Battery disconnect unit including semiconductor relay

Abstract

The present invention relates to a battery disconnect unit for delivering or disconnecting power of a battery to a load. The battery disconnect unit according to the present invention comprises: a printed circuit board; a relay coupled to a first area of the printed circuit board so as to connect or disconnect power of a battery; and a control unit comprising one or more processors and a memory, and coupled to a second area of the printed circuit board so as to control the relay, wherein the printed circuit board includes an insulation area for electrically insulating the first area and the second area of the printed circuit board, thereby enabling maintenance of electrical insulation between components located in the first area and components located in the second area and implementation of the battery disconnect unit on a single printed circuit board.

Description

Battery disconnect unit including semiconductor relay

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery disconnect unit (BDU) that connects or disconnects the power of a battery to a load, and more particularly, to a battery disconnect unit using a semiconductor relay.

[0002] In the fields of eco-friendly (electric, hydrogen, hybrid) vehicles and e-mobility, the technology to safely supply or cut off power from the battery to the motor is very important in terms of providing safety and stability.

[0003] The battery pack system for this can be composed of a BMA (Battery Module Assembly), BMU (Battery Management Unit), CMU (Cell Monitoring Unit), and BDU (Battery Disconnect Unit).

[0004] Among these, the Battery Disconnect Unit is generally placed between the battery and the motor inverter and serves to supply or cut off power from the battery to the motor.

[0005] A battery disconnect unit typically includes a relay that connects or disconnects the high voltage of the battery to a load and an MCU to control it.

[0006] Unlike relays, MCUs that control relays operate at low voltages, so electrical insulation is required between the low-voltage and high-voltage regions. However, if the contactors (relays) are mechanically configured, there is a problem in that a battery disconnect unit cannot be configured on a single board due to the volume of the mechanical relay and the need to maintain an insulation distance between the relay and the MCU.

[0007] Figure 5 is an example of a PCB substrate structure of a BMS to solve these problems.

[0008] A BMS (Battery Management System, BMS) assembly may include a first PCB substrate (10), a second PCB substrate (20), and an insulating member (30).

[0009] Since it is not possible to mount all components on a single substrate, a structure in which the first PCB substrate (10) and the second PCB substrate (20) are vertically stacked can be used to reduce the volume of the BMS assembly.

[0010] In such a case, since the distance between the components mounted on the first PCB substrate (10) and the second PCB substrate (20) becomes closer, an insulating material (30) must be additionally used to electrically insulate them between them.

[0011] Therefore, in addition to the PCB (10, 20), an insulating material (30) must be additionally included for insulation, which causes a problem of increasing volume in the vertical direction, and as the number of boards increases, the assembly process becomes more cumbersome.

[0012] The inventors of the present invention have devoted extensive research efforts to address the volume and insulation issues of conventional BMS assemblies. By replacing the mechanical relay in the battery disconnect unit with a semiconductor relay and positioning an insulating region between the high-voltage and low-voltage regions of the battery disconnect unit, the inventors have successfully completed the present invention. This resulted in a battery disconnect unit configured on a single printed circuit board.

[0013] An object of the present invention is to provide a battery disconnect unit that can be implemented on a single printed circuit board by replacing a mechanical relay with an electronic relay that applies a semiconductor to the battery disconnect unit.

[0014] Another object of the present invention is to provide a battery disconnect unit capable of electrical insulation between components coupled to a high voltage region and a low voltage region by including an insulating region on the printed circuit board of the battery disconnect unit.

[0015] Meanwhile, other unspecified purposes of the present invention will be additionally considered within a range that can be easily inferred from the detailed description and effects thereof below.

[0016] A battery disconnect unit according to the present invention comprises: a printed circuit board; a relay coupled to a first area of ​​the printed circuit board for connecting or cutting off power to a battery; and a control unit coupled to a second area of ​​the printed circuit board for controlling the relay, the control unit including one or more processors and memories, wherein the printed circuit board includes an insulating area for electrically insulating the first area and the second area of ​​the printed circuit board.

[0017] The first region is characterized in that it is a high-voltage region, and the second region is characterized in that it is a low-voltage region.

[0018] The above insulating region is characterized in that it is arranged parallel to the first region and the second region between the first region and the second region.

[0019] The above relay is characterized in that it is a semiconductor relay.

[0020] The above relay is characterized in that it is placed in an area that is a certain distance or more from the second area.

[0021] The above first region is characterized in that an isolator that electrically separates the control unit and the relay is coupled thereto.

[0022] The first region, the second region, and the insulating region are characterized in that they are located on the same plane of the printed circuit board.

[0023] According to the present invention, the overall size of the battery disconnect unit can be reduced by replacing the mechanical relay included in the battery disconnect unit with a semiconductor relay.

[0024] Additionally, there is an advantage in that the battery disconnect unit can be implemented on a single PCB by reducing the volume of the relay and arranging the insulation area on the PCB.

[0025] Meanwhile, even if the effect is not explicitly mentioned herein, it is added that the effect and its provisional effect described in the following specification expected by the technical features of the present invention are treated as described in the specification of the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a battery blocking unit according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a semiconductor relay of a battery disconnect unit according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] FIG. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a control unit of a battery disconnect unit according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a typical battery system.

[0030] Figure 5 is an embodiment of a PCB assembly for electrical insulation between components.

[0031] ※ It is to be noted that the attached drawings are provided for reference only to help understand the technical concept of the present invention, and the scope of the rights of the present invention is not limited thereby.

[0032] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, the configuration of the present invention, guided by various embodiments thereof, and the effects resulting from such configurations will be examined. In describing the present invention, detailed descriptions of related, well-known functions that are obvious to those skilled in the art and that may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention will be omitted.

[0033] Terms such as "first" and "second" may be used to describe various components, but the components should not be limited by these terms. These terms may only be used to distinguish one component from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, a "first component" may be referred to as a "second component," and similarly, a "second component" may also be referred to as a "first component." Furthermore, singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Terms used in the embodiments of the present invention may be interpreted as having meanings commonly known to those of ordinary skill in the art, unless otherwise defined.

[0034] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, the configuration of the present invention guided by various embodiments of the present invention and the effects resulting from the configuration will be examined.

[0035] Figure 4 shows an example of a battery system that supplies power from a battery to a motor.

[0036] The battery system may include an inverter (2) for driving a motor (1), a battery (5) for supplying power to the motor (1), a cell monitoring unit (CMU) (6) for monitoring cells of the battery (5), a battery management unit (BMU) (4) for managing the battery system, and a battery disconnect unit (10) for managing the connection between the battery (5) and the motor (1).

[0037] The battery disconnect unit (10) may include a main contactor (13) and a negative contactor (15) connected to the positive pole of the battery (5) to supply or cut off power to the inverter (2), a precharge resistor (11) for initially charging the DC-link capacitor (3), and a precharge contactor (12).

[0038] The battery disconnect unit (10) is configured to include contactors (12, 13, 15) for connecting the high voltage of the battery (5) and an MCU (not shown) for controlling them.

[0039] The battery disconnect unit (10) transmits the high voltage of the battery (5) to the inverter (2) through the precharge contactor (12) until the voltage of the DC-link capacitor (3) reaches a certain voltage in order to prevent inrush current during the initial charging process of the DC-link capacitor (3).

[0040] After the initial charging of the DC-link capacitor (3) is completed, the high voltage of the battery (5) is transmitted to the inverter (2) using the main contactor (13).

[0041] Therefore, for this process, the MCU controls the contactors (12, 13, 15), and since the contactors operate at high voltage and the MCU operates at low voltage, insulation between them is required.

[0042] FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a battery blocking unit according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] A battery disconnect unit (BDU) (100) according to the present invention may include a printed circuit board (PCB) (110), a relay (120), a control unit (130), and an isolator (140).

[0044] Various electronic components of the battery disconnect unit (100) are combined on the printed circuit board (110).

[0045] Electronic components are a mixture of high-voltage and low-voltage components, so insulation must be maintained between them.

[0046] For this purpose, the printed circuit board (110) may include a first region (112), a second region (114), and an insulating region (116).

[0047] By placing the insulating region (116) between the first region (112) and the second region (114), insulation can be maintained between the components located in the first region (112) and the components located in the second region (114).

[0048] The first region (112), the second region (114) and the insulating region (116) can be arranged in a parallel manner so that the minimum distance between the first region (112) and the second region (114) can be maintained anywhere.

[0049] In one embodiment, the first region (112) may be a high voltage region and the second region (114) may be a low voltage region.

[0050] Accordingly, a relay (120) operating at high voltage, etc. can be combined in the first region (112).

[0051] The relay (120) serves to connect or cut off the high voltage of the battery to a load such as an inverter.

[0052] Because the general mechanical relay is large in size, the battery disconnect unit containing the mechanical relay also has to be large in size.

[0053] Therefore, the relay (120) included in the battery disconnect unit (100) according to the present invention may be a semiconductor relay, which is an electronic relay composed of semiconductor elements.

[0054] FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a semiconductor relay of a battery disconnect unit according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0055] The semiconductor relay (120) may include a first semiconductor switch (122) and a second semiconductor switch (124).

[0056] The first semiconductor switch (122) and the second semiconductor switch (124) may be MOSFETs (Si, SiC, IGBT, etc.) for implementing a bidirectional electronic relay.

[0057] The MOSFET is a structure that includes a diode to block current when switched off, and since reverse current can flow through this diode, the semiconductor relay (120) is configured in a back-to-back structure in which the diodes included in the first semiconductor switch (122) and the second semiconductor switch (124) face each other.

[0058] When a semiconductor relay is used in the relay (120), the volume thereof is reduced, so the first region (112), the second region (114), and the insulating region (116) of the printed circuit board (110) can be positioned on the same plane of the printed circuit board (110). That is, the battery cut-off unit (100) can be implemented on a single printed circuit board (110), so that the overall size can be reduced and work convenience can also be increased.

[0059] A control unit (130) for operating at low voltage and controlling a relay (120) coupled to the first area (112) can be coupled to the second area (114) of the printed circuit board (110).

[0060] FIG. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a control unit of a battery disconnect unit according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0061] The control unit (130) can control components included in the battery cut-off unit (100) by receiving information obtained using sensors or the like or commands from an upper controller.

[0062] For this purpose, the control unit (130) may include one or more processors (132) and memory (134).

[0063] The memory (134) may store instructions, data structures, and program codes that can be read by the processor (132). In embodiments, at least the operations performed by the processor (132) may be implemented by executing instructions or codes of the program stored in the memory.

[0064] The memory may include a flash memory type, a hard disk type, a multimedia card micro type, a card type memory (e.g., SD or XD memory, etc.), and may include a non-volatile memory including at least one of a ROM (Read-Only Memory), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), a PROM (Programmable Read-Only Memory), a magnetic memory, a magnetic disk, and an optical disk, and a volatile memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a SRAM (Static Random Access Memory).

[0065] The memory (134) can store one or more instructions or programs that the processor (132) can use to control the semiconductor relay (120) or transmit and receive data through the communication unit.

[0066] The processor (132) controls the overall operations of the battery disconnect unit (100). For example, the processor (132) can control the overall operations of the battery disconnect unit (100), such as supplying or disconnecting power to the battery, by executing one or more commands stored in the memory (134).

[0067] The processor (132) may be configured as at least one of, for example, a central processing unit, a microprocessor, a graphic processing unit, an application specific integrated circuits (ASICS), a digital signal processor (DSP), a digital signal processing device (DSPD), a programmable logic device (PLD), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an application processor, a neural processing unit, or an artificial intelligence processor designed with a hardware structure specialized for processing an artificial intelligence model, but is not limited thereto.

[0068] The control unit (130) controls a plurality of relays (12 0) included in the battery disconnect device (100) to transmit or disconnect the high voltage of the battery to the load.

[0069] Since the control logics including the control unit (130) operate at a relatively low voltage, they are located in the second region (114), which is a low-voltage region of the printed circuit board (110).

[0070] The battery disconnect unit (100) may further include an isolator (140) for electrical insulation while transmitting signals between components located in the second region (114) and components located in the first region (112).

[0071] An opto-isolator or the like may be used as the isolator (140), but is not limited thereto.

[0072] Although an insulating region (116) exists, it is desirable for the relays (120) to be as far away as possible from the first region (112) to minimize electrical influence from the relays (120) operating at relatively high voltages.

[0073] Accordingly, a plurality of relays (120) can be arranged parallel to the insulation region (116) in the first region (112) at a distance (d) or more from the insulation region (116). As a result, the plurality of relays (120) can maintain a minimum distance from components such as the control unit (130) arranged in the second region (114).

[0074] According to the battery disconnect unit according to the present invention as described above, there is an advantage in that the battery disconnect unit can be implemented on a single printed circuit board by reducing the size using a semiconductor relay and positioning an insulating area on the printed circuit board.

[0075] The scope of protection of the present invention is not limited to the description and expression of the embodiments explicitly described above. Furthermore, it should be noted that the scope of protection of the present invention may not be limited by obvious modifications or substitutions within the technical field to which the present invention pertains.

Claims

1. Printed circuit board; A relay coupled to the first area of ​​the printed circuit board to connect or disconnect power to the battery; and A control unit comprising one or more processors and memory and coupled to a second area of ​​the printed circuit board to control the relay; Including, but not limited to, A battery disconnect unit, characterized in that the printed circuit board includes an insulating region for electrically insulating the first region and the second region of the printed circuit board.

2. In paragraph 1, A battery disconnect unit, characterized in that the first region is a high-voltage region and the second region is a low-voltage region.

3. In paragraph 1, A battery blocking unit, characterized in that the insulating region is arranged parallel to the first region and the second region between the first region and the second region.

4. In paragraph 1, A battery disconnect unit, characterized in that the above relay is a semiconductor relay.

5. In paragraph 1, A battery disconnect unit, characterized in that the relay is placed in an area that is a certain distance or more from the second area.

6. In paragraph 1, A battery disconnect unit characterized in that an isolator that electrically separates the control unit and the relay is coupled to the first region.

7. In paragraph 1, A battery blocking unit, characterized in that the first region, the second region, and the insulating region are located on the same plane of the printed circuit board.

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