Battery pack, its management device and method

Abstract

The present invention discloses a battery pack including a battery having a plurality of chargeable and dischargeable battery cells, a communication unit that transmits an initial SOC of the battery to an external device and receives a target SOC from the external device, a SOC estimation unit that estimates the SOC of the battery, a control unit that outputs a SOC adjustment signal for adjusting the SOC of the battery based on the target SOC, and a SOC adjustment unit that adjusts the SOC of the battery based on the SOC adjustment signal, as well as a management device and method thereof.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery pack and a management device thereof, and more particularly to a battery pack capable of wireless communication and a battery pack management device and method for remotely managing the battery pack using wireless communication. [Background technology]

[0002] Rechargeable secondary batteries, or batteries, are widely used as an energy source for mobile devices such as smartphones. Furthermore, batteries are also used as an energy source for environmentally friendly vehicles such as electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles, which are presented as solutions to address air pollution caused by fossil fuel-using gasoline and diesel vehicles. The types of applications using batteries are extremely diverse, and it is expected that batteries will be applied to even more fields and products in the future.

[0003] This type of battery is typically used in the form of a battery pack rather than as a single battery cell. A battery pack comprises at least one battery module, and a battery module may consist of multiple battery cells. The battery also includes a Battery Management System (BMS) that manages the overall status of the battery cells, battery modules, or battery pack.

[0004] On the other hand, when battery packs are not used for extended periods, they need to be managed to suit the conditions in which they are stored. Specifically, when storing, transporting, or disposing of a battery pack for an extended period, its State of Charge (SOC) needs to be lowered to suit those conditions. For example, if a battery pack is stored for an extended period under full charge conditions after shipment, there is a risk of damage to the battery pack; therefore, it is desirable to manage it with a lower SOC. In other words, if a battery pack is stored for an extended period in a fully charged state or at high temperatures, numerous problems can occur, such as the electrolyte leaking and potentially exploding. Furthermore, for applications used in various external environments rather than indoors, the risks of long-term storage are always present. Consequently, battery life is shortened, resulting in the battery being replaced before such problems occur. In short, this leads to a shorter battery replacement cycle, resulting in enormous maintenance costs.

[0005] However, with existing battery packs, users typically have to connect measuring equipment to each individual battery pack to measure its voltage and convert it to a suitable SOC for that battery pack in order to manage the SOC. However, this existing method is very cumbersome to check the SOC of each battery pack, and even if you want to lower the SOC for a specific purpose, you are forced to connect each battery pack to the system and discharge it, which is very time-consuming.

[0006] The following documents are examples of conventional technologies. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Republic of Korea Registered Patent No. 10-1749730 Gazette [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] This invention provides a battery pack that can be controlled externally under specific circumstances, as it is capable of wireless communication.

[0009] The present invention provides a battery pack management device and method that can wirelessly control a battery pack under specific circumstances.

[0010] The present invention provides a battery pack management device and method that, when a battery pack is transported, stored, or disposed of, automatically controls the battery pack to a suitable state using a wireless control signal provided in that environment once the battery pack is installed in that location. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] A battery pack according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a battery having a plurality of rechargeable battery cells, a communication unit that transmits the initial state of charge (SOC) of the battery to an external device and receives a target SOC from the external device, an SOC estimation unit that estimates the SOC of the battery, a control unit that outputs an SOC adjustment signal for adjusting the SOC of the battery based on the target SOC, and an SOC adjustment unit that adjusts the SOC of the battery based on the SOC adjustment signal.

[0012] The battery pack is transported to a specific location depending on the circumstances and woken up based on a wake-up signal from the external device.

[0013] The wake-up signal is input at a predetermined interval.

[0014] The battery pack is input to have different target SOCs depending on whether the battery pack is being stored, transported, or disposed of over a long period of time.

[0015] The control unit compares the SOC of the battery estimated by the SOC estimator with the target SOC and outputs the SOC adjustment signal.

[0016] The SOC adjustment unit includes a switch connected to the battery and a discharge resistor connected to the switch, and the switch is driven based on the SOC adjustment signal to discharge the battery through the discharge resistor.

[0017] The discharge resistor includes a variable resistor, and the battery is discharged so that the SOC of the battery becomes lower than the target SOC.

[0018] A battery pack management device according to another aspect of the present invention includes at least one battery pack capable of communicating with the outside, and a remote manager separated from the at least one battery pack for managing the at least one battery pack using communication. The remote manager sets a target SOC and transmits it to the battery pack, and the battery pack adjusts the pack SOC based on the target SOC.

[0019] The battery pack is carried into a specific location according to a specific situation and is woken up based on a wake-up signal from the remote manager.

[0020] The battery pack management device has different target SOCs according to long-term storage, transportation or disposal of the battery pack.

[0021] The battery pack comprises a battery having a plurality of chargeable and dischargeable battery cells; a first communication unit that transmits the initial SOC of the battery to the remote manager and receives the target SOC from the remote manager; an SOC estimation unit that estimates the SOC of the battery pack; a control unit for adjusting the SOC of the battery based on a comparison result between the target SOC and the pack SOC; and an SOC adjustment unit that adjusts the SOC of the battery according to the control of the control unit.

[0022] The control unit outputs a control signal to adjust the pack SOC when the pack SOC is larger than the target SOC.

[0023] The SOC adjustment unit comprises a switch connected to the battery and a discharge resistor connected to the switch, wherein the switch is driven based on a control signal from the control unit to discharge the battery via the discharge resistor.

[0024] The discharge resistor includes a variable resistor, which causes the battery to discharge such that the pack SOC becomes lower than the target SOC.

[0025] The remote management device includes a second communication unit that transmits a wake-up signal and a target SOC to the battery pack and receives an initial SOC from the battery pack, and a management unit that generates the wake-up signal and the target SOC and manages the battery pack via the second communication unit.

[0026] The battery pack management device further comprises a battery rack that houses the at least one battery pack and communicates with the battery pack using wireless or wired communication.

[0027] The remote control unit manages the at least one battery pack housed in the battery rack via the battery rack.

[0028] A battery pack management method according to yet another aspect of the present invention includes the steps of: bringing at least one battery pack to a specific location depending on a specific situation; waking up the battery pack by inputting a wake-up signal; estimating the pack SOC of the battery pack; receiving a target SOC from a remote manager; comparing the pack SOC with the target SOC; informing the remote manager that the battery pack is discharged if, as a result of the comparison, the pack SOC is lower than the target SOC; and adjusting the pack SOC if, as a result of the comparison, the pack SOC is higher than the target SOC.

[0029] The battery pack management method further includes the steps of measuring the discharge current while adjusting the pack's state of charge (SOC) and comparing it with a threshold current, and if the discharge current is higher than the threshold current, increasing the resistance value of the discharge resistor to adjust the SOC. [Effects of the Invention]

[0030] The battery pack according to the present invention is equipped with a communication unit and can adjust the state of charge (SOC) of the battery pack based on control signals from an external remote control device. That is, at least one battery pack of the present invention is communicative and will be installed in a specific location depending on specific circumstances such as transport, storage, or disposal, and will adjust the SOC of the battery pack to suit the specific circumstances based on control signals from a remote control device. Therefore, the present invention makes it possible to automatically control the battery pack to a suitable state using wireless control signals provided in the environment, even if the battery pack is simply installed in the location during transport, storage, or disposal. In other words, multiple battery packs can be discharged simultaneously without having to connect each battery pack to the system and discharge them individually to check the SOC of each battery pack, thus reducing the time required to control the SOC of the battery packs. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0031] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram illustrating a battery pack management device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a block diagram illustrating a battery pack and a remote control device that constitute a battery pack management device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a block diagram illustrating a battery pack management device according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is a flowchart illustrating a battery pack management method using a battery pack management device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0032] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited in any way to the embodiments disclosed below and can be embodied in a variety of different forms. The following embodiments are provided merely to complete the disclosure of the present invention and to fully inform those in the ordinary skill of the scope of the invention. In the figures, the thickness is shown enlarged to clearly represent the various layers and each region, and the same reference numerals in the figures refer to the same components.

[0033] Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating a battery pack management device according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating a battery pack and remote control device that constitute the battery pack management device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a battery pack management device according to one embodiment of the present invention may include at least one battery pack 1000a to 1000n:1000, and a remote management device 2000 that is located separately from at least one battery pack 1000 and manages at least one battery pack 1000 using wireless communication. Here, the battery pack 1000 consists of at least one, preferably two or more, and the remote management device 2000 may be at least one, for example, one each in a predetermined range of a specific location. In the following description, we will assume that there are multiple battery packs 1000 and one remote management device 2000. That is, the multiple battery packs 1000 will be introduced and installed in specific locations according to specific circumstances such as long-term storage, transportation, and disposal. For example, multiple battery packs 1000 may be installed in a predetermined location (e.g., a storage warehouse) for long-term storage, or in a predetermined space (e.g., a container) for transport, or in a predetermined space (e.g., an open storage area or warehouse) for disposal. In this case, each of the multiple battery packs 1000 can communicate wirelessly. The remote control unit 2000 can be deployed in a specific location according to a specific situation and can control the multiple battery packs 1000 installed in that situation or location. In this case, the remote control unit 2000 is capable of wireless communication and can remotely control the multiple battery packs 1000. That is, the remote control unit 2000 can wirelessly control multiple battery packs 1000 installed in a storage warehouse for long-term storage, stored in a container for transport, or stored in an open storage area for disposal. In this case, the remote manager 2000 can remotely control the multiple battery packs 1000, that is, from a predetermined distance away, using wireless communication, so that the State of Control (SOC) of the battery packs 1000 is adjusted to suit specific circumstances.In other words, the battery pack 1000 must have a charge level below a predetermined level, i.e., a State of Charge (SOC), under specific circumstances such as long-term storage, transportation, and disposal. For this purpose, the present invention remotely controls the battery pack 1000 so that the remote control unit 2000 has an SOC appropriate for those circumstances. A battery pack management device according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprising at least one battery pack 1000 and at least one remote control unit 2000, will be described in more detail for each component as follows.

[0035] 1. Battery pack

[0036] The battery pack 1000 may include a battery 110 having multiple rechargeable battery cells, a communication unit 120 for communication with a remote control unit 2000, a measurement unit 130 for measuring the state of the battery 110, an SOC estimation unit 140 for estimating the state of charge (SOC) of the battery 110 using measurement data from the measurement unit 130, a control unit 150 for controlling the SOC of the battery 110 based on the estimation result of the SOC estimation unit 140 and a control signal corresponding to the environmental setting value of an external remote control unit 2000, and an SOC adjustment unit 160 for adjusting the SOC of the battery 110 based on the control signal of the control unit 150. On the other hand, the battery pack 1000 is attached to a predetermined electrical / electronic device during normal operation and provides the electrical energy necessary to drive the electrical / electronic device. That is, the battery pack 1000 is rechargeable and dischargeable, provides electrical energy to an electrical / electronic device during normal operation, and is discharged to adjust the SOC in accordance with the control of the remote control unit 2000 under specific circumstances such as long-term storage, transportation, or disposal. For the normal operation of the battery pack 1000, a charge / discharge switch (not shown) controlled by the control unit 150 may be provided. However, since the present invention describes the battery pack 1000 during long-term storage, transport, or disposal, the configuration during normal operation will not be discussed.

[0037] The communication unit 120, measurement unit 130, SOC estimation unit 140, and control unit 150 can be combined and configured as components of a battery pack battery management device (Pack BMS).

[0038] 1.1. Battery

[0039] The battery 110 is rechargeable and dischargeable and can provide the energy necessary to drive electrical and electronic devices. That is, the battery 110 can be charged to store a predetermined capacity of electrical energy and discharged to provide electrical energy for the operation of electrical and electronic devices. Such a battery 110 may comprise at least one battery pack, and the battery pack may comprise multiple battery modules. The battery module may comprise multiple rechargeable battery cells. That is, the battery 110 may comprise multiple battery cells, and the multiple battery cells may be bundled together in predetermined units to form a battery module, or multiple battery modules may constitute a single battery pack. On the other hand, the multiple battery cells may be connected in series and / or parallel in various ways to suit the specifications of the electrical and electronic devices. Needless to say, multiple battery modules or battery packs, each comprising multiple battery cells, may also be connected in series and / or parallel. Here, the type of battery cell is not particularly limited and can consist of, for example, lithium-ion batteries, lithium polymer batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, nickel-zinc batteries, etc.

[0040] 1.2. Communications Department

[0041] A communication unit 120 may be provided for communication between the battery pack 1000 and the remote control unit 2000. Such a communication unit 120 receives a predetermined signal from the remote control unit 2000 and passes it on to the control unit 150. At this time, the signal supplied from the remote control unit 2000 via the communication unit 120 may include environmental setting values, and the environmental setting values ​​may include a target SOC for managing the battery pack's SOC according to specific circumstances and locations. That is, the target SOC may differ depending on the long-term storage, transport, or disposal of the battery pack 1000, and the communication unit 120 can receive a target SOC signal corresponding to the circumstances from the remote control unit 2000. Environmental setting values ​​including such target SOCs according to specific circumstances and locations may be supplied to the control unit 150 via the communication unit 120 as a predetermined signal. In addition, a wakeup signal may be input from the remote control unit 2000 via the communication unit 120. Based on a wake-up signal input via the communication unit 120, the control unit 150, which is in idle state, is woken up. Then, upon receiving an SOC setting signal via the communication unit 120, the control unit 150 can adjust the SOC of the battery pack 1000 to suit a specific situation and location. At this time, the wake-up signal may be received from the remote manager 2000 via the communication unit 120 at a predetermined interval. Therefore, the battery pack 1000 can be woken up at a predetermined interval. The communication unit 120 can also transmit an estimated SOC value of the battery pack 1000 to the remote manager 2000. That is, the communication unit 120 can transmit the initial SOC estimated after the battery pack 1000 has been woken up to the remote manager 2000. Such a communication unit 120 can employ various types of communication modules, for example, wireless communication modules such as Bluetooth® and Zigbee® can be used.

[0042] 1.3.Measuring part

[0043] The measurement unit 130 may be provided to measure the state of the battery 110. The measurement unit 130 measures the state of the battery 110, such as voltage, current, and temperature. For this purpose, the measurement unit 130 may be equipped with a voltage sensor to measure voltage, a current sensor to measure current, and a temperature sensor to measure temperature. In this case, the measurement unit 130 can measure the state of the battery module and battery cells, such as current and voltage. That is, it may measure the state of each of multiple battery cells, or it may measure the state of a battery module in which multiple battery cells are bundled together. For this purpose, the measurement unit 130 may be equipped with multiple sensors. That is, it may be equipped with at least one voltage sensor, at least one current sensor, and at least one temperature sensor. The voltage sensor, current sensor, and temperature sensor periodically measure the voltage, current, and temperature of the battery 110 and provide the measurement results to the SOC estimation unit 140. The measurement results may be provided to the SOC estimation unit 140 as an analog signal or a digital signal. The voltage sensor measures the voltage applied between the positive and negative electrodes of the battery 110 and provides it to the SOC estimation unit 140. The voltage sensor may, for example, include a differential amplifier circuit that outputs a voltage signal corresponding to the voltage difference between the positive and negative terminals of the battery 110. Here, the voltage sensor can measure AC voltage. The current sensor is a sense resistor or a Hall sensor that generates a signal corresponding to the magnitude of the charging current and provides it to the SOC estimation unit 140. The current sensor can measure not only the magnitude of the charging current but also the magnitude of the discharge current. Here, the current sensor can measure AC current. The temperature sensor may, for example, be a thermal coupler used for measuring temperature. The temperature sensor generates a signal corresponding to the temperature of the battery 110 and provides it to the SOC estimation unit 140.

[0044] 1.4.SOC estimation part

[0045] The SOC estimation unit 140 estimates the State of Charge (SOC) of the battery 110. A wide variety of methods can be used to estimate the SOC. First, as a first method, the SOC of the battery 110 can be estimated using the capacity of the battery 110 estimated by the SOH estimation unit (not shown) and the current of the battery 110 measured by the measurement unit 130 and for which an average value has been calculated. That is, the SOC estimation unit 140 can estimate the SOC of the battery 110 by accumulating the calculated average current value over a predetermined time and dividing this by the battery capacity estimated by the SOH estimation unit. Second, the SOC estimation unit 140 can estimate the SOC using the open circuit voltage (OCV) of the battery 110. That is, the SOC can be estimated by referring to the initial OCV table and extracting the SOC that matches the OCV measured by the measurement unit 130. For example, if the OCV measured by the measurement unit 130 is 3560mV, the SOC can be estimated to be 40% by referring to the OCV table. In this case, the initial SOC can be estimated using OCV, and the SOC can also be estimated by measuring the discharge current. As a third method, the SOC estimation unit 140 can estimate the SOC by measuring the impedance of the battery 110. As a fourth method, the SOC estimation unit 140 estimates the battery's SOC using measurement data after charging and discharging of the battery 110. For example, if the battery discharges, the SOC estimation unit 140 calculates a first SOC after discharge, and if charging continues after discharge, it calculates a second SOC after charging. Also, if re-discharging continues after charging, it calculates a third SOC after re-discharging. This operation is then repeated. In this case, the SOC estimation unit 140 can estimate the battery's SOC using measured voltage, current, and temperature information based on a Kalman filter or an extended Kalman filter.In other words, the SOC estimation unit 140 models the battery's OCV, internal resistance, and resistor-capacitor parallel circuit as an equivalent circuit connected in series. It estimates the SOC using a linear or nonlinear function with factors of this equivalent circuit model as variables and a current integration method. By correcting the estimated SOC using sensing data generated in real time by the measurement unit 130 and the calculated average voltage and current, the SOC for the battery can be estimated.

[0046] 1.5. Control Unit

[0047] The control unit 150 can generate control signals for managing and controlling the battery 110 based on the state estimation result of the battery 110 in the SOC estimation unit 140. At this time, the control unit 150 manages the battery 110 based on the target SOC supplied from an external remote manager 2000 via the communication unit 120. That is, the control unit 150 receives the estimated SOC value of the battery 110, i.e., the pack SOC, from the SOC estimation unit 140, and receives the target SOC from the remote manager 2000 via the communication unit 120, and compares the pack SOC and the target SOC. If the comparison result shows that the target SOC is higher than the pack SOC (i.e., the pack SOC is lower than the target SOC), it is determined that the charge state of the battery pack under specific circumstances, i.e., the SOC, is low. Conversely, if the comparison result shows that the target SOC is lower than the pack SOC (i.e., the pack SOC is higher than the target SOC), it is determined that the charge state of the battery pack under specific circumstances, i.e., the SOC, is high. If the target SOC is lower than the pack SOC, the pack SOC must be reduced to below the target SOC. To this end, the control unit 150 generates a predetermined control signal (i.e., an SOC control signal) and supplies it to the SOC adjustment unit 160, causing the battery 110 to discharge via the SOC adjustment unit 160 and reduce the pack SOC. The control unit 150 will continue to discharge the battery 110 until the pack SOC is lower than the target SOC. Meanwhile, while the control unit 150 applies the SOC control signal and discharges the battery 110 via the SOC adjustment unit 160 to adjust the pack SOC, it measures the current flowing through the discharge resistor 162 of the SOC adjustment unit 160. The discharge resistor 162 may be a variable resistor, and the control unit 150 measures the current flowing through the discharge resistor 162, i.e., the discharge current I var and threshold current I th Compared with the discharge current I var The threshold current I th The resistance value of the discharge resistor 162 can be adjusted until it is equal to or less than the threshold current I. thIt can be set so that the temperature of the battery pack does not become excessively high when discharging with the specified value of the battery pack manufacturer. Also, the resistance value of the discharge resistor can be adjusted stepwise with the difference between the pack SOC and the target SOC as a threshold value. That is, the discharge resistor can be set low to adjust the SOC in a shorter time.

[0048] 1.6. SOC Adjustment Unit

[0049] The SOC adjustment unit 160 may be provided to discharge the charged charge of the battery 110 to reduce the SOC of the battery 110. For this purpose, the SOC adjustment unit 160 is connected to the battery 110 and the control unit 150 and discharges the charge of the battery 110 based on the control signal of the control unit 150, thereby reducing the SOC of the battery 110. Such an SOC adjustment unit 160 may include a switch 161 connected to the battery 110 and a discharge resistor 162 connected to the switch 161. At this time, the switch 161 and the discharge resistor 162 may be connected in series. The switch 161 may be controlled to be on / off based on a control signal from the control unit 150. For example, the switch 161 may be turned on in response to a control signal of a predetermined high level. In contrast, the switch 161 may be turned off in response to a low-level control signal. While the switch 161 is turned on, the electrical energy of the battery 110 is consumed by the discharge resistor 162, so that the SOC of the battery pack can be gradually lowered. On the other hand, the discharge resistor 162 may be a variable resistor. Here, the resistance of the discharge resistor 162 may be variable while adjusting the SOC. That is, the current flowing through the discharge resistor 162, that is, the discharge current I var is measured, and if the discharge current I var is higher than a predetermined threshold current I th , the resistance value of the discharge resistor 162 may be increased to discharge the battery 110. At this time, the battery 110 is discharged while increasing the resistance value of the discharge resistor 162 until the discharge current I var becomes lower than the threshold current I th .

[0050] Furthermore, if you want to increase the speed of SOC adjustment, the discharge current I var To set a higher value, the discharge resistance value must be adjusted to a lower value, but as mentioned above, for the safety of the battery, the discharge current I var The threshold current I th Adjust within a range lower than that.

[0051] 2. Remote control device

[0052] The remote management unit 2000 may be provided at least once, for example, one at each location within a predetermined range of a specific place. That is, the remote management unit 2000 may be provided within a communication range, but at least one may be provided depending on the communication sensitivity between the remote management unit 2000 and the battery pack 1000, and the size of the area where the multiple battery packs 1000 are installed. For example, one remote management unit 2000 may be provided in a predetermined location, or multiple remote management units may be provided in a predetermined location at predetermined intervals. Such a remote management unit 2000 may include a communication unit 210 for communication with the multiple battery packs 1000 and a management unit 220 for remotely managing the SOC of the battery packs 1000.

[0053] 2.1. Communications Department

[0054] The communication unit 210 may be provided for communication between the battery pack 1000 and the remote control unit 2000. That is, the communication unit 210 of the remote control unit 2000 communicates wirelessly with the communication unit 120 of the battery pack 1000. Such a communication unit 210 can transmit control signals, i.e., target SOC signals, according to environmental setting values ​​from the management unit 220 to multiple battery packs 1000. Such a communication unit 210 can employ a wide variety of communication modules; for example, wireless communication modules such as Bluetooth® and Zigbee® can be used.

[0055] 2.2. Management Department

[0056] The management unit 220 may be provided to manage multiple battery packs 1000 installed in specific locations according to specific circumstances. That is, the management unit 220 can control multiple battery packs 1000 installed in specific locations for long-term storage, transport, or disposal of the battery packs 1000 so that they have an SOC appropriate for the specific circumstances. In this case, the management unit 220 can generate a control signal for environmental setting values ​​according to the specific circumstances. The environmental setting values ​​may include a target SOC signal for managing the SOC of the battery packs 1000 according to specific circumstances and specific regions. That is, the target SOC may differ depending on whether the battery packs 1000 are being stored for long term, transported, or disposed of, and the management unit 220 can generate a target SOC signal appropriate to the circumstances. For example, in the case of long-term storage and transport, the target SOC can be set to 20% to 30%, and in the case of disposal, the target SOC can be set to 0%. Such target SOCs appropriate to specific circumstances may be stored in a predetermined memory unit (not shown), and the management unit 220 can read the information data stored in the memory unit and transmit it to the battery packs 1000 via the communication unit 210. Furthermore, the target SOC can be adjusted by the administrator according to specific circumstances and stored in the memory unit. Meanwhile, the management unit 220 can generate wake-up signals to wake up multiple battery packs 1000 installed in specific locations and transmit them to the multiple battery packs 1000 via the communication unit 210.

[0057] The battery pack 1000 according to one embodiment of the present invention, configured as described above, is equipped with a communication unit 120 that can adjust the SOC of the battery pack 1000 based on a control signal from an external device, i.e., a remote control unit 2000. In other words, the battery pack management device of the present invention will have at least one battery pack 1000 installed in a specific location depending on the specific situation, and will adjust the SOC of the battery pack 1000 to suit the specific situation based on a control signal from the remote control unit 2000. To this end, the battery pack 1000 will have a communication unit 120 that receives a control signal from the remote control unit 2000 and passes it to a control unit 150, and the control unit 150 will compare the SOC of the battery pack estimated by the SOC estimation unit 140 according to the state of the battery 110 measured via the measurement unit 130 with a target SOC input from the remote control unit 2000 and adjust the SOC of the battery pack using the SOC adjustment unit 160. At this time, the control unit 150 compares the target SOC from the remote manager 2000 with the pack SOC calculated using the SOC estimation unit 140. If the pack SOC is higher than the target SOC, the SOC adjustment unit 160 discharges the battery 110 to lower the pack SOC. In short, the present invention allows for wireless control of the battery packs 1000 so that they have an SOC appropriate for a given situation when multiple battery packs 1000 are installed in a specific location according to a specific situation, in accordance with the control of the remote manager 2000. Therefore, the present invention allows for automatic control of the battery packs to a suitable state using wireless control signals provided in that environment, even if the battery packs are simply installed in a location during transport, storage, or disposal. In other words, since multiple battery packs can be discharged together without having to connect each battery pack to the system and discharge them individually to check the SOC of each battery pack, the time required to control the SOC of the battery packs can be reduced.

[0058] On the other hand, the present invention may also involve housing multiple battery packs 1000 in a predetermined container and installing them in a specific location. That is, as shown in Figure 3, multiple battery packs 1000 may be housed in a battery rack 3000 and installed in a specific location. Needless to say, the battery rack 3000 may be provided in a specific location, and the multiple battery packs 1000 may be housed in the battery rack 3000, thereby installing the multiple battery packs 1000 in a specific location. In this case, the battery rack 3000 is capable of communicating with the multiple battery packs 1000. That is, the battery rack 3000 may be connected to each of the multiple battery packs 1000 by wire or wireless connection. For this purpose, the battery rack 3000 may be provided with wired communication terminals or wireless communication terminals. Furthermore, the battery rack 3000, which is connected to the multiple battery packs 1000 by communication, may be connected wirelessly to a wireless manager 2000. Therefore, it becomes possible to supply target SOC signals corresponding to the environmental settings of the wireless manager 2000 to each of the multiple battery packs 1000 via the battery rack 3000.

[0059] On the other hand, the remote control device of the present invention may include a battery rack (not shown) on which a battery pack is mounted, and the battery rack may be equipped with a battery pack communication connection unit so that the battery pack mounted on the battery rack can be connected to the remote control device by wired communication. In this case, the battery pack described above may be configured to include a wired communication connection unit.

[0060] Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating a battery pack management method using a battery pack management device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0061] Referring to Figure 4, the battery pack management method according to one embodiment of the present invention includes the process of introducing a plurality of battery packs 1000 to a specific location according to a specific situation (S110), the process of the plurality of battery packs 1000 being woken up by inputting a wake-up signal (S120), the process of each of the plurality of battery packs 1000 estimating its own pack SOC (S130), the process of receiving a target SOC signal from a remote management device 2000 installed at a specific location (S140), the process of each of the plurality of battery packs 1000 comparing its own pack SOC with the target SOC (S150), the process of informing the remote management device 2000 that the battery pack 1000 is discharged if the pack SOC is lower than the target SOC as a result of the comparison (S160), the process of discharging the battery 110 of the battery pack 1000 to adjust the SOC if the pack SOC is higher than the target SOC as a result of the comparison (S170), and the discharge current I during the adjustment of the battery SOC var Measure the threshold current I th The process of comparing (S180) and the discharge current I var The threshold current I th If it is higher than, increase the resistance value of the discharge resistor and discharge current I var The method may also include a variable resistance adjustment process (S190) to lower the value. A further detailed description of the battery pack management method according to such one embodiment of the present invention, step by step, is as follows.

[0062] S110: Multiple battery packs 1000 are introduced and installed in specific locations according to specific circumstances such as long-term storage, transportation, and disposal. For example, multiple battery packs 1000 may be installed in a predetermined location (e.g., a storage warehouse) for long-term storage, multiple battery packs 1000 may be installed in a predetermined space (e.g., a container) for transportation, or multiple battery packs 1000 may be installed in a predetermined space (e.g., an open storage area or warehouse) for disposal. In this case, each of the multiple battery packs 1000 is capable of wireless communication. The remote control unit 2000 is deployed in a specific location according to specific circumstances and can control the multiple battery packs 1000 installed in that location under those circumstances. In this case, the remote control unit 2000 is capable of wireless communication and can remotely control the multiple battery packs 1000. That is, the remote control unit 2000 can wirelessly control multiple battery packs 1000 installed in a storage warehouse for long-term storage, housed in a container for transportation, or stored in an open storage area for disposal. On the other hand, the battery pack 1000 is attached to the electrical and electronic device during normal operation and provides electrical energy to the electrical and electronic device. Therefore, the present invention allows the battery pack 1000 to be removed from the electrical and electronic device and transported to a specific location under specific circumstances, either before or after it has been attached to the electrical and electronic device.

[0063] S120: When multiple battery packs 1000 are brought to a specific location where the remote control unit 2000 is installed, the management unit 220 of the remote control unit 2000 generates a wake-up signal and transmits it to the multiple battery packs 1000 via the communication unit 210. The multiple battery packs 1000 are woken up by receiving the wake-up signal from the remote control unit 2000. That is, each communication unit 120 of the multiple battery packs 1000 receives the wake-up signal from the communication unit 210 of the remote control unit 2000 and passes it to the control unit 150, which then receives the wake-up signal and wakes up the battery packs 1000. Based on the wake-up signal, the control unit 150 drives the battery 110 or drives a predetermined power supply unit (not shown) located inside the battery pack 1000 to wake up the battery packs 1000. The battery pack 1000 is woken up when power is supplied from the battery 110 or a predetermined power supply unit to the components of the battery pack 1000, namely the measurement unit 130, the SOC estimation unit 140, and the control unit 150. Needless to say, the wake-up signal may also be applied to the battery 110 or the predetermined power supply unit without going through the control unit 150, thereby supplying power from the battery 110 or the predetermined power supply unit to the components of the battery pack 1000 and waking up the battery pack 1000. On the other hand, the wake-up signal may be input at a predetermined interval. That is, the battery pack 1000 may be woken up at a predetermined interval when a wake-up signal is input from the remote manager 2000 at a predetermined interval.

[0064] S130: After the battery pack 1000 is woken up, the state of charge (SOC) of the battery pack 1000, i.e., the pack SOC, is estimated, and the estimated initial SOC is transmitted to the remote manager 2000 via the communication unit 120. A wide variety of methods can be used to estimate the SOC. First, as a first method, the SOC of the battery 110 can be estimated using the capacity of the battery 110 estimated by the SOH estimation unit (not shown) and the current of the battery 110 measured and averaged by the measurement unit 130. That is, the SOC estimation unit 140 can estimate the SOC of the battery 110 by accumulating the calculated average current value over a predetermined time and dividing this by the battery capacity estimated by the SOH estimation unit. Second, the SOC estimation unit 140 can estimate the SOC using the OCV (Open Circuit Voltage) of the battery 110. That is, the SOC can be estimated by referring to the initial OCV table and extracting the SOC matched with the OCV measured by the measurement unit 130. In this case, the initial SOC may be estimated using OCV, and the SOC may also be estimated by measuring the discharge current. In addition to these methods, various other methods can be used to estimate the packed SOC.

[0065] S140: After transmitting the initial SOC of the battery pack 1000, the battery pack 1000 can receive a target SOC signal from the remote manager 2000. That is, the target SOC signal generated by the management unit 220 of the remote manager 2000 is transmitted to the communication unit 120 of the battery pack 1000 via the communication unit 210, and the communication unit 120 can receive it and pass it on to the control unit 150. Here, the management unit 220 of the remote manager 2000 can generate a target SOC signal for managing the SOC of multiple battery packs 1000 installed in a specific location for long-term storage, transport, or disposal of the battery packs 1000. That is, the target SOC may differ depending on whether the battery pack 1000 is being stored for a long period, transported, or disposed of, and the management unit 220 can generate a target SOC signal according to the situation. For example, in the case of long-term storage and transport, the target SOC may be set to 20% to 30%, or in the case of disposal, the target SOC may be set to 0%.

[0066] The management unit 220 of the remote control unit 2000 can compare the initial SOC of the received battery pack 1000 with the target SOC and transmit an external discharge signal to the battery. At this time, together with the external discharge signal, or independently, a first discharge rate specification signal can be transmitted to the battery, which specifies the discharge rate according to the difference between the initial SOC and the target SOC.

[0067] S150: Multiple battery packs 1000 compare their pack SOCs with their target SOCs. Specifically, the control unit 150 compares the pack SOC estimated by the SOC estimation unit 140 with the target SOC received from the remote manager 2000 via the communication unit 120. For example, the control unit 150 determines whether the pack SOC is larger than the target SOC by comparing them.

[0068] S160: The pack SOC is compared with the target SOC. If the pack SOC is smaller than the target SOC, a message is sent to the remote manager 2000 indicating that the battery pack 1000 has an SOC suitable for a specific situation. That is, if the pack SOC is smaller than the target SOC, a predetermined signal is sent to the remote manager 2000 indicating that the battery 110 has been discharged to a predetermined level or below.

[0069] S170: However, if the pack SOC is greater than the target SOC, the control unit 150 generates an SOC control signal and applies it to the SOC adjustment unit 160. The SOC adjustment unit 160 receives the SOC control signal and discharges the battery 110. That is, the SOC adjustment unit 160 discharges the charge that was charged into the battery 110 by turning on the switch 161, which includes a switch 161 and a discharge resistor 162, based on the SOC control signal from the control unit 150, through the discharge resistor 162. By discharging the battery 110 using the SOC adjustment unit 160, the pack SOC is adjusted. This adjustment of the pack SOC is continued until the pack SOC is lower than the target SOC.

[0070] At this time, the control unit 150 can receive the first discharge rate specification signal and pass it on to the SOC adjustment unit 160, or it can compare the pack SOC and the target SOC and generate a second discharge rate specification signal based on the difference and pass it on to the SOC adjustment unit 160.

[0071] If there is a first or second discharge rate specification signal, the value of the discharge resistor 162, described later, can be adjusted to match the specified discharge rate. To increase the discharge rate, the resistance value of the discharge resistor can be lowered to increase the discharge current. However, even when lowering the resistance value of the discharge resistor 162 to increase the discharge rate, the discharge current I will be affected, as explained in step S190 below. var The threshold current I th If it is higher than that, increase the resistance value of the discharge resistor.

[0072] S180: The control unit 150 applies an SOC control signal to discharge the battery 110 via the SOC adjustment unit 160 to adjust the pack SOC, and measures the current flowing through the discharge resistor 162 of the SOC adjustment unit 160. The discharge resistor 162 may be a variable resistor, and the control unit 150 measures the current flowing through the discharge resistor 162, i.e., the discharge current I var and threshold current I th Compare them.

[0073] S190: Discharge current I flowing through the discharge resistor var and a predetermined threshold current I th Compared with the discharge current I var The threshold current I th If it is higher than this, the resistance value of the discharge resistor 162 can be increased. Here, the threshold current I th This may be a safe current value set to prevent the battery pack temperature from becoming excessively high when discharging at the value specified by the battery pack manufacturer, and is therefore a battery discharge safety current value.

[0074] As described above, the technical concept of the present invention has been specifically described based on the embodiments described above, but it should be noted that these embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and not for limitation. Furthermore, those skilled in the art in the field of the present invention should understand that various embodiments are possible within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention.

[0075] The reference numerals and their names used in the drawings of this invention are as follows: [Explanation of Symbols]

[0076] 1000: Battery Pack 2000: Remote control device 3000: Battery Rack 110: Battery 120: Communications Department 130: Measuring part 140:SOC Estimation Department 150: Control Unit 160: SOC Adjustment Department 210: Ministry of Communications 220: Management Department

Claims

1. In battery packs, A battery equipped with multiple rechargeable battery cells, A communication unit that transmits the estimated initial SOC of the battery when the battery pack is woken up to an external device and receives a target SOC from the external device, An SOC estimation unit for estimating the SOC of the aforementioned battery, A control unit compares the SOC of the battery estimated by the SOC estimation unit with the target SOC, and if the result of the comparison is that the SOC of the battery is greater than the target SOC, outputs an SOC adjustment signal to discharge the battery and reduce the SOC of the battery. The system includes an SOC adjustment unit that reduces the SOC of the battery by discharging the battery based on the SOC adjustment signal, The SOC adjustment unit comprises a switch connected to the battery and a discharge resistor connected to the switch. The switch is driven based on the SOC adjustment signal to discharge the battery through the discharge resistor so that the SOC of the battery becomes lower than the target SOC. The discharge resistor includes a variable resistor, and the control unit controls the temperature of the battery pack by adjusting the resistance value of the discharge resistor.

2. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the battery pack receives a wake-up signal from the external device.

3. The battery pack according to claim 2, wherein the wake-up signal is input at a predetermined period.

4. The battery pack according to claim 3, wherein the target SOC is input to differ depending on the operating state of the battery pack, such as long-term storage, transport, or disposal of the battery pack.

5. In a battery pack management device, At least one battery pack capable of communicating with the outside world, A remote management device is located separately from the at least one battery pack and manages the at least one battery pack using communication. Equipped with, The remote manager sets the target SOC and transmits it to the battery pack, and the battery pack adjusts the SOC of the battery in the battery pack based on the target SOC. The battery pack includes a control unit that compares the target SOC with the battery's SOC and, if the battery's SOC is large, outputs an SOC adjustment signal to reduce the battery's SOC based on the target SOC. The aforementioned battery pack is A battery equipped with multiple rechargeable battery cells, A first communication unit transmits the initial SOC when the battery pack is woken up to the remote manager and receives the target SOC from the remote manager. A SOC estimation unit for estimating the SOC of the battery in the battery pack, The system includes an SOC adjustment unit that reduces the SOC of the battery by discharging the battery based on the SOC adjustment signal, The remote control unit compares the initial SOC with the target SOC and transmits a first discharge rate specification signal to the battery that specifies a discharge rate corresponding to the difference between the initial SOC and the target SOC. The SOC adjustment unit comprises a switch connected to the battery and a discharge resistor connected to the switch. The switch is driven based on the SOC adjustment signal to discharge the battery through the discharge resistor. A battery pack management device characterized in that the discharge resistor includes a variable resistor, and the control unit increases the resistance value of the discharge resistor to reduce the discharge current when the discharge current flowing through the discharge resistor is greater than a predetermined reference current.

6. The battery pack management device according to claim 5, wherein the battery pack is brought to a predetermined location according to specific circumstances, including long-term storage, transport, and disposal, and is woken up based on a wake-up signal from the remote management device, and the remote management device is provided within a range that allows communication with the battery pack brought to the predetermined location.

7. The battery pack management device according to claim 6, wherein the target SOC differs depending on the long-term storage, transport, or disposal of the battery pack.

8. The aforementioned remote control device is A second communication unit transmits a wake-up signal and a target SOC to the battery pack and receives the initial SOC from the battery pack when the battery pack is woken up. The battery pack management device according to claim 5, further comprising a management unit for generating the wake-up signal and target SOC and managing the battery pack via the second communication unit.

9. The battery pack management device according to claim 8, further comprising a battery rack installed in a predetermined location according to specific circumstances including long-term storage, transport, and disposal, housing at least one battery pack, and communicating with the battery pack using wireless or wired communication.

10. The battery pack management device according to claim 9, wherein the remote control device manages the at least one battery pack housed in the battery rack via the battery rack.

11. In a method of managing at least one battery pack using a remote manager that communicates with it, The steps include: transporting the at least one battery pack to a specific location depending on the circumstances, including long-term storage, transport, or disposal; The battery pack is woken up upon receiving a wake-up signal from the remote control device. The battery pack's SOC estimation unit estimates the battery pack's SOC, The steps include: the communication unit of the battery pack receiving the target SOC from the remote management device; The steps include: the control unit of the battery pack compares the pack SOC with the target SOC; As a result of the above comparison, if the pack SOC is lower than the target SOC, the communication unit of the battery pack informs the remote manager that the battery pack is discharged, As a result of the above comparison, if the pack SOC is higher than the target SOC, the SOC adjustment unit of the battery pack discharges the battery pack to reduce the pack SOC. Includes, The step of reducing the pack SOC is, The steps include: reducing the pack SOC while the battery pack's measurement unit measures the discharge current, and the control unit comparing the measured discharge current with a reference current; If the discharge current is greater than the reference current, the control unit reduces the discharge current by increasing the resistance value of the discharge resistor, thereby reducing the pack SOC. A battery pack management method further comprising the characteristic that the discharge resistor is connected to a switch connected to the battery of the battery pack.

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