Device and method for controlling battery charging, and battery system including same

Abstract

A device and a method for controlling battery charging, and a battery system including same according to an embodiment and an experimental example of the present invention may monitor the state of charge (SOC) of a battery, control, on the basis of the SOC of the battery, the battery to be charged according to a first charging method, and control the battery to be charged according to a second charging method when the voltage value of the battery corresponds to the SOC of the battery and reaches a predefined charging voltage value while the battery is charged according to the first charging method.

Description

Battery charging control device and method, and battery system including the same

[0001] This application claims the benefit of the filing date of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0132493 filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office on September 30, 2024, and all contents disclosed in the document of said Korean patent application are incorporated into this specification.

[0002] The present invention relates to a battery charging control device and method, and a battery system including the same. More specifically, the invention relates to a battery charging control device and method for controlling the magnitude of a charging current for charging a battery based on the SOC and voltage value of the battery, and a battery system including the same.

[0003] As the price of energy sources rises due to the depletion of fossil fuels and concerns about environmental pollution intensify, the demand for secondary batteries as an eco-friendly alternative energy source is rapidly increasing.

[0004] Due to their ability to be repeatedly charged and regenerated, these secondary batteries are being applied in a wide range of sectors—from small devices such as mobile phones and laptops to large-scale industries like automobiles, robots, and energy storage devices—as a response to today's environmental regulations and high oil prices.

[0005] Among secondary batteries, lithium-ion batteries are gaining attention due to their advantages over nickel-based secondary batteries, such as having almost no memory effect, a low self-discharge rate, and high energy density.

[0006] Conventionally, as the usage frequency of lithium batteries increases, rapid charging technology for rapid battery charging is being introduced.

[0007] Conventional rapid charging technology includes a method of rapidly charging a battery by using a rapid charging map to obtain information on the magnitude of the charging current for rapid charging based on the SOC of the battery to be charged.

[0008] However, conventional fast charging maps do not take into account the voltage state of the battery to be charged, so a disadvantage occurs in which the efficiency decreases as the battery degrades. In addition, as shown in Figure 1, when charging the battery by temporarily lowering the charging current value only in a specific section (the Nth section) to prevent battery degrade, a disadvantage occurs in which the charging time increases and the charging efficiency decreases because the charging current cannot be applied to an area of ​​A.

[0009] The objective of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems is to provide a battery charging control device.

[0010] Another objective of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems is to provide a battery charging control method.

[0011] Another objective of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems is to provide a battery charging system.

[0012] Another objective of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems is to provide a battery charging system.

[0013] A battery charging control device for controlling the charging of a battery according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above objective comprises a processor and a memory including at least one instruction performed by the processor, wherein the at least one instruction includes a instruction to monitor the State of Charge (SOC) of the battery, a instruction to control the charging of the battery according to a first charging method based on the SOC of the battery, and a instruction to control the charging of the battery according to a second charging method when, while charging the battery according to the first charging method, the voltage value of the battery corresponds to the SOC of the battery and reaches a predetermined charging voltage value.

[0014] Here, a command to control the charging of the battery according to the first charging method may include a command to identify the Nth section to which the battery's SOC belongs using a charging current map in which the charging current values ​​for each SOC section are predetermined, and a command to control the charging of the battery with a constant current using a charging current value corresponding to the Nth section.

[0015] At this time, the command for controlling the battery to be charged according to the second charging method may include a command to check the charging voltage value of the battery in the Nth section using a charging voltage map in which the charging voltage value for each SOC section is predetermined, a command to monitor the voltage value of the battery in the Nth section, and a command to control the battery to be charged at a constant voltage by switching to the second charging method so that the charging voltage value is maintained when the voltage value of the battery reaches the charging voltage value.

[0016] Meanwhile, the above at least one command may further include a command to control the charging of the battery by switching the charging method of the battery to the first charging method when the section to which the SOC of the battery belongs changes to the N+1 section during the charging of the battery according to the second charging method.

[0017] At this time, based on the charging current map, the charging current value corresponding to the N+1 interval can be defined as a smaller value compared to the charging current value corresponding to the N interval.

[0018] Meanwhile, the above charging current map may further include a predefined charging current value according to temperature.

[0019] Additionally, a command to control the charging of the battery according to the first charging method may include a command to identify the Nth section to which the SOC and temperature of the battery belong based on the charging current map, and a command to control the charging of the battery with a constant current using a charging current value corresponding to the Nth section.

[0020] Additionally, a command to control the battery to be charged according to the second charging method may include a command to check a charging voltage value corresponding to the specific section using a charging voltage map in which charging voltage values ​​according to the battery's SOC and temperature are predetermined, a command to monitor the voltage value of the battery in the Nth section, and a command to control the battery to be charged at a constant voltage by switching to the second charging method so that the charging voltage value is maintained when the battery voltage value reaches the charging voltage value.

[0021] Additionally, the above at least one command may further include a command to control the charging method of the battery to switch to the first charging method and charge the battery when the range to which the SOC and temperature of the battery belong changes during the charging of the battery according to the second charging method.

[0022]

[0023] A battery charging control method for controlling the charging of a battery according to another embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above objective comprises the steps of: monitoring the State of Charge (SOC) of the battery; controlling the battery to be charged according to a first charging method based on the SOC of the battery; and, while charging the battery according to the first charging method, if the voltage value of the battery corresponds to the SOC of the battery and reaches a predetermined charging voltage value, controlling the battery to be charged according to a second charging method.

[0024] Here, the step of controlling the battery to be charged according to the first charging method may include the step of identifying the Nth section to which the battery's SOC belongs using a charging current map in which the charging current values ​​for each SOC section are predetermined, and the step of controlling the battery to be charged with a constant current using a charging current value corresponding to the Nth section.

[0025] At this time, the command to charge the battery according to the second charging method may include a command to check the charging voltage value of the battery in the Nth section using a charging voltage map in which the charging voltage value for each SOC section is predetermined, a command to monitor the voltage value of the battery in the Nth section, and a step of controlling the battery to switch to the second charging method to charge it at a constant voltage so that when the voltage value of the battery reaches the charging voltage value, the charging voltage value is maintained.

[0026] Meanwhile, the battery charging control method may further include a step of controlling the charging of the battery by switching the charging method of the battery to the first charging method when the section to which the SOC of the battery belongs changes to the N+1 section during the charging of the battery according to the second charging method.

[0027] At this time, based on the charging current map, the charging current value corresponding to the N+1 interval can be defined as a smaller value compared to the charging current value corresponding to the N interval.

[0028] Meanwhile, the above charging current map may further include a predefined charging current value according to temperature.

[0029] Additionally, the step of controlling the battery to be charged according to the first charging method may include, based on the charging current map, identifying the Nth section to which the SOC and temperature of the battery belong, and controlling the battery to be charged with a constant current using a charging current value corresponding to the Nth section.

[0030] Additionally, the step of controlling the battery to be charged according to the second charging method may include: a step of checking a charging voltage value corresponding to the specific section using a charging voltage map in which charging voltage values ​​according to the battery's SOC and temperature are predetermined; a step of monitoring the voltage value of the battery in the Nth section; and a step of controlling the battery to be charged at a constant voltage by switching to the second charging method so that the charging voltage value is maintained when the battery voltage value reaches the charging voltage value.

[0031] Additionally, the battery charging control method may further include a step of controlling the charging method of the battery to switch to the first charging method and charge the battery when the range to which the SOC and temperature of the battery belong changes during the charging of the battery according to the second charging method.

[0032]

[0033] A battery charging system for controlling the charging of a battery according to another embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above objective comprises a battery, a charging device that applies a charging current to the battery to charge the battery, and a battery charging control device that controls the magnitude of the charging current provided by the charging device. The battery charging control device monitors the State of Charge (SOC) of the battery and, based on the SOC of the battery, controls the charging device so that the battery is charged according to a first charging method. While charging the battery according to the first charging method, if the voltage value of the battery corresponds to the SOC of the battery and reaches a predetermined charging voltage value, the battery is charged according to a second charging method.

[0034] A battery charging control device and method according to an embodiment and experimental example of the present invention, and a battery system including the same, wherein when charging a battery with constant current according to an SOC range, when a charging voltage value predetermined for the corresponding SOC range is reached, the charging method is switched to a second charging method and constant voltage charging is performed, thereby shortening the charging time and preventing lithium deposition and degradation of the battery.

[0035] Figure 1 is a graph illustrating a general battery charging control method.

[0036] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a battery system to which an embodiment of the present invention can be applied.

[0037] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a battery charging system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a battery charging control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a battery charging control method operated by a processor in a battery charging control device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] FIG. 6 is an image of a charging current map according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] FIG. 7 is an image of a charging voltage map according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] FIG. 8 is a graph for explaining a battery charging control method based on the table of FIG. 6 to FIG. 7 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] Figure 9 is a graph comparing the charging times of batteries according to an experimental example of the present invention.

[0044] FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a battery charging control method operated by a processor in a battery charging control device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] FIG. 11 is an image of a charging current map according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0046] FIG. 12 is an image of a charging voltage map according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0047] FIG. 13 is a graph showing the capacity preservation of batteries in a charging cycle according to an experimental example of the present invention.

[0048] 1000: Battery 3000: Charging device

[0049] 5000: Battery charging control unit

[0050] 100: Memory 200: Processor

[0051] 300: Transmitter / receiver device 400: Input interface device

[0052] 500: Output interface device 600: Storage device

[0053] 700: Bus

[0054] The present invention is susceptible to various modifications and may have various embodiments; specific embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the detailed description. However, this is not intended to limit the invention to specific embodiments, and it should be understood that the invention includes all modifications, equivalents, and substitutions that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention. Similar reference numerals have been used for similar components in the description of each drawing.

[0055] Terms such as first, second, A, B, etc., may be used to describe various components, but said components shall not be limited by said terms. These terms are used solely for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the first component may be named the second component, and similarly, the second component may be named the first component. The term "and / or" includes a combination of a plurality of related described items or any of a plurality of related described items.

[0056] When it is stated that one component is "connected" or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that while it may be directly connected or connected to that other component, there may also be other components in between. On the other hand, when it is stated that one component is "directly connected" or "directly connected" to another component, it should be understood that there are no other components in between.

[0057] The terms used in this application are used merely to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention. The singular expression includes the plural expression unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this application, terms such as "comprising" or "having" are intended to specify the presence of the features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, and should be understood as not precluding the existence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0058] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as generally understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. Terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant technology, and should not be interpreted in an ideal or overly formal sense unless explicitly defined in this application.

[0059]

[0060] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a battery system to which an embodiment of the present invention can be applied.

[0061] Referring to FIG. 2, a battery may be configured to include a plurality of battery modules or cells connected in series. A battery cell or module can be connected to a load through a positive terminal and a negative terminal to perform charging and discharging operations. The most commonly used battery cell is a lithium-ion (Li-Ion) battery cell.

[0062] These battery cells or battery modules can be integrated with a Battery Management System (BMS).

[0063] A Battery Management System (BMS) monitors the current, voltage, and temperature of each battery cell or module under its control, calculates the Status of Charge (SOC) based on the monitoring results, and controls charging and discharging. Here, State of Charge (SOC) is the battery's currently charged state expressed as a percentage, and State of Health (SOH) is the battery's current degradation state expressed as a percentage.

[0064] As such, the Battery Management System (BMS) can monitor battery cells, read cell voltage, and transmit it to other systems connected to the battery.

[0065] In addition, the battery management system (BMS) can transmit status data of at least one electrical component constituting the battery system to another system by monitoring it. To this end, the battery management system (BMS) may include a communication module for communicating with another system within a device included in the battery system.

[0066] The communication module of the battery management system (BMS) can communicate with other systems within the device using a Controller Area Network (CAN). In this case, electrical components, modules, or systems within the battery management system (BMS) are connected to each other via a CAN bus. Accordingly, the battery management system (BMS) can remotely transmit status data obtained through monitoring of a battery pack or module and at least one electrical component constituting the battery management system (BMS) to another system using CAN communication.

[0067] Meanwhile, the battery management system (BMS) balances the charge of the battery cells evenly to extend the lifespan of the battery system.

[0068] To perform such operations, a battery management system (BMS) may include various components such as fuses, current sensing elements, thermistors, switches, and balancers, and in most cases, it additionally includes a Micro Controller Unit (MCU) or Battery Monitoring Integrated Chip (BMIC) to interact with and control them.

[0069] Meanwhile, the battery charging system according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided as a component of a battery management system (BMS) to control rapid charging of the battery.

[0070] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a battery charging system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0071]

[0072] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a battery charging system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0073] Referring to FIG. 3, a battery charging system according to an embodiment of the present invention may be a system for controlling rapid charging of a battery.

[0074] More specifically, the battery charging system may include a battery (1000), a charging device (3000), and a battery charging control device (5000).

[0075] The battery (1000) may be provided in a form in which multiple battery cells are connected. The battery (1000) may be connected to a charging device (3000) to be described later and may be charged by a charging current applied from the charging device (3000). Here, the charging current may be adjusted and provided by a battery charging control device (5000) to be described later, taking into account the charging state of the battery (1000), to a size of charging current that prevents lithium deposition.

[0076] The charging device (3000) is electrically connected to the battery (1000) and can charge the battery (1000). More specifically, the charging device (3000) is electrically connected to the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals of the battery (1000) and can charge the battery (1000).

[0077] Meanwhile, the charging device (3000) may be connected to the battery charging control device (5000). According to an embodiment, the charging device (3000) may be connected to the battery charging control device (5000) via CAN communication. Accordingly, the charging device (3000) may provide a charging current to the battery (1000) according to the charging current value received from the battery charging control device (5000), as previously described. In other words, the charging device (3000) may charge the battery (1000) by applying a charging current of a size determined by the battery charging control device (5000) to the battery (1000).

[0078] A battery charging control device (5000) can receive at least one state information of a battery (1000) and monitor the battery (1000). According to an embodiment, the state information may include at least one information among the SOC, voltage (V), current (I), and temperature (T) of the battery (1000).

[0079] The battery charging control device (5000) can obtain information on upper limit values ​​of the charging current provided in sections according to the state information of the battery (1000).

[0080] According to one embodiment, the battery charging control device (5000) can obtain an upper limit current value in the section to which the SOC of the battery (1000) belongs by using a charging current map in which the charging current value is predetermined for each SOC section.

[0081] According to another embodiment, the battery charging control device (5000) can obtain an upper limit current value in the range to which the SOC and temperature of the battery (1000) belong by using a charging current map in which the charging current values ​​for each SOC and temperature range are predetermined.

[0082] Subsequently, the battery charging control device (5000) can transmit the acquired charging current value to the charging device (3000) along with a first control signal. Here, the first control signal may be a signal that controls the charging of the battery (1000) with a charging current magnitude corresponding to the charging current value according to the first charging method. Accordingly, the charging device (3000) can apply a charging current of a magnitude corresponding to the charging current value to the battery (1000) to charge the battery (1000) according to the first charging method. For example, the first charging method may be a constant current (CC) charging method.

[0083] Meanwhile, the battery charging control device (5000) can obtain upper limit values ​​of the charging voltage provided in sections according to the state information of the battery (1000).

[0084] According to one embodiment, the battery charging control device (5000) can obtain a charging voltage value in the section to which the SOC of the battery (1000) belongs by using a charging voltage map in which the charging voltage value is predetermined for each SOC section.

[0085] According to another embodiment, the battery charging control device (5000) can obtain a charging voltage value in the range to which the SOC and temperature of the battery (1000) belong by using a charging voltage map in which the charging voltage values ​​for each SOC and temperature range are predetermined.

[0086] Subsequently, the battery charging control device (5000) can transmit the acquired charging voltage value to the charging device (3000) along with a second control signal. Here, the second control signal may be a signal that controls the magnitude of the charging current of the battery (1000) according to a second charging method so that the charging voltage value is maintained. Accordingly, the charging device (3000) can charge the battery (1000) at a constant voltage (CV) so that the battery maintains the charging voltage value by means of the second control signal.

[0087] Meanwhile, the battery charging control device (5000) can control the charging of the battery (1000) according to a second charging method when the voltage value of the battery (1000) reaches a predetermined charging voltage value corresponding to a specific section in the charging voltage map, while the battery (1000) is being charged according to a first charging method in a specific section based on the state information of the battery (1000) using a charging current map. The charging current control method of the battery charging control device (5000) will be explained in more detail when describing the battery charging control method to be described later.

[0088]

[0089] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a battery charging control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0090] Referring to FIG. 4, the battery charging control device (1000) is described in more detail by configuration. The battery charging control device (1000) may include a memory (100), a processor (200), a transceiver (300), an input interface device (400), an output interface device (500), and a storage device (600).

[0091] According to an embodiment, each component (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600) included in the battery charging control device (1000) can communicate with each other by being connected by a bus (700).

[0092] Among the above configurations (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600), the memory (100) and the storage device (600) may be composed of at least one of a volatile storage medium and a non-volatile storage medium.

[0093] Additionally, the memory (100) and storage device (600) may be composed of at least one of a volatile / transitory storage medium and a non-volatile / non-transitory storage medium. For example, the memory (100) and storage device (600) may be composed of at least one of a read-only memory (ROM) and a random access memory (RAM), and may include an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-only Memory).

[0094] Among these, the memory (100) may include at least one instruction executed by the processor (200). According to an embodiment, the at least one instruction includes a instruction to monitor the State of Charge (SOC) of the battery, a instruction to control the battery to be charged according to a first charging method based on the SOC of the battery, and a instruction to control the battery to be charged according to a second charging method when the voltage value of the battery corresponds to the SOC of the battery and reaches a predetermined charging voltage value while the battery is being charged according to the first charging method.

[0095] Here, a command to control the charging of the battery according to the first charging method may include a command to identify the Nth section to which the battery's SOC belongs using a charging current map in which the charging current values ​​for each SOC section are predetermined, and a command to control the charging of the battery with a constant current using a charging current value corresponding to the Nth section.

[0096] At this time, the command for controlling the battery to be charged according to the second charging method may include a command to check the charging voltage value of the battery in the Nth section using a charging voltage map in which the charging voltage value for each SOC section is predetermined, a command to monitor the voltage value of the battery in the Nth section, and a command to control the battery to be charged at a constant voltage by switching to the second charging method so that the charging voltage value is maintained when the voltage value of the battery reaches the charging voltage value.

[0097] Meanwhile, the above at least one command may further include a command to control the charging of the battery by switching the charging method of the battery to the first charging method when the section to which the SOC of the battery belongs changes to the N+1 section during the charging of the battery according to the second charging method.

[0098] At this time, based on the charging current map, the charging current value corresponding to the N+1 interval can be defined as a smaller value compared to the charging current value corresponding to the N interval.

[0099] Meanwhile, the above charging current map may further include a predefined charging current value according to temperature.

[0100] Additionally, a command to control the charging of the battery according to the first charging method may include a command to identify the Nth section to which the SOC and temperature of the battery belong based on the charging current map, and a command to control the charging of the battery with a constant current using a charging current value corresponding to the Nth section.

[0101] Additionally, a command to control the battery to be charged according to the second charging method may include a command to check a charging voltage value corresponding to the specific section using a charging voltage map in which charging voltage values ​​according to the battery's SOC and temperature are predetermined, a command to monitor the voltage value of the battery in the Nth section, and a command to control the battery to be charged at a constant voltage by switching to the second charging method so that the charging voltage value is maintained when the battery voltage value reaches the charging voltage value.

[0102] Additionally, the above at least one command may further include a command to control the charging method of the battery to switch to the first charging method and charge the battery when the range to which the SOC and temperature of the battery belong changes during the charging of the battery according to the second charging method.

[0103] Meanwhile, the processor (200) may mean a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or a dedicated processor on which methods according to embodiments of the present invention are performed.

[0104] As previously described, the processor (200) can execute at least one program command stored in memory (100).

[0105] The above describes a battery charging system including a battery charging control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Below, a battery charging control method performed by the processor operation of the battery charging control device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail.

[0106]

[0107] FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a battery charging control method operated by a processor in a battery charging control device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0108] Referring to FIG. 5, a battery charging control device (5000) according to one embodiment of the present invention can check the SOC of the battery (1000) according to the operation of the processor (200) (S510).

[0109] According to one embodiment, the battery charging control device (5000) can monitor the status information of the battery (1000) in real time to check the SOC.

[0110] According to another embodiment, the battery charging control device (5000) may receive status information of the battery (1000) in real time from a separate monitoring device (not shown). Accordingly, the battery charging control device (5000) may check the SOC of the battery (1000) among the status information received from the monitoring device.

[0111] Afterwards, the battery charging control device (5000) can check the Nth interval to which the SOC of the battery (1000) belongs and check the charging current value corresponding to the Nth interval (S520).

[0112] According to an embodiment, the battery charging control device (5000) can identify a charging current value corresponding to the Nth interval by using a charging current map in which the charging current value is predetermined for each SOC interval. The battery charging control device (5000) can transmit a first control signal to the charging device (3000) along with the Nth charging current value (S530). Here, the first control signal may be a signal that controls the battery (1000) to be charged with a charging current of a magnitude corresponding to the Nth charging current value according to a first charging method. Accordingly, the charging device (3000) can apply a charging current of a magnitude corresponding to the Nth charging current value to the battery (1000) to charge the battery (1000) according to the first charging method. Here, the first charging method may be a constant current (CC) charging method.

[0113] Afterwards, the battery charging control device (5000) can monitor the voltage value of the battery (1000) in real time during constant current (CC) charging of the battery (1000) according to the first charging method.

[0114] At this time, when the voltage value of the battery (1000) reaches the Nth charging voltage value corresponding to the Nth interval (S540), the battery charging control device (5000) can transmit a second control signal to the charging device (3000) along with the Nth charging voltage value (S550). Here, the Nth charging voltage value can be obtained by verifying the voltage value corresponding to the Nth interval using a charging voltage map in which charging voltage values ​​are predefined for each SOC interval. Additionally, the second control signal may be a signal that adjusts the charging current value of the battery so that the Nth charging voltage value corresponding to the Nth interval is maintained according to the second charging method. Accordingly, the charging device (3000) can charge the battery at a constant voltage (CV) so that the battery maintains the Nth charging voltage value by means of the second control signal.

[0115] Afterwards, the battery charging control device (5000) can monitor the SOC of the battery (1000) in real time during constant voltage (CV) charging of the battery (1000) according to the second charging method.

[0116] At this time, when the section to which the SOC of the battery (100) belongs changes to the N+1 section (S560), the battery charging control device (5000) can check the upper limit current value corresponding to the N+1 section based on the charging current map (S570).

[0117] Subsequently, the battery charging control device (5000) can transmit the N+1 charging current value and the first control signal to the charging device (3000) (S580). Here, the first control signal may be a signal that controls the charging of the battery to a charge current magnitude corresponding to the N+1 charging current value according to the first charging method, as previously described. Accordingly, the battery charging control device (5000) can switch the charging method of the charging device (3000) from the constant voltage (CV) charging method, which is the second charging method, to the constant current (CC) charging method, which is the first charging method.

[0118] Afterwards, the battery charging control device (5000) can repeatedly perform steps S540 to S580 until the SOC of the battery (1000) is fully charged.

[0119]

[0120] FIG. 6 is an image of a charging current map according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0121] Referring to FIG. 6, the charging current map in the battery charging control device according to one embodiment of the present invention may be a table map in which charging current values ​​are predetermined for each SOC interval.

[0122] According to the embodiment, in the first section where the SOC is 10% or more and less than 20%, the value of the charging current can be provided as 250A.

[0123] In addition, in the second section where the SOC is 20% or more and less than 30%, the charging current value may be provided as 200A.

[0124] Meanwhile, in the third section where the SOC is 30% or more and less than 50%, the charging current value can be provided as 150A.

[0125] In addition, in the fourth section where the SOC is 50% or more and less than 70%, the charging current value may be provided as 100A.

[0126] Finally, in the fifth section where the SOC is 70% or more and less than 90%, the charging current value can be provided as 75A.

[0127] In summary, the magnitude of the charging current value in the charging current map can be lowered as the SOC range increases. In other words, the battery charging control device (5000) according to an embodiment of the present invention can stably charge the battery (1000) by lowering the charging current as the SOC range increases in order to prevent lithium deposition occurring as the battery (1000) charges.

[0128]

[0129] FIG. 7 is an image of a charging voltage map according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0130] Referring to FIG. 7, the charging voltage map in the battery charging control device according to an embodiment of the present invention may be a table map in which charging voltage values ​​are predefined for each SOC interval.

[0131] According to an embodiment, in the first section where the SOC is 10% or more and less than 20%, the upper limit voltage value can be set to 3.5V.

[0132] In addition, in the second section where the SOC is 20% or more and less than 30%, the charging voltage value can be set to 3.6V.

[0133] In the third section, where the SOC is 30% or more and less than 50%, the charging voltage value can be set to 3.8V.

[0134] In the fourth section, where the SOC is 50% or more and less than 70%, the charging voltage value can be set to 4.0V.

[0135] Finally, in the fifth section where the SOC is 70% or more and less than 90%, the charging voltage value can be set to 4.1V.

[0136] In summary, the magnitude of the charging voltage value in the charging current map can increase as the SOC range increases. In other words, the battery charging control device (5000) according to an embodiment of the present invention can stably charge the battery (1000) by maintaining a high voltage as the SOC range increases in order to prevent degradation of the battery (1000).

[0137] Meanwhile, the charging current map and charging voltage map within the battery charging control device may be provided by being stored in a memory (100) or a storage device (600), and may also be provided as a single charging map in which the charging current value and charging voltage value are predefined by interval based on the SOC, not limited to what is disclosed.

[0138]

[0139] FIG. 8 is a graph for explaining a battery charging control method based on the table of FIG. 6 to FIG. 7 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0140] Referring to FIG. 8, the battery charging control device (5000) according to an embodiment of the present invention can charge the battery (1000) by the charging device (3000) by setting a charging current value to prevent lithium deposition belonging to a specific section (the Nth section) based on a charging current map based on the real-time SOC of the battery.

[0141] Subsequently, the battery charging control device (5000) monitors the real-time voltage measurement value of the battery (1000) and, based on the charging voltage map, if the real-time voltage measurement value of the battery (1000) exceeds a predetermined charging voltage value in the corresponding section (the Nth section), the charging current value supplied from the charging device (3000) to the battery (1000) can be lowered to prevent degradation of the battery (1000). At this time, the battery charging control device (5000) can adjust the charging current value supplied from the charging device (3000) so that the charging voltage value in the corresponding section is maintained.

[0142] With reference to FIGS. 6 to 8, the battery charging control device can determine 250A, which falls within the first section, as the charging current value of the battery (1000) when the real-time SOC of the battery (1000) falls within the first section at 15%, and transmit it to the charging device (3000) along with the first control signal. Accordingly, the battery (1000) can be charged with a constant current (CC) of 250A.

[0143] Subsequently, the status information of the battery (1000) being charged with a constant current (CC) of 250A can be monitored. At this time, if the voltage value of the battery (1000) is 3.4V, which is below the voltage threshold value in the first section, and the SOC reaches 20% and enters the second section, the battery charging control device (5000) can determine 200A, which belongs to the second section, as the charging current value of the battery (1000) and transmit it to the charging device (3000) along with the first control signal. Accordingly, the battery (1000) can be charged with a constant current (CC) of 100A.

[0144] Subsequently, the status information of the battery (1000) being charged with a constant current (CC) of 200A can be monitored. At this time, if the voltage value of the battery (1000) is 3.6V, which is below the voltage threshold value in the second section, and the SOC reaches 30% and enters the third section, the battery charging control device (5000) can determine 150A, which belongs to the third section, as the charging current value of the battery (1000) and transmit it to the charging device (3000) along with the first control signal. Accordingly, the battery (1000) can be charged with a constant current (CC) of 150A.

[0145] Subsequently, the status information of the battery (1000) being charged with a constant current (CC) of 150A can be monitored. At this time, when the SOC is less than 50%, if the voltage value of the battery (1000) reaches 3.8V, which is the charging voltage value corresponding to the third section, the battery charging control device (5000) can transmit a second control signal to the charging device (3000) to maintain the voltage value of the battery (1000) at 3.8V until the SOC of the battery (1000) reaches 50%, which is the fourth section. Accordingly, the battery (1000) can be charged with a constant voltage (CV) to maintain 3.8V.

[0146] Subsequently, the status information of the battery (1000) being charged at constant voltage (CV) can be monitored. At this time, when the battery (1000) reaches 50%, the battery charging control device (5000) can transmit 100A, which is a charging current value corresponding to the fourth section of the charging current map, to the charging device (3000) along with a first control signal. Accordingly, the battery (1000) can be charged at constant current (CC) with a charging current of 100A.

[0147] Subsequently, the status information of the battery (1000) being charged with a constant current (CC) of 100A can be monitored. At this time, if the voltage value of the battery (1000) is 3.9V, which is still below the voltage threshold value in the fourth section, and the SOC reaches 70% and enters the fifth section, the battery charging control device (5000) can determine 75A, which belongs to the fifth section, as the charging current value of the battery (1000) and transmit it to the charging device (3000) along with the first control signal. Accordingly, the battery (1000) can be charged with a constant current (CC) of 75A.

[0148] Subsequently, the status information of the battery (1000) being charged with a constant current (CC) of 75A can be monitored. At this time, when the SOC of the battery (1000) reaches full charge (100%) or the voltage value of the battery (1000) reaches 4.1V, which is the charging voltage value corresponding to the last fifth section, the battery charging control device (5000) can transmit a charging termination signal to the charging device (3000). Accordingly, the charging of the battery (1000) can be terminated.

[0149] In other words, the battery charging control device (5000) can determine the charging current value stepwise based on the SOC of the battery (1000) when the voltage value of the battery does not exceed the charging voltage value defined for each section during constant current (CC) charging, such as in the first, second, and fourth sections.

[0150] Meanwhile, the battery charging control device (5000) can charge the battery (1000) at a constant voltage (CV) by controlling the charging current flowing from the charging device (3000) to the battery (100) so that the charging voltage value is maintained when the voltage value of the battery (1000) reaches a predetermined charging voltage value in the corresponding section, even though there is no section variation based on the SOC of the battery during constant current (CC) charging as in the third section.

[0151] And, the battery charging control device (5000) can transmit a charging termination signal to the charging device (3000) when the battery (1000) becomes fully charged (SOC 100%) or when the voltage value of the battery (1000) exceeds the charging voltage value in the fifth section, as in the last section. Accordingly, the charging of the battery (1000) can be terminated.

[0152]

[0153] Comparison of charging times of batteries according to the experimental example of the present invention

[0154] A first battery in the beginning of life (BOL) state and batteries that have undergone charging and discharging for 460 cycles were prepared.

[0155] At this time, the Capacity SOH (SOHC) of the first and second batteries was 93.1%, and the Resistance SOH (SOHR) was measured as 0% (0.58 mΩ, 10 seconds).

[0156] Subsequently, the charging times according to the SOC of the first and second batteries were compared.

[0157]

[0158] Figure 9 is a graph comparing the charging times of batteries according to an experimental example of the present invention.

[0159] Referring to FIG. 9, when the first and second batteries are charged with a constant current at a charging current value based on SOC, the charging time until the SOC reaches 80% in the initial life (BOL) state is 16 minutes.

[0160] Meanwhile, as a result of charging using the battery charging control method according to the experimental example of the present invention, for the first battery in the initial life (BOL) state, it was confirmed that the charging time until the SOC reached 80% was 15.3 minutes, which is 0.7 seconds faster than when using constant current charging control.

[0161] In addition, according to the battery charging control method of the experimental example of the present invention, in the case of the second battery that has been charged and discharged up to 460 cycles, it took 16 minutes to reach 80% SOC when controlled by a constant current charging method in the initial life (BOL) state. Therefore, the battery charging control method according to the embodiment and experimental example of the present invention can shorten the charging time when charging a battery.

[0162]

[0163] FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a battery charging control method operated by a processor in a battery charging control device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0164] Referring to FIG. 10, a battery charging control device (5000) according to another embodiment of the present invention can check the SOC and temperature of the battery (1000) according to the operation of the processor (200) (S1010).

[0165] According to one embodiment, the battery charging control device (5000) can monitor the status information of the battery (1000) in real time to check the SOC and temperature.

[0166] According to another embodiment, the battery charging control device (5000) may receive status information of the battery (1000) in real time from a separate monitoring device (not shown). Accordingly, the battery charging control device (5000) may check the SOC and temperature of the battery (1000) among the status information received from the monitoring device.

[0167] Afterwards, the battery charging control device (5000) can check a specific range to which the SOC and temperature of the battery (1000) belong, and check the Nth charging current value corresponding to the specific range (S1020).

[0168] At this time, the battery charging control device (5000) can determine the Nth charging current value corresponding to the specific section by using a charging current map in which the charging current value is predetermined for each SOC and temperature section.

[0169] Subsequently, the battery charging control device (5000) may transmit a first control signal to the charging device (3000) along with the Nth charging current value (S1030). Here, the first control signal may be a signal that controls the battery (1000) to be charged with a charging current of a magnitude corresponding to the Nth charging current value according to the first charging method. Accordingly, the charging device (3000) may apply a charging current of a magnitude corresponding to the Nth charging current value to the battery (1000) to charge the battery (1000) according to the first charging method. Here, the first charging method may be a constant current (CC) charging method.

[0170] Afterwards, the battery charging control device (5000) can monitor the voltage value of the battery (1000) in real time during constant current (CC) charging of the battery (1000) according to the first charging method.

[0171] At this time, when the voltage value of the battery (1000) reaches the Nth charging voltage value corresponding to the specific interval (S1040), the battery charging control device (5000) can transmit a second control signal along with the Nth charging voltage value to the charging device (3000) (S1050).

[0172] Here, the Nth charging voltage value can be identified from a charging voltage map in which the upper limit of the charging voltage is defined for each SOC and temperature range. Additionally, the second control signal may be a signal that adjusts the charging current value of the battery so that the Nth charging voltage value corresponding to the specific range is maintained according to the second charging method. Accordingly, the charging device (3000) can charge the battery (1000) at a constant voltage (CV) so that the battery (1000) maintains the Nth charging voltage value by means of the second control signal.

[0173] Afterwards, the battery charging control device (5000) can monitor the SOC of the battery (1000) in real time during constant voltage (CV) charging of the battery (1000) according to the second charging method.

[0174] At this time, when the range to which the SOC and temperature of the battery (100) belong changes from a specific range to another range (S1060), the battery charging control device (5000) can check the charging current value corresponding to the changed range based on the charging voltage map (S1070).

[0175] Subsequently, the battery charging control device (5000) can transmit the charging current value and the first control signal to the charging device (3000) (S1080). Accordingly, the battery (1000) can be charged by switching the charging method from a constant voltage (CV) charging method to a constant current (CC) charging method.

[0176] Afterwards, the battery charging control device (5000) can repeatedly perform steps S1040 to S1080 until the SOC of the battery (1000) is fully charged.

[0177]

[0178] FIG. 11 is an image of a charging current map according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0179] Referring to FIG. 11, a charging current map within a battery charging control device (5000) according to another embodiment of the present invention may be provided as a two-dimensional table map in which charging current values ​​are predetermined for each SOC and temperature range.

[0180] According to the embodiment, the charging current map can be defined to have a charging current value (200A) as the upper limit, and to have a higher charging current value as the temperature rises in the same SOC range, and as the SOC decreases in the same temperature range.

[0181]

[0182] FIG. 12 is an image of a charging voltage map according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0183] Referring to FIG. 12, the charging voltage map in the battery charging control device (5000) according to an embodiment of the present invention may be provided as a two-dimensional table map in which charging voltage values ​​are predetermined for each SOC and temperature range.

[0184] According to the embodiment, the charging voltage map can be defined to have a higher charging voltage value as the temperature increases in the same SOC range, and as the SOC increases in the same temperature range.

[0185]

[0186] Performance evaluation based on battery charging control methods

[0187] First to third batteries having different temperatures were prepared. Here, the temperature of the first battery was measured at 55 degrees, the temperature of the second battery was measured at 65 degrees, and the temperature of the third battery was measured at 62 degrees.

[0188] Subsequently, charge-discharge cycles were performed on the first to third batteries. At this time, during the charging cycle of the batteries, the first and second batteries performed constant current (CC)-constant voltage (CV) charging according to the first and second charging methods using the battery charging control method according to an embodiment of the present invention, and the third battery performed constant current (CC) charging based on a charging current map.

[0189]

[0190] FIG. 13 is a graph showing the capacity preservation of batteries in a charging cycle according to an experimental example of the present invention.

[0191] Referring to FIG. 13, based on the charging current map, the third battery, which was charged with constant current (CC), experienced a rapid decrease in capacity at 350 cycles.

[0192] Meanwhile, it was confirmed that the first battery and the second battery, charged using the battery charging control method according to an embodiment of the present invention, each maintain a capacity of 90% or more up to 400 cycles and 450 cycles, respectively.

[0193]

[0194] The battery charging control device and method according to the embodiments and experimental examples of the present invention, and the battery system including the same, have been described above.

[0195] A battery charging control device and method according to an embodiment and experimental example of the present invention, and a battery system including the same, are charged with a constant current at a charging current corresponding to a corresponding SOC range based on the SOC of the battery during charging, and subsequently, when the voltage value of the battery reaches a charging voltage value corresponding to the corresponding SOC range during constant current charging, the battery is controlled to be charged with a constant voltage such that the charging voltage value is maintained, thereby preventing lithium deposition and battery degradation due to rapid charging and simultaneously shortening the charging time.

[0196]

[0197] The operation of the method according to an embodiment of the present invention can be implemented as a computer-readable program or code on a computer-readable recording medium. The computer-readable recording medium may include any type of recording device in which data that can be read by a computer system is stored. The computer-readable recording medium may also be distributed across networked computer systems, so that the computer-readable program or code can be stored and executed in a distributed manner.

[0198] The operation of the method according to an embodiment of the present invention can be implemented in various forms related to the program, such as a computer program or code itself or a computer program product.

[0199] Additionally, computer-readable recording media may include one or more of volatile / transitory recording media and non-volatile / non-transitory recording media.

[0200] Computer-readable recording media may include hardware devices specifically configured to store and execute program instructions, such as ROM, RAM, and flash memory, and may include, for example, various types of servers located on a network. Program instructions may include machine code, such as that generated by a compiler, as well as high-level language code that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter, etc.

[0201] Some aspects of the invention have been described in the context of a device, but may also be described according to a corresponding method, wherein a block or device corresponds to a method step or a feature of a method step. Similarly, aspects described in the context of a method may also be described according to a corresponding block or item or a feature of a corresponding device. Some or all of the method steps may be performed by (or using) a hardware device, such as, for example, a microprocessor, a programmable computer, or an electronic circuit. In some embodiments, one or more of the most important method steps may be performed by such a device.

[0202] Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and changes can be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described in the following claims.

Claims

1. As a battery charging control device that controls the charging of a battery, processor; and It includes a memory comprising at least one instruction executed by the above processor, and The above at least one command is, A command to monitor the State of Charge (SOC) of the above battery, A command to control the battery to be charged according to a first charging method based on the SOC of the battery, and A battery charging control device comprising a command to control the battery to be charged according to a second charging method when, while charging the battery according to the first charging method, the voltage value of the battery corresponds to the SOC of the battery and reaches a predetermined charging voltage value.

2. In Claim 1, A command to control the battery to be charged according to the above first charging method is, A command to identify the Nth section to which the SOC of the battery belongs, using a charging current map in which the charging current values ​​for each SOC section are predefined, and A battery charging control device comprising a command to control the battery to be charged with a constant current using a charging current value corresponding to the Nth interval.

3. In Claim 2, A command to control the battery to be charged according to the above second charging method is, A command to check the charging voltage value of the battery in the Nth section using a charging voltage map in which the charging voltage values ​​for each SOC section are predefined, A command to monitor the voltage value of the battery in the above Nth interval, and A battery charging control device comprising a command to control the battery to switch to the second charging method and charge it at a constant voltage so that when the voltage value of the battery reaches the charging voltage value, the charging voltage value is maintained.

4. In Claim 1, The above at least one command is, A battery charging control device further comprising a command to control the charging of the battery by switching the charging method of the battery to the first charging method when the section to which the SOC of the battery belongs changes to the N+1 section during the charging of the battery according to the second charging method.

5. In Claim 4, Based on the above charging current map, the charging current value corresponding to the N+1 interval is, A battery charging control device defined as a value smaller than the charging current value corresponding to the above Nth interval.

6. In Claim 2, The above charging current map is, A battery charge control device that further includes a predefined charging current value according to temperature.

7. In Claim 6, A command to control the battery to be charged according to the above first charging method is, A command to identify the Nth section to which the SOC and temperature of the battery belong, based on the above charging current map, and A battery charging control device comprising a command to control the battery to be charged with a constant current using a charging current value corresponding to the Nth interval.

8. In Claim 6, A command to control the battery to be charged according to the above second charging method is, A command to check a charging voltage value corresponding to a specific section using a charging voltage map in which the charging voltage value according to the SOC and temperature of the above battery is predefined, A command to monitor the voltage value of the battery in the above Nth interval, and A battery charging control device comprising a command to control the battery to switch to the second charging method and charge it at a constant voltage so that when the voltage value of the battery reaches the charging voltage value, the charging voltage value is maintained.

9. In Claim 1, The above at least one command is, A battery charging control device further comprising a command to control the charging of the battery by switching the charging method to the first charging method when the range to which the SOC and temperature of the battery belong changes during the charging of the battery according to the second charging method.

10. A battery charging control method for controlling the charging of a battery, wherein A step of monitoring the State of Charge (SOC) of the above battery; A step of controlling the battery to be charged according to a first charging method based on the SOC of the battery; and A battery charging control method comprising the step of controlling the battery to be charged according to a second charging method when, while charging the battery according to the first charging method, the voltage value of the battery corresponds to the SOC of the battery and reaches a predetermined charging voltage value.

11. In Claim 10, The step of controlling the battery to be charged according to the first charging method is: A step of identifying the Nth section to which the SOC of the battery belongs, using a charging current map in which the charging current values ​​for each SOC section are predetermined; and A battery charging control method comprising the step of controlling the battery to charge at a constant current using a charging current value corresponding to the Nth interval.

12. In Claim 11, The step of controlling the battery to be charged according to the above second charging method is: A step of determining the charging voltage value of the battery in the Nth section using a charging voltage map in which the charging voltage values ​​for each SOC section are predetermined; A step of monitoring the voltage value of the battery in the above Nth interval; and A battery charging control method comprising the step of controlling the battery to switch to the second charging method and charge it at a constant voltage so that when the voltage value of the battery reaches the charging voltage value, the charging voltage value is maintained.

13. In claim 10, A battery charging control method further comprising the step of controlling the charging of the battery by switching the charging method of the battery to the first charging method when the section to which the SOC of the battery belongs changes to the N+1 section during the charging of the battery according to the second charging method.

14. In Claim 13, Based on the above charging current map, the charging current value corresponding to the N+1 interval is, A battery charging control method defined as a value smaller than the charging current value corresponding to the above Nth interval.

15. In Claim 11, The above charging current map is, A battery charging control method that further includes a predefined charging current value according to temperature.

16. In Claim 15, The step of controlling the battery to be charged according to the first charging method is: A step of identifying the Nth section to which the SOC and temperature of the battery belong, based on the above charging current map; and A battery charging control method comprising the step of controlling the battery to charge at a constant current using a charging current value corresponding to the Nth interval.

17. In Claim 15, The step of controlling the battery to be charged according to the above second charging method is: A step of identifying a charging voltage value corresponding to a specific section using a charging voltage map in which the charging voltage value according to the SOC and temperature of the battery is predetermined; A step of monitoring the voltage value of the battery in the above Nth interval; and A battery charging control method comprising the step of controlling the battery to switch to the second charging method and charge it at a constant voltage so that when the voltage value of the battery reaches the charging voltage value, the charging voltage value is maintained.

18. In Claim 10, A battery charging control method further comprising the step of controlling the charging method of the battery to switch to the first charging method and charge the battery when the range to which the SOC and temperature of the battery belong changes during the charging of the battery according to the second charging method.

19. As a battery charging system, battery; A charging device that charges the battery by applying a charging current to the battery; and It includes a battery charging control device that controls the magnitude of the charging current provided by the charging device, The above battery charging control device is, Monitor the State of Charge (SOC) of the above battery, and Based on the SOC of the above battery, the charging device is controlled so that the battery is charged according to a first charging method, and A battery charging system that controls a charging device to charge the battery according to a second charging method when, while charging the battery according to the first charging method, the voltage value of the battery corresponds to the SOC of the battery and reaches a predetermined charging voltage value.

20. A computer-readable medium storing a program for executing the method of any one of claims 10 to 18 on a computer.

Images