Battery, in particular for a motor vehicle, with a passive system for extending the signal range

Abstract

The invention relates to a battery (10, 110, 210, 310), in particular for a motor vehicle, which battery comprises: a housing (12) forming an outer case of the battery; a plurality of battery cells (14) and a plurality of radio frequency (RF) transmitters (16) arranged inside the housing, each of the battery cells having an associated RF transmitter that is specific thereto; a controller (19) for managing the battery and an associated RF receiver (18) which are arranged inside the housing; and a system for extending the range of the passive signal (20). The extension system comprises a substrate (22) housing at least one transmit antenna (26a) arranged facing the plurality of RF transmitters, and at least one receive antenna (26b) arranged facing the RF receiver. A transmission line (28) connects the at least two patch antennas.

Description

Description BATTERY, PARTICULARLY FOR MOTOR VEHICLES, WITH PASSIVE SIGNAL RANGE EXTENSION SYSTEM technical field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of batteries, and in particular to batteries for the automotive industry with a battery management system. Previous technique

[0002] A battery management system (BMS) is an electronic system designed to monitor and control rechargeable batteries. Its primary function is to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the battery by managing various aspects of battery performance, health, and safety.

[0003] Battery management systems (BMS) are important components in various applications that rely on rechargeable batteries, such as electric vehicles. Among other things, the BMS ensures that the battery operates at its optimal performance by actively managing individual battery cells. It monitors parameters such as voltage, current, and temperature, allowing the BMS to balance cells, control charge and discharge rates, and prevent overcharging or over-discharging. Optimizing battery performance can increase the overall efficiency of the vehicle and extend its driving range.

[0004] Battery management systems (BMS) rely on communication between the battery cells and the battery management controller. There are wired and wireless systems (Wireless BMS, WBMS). Wireless systems rely on radio frequency (RF) communication between the various slave modules (the battery cells), each with its own RF transmitter, and the monitoring module (the battery management controller), which has an RF receiver.

[0005] Compared to wired battery monitoring systems, wireless WBMS systems offer many advantages, such as reduced assembly effort, fewer connectors, and intrinsic galvanic isolation.

[0006] However, they can present drawbacks in terms of reliability due to the radio frequency signal. Indeed, depending on the environment (presence of shielding or reflective material), or even depending on the frequency channel, there can be "black spots" which will result in poor power transfer between the transmitter (battery cell) and the receiver (battery management controller). Summary

[0007] This disclosure improves the situation.

[0008] A battery is proposed, particularly for motor vehicles, comprising: a casing forming an external envelope of the battery; a plurality of battery cells and a plurality of radio frequency transmitters arranged inside the casing according to a plan, each of the battery cells having its own associated radio frequency transmitter; a battery management controller and an associated radio frequency receiver arranged inside the casing; and a passive signal range extension system, comprising: a substrate housing a radio frequency track.The radio frequency track includes at least one transmitting antenna of the plate antenna type, arranged opposite the plurality of radio frequency transmitters, and at least one receiving antenna of the plate antenna type, arranged opposite the radio frequency receiver; and a transmission line connecting said at least two plate antennas formed by at least one transmitting antenna and at least one receiving antenna.

[0009] The features described in the following paragraphs may optionally be implemented, independently of each other or in combination with each other: - the case includes a cover, and the signal range extension system is at least partially integrated into the cover; - the signal range extension system includes a first portion of substrate arranged in a first predetermined plane, parallel to the plane along which the radio frequency transmitters extend, called the horizontal plane and a second portion of substrate arranged in a second plane orthogonal to the first plane, called the vertical plane, said at least one transmitting antenna is arranged in the first portion of the substrate and said at least one receiving antenna is arranged in the second portion of the substrate, the first portion of the substrate being contiguous to the second portion of the substrate; - said at least one transmitting antenna includes a plurality of transmitting antennas, each formed by a respective plate antenna, connected to each other by transmission lines; - the signal range extension system includes as many transmitting antennas as radio frequency transmitters, and each transmitting antenna is positioned opposite its own radio frequency transmitter; - the signal range extension system includes fewer, preferably half as many transmitting antennas as radio frequency transmitters, and each of the transmitting antennas is arranged opposite (in particular above relative to a vertical axis orthogonal to the plane of the radio frequency transmitters) and equidistant from two transmitters adjacent radio frequency; - the battery cells of the plurality of battery cells are arranged in rows and columns in a first predetermined plane, parallel to the plane along which the radio frequency transmitters extend, called the horizontal plane, and the radio frequency transmitters of the plurality of transmitters are arranged each on one side of the respective cells, and are contained in the horizontal plane; - the radio frequency receiver is located on one side of the battery management controller and is contained in a second plane orthogonal to the first plane, called the vertical plane; - the plurality of battery cells and the battery management controller are arranged in the same predetermined first plane, parallel to the plane along which the radio frequency transmitters extend, called the horizontal plane.

[0010] According to another aspect, a vehicle is proposed that includes the above battery. Brief description of the drawings

[0011] Other features, details, and advantages will become apparent upon reading the detailed description below and analyzing the attached drawings, on which: Fig. 1

[0012] [Fig. 1] shows a battery featuring a signal range extension system according to one embodiment. Fig. 2

[0013] [Fig. 2] shows a battery featuring a signal range extension system according to another embodiment. Fig. 3

[0014] [Fig. 3] shows a battery featuring a signal range extension system according to another embodiment. Fig. 4

[0015] [Fig. 4] shows a battery featuring a signal range extension system according to another embodiment. Fig. 5

[0016] [Fig. 5] illustrates the signal strength between a receiver and a transmitter without the signal range extension system of [Fig. 3], Fig. 6

[0017] [Fig. 6] illustrates the signal strength between a receiver and a transmitter with a signal range extension system from [Fig. 3], Description of the implementation methods

[0018] Reference is now made to [Fig. 11 which shows an example of battery 10 equipped with a signal range extension system 20.

[0019] The battery 10 includes a case 12 which encloses the various components of the battery 10. The case 12 can be rigid, and made of plastic, metal or composite.

[0020] Inside the casing 12 are a plurality of battery cells 14. The battery cells 14 are arranged in an XY plane (the first predetermined plane, called the horizontal plane). The battery cells 14 can be arranged in rows and columns. In the example in [Fig. 1], two columns, each containing four battery cells 14, are shown.

[0021] Each of the battery cells 14 is equipped with a radio frequency (RF) transmitter 16 capable of communicating with an RF receiver 18. The RF receiver 18 is associated with a battery management controller 19. Thus, through RF wireless communication, the battery management controller 19 receives various information from each of the battery cells 14, which allows the individual battery cells 14 to be actively managed and, as a result, the battery 10 to operate at its optimal performance.

[0022] Even though only one receiver is shown in [Fig. 1], the battery 10 could include more than one RF receiver. In the example in [Fig. 1], the RF transmitters 16 and RF receiver 18 are arranged on one side (or face, or top) of the battery cells 14 in a different horizontal XY plane. The RF transmitters 16 and / or RF receiver 18 could be arranged along a Z-axis perpendicular to the XY plane in a plane perpendicular to the XY plane (as is the case for the receiver 318 in [Fig. 4]) and still connected to the battery cells (e.g., on one side). In one embodiment, the battery management controller 19 is arranged in the same horizontal XY plane as the plurality of battery cells 14.

[0023] In order to improve RF signal propagation between individual battery cells 14 and the battery management controller 19, the battery 10 is equipped with a signal range extension system 20.

[0024] The system 20 is arranged opposite the individual battery cells 14 and the battery management controller 19. "Opposite" means a vertically aligned arrangement (with the vertical axis extending orthogonally to the plane of the individual battery cells 14), not necessarily touching, with an air gap between them. more often between the two elements considered opposite each other. According to one embodiment, the system 20 is arranged, or even integrated (at least in part) in the cover of the housing 12 of the battery 10.

[0025] System 20 is a passive repeater; it does not include any electrical components. System 20 comprises a substrate 22 housing an RF track 24. The RF track consists of a plurality of patch antennas 26, connected to each other by at least one transmission line 28.

[0026] Here, the system 20 comprises several transmission lines 28. Here, but not limited to, each transmission line 28 is straight. For example, there is a central transmission line, from which secondary transmission lines branch off, each connecting the central transmission line to one of the plate antennas 26.

[0027] The substrate 22, which houses the transmission lines 28 and the plate antennas 26, can be made of a dielectric material, such as a plastic. Preferably, the substrate 22 is flexible. The substrate 22 houses a ground plane (not shown), which is in the form of a metal plate extending over all (or almost all) of the substrate's surface, in a plane parallel to the transmission lines 28 and plate antennas 26.

[0028] The plate antennas 26 comprise at least one plate antenna, referred to as the transmitting antenna 26a, associated with the RF transmitters 16, and one plate antenna, referred to as the receiving antenna 26b, associated with the RF receiver 18. The transmitting antenna 26a and receiving antenna 26b are structurally identical in the examples shown in the figures. It is possible that the transmitting antenna 26a and receiving antenna 26b may have structural differences, while still remaining passive systems.

[0029] There may be as many plate antennas 26 as individual battery cells 14, as in the case of [Fig. 1]. However, there may be fewer plate antennas 26 than individual battery cells 14, so that several battery cells 14 "share" a plate antenna 26, as in the case of [Fig. 2] for which there are half as many.

[0030] Preferably, when there are as many plate antennas 26 as individual battery cells 14, each plate antenna 26 is positioned opposite its own battery cell 14. Preferably, when there are fewer plate antennas 26 than individual battery cells 14, the plate antennas 26 are then positioned opposite the battery cells 14 (i.e., not in the same horizontal plane) and equidistant from several battery cells 14.

[0031] The transmission lines 28 preferably have an impedance equal to that of the plate antennas 26. Preferably, the transmission lines 28 have a impedance of 50 ohms. As illustrated in the figures, the transmission lines 28 can have a variable width along their length in order to maintain the impedance along the entire path of the transmission lines 28. For example, the width of a transmission line 28 connecting to a plate antenna 26 (shown by arrows F1, and named secondary transmission line, above) is half as thin as a transmission line 28 connecting to another transmission line (shown by arrow F2, and named central transmission line, above).

[0032] Several configurations and arrangements of battery 10 are illustrated as examples in the figures and described below.

[0033] In Fig. 11 described above, the signal range extension system 20 is a straight plate with as many plate antennas 26 as there are battery cells 14. The signal range extension system 20 is integrated into the housing 12, specifically into the cover. The plate antennas 26 are positioned opposite the RF transmitters 16 of the battery cells 14 and the RF receiver 18 of the battery management controller 19. The substrate 22 of the signal range extension system 20 is a straight rectangular plate. In the example of Fig. 1, the RF transmitters 16, the RF receiver 18, and the substrate 22 are arranged in the XY plane.

[0034] In [Fig. 21, a variant of the signal range extension system 120 is shown for a battery 110 otherwise identical to battery 10 of [Fig. 1]. The signal range extension system 120 is characterized by the fact that some plate antennas 126 (similar to plate antennas 26 and therefore bearing the same numerical reference but in the hundreds) are shared between two RF transmitters 16 (i.e., in this example, there is no one-to-one relationship between the number of plate antennas 126 and RF transmitters / receivers 16, 18). The signal range extension system 120 includes a plate antenna 126 opposite the RF receiver 18 (receiving antenna 126b), and a plurality of plate antennas 126 opposite the RF transmitters 16 (transmitting antennas 126a) (vertically above but not opposite them). Thus, in this example, a plate antenna 126 is shared between two RF transmitters 16 arranged aligned in the Y direction.More precisely, the 126 plate antenna is equidistant in the Y direction from the two RF 16 transmitters aligned in the Y direction, while also being vertically (in the Z direction) above the two RF 16 transmitters aligned in the Y direction. Thus, there are five 26 plate antennas for ten RF 16 transmitters in this example. It is possible that only some of the RF 16 transmitters share a 126 plate antenna. It is also possible that the plate antennas are shared between RF 16 transmitters arranged in alignment in the Z direction (all or just some).

[0035] In [Fig. 31], another variant of the 220 signal range extension system is shown for a battery 210 otherwise identical to battery 10 in [Fig. 1]. It pushes the concept of [Fig. 2] to its most reduced form in terms of the number of 226 plate antennas (similar to 26 plate antennas and therefore bearing the same numerical reference but in the two hundred). Thus, the 220 signal range extension system includes only two 226 plate antennas, one for the receiver 18 (receiving antenna 226b), and one for the plurality of RF transmitters 16 (transmitting antenna 226a). The 226a plate antenna shared by the plurality of RF transmitters 16 is located globally in the middle of the RF transmitters 16. The 226 plate antennas remain connected to each other by a transmission line 228.

[0036] It is worth noting that a higher number of plate antennas relative to the number of RF transmitters / receivers will result in better signal transmission quality. Similarly, the position of the plate antennas relative to the RF transmitters / receivers will influence signal quality. Therefore, it is preferable to position the plate antennas as close as possible, ideally vertically above the RF transmitters / receivers.

[0037] In Fig. 41, another variant of the signal range extension system 320 is shown for a battery 310 otherwise similar to battery 10 in Fig. 1. The signal range extension system 320 is identical to the signal range extension system 120 in Fig. 2, except that the substrate 322 no longer extends solely in the XY plane but includes a portion in a YZ plane (a second predetermined plane, called the vertical plane) orthogonal to the XY plane. The substrate 322 therefore includes a first portion 322a in the XY plane, for which the plate antennas 326 are positioned opposite the transmitters 16 (or transmitting antennas 326a), which are also positioned in the XY plane. The substrate 322 therefore also includes a second portion 322b in the YZ plane for which the plate antenna 326 located there is opposite the receiver 118 (or receiving antenna 326b), also positioned in the YZ pan (the position of the receiver 118 is a difference with respect to battery 10 of [Fig. 1],

[0038] The first portion 322a is contiguous with the second portion 322b, so that the transmission lines 328 are uninterrupted between the two portions. The substrate 322 is simply folded, with the first portion 322a being perpendicular to the second portion 322b. The substrate 322 could include the embodiments of the plate antennas (number, position) of [Fig. 2] and [Fig. 3].

[0039] Finally, with reference to Fig. 51 and Fig. 61, the effectiveness of the 220 signal range extension system is demonstrated. Fig. 5 illustrates the signal strength between the receiver 18 and transmitter 16 without signal range extension system 220. [Fig. 6] illustrates the signal strength between receiver 18 and transmitter 16 with signal range extension system 220. It can be observed that the presence of the passive signal range extension system 220 brings a clear improvement in the strength of the transmitted signal.

Claims

Claims

1. Battery (10, 110, 210, 310), in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising: a. a housing (12) constituting an external envelope of the battery; b. a plurality of battery cells (14) and a plurality of radio frequency transmitters (16) arranged inside the housing in a plane, each of the battery cells having an associated radio frequency transmitter of its own; c. a battery management controller (19) and an associated radio frequency receiver (18) arranged inside the housing; and d. a passive signal range extension system (20), comprising: i. a substrate (22) housing a radio frequency track (24), the radio frequency track comprising:

1. at least one transmitting antenna (26a; 326a) of the patch antenna type, arranged opposite the plurality of radio frequency transmitters, and at least one receiving antenna (26b; 326b) of the patch antenna type, arranged opposite the radio frequency receiver; and 2. a transmission line (28) connecting said at least two patch antennas formed by the at least one transmitting antenna and the at least one receiving antenna.

2. The battery (10, 110, 210, 310) of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a cover, and the signal range extender system is at least partially integrated with the cover.

3. Battery (310) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the signal range extension system (320) includes a first portion of substrate (322a) arranged in a first predetermined plane, parallel to the plane, called the horizontal plane (XY), along which the radio frequency transmitters extend, and a second portion of substrate (322b) arranged in a second plane, called the vertical plane (YZ), orthogonal to the first plane, said at least one transmitting antenna (326a) being arranged in the first portion of the substrate and said at least one receiving antenna (326b) being arranged in the second portion of the substrate, the first portion of the substrate being contiguous to the second portion of the substrate.

4. Battery (10, 110, 310) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one transmitting antenna includes a plurality of transmitting antennas, each of the patch antenna type, connected together by transmission lines.

5. The battery (10, 310) of claim 4, wherein the signal range extension system (10, 320) includes as many transmitting antennas (26a, 326a) as there are radio frequency transmitters, and each of the transmitting antennas is arranged opposite a radio frequency transmitter of its own.

6. Battery (210) according to claim 4, in which the signal range extension system (220) includes fewer, preferably half as many, transmitting antennas (226a) as radio frequency transmitters, and each of the transmitting antennas is arranged opposite and equidistant from two adjacent radio frequency transmitters.

7. Battery (10, 110, 210, 310) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the battery cells of the plurality of battery cells are arranged in rows and columns in a first predetermined plane, parallel to the plane, called the horizontal plane (XY), along which the radio frequency transmitters extend, and the radio frequency transmitters of the plurality of radio frequency transmitters are each arranged on one side of the respective cells, and are contained in the horizontal plane.

8. Battery (310) according to the preceding claim, in which the radio frequency receiver is arranged on one side of the battery management controller and is contained in a second plane, called the vertical plane (YZ), orthogonal to the first plane.

9. Battery (10, 110, 210, 310) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the plurality of battery cells and the battery management controller are arranged in the same first predetermined plane, parallel to the plane, called the horizontal plane (XY), along which the radio frequency transmitters extend.

10. Vehicle comprising a battery according to one of claims 1 to 9.

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