Battery device, operation method thereof, and battery pack

Abstract

The present invention relates to a battery device, an operation method thereof, and a battery pack, and addresses the technical problem of presenting an independent power generation topology of a battery pack whereby independent and permanent operating power can be secured. To this end, the present invention provides a configuration in which a capacitor is charged by a charging current flowing through a closed circuit connecting a plurality of battery cells, a first switch, the capacitor, and a second switch, and the voltage charged in the capacitor is used as the operating voltage of a BMS or a master board.

Description

Battery device and method of operation thereof, battery pack

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a technology for forming a power source of a processor constituting a battery device.

[0002]

[0003] Secondary batteries, unlike non-rechargeable primary batteries, are rechargeable and dischargeable. Low-capacity secondary batteries are used in small, portable electronic devices such as smartphones, feature phones, laptops, digital cameras, and camcorders, while large-capacity secondary batteries are widely used as power sources for motor drives and power storage in hybrid and electric vehicles. These secondary batteries include an electrode assembly comprising a positive and negative electrode, a case housing the electrode assembly, and electrode terminals connected to the electrode assembly.

[0004] The above-described information disclosed in the background technology of this invention is only intended to improve understanding of the background of the present invention, and therefore may include information that does not constitute prior art.

[0005]

[0006] Battery packs are equipped with a battery management system (BMS) that measures, monitors, and controls the status of battery cells and battery modules. The BMS performs a series of controls to protect the battery based on measured values, such as current, voltage, and charge / discharge current of the battery modules, and is configured to perform various functions, such as cell balancing to ensure even charging of battery cells.

[0007] Common methods for supplying operating power to a BMS or a master board on which a BMS is mounted include: i) supplying operating power through a low-voltage battery (e.g., lead-acid battery) mounted on a vehicle or an external SMPS; ii) arranging a coin cell within the master board and supplying operating power to the memory mounted on the BMS or the master board through the coin cell; and iii) supplying operating power by regulating the voltage of the battery pack itself (e.g., DC-DC converting).

[0008] In the case of supplying the operating power of the BMS through a low-voltage battery or an external SMPS, there are problems such as an increase in the unit price of the low-voltage battery or SMPS, defects in the power supply itself, and frequent occurrence of voltage fluctuations (e.g., voltage drops, jumps, short circuits, noise, and poor connection). Due to this power instability, normal operation of the BMS cannot be guaranteed, and as a result, defects in the battery pack itself occur.

[0009] In the case of supplying the operating power of the BMS through coin cells, the amount of data stored in the memory (e.g., battery impedance, capacity, lifespan, and various measurements required for calculation thereof) is extremely limited due to the limitations of the power that can be output from the coin cells, and furthermore, there is a high possibility of loss of the data stored in the memory.

[0010] In the case of supplying operating power by regulating the voltage of the battery pack itself, there are limitations such as power loss due to reduced efficiency of DC-DC conversion in the current technological trend of increasing the voltage of the battery pack (approximately 1500 V) and various problems (e.g., increased unit price, restrictions on the spacing between components within the master board, etc.) due to the internal pressure of the master board.

[0011] Accordingly, the present invention proposes an independent power formation topology of a battery pack that can secure independent and permanent operating power by solving the conventional problem caused by supplying operating power to a BMS or master board of a battery pack through the voltage of a low-voltage battery, SMPS, coin cell, or the battery pack itself.

[0012] However, the technical problems to be solved by the present invention are not limited to the problems described above, and other problems not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the invention described below.

[0013]

[0014] According to one embodiment of the present invention for solving the above technical problem, a battery device includes: a first switch connected to the uppermost node of a plurality of battery cells connected in series included in a battery module; a second switch connected to the lowermost node of the plurality of battery cells; a capacitor connected between the first switch and the second switch; and a processor controlling voltage charging of the capacitor by a charging current from the plurality of battery cells by controlling on / off operations of each of the first and second switches, wherein the voltage charged in the capacitor functions as an operating voltage of the processor.

[0015]

[0016] According to the present invention, by adopting a configuration in which the voltage of a battery module is selectively charged to a capacitor according to the on / off control of a switch provided in the battery module, and the voltage charged to the capacitor is supplied as the operating voltage of a BMS or a master board, a battery pack configuration capable of securing an independent and permanent operating voltage without utilizing the voltage of a low-voltage battery, SMPS, coin cell, or the battery pack itself is possible.

[0017] In addition, by adopting a configuration in which voltage is extracted from a target battery module having the maximum module voltage among multiple battery modules and supplied as the operating voltage of a BMS or master board, an independent and permanent operating voltage is secured and module balancing for the battery modules can be performed at the same time, thereby ensuring reliable operation of the battery pack.

[0018] However, the effects that can be obtained through the present invention are not limited to the effects described above, and other technical effects that are not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the invention described below.

[0019]

[0020] The following drawings attached to this specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention, and together with the detailed description of the invention described below, serve to further understand the technical idea of ​​the present invention, and therefore, the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited to matters described in such drawings.

[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a battery device according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] FIG. 4 illustrates an example circuit of a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a charging current flow for charging a capacitor in a battery device according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] FIG. 6 illustrates an example circuit of a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 illustrate a flowchart of an operating method of a battery device according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0028]

[0029] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Prior to this, terms or words used in this specification and claims should not be interpreted as limited to their typical or dictionary meanings, but should be interpreted with meanings and concepts that conform to the technical idea of ​​the present invention based on the principle that the inventor can appropriately define the concept of the term in order to explain his own invention in the best way. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations illustrated in the drawings are only some of the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent all of the technical idea of ​​the present invention, and various equivalents and modifications may exist at the time of filing this application. In addition, when used in this specification, "comprise" and "include" and / or "comprising" specify the presence of mentioned shapes, numbers, steps, operations, elements, components and / or groups thereof, and do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other shapes, numbers, operations, elements, components and / or groups. Additionally, when describing embodiments of the present invention, “may” and “may be” may include “one or more embodiments of the present invention.”

[0030] Additionally, to facilitate understanding of the invention, the attached drawings are not drawn to scale and some components may be exaggerated in size. Furthermore, identical components may be assigned the same reference numbers in different embodiments.

[0031] The statement that two compared objects are "identical" means "substantially identical." Therefore, "substantially identical" may include deviations considered low in the art, such as deviations of less than 5%. Furthermore, uniformity of a parameter over a given region may imply uniformity on average.

[0032] Although terms like "first" and "second" are used to describe various components, these components are not limited by these terms. These terms are used merely to distinguish one component from another, and unless otherwise specified, a "first" component may also be a "second" component.

[0033] Throughout the specification, unless otherwise specifically stated, each element may be singular or plural.

[0034] Any configuration being placed "on (or under)" or "above (or below)" a component may mean not only that any configuration is placed in contact with the upper surface (or lower surface) of said component, but also that other configurations may intervene between said component and any configuration placed on (or below) said component.

[0035] Additionally, when it is described that a component is "connected," "coupled," or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that the components may be directly connected or connected to one another, but that other components may also be "interposed" between the components, or that each component may be "connected," "coupled," or "connected" through another component. Furthermore, when it is said that a part is electrically coupled to another part, this includes not only cases where they are directly connected, but also cases where they are connected with another element in between.

[0036] When reference is made throughout the specification to "A and / or B," this means A, B, or A and B, unless otherwise stated. In other words, "and / or" includes all or any combination of the listed items. When reference is made to "C through D," this means C or more and D or less, unless otherwise stated.

[0037]

[0038] Before going into a specific description of the 'independent power formation topology' focused on in this embodiment, the structure of a battery module and battery pack applicable to this embodiment will first be described.

[0039] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a battery module (M) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] Referring to FIG. 1, a battery module (M) according to the present invention includes terminal portions (11, 12), a plurality of battery cells (C) arranged in one direction, a connection tab (20) connecting a battery cell (10a) to an adjacent battery cell (10b), and a protection circuit module (30) having one end connected to the connection tab (20). The protection circuit module (30) may be a battery management system (BMS). In addition, the connection tab (20) includes a body portion that contacts the terminal portions (11, 12) between adjacent battery cells (10a, 10b) and an extension portion that extends from the body portion and is connected to the protection circuit module (30). The connection tab (20) may be a bus bar.

[0041] First, the battery cell (C) may be composed of a battery case and an electrode assembly and electrolyte housed in the battery case. The electrode assembly and the electrolyte electrochemically react to generate energy. One side of the battery cell (C) may be provided with a terminal portion (11, 12) electrically connected to a connection tab (20), and a vent (13) which is a passage for discharging gas generated internally. The terminal portions (11, 12) of the battery cell (C) may be a positive terminal (11) and a negative terminal (12) having different polarities, and the terminal portions (11, 12) of adjacent battery cells (10a, 10b) may be electrically connected in series or in parallel by a connection tab (20) which will be described later. Meanwhile, although the above description exemplifies a series connection, it is not limited to this structure, and various connection structures may be adopted as needed. In addition, the number and arrangement of battery cells (C) are not limited to the structure illustrated in Fig. 1 and may be changed as needed.

[0042] A plurality of battery cells (C) can be arranged in one direction so that the wide surfaces of the battery cells (C) face each other, and the arranged plurality of battery cells (C) can be fixed by a housing (61, 62, 63, 64). The housing (61, 62, 63, 64) can include a pair of end plates (61, 62) facing the wide surfaces of the battery cells (C), and a side plate (63) and a bottom plate (64) connecting the pair of end plates (61, 62). The side plate (63) can support the side surface of the battery cell (C), and the bottom plate (64) can support the bottom surface of the battery cell (C). In addition, the pair of end plates (61, 62), the side plate (63), and the bottom plate (64) can be connected by a member such as a bolt (65).

[0043] The protection circuit module (30) mounts electronic components and protection circuits, etc., and can be electrically connected to a connection tab (20) to be described later. The protection circuit module (30) includes a first protection circuit module (30a) and a second protection circuit module (30b) extending from different positions along the direction in which a plurality of battery cells (C) are arranged. At this time, the first protection circuit module (30a) and the second protection circuit module (30b) are spaced apart from each other by a certain distance but positioned parallel to each other, and can be electrically connected to the adjacent connection tab (20). For example, the first protection circuit module (30a) is formed to extend on one upper side of the plurality of battery cells (C) along the direction in which the plurality of battery cells (C) are arranged, and the second protection circuit module (30b) is formed to extend on the other upper side of the plurality of battery cells (C) along the direction in which the plurality of battery cells (C) are arranged, wherein the second protection circuit module (30b) is positioned to be spaced apart from the first protection circuit module (30a) by a certain distance with the vent (13) interposed therebetween, but may be arranged parallel to the first protection circuit module (30a). In this way, the two protection circuit modules are spaced apart from each other in a parallel manner along the direction in which the plurality of battery cells (C) are arranged, thereby minimizing the area of ​​the PCB (Printed Circuit Board) constituting the protection circuit module. By configuring the protection circuit module as two protection circuit modules separately, unnecessary PCM area is minimized. In addition, the first protection circuit module (30a) and the second protection circuit module (30b) can be connected to each other by a conductive connecting member (50). At this time, one side of the connecting member (50) is connected to the first protection circuit module (30a), and the other side is connected to the second protection circuit module (30b), so that an electrical connection can be made between the two protection circuit modules.

[0044] The above connection can be made by any one of soldering, resistance welding, laser welding or projection welding methods.

[0045] And, the connecting member (50) may be, for example, an electric wire. In addition, the connecting member (50) may be made of a material having elasticity or flexibility. By means of this connecting member (50), the voltage, temperature, and current of a plurality of battery cells (C) can be checked and managed to determine whether they are normal. That is, information such as voltage, current, and temperature received by the first protection circuit module from the connecting taps adjacent to it, and information such as voltage, current, and temperature received by the second protection circuit module from the connecting taps adjacent to it can be integrated and managed by the protection circuit module through the connecting member (50).

[0046] In addition, when the battery cell (C) swells, the shock is absorbed by the elasticity or flexibility of the connecting member (50), thereby preventing the first and second protection circuit modules (30a, 30b) from being damaged.

[0047] In addition, the shape and structure of the connecting member (50) are not limited to the shape shown in Fig. 1.

[0048] In this way, since the protection circuit module (30) is provided as the first and second protection circuit modules (30a, 30b), the area of ​​the PCB constituting the protection circuit module can be minimized, thereby securing space inside the battery module (M). This improves work efficiency by facilitating not only the fastening work of connecting the connection tab (20) and the protection circuit module (30), but also repairs when an abnormality is detected in the battery module (M).

[0049] Figures 2A and 2B illustrate a battery pack (P) according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0050] A battery pack (P) may include a plurality of battery modules (M) and a housing (H) for accommodating the plurality of battery modules (M). For example, the housing (H) may include first and second housings (H1, H2) that are coupled in a direction facing each other with the plurality of battery modules (M) interposed therebetween. The plurality of battery modules (M) may be electrically connected to each other using a bus bar (51), and the plurality of battery modules (M) may be electrically connected to each other in a series / parallel or series-parallel mixed manner to obtain a required electrical output.

[0051] Meanwhile, the battery pack may include a battery and a battery management system (BMS) for managing the battery. The battery management system may include a detection device, a balancing device, and a control device. The battery module may include a plurality of cells connected in series or parallel. The battery modules may be connected in series or parallel.

[0052] The above detection device can detect status information indicating the battery status by detecting the battery status (voltage, current, temperature, etc.). The detection device can detect the voltage of each cell or each battery module constituting the battery. The detection device can also detect the current flowing through each battery module constituting the battery module or battery pack. The detection device can also detect the cell and / or module and / or the ambient temperature at at least one point of the battery.

[0053] A balancing device can perform a balancing operation of battery modules and / or cells constituting a battery. A control device can receive status information (voltage, current, temperature, etc.) of a battery module from a detection device. The control device can monitor and calculate the status (voltage, current, temperature, state of charge (SOC), state of health (SOH), etc.) of the battery module based on the status information received from the detection device. In addition, the control device can perform control functions (e.g., temperature control, balancing control, charge / discharge control, etc.) and protection functions (e.g., over-discharge, over-charge, over-current prevention, short-circuit, fire extinguishing function, etc.) based on the status monitoring results. In addition, the control device can perform a wired or wireless communication function with an external device of the battery pack (e.g., an upper controller, a vehicle, a charger, a PCS, etc.).

[0054] The control device may also control the charging / discharging and protection operations of the battery. To this end, the control device may include a charging / discharging control unit, a balancing control unit, and a protection unit.

[0055] The above battery management system is a system that monitors the battery status and performs diagnosis and control, communication, and protection functions, and may calculate the charge and discharge status, calculate the battery life or state of health (SOH: State Of Health), cut off battery power (relay control) when necessary, control thermal management (cooling, heating, etc.), perform a high-voltage interlock function, and detect or calculate insulation and short-circuit conditions.

[0056] A relay can be a mechanical contactor that is turned on and off by the magnetic force of a coil, or a semiconductor switch such as a MOSFET (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor).

[0057] The above relay control can be configured with one or more relays and precharge relays on the positive and negative terminals, respectively, to cut off the power supply from the battery when a problem occurs in the vehicle and battery system.

[0058] The above precharge control may be provided with a function to operate the precharge relay before connecting the main relay when starting the vehicle to prevent inrush current from occurring in the high-voltage capacitor on the inverter input side when the battery load is connected, thereby connecting the precharge resistor.

[0059] The above high voltage interlock is a circuit that uses a small signal to detect whether all high voltage components in the entire automobile system are connected, and can be equipped with a function to forcibly open the relay if an open occurs at any point on the entire loop.

[0060] The function of the BMS described above serves as a basic function for implementing the operation of the second processor (200) to be described below.

[0061]

[0062] Based on the above explanation, the operation of the battery device of the present embodiment is specifically described below.

[0063] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a battery device according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is an example diagram of a charging current flow for charging a capacitor in a battery device according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0064] Referring to FIG. 3, the battery device of the present embodiment may include a battery module (100), a second processor (200), and a memory (300), and each component (100, 200, 300) may together constitute a battery pack (P). The battery module indicated by the drawing candidate '100' corresponds to the same configuration as the battery module indicated by the drawing symbol 'M' in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0065] For the sake of clear distinction of terms, the first and second processors (110, 200) are first defined. The first processor (110) may correspond to a BMIC (Battery Monitoring IC) constituting a battery module (100) described below, and may operate to monitor the status, such as current and voltage, of each battery cell included in the battery module (100). In the present embodiment, the first processor (110) may locally control (i.e., control at the battery module (100) level) the on / off operations of the first and second switches (SW1, SW2) through control of the first and second switch drivers (DRV1, DRV2) described below.

[0066] The second processor (200) may correspond to a master BMS (Battery Management System) that functions as an upper controller of the first processor (110). The second processor (200) may monitor the module voltage of each of the plurality of battery modules (100), and may transmit a control command (CTRL) to the first processor (110) based on the monitoring result of the module voltage, thereby allowing the first processor (110) to control the on / off operations of the first and second switches (SW1, SW2). The second processor (200) may globally control the on / off operations of the first and second switches (SW1, SW2) through the first processor (110) (i.e., control at the battery pack level). As described below, the voltage charged in the capacitor (CAP) of the battery module (100) can function as the operating voltage of the second processor (200), and a step-down DC-DC converter for receiving the charging voltage of the capacitor (CAP) and converting it into a step-down DC-DC to generate the operating voltage of the second processor (200) (i.e., the internal voltage of the master board) may be mounted on the second processor (200). Meanwhile, it is to be noted that the 'processor' described in the claims of the present application corresponds to the second processor (200).

[0067] The memory (300) may store at least one command executed by the second processor (200). The memory (300) may be implemented as a volatile storage medium and / or a non-volatile storage medium, and may be implemented as, for example, a read-only memory (ROM) and / or a random access memory (RAM). The memory may also be implemented to form a BMS together with the second processor (200).

[0068] Next, a battery module (100) will be described with reference to FIG. 4. Referring to FIG. 4, the battery module (100) may include a plurality of battery cells (C) connected in series, first and second switches (SW1, SW2), first and second switch drivers (DRV1, DRV2), a capacitor (CAP), and the first processor (110) described above.

[0069] The first switch (SW1) may correspond to a high-side switch connected to the uppermost node of a plurality of battery cells (C) (i.e., the positive electrode node of the uppermost cell among the plurality of battery cells (C). Hereinafter, the uppermost node will be abbreviated as such), and the second switch (SW2) may correspond to a low-side switch connected to the lowermost node of the plurality of battery cells (C). The first and second switches (SW1, SW2) may be implemented with a typical switch element such as a relay or FET.

[0070] The first and second switch drivers (DRV1, DRV2) may correspond to driver ICs that drive the on / off operations of the first and second switches (SW1, SW2), respectively, under the control of the first processor (110).

[0071] A capacitor (CAP) may be connected between a first switch (SW1) and a second switch (SW2). One node (one terminal) of the capacitor (CAP) may be connected to a node other than the node connected to the uppermost node among the two nodes of the first switch (SW1), and the other node (the other terminal) of the capacitor (CAP) may be connected to a node other than the node connected to the lowermost node among the two nodes of the second switch (SW2). Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 5, when the first and second switches (SW1, SW2) are closed, a closed circuit is formed connecting a plurality of battery cells (C), the uppermost node, the first switch (SW1), the capacitor (CAP), the second switch (SW2), and the lowermost node, and a topology may be implemented in which the voltage of the capacitor (CAP) is charged by a charging current drawn from the plurality of battery cells (C) flowing in the closed circuit formed as described above. The voltage charged in the capacitor (CAP) of the battery module (100) can function as the operating voltage of the second processor (200). The capacitance of the capacitor (CAP) can be predefined by the designer based on the specifications of the battery pack system, such as the size of the operating voltage required for the second processor (200) and the capacity of the battery cell (C).

[0072] As illustrated in FIG. 6, a plurality of battery modules (100) may be provided, and a plurality of battery modules (100) and a second processor (200) may constitute a battery pack. When any two battery modules (100) among the plurality of battery modules (100) are defined as the first and second battery modules and their wiring structure is described, the first and second battery modules may be connected in such a way that the capacitor (CAP) of the first battery module and the capacitor (CAP) of the second battery module are connected in parallel with each other through a connector (CNT). By the parallel wiring structure of each capacitor (CAP) of each battery module (100) as described above, a path (hereinafter, a voltage application path (P)) through which the operating voltage of the second processor (200) is appliedV )) can be provided.

[0073] As mentioned above, the present embodiment focuses on a configuration that secures an independent and permanent operating voltage of the BMS of the battery pack (i.e., the second processor (200)), and based on the above description, the topology adopted to secure independent power supply of the second processor (200) is specifically described below.

[0074] First, the second processor (200) can specify a battery module (100) (hereinafter, a target battery module) having a maximum module voltage defined as a voltage difference between the uppermost node and the lowermost node among a plurality of battery modules (100) (it is assumed that the operating voltage for performing the initial operation of the second processor (200) is already secured. For example, when the power of the initial battery pack system is turned ON, an embodiment can be provided in which the first processor (110) included in the uppermost battery module (100) closes the first and second switches (SW1, SW2) so that voltage is charged in the capacitor (CAP), and the charged voltage of the capacitor (CAP) is used for the initial operation of the second processor (200).

[0075] When the target battery module is specified, the second processor (200) transmits a switch closure control command (CTRL) to the first processor (110) included in the target battery module, and accordingly, the first processor (110) of the target battery module can operate to close the first and second switches (SW1, SW2) through the first and second switch drivers (DRV1, DRV2). Accordingly, the flow of the charging current shown in FIG. 5 occurs, and the capacitor (CAP) included in the target battery module can be charged. The voltage charged in the capacitor (CAP) of the target battery module is applied to the voltage application path (P) described above. V) is transmitted to the second processor (200), and the operating voltage of the second processor (200) can be generated by the step-down DC-DC converter of the second processor (200).

[0076] According to the above configuration, a topology can be prepared in which a plurality of battery cells (C) included in a battery module (100) having the maximum module voltage are used to charge a capacitor (CAP), and only the voltage charged in the capacitor (CAP) is used as the operating voltage of the second processor (200). That is, the above-mentioned target battery module corresponds to a battery module (100) having a higher module voltage than other battery modules, and since the overcharge portion of the module voltage of the target battery module compared to other battery modules must inevitably be discharged for module balancing, in this embodiment, a configuration is adopted in which the overcharge portion of the voltage to be discharged, formed in the target battery module, is used as the operating voltage of the second processor (200). Accordingly, by supplying the operating voltage of the second processor (200) (i.e., BMS) from a plurality of battery cells (C) included in the battery module (100), an independent power source formation topology of the BMS that does not utilize the voltage of a separate low-voltage battery, SMPS, coin cell, or battery pack itself can be established, and in the process of forming the independent power source of the BMS, voltage balancing between the battery modules (100) can be naturally achieved without a separate discharge operation.

[0077] Meanwhile, when defining an independent power generation operation as "an operation of specifying a target battery module having a maximum module voltage, which is defined as a voltage difference between the uppermost node and the lowermost node among a plurality of battery modules (100), and closing the first and second switches (SW1, SW2) included in the specified target battery module so that a capacitor (CAP) included in the target battery module is charged", the second processor (200) may be configured to determine a charging time of a capacitor (CAP) included in the target battery module based on a module voltage of a battery module other than the target battery module when performing the independent power generation operation.

[0078] Specifically, the above-described independent power generation operation performs a voltage balancing function between battery modules (100) along with a function of securing an operating voltage of the second processor (200). As the charging time of the capacitor (CAP) included in the target battery module increases, the voltages of the plurality of battery cells (C) included in the target battery module decrease, and a phenomenon may occur in which the module voltage of the target battery module becomes lower than the module voltages of other battery modules. In order to prevent such a voltage imbalance phenomenon between battery modules (100), the second processor (200) may operate to limit the module voltage drop of the target battery module due to current withdrawal from the plurality of battery cells (C) to the module voltage of other battery modules.

[0079] In order to implement the above module voltage drop limiting operation, the second processor (200) may determine the charging time of the capacitor (CAP) included in the target battery module based on the module voltage of another battery module, and then perform the capacitor (CAP) charging operation of the target battery module only during the determined charging time. The charging time of the capacitor (CAP) of the target battery module may correspond to the time required for the module voltage of the target battery module to decrease to the module voltage of the other battery module (e.g., the average value of the module voltages of the other battery modules), and the second processor (200) may operate to determine the charging time of the capacitor (CAP) based on parameters such as the capacitance of the capacitor (CAP), the module voltage difference between the target battery module and the other battery module, and the C-rate of a plurality of battery cells (C) of the target battery module.

[0080] In this case, while the second processor (200) performs an independent power generation operation for the target battery module, the second processor (200) may control the first processor (110) of the other battery module to keep the first and second switches (SW1, SW2) included in the other battery module in an open state. That is, when the capacitor (CAP) of the other battery module is also charged simultaneously during the charging time determined for the target battery module, an additional voltage imbalance may occur between the plurality of battery modules (100), and in order to prevent such an additional voltage imbalance, the second processor (200) may prevent the voltage charging operation of the capacitor (CAP) from being performed for the other battery module.

[0081] In order to continuously maintain the operating voltage of the second processor (200), the second processor (200) may be configured to perform an independent power formation operation when the charging voltage of each capacitor (CAP) of each battery module (100) decreases below a preset reference voltage. That is, after the above-described independent power formation operation is completed, all the first and second switches (SW1, SW2) of each battery module (100) are maintained in an open state, and accordingly, the charging voltage of each capacitor (CAP) of each battery module (100) decreases. In order to prevent a situation in which the capacitor (CAP) is completely discharged and the operating voltage of the second processor (200) cannot be supplied, the second processor (200) may constantly monitor the charging voltage of the capacitor (CAP), and may be configured to perform the above-described independent power formation operation again when the charging voltage of the capacitor (CAP) decreases below the reference voltage.

[0082]

[0083] FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are flowcharts of an operating method of a battery device according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the operating method of the battery device according to the present embodiment will be described. Detailed descriptions of components overlapping with those described above will be omitted, and the description will focus on the time-series configuration.

[0084] First, the second processor (200) monitors the charging voltage of each capacitor (CAP) of each battery module (100) and compares the charging voltage of the monitored capacitor (CAP) with a preset reference voltage (S100).

[0085] If it is determined at step S100 that the charging voltage of the capacitor (CAP) has decreased below the reference voltage, the second processor (200) controls the on / off operations of the first and second switches (SW1, SW2) by transmitting a control command (CTRL) to the first processor (110) (S200). As illustrated in FIG. 8, at step S200, the processor specifies a target battery module having a maximum module voltage defined as the voltage difference between the uppermost node and the lowermost node among a plurality of battery modules (100) (S210), and closes the first and second switches (SW1, SW2) included in the target battery module specified at step S210 (S220). In this case, the second processor (200) maintains the first and second switches (SW1, SW2) included in battery modules other than the target battery module in an open state (S230). Steps S220 and S230 are parallel configurations that are performed independently, and the order of their execution is not limited to the order described above.

[0086] According to the on / off operation of the first and second switches (SW1, SW2) in step S200, the capacitor (CAP) connected between the first switch (SW1) and the second switch (SW2) is charged (S300). In step S300, the capacitor (CAP) included in the target battery module specified in step S210 is charged. The capacitor (CAP) charging operation in step S300 is performed for a charging time determined based on the module voltage of a battery module other than the target battery module.

[0087] The voltage charged to the capacitor (CAP) through the S300 step is applied to the voltage application path (P) mentioned above. V ) is provided as the operating voltage of the second processor (200) (S400).

[0088]

[0089] Thus, according to the present invention, by adopting a configuration in which the voltage of the battery module is selectively charged to the capacitor according to the on / off control of the switch provided in the battery module, and the voltage charged to the capacitor is supplied as the operating voltage of the BMS or master board, a battery pack configuration capable of securing an independent and permanent operating voltage without utilizing the voltage of a low-voltage battery, SMPS, coin cell, or the battery pack itself is possible.

[0090] In addition, by adopting a configuration in which voltage is extracted from a target battery module having the maximum module voltage among multiple battery modules and supplied as the operating voltage of a BMS or master board, an independent and permanent operating voltage is secured and module balancing for the battery modules can be performed at the same time, thereby ensuring reliable operation of the battery pack.

[0091] The implementations described herein may be implemented as, for example, a method or process, an apparatus, a software program, a data stream, or a signal. Even if discussed only in the context of a single form of implementation (e.g., discussed only as a method), the implementation of the discussed features may also be implemented in other forms (e.g., as an apparatus or a program). An apparatus may be implemented using suitable hardware, software, firmware, and the like. A method may be implemented in an apparatus such as a processor, which generally refers to a processing device including, for example, a computer, a microprocessor, an integrated circuit, or a programmable logic device. A processor also includes a communication device such as a computer, a cell phone, a personal digital assistant ("PDA"), and other devices that facilitate the communication of information between end-users.

[0092] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to limited embodiments and drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto, and it is obvious that various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present invention and the equivalent scope of the patent claims to be described below by a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains.

Claims

1. A first switch connected to the uppermost node of a plurality of series-connected battery cells included in a battery module; A second switch connected to the lowest node of the plurality of battery cells; A capacitor connected between the first switch and the second switch; A processor that controls the voltage charging of the capacitor by the charging current from the plurality of battery cells by controlling the on / off operation of each of the first and second switches; A battery device characterized in that the voltage charged in the capacitor functions as an operating voltage of the processor.

2. In paragraph 1, A battery device characterized in that the capacitor is charged by a charging current from the plurality of battery cells flowing through a path leading to the uppermost node, the first switch, the capacitor, the second switch, and the lowermost node.

3. In paragraph 1, The plurality of battery cells, the first switch, the second switch, and the capacitor constitute the battery module, A battery device characterized in that the above processor constitutes a master BMS (Master Battery Management System) for the battery module.

4. In paragraph 3, The above battery modules are provided in multiple numbers, When any two battery modules among the above plurality of battery modules are defined as the first and second battery modules, The plurality of battery modules are interconnected in such a way that the capacitors of the first battery module and the capacitors of the second battery module are connected in parallel with each other, A battery device characterized in that a path for applying the operating voltage of the processor is provided by a parallel wiring structure of each capacitor of each battery module.

5. In paragraph 4, The above processor is configured to perform an independent power forming operation, A battery device characterized in that the above independent power formation operation is defined as an operation of specifying a target battery module having a maximum module voltage, which is defined as a voltage difference between the uppermost node and the lowermost node among the plurality of battery modules, and closing the first and second switches included in the specified target battery module, so that a capacitor included in the target battery module is charged.

6. In paragraph 5, A battery device characterized in that the processor determines the charging time of a capacitor included in the target battery module based on the module voltage of a battery module other than the target battery module.

7. In paragraph 5, A battery device characterized in that the processor maintains the first and second switches included in other battery modules other than the target battery module in an open state while performing the independent power generation operation for the target battery module.

8. In paragraph 5, A battery device characterized in that the processor performs the independent power formation operation when the charge voltage of each capacitor of each battery module decreases below a preset reference voltage.

9. In paragraph 1, A battery device characterized in that the operating voltage of the processor is composed only of the charging voltage of the capacitor.

10. A step in which a processor controls the on / off operation of a first and second switch, wherein the first and second switches are connected to the uppermost node and the lowermost node of a plurality of serially connected battery cells included in a battery module, respectively; A step in which a capacitor connected between the first switch and the second switch is charged according to the on / off operation of the first and second switches; and A step in which the voltage charged in the capacitor is provided as the operating voltage of the processor; A method of operating a battery device, characterized in that it includes:

11. In paragraph 10, In the above charging step, A method of operating a battery device, characterized in that the capacitor is charged by a charging current from the plurality of battery cells flowing through a path leading to the uppermost node, the first switch, the capacitor, the second switch, and the lowermost node.

12. In paragraph 10, The plurality of battery cells, the first switch, the second switch, and the capacitor constitute the battery module, A method of operating a battery device, characterized in that the processor configures a master BMS (Master Battery Management System) for the battery module.

13. In paragraph 12, The above battery modules are provided in multiple numbers, When any two battery modules among the above plurality of battery modules are defined as the first and second battery modules, The plurality of battery modules are interconnected in such a way that the capacitors of the first battery module and the capacitors of the second battery module are connected in parallel with each other, An operating method of a battery device, characterized in that a path for applying the operating voltage of the processor is provided by a parallel wiring structure of each capacitor of each battery module.

14. In paragraph 13, The above controlling step is, The step of the processor specifying a target battery module having a maximum module voltage defined as a voltage difference between the uppermost node and the lowermost node among the plurality of battery modules; and The above processor comprises a step of closing the first and second switches included in the specified target battery module; In the above charging step, A method of operating a battery device, characterized in that a capacitor included in the above target battery module is charged.

15. In paragraph 14, The above controlling step is, A method of operating a battery device, characterized in that it further comprises a step of maintaining the first and second switches included in a battery module other than the target battery module in an open state, which is performed by the processor after the above-mentioned specific step.

16. In paragraph 14, A method of operating a battery device, characterized in that the charging step is performed for a charging time determined based on the module voltage of a battery module other than the target battery module.

17. In paragraph 14, Before the above controlling step, The processor further includes a step of comparing the charge voltage of each capacitor of each battery module with a preset reference voltage; A method of operating a battery device, characterized in that the above controlling step is initiated when the charging voltage of each capacitor of each battery module decreases below the reference voltage.

18. As a battery module, Multiple battery cells connected in series, A first switch connected to the top node of the plurality of battery cells; A second switch connected to the lowest node of the plurality of battery cells; A capacitor connected between the first switch and the second switch, and A battery module including a BMIC (Battery Monitoring IC) that controls the on / off operation of each of the first and second switches; and A BMS (Battery Management System) that functions as an upper control device of the BMIC and transmits a switch control signal to the BMIC; The BMIC controls the on / off operation of each of the first and second switches according to the switch control signal received from the BMS, A battery pack characterized in that the voltage charged in the capacitor functions as the operating voltage of the BMS.

19. In paragraph 18, The above battery modules are provided in multiple numbers, When any two battery modules among the above plurality of battery modules are defined as the first and second battery modules, The plurality of battery modules are interconnected in such a way that the capacitors of the first battery module and the capacitors of the second battery module are connected in parallel with each other, A battery pack characterized in that a path for applying the operating voltage of the BMS is provided by a parallel wiring structure of each capacitor of each battery module.

20. In Article 19 The above BMS is configured to perform an independent power formation operation, A battery pack characterized in that the above independent power formation operation is defined as an operation of specifying a target battery module having a maximum module voltage, which is defined as a voltage difference between the uppermost node and the lowermost node among the plurality of battery modules, and closing the first and second switches included in the specified target battery module, so that a capacitor included in the target battery module is charged.

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