Energy storage device management system

Abstract

To provide a management system capable of efficiently utilizing information about the state of an energy storage device collected by a management server.SOLUTION: A management system 1 in an embodiment includes: an energy storage device 10 having a communication module 12; a management server 20 that collects information regarding the status of the energy storage device 10; and an information terminal 30 that is communicable with the management server 20. The management server 20 is configured to classify the collected information according to preset conditions and notify the information terminal 30 of the information based on the classification results.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a management system for a power storage device, and more particularly to a management system for a portable power storage device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, portable power storage devices that can be carried have been used as power sources for electric vehicles such as electric assist bicycles, electric motorcycles, and electric carts, and electrical equipment such as computers, smartphones, printers, monitors, lighting equipment, and refrigerators. In addition, the portable power storage device is also used as an emergency power source when a power outage, disaster, or the like occurs.

[0003] In recent years, power storage devices equipped with a wireless communication module for transmitting information on the state of the power storage device to a terminal device such as a smartphone have also been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). According to the power storage device equipped with a wireless communication module, information on the state of the power storage device such as the charge rate, temperature, and failure is transmitted to the user's smartphone or the like, so that it is easy to check the state of the power storage device.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The management system for a power storage device may include a management server that collects information on the state of the power storage device. The information collected by the management server includes information useful for the management of the power storage device, but in the conventional management system, the configuration is not such that the user can sufficiently utilize the information. On the other hand, in effectively utilizing the information collected by the management server, it is important to devise so as not to cause annoyance to the user. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The energy storage device management system relating to this disclosure comprises an energy storage device including a communication module, a management server that collects information regarding the status of the energy storage device, and a terminal device that can communicate with the management server. The management server classifies the collected information according to pre-set conditions and notifies the terminal device of the information based on the classification results. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The energy storage device management system described in this disclosure allows for more effective use of information regarding the status of the energy storage device collected by the management server. Furthermore, it can appropriately provide users with useful information for managing the energy storage device without causing inconvenience. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This diagram schematically shows a management system for an energy storage device, which is one example of an embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a block diagram showing the configuration of the management system. [Figure 3] This is a diagram showing a modified version of the management system. [Figure 4] This flowchart shows an example of control over how information collected on the management server is used. [Figure 5] This flowchart shows an example of control related to alert notifications. [Figure 6] This figure shows an example of the home screen of a management app. [Figure 7] This figure shows an example of the push notification settings screen. [Figure 8] This figure shows an example of a push notification for the first piece of information. [Figure 9] This diagram shows an example of the basic screen of the management application. [Figure 10] This figure shows an example of the first piece of information. [Figure 11]This figure shows an example of information regarding the lifespan of an energy storage device (second-level information). [Figure 12] This figure shows another example of information regarding the lifespan of an energy storage device (second information). [Figure 13] This figure shows an example of a push notification for alert information. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the energy storage device management system according to this disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The embodiment described below is merely an example, and this disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described below. Furthermore, configurations obtained by selectively combining the components of the multiple embodiments and modifications described below are included in this disclosure.

[0010] The system subject to this disclosure comprises a computer. The functions of the system subject to this disclosure are realized by the computer executing a program. The computer comprises a processor as its main hardware component, which operates according to the program. The processor is of any type as long as it can realize the above functions by executing the program. The processor consists of one or more electronic circuits, including an integrated circuit (IC) or a large-scale integrated circuit (LSI). The multiple electronic circuits may be integrated on a single chip or provided on multiple chips. The multiple chips may be aggregated in a single device or provided on multiple devices. The program is stored in a non-temporary storage medium such as a ROM, optical disc, or hard disk drive that the computer can read. The program may be pre-stored on the storage medium or supplied to the storage medium via a wide-area communication network, including the Internet.

[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the system according to the present disclosure will be described by taking a portable power storage device 10 including a communication module 12 as an example of the power storage device. However, the management system according to the present disclosure can also be applied to a stationary power storage device installed at a specific location. However, the management system according to the present disclosure is particularly useful in the management of portable power storage devices.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a power storage device management system 1 which is an example of an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the management system 1. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the management system 1 includes a portable power storage device 10 including a communication module 12, a management server 20 that collects information regarding the state of the power storage device 10, and an information terminal 30 (terminal device) that can communicate with the management server 20. In FIG. 1, a case where a plurality of power storage devices 10 are used within area A is illustrated.

[0013] In the present embodiment, the information terminal 30 possessed by the user constitutes the terminal device of the management system 1. The information terminal 30 can communicate with the power storage device 10, and information regarding the state of the power storage device 10 is transmitted to the management server 20 via the information terminal 30. In this specification, unless otherwise specified, the user means a person who manages and operates the power storage device 10.

[0014] The management system 1 may include a plurality of information terminals 30 as terminal devices. There may be a plurality of administrators of the power storage device 10, and each administrator may possess an information terminal 30 (for example, information terminals 30A, 30B, 30C) used for managing the power storage device 10. In the present embodiment, information of the power storage device 10 is transmitted to the information terminal 30A near the power storage device 10 by short-range wireless communication, and is transmitted to the management server 20 via the information terminal 30A. The management server 20 and the information terminal 30 are configured to be able to communicate via a wide-area communication network such as an Internet line or a mobile communication system.

[0015] The power storage device 10 is used in many places, such as offices, factories, public facilities (government offices, community centers, schools, hospitals, stations, shelters, etc.), commercial facilities (stores, shopping malls, etc.), and each household. The power storage device 10 is managed by users such as owners and administrators. The management server 20 is a device that stores information related to the power storage device 10 and comprehensively manages the power storage device 10. An example of the management server 20 is a cloud server of a manufacturer, seller, management operator, etc. of the power storage device 10. Note that the management server 20 may be a server managed by the user.

[0016] An example of the information terminal 30 that constitutes the management system 1 is a mobile terminal device such as a smartphone, mobile phone, tablet terminal, or notebook personal computer owned by the user. The management system 1 is configured such that a user, particularly a facility manager, can check the state of the power storage device 10 using the information terminal 30. When there are a plurality of information terminals 30, each information terminal 30 may be of the same type or different types from each other. By installing the application software (hereinafter referred to as "app") of the management system 1 on the user's terminal device, the terminal device can be used as the information terminal 30 of the management system 1.

[0017] Generally, the management system 1 includes a plurality of power storage devices 10. The management server 20 stores the identification information set for each of the plurality of power storage devices 10 and manages information for each power storage device 10. Also, the management server 20 stores information related to the information terminal 30 and is configured to transmit predetermined information related to the power storage device 10 to the information terminal 30. Note that when the user has a large number of power storage devices 10, the information terminals 30 used for management may be divided for each group of a predetermined number of power storage devices 10.

[0018] Hereinafter, the power storage device 10, the management server 20, and the information terminal 30 that constitute the management system 1 will be described in detail.

[0019] [Power Storage Device 10] The energy storage device 10 comprises a battery module 11 and a case 14 that houses the battery module 11. The energy storage device 10 is a portable energy storage device that can be carried around and is also commonly called a battery pack. The energy storage device 10 also comprises a communication module 12 and a control unit 13. The communication module 12 and the control unit 13 are housed together with the battery module 11 in the case 14. The battery module 11 is charged, for example, using a charger / discharger 40. The charger / discharger 40 may have an outlet 43 to which electrical equipment is connected, and the energy storage device 10 may be able to discharge while it is installed in the charger / discharger 40. The charger / discharger 40 is also used when disposing of the energy storage device 10.

[0020] The battery module 11 may consist of a single battery, but is preferably configured as a battery pack containing multiple batteries. The shape of the batteries constituting the battery pack is not particularly limited and may be, for example, cylindrical batteries, pouch-type batteries, or prismatic batteries. The type of battery is also not particularly limited, but a preferred example is a high-capacity lithium-ion battery.

[0021] The energy storage device 10 is equipped with measuring instruments such as a voltmeter for measuring the voltage of the battery module 11, an ammeter for measuring the current, a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature, an acceleration sensor for detecting drops, and a submersion sensor. Based on these measured values, the control unit 13 calculates values ​​indicating the state of the battery module 11, such as the charge level, maximum capacity, and temperature. The charge level can be calculated based on the voltage of the battery module 11 measured by the voltmeter. The control unit 13 may also calculate the degradation level of the battery module 11 based on these measured values. The degradation level of the energy storage device 10 can be calculated from the rate of decrease in maximum capacity.

[0022] The communication module 12 is a device for wireless communication with the information terminal 30. The communication module 12 transmits information from the energy storage device 10 to the information terminal 30. In this embodiment, any communication module 12 with wireless communication capabilities between the energy storage device 10 and the information terminal 30 located at close range is acceptable. The configuration of the communication module 12 is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of reducing power consumption, it is preferable to have a short-range wireless communication module. In the example shown in Figure 1, information is transmitted from the energy storage device 10 to the information terminal 30A located in area A where the energy storage device 10 is used.

[0023] A specific example is a module that performs BLE (Bluetooth® Low Energy) communication. BLE is compatible with version 4 of Bluetooth®, a short-range wireless communication standard. Because the power consumption for BLE communication is relatively low, using a BLE module can suppress the internal power consumption of the energy storage device 10. Bluetooth® is compatible with the IEEE 802.15.1 standard, an international standard for short-range wireless communication.

[0024] The control unit 13 has functions to control the operation of the energy storage device 10, such as charging and discharging the battery module 11, generating information indicating the status of the energy storage device 10, and transmitting information via the communication module 12. Information about the energy storage device 10 is transmitted to the information terminal 30 by the functions of the communication module 12 under the control of the control unit 13. The control unit 13 outputs information related to the status of the energy storage device 10, such as the charge level of the energy storage device 10, its lifespan (degradation level), and information indicating an abnormality when an abnormality occurs.

[0025] The control unit 13 is comprised of a microcontroller including a processor and memory. The memory includes, for example, non-volatile memory such as RAM, ROM, or hard disk. The processor realizes the function of the energy storage device 10 by reading and executing programs installed in the memory. The control unit 13 may also have a protection board called a BMS board, which monitors the status of the battery module 11 and performs optimal charging and discharging.

[0026] The case 14 may be made of metal, but it is preferable to use a resin case from the viewpoint of communication performance and weight reduction. The case 14 is generally opaque, concealing the battery module 11 and other components housed inside. The case 14 shown in Figure 1 is formed in a roughly rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a handle 15 is provided at the upper end of the case 14 for carrying the energy storage device 10. In addition, a connection part 16 is provided at the lower part of the case 14, which is inserted into a battery installation part such as a charger or discharger. The connection part 16 has a terminal 16A that is electrically connected to the battery module 11.

[0027] Case 14 is provided with a remaining charge indicator button 17 and an indicator 18. The remaining charge indicator button 17 is an operating unit for displaying the charge level of the battery module 11 on the indicator 18. The indicator 18 may include, for example, multiple lamps and display the charge level by changing the number of lamps lit according to the charge level. The indicator 18 may be a display unit capable of displaying the charge level numerically, or it may be capable of displaying the status of the energy storage device 10 other than the charge level.

[0028] The energy storage device 10 may have a long-term storage mode that shuts down the device components. The remaining charge indicator button 17 may also be used as an operation unit to shut down the energy storage device 10 and start the long-term storage mode. For example, by performing a normal first operation by short-pressing the remaining charge indicator button 17, the charge rate is displayed on the indicator 18, and by performing a second operation by long-pressing the remaining charge indicator button 17, the energy storage device 10 is shut down. Note that an operation unit for executing the long-term storage mode may be provided separately from the remaining charge indicator button 17.

[0029] Here, we will explain the long-term storage mode of the energy storage device 10. As described above, the long-term storage mode is a mode in which the device components are shut down. By shutting down the device components, the long-term storage mode reduces the internal power consumption of the energy storage device 10, enabling long-term storage of the energy storage device 10 in a state where it can be used immediately. For example, the long-term storage mode is effective when storing the energy storage device 10 in a predetermined charge state without using it for a long period of time of three months or more. By putting the energy storage device 10 into the long-term storage mode, a predetermined charge state (for example, a charge rate of 70% or more) can be maintained for a long period of time without frequent charging.

[0030] In long-term storage mode, it is preferable to shut down at least the devices with high power consumption. Shutdown means completely or substantially cutting off the power supply from the battery module 11 to other device components to stop the functions of the devices. In long-term storage mode, it is preferable that the communication module 12 and the control unit 13, which have relatively high power consumption, are shut down. In this embodiment, in long-term storage mode, all device components that receive power from the battery module 11 are shut down.

[0031] In long-term storage mode, the device components, including the communication module 12 and the control unit 13, are shut down to reduce internal power consumption, while the communication function of the energy storage device 10 is lost. Therefore, it is not possible to check the charge level, etc., of the energy storage device 10 in long-term storage mode using the information terminal 30. To address this, the management system 1 stores the start of long-term storage mode and, after a predetermined period has elapsed since its start, outputs information to the information terminal 30 prompting the charging of the energy storage device 10, for example. This function greatly reduces the user's management burden and makes it easier to manage the charge status of the energy storage device 10 during long-term storage.

[0032] The long-term storage mode is initiated by user operation. In this embodiment, the long-term storage mode is initiated by pressing and holding the remaining charge indicator button 17. At this time, information indicating the status of the energy storage device 10, such as the charge rate of the battery module 11 and the temperature, may be transmitted to the management server 20. The management server 20 or information terminal 30 may output information prompting charging if the charge rate of the energy storage device 10 initiating the long-term storage mode is lower than a predetermined value. It may also output information prompting storage at an appropriate temperature if the temperature of the energy storage device 10 deviates from an appropriate range. Alternatively, the management system 1 may be configured to prohibit the initiation of the long-term storage mode if the storage conditions of the energy storage device 10, such as the charge rate and temperature, are not appropriate. Before storage in the long-term storage mode begins, for example, the energy storage device 10 may emit a signal declaring the start of the long-term storage mode, which is recorded by the management server 20. Alternatively, the memo function of the management application may be used to record that the energy storage device 10 is being stored in the long-term storage mode.

[0033] The energy storage device 10 in long-term storage mode can be started using the charger / discharger 40. The charger / discharger 40 comprises a charge / discharge circuit 41, a cord 42, and an outlet 43, and functions as a charger when the cord 42 is connected to a power source. The charger / discharger 40 has a recess into which the connection part 16 of the energy storage device 10 can be inserted. The recess is provided with a positive terminal 44, a negative terminal 45, a detection terminal 46, and communication terminals D and R. The detection terminal 46 is a terminal that has the function of detecting when the energy storage device 10 is connected.

[0034] When the energy storage device 10 in long-term storage mode is connected to the charger / discharger 40, the energy storage device 10 is activated and returns from long-term storage mode, triggered by the flow of current through the detection terminal 46. In the charger / discharger 40, the negative terminal 45 and the detection terminal 46 are electrically connected. Therefore, when the energy storage device 10 is inserted into the recess of the charger / discharger 40, the negative terminal 45 and the detection terminal 46 are short-circuited on the charger / discharger 40 side, and the current flowing through this short circuit activates the control unit 13 (microcontroller). This causes the energy storage device 10 to return from long-term storage mode. Note that the device used to activate the energy storage device 10 may be a charger that does not have a discharge function.

[0035] [Management Server 20] As described above, the management server 20 collects and stores information regarding the status of the energy storage devices 10. The management server 20 stores various information, including, for example, identification information for the energy storage devices 10 and the information terminal 30, for each energy storage device 10, in association with the information terminal 30 used to manage each energy storage device 10. Registration information for the energy storage devices 10 and the information terminal 30 is transmitted from the information terminal 30 to the management server 20, and changes to the registration information can be made by operating the information terminal 30. In the example shown in Figure 1, when the management application for the information terminal 30A is launched, at least a portion of the information regarding the registered energy storage devices 10 is automatically transmitted to the management server 20 via the information terminal 30A.

[0036] The management server 20, like the control unit 13 of the energy storage device 10, has a processor 21 and memory 22. The management server 20 may consist of one computer or multiple computers. The processor 21 performs the functions of the management server 20 by reading and executing programs installed in memory 22. The processor 21 also acquires information about the status of the energy storage device 10 and stores it in memory 22.

[0037] The management server 20 is configured to classify the information regarding the status of the energy storage device 10 that it has collected according to pre-set conditions, and to notify the information terminal 30 of the information based on the classification results. In other words, the management server 20 proactively notifies (push) information even without receiving a request from the information terminal 30. In this case, the information collected by the management server 20 can be used more effectively for the management of the energy storage device 10. In addition, the collected information can be classified and provided to the user (administrator) at an appropriate time, improving usability. As will be described in more detail later, the management server 20 notifies the information terminals 30B and 30C of administrators who are in a location where they cannot communicate with the energy storage device 10 (a location away from area A) of the collected information.

[0038] The management server 20 classifies information regarding the status of the energy storage device 10, performs predetermined processing on that information, and sends push notifications to predetermined information terminals 30. As will be described in more detail later, for example, when the management server 20 obtains information on the maximum capacity of the energy storage device 10, it compares the maximum capacity with a threshold to determine the degradation level and sends information prompting replacement of the energy storage device 10 or information prompting discharge for disposal (disposal discharge). In other words, the management server 20 reinterprets the information. The management server 20 also changes the form of the notification based on the classification result of the information.

[0039] Furthermore, the management server 20 receives information regarding the status of the energy storage device 10 via the information terminal 30, even if the status of the energy storage device 10 has not changed. However, it is preferable that the push notification is sent only when there is a change in the content of the information. In other words, it is preferable that the management server 20 sends a notification (push notification) when the information (data) collected for each energy storage device 10 has changed from the previous data. In this case, it is possible to prevent the same information from being notified multiple times.

[0040] The management server 20 preferably classifies the collected information into first information concerning abnormalities in the energy storage device 10 and second information concerning non-abnormalities, and immediately notifies the information terminal 30 of the first information. That is, the above-mentioned pre-set conditions include classifying the collected information into first information and second information. In this case, "abnormality" means, for example, a state abnormality that would put the user at a disadvantage, inconvenience, or insecurity if not addressed promptly. When an abnormality occurs in the energy storage device 10, it is necessary to quickly check the status of the energy storage device 10 and take action, so it is preferable to immediately notify the user of the first information. Depending on the content of the first information, the management server 20 may classify the first information into multiple categories and change the notification content for each category.

[0041] Here, immediate notification means that after the management server 20 acquires the first information via the information terminal 30A, it immediately notifies a designated information terminal 30, specifically within a few seconds to one minute. For example, when the management server 20 acquires the first information, it notifies within a time that is considered substantially simultaneous. The information terminal 30A in area A may receive the first information from the energy storage device 10 and the management server 20 almost simultaneously.

[0042] The management server 20 preferably changes the timing of notifications based on the information classification results, that is, according to the type of information. Specifically, for second information other than abnormalities in the energy storage device 10, immediate notification may not be given, but rather when predetermined notification conditions are met. For example, if the management server 20 receives multiple second pieces of information, it may send multiple pieces of second information to the information terminal 30 as a single notification. By notifying second pieces of information that do not generally require a quick response in a batch, it becomes possible to provide appropriate information to the user without causing inconvenience.

[0043] The management server 20 may notify the second information at a pre-set date and time. An example of a set date and time is every day at noon (12:00) (once a day). The set date and time may also be once every two days, once a week, or more than twice a day. In this case, if there are multiple pieces of second information to be notified at the set date and time, all of them will be notified together. The set date and time may be pre-set as a fixed value on the management server 20, or it may be set arbitrarily by the user on the information terminal 30. The second information may be further classified into two or more types of information with different notification timings.

[0044] In the management system 1, users can configure whether or not to receive information notifications from the management server 20. Notifications regarding the first type of information concerning abnormalities in the energy storage device 10 are always provided, while notifications regarding the second type of information can be configured at the user's discretion. The information terminal 30 has a function to configure whether or not to receive information from the management server 20. The management server 20 then provides notifications of the collected information based on these notification settings. For example, the management server 20 only notifies information terminals 30 that have the notification setting for the second type of information turned on. In this case, the second type of information can be provided only to users who need it, improving usability.

[0045] Examples of the first information collected by the management server 20 include overvoltage, overcurrent, overdischarge, circuit failure, temperature rise, communication anomaly, and drop detection. The first information includes, for example, issues that the user can address and issues that the retailer or maintenance company should address. In this case, it is preferable to classify the first information into two or more types of information and change the content of the notification (see Figure 11 below). The management server 20 may also change the notification destination depending on the content of the first information, and if there are multiple anomalies, there may be multiple notification destinations. For example, notifications may be sent simultaneously to the retailer that should be asked to replace the product and to the maintenance company that should be asked to repair it.

[0046] The second information collected by the management server 20 is information regarding the status of the energy storage device 10 other than the first information. Examples include the state of charge (SOC), maximum capacity, information on the start of long-term storage mode, temperature, frequency of use, and various other information related to the usage status. The rate of decrease in maximum capacity can be used to calculate the degradation level of the energy storage device 10. Therefore, the management server 20 may, for example, determine the degradation level from the rate of decrease in maximum capacity and notify the management server 20 of information prompting replacement, disposal, or discharge of the energy storage device 10 as second information.

[0047] Management system 1 may allow users to change the types of notifications categorized as first-class information and second-class information. Users (administrators) can partially change the categories of first-class information, which indicates anomalies, and second-class information, which is other information. Specifically, if there are notifications included in the second-class category that users wish to receive as immediate notifications, they may be rearranged to be included in the first-class category. However, since notifications that should be included in the first-class category are basically notifications that lead to disadvantage, inconvenience, or insecurity for the user, it is preferable to set it so that these cannot be changed to the second-class category.

[0048] In other words, information classified as second information can be arbitrarily changed to the first information classification. Preferably, this change is made by the system administrator on the management server 20 for the entire management system. This makes it possible to realize a management system that can ensure the safety of the energy storage devices 10 while accommodating the wishes of users who manage multiple energy storage devices 10 using the management server 20. Alternatively, the administrator of the energy storage device 10 may make this change using the information terminal 30.

[0049] When the management server 20 obtains information from the energy storage devices 10, it stores the date and time the information was obtained for each energy storage device 10. The management server 20 also stores product information of the energy storage devices 10 (product number, manufacturing date, etc.) and information related to the information terminal 30 (user ID, identifier, email address, telephone number, etc.). The management server 20 may also send information about new products, new services, and other information useful to the user to the information terminal 30.

[0050] The management server 20 is configured to send an alert notification to the information terminal 30 prompting it to check the status of the energy storage device 10 if it has not received information regarding the status of the energy storage device 10 for a predetermined period of time. In other words, if no new information is received even after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the last time information regarding the status of the energy storage device 10 was received, an alert notification is sent to the information terminal 30 that manages the energy storage device 10. In this case, the energy storage device 10 can be prevented from being left unattended for a long period of time, and more appropriate management of the energy storage device 10 can be achieved.

[0051] In this embodiment, as described above, information regarding the status of the energy storage device 10 is transmitted to the management server 20 via the information terminal 30. Specifically, when the management system 1 application installed on the information terminal 30 is launched, communication with the energy storage device 10 is automatically initiated, and the necessary information is transmitted from the energy storage device 10 to the management server 20 and the information terminal 30. Therefore, if the management server 20 has not received information for a long period of time, it is highly likely that the application on the information terminal 30 is not launched and the energy storage device 10 is not being properly managed. The management server 20, for example, notifies the user of alert information to prompt communication with the energy storage device 10.

[0052] The management server 20 stores identification information set for each of the multiple energy storage devices 10 and issues alert notifications in association with this identification information. Specifically, if information regarding some of the multiple energy storage devices 10 managed by the information terminal 30 has not been received for a predetermined period, the management server 20 issues an alert notification for those energy storage devices 10. For example, if only the information for some of the energy storage devices 10 managed in area A has not been updated, it is assumed that the energy storage device 10 may have been removed or that there is a failure in the communication function, so the alert notification prompts the user to check the status of the energy storage device 10.

[0053] The management server 20 may reduce the frequency of alert notifications for the energy storage devices 10 in the long-term storage mode described above. The management server 20 stores information regarding the long-term storage of the energy storage devices 10. Specifically, it stores whether or not the long-term storage mode is in operation for each energy storage device 10, the start date if the long-term storage mode is in operation, and information such as the scheduled date for outputting information such as charging recommendations to the information terminal 30. Therefore, based on this information, the frequency of alert notifications can be reduced compared to other energy storage devices 10 that are not in long-term storage mode, thereby suppressing unnecessary notifications.

[0054] The management server 20 may choose not to send alert notifications for the energy storage device 10 in long-term storage mode. For example, the management server 20 may stop sending alert notifications for the target energy storage device 10 upon obtaining information that it has entered long-term storage mode. It may then continue to stop sending alert notifications until the energy storage device 10 returns from long-term storage mode.

[0055] The management server 20 may issue an alert notification when predetermined notification conditions are met, and may be configured to send multiple alert notifications to the information terminal 30 at once. The management server 20 may also issue an alert notification at a pre-set date and time. The set date and time may be daily at noon (12:00) (once a day), similar to when information regarding the status of the energy storage device 10 is notified, or it may be set arbitrarily by the user. In this case, if there is multiple alert information to be notified at the set date and time, the multiple alert information will be notified at once.

[0056] Figure 3 shows a modified version of the management system 1. As shown in Figure 3, the management system 1 may include, as terminal devices, an information terminal 30 (first terminal device) managed by the user and a server 50 (second terminal device) managed by someone other than the user. An example of the server 50 is a server managed by a business that performs maintenance on the energy storage device 10. The management server 20 may notify at least one of the information terminal 30 and the server 50 of the information collected regarding the status of the energy storage device 10, and may also notify alert information if no information regarding the energy storage device 10 has been received for a predetermined period of time. In this case, since the necessary information is sent directly to the maintenance company, a quicker response is possible and usability is improved.

[0057] The management server 20 immediately notifies at least one of the information terminal 30 and the server 50 of the first information regarding an abnormality in the energy storage device 10. The management server 20 may immediately notify both the information terminal 30 and the server 50, or only the server 50, of the first information. The first information may be further classified into two or more types of information, and the terminal device to which immediate notification is sent may be changed depending on the type of information. For example, among the first information, information that can be handled by the user may be notified to both the information terminal 30 and the server 50, while information that should be handled by the maintenance company may be notified only to the server 50.

[0058] In the example shown in Figure 3, a server 50 is exemplified as the second terminal device, but the second terminal device may be a mobile terminal device such as a smartphone, mobile phone, tablet, or laptop owned by the maintenance company. Furthermore, the system is not limited to one second terminal device, but may have multiple devices.

[0059] [Information terminal 30] The information terminal 30 is used to acquire information from the energy storage device 10 and to check the status of the energy storage device 10. The information terminal 30 has a monitor 33 for displaying information from the energy storage device 10. The information terminal 30 may be a dedicated terminal for the management system 1, but as mentioned above, a suitable example is a smartphone owned by the user. By installing the management system 1 application, the user's smartphone can be used as the information terminal 30 of the management system 1.

[0060] It is possible to configure the system so that only certain terminal devices with the Management System 1 application installed function as terminal devices (information terminals 30) that constitute Management System 1. For example, user registration for the application may involve two stages. The first stage of registration is simply registration as a user of the energy storage device 10 (hereinafter referred to as "user registration"). In the case of user registration, push notifications of first information regarding abnormalities in the energy storage device 10 cannot be received. Information regarding the status of the energy storage device 10 may be sent to the management server 20 via the terminal device that has been registered as a user.

[0061] The second stage of registration is registration as an administrator to manage the energy storage device 10 (hereinafter referred to as "administrator registration"). When registering as an administrator for the application, information for receiving push notifications from the management server 20 is provided to the management server 20. Specifically, for example, the user ID, the identifier of the information terminal 30 (device token), etc., are stored in the management server 20. The management server 20 may also store the user's email address, phone number, etc. Note that separate applications may be prepared for the energy storage device 10: an application for users and an application for administrators (management application for management system 1).

[0062] The information terminal 30, like the energy storage device 10 and the management server 20, has a processor 31 and memory 32. The processor 31 reads and executes programs (applications of the management system 1) installed in the memory 32 to realize the functions of the information terminal 30. The processor 31 also acquires information from the energy storage device 10 and stores it in the memory 32, and transmits necessary information to the management server 20. In this embodiment, short-range wireless communication such as BLE is used for communication between the information terminal 30 and the energy storage device 10, and a wide-area communication network such as an internet line or mobile communication system is used for communication with the management server 20.

[0063] As described above, the information terminal 30 has a setting function to determine whether or not to receive push notifications from the management server 20, that is, whether or not to receive information about the energy storage device 10 collected by the management server 20. In this embodiment, the on / off setting for push notifications can be set on the notification settings screen of the administrator-registered application (see Figure 9 described later). For the first information regarding abnormalities in the energy storage device 10, it is preferable that the user cannot set whether or not to turn notifications on or off, as a rapid response is required. The second information may be classified into two or more types of information, and notification settings may be made for each classified type of information.

[0064] The information terminal 30 may have a setting function to enable or disable alert notifications prompting the user to check the status of the energy storage device 10. Alternatively, the alert notifications may not be able to be turned on or off by the user, similar to the first information described above.

[0065] Furthermore, the information terminal 30 may acquire operation information or start information for the long-term storage mode of the energy storage device 10. In this embodiment, the information terminal 30 acquires an operation signal from pressing and holding the remaining charge indicator button 17, or start information for the long-term storage mode based on said operation. The long-term storage mode may be started by a decision of the control unit 13 of the energy storage device 10, or it may be started when the management server 20 or the information terminal 30 that receives the operation signal from the remaining charge indicator button 17 sends a shutdown signal or permission signal to the energy storage device 10.

[0066] The following describes the control of how the information collected by the management server 20 is utilized, referring to the flowchart in Figure 4.

[0067] As shown in Figure 4, the management server 20 acquires information regarding the status of the energy storage device 10 and stores it in the memory 22 (step S10). In step S10, information is collected for each energy storage device 10, and the date and time of information acquisition are also stored. In the example shown in Figure 1, information regarding the status of the energy storage device 10 is transmitted from the energy storage device 10 to the information terminal 30A via short-range wireless communication such as BLE, and then transmitted to the management server 20 via the information terminal 30A.

[0068] The management server 20 classifies the collected information according to pre-configured conditions (step S11). In step S11, the collected information is classified into first information related to abnormalities in the energy storage device 10 and second information other than that. The management server 20 then performs processing based on the classification results of step S11. For example, the management server 20 generates notification information based on the classified information.

[0069] In the example shown in Figure 4, if the acquired information includes the first information (Yes in step S12), an immediate notification is sent to the information terminal 30 to immediately notify it of the first information (step S13). On the other hand, if the acquired information does not include the first information (No in step S12), no immediate notification of the information is sent, and the process proceeds to the notification setting information determination step (step S14). In other words, regarding the first information of the energy storage device 10, an immediate notification is sent to all information terminals 30 that manage the energy storage device 10, regardless of the user's notification settings.

[0070] If the acquired information does not include the first information (No in step S12), in other words, if the acquired information is the second information, the management server 20 determines whether a predetermined notification condition has been met (Yes in step S14), provided that the notification setting is turned on (Step S15). An example of when the predetermined notification condition is met is when the current date and time has reached the set date and time for notification (for example, noon, 12:00). If the predetermined notification condition is met (Yes in step S15), the management server 20 sends the second information to the information terminal 30 with the notification setting turned on (Step S16).

[0071] If multiple pieces of second information have been collected at the scheduled date and time for notification, it is preferable to send all of them together as a single notification. If the notification setting for information terminal 30 is off (No. in step S14), the control flow of this embodiment is terminated without notifying information terminal 30 of the second information. If the notification setting is on for some of the information terminals 30, the second information is notified only to those specific information terminals 30.

[0072] The following describes the control process when information regarding the status of the energy storage device 10 is not acquired by the management server 20 for a predetermined period of time, referring to the flowchart in Figure 5.

[0073] As shown in Figure 5, the management server 20 collects information regarding the status of the energy storage device 10, for example, via the information terminal 30A (step S10). If a predetermined period has elapsed since the last information was obtained (Yes in step S20), the management server 20 notifies the information terminal 30 of an alert prompting it to check the status of the energy storage device 10 (step S21). The predetermined period is not particularly limited, but it is preferable to set it to a period that can sufficiently prevent the energy storage device 10 from becoming over-discharged. For example, if the energy storage device 10 becomes over-discharged if left for two months from a 0% charge level, the predetermined period should be set to a period of less than two months. One example is one month.

[0074] The management server 20 notifies alert information for each energy storage device 10. The management server 20 may also notify the information terminal 30 of alert information when predetermined notification conditions are met, such as when the current time reaches the set notification time. If there are multiple energy storage devices 10 for which information updates have been interrupted for a predetermined period at the time the predetermined notification conditions are met, the management server 20 may send multiple alerts as a single notification. The management server 20 may also determine whether an energy storage device 10 is in long-term storage mode and notify the information terminal 30 managing the energy storage device 10 that is not in long-term storage mode of alert information.

[0075] The following describes the screens of the management application displayed on the information terminal 30, as well as an example of a push notification, with reference to Figures 6 to 13.

[0076] Figure 6 shows an example of the home screen of the management application. The information terminal 30 can be used to register the energy storage devices 10 to be managed, and the home screen displays information about the registered energy storage devices 10. In the example shown in Figure 6, the identification information of the energy storage device 10, the charge level, whether there is new information, whether it is set as a favorite, and information about waste discharge are displayed. For example, by clicking on the display of each energy storage device 10 on the home screen, detailed information about each energy storage device 10 can be displayed (see Figure 9 below).

[0077] Figure 7 shows an example of the push notification settings screen. In the example shown in Figure 7, notifications for "Maximum Capacity (Remote)", "Status Check (Remote)", and "Product Information" are turned on, while the "Low Battery Level" notification is turned off. Product information is information that is not directly related to the management of the energy storage device 10, and users can choose whether or not to receive push notifications for this information regardless of whether the energy storage device 10 is registered. Low battery level information is information that prompts charging of the energy storage device 10 when the charge rate of the energy storage device 10 falls below a predetermined threshold. For this reason, it may be turned off for information terminals 30 located in remote locations away from area A.

[0078] Information regarding maximum capacity and status confirmation belongs to the second type of information described above, for example. The maximum capacity information relates to the lifespan (degradation level) of the energy storage device 10 and is necessary when replacing or disposing of the energy storage device 10. When the maximum capacity notification setting is turned on, information such as that exemplified in Figures 12 and 13 described later will be notified from the management server 20. In this embodiment, it is preferable that the notification setting field for the first type of information regarding abnormalities in the energy storage device 10 is not included in the settings screen and cannot be arbitrarily turned on or off by the user.

[0079] Figure 8 shows an example of a push notification for the first piece of information regarding an abnormality in the energy storage device 10. As shown in Figure 8, the first piece of information is displayed on the monitor 33 of the information terminal 30 even when the management application is not running. This allows the administrator to quickly address any abnormalities in the energy storage device 10. In the example shown in Figure 8, the message "An abnormality has occurred. Please check." is displayed at the top of the monitor 33. Clicking on this message displays detailed information about the abnormality in the energy storage device 10, such as the information shown in Figure 9 or Figure 10 described later.

[0080] Figure 9 shows an example of a basic screen that displays detailed information about each energy storage device 10. In the example shown in Figure 9, the identification information, charge rate, maximum capacity, and estimated usage time of the energy storage device 10 are displayed. Furthermore, "Battery Error" is displayed as the first piece of information regarding an abnormality in the energy storage device 10. As shown in Figure 9, the information terminal 30 may also display abnormality information not only for the energy storage device 10 but also for the charger / discharger 40 to which the energy storage device 10 is connected. It is preferable that the first piece of information is displayed prominently on the basic screen.

[0081] Figure 10 shows an example of the display format of the first information. The information exemplified in Figure 10 is displayed, for example, by clicking on the "Battery Error" display on the basic screen exemplified in Figure 9. In the example shown in Figure 10, a symbol that gives a strong impression of warning (exclamation mark) and the words "An error has occurred" are displayed in large letters. The information terminal 30 may also display a classification display indicating the type of error that occurred (e.g., U007, F003, etc.), a solution, and a link to detailed information on the solution. Examples of information regarding the solution include "Please check the solution by referring to the error code" and "Please contact your retailer."

[0082] Figure 11 shows an example of second information regarding the lifespan of the energy storage device 10. For example, when the maximum capacity of the energy storage device 10 falls below a first threshold, the management server 20 notifies the user of second information prompting replacement of the energy storage device 10. In the example shown in Figure 11, the basic screen displays information such as "It's almost reached the end of its lifespan" and "It will shut down soon for safety reasons." That is, the management server 20 obtains maximum capacity information from the energy storage device 10, compares the maximum capacity with the first threshold, and notifies the information terminal 30 of second information prompting replacement of the energy storage device 10 if the maximum capacity ≤ the first threshold.

[0083] Figure 12 shows another example of the second type of information regarding the lifespan of the energy storage device 10. Figure 12 illustrates a case where the maximum capacity of the energy storage device 10 falls below a second threshold, which is smaller than the first threshold, and the energy storage device 10 becomes unusable. In the example shown in Figure 12, the basic screen displays information prompting the disposal of the energy storage device 10, such as "It has reached the end of its lifespan" and "It cannot be charged. Please check the disposal discharge process." Specifically, the management server 20 obtains information on the maximum capacity from the energy storage device 10, compares the maximum capacity with the second threshold, and if the maximum capacity ≤ the second threshold, notifies the information terminal 30 of the second type of information (disposal discharge guidance) prompting the disposal of the energy storage device 10.

[0084] Figure 13 shows an example of an alert notification prompting the user to check the status of the energy storage device 10. As described above, if the management server 20 has not updated information regarding the status of the energy storage device 10 for a predetermined period of time, it notifies the information terminal 30 of an alert prompting the user to check the status of the energy storage device 10. The alert information is displayed on the monitor 33 of the information terminal 30 even if the management application is not running. In the example shown in Figure 13, information is displayed prompting the user to communicate with the energy storage device 10 and check its status, stating, "Management battery information has not been updated for a certain period of time. This can be resolved by connecting to the application."

[0085] As described above, with the management system 1 having the above configuration, the user managing the energy storage device 10 can effectively utilize the information on the status of the energy storage device 10 collected by the management server 20. Furthermore, useful information can be provided to the user at the appropriate time without causing inconvenience. In addition, alert notifications can prompt the user to check the status of the energy storage device 10 if it has been left unattended for a predetermined period of time, thereby preventing, for example, the energy storage device 10 from entering an over-discharge state.

[0086] The above embodiments can be modified as appropriate without impairing the purpose of this disclosure. For example, in the above embodiments, alert information prompting a check of the status of the energy storage device 10 is sent from the management server 20, but it is also possible to configure the system so that no alert notifications are sent. However, by combining information collection and alert notifications in the management server 20, a management system 1 with higher added value can be constructed. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0087] 1 Management system, 10 Energy storage device, 11 Battery module, 12 Communication module, 13 Control unit, 14 Case, 15 Handle, 16 Connection part, 16A terminal, 17 Battery level indicator button, 18 Indicator, 20 Management server, 21, 31 Processor, 22, 32 Memory, 30 Information terminal, 33 Monitor, 40 Charger / discharger, 41 Charge / discharge circuit, 42 Cord, 43 Outlet, 44 Positive terminal, 45 Negative terminal, 46 Detection terminal, 50 Server

Claims

1. Energy storage device including a communication module, A management server that collects information regarding the status of the aforementioned energy storage device, A terminal device capable of communicating with the aforementioned management server, Equipped with, The terminal device includes a first terminal device managed by the user and a second terminal device managed by the person who performs maintenance on the energy storage device. A management system for a power storage device, wherein the management server classifies the information into first information relating to an abnormality in the power storage device and second information relating to non-abnormalities according to pre-set conditions, notifies the terminal devices of the information based on the classification results, changes the timing of the notification according to the type of information, and immediately notifies both the first and second terminal devices, or only the second terminal device, of the first information.

2. The management system according to claim 1, wherein the management server, upon receiving multiple pieces of the second information, notifies the terminal device of the multiple pieces of the second information collectively.

3. The terminal device has a setting function to determine whether or not to receive the information from the management server. The management system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the management server notifies the information based on the notification setting information of the terminal device.

4. The management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the types of notifications classified as the first information and the types of notifications classified as the second information can be changed.

5. The management system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the type of notification classified as the second information can be arbitrarily changed to a classification of the first information.

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