Battery diagnosis apparatus and operating method thereof

Abstract

A battery diagnosis apparatus according to one embodiment disclosed in the present document may comprise: a communication circuit for acquiring an accumulated driving distance of a vehicle to be diagnosed and accumulated discharge energy of a battery mounted on the vehicle to be diagnosed, and acquiring reference fuel efficiencies of a plurality of vehicles of the same vehicle type as the vehicle to be diagnosed; a first processor for calculating, on the basis of the reference fuel efficiencies, a threshold value, which is a criterion for determining whether to replace the battery; and a second processor for calculating accumulated fuel efficiency on the basis of the accumulated driving distance and the accumulated discharge energy, and diagnosing whether to replace the battery on the basis of the accumulated fuel efficiency and the threshold value.

Description

Battery diagnostic device and method of operation thereof

[0001] Cross-citation with related applications

[0002] This invention claims the benefit of priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0127482, filed September 22, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0003] Technology field

[0004] Embodiments disclosed in this document relate to a battery diagnostic device and an operating method thereof.

[0005] Recently, active research and development has been conducted on secondary batteries. The term "secondary battery" refers to a rechargeable battery, encompassing both conventional Ni / Cd and Ni / MH batteries, as well as more recent lithium-ion batteries. Among secondary batteries, lithium-ion batteries boast a significantly higher energy density than conventional Ni / Cd and Ni / MH batteries. Furthermore, lithium-ion batteries can be manufactured in a compact and lightweight form, making them a popular power source for mobile devices. Recently, their use has expanded to include power sources for electric vehicles, drawing attention as a next-generation energy storage medium.

[0006] Batteries installed in electric vehicles are consumables and can be replaced. Battery lifespan may vary depending on how the electric vehicle is driven, the number of times it is charged or discharged, and / or the battery manufacturer. Therefore, to determine battery lifespan, it is necessary to determine whether the battery has been replaced. However, drivers who purchase used electric vehicles often find it difficult to determine whether the battery has been replaced.

[0007] Typically, except in cases where there is a mass recall of electric vehicles, there is also the problem that electric vehicle owners cannot determine whether the battery needs to be replaced.

[0008] In addition, when calculating the threshold value that serves as the basis for battery replacement using only data from vehicles that have not replaced their batteries, there is a problem of not securing sufficient parameters for the threshold value.

[0009] The technical problems of the embodiments disclosed in this document are not limited to the technical problems mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the descriptions below.

[0010] A battery diagnosis device according to an embodiment disclosed in this document may include: a communication circuit that obtains a cumulative driving distance of a vehicle to be diagnosed and a cumulative discharge energy of a battery mounted on the vehicle to be diagnosed, and obtains reference fuel efficiencies of a plurality of vehicles of the same model as the vehicle to be diagnosed; a first processor that calculates a threshold value that serves as a criterion for determining whether to replace a battery based on the reference fuel efficiencies; and a second processor that calculates a cumulative fuel efficiencies based on the cumulative driving distance and the cumulative discharge energy, and diagnoses whether to replace the battery based on the cumulative fuel efficiencies and the threshold value.

[0011] In one embodiment, each of the above reference fuel costs may be calculated each time each of the plurality of vehicles starts and ends driving for a specified period of time.

[0012] In one embodiment, the first processor may calculate the threshold value using an inter quartile range (IQR) for the reference values.

[0013] In one embodiment, the second processor can diagnose whether the battery needs to be replaced based on a result of comparing the accumulated power consumption with the threshold value.

[0014] In one embodiment, the second processor may diagnose the battery as a replaced battery if the accumulated charge exceeds the threshold value.

[0015] In one embodiment, the first processor extracts a representative fuel efficiency that can represent the fuel efficiency of the vehicle to be diagnosed based on the average and standard deviation of the reference fuel efficiency, and the second processor calculates a cumulative driving distance after replacement from the time the battery is installed in the vehicle to be diagnosed based on the representative fuel efficiency and the accumulated discharge energy of the battery.

[0016] In one embodiment, the communication circuit can transmit diagnostic information including whether the battery needs to be replaced to the user terminal.

[0017] An operating method of a battery diagnosis device according to an embodiment disclosed in this document may include: an operation of obtaining a cumulative driving distance of a vehicle to be diagnosed and a cumulative discharge energy of a battery mounted on the vehicle to be diagnosed; an operation of obtaining reference fuel efficiencies of a plurality of vehicles of the same type as the vehicle to be diagnosed; an operation of calculating a threshold value that serves as a criterion for determining whether to replace the battery based on the reference fuel efficiencies; an operation of calculating a cumulative fuel efficiency based on the cumulative driving distance and the cumulative discharge energy; and an operation of diagnosing whether to replace the battery based on the cumulative fuel efficiency and the threshold value.

[0018] In one embodiment, each of the above reference fuel costs may be calculated each time each of the plurality of vehicles starts and ends driving for a specified period of time.

[0019] In one embodiment, the operation of calculating the threshold value may calculate the threshold value using an inter quartile range (IQR) for the reference values.

[0020] In one embodiment, the diagnosing operation may diagnose whether the battery needs to be replaced based on a result of comparing the accumulated charge and the threshold value.

[0021] In one embodiment, the diagnosing operation may diagnose the battery as a replacement battery if the accumulated charge exceeds the threshold value.

[0022] In one embodiment, the operating method may further include: extracting a representative fuel efficiency that can represent the fuel efficiency of the vehicle to be diagnosed based on the average and standard deviation of the reference fuel efficiency; and calculating a cumulative driving distance after replacement from the time the battery is installed in the vehicle to be diagnosed based on the representative fuel efficiency and the cumulative discharge energy.

[0023] In one embodiment, the operating method may further include transmitting diagnostic information including whether the battery is to be replaced to the user terminal.

[0024] The battery diagnostic device and its operating method according to various embodiments disclosed in this document can diagnose whether a battery needs to be replaced based on the vehicle's accumulated driving distance and the battery's accumulated discharge energy. Accordingly, by utilizing data about the vehicle and the battery installed in the vehicle, the need for battery replacement can be more accurately determined.

[0025] The battery diagnostic device and its operating method according to various embodiments disclosed in this document can utilize data on all vehicles and / or batteries regardless of whether the battery has been replaced, and thus can secure a sufficient amount of data for calculating a threshold value that serves as a criterion for determining whether to replace the battery.

[0026] The effects of the battery diagnostic device and the operating method thereof according to the disclosure of this document are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art according to the disclosure of this document.

[0027] FIG. 1 illustrates a battery diagnostic system according to one embodiment disclosed in this document.

[0028] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a battery diagnostic device according to an embodiment disclosed in this document.

[0029] FIG. 3 illustrates a cumulative discharge energy-cumulative driving distance graph according to one embodiment disclosed in this document.

[0030] FIG. 4a and FIG. 4b illustrate a reference power graph and an analysis table based on the reference power graph according to one embodiment disclosed in the present document.

[0031] Figure 5 illustrates a cumulative power graph according to one embodiment disclosed in this document.

[0032] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation method of a battery diagnostic device according to an embodiment disclosed in this document.

[0033] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a detailed operation method of operation 606 of a battery diagnostic device according to one embodiment disclosed in this document.

[0034] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method for calculating a cumulative driving distance after replacement by a battery diagnostic device according to an embodiment disclosed in this document.

[0035] In connection with the description of the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals may be used for identical or similar components.

[0036] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to specific embodiments, and it should be understood that the present invention encompasses various modifications, equivalents, and / or alternatives of the embodiments.

[0037] The embodiments and terminology used in this document are not intended to limit the technical features described in this document to a specific embodiment, but should be understood to encompass various modifications, equivalents, or alternatives of the embodiment. In connection with the description of the drawings, similar reference numerals may be used to refer to similar or related components. The singular form of a noun corresponding to an item may include one or more of the item, unless the relevant context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0038] In this document, the phrases "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" can each include any one of the items listed together in that phrase, or all possible combinations thereof. Terms such as "first", "second", "first", "second", "A", "B", "(a)", or "(b)" may be used merely to distinguish the corresponding component from other corresponding components, and do not limit the corresponding components in any other respect (e.g., importance or order) unless specifically stated otherwise.

[0039] In this document, when a component (e.g., a first component) is referred to as being “connected,” “coupled,” or “connected,” with or without the terms “functionally” or “communicatively,” or “coupled” or “connected,” it means that the component can be connected to the other component directly (e.g., wired or wirelessly), or indirectly (e.g., via a third component).

[0040] The methods according to various embodiments disclosed in this document may be provided as included 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 machine-readable storage medium (e.g., compact disc read-only memory, CD-ROM), or may be distributed online (e.g., downloaded or uploaded) through 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 temporarily stored or temporarily generated in a machine-readable storage medium, such as the memory of a manufacturer's server, an application store's server, or an intermediary server.

[0041] According to the embodiments disclosed in this document, each component (e.g., a module or a program) of the above-described components may include one or more entities, and some of the entities may be separated and placed in other components. According to the embodiments disclosed in this document, one or more components or operations of the aforementioned components may be omitted, or one or more other components or operations may be added. Alternatively or additionally, a plurality of components (e.g., a module or a program) may be integrated into a single component. In such a case, the integrated component may perform one or more functions of each of the plurality of components identically or similarly to those performed by the corresponding component among the plurality of components prior to the integration. According to the embodiments disclosed in this document, the operations performed by a module, program, or other component may be executed sequentially, in parallel, iteratively, or heuristically, or one or more of the operations may be executed in a different order, omitted, or one or more other operations may be added.

[0042] FIG. 1 illustrates a battery diagnostic system according to one embodiment disclosed in this document.

[0043] Referring to FIG. 1, a battery diagnosis system may include a vehicle to be diagnosed (10), a plurality of vehicles (11, 12, 13), a battery diagnosis device (100), and a user terminal (150).

[0044] The vehicle to be diagnosed (10) may be a vehicle for which the battery diagnostic device (100) wishes to diagnose whether a battery pack needs to be replaced. The plurality of vehicles (11, 12, 13) may be vehicles of the same model as the vehicle to be diagnosed (10). Depending on the embodiment, the vehicle to be diagnosed (10) may be one of the plurality of vehicles (11, 12, 13). In FIG. 1, the plurality of vehicles (11, 12, 13) is illustrated as three, but this is not limited thereto.

[0045] Each of the vehicles (10, 11, 12, 13) illustrated in FIG. 1 may include battery packs (101, 111, 121, 131), respectively. The battery packs (101, 111, 121, 131) may include a plurality of battery cells. According to an embodiment, the plurality of battery cells may be, but are not limited to, a lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery, a lithium-ion polymer (Li-ion polymer) battery, a nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) battery, a nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) battery, a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, a nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) battery, and the like. Each of the battery packs (101, 111, 121, 131) may supply power to each of the vehicles (10, 11, 12, 13). For this purpose, each of the battery packs (101, 111, 121, 131) can be electrically connected to each of the vehicles (10, 11, 12, 13).

[0046] The connection between the battery diagnostic device (100) and all the vehicles (10, 11, 12, 13) and / or the user terminal (150) illustrated in FIG. 1 may be a communication connection via a wired and / or wireless network. The battery diagnostic device (100) may transmit and receive data with all the vehicles (10, 11, 12, 13) and / or the user terminal (150) illustrated in FIG. 1 via a wired and / or wireless network.

[0047] In one embodiment, the connection between the battery diagnostic device (100) and all the vehicles (10, 11, 12, 13) and / or the user terminal (150) illustrated in FIG. 1 may be a communication connection via a wired and / or wireless network. In one embodiment, the wired network may be based on a local area network (LAN) communication or a power line communication. In one embodiment, the wireless network may be based on a short-range communication network (e.g., Bluetooth, wireless fidelity (WiFi), or infrared data association (IrDA)), or a long-range communication network (cellular network, 4G network, 5G network).

[0048] In one embodiment, the connection between the battery diagnostic device (100) and all of the vehicles (10, 11, 12, 13) and / or the user terminal (150) illustrated in FIG. 1 may be a connection via a device-to-device communication method (e.g., a bus, a general purpose input and output (GPIO), a serial peripheral interface (SPI), or a mobile industry processor interface (MIPI)).

[0049] Below, a method for diagnosing whether a battery pack (101) included in a vehicle to be diagnosed (10) needs to be replaced is described.

[0050] In addition, in the following description, the first vehicle (11) to the third vehicle (13) are referred to as multiple vehicles, and the vehicle to be diagnosed (10) is described as not being included in the multiple vehicles (11, 12, 13).

[0051] The battery diagnosis device (100) can diagnose whether the battery pack (101) included in the vehicle to be diagnosed (10) needs to be replaced. The battery diagnosis device (100) can diagnose whether the battery pack (101) needs to be replaced based on the reference fuel mileage of a plurality of vehicles (11, 12, 13) and the accumulated fuel mileage of the vehicle to be diagnosed (10). Here, the reference fuel mileage may be a fuel mileage calculated based on a specific criterion (e.g., a specified period or specified condition). For example, the reference fuel mileage may be an average fuel mileage calculated each time driving starts and ends for each of the plurality of vehicles (11, 12, 13) for one month. The accumulated fuel mileage may be an indicator for diagnosing whether the battery pack (101) needs to be replaced. This is because when the battery pack (101) is replaced, the accumulated driving distance of the vehicle to be diagnosed is not initialized, but the accumulated discharge energy is initialized, so that a difference may occur between the accumulated fuel mileage before and after the replacement of the battery pack (101).

[0052] Hereinafter, a method for diagnosing whether a battery pack (101) needs to be replaced based on the reference electric efficiencies of a plurality of vehicles (11, 12, 13) and the accumulated electric efficiencies of a vehicle to be diagnosed (10) is described.

[0053] The battery diagnostic device (100) can obtain reference fuel efficiencies calculated for a specified period of time for each of a plurality of vehicles (11, 12, 13). According to an embodiment, the reference fuel efficiencies can be calculated based on the cumulative driving distance and cumulative discharge energy of at least two points in time. The reference fuel efficiencies can be expressed as a slope value between the cumulative discharge energy of a first point in time based on the cumulative driving distance of the first point in time and the cumulative discharge energy of a second point in time based on the cumulative driving distance of the second point in time prior to the first point in time on a two-dimensional coordinate plane.

[0054] The battery diagnostic device (100) can calculate a threshold value that serves as a criterion for determining whether to replace the battery pack (101) based on reference fuel efficiencies. The threshold value may refer to a reference value from which the fuel efficiency of the vehicle can be calculated to any value between a maximum value and a minimum value based on the reference fuel efficiencies. The threshold value may be calculated based on the average, standard deviation, maximum value, and / or minimum value of the reference fuel efficiencies.

[0055] The battery diagnostic device (100) can obtain the cumulative driving distance of the vehicle to be diagnosed (10) and the cumulative discharge energy of the battery pack (101). Here, the cumulative driving distance may be the cumulative distance that the vehicle to be diagnosed (10) has driven up to a specific point in time, and the cumulative discharge energy may be the total amount of energy discharged from the point in time when the battery pack (101) is mounted on the vehicle to be diagnosed (10).

[0056] The battery diagnostic device (100) can calculate the cumulative fuel efficiency of the vehicle to be diagnosed (10) based on the cumulative driving distance and cumulative discharge energy. Here, the cumulative fuel efficiency can be calculated based on a value obtained by dividing the cumulative driving distance by the cumulative discharge energy. According to an embodiment, the cumulative fuel efficiency can be expressed as a slope value based on the cumulative discharge energy according to the cumulative driving distance on a two-dimensional coordinate plane.

[0057] The battery diagnostic device (100) can diagnose whether the battery pack (101) needs to be replaced based on the accumulated charge and threshold value.

[0058] The battery diagnostic device (100) can extract a representative fuel efficiency that can represent the fuel efficiency of the vehicle to be diagnosed (10) based on the average and standard deviation of the reference fuel efficiencies when the battery pack (101) is diagnosed as a replaced battery pack. For example, the representative fuel efficiency can be an average value or a median value of the reference fuel efficiencies of a plurality of vehicles (11, 12, 13).

[0059] The battery diagnostic device (100) can calculate the cumulative driving distance after replacement, which is the cumulative driving distance from the time the battery pack (101) is installed in the vehicle to be diagnosed, based on the representative electric power and the cumulative discharge energy of the battery pack (101).

[0060] The battery diagnostic device (100) can transmit diagnostic results, including whether the battery pack (101) needs to be replaced, to a user terminal (150). Here, the user terminal (150) may be a device that controls the battery diagnostic device (100) and / or receives diagnostic results from the battery diagnostic device (100), and may be a mobile device (e.g., a mobile phone, a laptop computer, a smart phone, a smart pad), or a personal computer (PC). In one embodiment, the user terminal (150) may be included in the battery diagnostic device (100).

[0061] In one embodiment, the battery diagnostic device (100) may be included in a BMS capable of diagnosing a battery pack (101), and operations performed in the battery diagnostic device (100) may be performed in the BMS. In addition, the operations of the battery diagnostic device (100) may be performed by a BMS in a vehicle, as well as in various devices such as a server, a cloud charger, or a charger / discharger.

[0062] The battery diagnostic device (100) diagnoses whether the battery pack (101) needs to be replaced based on the vehicle's accumulated driving distance and the accumulated discharge energy of the battery pack (101), so that even if the vehicle is traded as a used vehicle, the vehicle owner who purchases the vehicle can easily check whether the battery pack (101) needs to be replaced.

[0063] In addition, the battery diagnostic device (100) can calculate the driving distance from the time the battery pack (101) was replaced when the battery pack (101) is diagnosed as a replaced battery pack, so that when a problem occurs in the vehicle, the cause of the problem can be diagnosed more clearly.

[0064] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a battery diagnostic device according to an embodiment disclosed in this document.

[0065] Referring to FIG. 2, the battery diagnostic device (100) may include a memory (102), a communication circuit (104), a first processor (106), and a second processor (108). According to an embodiment, the battery diagnostic device (100) illustrated in FIG. 2 may further include at least one component (e.g., a sensor, a display, an input device, or an output device) other than the components illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0066] The memory (102) may include volatile memory and / or non-volatile memory.

[0067] In one embodiment, the memory (102) may include one or more software.

[0068] In one embodiment, the memory (102) may store data used by at least one component (e.g., processors (106, 108)) of the battery diagnostic device (100). For example, the data may include software (or instructions related thereto), input data, or output data. In one embodiment, the instructions, when executed by each of the processors (106, 108), may cause the battery diagnostic device (100) to perform operations defined by the instructions.

[0069] The communication circuit (104) can obtain the reference fuel efficiencies calculated for each of the plurality of vehicles (11, 12, 13). The communication circuit (104) can obtain the reference fuel efficiencies calculated for a specified period of time for each of the plurality of vehicles (11, 12, 13).

[0070] The first processor (106) may calculate a threshold value that serves as a criterion for determining whether to replace the battery pack (101) based on the reference fuel efficiencies. The threshold value may refer to a reference value at which the fuel efficiency of the vehicle can be calculated to be any value between a maximum value and a minimum value based on the reference fuel efficiencies. In one embodiment, the threshold value may be calculated using an interquartile range (IQR) for the reference fuel efficiencies. In one embodiment, the first processor (106) may calculate the threshold value based on the maximum value among the remaining values ​​after removing outliers from the reference fuel efficiencies calculated for a specified period of time. In one embodiment, the first processor (106) may calculate the threshold value based on the third quartile (Q3). For example, the first processor (106) may calculate the IQR based on the first quartile (Q1) and the third quartile (Q3), and may calculate the threshold value using mathematical expression 1.

[0071] [Mathematical Formula 1]

[0072] Critical value = Q3 + 1.5×IQR

[0073] The communication circuit (104) can obtain the cumulative driving distance of the vehicle to be diagnosed (10) from the vehicle to be diagnosed (10). Here, the cumulative driving distance may be a value that accumulates the distance the vehicle has driven up to a specific point in time. The cumulative driving distance may be stored in the memory of the vehicle to be diagnosed (10).

[0074] The communication circuit (104) can obtain the accumulated discharge energy of the battery pack (101). Here, the accumulated discharge energy may be the total amount of energy discharged from the time the battery pack (101) is mounted on the vehicle to be diagnosed (10) to a specific time. The accumulated discharge energy may be stored in the memory (102).

[0075] The second processor (108) can calculate the cumulative fuel efficiency of the vehicle to be diagnosed (10) based on the cumulative driving distance and cumulative discharge energy. Here, the cumulative fuel efficiency can be a value obtained by dividing the cumulative driving distance by the cumulative discharge energy regardless of whether the battery pack (101) is replaced. Depending on whether the battery pack (101) is replaced, the cumulative fuel efficiency before and after the replacement may differ. That is, if the battery pack (101) is replaced, the cumulative discharge energy of the battery pack (101) is initialized, so the cumulative fuel efficiency can be calculated to be higher than if the battery pack (101) is not replaced.

[0076] The second processor (108) can diagnose whether the battery pack (101) needs to be replaced based on the accumulated power consumption and the threshold value. The second processor (108) can diagnose whether the battery pack (101) needs to be replaced based on the result of comparing the accumulated power consumption and the threshold value.

[0077] In one embodiment, the second processor (108) can diagnose whether the battery pack (101) needs to be replaced based on whether the accumulated charge exceeds a threshold value. If the accumulated charge exceeds the threshold value, the second processor (108) can diagnose the battery pack (101) as a replaced battery pack. If the accumulated charge is below the threshold value, the second processor (108) can diagnose the battery pack (101) as a non-replaced battery pack.

[0078] In the above, it has been described that it is determined whether to replace the battery pack (101) based on the case where the accumulated charge exceeds the threshold value, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and various embodiments may exist, such as cases where the accumulated charge is below / below the minimum threshold value or cases where the accumulated charge is not included within the threshold range. However, in the following, for the convenience of explanation, it is assumed that it is diagnosed whether to replace the battery pack (101) based on the case where the accumulated charge exceeds the threshold value.

[0079] The first processor (106) can extract a representative fuel efficiency based on the reference fuel efficiencies. The first processor (106) can extract the representative fuel efficiency based on the average and standard deviation of the reference fuel efficiencies. For example, the representative fuel efficiency can be extracted based on the average or median value of the reference fuel efficiencies of a plurality of vehicles (11, 12, 13). In one embodiment, the representative fuel efficiency can be extracted based on the average value of the reference fuel efficiencies plus the standard deviation for a vehicle model that typically has a high reference fuel efficiency. Conversely, the representative fuel efficiency can be extracted based on the average value of the reference fuel efficiencies minus the standard deviation for a vehicle model that typically has a low fuel efficiency.

[0080] If the battery pack (101) is diagnosed as a replaced battery pack, the second processor (108) can calculate the cumulative driving distance after replacement, which is the driving distance driven from the time of replacement. Here, the cumulative driving distance after replacement may be the cumulative driving distance from the time of replacement to a specific time (e.g., the present time). The second processor (108) can calculate the driving distance after replacement using mathematical expression 2.

[0081] [Equation 2]

[0082] Cumulative mileage after replacement = representative power consumption × accumulated discharge energy

[0083] In one embodiment, the first processor (106) and the second processor (108) may include a central processing unit, an application processor, a graphics processing unit, a neural processing unit (NPU), an image signal processor, a sensor hub processor, or a communication processor.

[0084] In one embodiment, the first processor (106) and the second processor (108) may execute software to control at least one other component (e.g., hardware or software component) of the battery diagnostic device (100) connected to the first processor (106) and the second processor (108), and perform various data processing or operations.

[0085] The operations performed by the first processor (106) and the second processor (108) described above may also be performed by one processor.

[0086] The communication circuit (104) can transmit the diagnosis result to the user terminal (150). Here, the user terminal (150) can be a device that controls the battery diagnosis device (100) and / or receives the diagnosis result from the battery diagnosis device (100).

[0087] In one embodiment, the communication circuit (104) establishes a wired communication channel and / or a wireless communication channel between the battery diagnostic device (100) and all vehicles (10, 11, 12, 13) illustrated in FIG. 1, and can transmit and receive data to and from all vehicles (10, 11, 12, 13) illustrated in FIG. 1 through the established communication channel.

[0088] In one embodiment, the communication circuit (104) of the battery diagnostic device (100) can establish a wired communication channel and / or a wireless communication channel between the battery diagnostic device (100) and the user terminal (150) and / or the vehicles (10, 11, 12, 13), and transmit and receive data with the user terminal (150) and / or the vehicles (10, 11, 12, 13) through the established communication channel.

[0089] In one embodiment, if the operations of the battery diagnostic device (100) are performed in the BMS included in the battery pack (101) of the vehicle to be diagnosed (10), the battery diagnostic device (100) may not include the first processor (106). In this case, the operations of the first processor (106) may be performed in an external device, and the battery diagnostic device (100) may obtain threshold values ​​and / or representative power consumption from the external device through the communication circuit (104).

[0090] FIG. 3 illustrates a cumulative discharge energy-cumulative driving distance graph according to one embodiment disclosed in this document.

[0091] Referring to FIG. 3, the battery diagnostic device (100) can generate a cumulative discharge energy-cumulative driving distance graph to check changes in cumulative discharge energy and cumulative driving distance.

[0092] The battery diagnostic device (100) can determine whether the battery pack (101) needs to be replaced through a graph. For example, if the battery pack (101) is not replaced, only the first graph (30) is generated. However, if the battery pack (101) is replaced, the accumulated discharge energy is initialized, so the first graph (30) and the second graph (32) can be generated. For example, the first graph (30) and the second graph (32) can be distinguished based on the accumulated driving distance (300) at the time the battery pack (101) is replaced.

[0093] In one embodiment, the graph may include the cumulative driving distance according to the cumulative discharge energy of the battery pack (101) before replacement and the battery pack (101) after replacement, if the battery pack (101) is a replaced battery pack. The first graph (30) may be data based on the battery pack before replacement, and the second graph (32) may be data based on the battery pack (101) after replacement. That is, if the battery pack (101) is a replaced battery pack, it can be confirmed that the cumulative discharge energy is initialized, but the cumulative driving distance is not initialized.

[0094] The battery diagnosis device (100) can calculate the cumulative power consumption of the battery pack after replacement. Assuming that both the initial cumulative driving distance and the cumulative discharge energy are 0, the battery diagnosis device (100) can calculate the cumulative power consumption of the battery after replacement as 143.2 based on the slope value between (0,0) and (424.5, 60790), which are the coordinate values ​​of the first cumulative discharge energy and the first cumulative driving distance. Meanwhile, when the cumulative power consumption of the battery pack before replacement is calculated in the same way as the cumulative power consumption of the battery pack after replacement, the cumulative power consumption of the battery pack before replacement can be calculated as 10.09, which is the slope value between (0,0) and (5773, 58248). For example, if the threshold value is 11 (km / kwh), the battery diagnostic device (100) can diagnose the battery pack as a replaced battery pack because the accumulated power consumption (143.2 km / kwh) exceeds the threshold value (11 km / kwh).

[0095] FIG. 4a and FIG. 4b illustrate a reference power graph and an analysis table based on the reference power graph according to one embodiment disclosed in the present document.

[0096] Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B , the reference fuel consumption graph (40) may include reference fuel consumptions calculated for a specified period of time for each of vehicle types 1 to 5. Here, vehicle types 1 to 5 may be different from each other, and vehicle types 1 to 5 may each include a single vehicle or multiple vehicles of the same vehicle type. In FIG. 5 , it is assumed that vehicle types 1 to 5 are multiple vehicles of the same vehicle type, and the reference fuel consumption graph (40) is generated based on data of multiple vehicles included in each of vehicle types 1 to 5.

[0097] The designated time period may be, for example, one month, and the reference fuel cost may be calculated at regular intervals during the month. In one embodiment, the reference fuel cost may be calculated every time 10 km is driven during the designated time period of one month. In one embodiment, if the reference fuel cost is calculated monthly for a designated time period of one year, the vehicle's reference fuel cost may be calculated 12 times. In one embodiment, if the reference fuel cost is calculated weekly for a designated time period of one year, the vehicle's reference fuel cost may be calculated 54 times.

[0098] The battery diagnostic device (100) can generate an analysis table (42) based on the reference power consumption graph (40). The analysis table (42) can include the average, standard deviation, minimum value, maximum value, and threshold value of the reference power consumption for each of the first to fifth vehicle types. Here, the threshold value can be calculated based on the aforementioned IQR method.

[0099] Referring to the reference fuel consumption graph (40) and analysis table (42), the battery diagnosis device (100) can calculate a threshold value through reference fuel consumptions for all vehicles regardless of whether the battery has been replaced. Therefore, even if a vehicle model undergoes a mass recall, the device can obtain reference fuel consumptions from all vehicles of the corresponding model regardless of whether the battery has been replaced and calculate a threshold value. Accordingly, the battery diagnosis device (100) can secure a sufficient amount of data by utilizing not only the reference fuel consumptions of vehicles that have not had their batteries replaced, but also the reference fuel consumptions of vehicles that have had their batteries replaced.

[0100] Figure 5 illustrates a cumulative power graph according to one embodiment disclosed in this document.

[0101] Referring to FIG. 5, the cumulative fuel consumption graph may include the most recently calculated cumulative fuel consumption for each of a plurality of vehicle types.

[0102] The battery diagnostic device (100) can generate a cumulative power consumption graph. The cumulative power consumption graph can include cumulative power consumptions for vehicle types 1 through 5. Here, vehicle types 1 through 5 may be different from each other, and each of vehicle types 1 through 5 may include a single vehicle or multiple vehicles of the same type. In FIG. 5, it is assumed that each of vehicle types 1 through 5 is a single vehicle, and the cumulative power consumption graph is generated based on data from each of the single vehicles.

[0103] The battery diagnostic device (100) can diagnose whether the battery pack (101) needs to be replaced based on the results of comparing the accumulated charge shown in FIG. 5 with the threshold values ​​included in the analysis table (42) shown in FIG. 4b.

[0104] Referring to the analysis table (42) of FIG. 4b and the cumulative fuel consumption graph of FIG. 5, if the vehicle to be diagnosed (10) is included in the first vehicle type, the threshold value for the first vehicle type is 6.2 (km / kwh) and the cumulative fuel consumption of the vehicle to be diagnosed (10) does not exceed the threshold value (6.2 (km / kwh)), so the battery diagnostic device (100) can diagnose the battery pack (101) as an unreplaced battery pack. On the other hand, if the vehicle to be diagnosed (10) is included in the fourth vehicle type, the threshold value for the fourth vehicle type is 6.8 (km / kwh) and the cumulative fuel consumption of the vehicle to be diagnosed (10) exceeds the threshold value (6.8 (km / kwh)), so the battery diagnostic device (100) can diagnose the battery pack (101) as a replaced battery pack.

[0105] To summarize the above, for vehicle models in which the battery has not been replaced, the deviation between the cumulative power consumption shown in FIG. 5 and the threshold value included in the analysis table (42) shown in FIG. 4b is not large, but for vehicle models in which the battery has been replaced, the deviation between the cumulative power consumption shown in FIG. 5 and the threshold value included in the analysis table (42) shown in FIG. 4b is large compared to other vehicle models. That is, if the battery has not been replaced, the reference power consumption and the cumulative power consumption can be calculated as similar values. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation method of a battery diagnosis device according to an embodiment disclosed in the present document.

[0106] Referring to FIG. 6, in operation 600, the battery diagnostic device (100) can obtain a threshold value based on the reference fuel efficiencies of a plurality of vehicles (11, 12, 13).

[0107] In one embodiment, the operations of the battery diagnostic device (100) are diagnosed

[0108] In operation 602, the battery diagnostic device (100) can obtain the cumulative driving distance of the vehicle to be diagnosed (10) and the cumulative discharge energy of the battery pack (101).

[0109] In operation 604, the battery diagnostic device (100) can calculate the cumulative power consumption for the vehicle to be diagnosed (10) based on the cumulative driving distance and cumulative discharge energy.

[0110] In operation 604, the battery diagnostic device (100) can diagnose whether the battery pack (101) needs to be replaced based on the accumulated charge and the threshold value.

[0111] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a detailed operation method of operation 606 of a battery diagnostic device according to one embodiment disclosed in this document.

[0112] Referring to FIG. 7, operation 606 illustrated in FIG. 6 may include operations 700 to 704 illustrated in FIG. 7.

[0113] In operation 700, the battery diagnostic device (100) can compare the accumulated charge with a threshold value. The battery diagnostic device (100) can determine whether the accumulated charge exceeds the threshold value.

[0114] In operation 702, the battery diagnostic device (100) can diagnose the battery pack (101) as a replaced battery pack if the accumulated charge exceeds the threshold value based on the result of comparing the accumulated charge with the threshold value.

[0115] In operation 704, the battery diagnostic device (100) can diagnose the battery pack (101) as a non-replaced battery pack if the accumulated charge is less than the threshold value based on the result of comparing the accumulated charge with the threshold value.

[0116] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method for calculating a cumulative driving distance after replacement by a battery diagnostic device according to an embodiment disclosed in this document.

[0117] Referring to FIG. 8, operation 800 may be performed after operation 704 of FIG. 7. In operation 800, if the battery pack (101) is a replaced battery pack, the battery diagnostic device (100) may extract a representative power ratio based on reference power ratios. Here, the representative power ratio may be an average value or a median value of the reference power ratios.

[0118] In operation 802, the battery diagnostic device (100) can calculate the cumulative driving distance after replacement based on the representative power consumption and the accumulated discharge energy. The battery diagnostic device (100) can calculate the cumulative driving distance based on the product of the representative power consumption and the accumulated discharge energy.

[0119] The terms "include," "comprise," or "have" used herein, unless otherwise specifically stated, imply that the corresponding component may be included, and therefore should be interpreted to include other components rather than to exclude other components. All terms, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art to which the embodiments disclosed in this document pertain, unless otherwise defined. Commonly used terms, such as terms defined in dictionaries, should be interpreted to be consistent with their contextual meaning in the relevant art, and shall not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense, unless explicitly defined in this document.

[0120] The above description is merely an example of the technical idea disclosed in this document, and those skilled in the art to which the embodiments disclosed in this document pertain may make various modifications and variations without departing from the essential characteristics of the embodiments disclosed in this document. Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in this document are not intended to limit the technical idea of ​​the embodiments disclosed in this document, but to explain it, and the scope of the technical idea disclosed in this document is not limited by these embodiments. The scope of protection of the technical idea disclosed in this document should be interpreted by the claims below, and all technical ideas within a scope equivalent thereto should be interpreted as being included in the scope of rights of this document.

Claims

1. Obtain the cumulative driving distance of the vehicle to be diagnosed and the cumulative discharge energy of the battery installed in the vehicle to be diagnosed, A communication circuit for obtaining reference fuel mileage values ​​of multiple vehicles of the same model as the vehicle to be diagnosed; A first processor that calculates a threshold value that serves as a criterion for determining whether to replace the battery based on the above-mentioned standard values; and Calculate the cumulative power consumption based on the above cumulative driving distance and the above cumulative discharge energy, A second processor that diagnoses whether to replace the battery based on the accumulated power consumption and the threshold value, Battery diagnostic device.

2. In claim 1, Each of the above reference fuel costs is calculated each time each of the plurality of vehicles starts and ends driving for a specified period of time. Battery diagnostic device.

3. In claim 1, The above first processor, The critical value is calculated using the inter quartile range (IQR) for the above standard values. Battery diagnostic device.

4. In claim 1, The second processor, Diagnosing whether to replace the battery based on the result of comparing the above accumulated power consumption and the above threshold value. Battery diagnostic device.

5. In claim 4, The second processor, If the above accumulated charge exceeds the above threshold value, the battery is diagnosed as a replacement battery. Battery diagnostic device.

6. In claim 5, The above first processor, Based on the average and standard deviation of the above-mentioned standard fuel efficiencies, a representative fuel efficiencies that can represent the fuel efficiencies of the vehicle to be diagnosed are extracted, The second processor, Calculating the cumulative driving distance after replacement from the time the battery is installed in the vehicle to be diagnosed based on the representative electric power and the accumulated discharge energy of the battery. Battery diagnostic device.

7. In claim 1, The above communication circuit, Transmitting diagnostic information including whether the battery needs to be replaced to the user terminal; Battery diagnostic device.

8. An operation for obtaining the cumulative driving distance of the vehicle to be diagnosed and the cumulative discharge energy of the battery installed in the vehicle to be diagnosed; An operation of obtaining reference fuel efficiencies of multiple vehicles of the same type as the vehicle to be diagnosed; An operation of calculating a threshold value that serves as a criterion for determining whether to replace the battery based on the above-mentioned standard values; An operation for calculating the accumulated power consumption based on the above-mentioned accumulated driving distance and the above-mentioned accumulated discharge energy; and Including an operation of diagnosing whether to replace the battery based on the accumulated power consumption and the threshold value. Method of operation of a battery diagnostic device.

9. In claim 8, Each of the above reference fuel costs is calculated each time each of the plurality of vehicles starts and ends driving for a specified period of time. Method of operation of a battery diagnostic device.

10. In claim 8, The operation of calculating the above threshold value is as follows: The critical value is calculated using the inter quartile range (IQR) for the above standard values. Method of operation of a battery diagnostic device.

11. In claim 8, The above diagnostic action is, Diagnosing whether to replace the battery based on the result of comparing the above accumulated power consumption and the above threshold value. Method of operation of a battery diagnostic device.

12. In claim 11, The above diagnostic action is, If the above accumulated charge exceeds the above threshold value, the battery is diagnosed as a replacement battery. Method of operation of a battery diagnostic device.

13. In claim 12, An operation of extracting a representative fuel efficiency that can represent the fuel efficiency of the vehicle to be diagnosed based on the average and standard deviation of the above-mentioned reference fuel efficiency; and Further comprising an operation of calculating the cumulative driving distance after replacement from the time the battery is installed in the vehicle to be diagnosed based on the representative electric power and the cumulative discharge energy. Method of operation of a battery diagnostic device.

14. In claim 8, Further comprising an action of transmitting diagnostic information including whether the battery is to be replaced to the user terminal. Method of operation of a battery diagnostic device.

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