Replacement battery and its operation method

Abstract

A replacement battery that can be accommodated in a slot of a battery exchange station according to one embodiment disclosed in the present specification includes a battery unit, a communication circuit that acquires required voltage data of an external electronic device from the battery exchange station, a power management circuit that converts the power stored in the battery unit into power based on the required voltage data, and an output terminal that outputs the power based on the required voltage data to the external electronic device, and the required voltage data may be generated based on model data of the external electronic device previously acquired by the battery exchange station.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0171005 filed on December 8, 2022, and all the contents disclosed in the documents of the Korean patent application are incorporated herein by reference as part of the present specification.

[0002] The embodiments disclosed in the present specification relate to a replacement battery and an operation method thereof.

Background Art

[0003] A battery swapping station is designed to accommodate and manage a plurality of replacement batteries so that they can be easily used by users of electric vehicles, such as electric cars, electric scooters, and electric bicycles. For example, the battery swapping station can charge the replacement batteries using power from an external power supply device and provide the fully charged replacement batteries to the users of the electric vehicles.

[0004] The user can remove the fully charged replacement battery from the battery swapping station and attach it to the electric vehicle for use. Also, the user can remove the depleted replacement battery from the electric vehicle and attach it to the battery swapping station for charging.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In the case of an electric vehicle, the required voltage may vary depending on the model. Since the battery swapping station either provides replacement batteries that supply power based on the same voltage collectively or the user cannot receive the provision of a replacement battery that supplies power suitable for the electric vehicle unless the required voltage of the electric vehicle owned by the user is input to the battery swapping station, there is a problem that it is troublesome to use.

[0006] To solve the aforementioned problems, embodiments disclosed in this specification can provide a replacement battery and a method for operating the same, which provides power corresponding to model data when a user of an electric vehicle inputs model data of the electric vehicle into a user terminal or battery replacement station.

[0007] Furthermore, the embodiments disclosed in this specification can provide a replaceable battery that can function not only as a replaceable battery in an electric vehicle but also as a mobile power bank, and a method for operating the same.

[0008] The technical problems of the embodiments disclosed in this specification are not limited to those described above, and other technical problems not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] A replacement battery that can be accommodated in a slot of a battery replacement station according to one embodiment disclosed in this specification includes a battery unit, a communication circuit that acquires required voltage data for an external electronic device from the battery replacement station, a power management circuit that converts the power stored in the battery unit into power based on the required voltage data, and an output terminal that outputs power based on the required voltage data to the external electronic device, wherein the required voltage data may be generated based on model data of the external electronic device acquired in advance by the battery replacement station.

[0010] In a replacement battery housed in a slot of a battery replacement station according to one embodiment disclosed in this specification, the power management circuit can output power based on required voltage data to the external electronic device via the output terminal when an electrical connection between the external electronic device and the replacement battery is identified via the output terminal.

[0011] A replacement battery housed in a slot of a battery replacement station according to one embodiment disclosed herein further includes other output terminals for outputting power converted by a power management circuit to other external electronic devices, the power management circuit converts power stored in the battery unit into power based on voltages corresponding to the other output terminals, and can output power based on voltages corresponding to the other output terminals to other external electronic devices via the other output terminals.

[0012] In a replacement battery housed in a slot of a battery replacement station according to one embodiment disclosed in this specification, the power management circuit can convert the power stored in the battery unit into power based on the voltage corresponding to the other output terminal when an electrical connection between the replacement battery and another external electronic device is identified via the other output terminal.

[0013] In a replacement battery housed in a slot of a battery replacement station according to one embodiment disclosed in this specification, the power management circuit may include at least one of a DC (direct current)-DC converter or a DC-AC (alternating current) inverter.

[0014] An operation method for a replacement battery that can be housed in a slot of a battery replacement station according to one embodiment disclosed in this specification includes the operation of acquiring required voltage data for an external electronic device from the battery replacement station, the operation of converting the power stored in the battery unit of the replacement battery into power based on the required voltage data, and the operation of outputting the power based on the required voltage data to the external electronic device via the output terminal of the replacement battery, wherein the required voltage data may be generated based on model data of the external electronic device acquired in advance by the battery replacement station.

[0015] In a method for operating a replacement battery that can be housed in a slot of a battery replacement station according to one embodiment disclosed in this specification, the operation of outputting power based on required voltage data to an external electronic device may include an operation of outputting power based on required voltage data to an external electronic device when an electrical connection between the external electronic device and the replacement battery is identified.

[0016] An operation method for a replacement battery housed in a slot of a battery replacement station according to one embodiment disclosed in this specification may further include: converting the power stored in the battery unit into power based on voltages corresponding to other output terminals of the replacement battery; and outputting the power based on voltages corresponding to other output terminals to other external electronic devices via the other output terminals.

[0017] In a method for operating a replacement battery housed in a slot of a battery replacement station according to one embodiment disclosed in this specification, the operation of converting the power stored in the battery unit into power based on a voltage corresponding to the other output terminals of the replacement battery may include the operation of converting the power stored in the battery unit into power based on a voltage corresponding to the other output terminals when an electrical connection between the replacement battery and another external electronic device is identified via the other output terminals. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] The replacement battery and its operating method according to various embodiments disclosed in this specification can enable the user to use the battery replacement system more conveniently by outputting the required power based on the model data of the user's electric vehicle.

[0019] In the various embodiments of the replacement battery and its operating method disclosed in this specification, the replacement battery housed in the battery replacement station can not only serve as a battery replaceable in an electric vehicle, but also function as a mobile power bank.

[0020] The effects of the replacement battery and its operation method according to the disclosure of this specification are not limited to the above-mentioned effects, and other effects not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the disclosure of this specification.

[0021] In addition to this, various effects that can be directly or indirectly grasped can be provided according to this specification.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0022] [Figure 1] It is a diagram showing a battery replacement system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] It is a block diagram of a replacement battery according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] It is a block diagram of a replacement battery according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] It is an operation flowchart of a replacement battery according to an embodiment. [Figure 5] It is an operation flowchart of a replacement battery according to an embodiment.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0023] Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to specific embodiments, and it should be understood to include various modifications, equivalents, and / or alternatives of the embodiments of the present invention.

[0024] Various embodiments of this specification and the terms used therein are not intended to limit the technical features described in this specification to specific embodiments, and it should be understood to include various modifications, equivalents, or alternatives of the embodiments. For components that are similar or related in connection with the description of the drawings, similar reference numerals may be used. The singular form of a noun corresponding to the description may include one or more of the descriptions unless clearly indicated otherwise in the relevant context.

[0025] In this specification, phrases such as “A or B,” “at least one of A and B,” “at least one of A or B,” “A, B, or C,” “at least one of A, B, and C,” and “at least one of A, B, or C” may each include any one of the items listed together in the phrase, or any possible combination thereof. Terms such as “first,” “second,” “first,” “second,” “A,” “B,” “(a),” or “(b)” may be used simply to distinguish one component from another, and do not limit the components in any other way (e.g., materiality or order) unless otherwise stated.

[0026] In this specification, when a component (e.g., a first component) is referred to as being "connected with," "coupled with," "linked with," "coupled with," or "connected to" another component (e.g., a second component), with or without such terms, it means that the first component may be connected to the other component directly (e.g., by wire), wirelessly, or via a third component.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the methods according to the various embodiments disclosed herein may be provided in a computer program product. The computer program product may be traded as a commodity between a seller and a buyer. The computer program product may be distributed in the form of a device-readable storage medium (e.g., a CD-ROM (compact disc read-only memory)) or online (e.g., by download or upload) via an application store or directly between two user devices. In the case of online distribution, at least a portion of the computer program product may be at least temporarily stored or temporarily generated on a device-readable storage medium such as the memory of a manufacturer's server, an application store server, or an intermediary server.

[0028] In various embodiments, each of the aforementioned components (e.g., a module or a program) may include one or more individuals, and some of the individuals may be arranged separately in other components. In various embodiments, one or more of the aforementioned components or operations may be omitted, or one or more other components or operations may be added. Alternatively or additionally, multiple components (e.g., a module or a program) may be integrated into a single component. In this case, the integrated component may perform one or more functions of each of the multiple components in the same or similar manner as those performed by the components before integration. In various embodiments, operations performed by a module, program, or other component may be executed sequentially, in parallel, iteratively, or heuristically, or one or more operations may be executed in a different order, or omitted, or one or more other operations may be added.

[0029] Figure 1 shows a battery replacement system according to one embodiment.

[0030] Referring to Figure 1, the battery replacement system may include a battery replacement station 110, replacement batteries 120, a user terminal 130, and / or a server 140.

[0031] A battery replacement station 110 may be provided for each designated charging station. According to one embodiment, the battery replacement station 110 may include a plurality of slots 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116 capable of accommodating replacement batteries 120 for charging. When replacement batteries 120 are accommodated in the plurality of slots 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, the battery replacement station 110 can supply power to the accommodated replacement batteries 120.

[0032] According to one embodiment, when a battery exchange station 110 receives a used replacement battery 120 from a user of an electric vehicle (e.g., an electric car, electric scooter, electric bicycle, etc.) and the user pays the charging fee, the station can provide the user with one of the other replacement batteries that has already been charged. For example, when a user returns the used replacement battery 120 to slot 113 of the battery exchange station 110, the replacement battery 120 may be installed in slot 113. After the user pays the charging fee, another replacement battery located in one of the remaining slots 111, 112, 114, 115, or 116 may be removed from the slot and provided to the user.

[0033] The replacement battery 120 may be a battery pack that can be installed and used in an electric-powered vehicle. The replacement battery 120 may be removed from an electric-powered vehicle and placed in one of the multiple slots 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116 of the battery replacement station 110. The replacement battery 120 placed in one of the multiple slots 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116 can receive power from the battery replacement station 110.

[0034] According to one embodiment, the battery replacement station 110 may be connected to the user terminal 130 and / or the server 140 by wire and / or wirelessly.

[0035] According to one embodiment, the connection 101 and / or 102 between the battery replacement station 110 and the user terminal 130 and / or server 140 may be a communication connection via a wired and / or wireless network. According to one embodiment, the wired network may be based on LAN (local area network) communication or power-line communication. According to one embodiment, the wireless network may be based on a local area network (e.g., Bluetooth®, WiFi (wireless fidelity), IrDA (infrared data association)) or a wide area network (cellular network, 4G network, 5G network).

[0036] According to one embodiment, the battery exchange station 110 can acquire model data of an external electronic device from a user terminal 130 by connecting to the user terminal 130 101. Here, the external electronic device may be an electric vehicle equipped with a replacement battery 120 provided by the battery exchange station 110.

[0037] According to one embodiment, the battery replacement station 110 can obtain information corresponding to the model data (e.g., manufacturing date, manufacturer, required voltage, etc.) from the server 140 by connecting with the server 140 102. According to one embodiment, when the battery replacement station 110 obtains model data from the user terminal 130, it can request information corresponding to the model data from the server 140 by connecting with the server 140 102. The battery replacement station 110 can obtain the information transmitted from the server 140 in response to the request by connecting with the server 140 102.

[0038] According to one embodiment, the battery replacement station 110 can generate required voltage data for an external electronic device based on model data acquired from the user terminal 130. For example, the battery replacement station 110 can generate required voltage data based on information (e.g., required voltage) corresponding to model data pre-stored in memory.

[0039] According to another embodiment, the battery replacement station 110 can generate required voltage data for an external electronic device based on model data of the external electronic device acquired from the user terminal 130 and information corresponding to the model data acquired from the server 140.

[0040] According to one embodiment, the battery replacement station 110 can transmit the generated required voltage data to a replacement battery 120 housed in one of a plurality of slots 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116.

[0041] Figure 2 is a block diagram of a replacement battery according to one embodiment. The battery replacement station 110 and the replacement battery 120 shown in Figures 1 and 2 may have the same configuration as each other.

[0042] Referring to Figure 2, the replacement battery 120 may include a communication circuit 121, a battery unit 122, a power management circuit 123, and a first output terminal 124.

[0043] According to one embodiment, the communication circuit 121 can send and receive data through a connection 201 between the replacement battery 120 and the battery replacement station 110. According to one embodiment, the connection 201 between the replacement battery 120 and the battery replacement station 110 may be a communication connection via a wired and / or wireless network.

[0044] According to one embodiment, the communication circuit 121 can acquire the required voltage data for the first external electronic device 210 from the battery replacement station 110. Here, the first external electronic device 210 may be an electric-powered vehicle (e.g., an electric car, electric scooter, electric bicycle, etc.).

[0045] According to one embodiment, the required voltage data may be data generated by the battery replacement station 110 based on model data of the first external electronic device 210 acquired from a user terminal (for example, user terminal 130 in Figure 1). According to another embodiment, the required voltage data may be data generated by the battery replacement station 110 based on model data and information corresponding to the model data acquired from a server (for example, server 140 in Figure 1).

[0046] According to one embodiment, the battery unit 122 may be a battery cell or battery module that supplies power to or receives power from an external source.

[0047] According to one embodiment, the battery unit 122 may be electrically connected to the power management circuit 123. The battery unit 122 can receive power from the power management circuit 123 or transmit power to the power management circuit 123.

[0048] According to one embodiment, the power management circuit 123 can manage the power received from the battery replacement station 110 by a connection 202 between the replacement battery 120 and the battery replacement station 110. Here, the connection 202 between the replacement battery 120 and the battery replacement station 110 may be formed when the replacement battery 120 is installed in a slot of the battery replacement station 110 (for example, slot 113 in Figure 1). According to one embodiment, the power management circuit 123 can convert the power received from the battery replacement station 110 into a specified voltage and current. The power management circuit 123 can transmit the power based on the converted voltage and current to the battery unit 122.

[0049] According to one embodiment, the power management circuit 123 can manage the power to be output to the first external electronic device 210 via the first output terminal 124. The power management circuit 123 and the first external electronic device 210 may be connected via the first output terminal 124 when the replacement battery 120 is removed from the slot of the battery replacement station 110 (for example, slot 113 in Figure 1) and coupled with the first external electronic device 210. According to one embodiment, the power management circuit 123 can convert the power stored in the battery unit 122 into a specified voltage and current. The power management circuit 123 can output power based on the converted voltage and current to the first external electronic device 210 via the first output terminal 124.

[0050] According to one embodiment, the power management circuit 123 can convert the power stored in the battery unit 122 into power based on the required voltage data of the first external electronic device 210. For example, the power management circuit 123 can convert the voltage of the power stored in the battery unit 122 into the required voltage of the first external electronic device 210.

[0051] According to one embodiment, the power management circuit 123 can output the power converted based on the required voltage data to the first external electronic device 210 via the first output terminal 124.

[0052] In one embodiment, the power management circuit 123 can identify the electrical connection between the first external electronic device 210 and the replacement battery 120. In one embodiment, the power management circuit 123 can identify the electrical connection between the first external electronic device 210 and the replacement battery 120 via the first output terminal 124.

[0053] According to one embodiment, when the power management circuit 123 identifies the electrical connection between the first external electronic device 210 and the replacement battery 120, it can output power converted based on the required voltage data to the first external electronic device 210 via the first output terminal 124.

[0054] According to one embodiment, the power management circuit 123 may include at least one of a DC-DC converter capable of converting a DC (direct current) voltage to a DC voltage, or a DC-AC inverter capable of converting a DC voltage to an AC (alternating current) voltage.

[0055] The replacement battery 120, which also functions as a mobile power bank, will be described below with reference to Figure 3.

[0056] Figure 3 is a block diagram of a replacement battery according to one embodiment. The battery replacement station 110 and the replacement battery 120 shown in Figures 1 and 3 may have the same configuration as each other.

[0057] In this specification, redundant explanations regarding the same configuration as shown in Figure 2 (for example, connector 201, connector 202, communication circuit 121, battery unit 122, power management circuit 123, first output terminal 124) are omitted.

[0058] According to one embodiment, the power management circuit 123 can manage the power output to the second external electronic device 310 (or third external electronic device 320) via the second output terminal 125 (or third output terminal 126). Here, the second external electronic device 310 (or third external electronic device 320) may be various electronic devices that are electrically connected to a replacement battery 120 used as a mobile power bank via the second output terminal 125 (or third output terminal 126) and receive power from the replacement battery 120. According to one embodiment, the power management circuit 123 can convert the power stored in the battery unit 122 into a voltage and / or current corresponding to the second output terminal 125 (or third output terminal 126).

[0059] According to one embodiment, the power management circuit 123 can output power based on the converted voltage and / or current to a second external electronic device 310 (or a third external electronic device 320) via a second output terminal 125 (or a third output terminal 126).

[0060] In one embodiment, the power management circuit 123 can identify the electrical connection between the second external electronic device 310 (or the third external electronic device 320) and the replacement battery 120. In one embodiment, the power management circuit 123 can identify the electrical connection between the second external electronic device 310 (or the third external electronic device 320) and the replacement battery 120 via the second output terminal 125 (or the third output terminal 126).

[0061] According to one embodiment, when the power management circuit 123 identifies an electrical connection between the second external electronic device 310 (or the third external electronic device 320) and the replacement battery 120, it can convert the power stored in the battery unit 122 into a voltage corresponding to the second output terminal 125 (or the third output terminal 126).

[0062] Figure 4 is an operation flowchart of a replacement battery according to one embodiment. Figure 4 can be explained using the configurations shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3.

[0063] The embodiment shown in Figure 4 is only one embodiment, and the order of steps in various embodiments of the present invention may differ from that shown in Figure 4. Some of the steps shown in Figure 4 may be omitted, the order of the steps may be changed, or steps may be merged. For example, operation 415 may be omitted. As another example, the order of operations 410 and 415 may be changed.

[0064] Referring to Figure 4, in operation 405, the replacement battery 120 can acquire the required voltage data for an external electronic device (for example, the first external electronic device 210 in Figure 2).

[0065] According to one embodiment, the required voltage data may be data generated by the battery replacement station 110 based on model data of an external electronic device acquired from a user terminal (for example, user terminal 130 in Figure 1). According to another embodiment, the required voltage data may be data generated by the battery replacement station 110 based on model data and information corresponding to the model data acquired from a server (for example, server 140 in Figure 1).

[0066] In operation 410, the replacement battery 120 can convert the power stored in the battery unit 122 into power based on the required voltage data obtained in operation 405. For example, the replacement battery 120 can convert the voltage of the power stored in the battery unit 122 into the required voltage of an external electronic device.

[0067] In operation 415, the replacement battery 120 can identify the electrical connection between the external electronic device and the replacement battery 120. In one embodiment, the replacement battery 120 can identify the electrical connection between the external electronic device and the replacement battery 120 via the first output terminal 124.

[0068] In operation 420, the replacement battery 120 can output the power converted in operation 410 to an external electronic device. According to one embodiment, the replacement battery 120 can output the power converted in operation 410 to an external electronic device via the first output terminal 124.

[0069] Figure 5 is an operation flowchart of a replacement battery according to one embodiment. Figure 5 can be explained using the configurations shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3.

[0070] The embodiment shown in Figure 5 is only one embodiment, and the order of steps in various embodiments of the present invention may differ from that shown in Figure 5. Some of the steps shown in Figure 5 may be omitted, the order of the steps may be changed, or steps may be merged.

[0071] Referring to Figure 5, in operation 505, the replacement battery 120 can identify the electrical connection between the replacement battery 120 and other external electronic devices (e.g., the second external electronic device 310 and / or the third external electronic device 320 in Figure 3). In one embodiment, the replacement battery 120 can identify the electrical connection between the replacement battery 120 and other external electronic devices via other output terminals (e.g., the second output terminal 125 and / or the third output terminal 126 in Figure 3).

[0072] In operation 510, the replacement battery 120 can convert the power stored in the battery unit 122 into power based on the voltage corresponding to other output terminals. Here, other output terminals may mean output terminals that electrically connect other external electronic devices to the replacement battery 120.

[0073] In operation 515, the replacement battery 120 can output the power converted in operation 510 to other external electronic devices. According to one embodiment, the replacement battery 120 can output the power converted in operation 510 to other external electronic devices via other output terminals.

[0074] The terms “includes,” “constitutes,” or “possesses,” as used above, mean “may contain,” unless otherwise specified, that the component may be present, and not exclude other components, but rather may further include other components. All terms, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as generally understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art to which the embodiments disclosed herein belong, unless otherwise defined. Commonly used terms, such as those defined in dictionaries, should be interpreted to be consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art, and not to be interpreted in an ideal or overly formal sense unless explicitly defined herein.

Claims

1. A replacement battery that can be accommodated in a slot of a battery replacement station, The aforementioned replacement battery is Battery unit and A communication circuit that acquires the necessary voltage data of an external electronic device from the aforementioned battery replacement station, A power management circuit that converts the power stored in the battery unit into power based on the required voltage data, It includes an output terminal that outputs the power based on the required voltage data to the external electronic device, The aforementioned required voltage data is generated based on model data of the external electronic device acquired in advance by the battery replacement station, and is used for replacement batteries.

2. The aforementioned power management circuit is The replacement battery according to claim 1, wherein when an electrical connection between the external electronic device and the replacement battery is identified via the output terminal, the power based on the required voltage data is output to the external electronic device via the output terminal.

3. The system further includes other output terminals that output the power converted by the power management circuit to other external electronic devices. The aforementioned power management circuit is The power stored in the battery unit is converted into power based on the voltage corresponding to the other output terminals. A replacement battery according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the power based on the voltage corresponding to the other output terminal is output to the other external electronic device via the other output terminal.

4. The replacement battery according to claim 3, wherein the power management circuit, when an electrical connection between the replacement battery and the other external electronic device is identified via the other output terminal, converts the power stored in the battery unit into power based on the voltage corresponding to the other output terminal.

5. The replacement battery according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the power management circuit includes at least one of a DC-DC converter or a DC-AC inverter.

6. A method for operating a replacement battery that can be accommodated in a slot of a battery replacement station, The aforementioned operation method is, The battery replacement station will acquire the necessary voltage data for the external electronic device, Converting the power stored in the battery unit of the replacement battery into power based on the required voltage data, This includes outputting the power based on the required voltage data to the external electronic device via the output terminal of the replacement battery, A method for operating a replacement battery, wherein the required voltage data is generated based on model data of the external electronic device acquired in advance by the battery replacement station.

7. Outputting the power based on the required voltage data to the external electronic device is, A method for operating a replacement battery according to claim 6, comprising outputting the power based on the required voltage data to the external electronic device when an electrical connection between the external electronic device and the replacement battery is identified.

8. Converting the power stored in the battery unit into power based on the voltage corresponding to the other output terminals of the replacement battery, The method for operating a replacement battery according to claim 6 or 7, further comprising outputting the power based on the voltage corresponding to the other output terminal to another external electronic device via the other output terminal.

9. Converting the power stored in the battery unit into power based on the voltage corresponding to the other output terminals of the replacement battery is: A method for operating a replacement battery according to claim 8, comprising converting the power stored in the battery unit into power based on the voltage corresponding to the other output terminal when an electrical connection between the other external electronic device and the replacement battery is identified via the other output terminal.

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