Battery management apparatus and operation method therefor

Abstract

A battery management apparatus according to an embodiment of the present document may comprise: a conversion circuit configured to switch an electrical connection between a first battery pack and a second battery pack; and one or more processors which, on the basis of an operation mode of a battery system including the first battery pack and the second battery pack, determine a connection mode including a multi-connection mode or a single connection mode between the first battery pack and the second battery pack and a load connected to the battery system, and control the conversion circuit on the basis of the connection mode so as to manage the operation of the battery system.

Description

Battery management device and its operating method

[0001] Cross-citation with related applications

[0002] This invention claims the benefit of priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0051326, filed on April 17, 2024, and all contents of the document in that Korean Patent Application are incorporated herein by reference.

[0003] Technology field

[0004] The embodiments disclosed in this document relate to a battery management device and a method of operating the same.

[0005] Recently, research and development on secondary batteries has been actively underway. Here, secondary batteries are defined as rechargeable and dischargeable batteries, encompassing both conventional Ni / Cd and Ni / MH batteries, as well as more recent lithium-ion batteries. Recently, their use has expanded to include power sources for electric vehicles, attracting attention as a next-generation energy storage medium.

[0006] Electric vehicles receive external electricity to charge their battery packs, which are then discharged to power the motor. The driving range of these electric vehicles is closely related to the capacity of the battery pack, and various studies are currently being conducted to increase this range. Furthermore, the rated voltage of rapid chargers is increasing to shorten battery charging times. However, the battery packs installed in typical electric vehicles can only be charged and discharged at a single rated voltage, and their capacity is limited.

[0007] One object of the embodiments disclosed in this document is to provide a battery management device and an operating method thereof capable of managing charging and discharging of a battery system including a plurality of battery packs.

[0008] One object of the embodiments disclosed in this document is to provide a battery management device and an operating method thereof capable of controlling connection between a plurality of battery packs based on an operating mode of a battery system.

[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 management device according to one embodiment of the present document may include a conversion circuit configured to switch an electrical connection between a first battery pack and a second battery pack; and one or more processors configured to determine a connection mode, including a multi-connection mode or a single-connection mode, between the first battery pack and the second battery pack and a load connected to the battery system based on an operation mode of a battery system including the first battery pack and the second battery pack, and to control the conversion circuit based on the connection mode to manage an operation of the battery system.

[0011] According to an embodiment, the conversion circuit may include a buck switching unit configured to convert an input voltage value input to the conversion circuit to a value smaller than the input voltage value; a boost switching unit configured to convert an input voltage value input to the conversion circuit to a value larger than the input voltage value; and a selection switching unit that switches the connection mode.

[0012] According to an embodiment, the buck switching unit may include a first switching element and a second switching element, the boost switching unit may include a third switching element and a fourth switching element, and the selection switching unit may include a fifth switching element, a sixth switching element, and a seventh switching element.

[0013] According to an embodiment, the conversion circuit further includes an inductor configured such that one end is connected to a first node to which the first switching element, the second switching element, and the fifth switching element are connected, and the other end is connected to a second node to which the third switching element, the fourth switching element, and the sixth switching element are connected, and the input voltage can be applied to the fourth switching element and the seventh switching element, and the output voltage of the conversion circuit can be applied to the first switching element and the seventh switching element.

[0014] According to an embodiment, the operating mode may include a first discharge mode for discharging one of the first battery pack and the second battery pack or a second discharge mode for discharging the first battery pack and the second battery pack.

[0015] According to an embodiment, the one or more processors may determine the connection mode as the single connection mode, which is a mode for connecting the load with one of the first battery pack and the second battery pack, when the operation mode is the first discharge mode, and may determine the connection mode as the multi-connection mode, which is a mode for connecting the first battery pack and the second battery pack in parallel, when the operation mode is the second discharge mode.

[0016] According to an embodiment, the one or more processors may control the selection switching unit to control the first battery pack to be connected in parallel with the second battery pack when the connection mode is determined to be the multi-connection mode.

[0017] According to an embodiment, the battery management device further includes an interface for obtaining a voltage of the first battery pack and a voltage of the second battery pack, and the one or more processors can control the buck switching unit and the boost switching unit so that the output voltage of the conversion circuit has a value corresponding to the voltage of the first battery pack when a voltage difference value, which is a difference between the voltage of the second battery pack and the voltage of the first battery pack, is greater than a predetermined threshold value.

[0018] According to an embodiment, the amount of change in the output voltage of the conversion circuit is proportional to the conduction time of the buck switching unit and the boost switching unit, and the one or more processors can control the conduction time to manage the output voltage of the conversion circuit.

[0019] According to an embodiment, the one or more processors may control the selection switching unit to connect the first battery pack or the second battery pack to the load when the connection mode is determined to be the single connection mode.

[0020] A method of operating a battery management device according to one embodiment of the present document may include: determining a connection mode including a multi-connection mode or a single-connection mode between a first battery pack, a second battery pack, and a load connected to the battery system based on an operation mode of a battery system including a first battery pack and a second battery pack; and controlling a conversion circuit configured to switch an electrical connection between the first battery pack and the second battery pack based on the connection mode to manage an operation of the battery system.

[0021] According to an embodiment, the conversion circuit may include a buck switching unit configured to convert an input voltage value input to the conversion circuit to a value smaller than the input voltage value; a boost switching unit configured to convert an input voltage value input to the conversion circuit to a value larger than the input voltage value; and a selection switching unit that switches the connection mode.

[0022] According to an embodiment, the buck switching unit may include a first switching element and a second switching element, the boost switching unit may include a third switching element and a fourth switching element, and the selection switching unit may include a fifth switching element, a sixth switching element, and a seventh switching element.

[0023] According to an embodiment, the conversion circuit further includes an inductor configured such that one end is connected to a first node to which the first switching element, the second switching element, and the fifth switching element are connected, and the other end is connected to a second node to which the third switching element, the fourth switching element, and the sixth switching element are connected, and the input voltage can be applied to the fourth switching element and the seventh switching element, and the output voltage of the conversion circuit can be applied to the first switching element and the seventh switching element.

[0024] According to an embodiment, the operating mode may include a first discharge mode for discharging one of the first battery pack and the second battery pack or a second discharge mode for discharging the first battery pack and the second battery pack.

[0025] According to an embodiment, the step of determining the connection mode may determine the connection mode as the single connection mode, which is a mode for connecting the load with one of the first battery pack and the second battery pack, when the operation mode is the first discharge mode, and may determine the connection mode as the multiple connection mode, which is a mode for connecting the first battery pack and the second battery pack in parallel, when the operation mode is the second discharge mode.

[0026] According to an embodiment, the step of managing power of the battery system may include a step of controlling the selection switching unit to control the first battery pack to be connected in parallel with the second battery pack when the connection mode is determined to be the multi-connection mode.

[0027] According to an embodiment, the method further includes a step of acquiring a voltage of the first battery pack and a voltage of the second battery pack, and the step of managing power of the battery system may include a step of controlling the buck switching unit and the boost switching unit so that the output voltage of the conversion circuit has a value corresponding to the voltage of the first battery pack when a voltage difference value, which is a difference between the voltage of the second battery pack and the voltage of the first battery pack, is greater than a predetermined threshold value.

[0028] According to an embodiment, the amount of change in the output voltage of the conversion circuit is proportional to the conduction time of the buck switching unit and the boost switching unit, and the one or more processors can control the conduction time to manage the output voltage of the conversion circuit.

[0029] According to an embodiment, the step of managing power of the battery system may include controlling the selection switching unit to control the first battery pack or the second battery pack to be connected to the load when the connection mode is determined to be the single connection mode.

[0030] The battery management device and its operating method disclosed in this document can manage charging and discharging of a battery system including a plurality of battery packs.

[0031] The battery management device and its operating method disclosed in this document can control the connection between a plurality of battery packs based on the operating mode of the battery system.

[0032] In addition, various effects may be provided, either directly or indirectly, through this document.

[0033] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a battery pack according to one embodiment disclosed in this document.

[0034] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a battery management device according to one embodiment disclosed in this document.

[0035] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a battery system and a conversion circuit according to one embodiment disclosed in this document.

[0036] FIG. 4 is a drawing showing an operation method of a conversion circuit according to one embodiment disclosed in this document.

[0037] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of a battery management device according to one embodiment disclosed in this document.

[0038] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a computing system for performing an operating method of a battery management device according to one embodiment disclosed in this document.

[0039] Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to specific embodiments, and it should be understood that the present invention encompasses various modifications, equivalents, and / or alternatives of the embodiments.

[0040] It should be understood that the various embodiments and terms used in this document are not intended to limit the technical features described in this document to specific embodiments, but rather to include various modifications, equivalents, or substitutes of the embodiments.

[0041] In connection with the description, similar reference numerals may be used for similar or related components. The singular form of the noun corresponding to an item may include one or more of said items, unless the relevant context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0042] 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 element from other corresponding elements, and do not limit the corresponding elements in any other respect (e.g., importance or order) unless specifically stated otherwise.

[0043] In this document, whenever 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), wirelessly, or via a third component.

[0044] According to one embodiment, the method according to various embodiments disclosed in this document may be provided as 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.

[0045] According to various embodiments, 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 various embodiments, 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 various embodiments, 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.

[0046] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a battery pack according to one embodiment disclosed in this document.

[0047] Referring to FIG. 1, a battery pack (1) may include a battery unit (12), a sensor unit (14), a switching unit (16), and a battery management system (BMS) (20). At this time, the battery pack (1) may be equipped with a plurality of battery units (12), sensor units (14), switching units (16), and battery management systems (20).

[0048] According to an embodiment, the battery unit (12) can supply power to a target device (not shown). To this end, the battery unit (12) can be electrically connected to the target device. Here, the target device can include an electrical, electronic, or mechanical device that operates by receiving power from the battery pack (1). For example, the target device can be, but is not limited to, an electric vehicle (EV).

[0049] According to an embodiment, the battery unit (12) may include at least one rechargeable battery cell (10). Here, the battery cell (10) may be a basic unit of a battery cell that can charge and discharge electric energy. For example, the battery cell (10) may be 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, etc., but is not limited thereto. A detailed structure of the battery cell (10) may be described with reference to FIG. 3.

[0050] According to an embodiment, a plurality of battery units (12) may be connected in series or parallel. For example, the battery unit (12) may be a battery module, a battery bank, or a collection of battery cells (cell-to-pack structure).

[0051] According to an embodiment, the sensor unit (14) can obtain information related to the battery unit (12). According to an embodiment, the sensor unit (14) can obtain values ​​(or information) related to the status of each battery unit (12). In one embodiment, the values ​​related to the status may include one or more values ​​for voltage, current, resistance, state of charge (SOC), state of health (SOH), or temperature of the battery cell, or a combination thereof.

[0052] According to an embodiment, the sensor unit (14) can provide information on each of a plurality of battery units (12) to the battery management system (20).

[0053] According to an embodiment, the switching unit (16) may include a device for controlling the current flow for charging or discharging the battery unit (12). For example, the switching unit (16) may include at least one relay and / or magnetic contactor, etc., depending on the specifications of the battery pack (1).

[0054] According to an embodiment, a battery management system (BMS) (20) can monitor voltage, current, temperature, etc. of a battery pack (1) to control or manage the battery pack (1) to prevent overcharge, overdischarge, etc. For example, the battery management system (20) may include a plurality of terminals as an interface for receiving values ​​measured from the various parameters described above, and a circuit connected to these terminals to process the input values. In addition, the battery management system (20) may control a sensor unit (14) and / or a switching unit (16). For example, the battery management system (20) may be connected to a plurality of battery units (12) to monitor the status of each of the plurality of battery units (12) and control ON / OFF of a relay or a contactor, etc.

[0055] According to an embodiment, the operation of the battery management system (20) may be performed by a BMS (Battery Management System) in the vehicle, as well as by various devices such as a server, cloud, charger, or charger / discharger.

[0056] The upper controller (2) can transmit control signals for multiple battery units (12) to the battery management system (20). Accordingly, the battery management system (20) can be controlled for operation based on signals received from the upper controller (2).

[0057] According to an embodiment, the battery management system (20) may include the battery management device (100) of FIG. 2. According to another embodiment, the battery management system (20) may be a different system from the battery management device (100) of FIG. 2. That is, the battery management device (100) of FIG. 2 may be included in the battery pack (1) or may be configured as another device external to the battery pack (1). Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, it is assumed that the battery management device (100) is configured as another device external to the battery pack (1). In addition, the operation of the battery management device (100) below may be performed by an in-vehicle BMS (Battery Management System), as well as various devices such as a server, a cloud, a charger, or a charger / discharger.

[0058] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a battery management device according to one embodiment disclosed in the present document. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a battery system and a conversion circuit according to one embodiment disclosed in the present document. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an operating method of a conversion circuit according to one embodiment disclosed in the present document. The operation of the battery management device (100) illustrated in FIG. 2 may be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 below.

[0059] First, referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a battery management device (100) according to an embodiment disclosed in the present document can diagnose the status of a battery system (150) including one or more battery packs and manage the operation thereof. Here, the operation of the battery pack may refer to a charging and / or discharging operation. For example, the battery system (150) may include a first battery pack (P1) and a second battery pack (P2). Here, the second battery pack (P2) may be configured to be directly or indirectly connected to the first battery pack (P1). For example, the first battery pack (P1) may refer to a battery pack mounted on a vehicle, and the second battery pack (P2) may refer to a battery pack that can be additionally mounted to the first battery pack (P1) by a user.

[0060] According to an embodiment, the battery management device (100) may include an interface (110), a conversion circuit (120), and one or more processors (130) to manage the operation of the battery system (150). However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and other components may be further included in the battery management device (100), two or more components may be integrated into one, or one component may be divided into two or more components.

[0061] According to an embodiment, the interface (110) can obtain status data related to the battery system (150). Here, the interface (110) may refer to a configuration capable of communicating with an external device via wire and / or wirelessly. For example, the status data may include voltage data, current data, temperature data, or resistance data of each of the first battery pack (P1) and the second battery pack (P2) included in the battery system (150). In addition, the status data may include voltage data, current data, temperature data, or resistance data of output terminals (T1 and T2) of the battery system (150).

[0062] According to an embodiment, the interface (110) can obtain voltage data by communicating with a sensor unit (14, see FIG. 1). In addition, the interface (110) can obtain voltage data by communicating with a BMS (20, see FIG. 1) or other infrastructure such as a server and a cloud.

[0063] According to an embodiment, the interface (110) can obtain the voltage of the battery system (150) or the battery pack (the first battery pack (P1) and / or the second battery pack (P2)). For example, the interface (110) can obtain the voltage of each of the first battery pack (P1) and the second battery pack (P2) or the voltage of the battery system (150) per unit time. According to an embodiment, the interface (110) can continuously obtain voltage data in the charging section, the resting section after charging, the discharging section, and / or the resting section after discharging of the battery pack over time. According to an embodiment, the interface (110) can include a voltage monitoring circuit or sensor.

[0064] According to an embodiment, the conversion circuit (120) can convert the voltage (V0) of the output terminals (T1 and T2) of the battery system (150) or switch the electrical connection between a plurality of battery packs included in the battery system (150). According to an embodiment, the conversion circuit (120) can switch the electrical connection between the first battery pack (P1) and the second battery pack (P2).

[0065] According to an embodiment, the conversion circuit (120) may be connected to the first battery pack (P1) and the second battery pack (P2) of the battery system (150) to convert the voltage (V0) of the output terminals (T1 and T2) of the battery system (150). For example, the conversion circuit (120) may convert the voltage (V0) of the output terminals (T1 and T2) of the battery system (150) by converting the connection state of the first battery pack (P1) and the second battery pack (P2) to a series connection state, a parallel connection state, an insulation state, etc. In addition, the conversion circuit (120) may convert the voltage (V1) output from the second battery pack (P2) into a converted voltage (V2).

[0066] For example, in a charging state of the battery system (150), the conversion circuit (120) may be configured to charge one or more of the plurality of battery packs included in the battery system (150) based on the type of power source (e.g., a generator or alternator or an external charger) connected to the battery system (150). Here, the external charger may include a charger having a rated voltage of 400 V or a charger having a rated voltage of 800 V.

[0067] According to an embodiment, in a discharge state of the battery system (150), the conversion circuit (120) may be configured to discharge one or more of the plurality of battery packs included in the battery system (150) based on a driving mode of a load (e.g., a vehicle) configured to be connected to the battery system (150). Here, the driving mode may include a short-distance driving mode, a long-distance driving mode, a stop mode, etc. Through this, the battery management device (100) may configure the battery system (150) in response to the type of power source or the driving mode.

[0068] According to an embodiment, the conversion circuit (120) may be controlled by one or more processors (130) of the battery management device (100).

[0069] According to an embodiment, one or more processors (130) may perform operations of the battery management device (100). For example, one or more processors (130) may process data obtained from the interface (110) to manage the operation of the battery system (150). According to an embodiment, one or more processors (130) may determine a connection mode of the battery system (150) based on voltage data obtained from the interface (110) and / or an operation mode of the battery system (150), and control the conversion circuit (120) based on the connection mode.

[0070] According to an embodiment, one or more processors (130) may determine an operating mode of the battery system (150) based on a type of power source connected to the battery system (150) or a driving mode of a load. Here, the type of power source may refer to a classification of the power source according to a rated voltage (e.g., 400 V or 800 V) of the power source used for charging the battery system (150), and the driving mode may include a short-distance driving mode, a long-distance driving mode, a stop mode, or the like.

[0071] According to an embodiment, the operating mode may include a first charging mode for charging one of the first battery pack (P1) and the second battery pack (P2), a second charging mode for charging the first battery pack (P1) and the second battery pack (P2), a first discharging mode for discharging one of the first battery pack (P1) and the second battery pack (P2), and a second discharging mode for discharging the first battery pack (P1) and the second battery pack (P2).

[0072] According to an embodiment, one or more processors (130) may determine a connection mode between the battery system (150) and another device (e.g., a power source or a load) based on an operation mode of the battery system (150) including a first battery pack (P1) and a second battery pack (P2). Here, the connection mode may include a multiple connection mode or a single connection mode. According to an embodiment, one or more processors (130) may determine the number of battery packs connected to a power source and the connection relationship between the battery packs depending on the type of power source. In addition, one or more processors (130) may determine the number of battery packs connected to a load and the connection relationship between the battery packs depending on a driving mode. Through this, the battery management device (100) may charge the battery system (150) in response to power sources of various rated voltages and manage the discharge power of the battery system (150) in response to various driving modes.

[0073] According to an embodiment, when the operation mode is the first charging mode, one or more processors (130) may determine the connection mode as the single connection mode. Here, the first charging mode may refer to a mode for charging one of the first battery pack (P1) and the second battery pack (P2), and the single connection mode may refer to a mode for connecting a power source to one of the first battery pack (P1) and the second battery pack (P2) included in the battery system (150). For example, when the battery system (150) is connected to a power source (e.g., a rated voltage of 400 V) corresponding to the rated voltage of one of the battery packs included in the battery system (e.g., the first battery pack (P1) or the second battery pack (P2), etc.) and is charged, one or more processors (130) may determine the operation mode of the battery system (150) as the first charging mode.

[0074] According to an embodiment, when the operation mode is the second charging mode, one or more processors (130) may determine the connection mode as the multi-connection mode. Here, the second charging mode may refer to a mode for charging the first battery pack (P1) and the second battery pack (P2), and the multi-connection mode may refer to a mode for connecting the first battery pack (P1) and the second battery pack (P2) included in the battery system (150) in series. For example, when the battery system (150) is connected to a high-voltage power source for rapid charging (e.g., rated voltage 800 V) having a rated voltage higher than the rated voltage (e.g., 400 V) of one of the battery packs included in the battery system (e.g., the first battery pack (P1) or the second battery pack (P2)) and is charged, one or more processors (130) may determine the operation mode of the battery system (150) as the second charging mode.

[0075] According to an embodiment, when the operating mode is the first discharge mode, one or more processors (130) may determine the connection mode as the single connection mode. Here, the first discharge mode may refer to a mode for discharging one of the first battery pack (P1) and the second battery pack (P2), and the single connection mode may refer to a mode for connecting a load to one of the first battery pack (P1) and the second battery pack (P2) included in the battery system (150). For example, when the driving mode is the short-distance driving mode, one or more processors (130) may determine the operating mode of the battery system (150) as the first discharge mode.

[0076] According to an embodiment, when the operating mode is the second discharge mode, one or more processors (130) may determine the connection mode as the multi-connection mode. Here, the second discharge mode may refer to a mode for discharging the first battery pack (P1) and the second battery pack (P2), and the multi-connection mode may refer to a mode for connecting the first battery pack (P1) and the second battery pack (P2) included in the battery system (150) and the load in parallel. For example, when the driving mode is the long-distance driving mode, one or more processors (130) may determine the operating mode of the battery system (150) as the second discharge mode.

[0077] According to an embodiment, when the driving mode is a stop mode, one or more processors (130) may determine the operating mode of the battery system (150) as a pack balancing mode. In addition, when the operating mode is a pack balancing mode, one or more processors (130) may control the conversion circuit (120) to operate as a bidirectional DCDC converter, thereby performing pack balancing between the first battery pack (P1) and the second battery pack (P2). In this case, one or more processors (130) may discharge the first battery pack (P1) to charge the second battery pack (P2), or discharge the second battery pack (P2) to charge the first battery pack (P1).

[0078] According to an embodiment, the conversion circuit (120) may include one or more switching elements (e.g., SW1, SW2, ..., SW7) for switching. In FIG. 3, the conversion circuit (120) is exemplified as including the first switching element (SW1) to the seventh switching element (SW7), but is not limited thereto, and the conversion circuit (120) may include N switching elements (N is an integer greater than or equal to 1). In addition, the conversion circuit (120) may include switching elements such as a switch, a relay, a diode, or a transistor.

[0079] According to an embodiment, the conversion circuit (120) can convert the input voltage (V1) by switching the electrical connection between the first battery pack (P1) and the second battery pack (P2). For example, the conversion circuit (120) can include a buck / boost switching unit (121 and 122) and an inductor (L). Through this, the conversion circuit (120) can switch the electrical connection between the first battery pack (P1) and the second battery pack (P2).

[0080] According to an embodiment, the buck / boost switching unit (121 and 122) may include a buck switching unit (121) for voltage step-down and a boost switching unit (122) for voltage step-up. Here, the buck switching unit (121) may be configured to convert an input voltage (V1) value input to the conversion circuit (120) into a value smaller than the input voltage (V1) value by performing pulse width modulation (PWM) on the switching element. In addition, the boost switching unit (122) may be configured to convert an input voltage (V1) value input to the conversion circuit (120) into a value larger than the input voltage (V1) value by performing pulse width modulation (PWM) on the switching element.

[0081] For example, the buck switching unit (121) may include a first switching element (SW1) and a second switching element (SW2), and the boost switching unit (122) may include a third switching element (SW3) and a fourth switching element (SW4). However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the buck switching unit (121) and the boost switching unit (122) may be integrated or replaced with other configurations. Through this, the battery management device (100) may convert the voltage output from the second battery pack (P2), thereby managing the converted voltage to correspond to the voltage of the first battery pack (P1).

[0082] According to an embodiment, the conversion circuit (120) can change the connection mode of the battery system (150) by switching the electrical connection between the first battery pack (P1) and the second battery pack (P2). Here, the connection mode may refer to the connection type between the first battery pack (P1) and the second battery pack (P2) included in the battery system (150). For example, the connection mode may include a multiple connection mode or a single connection mode.

[0083] According to an embodiment, when the battery system (150) includes multiple battery packs, the multiple connection mode may include a series connection mode or a parallel connection mode between the multiple battery packs. Furthermore, when the battery system (150) includes multiple battery packs, the single connection mode may mean that a power source or a load is connected to one of the multiple battery packs. In another aspect, the single connection mode may mean a mode in which the multiple battery packs included in the battery system (150) are mutually isolated.

[0084] According to an embodiment, the conversion circuit (120) may include a selection switching unit that switches the connection mode. For example, the selection switching unit may include a first switching element (SW1) to a seventh switching element (SW7). According to an embodiment, some switching elements (e.g., the first switching element (SW1) to the fourth switching element (SW4)) of the selection switching unit may be integrated with at least a portion of the buck switching unit (121) and / or the boost switching unit (122). In addition, the configuration of the selection switching unit is not limited to the embodiment of FIG. 3, and the switching elements included in the selection switching unit may be integrated with each other or replaced with different switching elements.

[0085] According to an embodiment, the first switching element (SW1) to the seventh switching element (SW7) can be controlled to be turned on and / or off by one or more processors (130). Through this, the conversion circuit (120) can perform the operation of a buck converter, a boost converter, or a buck-boost converter. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, each of the first switching element (SW1) to the seventh switching element (SW7) is exemplified as a unidirectional MOSFET, but is not limited thereto and may be replaced or integrated with various switching elements such as a bidirectional MOSFET, a transistor, a switch, or a relay.

[0086] According to an embodiment, the inductor (L) may be connected to the buck switching unit (121) and the boost switching unit (122). For example, the conversion circuit (120) may include an inductor (L) configured such that one end is connected to a first node to which a first switching element (SW1), a second switching element (SW2), and a fifth switching element (SW5) are connected, and the other end is connected to a second node to which a third switching element (SW3), a fourth switching element (SW4), and a sixth switching element (SW6) are connected.

[0087] According to an embodiment, an input voltage (V1) may be applied to the fourth switching element (SW4) and the seventh switching element (SW7) of the conversion circuit (120). In addition, an output voltage (V2) of the conversion circuit (120) may be applied to the first switching element (SW1) and the seventh switching element (SW7) of the conversion circuit (120).

[0088] According to an embodiment, one or more processors (130) can control the battery system (150) to operate in a multi-connection mode or a single-connection mode by controlling the selection switching unit (e.g., the first switching element (SW1) to the seventh switching element (SW7)) to turn on or off. According to an embodiment, when the battery system (150) is connected to a rated voltage power source (e.g., rated voltage 400 V), one or more processors (130) can control the first battery pack (P1) to be single-connected to the power source. For example, when the operation mode is the first charging mode and the connection mode is determined to be the single connection mode, one or more processors (130) can control the first switching element (SW1) to the seventh switching element (SW7) to be in an off state. Through this, the battery management device (100) can control the battery system (150) to be charged in response to a power source of rated voltage 400 V.

[0089] According to an embodiment, when the operation mode is the second charging mode and the connection mode is determined as the multi-connection mode, one or more processors (130) can control the first battery pack (P1) and the second battery pack (P2) to be connected in series. For example, one or more processors (130) can control the third switching element (SW3) and the fourth switching element (SW4) to be turned on, and control the remaining switching elements to be turned off. Accordingly, one or more processors (130) can control the voltage (V0) of the battery system (150) to be 800 V by connecting the first battery pack (P1) having a rated voltage of 400 V and the second battery pack (P2) having a rated voltage of 400 V in series, and can control the battery system (150) to be charged by a high-voltage power source (e.g., rated voltage of 800 V). Through this, the battery management device (100) can control the battery system (150) to be charged in response to power sources having various rated voltages (e.g., rated voltage 400 V or rated voltage 800 V). In addition, the battery management device (100) can charge the battery system (150) more quickly using a rapid charging power source having a rated voltage higher than the rated voltage of the battery pack.

[0090] According to an embodiment, when the operation mode is the first discharge mode and the connection mode is determined as the single connection mode, one or more processors (130) can control the selection switching unit to control the first battery pack (P1) or the second battery pack (P2) to be connected to the load. For example, one or more processors (130) can control the first switching element (SW1) to be in an off state to cut off the connection between the first battery pack (P1) and the second battery pack (P2). Through this, one or more processors (130) can insulate the first battery pack (P1) and the second battery pack (P2) and connect the first battery pack (P1) to the load.

[0091] According to an embodiment, when the output voltage (V2) of the first battery pack (P1) is 0 in the first discharge mode described above or when a failure occurs in the first battery pack (P1), one or more processors (130) may change the battery pack used in the single connection mode from the first battery pack (P1) to the second battery pack (P2). For example, one or more processors (130) may determine to discharge the second battery pack (P2) instead of the first battery pack (P1) in the single connection mode. In this case, one or more processors (130) may control the first switching element (SW1), the fourth switching element (SW4), the fifth switching element (SW5), the sixth switching element (SW6), and the seventh switching element (SW7) to be in an on state, and control the remaining switching elements to be in an off state. Through this, the battery management device (100) may supply bypass power to the load by connecting the second battery pack (P2) to the load.

[0092] According to an embodiment, when the operation mode is the second discharge mode and the connection mode is determined as the multi-connection mode, one or more processors (130) can control the selection switching unit to control the first battery pack (P1) and the second battery pack (P2) to be connected in parallel. For example, one or more processors (130) can control the first switching element (SW1), the fourth switching element (SW4), the fifth switching element (SW5), the sixth switching element (SW6), and the seventh switching element (SW7) to be in an on state, and control the remaining switching elements to be in an off state. Through this, the battery management device (100) can extend the discharge duration of the battery system (150) by discharging the battery system (150) in a state where the first battery pack (P1) and the second battery pack (P2) are connected in parallel, compared to the case where only the first battery pack (P1) is discharged. For example, the battery management device (100) can determine the operation mode of the battery system (150) as the second discharge mode when the vehicle including the battery system (150) is driven long distances, and increase the driving distance of the vehicle by simultaneously discharging the first battery pack (P1) and the second battery pack (P2).

[0093] According to an embodiment, when the operation mode is the second discharge mode and the connection mode is determined as the multi-connection mode, one or more processors (130) can control the output voltage (V2) of the conversion circuit (120) so that the voltage of the second battery pack (P2) converted by the conversion circuit (120) corresponds to the voltage of the first battery pack (P1). For example, one or more processors (130) can compare the voltage of the first battery pack (P1) and the voltage of the second battery pack (P2) based on the voltage of the first battery pack (P1) and the voltage of the second battery pack (P2) obtained through the interface (110). In addition, one or more processors (130) can control the conversion circuit (120) when a voltage difference value, which is a difference between the voltage of the second battery pack (P2) and the voltage of the first battery pack (P1), is greater than a predetermined threshold value. Here, the predetermined threshold value may mean a value that serves as a reference for performing the buck-boost operation of the conversion circuit (120), and may vary depending on the specifications of the battery system (150). For example, the predetermined threshold value may mean a case where the difference between the voltage of the first battery pack (P1) and the voltage of the second battery pack (P2) is 5% of the voltage of the first battery pack (P1).

[0094] According to an embodiment, one or more processors (130) can control the buck switching unit (121) and the boost switching unit (122) so that the output voltage (V2) of the conversion circuit (120) has a value corresponding to the voltage of the first battery pack (P1). For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4, one or more processors (130) can control the output voltage (V2) of the conversion circuit (120) by controlling the first switching element (SW1) to the fourth switching element (SW4) included in the buck switching unit (121) and the boost switching unit (122).

[0095] Referring to FIG. 4, in section a, when the first switching element (SW1) of the buck switching unit (121) is in the on state and the second switching element (SW2) is in the off state, one or more processors (130) control the third switching element (SW3) of the boost switching unit (122) to be in the on state and the fourth switching element (SW4) to be in the off state, thereby converting the output voltage (V2) of the conversion circuit (120) to a value greater than the input voltage (V1). In addition, in section b, when the third switching element (SW3) of the boost switching unit (122) is in the off state and the fourth switching element (SW4) is in the on state, one or more processors (130) can control the first switching element (SW1) of the buck switching unit (121) to be in the off state and the second switching element (SW2) to be in the on state, thereby converting the output voltage (V2) of the conversion circuit (120) to a value smaller than the input voltage (V1).

[0096] Through this, one or more processors (130) can control the conversion circuit (120) to operate as a buck-boost converter by controlling the switching elements of each of the buck switching unit (121) and the boost switching unit (122).

[0097] According to an embodiment, one or more processors (130) can adjust the magnitude of the voltage to be converted based on the control time of each switching element of the buck switching unit (121) and the boost switching unit (122). For example, one or more processors (130) can control the on or off time of each of the first switching element (SW1) to the fourth switching element (SW4) to manage the output voltage (V2) of the conversion circuit (120).

[0098] For example, one or more processors (130) can control the amount of change, which is the degree to which the output voltage (V2) is lowered compared to the input voltage (V1), by controlling the time during which the first switching element (SW1) is off and the second switching element (SW2) is on. In addition, one or more processors (130) can control the amount of change, which is the degree to which the output voltage (V2) is higher compared to the input voltage (V1), by controlling the time during which the third switching element (SW3) is on and the fourth switching element (SW4) is off.

[0099] According to an embodiment, the amount of change in the output voltage (V2) by which the input voltage (V1) is stepped down or up may be proportional to the control time of the switch. In another aspect, the amount of change in the output voltage (V2) of the conversion circuit (120) may be proportional to the conduction time of the buck switching unit (121) and the boost switching unit (122). Through this, one or more processors (130) can control the amount of change in the output voltage (V2) by controlling the conduction time (i.e., on or off time) of the switching elements of each of the buck switching unit (121) and the boost switching unit (122).

[0100] According to an embodiment, one or more processors (130) may control the first switching element (SW1) to the fourth switching element (SW4) to cause the conversion circuit (120) to perform a buck operation and a boost operation when the voltage difference between the first battery pack (P1) and the second battery pack (P2) is greater than a first threshold value (e.g., 5%) and less than a second threshold value (e.g., 10%). According to an embodiment, one or more processors (130) may control the first switching element (SW1) to the fourth switching element (SW4) to cause the conversion circuit (120) to perform either a buck operation or a boost operation when the voltage difference between the first battery pack (P1) and the second battery pack (P2) is greater than a second threshold value (e.g., 10%). Here, one or more processors (130) can control the conversion circuit (120) to perform either a buck operation or a boost operation until the voltage difference value becomes within a first threshold value.

[0101] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of a battery management device according to one embodiment disclosed in this document.

[0102] Referring to FIG. 5, a battery management device (100) determines a connection mode including a multi-connection mode or a single-connection mode between the first battery pack and the second battery pack and a load connected to the battery system based on an operation mode of a battery system including a first battery pack and a second battery pack (S101), and controls a conversion circuit configured to switch an electrical connection between the first battery pack and the second battery pack based on the connection mode to manage the operation of the battery system (S102).

[0103] In step S101, one or more processors (130) of the battery management device (100) can determine a connection mode including a multi-connection mode or a single-connection mode between the first battery pack, the second battery pack, and a load connected to the battery system based on an operation mode of the battery system including the first battery pack and the second battery pack.

[0104] In step S102, one or more processors (130) may control a conversion circuit configured to switch an electrical connection between a first battery pack and a second battery pack based on a connection mode to manage an operation of the battery system. According to an embodiment, the interface (110) may obtain a voltage of the first battery pack and a voltage of the second battery pack. In addition, the one or more processors (130) may control a buck switching unit and a boost switching unit so that an output voltage of the conversion circuit has a value corresponding to the voltage of the first battery pack when a voltage difference value, which is a difference between the voltage of the second battery pack and the voltage of the first battery pack, is greater than a predetermined threshold value based on the obtained voltage.

[0105] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a computing system for performing an operating method of a battery management device according to one embodiment disclosed in this document.

[0106] Referring to FIG. 6, a computing system (200) according to one embodiment disclosed in this document may include an MCU (210), a memory (220), an input / output I / F (230), and a communication I / F (240).

[0107] The MCU (210) may be a processor that executes various programs (e.g., a battery data collection program, a graph generation program, a data analysis program, a data decomposition algorithm, a normalization program, a battery cell diagnosis program, etc.) stored in the memory (220), processes various information including characteristic data of battery cells, latent variables, etc. through these programs, and performs the functions of the battery management device (100) shown in the aforementioned FIGS. 1 to 5.

[0108] The memory (220) can store various programs such as a battery data collection program, a graph generation program, a data analysis program, a data decomposition algorithm, a normalization program, and a battery cell diagnosis program.

[0109] Such memories (220) may be provided in multiple numbers as needed. The memories (220) may be volatile memories or non-volatile memories. As volatile memories (220), RAM, DRAM, SRAM, etc. may be used. As non-volatile memories (220), ROM, PROM, EAROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memories, etc. may be used. The examples of the memories (220) listed above are merely examples and are not limited to these examples.

[0110] The input / output I / F (230) can provide an interface that enables data transmission and reception between an input device (not shown) such as a keyboard, mouse, or touch panel, and an output device (not shown) such as a display and the MCU (210).

[0111] The communication I / F (240) is a component capable of transmitting and receiving various data with the server, and may be any device capable of supporting wired or wireless communication. For example, the battery management device (100) can transmit and receive various types of information, including battery status data, from a separately provided external server via the communication I / F (240).

[0112] In this way, a computer program according to one embodiment disclosed in this document may be implemented as a module that performs each function illustrated in FIG. 2, for example, by being recorded in a memory (220) and processed by an MCU (210).

[0113] Although all components constituting the embodiments disclosed in this document have been described as being combined or operating in combination as one, the embodiments disclosed in this document are not necessarily limited to such embodiments. That is, within the scope of the purpose of the embodiments disclosed in this document, all of the components may be selectively combined and operated one or more times.

[0114] In addition, terms such as "include," "comprise," or "have" described above, unless specifically stated otherwise, mean that the corresponding component can be included, and therefore should be interpreted to include other components rather than excluding 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 belong, unless otherwise defined. Commonly used terms, such as terms defined in a dictionary, should be interpreted to be consistent with the contextual meaning of the relevant technology, and shall not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense, unless explicitly defined in this document.

[0115] The foregoing disclosure outlines features of several embodiments to enable those skilled in the art to better understand the aspects of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present disclosure can be readily used as a basis for designing or modifying other structures to achieve the same purposes or advantages of the embodiments introduced herein. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will recognize that such equivalent structures do not depart from the scope of the present disclosure, and that various changes, substitutions, and modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A conversion circuit configured to switch an electrical connection between a first battery pack and a second battery pack; and Based on the operation mode of the battery system including the first battery pack and the second battery pack, a connection mode including a multiple connection mode or a single connection mode is determined between the first battery pack and the second battery pack and a load connected to the battery system, A battery management device comprising one or more processors for controlling the conversion circuit based on the connection mode to manage the operation of the battery system.

2. In claim 1, The above conversion circuit is, A buck switching unit configured to convert an input voltage value input to the above conversion circuit into a value smaller than the input voltage value; A boost switching unit configured to convert an input voltage value input to the above conversion circuit into a value greater than the input voltage value; and A battery management device comprising a selection switching unit for switching the above connection mode.

3. In claim 2, The above buck switching unit includes a first switching element and a second switching element, The above boost switching unit includes a third switching element and a fourth switching element, A battery management device, wherein the above selection switching unit includes a fifth switching element, a sixth switching element, and a seventh switching element.

4. In claim 3, The above conversion circuit is, Further comprising an inductor configured such that one end is connected to the first node to which the first switching element, the second switching element and the fifth switching element are connected, and the other end is connected to the second node to which the third switching element, the fourth switching element and the sixth switching element are connected. A battery management device in which the input voltage is applied to the fourth switching element and the seventh switching element, and the output voltage of the conversion circuit is applied to the first switching element and the seventh switching element.

5. In claim 2, The above operation mode is, A battery management device comprising a first discharge mode for discharging one of the first battery pack and the second battery pack or a second discharge mode for discharging the first battery pack and the second battery pack.

6. In claim 5, One or more of the above processors, If the above operation mode is the first discharge mode, the connection mode is determined as the single connection mode, which is a mode for connecting the load with one of the first battery pack and the second battery pack, A battery management device that determines the connection mode as the multi-connection mode, which is a mode in which the first battery pack and the second battery pack are connected in parallel, when the above-mentioned operation mode is the second discharge mode.

7. In claim 6, One or more of the above processors, A battery management device that controls the selection switching unit to connect the first battery pack in parallel with the second battery pack when the connection mode is determined as the multi-connection mode.

8. In claim 7, The above battery management device, Further comprising an interface for obtaining the voltage of the first battery pack and the voltage of the second battery pack, One or more of the above processors, If the voltage difference value, which is the difference between the voltage of the second battery pack and the voltage of the first battery pack, is greater than a predetermined threshold value, A battery management device that controls the buck switching unit and the boost switching unit so that the output voltage of the above-mentioned conversion circuit has a value corresponding to the voltage of the first battery pack.

9. In claim 8, The amount of change in the output voltage of the above-mentioned conversion circuit is proportional to the conduction time of the above-mentioned buck switching unit and the above-mentioned boost switching unit, A battery management device in which the one or more processors control the power supply time to manage the output voltage of the conversion circuit.

10. In claim 6, One or more of the above processors, A battery management device that controls the selection switching unit to connect the first battery pack or the second battery pack to the load when the connection mode is determined as the single connection mode.

11. A step of determining a connection mode including a multi-connection mode or a single-connection mode between the first battery pack and the second battery pack and a load connected to the battery system based on an operation mode of a battery system including a first battery pack and a second battery pack; and A method of operating a battery management device, comprising the step of managing the operation of the battery system by controlling a conversion circuit configured to switch an electrical connection between the first battery pack and the second battery pack based on the connection mode.

12. In claim 11, The above conversion circuit is, A buck switching unit configured to convert an input voltage value input to the above conversion circuit into a value smaller than the input voltage value; A boost switching unit configured to convert an input voltage value input to the above conversion circuit into a value greater than the input voltage value; and An operating method of a battery management device including a selection switching unit for switching the above connection mode.

13. In claim 12, The above buck switching unit includes a first switching element and a second switching element, The above boost switching unit includes a third switching element and a fourth switching element, A method of operating a battery management device, wherein the above selection switching unit includes a fifth switching element, a sixth switching element, and a seventh switching element.

14. In claim 13, The above conversion circuit is, Further comprising an inductor configured such that one end is connected to the first node to which the first switching element, the second switching element and the fifth switching element are connected, and the other end is connected to the second node to which the third switching element, the fourth switching element and the sixth switching element are connected. An operating method of a battery management device, wherein the input voltage is applied to the fourth switching element and the seventh switching element, and the output voltage of the conversion circuit is applied to the first switching element and the seventh switching element.

15. In claim 12, The above operation mode is, An operating method of a battery management device comprising a first discharge mode for discharging one of the first battery pack and the second battery pack or a second discharge mode for discharging the first battery pack and the second battery pack.

16. In claim 15, The step of determining the above connection mode is: If the above operation mode is the first discharge mode, the connection mode is determined as the single connection mode, which is a mode for connecting the load with one of the first battery pack and the second battery pack, An operating method of a battery management device that determines the connection mode as the multi-connection mode, which is a mode of connecting the first battery pack and the second battery pack in parallel, when the above-mentioned operating mode is the second discharge mode.

17. In claim 16, The step of managing the power of the above battery system is: An operating method of a battery management device, comprising a step of controlling the selection switching unit to control the first battery pack to be connected in parallel with the second battery pack when the connection mode is determined to be the multi-connection mode.

18. In claim 17, Further comprising a step of obtaining the voltage of the first battery pack and the voltage of the second battery pack, The step of managing the power of the above battery system is: If the voltage difference value, which is the difference between the voltage of the second battery pack and the voltage of the first battery pack, is greater than a predetermined threshold value, An operating method of a battery management device, comprising a step of controlling the buck switching unit and the boost switching unit so that the output voltage of the conversion circuit has a value corresponding to the voltage of the first battery pack.

19. In claim 18, The amount of change in the output voltage of the above-mentioned conversion circuit is proportional to the conduction time of the above-mentioned buck switching unit and the above-mentioned boost switching unit, A method of operating a battery management device in which the one or more processors control the power supply time to manage the output voltage of the conversion circuit.

20. In claim 16, The step of managing the power of the above battery system is: An operating method of a battery management device that controls the selection switching unit to connect the first battery pack or the second battery pack to the load when the connection mode is determined as the single connection mode.

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