 are connected to the first AD converter ADC1 of the detection circuit 15, and the second upper surface wirings 117 and 127 are connected to the second AD converter ADC2 of the detection circuit 15.

[0021] On the lower surface of the substrate 140, the first detection point 116h and the second detection point 117h are connected to the first junction wiring 115 via the first lower surface wiring 116a and the second lower surface wiring 117a, respectively, and the first detection point 126h and the second detection point 127h are connected to the second junction wiring 125 via the first lower surface wiring 126a and the second lower surface wiring 127a, respectively.

[0022] The first detection point 116h and the second detection point 117h are located on the side of the first electrode 110, and the first detection point 126h and the second detection point 127h are located on the side of the second electrode 120. The first detection points 116h and 126h are located approximately in the center of the first electrode 110 and the second electrode 120 in the y-axis direction. The second detection points 117h and 127h are located on the positive end side of the first electrode 110 and the second electrode 120 in the y-axis direction. The second detection points 117h and 127h are located further towards the y-axis end side of the first electrode 110 and the second electrode 120 than the first detection points 116h and 126h. The first upper surface wirings 116 and 126 extend from the negative end of the y-axis of the substrate 140 along the positive y-axis direction and have a shape that is bent toward the first detection points 116h and 126h, respectively. The second upper wirings 117 and 127 extend from the negative y-axis end of the substrate 140 along the positive y-axis between the first upper wirings 116 and 126, and have a shape that is bent toward the second detection points 117h and 127h, respectively.

[0023] The substrate 140 is joined to the first electrode 110 via a first solder joint 114 and to the second electrode 120 via a second solder joint 124. The first solder joint 114 is provided at a first solder position 112 on the upper surface of the first electrode 110 and is soldered so that the first joining wiring 115 of the substrate 140 is located on the upper surface of the first solder joint 114. The second solder joint 124 is provided at a second solder position 122 on the upper surface of the second electrode 120 and is soldered so that the second joining wiring 125 of the substrate 140 is located on the upper surface of the second solder joint 124. The thickness of the resistor 130 in the z-direction is thinner than the thickness of the first electrode 110 and the second electrode 120, and it is aligned so that the surfaces in the negative direction of the z-axis are aligned. As shown in Figure 5, the distance between the top surface of the resistor 130 and the substrate 140 is greater than the distance between the top surfaces of the first electrode 110 and the second electrode 120 and the substrate 140. The pair of first detection points 116h, 126h and the pair of second detection points 117h, 127h are located above the resistor 130.

[0024] The first solder joint 114 and the second solder joint 124 correspond to conductive joints. The first electrode 110 and the substrate 140 are joined to each other via the first solder joint 114. The first electrode 110 and the first joint wiring 115 of the substrate 140 are electrically connected via the first solder joint 114. The second electrode 120 and the substrate 140 are joined to each other via the second solder joint 124. The second electrode 120 and the second joint wiring 125 of the substrate 140 are electrically connected to each other via the second solder joint 124.

[0025] The shunt resistor 100 can be manufactured, for example, by the following procedure. First, the first electrode 110, the second electrode 120, and the resistor 130 are prepared and welded together. Next, the first solder joint 114 is formed at the first solder position 112, and the second solder joint 124 is formed at the second solder position 122. Next, a substrate 140 with a wiring pattern is prepared, and the substrate 140 is aligned and soldered together so that the first joining wiring 115 is located on the upper surface of the first solder joint 114 and the second joining wiring 125 is located on the upper surface of the second solder joint 124. This allows the shunt resistor 100 to be manufactured.

[0026] The first AD converter ADC1 is connected to the first top wiring 116 and the first top wiring 126, and detects the voltage across the first electrode 110 and the second electrode 120 of the resistor 130 as the first voltage V1. The current path from the first upper wiring 116 to the first upper wiring 126 (first current path) is in the following order: first upper wiring 116, first detection point 116h (more specifically, from the upper side to the lower side of the first detection point 116h), first lower wiring 116a, first joint wiring 115, first solder joint 114, first electrode 110, first weld joint 111, resistor 130, second weld joint 121, second electrode 120, second solder joint 124, second joint wiring 125, first lower wiring 126a, first detection point 126h (more specifically, from the lower side to the upper side of the first detection point 126h), and first upper wiring 126. Since the first detection points 116h and 126h are located approximately in the center of the y-axis direction of the first electrode 110 and the second electrode 120, the first current path is a path that passes through the approximately center of the resistor 130 in the y-axis direction.

[0027] The second AD converter ADC2 is connected to the second top wiring 117 and the second top wiring 127, and detects the voltage across the first electrode 110 and the second electrode 120 of the resistor 130 as the second voltage V2. The current path from the second upper wiring 117 to the second upper wiring 127 (second current path) is in the following order: second upper wiring 117, second detection point 117h (more specifically, from the upper side to the lower side of the second detection point 117h), second lower wiring 117a, first joint wiring 115, first solder joint 114, first electrode 110, first weld joint 111, resistor 130, second weld joint 121, second electrode 120, second solder joint 124, second joint wiring 125, second lower wiring 127a, second detection point 127h (more specifically, from the lower side to the upper side of the second detection point 127h), and second upper wiring 127. Since the second detection points 117h and 127h are located on the positive end side in the y-axis direction of the first electrode 110 and the second electrode 120, the second current path is a path that passes through the positive end side in the y-axis direction of the resistor 130.

[0028] The monitoring device 20 comprises a fault determination unit 21, a correction unit 22, and a control unit 23. The monitoring device 20 is mainly composed of a well-known microcomputer (MPC) consisting of a CPU, ROM, RAM, flash memory, etc. For example, the CPU executes a power conversion program installed in the ROM to realize the functions of the control device 40, such as the switching control unit 41 and the switching unit 42. The functions provided by the MPC may be provided by software recorded in a physical memory device and a computer that executes it, software only, hardware only, or a combination thereof. For example, if the MPC is provided by an electronic circuit which is hardware, it can be provided by a digital circuit including a large number of logic circuits, or by an analog circuit. For example, the MPC executes a program stored in a non-transitional physical recording medium which serves as its own storage unit. The program includes, for example, a battery control processing program which will be described later. When the program is executed, the method corresponding to the program is executed. The storage unit is, for example, non-volatile memory. The program stored in the storage unit can be updated, for example, via a network such as the Internet.

[0029] The fault determination unit 21 determines a bonding abnormality in the conductive joints, namely the first welded part 111, the second welded part 121, the first solder part 114, and the second solder part 124, based on the detected voltages at the first detection points 116h, 126h and the second detection points 117h, 127h.

[0030] Figure 6 shows the current density distribution of the current flowing between the first and second electrodes 110 and 120 and the resistor 130 in the shunt resistor 100. The vertical axis represents the current density J, and the horizontal axis represents the position in the y-axis direction of the first and second electrodes 110 and 120. In Figure 6, w is the length in the y-axis direction of the first and second electrodes 110 and 120, y=0 represents the central position of the first and second electrodes 110 and 120, y=-w / 2 represents the negative end position of the first and second electrodes 110 and 120 in the y-axis direction, and y=w / 2 represents the positive end position of the first and second electrodes 110 and 120 in the y-axis direction. As shown in Figure 6, the current density of the positive current flowing through the shunt resistor 100 is a downward-convex curve distribution, which is lower towards the center of the first and second electrodes 110 and 120 and higher towards the ends.

[0031] As shown in Figure 6, the first detection points 116h and 126h are located at y=y1, which is approximately the center of the y-axis direction of the first electrode 110 and the second electrode 120, and the current density at this position is J1. The second detection points 117h and 127h are located at y=y2, which is the positive end side of the y-axis direction of the first electrode 110 and the second electrode 120, and the current density at this position is J2. Since J1 is lower than J2, even if the current flowing between the first and second electrodes 110 and 120 and the resistor 130 is the same, the first voltage V1 detected by the first AD converter ADC1 will be lower than the second voltage V2 detected by the second AD converter ADC2.

[0032] Figure 7 shows the current flowing between the first and second electrodes 110 and 120 and the resistor 130 on the horizontal axis, and the detected voltage values ​​detected by the first and second AD converters ADC1 and ADC2 on the vertical axis. Even if the current flowing between the first and second electrodes 110 and 120 and the resistor 130 is the same, the absolute value of the first voltage V1 detected by the first AD converter ADC1 will be smaller than the absolute value of the second voltage V2 detected by the second AD converter ADC2.

[0033] If there are no junction abnormalities at each conductive junction, as shown in Figure 7, the first voltage V1 and the second voltage V2 will differ by a predetermined voltage difference for a given current. However, due to thermal history such as heat generation caused by the current flowing through the shunt resistor 100, junction abnormalities may occur at each conductive junction. Junction abnormalities are more likely to occur at locations with high current density than at locations with low current density for the same current. In other words, junction abnormalities are more likely to occur at the ends of the first electrode 110 and the second electrode 120 in the y-axis direction, where the current density is high, than at the central part of the first electrode 110 and the second electrode 120 in the y-axis direction, where the current density is low. Junction abnormalities that occur at the ends of the first electrode 110 and the second electrode 120 in the y-axis direction gradually spread towards the center.

[0034] If a junction abnormality occurs at one of the conductive junctions on the positive y-axis end side of the first electrode 110 and the second electrode 120, and this junction abnormality gradually progresses towards the center, then in the resistor 130, the second current path including the second detection points 117h and 127h approaches the first current path including the first detection points 116h and 126h. As a result, the value of the second voltage V2 gradually approaches the first voltage V1, and the difference between them becomes smaller.

[0035] Therefore, the fault detection unit 21 is configured to determine that a junction abnormality has occurred in one of the conductive junctions of the shunt resistor 100 when there is a change in the difference between the first voltage V1 and the second voltage V2. For example, the fault detection unit 21 is configured to determine that there is a junction abnormality when abs(V1-V2), which is the absolute value of the difference between the first voltage V1 and the second voltage V2, becomes less than or equal to a predetermined threshold voltage difference Vth (when abs(V1-V2) ≤ Vth). The threshold voltage difference Vth can be set, for example, by measuring or calculating Vr, which is the absolute value of the difference between the first voltage V1 and the second voltage V2 when there is no junction abnormality in each conductive junction of the shunt resistor 100, so that 0 ≤ Vth ≤ Vr. The value of Vr may be theoretically calculated based on the design value of the shunt resistor 100, or it may be calculated using the first voltage V1 and second voltage V2 measured using the shunt resistor 100 in its initial state.

[0036] The correction unit 22 corrects at least one of the first voltage V1 and the second voltage V2 so that the first voltage V1 and the second voltage V2 are substantially the same. The correction unit 22 can correct the first voltage V1 and the second voltage V2 to be substantially the same by, for example, using the difference or ratio between the second voltage V2 and the first voltage V1. The correction unit 22 may correct the first voltage V1, but it is more preferable to correct the second voltage V2 because the second voltage V2 is a value that changes when a junction abnormality occurs in each conductive junction, whereas the first voltage V1 is a value that does not change easily even when a junction abnormality occurs in each conductive junction.

[0037] The correction unit 22 may be configured to correct the first voltage V1 and the second voltage V2 so that they become approximately the same when the fault determination unit 21 determines that there is a junction abnormality. By comparing the first voltage V1 and the second voltage V2 in the corrected state, it is possible to determine, for example, whether the first and second AD converters ADC1 and ADC2 have failed. The fault determination unit 21 may also be configured to determine whether the first and second AD converters ADC1 and ADC2 have failed.

[0038] Alternatively, the correction unit 22 may be configured to correct the first voltage V1 and the second voltage V2 so that they are approximately the same, and then the fault determination unit 21 may be configured to compare the first voltage V1 and the second voltage V2 in the corrected state and determine that there is a junction abnormality. For example, if the second voltage V2 is corrected to the corrected value V2a, the fault determination unit 21 may be configured to determine that there is a junction abnormality if abs(V1-V2a), which is the absolute value of the difference between the first voltage V1 and the corrected value V2a, becomes greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold voltage difference Vtha (i.e., abs(V1-V2a) ≥ Vtha).

[0039] The control unit 23 controls the opening and closing of the first relay RL1 and the second relay RL2 based on at least one of the first voltage V1 and the second voltage V2 obtained from the detection circuit 15. If the fault detection unit 21 determines that there is a junction abnormality, the control unit 23 controls the current flowing through the shunt resistor 100 to be interrupted. For example, if the fault detection unit 21 determines that there is a fault such as a junction abnormality in the shunt resistor 100, the current flowing through the shunt resistor 100 can be interrupted by controlling the first relay RL1 and the second relay RL2 to be open. If the power supply system 10 has a configuration that can limit the current flowing through the shunt resistor 100, the control unit 23 may be configured to determine whether to limit or interrupt the current flowing through the shunt resistor 100 when the fault detection unit 21 determines that there is a junction abnormality, and to execute one of the controls.

[0040] Figure 8 is a flowchart of the monitoring process for the shunt resistor 100 performed by the monitoring device 20. The process shown in the flowchart of Figure 8 is realized by the CPU of the monitoring device 20 executing a monitoring program installed in ROM, and is repeatedly performed at predetermined intervals during charging and discharging of the battery 11.

[0041] In step S101, the first voltage V1 and the second voltage V2 are obtained, and the process proceeds to step S102. In step S102, if abs(V1-V2), which is the absolute value of the difference between the first voltage V1 and the second voltage V2, becomes less than or equal to a predetermined threshold voltage difference Vth (i.e., abs(V1-V2) ≤ Vth), it is determined that there is a junction abnormality, and the process proceeds to step S103. If abs(V1-V2) > Vth, it is determined that there is no junction abnormality, and the process proceeds to step S105.

[0042] In step S103, a fault is detected in the shunt resistor 100, and the process proceeds to step S104, where the current is limited or interrupted. As a result, the monitoring device 20 controls the first relay RL1 and the second relay RL2 to the open state, and the process ends.

[0043] In step S105, it is determined that there is no fault in the shunt resistor 100, and the process proceeds to step S106, where the second voltage V2 is corrected and the process ends.

[0044] As described above, according to the shunt resistor 100 of this embodiment, on the substrate 140, the second detection points 117h and 127h are located closer to the ends of each electrode than the first detection points 116h and 126h in the second direction. That is, the second detection points 117h and 127h are located closer to the ends of the substrate 140, where the current density of the current flowing between the first and second electrodes 110 and 120 and the resistor 130 is higher than that of the first detection points 116h and 126h. For this reason, if there is no junction abnormality in the conductive junction of the shunt resistor 100, the first voltage V1, which is the detection voltage at the first detection points 116h and 126h acquired by the monitoring device 20, will differ from the second voltage V2, which is the detection voltage at the second detection points 117h and 127h. If a junction abnormality occurs in the conductive junction of the shunt resistor 100, the difference between the first voltage V1 and the second voltage V2 will decrease. The monitoring device 20 executes the fault determination steps shown in steps S102, S103, and S105, and determines that there is a junction abnormality in the conductive junction of the shunt resistor 100 if abs(V1-V2) ≤ Vth, based on abs(V1-V2), which is the absolute value of the difference between the first voltage V1 and the second voltage V2. According to the fault determination steps, it is possible to monitor for abnormalities in the conductive junction of the shunt resistor body of the shunt resistor 100. Furthermore, if the fault determination steps determine that there is no fault in the shunt resistor 100, the correction step shown in step S106 is executed, and the second voltage V2 is corrected to a correction value V2a that is approximately the same as the first voltage V1. Although not shown in the figures, by comparing the first voltage V1 and the correction value V2a, it is also possible to determine, for example, faults in the first and second AD converters ADC1 and ADC2.

[0045] (modified version) The monitoring device 20 may be configured to execute the flowchart shown in Figure 9 as a monitoring process for the shunt resistor 100. The process shown in the flowchart in Figure 9 is realized by the CPU constituting the monitoring device 20 executing a monitoring program installed in ROM, and is repeatedly executed at predetermined intervals during charging and discharging of the battery 11.

[0046] In step S201, the first voltage V1 and the second voltage V2 are obtained, and the process proceeds to step S102. In step S202, the second voltage V2 obtained in step S201 is corrected to the correction value V2a, and the process proceeds to step S203. In step S203, it is determined whether abs(V1-V2a)≦Vtha. If abs(V1-V2a)≦Vtha, it is determined that there is a junction abnormality, and the process proceeds to step S204. If abs(V1-V2a)>Vtha, it is determined that there is no junction abnormality, and the process proceeds to step S205.

[0047] In step S204, the system determines that the shunt resistor 100 is faulty and proceeds to step S205, where it limits or interrupts the current. As a result, the monitoring device 20 controls the first relay RL1 and the second relay RL2 to the open state and terminates the process. In step S206, the system determines that the shunt resistor 100 is not faulty and terminates the process.

[0048] (Second Embodiment) Figure 10 shows a shunt resistor 200 according to the second embodiment. The shunt resistor 200 is used as resistor 13 as shown in Figure 1, similar to the first embodiment. The shunt resistor 200 differs from the shunt resistor 100 shown in Figure 2, etc., in the form of the resistor 230. In the shunt resistor 200, the same reference numerals are used for components that are the same as those in the shunt resistor 100.

[0049] Figure 11 shows the shunt resistor 200 with the substrate 140 and the first and second solder joints 114 and 124 removed. The first and second electrodes 110 and 120 are welded to both sides of the resistor 230. Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of the resistor 230 shown in Figure 11. As shown in Figures 10 and 11, the length of the resistor 230 in the y-axis direction is shorter than the length of the first and second electrodes 110 and 120 in the y-axis direction. The resistor 230 and the first and second electrodes 110 and 120 are connected such that their ends on the negative y-axis side are aligned, and a non-existent portion 250 is provided between the first and second electrodes 110 and 120 on the positive y-axis side where the resistor 230 is absent. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 12, the resistor 230 is locally thinned at its positive y-axis end. The cross-sectional area perpendicular to the x-axis of this thinned portion is smaller than the cross-sectional area perpendicular to the x-axis of the non-thinned portion, and is therefore referred to as the reduced portion 231.

[0050] The resistor 230 has a reduced portion 231 at the positive y-axis end, where the length in the y-axis direction is reduced and the length (thickness) in the z-axis direction is reduced, resulting in a reduced cross-sectional area perpendicular to the x-axis compared to the negative y-axis end. Since the x-axis direction is the direction of the current flowing between the first and second electrodes 110, 120 and the resistor 230, the reduced cross-sectional area perpendicular to the x-axis means that the current density in the reduced portion 231 at the positive y-axis end of the resistor 230 is higher than the current density at the negative y-axis end. Therefore, junction abnormalities in each conductive junction of the shunt resistor 200 are more likely to occur from the reduced portion 231 side, where the current density is higher. In the shunt resistor 200, second detection points 117h and 127h are provided on the substrate 140 located on the upper surface of the end of the resistor 230 in the positive direction of the y-axis where the reduction portion 231 is provided, while no second detection points are provided on the upper surface of the substrate 140 located on the end of the resistor 230 in the negative direction of the y-axis where the reduction portion is not provided. By providing the second detection points 117h and 127h only on the upper surface of the reduction portion 231, where connection abnormalities of each conductive junction in the shunt resistor 200 are most likely to occur, it is possible to suppress the number of voltage detection points while reliably detecting connection abnormalities of each conductive junction in the shunt resistor 200.

[0051] (Third embodiment) Figure 13 shows a shunt resistor 300 according to the third embodiment. The shunt resistor 300 is used as resistor 13 shown in Figure 1, similar to the first embodiment. The shunt resistor 300 differs from the shunt resistor 100 shown in Figure 2, etc., in the form of the wiring pattern provided on the substrate 340. In the shunt resistor 300, the same reference numerals are used for components that are the same as those in the shunt resistor 100.

[0052] A pair of first detection points 316h, 326h and a pair of second detection points 317h, 327h are provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the substrate 340. The first detection points 316h, 326h and the second detection points 317h, 327h are formed by wiring provided on the periphery and inner surface of via holes that penetrate the substrate 340 in the vertical direction.

[0053] The first detection points 316h and 326h are located at the same positions as the first detection points 116h and 126h in the shunt resistor 100. The second detection point 327h is located at the same position as the second detection point 127h in the shunt resistor 100, whereas the second detection point 317h differs from the second detection point 117h in the shunt resistor 100 in that it is located on the negative side of the y-axis compared to the first detection point 316h. The first top wirings 316 and 326 are connected to the first detection points 316h and 326h, respectively, and the second top wirings 117 and 127 are connected to the second detection points 317h and 327h, respectively.

[0054] The second detection points 317h and 327h are such that one of the voltage detection points, 317h, is located near the first end, which is the positive y-axis end on the first electrode 110 side, while the other voltage detection point, 327h, is located near the second end, which is the negative y-axis end on the second electrode 120 side, opposite to the first end. While the first detection points 316h and 326h are arranged linearly along the x-axis, the second detection points 317h and 327h are arranged approximately diagonally with respect to the resistor 230. Since the second detection points 317h and 327h are provided on the first end side and the second end side respectively, whether the junction abnormality of each conductive junction of the shunt resistor 300 originates from the first end side or the second end side, the value of the second voltage V2 gradually approaches the first voltage V1, and the difference becomes smaller, allowing for the detection of the junction abnormality. The shunt resistor 300 makes it possible to reduce the number of voltage detection points while reliably detecting connection abnormalities in each conductive junction of the shunt resistor 300.

[0055] (Fourth Embodiment) Figure 14 shows a shunt resistor 400 according to the fourth embodiment. The shunt resistor 400 differs from the shunt resistor 100 shown in Figure 2, etc., in the form of the wiring pattern provided on the substrate 440. In the shunt resistor 400, the same reference numerals are used for components that are the same as those in the shunt resistor 100.

[0056] A pair of first detection points 416h, 426h, a pair of second detection points 417h, 427h, and a pair of second detection points 418h, 428h are provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the substrate 440. The first detection points 416h, 426h, the second detection points 417h, 427h, and the second detection points 418h, 428h are formed by wiring provided on the periphery and inner surface of via holes that penetrate the substrate 440 in the vertical direction.

[0057] The first detection points 416h and 426h are located at the same positions as the first detection points 116h and 126h in the shunt resistor 100. The second detection points 417h and 427h are located at the same positions as the second detection points 117h and 127h in the shunt resistor 100. The second detection points 418h and 428h are located on the negative end side in the y-axis direction of the first electrode 110 and the second electrode 120. The distance between the second detection points 418h and 428h and the negative end side in the y-axis direction of the first electrode 110 and the second electrode 120 is approximately the same as the distance between the second detection points 117h and 127h and the positive end side in the y-axis direction of the first electrode 110 and the second electrode 120. The first top wirings 416 and 426 are connected to the first detection points 416h and 426h, respectively. The second top wirings 417 and 427 are connected to the second detection points 417h and 427h, respectively. The second top wirings 418 and 428 are connected to the second detection points 418h and 428h, respectively.

[0058] The shunt resistor 400 is used as resistor 13 as shown in Figure 1, similar to the first embodiment. When the shunt resistor 400 is used as resistor 13, the detection circuit 15 further includes a third AD converter ADC3. The third AD converter ADC3 is connected to the first top wiring 418 and the first top wiring 428 and detects the voltage across the first electrode 110 and the second electrode 120 of the resistive element 130 of the shunt resistor 400 as a third voltage V3.

[0059] Figure 15 is a flowchart of the monitoring process for the shunt resistor 400 performed by the monitoring device 20. The process shown in the flowchart of Figure 15 is realized by the CPU of the monitoring device 20 executing a monitoring program installed in ROM, and is repeatedly performed at predetermined intervals during charging and discharging of the battery 11.

[0060] In step S301, the first voltage V1, the second voltage V2, and the third voltage V3 are obtained, and the process proceeds to step S302. In step S302, if abs(V1-V2)≦Vth2 or abs(V1-V3)≦Vth3 is obtained for predetermined threshold voltage differences Vth2 and Vth3, it is determined that there is a junction abnormality, and the process proceeds to step S303. If abs(V1-V2)>Vth2 and abs(V1-V3)>Vth3, it is determined that there is no junction abnormality, and the process proceeds to step S305. Note that the threshold voltage differences Vth2 and Vth3 can be set using the same method as the threshold voltage difference Vth according to the first embodiment.

[0061] In step S303, the system determines that the shunt resistor 400 is faulty and proceeds to step S404, where it limits or interrupts the current. As a result, the monitoring device 20 controls the first relay RL1 and the second relay RL2 to the open state and terminates the process.

[0062] In step S305, it is determined that there is no fault in the shunt resistor 400, and the process proceeds to step S406, where the second voltage V2 and the third voltage V3 are corrected, and the process ends.

[0063] In the shunt resistor 400, second detection points 417h and 427h are provided on the positive y-axis end sides of the first electrode 110 and second electrode 120, and second detection points 418h and 428h are provided on the negative y-axis end sides of the first electrode 110 and second electrode 120. Therefore, if a junction abnormality occurs in any of the conductive junctions of the shunt resistor 400 from the positive y-axis end side, the value of the second voltage V2 gradually approaches the first voltage V1, and the difference becomes smaller, allowing for the detection of a junction abnormality. If a junction abnormality occurs in any of the conductive junctions of the shunt resistor 400 from the negative y-axis end side, the value of the third voltage V3 gradually approaches the first voltage V1, and the difference becomes smaller, allowing for the detection of a junction abnormality.

[0064] Furthermore, the resistor in the shunt resistor 400 may be configured in the same way as the reduction section 231 according to the third embodiment. The reduction section 231 may be provided on the positive and negative ends of the y-axis of the first electrode 110 and the second electrode 120. By providing the reduction section 231 and increasing the current density, changes in the detection voltage at the second detection point located on its upper surface can be detected with high sensitivity.

[0065] In each of the embodiments described above, the first and second solder portions 114 and 124 extended in a continuous line from one end to the other in the y-axis direction of the first and second electrodes 110 and 120, respectively, but they may be divided into multiple portions. When the solder portions are divided into multiple portions, it is preferable to provide solder portions at the positive and negative ends of the y-axis direction of the first and second solder portions 114 and 124. Furthermore, if a first through-hole 113 is provided approximately in the center of the y-axis direction of the first electrode 110, and a second through-hole 123 is provided approximately in the center of the y-axis direction of the second electrode 120, the current density at the second detection point will increase, allowing for more sensitive detection of changes in the detection voltage at the second detection point. However, the first through-hole 113 and the second through-hole 123 do not necessarily have to be provided. Furthermore, while the example described shows how the control unit 23 limits or interrupts the current flowing through the shunt resistor when the fault detection unit 21 determines that there is a junction abnormality at each conductive junction of the shunt resistor 400, the system is not limited to this.

[0066] The control unit and its method described herein may be implemented by a dedicated computer provided by configuring a processor and memory programmed to perform one or more functions embodied by a computer program. Alternatively, the control unit and its method described herein may be implemented by a dedicated computer provided by configuring a processor by one or more dedicated hardware logic circuits. Alternatively, the control unit and its method described herein may be implemented by one or more dedicated computers configured by a combination of a processor and memory programmed to perform one or more functions and a processor configured by one or more hardware logic circuits. Furthermore, the computer program may be stored as instructions executed by the computer on a computer-readable non-transitional tangible recording medium.

[0067] The following describes the characteristic configurations extracted from each of the embodiments described above. [Configuration 1] Plate-shaped resistors (130, 230) and A first electrode (110) and a second electrode (120) are connected to both sides of the resistor in a first direction along the plate surface of the resistor, The device comprises a substrate (140, 340, 440) arranged on top of the resistor and each of the electrodes, and having a pair of voltage detection points (116h, 126h, 117h, 127h, 316h, 326h, 317h, 327h, 416h, 426h, 417h, 427h, 418h, 428h) provided on the first electrode side and the second electrode side, respectively, This is applied to a shunt resistor (100, 200, 300, 400) in which the resistor and each electrode, and each electrode and the substrate are joined by conductive joints (111, 121, 114, 124) along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. A shunt resistor monitoring device (20) that measures the voltage across the first electrode side and the second electrode side of the resistor based on the detected voltages at the pair of voltage detection points, The substrate is provided with a pair of voltage detection points: first detection points (116h, 126h, 316h, 326h, 416h, 426h) and second detection points (117h, 127h, 317h, 327h, 417h, 427h, 418h, 428h) located closer to the ends of each electrode than the first detection points in the second direction. A monitoring device for a shunt resistor, comprising a fault determination unit (21) that determines a junction abnormality in the conductive junction based on the detected voltages of the first detection point and the second detection point. [Configuration 2] In the shunt resistor, the end in the second direction is provided with a reduced portion (231) where the resistor is not present between the first electrode and the second electrode, or where the resistor is locally thinned. The monitoring device for a shunt resistor according to configuration 1, wherein the substrate has the second detection point provided near the reduced portion. [Configuration 3] The shunt resistor is provided with the reduced portion only at one end of the two ends in the second direction. The monitoring device for a shunt resistor according to configuration 2, wherein the substrate has the second detection point provided only near the end on the side of the reduced portion among the two ends in the second direction. [Structure 4] The monitoring device for a shunt resistor according to Configuration 1, wherein the second detection point is a detection point near the first end in the second direction on the first electrode side, and the other voltage detection point is a detection point near the second end on the opposite side from the first end in the second direction. [Composition 5] The monitoring device for a shunt resistor according to configuration 1 or 2, wherein the substrate is provided with the second detection points on both sides of the first detection point in the second direction. [Composition 6] A shunt resistor monitoring device according to any one of configurations 1 to 5, further comprising a correction unit (22) that corrects at least one of the detection voltages of the first detection point and the second detection point so that the detection voltage of the first detection point and the detection voltage of the second detection point are substantially the same. [Composition 7] Plate-shaped resistors (130, 230) and A first electrode (110) and a second electrode (120) are connected to both sides of the resistor in a first direction along the plate surface of the resistor, The device comprises a substrate (140, 340, 440) arranged on top of the resistor and each of the electrodes, and having a pair of voltage detection points (116h, 126h, 117h, 127h, 316h, 326h, 317h, 327h, 416h, 426h, 417h, 427h, 418h, 428h) provided on the first electrode side and the second electrode side, respectively, The resistor and each of the electrodes, and the electrodes and the substrate are joined by conductive joints (111, 121, 114, 124) along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The substrate is provided with a pair of voltage detection points, namely first detection points (116h, 126h, 316h, 326h, 416h, 426h) and second detection points (117h, 127h, 317h, 327h, 417h, 427h, 418h, 428h) located closer to the ends of each electrode than the first detection points in the second direction, and this is a monitoring program for a shunt resistor (100, 200, 300, 400), the substrate being provided with the pair of voltage detection points, namely first detection points (116h, 126h, 316h, 326h, 416h, 426h) and second detection points (117h, 127h, 317h, 327h, 417h, 427h, 418h, 428h), and the monitoring program for a shunt resistor (100, 200, 300, 400), the substrate being provided with the pair of voltage detection points, namely first detection points (116h, 126h, 316h, 326h, 416h, 426h) and second detection points (117h, 127h, 317h, 327h, 417h, 427h, 418h, 428h), the monitoring program for a shunt resistor (100, 200, 300, 400), the substrate being provided with the pair of voltage detection points, namely second detection points (117h, 127h, 317h, 327h, 417h, 427h, 418h, 428h), the monitoring program for a shunt resistor (100, 200, 300, 4 On the computer, A detection step of measuring the voltage across the first electrode side and the second electrode side of the resistor based on the detected voltages at the pair of voltage detection points, A monitoring program for a shunt resistor, which performs a fault determination step of determining a junction abnormality in the conductive junction based on the detected voltages of the first detection point and the second detection point. [Structure 8] Plate-shaped resistors (130, 230) and A first electrode (110) and a second electrode (120) are connected to both sides of the resistor in a first direction along the plate surface of the resistor, The device comprises a substrate (140, 340, 440) arranged on top of the resistor and each of the electrodes, and having a pair of voltage detection points (116h, 126h, 117h, 127h, 316h, 326h, 317h, 327h, 416h, 426h, 417h, 427h, 418h, 428h) provided on the first electrode side and the second electrode side, respectively, The resistor and each of the electrodes, and the electrodes and the substrate are joined by conductive joints (111, 121, 114, 124) along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The substrate is provided with a shunt resistor (100, 200, 300, 400) which includes a pair of voltage detection points: first detection points (116h, 126h, 316h, 326h, 416h, 426h) and second detection points (117h, 127h, 317h, 327h, 417h, 427h, 418h, 428h) located closer to the ends of each electrode than the first detection points in the second direction. [Explanation of symbols]

[0068] 20...Monitoring device, 21...Fault determination unit, 100, 200, 300, 400...Shunt resistor, 110...First electrode, 120...Second electrode, 111, 121...First and second welded parts, 114, 124...First and second soldered parts, 130, 230...Resistor, 116h, 126h, 316h, 326h, 416h, 426h...First detection point, 117h, 127h, 317h, 327h, 417h, 427h, 418h, 428h...Second detection point

Claims

1. Plate-shaped resistors (130, 230) and A first electrode (110) and a second electrode (120) are connected to both sides of the resistor in a first direction along the plate surface of the resistor, The device comprises a substrate (140, 340, 440) which is arranged on top of the resistor and the first and second electrodes, and which has a pair of voltage detection points provided on the first electrode side and the second electrode side, respectively. This is applied to shunt resistors (100, 200, 300, 400) in which the resistor and the first and second electrodes, and the first and second electrodes and the substrate are joined by conductive joints (111, 121, 114, 124) along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. A shunt resistor monitoring device (20) that measures the voltage across the first electrode side and the second electrode side of the resistor based on the detected voltages at the pair of voltage detection points, The substrate is provided with a pair of voltage detection points: a first detection point and a second detection point located in the second direction closer to the ends of the first and second electrodes than the first detection point. A monitoring device for a shunt resistor, comprising a fault determination unit (21) that determines a bonding abnormality in the conductive junction based on the detected voltages of the first detection point and the second detection point.

2. In the shunt resistor, the end in the second direction is provided with a non-existent portion (250) where the resistor is not present between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a reduced portion (231) where the resistor is locally thinned. The monitoring device for a shunt resistor according to claim 1, wherein the second detection point is located on the substrate at the end of the resistor in the second direction and on the side that is the reduced portion, more so than the first detection point, and is provided near the reduced portion.

3. The shunt resistor is provided with the reduced portion only at one end of the two ends in the second direction. The monitoring device for a shunt resistor according to claim 2, wherein the substrate has the second detection point provided only near the end on the side of the reduced portion among the two ends in the second direction.

4. The monitoring device for a shunt resistor according to claim 1, wherein one of the pair of voltage detection points is a detection point near the first end in the second direction on the first electrode side, and the other voltage detection point is a detection point near the second end on the opposite side from the first end in the second direction.

5. The monitoring device for a shunt resistor according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is provided with the second detection points on both sides of the first detection point in the second direction.

6. A shunt resistor monitoring device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a correction unit (22) that corrects at least one of the detection voltages of the first detection point and the second detection point so that the detection voltage of the first detection point and the detection voltage of the second detection point are substantially the same.

7. Plate-shaped resistors (130, 230) and A first electrode (110) and a second electrode (120) are connected to both sides of the resistor in a first direction along the plate surface of the resistor, The device comprises a substrate (140, 340, 440) which is arranged on top of the resistor and the first and second electrodes, and which has a pair of voltage detection points provided on the first electrode side and the second electrode side, respectively. The resistor and the first electrode and the second electrode, and the first electrode and the second electrode and the substrate are joined by conductive joints (111, 121, 114, 124) along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The monitoring program for shunt resistors (100, 200, 300, 400) is provided on the substrate, which includes a first detection point and a second detection point located in the second direction closer to the ends of the first and second electrodes than the first detection point, as a pair of voltage detection points. On the computer, A detection step of measuring the voltage across the first electrode side and the second electrode side of the resistor based on the detected voltages at the pair of voltage detection points, A monitoring program for a shunt resistor, which performs a fault determination step of determining a junction abnormality in the conductive junction based on the detected voltages of the first detection point and the second detection point.

8. A plate-shaped resistor (230), A first electrode (110) and a second electrode (120) are connected to both sides of the resistor in a first direction along the plate surface of the resistor, The device comprises a substrate (140) which is arranged on top of the resistor and the first and second electrodes, and which has a pair of voltage detection points provided on the first electrode side and the second electrode side, respectively. The resistor and the first electrode and the second electrode, and the first electrode and the second electrode and the substrate are joined by conductive joints (111, 121, 114, 124) along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The substrate is provided with a pair of voltage detection points: a first detection point and a second detection point located in the second direction closer to the ends of the first and second electrodes than the first detection point. The end of the resistor in the second direction is provided with a non-existent portion (250) where the resistor is not present between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a reduced portion (231) where the resistor is locally thinner. The second detection point is located on the substrate at the end of the resistor in the second direction and on the side that forms the reduced portion, and is provided near the reduced portion.

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