Hybrid power supply device for controlling rated voltage and capacity by switching plurality of supercapacitors

Abstract

A hybrid power supply device is disclosed. A hybrid power supply device according to the present disclosure, comprises: a power supply unit including a battery for charging or discharging energy and a plurality of supercapacitors; a switching unit including a serial switch and a parallel switch connected to each of the supercapacitors; and a control unit that selects at least one supercapacitor among the plurality of supercapacitors according to a rated range of the battery and controls the switching unit so that the selected at least one supercapacitor is connected to the battery.

Description

Hybrid power supply that controls rated voltage and capacity by switching multiple supercapacitors

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a hybrid power supply, and more particularly, to a hybrid power supply including a battery and a plurality of supercapacitors, selecting a supercapacitor according to a rating range of the battery, and controlling a switch provided in each of the supercapacitors so that the selected supercapacitor is connected to the battery.

[0002] The use of hybrid power supplies that connect batteries and supercapacitors in parallel is on the rise. Hybrid power supplies use batteries as the main power supply and supercapacitors as auxiliary power supplies, and are power supplies that satisfy devices with high instantaneous output characteristics. When applying a conventional power supply that uses only a battery, when the overload output exceeds the battery specifications, a rapid voltage drop occurs due to the self-resistance caused by high current discharge, lowering the output voltage. This problem also shortens the overall battery life due to high current discharge. To address this problem, a supercapacitor, which is advantageous in high instantaneous output discharge, supplies some of the power required by the battery in such situations by compensating for it.

[0003] However, in order to use batteries and supercapacitors in parallel as a hybrid power supply, multiple batteries and multiple supercapacitors must be configured in a modular manner to suit the range of rated voltages to be used.

[0004] However, if the rated voltages of the supercapacitor and the battery are the same, there has been a disadvantage that the operating range of the battery does not generally match the operating range of the supercapacitor because the lower limit voltage of the battery is not 0.

[0005] Additionally, supercapacitors have a much longer charge-discharge life than conventional batteries. Therefore, when used as a hybrid power source, the battery can be replaced with another battery before the supercapacitor reaches its lifespan.

[0006] In this case, the supercapacitor with remaining life needs to have its rated voltage and capacity adjusted to match the battery with different characteristics being replaced.

[0007] The present disclosure provides a hybrid power supply device that controls a switch connected to a battery and each of a plurality of supercapacitors according to a rating range of the battery, and controls the connection of the supercapacitors so that each of the plurality of supercapacitors is connected to the battery with an equal expected lifespan.

[0008] The purposes of the present disclosure are not limited to those mentioned above, and other purposes and advantages of the present disclosure not mentioned above can be understood through the following description and will be more clearly understood through the embodiments of the present disclosure. Furthermore, it will be readily apparent that the purposes and advantages of the present disclosure can be realized by the means and combinations thereof set forth in the claims.

[0009] A hybrid power supply device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may include a power supply unit including a battery for charging or discharging energy and a plurality of supercapacitors, a switching unit including a series switch and a parallel switch connected to each of the supercapacitors, and a control unit for selecting at least one supercapacitor among the plurality of supercapacitors according to a rating range of the battery and controlling the switching unit so that the selected at least one supercapacitor is connected to the battery.

[0010] At this time, the switching unit may include a first series switch connected in series to the first supercapacitor and a first parallel switch connected in parallel to the first supercapacitor and the first series switch, and the control unit may control the first series switch to be ON and the first parallel switch to be OFF when the first supercapacitor is selected according to the rating range of the battery.

[0011] At this time, the switching unit may include a second series switch connected in series to the second supercapacitor and a second parallel switch connected in parallel to the second supercapacitor and the second series switch, and the control unit may control the second series switch to be ON and the second parallel switch to be OFF when the first supercapacitor and the second supercapacitor are selected according to the rating range of the battery, and may control the second series switch to be OFF and the second parallel switch to be ON when only the first supercapacitor is selected according to the rating range of the battery.

[0012] In addition, a hybrid power device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a first supercapacitor, one end of which may be connected to one end of the first series switch, another end of the first series switch may be connected to one end of the first parallel switch, another end of the first supercapacitor may be connected to the other end of the first parallel switch, and one end of the first parallel switch may be connected to one end of the battery.

[0013] Meanwhile, the control unit can obtain the rated range of the battery through user input.

[0014] Additionally, the control unit can select at least one other supercapacitor among the plurality of supercapacitors according to the voltage of the battery when charging or discharging of the battery and the at least one selected supercapacitor is performed.

[0015] In this case, the control unit can monitor the charge / discharge operation of each of the plurality of supercapacitors, calculate the expected lifespan of each of the plurality of supercapacitors based on the charge / discharge history of each of the plurality of supercapacitors, and select at least one other supercapacitor among the plurality of supercapacitors so that the calculated expected lifespans of each of the plurality of supercapacitors are equalized.

[0016] The hybrid power supply of the present disclosure identifies a supercapacitor connected to a battery, and adjusts the rated voltage and capacity to match the battery.

[0017] Additionally, the hybrid power supply of the present disclosure can be adjusted so that the lifespan of the supercapacitors is evenly used by connecting them to a battery according to the expected lifespan of each supercapacitor.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a drawing for explaining the configuration of a hybrid power device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0019] FIG. 2 is a drawing illustrating a hybrid power device including a battery and a plurality of supercapacitors according to one embodiment of the present disclosure connected to an external device;

[0020] FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of a control unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0021] FIG. 4 is an algorithm for explaining an operation of a control unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure to control a switch connected to each supercapacitor according to a selected supercapacitor.

[0022] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a control unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure to select a different supercapacitor according to a battery voltage after a supercapacitor is selected.

[0023] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a control unit according to one embodiment of the present disclosure to select a different supercapacitor based on the expected lifespan of each supercapacitor.

[0024] Before describing the present disclosure in detail, the description method of the specification and drawings will be described.

[0025] First, the terms used in this specification and claims are general terms selected based on their functions in the various embodiments of the present disclosure. However, these terms may vary depending on the intentions of those skilled in the art, legal or technical interpretations, and the emergence of new technologies. Furthermore, some terms may have been arbitrarily selected by the applicant. These terms may be interpreted according to the meanings defined in this specification. In the absence of a specific definition, they may be interpreted based on the overall content of this specification and common technical knowledge in the relevant field.

[0026] Additionally, the same reference numbers or symbols in each drawing attached to this specification represent parts or components that perform substantially the same functions. For convenience of explanation and understanding, the same reference numbers or symbols are used in different embodiments. In other words, even if components with the same reference numbers are all depicted in multiple drawings, the multiple drawings do not necessarily represent a single embodiment.

[0027] Additionally, terms including ordinal numbers, such as "first," "second," etc., may be used in this specification and claims to distinguish between components. These ordinal numbers are used to distinguish identical or similar components from each other, and the use of these ordinal numbers should not be interpreted in a limited manner. For example, components associated with these ordinals should not be restricted in their order of use or arrangement by their numbers. If necessary, each ordinal number may be used interchangeably.

[0028] In this specification, singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In this application, terms such as "comprise" or "consist of" are intended to indicate the presence of a feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof described in the specification, but should be understood not to preclude the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0029] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, terms such as "module," "unit," "part," etc. are terms used to refer to components that perform at least one function or operation, and such components may be implemented as hardware or software, or a combination of hardware and software. In addition, a plurality of "modules," "units," "parts," etc. may be integrated into at least one module or chip and implemented as at least one processor, except in cases where each needs to be implemented as a separate, specific hardware.

[0030] Additionally, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, when a part is said to be connected to another part, this includes not only a direct connection but also an indirect connection through another medium. Furthermore, unless specifically stated otherwise, the statement that a part includes a certain component does not exclude other components, but rather implies that other components may be included.

[0031] Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0032] FIG. 1 is a drawing for explaining the configuration of a hybrid power device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0033] Referring to FIG. 1, a hybrid power supply (100) may include a memory (110), a power supply (120), a switching unit (130), a user input unit (140), a sensor unit (150), and a control unit (160).

[0034] The memory (110) is configured to store at least one instruction or data related to a component of the hybrid power device (100).

[0035] The memory (110) may include non-volatile memory such as ROM, flash memory, etc., and may include volatile memory composed of DRAM, etc. In addition, the memory may include a hard disk, SSD (Solid state drive), etc.

[0036] The memory (110) may include instructions for identifying a suitable supercapacitor based on voltage information of the battery received through a sensor or a rating range of the battery (121) received through user input.

[0037] The memory (110) can temporarily or non-temporarily store various programs or data, and transmit the stored information to the control unit (160) according to a call from the control unit (160). In addition, the memory (110) can store various information necessary for operations, processing, or control operations of the control unit (160) in an electronic format.

[0038] The power supply unit (120) is configured to perform charging or discharging with an external device connected to the hybrid power supply unit (100). For example, the power supply unit (120) may include a rechargeable secondary battery.

[0039] In particular, the power supply unit (120) may include a battery (121) and a plurality of supercapacitors (122).

[0040] The battery (121) may correspond to the main power source of the hybrid power device (100). For example, the battery (121) may be configured to include at least one lithium ion battery, but is not limited thereto and various types of batteries may be used.

[0041] A supercapacitor (122) is a type of rechargeable secondary battery, possessing a relatively large storage capacity compared to a standard capacitor. Unlike conventional batteries that utilize chemical reactions, supercapacitors utilize simple ion movement between electrodes or surface chemical reactions for charging, resulting in shorter charge / discharge times compared to batteries.

[0042] In addition, unlike batteries, whose charge capacity decreases as they are charged and discharged, supercapacitors (122) have a semi-permanent lifespan.

[0043] In addition, while lithium ion batteries (LIBs) commonly used as power supplies deteriorate due to physical impact and have reduced output in low-temperature environments, supercapacitors (122) have the advantage of being strong against temperature characteristics and physical impact.

[0044] As a type of supercapacitor, there may be an electrical double layer capacitor (EDLC) that operates by adsorption and desorption of ions on the electrode surface, a pseudocapacitor that involves surface chemical reaction, and a hybrid supercapacitor that appropriately mixes the characteristics of these using asymmetric electrodes.

[0045] An electric double layer capacitor may have each electrode made of a porous carbon electrode, a pseudocapacitor may include electrodes made of a pseudocapacitive material that can act as electrodes, and a hybrid capacitor may include both porous carbon electrodes and electrodes made of a pseudocapacitive material.

[0046] However, the type, configuration and operating principle of the supercapacitor (122) are not limited to those described above, and the supercapacitor may be configured and operated in various ways.

[0047] In particular, the supercapacitor (122) of the present disclosure can be implemented as an auxiliary power source of a hybrid power device (100) by utilizing the characteristic of a short charge / discharge time described above.

[0048] For example, the supercapacitor (122) can serve as an auxiliary power source that reinforces the instantaneous high output of the battery (121) when an instantaneous overload output occurs in a device having an instantaneous high output (or overload) characteristic.

[0049] Accordingly, a hybrid power supply device (100) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure combines a battery (121) as a main power source and a supercapacitor (122) as an auxiliary power source in parallel, so that when a momentary overload output occurs in an application field that drives using the battery (121), the supercapacitor (122) assists in a momentary high output function, thereby compensating for the discharge voltage of the battery (121), thereby improving the life characteristics of the battery (121) and reducing the load and increasing the driving time.

[0050] The switching unit (130) is configured to control the connection between the supercapacitor (122) and the battery (121) during a charging or discharging operation, and may include a switch for controlling the connection of each of the plurality of supercapacitors (122).

[0051] Specifically, a series switch (131) and a parallel switch (132) may be connected to each of a plurality of supercapacitors (122). In this case, the supercapacitor (122) may be connected to the battery (121) depending on the ON / OFF state of the series switch (131) and the parallel switch (132).

[0052] The user input unit (140) is configured to receive various commands or information from the user. The user input unit (140) may be implemented with at least one button, touchpad, touchscreen, microphone, sensor, etc. In this case, the touchpad may be combined with a display to receive user input.

[0053] For example, the control unit (160) of the present disclosure can obtain the rating range of the battery (121) through the user input unit (140), identify the number of supercapacitors (122) to be selected, and select the corresponding supercapacitors (122).

[0054] The sensor unit (150) is configured to acquire various sensing data related to the hybrid power device (100). In particular, the sensor unit (150) may include a voltage sensor for measuring the voltage of the battery (121) and may include various sensors for monitoring the charge / discharge status of each supercapacitor (122).

[0055] The control unit (160) is configured to control the overall operation of the hybrid power device (100). Specifically, the control unit (160) is connected to the memory (110) and can perform operations according to various embodiments of the present disclosure by executing at least one instruction stored in the memory (110).

[0056] For example, the control unit (160) can identify the number of supercapacitors (122) that can be connected based on the voltage information of the battery (121) measured from the sensor unit (150), and select the supercapacitors (122) to be connected.

[0057] In addition, the control unit (160) can generate control information for controlling a switch matching the selected supercapacitor (122) and operate the switch of the switching unit (130) and the power supply unit (120) according to the control information to control the power flow so that the selected supercapacitor (122) can be connected to the battery (121).

[0058] At this time, the control unit (160) may be implemented not only with one processor but also with multiple processors.

[0059] The control unit (160) according to this can be implemented in various ways. For example, the control unit (160) can include one or more processors, and the processors can include one or more of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), an APU (Accelerated Processing Unit), a MIC (Many Integrated Core), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), an NPU (Neural Processing Unit), a hardware accelerator, or a machine learning accelerator. The one or more processors can control one or any combination of other components of the electronic device, and can also perform operations related to communication or data processing. The one or more processors can execute one or more programs or instructions stored in the memory (110). For example, the one or more processors perform a method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure by executing one or more instructions stored in the memory (110).

[0060] When a method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a plurality of operations, the plurality of operations may be performed by one processor included in the control unit (160), or may be performed by a plurality of processors. For example, when a first operation, a second operation, and a third operation are performed by a method according to an embodiment, the first operation, the second operation, and the third operation may all be performed by the first processor, or the first operation and the second operation may be performed by the first processor (e.g., a general-purpose processor) and the third operation may be performed by the second processor (e.g., an artificial intelligence-only processor).

[0061] One or more processors may be implemented as a single core processor including one core, or may be implemented as one or more multicore processors including multiple cores (e.g., homogeneous multicores or heterogeneous multicores). When one or more processors are implemented as a multicore processor, each of the multiple cores included in the multicore processor may include internal processor memory, such as on-chip memory, and a common cache shared by the multiple cores may be included in the multicore processor. In addition, each of the multiple cores (or some of the multiple cores) included in the multicore processor may independently read and execute a program instruction for implementing a method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, or all (or some) of the multiple cores may be linked to read and execute a program instruction for implementing a method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0062] When a method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a plurality of operations, the plurality of operations may be performed by one core among the plurality of cores included in a multi-core processor, or may be performed by the plurality of cores. For example, when a first operation, a second operation, and a third operation are performed by a method according to an embodiment, the first operation, the second operation, and the third operation may all be performed by a first core included in the multi-core processor, or the first operation and the second operation may be performed by a first core included in the multi-core processor, and the third operation may be performed by a second core included in the multi-core processor.

[0063] FIG. 2 is a drawing illustrating a hybrid power device including a battery and a plurality of supercapacitors according to one embodiment of the present disclosure connected to an external device.

[0064] As shown in FIG. 2, a hybrid power supply (100) can be configured by connecting a battery (121) and a plurality of supercapacitors (122).

[0065] At this time, each of the supercapacitors (122) is connected to a series switch (131) and a parallel switch (132), so that the connection of the corresponding supercapacitor (122) to the battery (121) can be adjusted.

[0066] Specifically, one end of the first supercapacitor (122-1) may be connected to one end of the first series switch (131-1), and the other end of the first series switch (131-1) may be connected to one end of the first parallel switch (132-1). In addition, the other end of the first supercapacitor (122-1) may be connected to the other end of the first parallel switch (132-1).

[0067] And, one end of the first parallel switch (132-1) can be connected to one end of the battery (121).

[0068] At this time, the other end of the first parallel switch (132-1) may be connected to one end of a parallel switch (e.g., the second parallel switch (132-2)) corresponding to another supercapacitor (e.g., the second supercapacitor (122-2)).

[0069] Accordingly, when multiple supercapacitors (122) are all connected to the battery (121) as disclosed in FIG. 2, each of the supercapacitors (122) can be connected in series with each other.

[0070] At this time, FIG. 2 only shows three supercapacitors (122), but it is not limited thereto, and the power supply unit (120) can be implemented by including three or more supercapacitors (122).

[0071] In addition, the power supply unit (120) of the present disclosure is not limited to the plurality of supercapacitors (122) connected in series as described above, depending on the rated range and capacity of the supercapacitors (122), and may be implemented by connecting the plurality of supercapacitors (122) connected in series in parallel with other plurality of supercapacitors (122) connected in series. Accordingly, the control unit (160) can also control the series switch (131) and the parallel switch (132) of each of the plurality of supercapacitors (122) connected in series and in parallel.

[0072] At this time, if the matching series switch (131) for each supercapacitor (122) is in the ON state and the parallel switch (132) is in the OFF state, the corresponding supercapacitor (122) and the battery (121) can be connected. Conversely, if the parallel switch (132) is in the ON state and the series switch (131) is in the OFF state, the corresponding supercapacitor (122) may not be connected to the battery (121).

[0073] To this end, the control unit (160) can control the operation of a switch (series switch (131), parallel switch (132)) connected to each supercapacitor (122) depending on whether each supercapacitor (122) should be connected to a battery (121).

[0074] That is, when only the third supercapacitor (122-3) among the first supercapacitor (122-1), the second supercapacitor (122-2), or the third supercapacitor (122-3) should be connected to the battery (121), the control unit (160) can control the operation of the switch connected to each of the supercapacitors (122) by controlling the series switch (131) and the parallel switch (132) of each of the supercapacitors (122) so that the first supercapacitor (122-1) and the second supercapacitor (122-2) are not connected to the battery (121) and so that the third supercapacitor (122-3) is connected to the battery (121).

[0075] At this time, the control unit (160) can identify which supercapacitor (122) should be connected to the battery (121) based on the rating range of the battery (121).

[0076] In relation to this, FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of a control unit according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0077] Referring to FIG. 3, the control unit (160) can select at least one supercapacitor (122) among a plurality of supercapacitors (122) according to the rating range of the battery (121) (S310).

[0078] Basically, since the supercapacitor (122) has a lower voltage of 0 V, it can be charged and discharged over the entire range from 0 V to the maximum rated voltage. However, in the case of a general battery (121) such as a lithium ion battery (121), the rated voltage range is generally narrower than the rated voltage range of the supercapacitor (122).

[0079] Therefore, when designing a hybrid power source including a battery (121) and a supercapacitor (122), the rated voltage ranges of both the supercapacitor (122) and the battery (121) must be considered.

[0080] In addition, since the supercapacitor (122) generally has a longer charge / discharge life than the battery (121), when the battery (121) has reached the end of its life or is replaced with another battery (121) depending on the power demand of an external device, the capacity or rated voltage of the supercapacitor (122) also needs to be adjusted according to the replaced battery (121).

[0081] Accordingly, in order to match the capacity and rated voltage range of the supercapacitor (122) to the capacity and rated voltage range of the battery (121), the control unit (160) can identify the number of supercapacitors (122) that need to be connected to the battery (121) and select at least one supercapacitor (122) among the plurality of supercapacitors (122) according to the identified number.

[0082] Additionally, the expected lifespan of each supercapacitor (122) may vary depending on the charging / discharging environment of the supercapacitor (122). Here, the control unit (160) may select the supercapacitors (122) so that the expected lifespan of each supercapacitor (122) is equal even if the same number is identified.

[0083] The control unit (160) can control the switching unit (130) to connect the selected supercapacitor (122) to the battery (121) (S320).

[0084] That is, as described above, in order for the supercapacitor (122) to be connected to the battery (121), the control unit (160) can control the ON / OFF operation of the series switch (131) and parallel switch (132) of the supercapacitor (122).

[0085] In this regard, FIG. 4 is an algorithm for explaining an operation of a control unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure to control a switch connected to each supercapacitor according to a selected supercapacitor.

[0086] According to FIG. 4, the control unit (160) can select the first supercapacitor (122-1) according to the rating range of the battery (121) (S410).

[0087] In this case, the control unit (160) can control the first serial switch (131-1) connected in series to the first supercapacitor (122-1) to turn ON, and conversely, control the first parallel switch (132-1) connected in parallel to the first supercapacitor (122-1) to turn OFF (S420).

[0088] At this time, among the plurality of supercapacitors (122), a supercapacitor (122) other than the first supercapacitor (122-1) may or may not be selected. That is, if it is identified that there is only one supercapacitor (122) to be connected to the battery (121), the control unit (160) will connect only the first supercapacitor (122-1), and if it is identified that there are two or more supercapacitors (122) to be connected to the battery (121), the control unit (160) may also select other supercapacitors (122) such as the first supercapacitor (122-1).

[0089] Accordingly, when the second supercapacitor (122-2) is selected together with the first supercapacitor (122-1) (S430 - Y), the control unit (160) can control the second series switch (131-2) connected to the second supercapacitor (122-2) to be ON, and the second parallel switch (132-2) to be OFF (S440).

[0090] On the other hand, when the second supercapacitor (122-2) is not selected (S430 - N), the second supercapacitor (122-2) can control the second series switch (131-2) to OFF and the second parallel switch (132-2) to ON (S450).

[0091] Meanwhile, the control unit (160) can select a supercapacitor (122) other than the selected supercapacitor (122) according to the changed voltage of the battery (121) after the charging or discharging process is performed after at least one supercapacitor (122) is selected.

[0092] In relation to this, FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of a control unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure to select another supercapacitor according to a battery voltage after a supercapacitor is selected.

[0093] According to FIG. 5, the control unit (160) can measure the voltage of the battery (121) when charging or discharging of the battery (121) and the selected supercapacitor (122) is performed (S510).

[0094] And, the control unit (160) can select a different supercapacitor (122) depending on the voltage of the battery (121) (S520).

[0095] For example, if charging is performed and the voltage of the battery (121) increases, the power demand of the power system may increase. In response, more supercapacitors (122) may need to be connected to the battery (121).

[0096] Alternatively, as the voltage of the battery (121) increases, the voltage stability of the power system may change, requiring an additional supercapacitor (122) to be connected for voltage stabilization.

[0097] Accordingly, the control unit (160) can select at least one other supercapacitor (122) other than the selected supercapacitor (122) in response to the voltage of the battery (121) changed after charging and discharging.

[0098] At this time, the control unit (160) can select a supercapacitor (122) so that the expected lifespans of the supercapacitors (122) are equalized when selecting another supercapacitor (122).

[0099] In this regard, FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of a control unit according to one embodiment of the present disclosure to select another supercapacitor based on the expected lifespan of each supercapacitor.

[0100] Referring to FIG. 6, the control unit (160) can monitor the charge / discharge operations of each of the plurality of supercapacitors (122) (S610). Specifically, the control unit (160) can monitor each of the supercapacitors (122) to identify the charge / discharge history, including the number of times the supercapacitor (122) has been selected and charged or discharged, the charge / discharge speed, the degree of charge / discharge, and the average cycle during which the supercapacitor (122) has been selected.

[0101] At this time, the control unit (160) can calculate the expected lifespan for each supercapacitor (122) based on the identified charge / discharge history (S620).

[0102] Specifically, the control unit (160) may include an artificial intelligence model that calculates the expected lifespan of the supercapacitor (122), and may calculate the expected lifespan of each supercapacitor (122) by inputting the charge / discharge history of each supercapacitor (122).

[0103] Accordingly, the artificial intelligence model of the present disclosure may be based on an algorithm for tracking the state of charge (SOC) of a supercapacitor (122). For example, the artificial intelligence model may be based on algorithms such as a Kalman filter or fractional-order differentiation, and may estimate the state of charge based on voltage, current, and temperature data of the supercapacitor (122) to calculate the expected lifespan.

[0104] Depending on the expected lifespan of each of the produced supercapacitors (122), the control unit (160) can select another supercapacitor (122) so that the expected lifespan of each of the supercapacitors (122) becomes equal (S630).

[0105] That is, the control unit (160) selects a supercapacitor (122) with the longest expected lifespan among the selectable supercapacitors (122) and controls the switching unit (130) so that the selected supercapacitor (122) is connected to the battery (121), thereby enabling a plurality of supercapacitors (122) to be evenly connected to the battery (121).

[0106] According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the control unit (160) monitors the charge / discharge operation after each of the plurality of supercapacitors (122) is selected, and can identify the degree to which the temperature of the supercapacitor (122) increases during the charge / discharge operation for each of the plurality of selected supercapacitors (122).

[0107] Specifically, the control unit (160) can identify the temperature rise amount of the supercapacitor (122) based on the temperature data history of each supercapacitor (122) measured each time the selected supercapacitor (122) performs a charge or discharge operation as a result of selecting at least one of the plurality of supercapacitors (122).

[0108] Here, the control unit (160) can identify the temperature increase amount by dividing it into the average temperature increase amount and the maximum temperature increase amount of the supercapacitor (122) according to the trend of temperature change.

[0109] For example, the control unit (160) can identify the average temperature increase based on the difference between the temperature before the charge / discharge operation of the supercapacitor (122) and the temperature immediately after the charge / discharge operation.

[0110] Alternatively, the control unit (160) can identify a section in which a high current flow is instantaneously applied while a charge / discharge operation is performed on the supercapacitor (122) and the temperature rise per unit time exceeds a reference value, and can identify the temperature rise in the section in which the range exceeding the reference value is the largest as the maximum temperature rise.

[0111] At this time, the control unit (160) may connect at least one of the other supercapacitors (122) that are not selected and therefore not connected to the power supply (120) as an auxiliary supercapacitor (122) when the supercapacitor (122) whose temperature rise amount identified based on past charge / discharge operations exceeds a preset value is selected again and connected to the power supply (120).

[0112] To this end, the switching unit (130) may further include a distributed switch that connects the supercapacitors (122) in parallel so that the auxiliary supercapacitor (122) is not connected to the supercapacitor (122) whose temperature rise is below the preset value and is selectively connected only to the supercapacitor (122) whose temperature rise is above the preset value.

[0113] That is, when each of the supercapacitors (122) needs to be connected to the power supply unit (120), the series switch can be activated to ON, and when the connection to the power supply unit (120) is not required, the parallel switch can be activated to ON. However, while a plurality of supercapacitors (122) whose series switches are activated to ON are connected in series with each other and connected to the power supply unit (120), at least one of the supercapacitors (122) that is not selected by the control unit (160) (=parallel switch ON) can be connected to a supercapacitor (122) that has been identified as having a temperature rise exceeding a preset value in a past charge / discharge operation among the supercapacitors (122) selected by the control unit (160) through a distributed switch. In this case, since the supercapacitors (122) connected through the distributed switch are connected in parallel with each other, the load can be distributed.

[0114] Here, the control unit (160) can apply different preset values ​​to the average temperature rise and the maximum temperature rise, and can also apply different switching operations when the average temperature rise exceeds the preset value and when the maximum temperature rise exceeds the preset value.

[0115] For example, the control unit (160) may apply a first value as a preset value for the average temperature rise, and may apply a second value as a preset value for the maximum temperature rise. Here, the control unit (160) may set a first mode for the supercapacitor (122) in which the average temperature rise exceeds the first value as a result of the charge / discharge operation, and may set a second mode for the supercapacitor (122) in which the maximum temperature rise exceeds the second value. In this case, the control unit (160) may control the switching unit (130) to connect the auxiliary supercapacitor (122) so that the switching operation operates differently for each mode.

[0116] Specifically, the first mode may be applied with a switching operation in which the auxiliary supercapacitor (122) is connected throughout the entire charging and discharging process, and the second mode may be applied with a switching operation in which the auxiliary supercapacitor (122) is connected only during a section in which a momentary high current flow is applied during the charging and discharging process.

[0117] Here, the control unit (160) may select the auxiliary supercapacitor (122) differently depending on the set mode. Specifically, when the first mode is set, the control unit (160) may select the auxiliary supercapacitor (122) according to the expected lifespan. That is, the control unit (160) may select the auxiliary supercapacitor (122) in the order of the longest expected lifespan among the supercapacitors (122) that are not selected and are waiting.

[0118] This reflects the need to select an auxiliary supercapacitor (122) so that the expected lifespan of the selected auxiliary supercapacitor (122) is equalized, since the auxiliary supercapacitor (122) is connected for the entire charge / discharge process in the first mode.

[0119] Meanwhile, since the control unit (160) repeats the switching operation of connecting the auxiliary supercapacitor (122) only in the section where a high current flow is instantaneously applied as described above for the second mode, the auxiliary supercapacitor (122) can be selected in the order of the lowest maximum temperature rise among the supercapacitors (122) whose maximum temperature rise is less than or equal to the second value during the charge / discharge process instead of the expected lifespan.

[0120] This reflects the fact that in the second mode, since the auxiliary supercapacitor (122) is repeatedly switched instantaneously, a relatively rapid charge / discharge characteristic may appear compared to other supercapacitors (122) connected to the power supply, and therefore a supercapacitor (122) with a relatively low temperature rise should be selected.

[0121] When the control unit (160) additionally connects an auxiliary supercapacitor (122) according to the first and second modes described above, the load applied to the supercapacitor (122) connected to the power supply unit (120) during the charging and discharging process is distributed, so that overheating of the supercapacitor (122) connected to the power supply unit (120) can be prevented, and the problem of reduced charging and discharging efficiency due to overheating can be resolved.

[0122] Meanwhile, when selecting a supercapacitor (122) connected to a power supply (120), if the average temperature rise identified by the past charge / discharge operation of the selected supercapacitor (122) exceeds a first value and the maximum temperature rise also exceeds a second value, the control unit (160) may select another supercapacitor (122) without connecting the supercapacitor (122) to the power supply (120).

[0123] In this case, the control unit (160) can be set so that the previously selected supercapacitor (122) whose average temperature rise exceeds the first value and whose maximum temperature rise exceeds the second value is selected only as the auxiliary supercapacitor (122) in the first mode, regardless of its expected lifespan. Accordingly, the supercapacitor (122) can perform charge and discharge operations only in a relatively low-load situation.

[0124] In conclusion, a supercapacitor (122) having both a high average temperature rise and a high maximum temperature rise can be selected only as an auxiliary supercapacitor (122), so that damage to the supercapacitor (122) that may occur during the charge / discharge process or a decrease in efficiency due to temperature rise can be prevented.

[0125] Meanwhile, the various embodiments described above may be implemented by combining two or more embodiments as long as they do not conflict or contradict each other.

[0126] Meanwhile, the various embodiments described above may be implemented in a recording medium readable by a computer or similar device using software, hardware, or a combination thereof.

[0127] In terms of hardware implementation, the embodiments described in the present disclosure may be implemented using at least one of Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), processors, controllers, micro-controllers, microprocessors, and other electrical units for performing functions.

[0128] In some cases, the embodiments described herein may be implemented within the processor itself. In a software implementation, the embodiments described herein, such as the procedures and functions described herein, may be implemented as separate software modules. Each of the software modules described above may perform one or more of the functions and operations described herein.

[0129] Meanwhile, computer instructions or computer programs for performing processing operations in the control unit (160) according to the various embodiments of the present disclosure described above may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium. When the computer instructions or computer programs stored in the non-transitory computer-readable medium are executed by a processor of a specific device, they cause the specific device to perform processing operations in the light-emitting device according to the various embodiments described above.

[0130] A non-transitory computer-readable medium refers to a medium that permanently stores data and can be read by a device, rather than a medium that stores data for a short period of time, such as a register, cache, or memory. Specific examples of non-transitory computer-readable media include CDs, DVDs, hard disks, Blu-ray discs, USBs, memory cards, and ROMs.

[0131] Although the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, and various modifications may be made by a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains without departing from the gist of the present disclosure as claimed in the claims, and such modifications should not be understood individually from the technical idea or prospect of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. In hybrid power devices, A power supply unit including a battery and a plurality of supercapacitors for charging or discharging energy; A switching unit including a series switch and a parallel switch connected to each of the above supercapacitors; and A hybrid power supply device comprising a control unit that selects at least one supercapacitor among the plurality of supercapacitors according to the rating range of the battery and controls the switching unit so that the selected at least one supercapacitor is connected to the battery.

2. In claim 1, The above switching unit, a first series switch connected in series with a first supercapacitor; and a first parallel switch connected in parallel to the first supercapacitor and the first series switch; The above control unit, A hybrid power supply device, wherein when the first supercapacitor is selected according to the rating range of the battery, the first series switch is controlled to ON and the first parallel switch is controlled to OFF.

3. In claim 2, The above switching unit, a second series switch connected in series with a second supercapacitor; and a second parallel switch connected in parallel to the second supercapacitor and the second series switch; The above control unit, When the first supercapacitor and the second supercapacitor are selected according to the rating range of the battery, the second series switch is controlled to ON, and the second parallel switch is controlled to OFF. A hybrid power supply device in which, when only the first supercapacitor is selected according to the rating range of the battery, the second series switch is controlled to OFF and the second parallel switch is controlled to ON.

4. In claim 2, One end of the first supercapacitor is connected to one end of the first series switch, The other end of the first serial switch is connected to one end of the first parallel switch, The other terminal of the first supercapacitor is connected to the other terminal of the first parallel switch, A hybrid power supply device, wherein one end of the first parallel switch is connected to one end of the battery.

5. In claim 1, The above control unit, A hybrid power supply device that obtains the rated range of the battery through user input.

6. In claim 1, The above control unit, A hybrid power supply device, wherein when charging or discharging of the battery and at least one selected supercapacitor is performed, at least one other supercapacitor among the plurality of supercapacitors is selected according to the voltage of the battery.

7. In claim 6, The above control unit, Monitor the charge and discharge operation of each of the above multiple supercapacitors, The expected lifespan of each of the plurality of supercapacitors is calculated based on the charge / discharge history of each of the plurality of supercapacitors, A hybrid power supply device, wherein at least one other supercapacitor among the plurality of supercapacitors is selected so that the expected lifespans of each of the plurality of supercapacitors produced above are equalized.

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