Heating control circuit, heating control system, and vehicle

Abstract

A heating control circuit, a heating control system, and a vehicle. The heating control circuit comprises an input sub-circuit and a driving sub-circuit. The input sub-circuit is configured to receive a first control signal, to be turned on in response to the first control signal, to output a second control signal, and to be turned off in response to not receiving the first control signal. A first end of the driving sub-circuit is connected to a heating member, the heating member is connected to a power supply end, a second end of the driving sub-circuit is connected to a first ground end, and a third end of the driving sub-circuit is connected to the input sub-circuit to receive the second control signal. The driving sub-circuit is configured to be turned on in response to a second control signal, so that a path is formed between the power supply end and the first ground end, or to be turned off when the input sub-circuit is turned off.

Description

Heating control circuit, heating control system and vehicle

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese patent application No. 202411533141.X, filed on October 30, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This disclosure relates to the field of power battery technology, and in particular to a heating control circuit, a heating control system, and a vehicle. Background Technology

[0003] In low-temperature environments, the discharge capacity and charging efficiency of power batteries decrease significantly, thus affecting the vehicle's driving range and driving experience. To address the impact of low temperatures on power batteries, heating films can be used to heat the battery cells, thereby increasing the battery's operating temperature. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this disclosure is to address the following issues when heating a battery with a heating element: if the power of the heating element is constant, excessive power may cause safety problems; if the power is too low, the temperature rise rate will be too low under low temperature conditions, resulting in poor battery charging and discharging performance.

[0005] In a first aspect, a heating control circuit is provided, comprising: an input sub-circuit and a drive sub-circuit. The input sub-circuit is configured to receive a first control signal, turn on in response to the first control signal and output a second control signal, and turn off in response to not receiving the first control signal; a first terminal of the drive sub-circuit is connected to a heating element, the heating element is connected to a power supply terminal, a second terminal of the drive sub-circuit is connected to a first ground terminal, and a third terminal of the drive sub-circuit is connected to the input sub-circuit to receive the second control signal; the drive sub-circuit is configured to, in response to the second control signal, turn on to form a path between the power supply terminal and the first ground terminal; or, turn off when the input sub-circuit is turned off.

[0006] According to the above technical means, after the input sub-circuit in the heating control circuit receives the first control signal and turns on, and outputs the second control signal, the drive sub-circuit turns on. Therefore, the heating control circuit can control the drive sub-circuit to turn on through the first control signal, thereby heating the heating element. In this way, the actual average output power of the heating element can be dynamically adjusted by adjusting the input time of the first control signal, and the actual average output power of the heating element can achieve variable power control from 0 to the maximum power output of the heating element. This not only avoids safety problems caused by excessive temperature of the heating element, but also increases the power of the heating element to improve the heating rate under low temperature conditions. Therefore, the heating control circuit can flexibly adjust the power of the heating element.

[0007] In one possible implementation, the driving sub-circuit includes: a first transistor and a first resistor, wherein the control terminal of the first transistor is connected to a third terminal of the driving sub-circuit, a first terminal of the first transistor is connected to a first terminal of the driving sub-circuit, and a second terminal of the first transistor is connected to a second terminal of the driving sub-circuit. The first terminal of the first resistor is connected to the control terminal of the first transistor, and the second terminal of the first resistor is connected to the second terminal of the first transistor.

[0008] Based on the above-described technical means, the driving sub-circuit in the heating control circuit provided in some embodiments of this disclosure can be turned on in response to a second control signal by setting a first transistor and a first resistor, forming a path between the power supply terminal and the first ground terminal to heat the heating element. Therefore, the heating control circuit has a simple structure and saves costs.

[0009] In one possible implementation, the input sub-circuit includes: an isolation optocoupler, the positive terminal of which is configured to receive a first control signal, the negative terminal of which is connected to a second ground terminal, the positive terminal of which is configured to receive a regulated signal, and the negative terminal of which is connected to a third terminal of the drive sub-circuit.

[0010] Based on the above-mentioned technical means, the heating control circuit provided in some embodiments of this disclosure adopts an isolation optocoupler, which can realize electrical isolation between circuits, effectively prevent interference and damage between circuits, and thus improve the stability and reliability of the heating control circuit.

[0011] In one possible implementation, the heating control circuit further includes a voltage regulator sub-circuit connected to a power supply terminal and to the positive input terminal of an isolation optocoupler. The voltage regulator sub-circuit is configured to receive a power signal output from the power supply terminal and provide a regulated voltage signal to the isolation optocoupler based on the power signal.

[0012] Based on the above-mentioned technical means, the heating control circuit provided in some embodiments of this disclosure forms a high-voltage to low-voltage stabilizing circuit, which can provide a stable voltage for the first transistor. It has a simple structure and can avoid the use of a dedicated isolation power supply module, thus saving costs.

[0013] In one possible implementation, the voltage regulator circuit includes: a transistor, a Zener diode, and a capacitor. The positive terminal of the Zener diode is connected to the control terminal of the transistor, and the negative terminal of the Zener diode is connected to a first ground terminal. The first terminal of the transistor is connected to a power supply terminal, and the second terminal of the transistor is connected to the first terminal of the capacitor and the positive terminal of the output of the optocoupler. The second terminal of the capacitor is connected to the first ground terminal.

[0014] Based on the above-mentioned technical means, the heating control circuit provided in some embodiments of this disclosure provides a stable voltage to the first transistor through a Zener diode, and forms a high-voltage to low-voltage regulated circuit. The structure is simple, and it can avoid the use of a dedicated isolation power supply module, thus saving costs.

[0015] In one possible implementation, the voltage regulator circuit further includes a second resistor and a third resistor, the first terminals of which are both connected to a power supply terminal. The second terminal of the second resistor is connected to the first terminal of a transistor. The second terminal of the third resistor is connected to the control terminal of the transistor and the positive terminal of the Zener diode.

[0016] Based on the above-described technical means, some embodiments of this disclosure provide a heating control circuit in which a second resistor and a third resistor are provided. The second resistor can limit the power in the heating control circuit to ensure that each circuit component is within a preset operating temperature range. The third resistor can act as a voltage divider to stabilize the voltage between the third resistor and the Zener diode, which is beneficial for forming a high-voltage to low-voltage regulated circuit in the heating control circuit.

[0017] In one possible implementation, the input sub-circuit further includes a fourth resistor and a fifth resistor, the fourth resistor being connected to the positive terminal of the input of the isolation optocoupler, and the fifth resistor being connected between the negative terminal of the output of the isolation optocoupler and the third terminal of the drive sub-circuit.

[0018] Based on the above technical means, the heating control circuit provided in some embodiments of this disclosure can control the magnitude of the current in the circuit through the fourth resistor and the fifth resistor, so as to ensure that the isolation optocoupler can conduct smoothly.

[0019] Secondly, a heating control system is provided, comprising: the aforementioned heating control circuit, a heating element, and a controller. The heating element is connected to a drive sub-circuit in the heating control circuit. The heating element is configured as a heating battery, and the battery is connected to the heating element as a power source. The controller is connected to an input sub-circuit. The controller is configured to provide a first control signal to the input sub-circuit in the heating control circuit, the first control signal being configured to control the input sub-circuit to be turned on.

[0020] Based on the aforementioned technical means, the heating control system provided in some embodiments of this disclosure configures the heating element to heat the battery. Therefore, when the battery is under low-temperature conditions, the input time of the first control signal can be increased to increase the actual average output power of the heating element, thereby increasing the heating rate of the heating element and thus increasing the heating rate of the battery, thereby improving the charging and discharging performance of the battery. When the battery temperature is too high, the first control signal can be withheld to stop heating the heating element, thereby stopping the heating of the battery. Alternatively, the input time of the first control signal can be reduced to decrease the actual average output power of the heating element, thereby reducing the heating rate of the heating element and thus reducing the heating rate of the battery, to avoid safety problems caused by excessively high battery temperature. Therefore, the heating control system provided in some embodiments of this disclosure can not only avoid safety problems caused by excessively high battery temperature, but also dynamically control the power of the heating element according to different usage scenarios of the battery, solving the problem of low temperature rise rate of the heating element caused by insufficient power of the heating element during low-temperature heating.

[0021] In one possible implementation, the heating control system further includes a temperature sensor configured to detect the temperature of the battery and send the detected temperature value to a controller. The controller is further configured to provide a first control signal to an input sub-circuit if it is determined that the battery temperature is less than or equal to a first temperature threshold; and to stop providing the first control signal to the input sub-circuit if it is determined that the battery temperature is greater than or equal to the first temperature threshold.

[0022] Based on the above-mentioned technical means, the heating control system provided in some embodiments of this disclosure can obtain the battery temperature in real time and accurately by setting a temperature sensor. This facilitates timely dynamic control of the actual average output power of the heating element, which can avoid safety problems caused by excessively high battery temperature or poor battery charging and discharging performance caused by excessively low battery temperature.

[0023] In one possible implementation, the controller is further configured to continuously provide a first control signal to the input sub-circuit when a first preset condition is met; until the battery temperature is greater than or equal to a first temperature threshold, at which point the provision of the first control signal to the input sub-circuit ceases. The first preset condition includes: the battery is connected to a charging port, the difference between the maximum power of the charging port and the maximum power of the battery is greater than or equal to the maximum power of the heating element, and the battery temperature is less than or equal to the first temperature threshold; or, the battery is discharging to a load, the difference between the maximum power of the battery and the maximum power of the load is greater than or equal to the maximum power of the heating element, and the battery temperature is less than or equal to the first temperature threshold; or, the battery is in a state of neither charging nor discharging to a load, the maximum power of the battery is greater than or equal to the maximum power of the heating element, and the battery temperature is less than or equal to the first temperature threshold.

[0024] Based on the above-mentioned technical means, the heating control system provided in some embodiments of this disclosure can prevent the battery from overheating and causing safety problems.

[0025] In one possible implementation, the controller is further configured to intermittently provide a first control signal to the input sub-circuit when a second preset condition is met; and to stop providing the first control signal to the input sub-circuit until the battery temperature is greater than or equal to a first temperature threshold. The second preset condition includes: the battery is connected to a charging port, the difference between the maximum power of the charging port and the maximum power of the battery is less than the maximum power of the heating element, and the battery temperature is less than or equal to the first temperature threshold; or, the battery is discharging to a load, the difference between the maximum power of the battery and the maximum power of the load is less than the maximum power of the heating element, and the battery temperature is less than or equal to the first temperature threshold.

[0026] Based on the above-mentioned technical means, the heating control system provided in some embodiments of this disclosure can not only avoid safety problems caused by excessive battery temperature, but also avoid excessive average output power of the heating element during battery charging, which would prevent the battery from being unable to charge while heating the battery; or prevent insufficient vehicle power caused by reverse discharge of the battery while the vehicle is in motion.

[0027] In one possible implementation, during the intermittent provision of the first control signal to the input sub-circuit, each provision of the first control signal lasts for a first preset duration, and there is a second preset duration between two adjacent provisiones of the first control signal.

[0028] Based on the above-mentioned technical means, the heating control system provided in some embodiments of this disclosure can dynamically adjust the actual average output power of the heating element.

[0029] In one possible implementation, the first preset duration is t1, the second preset duration is t2, and t1 / (t1+t2)=P×U 2 / R; where P is the average available power of the heating element, U is the voltage across the heating element, and R is the resistance of the heating element. The average available power of the heating element is the difference between the maximum power of the charging port and the maximum power of the battery, or the difference between the maximum power of the battery and the maximum power of the load.

[0030] Based on the above-mentioned technical means, the heating control system provided in some embodiments of this disclosure can dynamically adjust the actual average output power of the heating element to avoid the actual average output power of the heating element being too high, which would cause the battery to be unable to charge when heating the battery; or, when the vehicle is in motion, the reverse discharge of the battery would cause insufficient vehicle power.

[0031] The beneficial effects of some embodiments of this disclosure are as follows:

[0032] (1) The heating control circuit provided in some embodiments of this disclosure can control the drive sub-circuit to conduct through a first control signal, thereby heating the heating element. In this way, the actual average output power of the heating element can be dynamically adjusted by regulating the input time of the first control signal, achieving variable power control from 0 to the maximum power output of the heating element. This not only avoids safety issues caused by excessively high heating element temperature, but also increases the power of the heating element to improve its heating rate under low-temperature conditions. Therefore, the heating control circuit can flexibly adjust the power of the heating element.

[0033] (2) The driving sub-circuit in the heating control circuit provided in some embodiments of this disclosure can be turned on in response to the second control signal by setting a first transistor and a first resistor, forming a path between the power supply terminal and the first ground terminal to heat the heating element. Therefore, the heating control circuit has a simple structure and saves costs.

[0034] (3) The heating control circuit provided in some embodiments of this disclosure uses an isolation optocoupler, which can realize electrical isolation between circuits, effectively prevent interference and damage between circuits, and improve the stability and reliability of the heating control circuit.

[0035] (4) The heating control circuit provided in some embodiments of this disclosure forms a high-voltage to low-voltage stabilizing circuit, which can provide a stable voltage for the first transistor. It has a simple structure, avoids the use of a dedicated isolation power supply module, and saves costs.

[0036] (5) In some embodiments of this disclosure, a second resistor and a third resistor are provided in the heating control circuit. The second resistor can limit the power in the heating control circuit to ensure that each circuit component is within the preset operating temperature. The third resistor can act as a voltage divider to stabilize the voltage between the third resistor and the Zener diode, which is beneficial to forming a high-voltage to low-voltage regulated circuit in the heating control circuit.

[0037] (6) The heating control circuit provided in some embodiments of this disclosure can control the magnitude of the current in the circuit through the fourth resistor and the fifth resistor to ensure that the isolation optocoupler can conduct smoothly.

[0038] (7) In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the heating element of the heating control system is configured to heat the battery. Therefore, when the battery is at a low temperature, the input time of the first control signal can be increased to increase the actual average output power of the heating element, thereby increasing the heating rate of the heating element and the heating rate of the battery, thus improving the charging and discharging performance of the battery. When the battery temperature is too high, the first control signal can be stopped to stop heating the heating element and thus stop heating the battery. Alternatively, the input time of the first control signal can be reduced to decrease the actual average output power of the heating element, thereby reducing the heating rate of the heating element and the heating rate of the battery, thus avoiding safety problems caused by excessive battery temperature. Therefore, the heating control system provided in this embodiment can not only avoid safety problems caused by excessive battery temperature, but also dynamically control the power of the heating element according to different usage scenarios of the battery, thus solving the problem of low heating rate caused by insufficient power of the heating element in low-temperature heating.

[0039] Secondly, a vehicle is provided, comprising: the aforementioned heating control system, and a battery, wherein the battery is connected as a power source to a heating element in the heating control system, and the heating element is disposed in contact with the battery.

[0040] The beneficial effects of the vehicle in some embodiments of this disclosure can be referred to the heating control system of the first aspect described above, and will not be repeated here. Attached Figure Description

[0041] Figure 1 is a structural diagram of a heating control circuit according to some embodiments;

[0042] Figure 2 is a structural diagram of a heating control system according to some embodiments;

[0043] Figure 3 is a control flowchart of a heating control system according to some embodiments during the heating process;

[0044] Figure 4 is another control flowchart of the heating control system according to some embodiments during the heating process.

[0045] Reference numerals: Q1—Input sub-circuit, Q2—Driver sub-circuit, Q3—Voltage regulator sub-circuit, M—Heating element, Y—Power supply terminal, D1—First ground terminal, D2—Second ground terminal, T1—First transistor, T2—Transistor, R1—First resistor, R2—Second resistor, R3—Third resistor, R4—Fourth resistor, R5—Fifth resistor, W—Isolation optocoupler, W1—Zenyl regulator, C—Capacitor, K—Controller, BMS—Battery Management System, 10—Battery, 100—Battery cooling plate, 101—Temperature sensor, 102—Thermal conductive adhesive. Detailed Implementation

[0046] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solutions of this disclosure, the technical solutions in the embodiments of this disclosure will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0047] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," etc., used in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this disclosure are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate so that the embodiments of this disclosure described herein can be implemented in orders other than those illustrated or described herein. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with this disclosure. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatuses and methods consistent with some aspects of this disclosure as detailed in the appended claims.

[0048] In the description of this disclosure, it should be understood that the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "front," "rear," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or relative positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this disclosure and for simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this disclosure. Unless otherwise specified, the above-mentioned orientational descriptions can be flexibly set in practical applications, provided that the relative positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings are satisfied.

[0049] In the description of this disclosure, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "communication" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection. They can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or a connection within two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this disclosure according to the specific circumstances.

[0050] In embodiments of this disclosure, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, article, or apparatus. Without further limitation, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, article, or apparatus that includes that element.

[0051] In this disclosure, the terms "exemplary" or "for example" are used to indicate that something is an example, illustration, or illustration. Any embodiment or design described as "exemplary" or "for example" in this disclosure should not be construed as being more preferred or advantageous than other embodiments or designs. Rather, the use of terms such as "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present the relevant concepts in a specific manner.

[0052] In the description of this specification, specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0053] The related technology discloses a low-temperature battery pack: a heating film is added to the battery pack, and a battery management system (BMS) detects the temperature sensors built into each battery to control the heating temperature. When the temperature is low, the heating film connected in series is used for low-temperature heating, and charging only begins after the temperature rises to a certain value.

[0054] The related technology also discloses a battery charging isolation heating control method: When the battery is charging in a low-temperature environment, the isolation circuit is turned on, and the heating film is powered through the charger. At the same time, the metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET), which controls the on / off state of the battery charging circuit, is turned off, and the battery is not charged. When the battery temperature is heated to a level suitable for charging, the heating is turned off and the MOSFET is turned on to charge the battery. In other words, charging and heating are mutually isolated.

[0055] In low-temperature environments, the discharge capacity and charging efficiency of power batteries decrease significantly, thus affecting the vehicle's driving range and driving experience. To address the impact of low temperatures on power batteries, heating elements can be used to heat the battery cells, thereby increasing the battery's operating temperature.

[0056] The heating element works by converting electrical energy into heat energy using the electrothermal effect. Therefore, if the heating element's power is too high, it may overheat, leading to safety issues. Furthermore, during low-temperature charging, the power of the external charging equipment is limited (home charging cables are typically around 3kW), thus restricting the heating element's power to be below 2kW. If the total output capacity of the charging equipment is lower than the heating element's power, the battery may fail to charge when heating is activated, or the heating element may heat the battery at a rate significantly lower than that of a liquid thermal battery, resulting in slow charging, prolonged low-temperature charging time leading to insufficient low-temperature power, or even reverse discharge of the battery.

[0057] To address the aforementioned technical problems, some embodiments of this disclosure provide a heating control circuit. Referring to FIG1, the heating control circuit includes an input sub-circuit Q1 and a drive sub-circuit Q2.

[0058] The input sub-circuit Q1 is configured to receive a first control signal, turn on in response to the first control signal and output a second control signal, and turn off in response to not receiving the first control signal;

[0059] The first terminal of the drive sub-circuit Q2 is connected to the heating element M, and the heating element M is connected to the power supply terminal Y. The second terminal of the drive sub-circuit Q2 is connected to the first ground terminal D1. The third terminal of the drive sub-circuit Q2 is connected to the input sub-circuit Q1 to receive a second control signal. The drive sub-circuit Q2 is configured to turn on in response to the second control signal to form a path between the power supply terminal Y and the first ground terminal D1; or to turn off when the input sub-circuit Q1 is turned off.

[0060] The heating control circuit provided in some embodiments of this disclosure, after the input sub-circuit Q1 receives and turns on the circuit with a first control signal and outputs a second control signal, drives the drive sub-circuit Q2 to turn on. Therefore, the heating control circuit can control the drive sub-circuit Q2 to turn on through the first control signal, thereby heating the heating element M. In this way, the actual average output power of the heating element M can be dynamically adjusted by adjusting the input time of the first control signal, and the actual average output power of the heating element M can achieve variable power control from 0 to the maximum power output of the heating element M. This not only avoids safety problems caused by excessive temperature of the heating element M, but also increases the power of the heating element M to improve the heating rate of the heating element M under low temperature conditions. Therefore, the heating control circuit can flexibly adjust the power of the heating element.

[0061] In some embodiments, when heating element M needs to be heated, referring again to FIG1, a first control signal can be input through controller K, and the first control signal includes a high-level signal. When heating element M does not need to be heated, no first control signal needs to be input; in this case, controller K inputs a low-level signal.

[0062] In some embodiments, the heating element M includes multiple heating films. These heating films can be connected in parallel, in series, or a combination of both. When multiple heating films are connected in parallel, their positive and negative electrodes are connected separately. This parallel connection ensures that each heating film can operate independently, and even if one heating film fails, it will not affect the operation of the others. Furthermore, the parallel connection allows for adjustment of the power and number of heating films to meet different heating requirements. When multiple heating films are connected in series, the current or voltage passing through each heating film can be strictly controlled. A combination of series and parallel connections combines the advantages of both, improving system reliability and flexibility while also meeting specific current or voltage requirements.

[0063] In some embodiments, referring to FIG1, the driving sub-circuit Q2 includes: a first transistor T1 and a first resistor R1. The control terminal of the first transistor T1 is connected to the third terminal of the driving sub-circuit Q2, the first terminal of the first transistor T1 is connected to the first terminal of the driving sub-circuit Q2, and the second terminal of the first transistor T1 is connected to the second terminal of the driving sub-circuit Q2. The first terminal of the first resistor R1 is connected to the control terminal of the first transistor T1, and the second terminal of the first resistor R1 is connected to the second terminal of the first transistor T1. By setting the first transistor T1 and the first resistor R1, the driving sub-circuit Q2 can be turned on in response to the second control signal, thereby forming a path between the power supply terminal Y and the first ground terminal D1 to heat the heating element M. Therefore, the heating control circuit has a simple structure and saves costs.

[0064] In some embodiments, the first transistor T1 includes an Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT). Since the IGBT is a composite fully controllable voltage-driven power semiconductor device combining a Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor (MOSFET) and a Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT), the use of an IGBT in the first transistor T1 provides advantages such as high input impedance, low drive power, simple control circuitry, fast switching speed, high operating frequency, and low saturation voltage.

[0065] In some embodiments, the first resistor R1 includes a pull-down resistor. Since the pull-down resistor can connect an uncertain signal to the first ground terminal D1 through a resistor, the signal at the second end of the first resistor R1 is fixed at a low level. This ensures that when there is no valid signal input, the second end of the first resistor R1 will not be malfunctioning due to external interference because it is in a floating state.

[0066] In some embodiments, continuing to refer to FIG1, the input sub-circuit Q1 includes: an isolation optocoupler W, the positive terminal of which is configured to receive a first control signal, the negative terminal of which is connected to a second ground terminal D2, the positive terminal of which is configured to receive a regulated signal, and the negative terminal of which is connected to a third terminal of the driver sub-circuit Q2. The isolation optocoupler W includes a light-emitting device (such as a light-emitting diode (LED)) and a light-receiving device (such as a phototransistor or photoresistor). The heating control circuit uses the isolation optocoupler W, and since there is no direct electrical connection between the light-emitting device and the light-receiving device, electrical isolation between circuits can be achieved, effectively preventing interference and damage between circuits, and improving the stability and reliability of the heating control circuit.

[0067] In some embodiments, continuing to refer to FIG1, the heating control circuit further includes a voltage regulator sub-circuit Q3, which is connected to the power supply terminal Y and to the positive input terminal of the isolation optocoupler W. The voltage regulator sub-circuit Q3 is configured to receive the power signal output from the power supply terminal Y and provide a regulated signal to the isolation optocoupler W based on the power signal. Thus, this circuit forms a high-voltage to low-voltage regulator circuit, which can provide a stable voltage for the first transistor T1. It has a simple structure, avoids the use of a dedicated isolation power supply module, and saves costs.

[0068] In some embodiments, the voltage regulator circuit Q3 includes: a transistor T2, a Zener diode W1, and a capacitor C. The positive terminal of the Zener diode W1 is connected to the control terminal of the transistor T2, and the negative terminal of the Zener diode W1 is connected to the first ground terminal D1. The first terminal of the transistor T2 is connected to the power supply terminal Y, and the second terminal of the transistor T2 is connected to the first terminal of the capacitor C and the positive terminal of the output of the optocoupler W. The second terminal of the capacitor C is connected to the first ground terminal D1.

[0069] In some embodiments, the first terminal of transistor T2 is the collector, the second terminal of transistor T2 is the emitter, and the control terminal of transistor T2 is the base.

[0070] In some embodiments, the voltage regulator circuit Q3 further includes a second resistor R2 and a third resistor R3, the first ends of which are both connected to the power supply terminal Y. The second end of the second resistor R2 is connected to the first end of the transistor T2. The second end of the third resistor R3 is connected to the control terminal of the transistor T2 and the positive terminal of the Zener diode W1. The second resistor R2 can limit the power in the heating control circuit to ensure that all circuit components are within a preset operating temperature range. The third resistor R3 can act as a voltage divider to stabilize the voltage between the third resistor R3 and the Zener diode W1, thus facilitating the formation of a high-voltage to low-voltage regulated circuit in the heating control circuit.

[0071] In some embodiments, the second resistor R2 includes a power resistor, and the third resistor R3 includes a voltage divider resistor. For example, the collector of transistor T2 is connected to the power supply terminal Y through the power resistor, the emitter of transistor T2 is connected to the first terminal of capacitor C and the positive terminal of the output of the optocoupler W, the second terminal of capacitor C is connected to the first ground terminal D1, the control terminal of transistor T2 is connected to both Zener diode W1 and the third resistor R3, the other end of Zener diode W1 is connected to the first ground terminal D1, and the other end of the third resistor R3 is connected to the power supply terminal Y.

[0072] In this way, the Zener diode W1 and the third resistor R3 form a voltage regulator circuit, outputting a stable voltage at the connection point of the Zener diode W1 and the third resistor R3. For example, taking a 16V input voltage to the base of transistor T2 as an example, when the voltage at the base of transistor T2 is 0.6V higher than the emitter voltage, transistor T2 conducts, and current flows from the power supply terminal Y through the second resistor R2 into the collector of transistor T2, outputting from the emitter to charge capacitor C, causing the emitter voltage to rise. When the base voltage is 0.6V lower than the emitter voltage, transistor T2 is cut off, forming a regulated power supply of approximately 16V. Thus, the heating control circuit forms a high-voltage to low-voltage regulated circuit, providing control power to the first transistor T1. Therefore, the heating control circuit has a simple structure, avoids the use of a dedicated isolated power supply module, and has a low cost.

[0073] In some embodiments, the input sub-circuit Q1 further includes a fourth resistor R4 and a fifth resistor R5. The fourth resistor R4 is connected to the positive terminal of the input of the isolation optocoupler W, and the fifth resistor R5 is connected between the negative terminal of the output of the isolation optocoupler W and the third terminal of the drive sub-circuit Q2. The fourth resistor R4 and the fifth resistor R5 can control the current in the heating control circuit to ensure that the isolation optocoupler W can conduct smoothly.

[0074] In some embodiments, the fourth resistor R4 includes a current-limiting resistor, and the fifth resistor R5 includes a current-limiting resistor.

[0075] This disclosure also provides a heating control system in some embodiments, referring to Figures 1 and 2, including: the heating control circuit described above, a heating element M, and a controller K. The heating element M is connected to a drive sub-circuit Q2 in the heating control circuit. The heating element M is configured to heat a battery 10, and the battery 10 is connected to the heating element M as a power supply terminal Y. The controller K is connected to an input sub-circuit Q1. The controller K is configured to provide a first control signal to the input sub-circuit Q1 in the heating control circuit, the first control signal being configured to control the input sub-circuit Q1 to conduct.

[0076] In some embodiments, the controller K may include a battery management system (BMS) and a first switch K1. The BMS is configured to input a first control signal, and the first switch K1 is configured to control the switching on and off between the BMS and the input sub-circuit Q1.

[0077] The heating control system provided in some embodiments of this disclosure includes a heating element M configured to heat a battery 10. Therefore, when the battery 10 is at a low temperature, the input time of the first control signal can be increased to increase the actual average output power of the heating element M, thereby increasing the heating rate of the heating element M and consequently increasing the heating rate of the battery 10, thus improving the charging and discharging performance of the battery 10. When the battery 10 temperature is too high, the first control signal can be withheld to stop heating the heating element M, thereby stopping the heating of the battery 10. Alternatively, the input time of the first control signal can be reduced to decrease the actual average output power of the heating element M, thereby reducing the heating rate of the heating element M and consequently reducing the heating rate of the battery 10, to avoid safety issues caused by excessively high battery temperatures.

[0078] Therefore, the heating control system provided in some embodiments of this disclosure can not only avoid safety problems caused by excessive temperature of battery 10, but also dynamically control the power of heating element M according to different usage scenarios of battery 10 (e.g., driving, standing still or charging), thereby solving the problem of low temperature rise rate of heating element caused by insufficient power of heating element M during low temperature heating.

[0079] In some embodiments, the heating control system further includes a temperature sensor 101 configured to detect the temperature of the battery 10 and send the detected temperature value to a controller K. The controller K is further configured to provide a first control signal to the input sub-circuit if it is determined that the temperature of the battery 10 is less than or equal to a first temperature threshold (e.g., 60°C); and to stop providing the first control signal to the input sub-circuit if it is determined that the temperature of the battery 10 is greater than or equal to the first temperature threshold.

[0080] In this way, by setting the temperature sensor 101, the temperature of the battery 10 can be obtained in real time and accurately. This facilitates timely dynamic control of the actual average output power of the heating element M, which can avoid safety problems caused by the battery 10 being too hot, or problems caused by the battery 10 being too cold, resulting in poor charging and discharging performance.

[0081] In some embodiments, the controller K includes a battery management system (BMS) and a first switch K1. The BMS is configured to input a first control signal, and the first switch K1 is configured to control the switching on and off between the BMS and the input sub-circuit Q1.

[0082] In some embodiments, the heating element M is arranged on the battery cooling plate 100 and is connected to the bottom of the battery 10 via thermally conductive adhesive 102. A temperature sensor 101 is installed between the bottom of the battery 10 and the heating element M. The temperature sensor 101 is connected to the battery management system (BMS) via a data acquisition line and is configured to measure the bottom temperature of the battery 10.

[0083] In some embodiments, referring to FIG3, the controller K is further configured to: continuously provide a first control signal to the input sub-circuit when a first preset condition is met; and stop providing the first control signal to the input sub-circuit Q1 until the temperature of the battery 10 is greater than or equal to a first temperature threshold.

[0084] The first preset conditions include: the battery 10 is connected to the charging port, the difference between the maximum power of the charging port and the maximum power of the battery 10 is greater than or equal to the maximum power of the heating element M, and the temperature of the battery 10 is less than or equal to a first temperature threshold; or, the battery 10 is discharging to the load, the difference between the maximum power of the battery 10 and the maximum power of the load is greater than or equal to the maximum power of the heating element M, and the temperature of the battery 10 is less than or equal to the first temperature threshold; or, the battery 10 is in a state of neither charging nor discharging to the load, the maximum power of the battery 10 is greater than or equal to the maximum power of the heating element M, and the temperature of the battery 10 is less than or equal to the first temperature threshold. This can prevent safety issues caused by excessively high battery temperatures.

[0085] In some embodiments, referring to FIG3, controller K is also configured to perform S101 to S107.

[0086] S101, start heating.

[0087] S102, determine whether the battery temperature is less than or equal to the first temperature threshold. If yes, proceed to S103; otherwise, proceed to S106.

[0088] S103 outputs the first control signal.

[0089] S104, continue heating.

[0090] S105, determine whether the battery temperature is less than or equal to the first temperature threshold. If yes, proceed to S103; otherwise, proceed to S106.

[0091] S106, shut down the first control signal.

[0092] S107, pause heating.

[0093] In one possible implementation, referring to FIG4, the controller K is further configured to: intermittently provide a first control signal to the input sub-circuit when a second preset condition is met; and stop providing the first control signal to the input sub-circuit until the temperature of the battery 10 is greater than or equal to a first temperature threshold.

[0094] The second preset conditions include: the battery 10 is connected to the charging port, the difference between the maximum power of the charging port and the maximum power of the battery 10 is less than the maximum power of the heating element M (in this case, the heating element M cannot operate at full power), and the temperature of the battery 10 is less than or equal to the first temperature threshold; or, the battery 10 discharges to the load, the difference between the maximum power of the battery 10 and the maximum power of the load is less than the maximum power of the heating element M, and the temperature of the battery 10 is less than or equal to the first temperature threshold. This not only avoids safety issues caused by excessively high battery 10 temperatures, but also prevents the heating element M from having an excessively high average output power when the battery 10 is charging and the maximum power of the external charging port is insufficient, thus preventing the battery from failing to charge while heating; or, when the vehicle is in motion, the battery 10 reverse discharges, causing insufficient vehicle power.

[0095] In some embodiments, referring to FIG4, controller K is also configured to perform S201 to S207.

[0096] S201, start heating.

[0097] S202, determine whether the battery temperature is less than or equal to the first temperature threshold. If yes, proceed to S203; otherwise, proceed to S206.

[0098] S203 outputs the first control signal for a duration of t1.

[0099] S204, the first control signal is turned off for t2.

[0100] S205, determine whether the battery temperature is less than or equal to the first temperature threshold. If yes, proceed to S203; otherwise, proceed to S206.

[0101] S206, shut down the first control signal.

[0102] S207, heating stopped.

[0103] In one possible implementation, during the intermittent provision of the first control signal to the input sub-circuit, each provision of the first control signal lasts for a first preset duration t1, and the interval between two adjacent provisiones of the first control signal is a second preset duration t2. This allows for dynamic adjustment of the actual average output power of the heating element M.

[0104] In one possible implementation, the first preset duration is t1, the second preset duration is t2, and t1 / (t1+t2)=P×U 2 / R; where P is the average available power of heating element M, U is the voltage across heating element M, and R is the resistance of heating element M. The average available power of heating element M is the difference between the maximum power of the charging port and the maximum power of battery 10, or the difference between the maximum power of battery 10 and the maximum power of the load. t1 and t2 need to be obtained through actual system calibration. If t1 is too large, it will cause the instantaneous heating power to be too high, causing battery 10 to exhibit reverse discharge. If t1 is too small, it may cause the heating control system to fail to respond in time, and high-frequency interference will occur.

[0105] The heating control system provided in some embodiments of this disclosure can realize variable power control of the heating element M to meet the needs of battery heating in high-power heating scenarios, achieving a larger battery temperature rise rate, even better than the heating rate of hydrothermal heating. Furthermore, it can also meet the needs of battery heating in low-power heating scenarios, achieving low-power heating under power-limited conditions and preventing reverse battery discharge during charging heating.

[0106] The heating control system provided in some embodiments of this disclosure can meet the needs of various scenarios such as battery 10 charging, driving, and stationary operation. The heating power can be arbitrarily adjusted, with a maximum power of over 16kW and a maximum temperature rise rate of 2℃ / min for the battery 10, while the minimum power can be below 50W. Therefore, the heating control system can be used for battery insulation in low-temperature environments and can also meet the needs of scenarios where charging equipment is insufficient, such as home charging. By dynamically adjusting the heating power, the heating control system can prevent the battery from undergoing reverse discharge during the simultaneous charging and heating process.

[0107] Some embodiments of this disclosure also provide a vehicle, including: the above-described heating control system and a battery 10, wherein the battery 10 is connected as a power supply terminal Y to a heating element M in the heating control system, and the heating element M is disposed in contact with the battery 10.

[0108] The heating element M is in contact with the battery 10. Referring to Figure 2, the heating element M is arranged on the battery cooling plate 100, and thermally conductive adhesive 102 is provided between the heating element M and the battery cooling plate 100. The heating element M is connected to the bottom of the battery 10 through the thermally conductive adhesive 102. A temperature sensor 101 is installed between the bottom of the battery 10 and the heating element M. The temperature sensor 101 is connected to the battery management system (BMS) via a data acquisition line, and the temperature sensor 101 is configured to measure the bottom temperature of the battery 10.

[0109] In some embodiments, the heating element M includes multiple heating films, which are evenly distributed on the bottom of the entire battery 10, thus facilitating uniform heating of the entire battery 10.

[0110] The above are merely specific embodiments of this disclosure, but the scope of protection of this disclosure is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in this disclosure should be included within the scope of protection of this disclosure. Therefore, the scope of protection of this disclosure should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A heating control circuit, comprising: The input sub-circuit (Q1) is configured to receive a first control signal, turn on in response to the first control signal and output a second control signal, and turn off in response to not receiving the first control signal. A drive sub-circuit (Q2) has a first terminal connected to a heating element (M), a heating element (M) connected to a power supply terminal (Y), a second terminal connected to a first ground terminal (D1), and a third terminal connected to an input sub-circuit (Q1) to receive the second control signal. The drive sub-circuit (Q2) is configured to turn on in response to the second control signal to form a path between the power supply terminal (Y) and the first ground terminal (D1); or to turn off when the input sub-circuit (Q1) is turned off.

2. The heating control circuit according to claim 1, wherein, The driving sub-circuit (Q2) includes: a first transistor (T1) and a first resistor (R1); The control terminal of the first transistor (T1) is connected to the third terminal of the driving sub-circuit (Q2), the first terminal of the first transistor (T1) is connected to the first terminal of the driving sub-circuit (Q2), and the second terminal of the first transistor (T1) is connected to the second terminal of the driving sub-circuit (Q2). The first end of the first resistor (R1) is connected to the control terminal of the first transistor (T1), and the second end of the first resistor (R1) is connected to the second end of the first transistor (T1).

3. The heating control circuit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The input sub-circuit (Q1) includes: an isolation optocoupler (W); The positive input terminal of the isolation optocoupler (W) is configured to receive the first control signal, the negative input terminal of the isolation optocoupler (W) is connected to the second ground terminal (D2), the positive output terminal of the isolation optocoupler (W) is configured to receive a regulated signal, and the negative output terminal of the isolation optocoupler (W) is connected to the third terminal of the driver sub-circuit (Q2).

4. The heating control circuit according to claim 3 further includes: Voltage regulator circuit (Q3); The voltage regulator sub-circuit (Q3) is connected to the power supply terminal (Y) and to the positive input terminal of the isolation optocoupler (W); The voltage regulator sub-circuit (Q3) is configured to receive the power signal output from the power supply terminal (Y) and provide the regulated signal to the isolation optocoupler (W) based on the power signal.

5. The heating control circuit according to claim 4, wherein, The voltage regulator sub-circuit (Q3) includes: a transistor (T2), a Zener diode (W1), and a capacitor (C); The positive terminal of the Zener diode (W1) is connected to the control terminal of the transistor (T2), and the negative terminal of the Zener diode (W1) is connected to the first ground terminal (D1). The first end of the transistor (T2) is connected to the power supply terminal (Y), and the second end of the transistor (T2) is connected to the first terminal of the capacitor (C) and the positive terminal of the output terminal of the isolation optocoupler (W). The second terminal of the capacitor (C) is connected to the first ground terminal (D1).

6. The heating control circuit according to claim 5, wherein, The voltage regulator sub-circuit (Q3) also includes: a second resistor (R2) and a third resistor (R3); The first terminals of both the second resistor (R2) and the third resistor (R3) are connected to the power supply terminal (Y); The second terminal of the second resistor (R2) is connected to the first terminal of the transistor (T2); The second terminal of the third resistor (R3) is connected to the control terminal of the transistor (T2) and the positive terminal of the Zener diode (W1).

7. The heating control circuit according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein, The input sub-circuit (Q1) also includes: a fourth resistor (R4) and a fifth resistor (R5); The fourth resistor (R4) is connected to the positive terminal of the input of the isolation optocoupler (W); The fifth resistor (R5) is connected between the negative terminal of the output terminal of the isolation optocoupler (W) and the third terminal of the driver sub-circuit (Q2).

8. A heating control system, comprising: Heating control circuit according to any one of claims 1 to 7; A heating element (M) is connected to the drive sub-circuit (Q2) in the heating control circuit; the heating element (M) is configured as a heating battery (10), and the battery (10) is connected to the heating element (M) as the power supply terminal (Y); and A controller (K) is connected to the input sub-circuit (Q1); the controller (K) is configured to provide a first control signal to the input sub-circuit (Q1) in the heating control circuit, the first control signal being configured to control the input sub-circuit (Q1) to turn on.

9. The heating control system according to claim 8, further comprising: A temperature sensor (101) is configured to detect the temperature of the battery (10) and send the detected temperature value to the controller (K); The controller (K) is also configured to: If it is determined that the temperature of the battery (10) is less than or equal to the first temperature threshold, then the first control signal is provided to the input sub-circuit (Q1); If it is determined that the temperature of the battery (10) is greater than or equal to the first temperature threshold, then the first control signal is stopped from being supplied to the input sub-circuit (Q1).

10. The heating control system according to claim 9, wherein, The controller (K) is also configured to continuously provide the first control signal to the input sub-circuit (Q1) when a first preset condition is met; The first control signal is stopped being supplied to the input sub-circuit (Q1) until the temperature of the battery (10) is greater than or equal to the first temperature threshold. The first preset condition includes: The battery (10) is connected to a charging port, the difference between the maximum power of the charging port and the maximum power of the battery (10) is greater than or equal to the maximum power of the heating element (M), and the temperature of the battery (10) is less than or equal to a first temperature threshold; or, The battery (10) discharges to the load, the difference between the maximum power of the battery (10) and the maximum power of the load is greater than or equal to the maximum power of the heating element (M), and the temperature of the battery (10) is less than or equal to a first temperature threshold; or, The battery (10) is in a state of not charging and not discharging to the load, the maximum power of the battery (10) is greater than or equal to the maximum power of the heating element (M), and the temperature of the battery (10) is less than or equal to a first temperature threshold.

11. The heating control system according to claim 9, wherein, The controller (K) is also configured to intermittently provide the first control signal to the input sub-circuit (Q1) when a second preset condition is met; The first control signal is stopped being supplied to the input sub-circuit (Q1) until the temperature of the battery (10) is greater than or equal to the first temperature threshold. The second preset condition includes: The battery (10) is connected to a charging port, the difference between the maximum power of the charging port and the maximum power of the battery (10) is less than the maximum power of the heating element (M), and the temperature of the battery (10) is less than or equal to a first temperature threshold; or, The battery (10) discharges to the load, the difference between the maximum power of the battery (10) and the maximum power of the load is less than the maximum power of the heating element (M), and the temperature of the battery (10) is less than or equal to a first temperature threshold.

12. The heating control system according to claim 11, wherein, During the intermittent provision of the first control signal to the input sub-circuit (Q1), each provision of the first control signal lasts for a first preset duration, and there is a second preset duration between two adjacent provisiones of the first control signal.

13. The heating control system according to claim 12, wherein, The first preset duration is t1, the second preset duration is t2, and t1 / (t1+t2)=P×U 2 / R; where P is the average available power of the heating element, U is the voltage across the heating element, and R is the resistance of the heating element; The average available power of the heating element (M) is the difference between the maximum power of the charging port and the maximum power of the battery (10), or the difference between the maximum power of the battery (10) and the maximum power of the load.

14. A vehicle comprising: The heating control system according to any one of claims 8 to 13; as well as A battery (10) is connected to the heating element (M) in the heating control system as the power supply terminal (Y), and the heating element (M) is in contact with the battery (10).

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