Battery pack, temperature control method for battery pack, and battery management system

Abstract

A battery pack, a temperature control method for a battery pack, and a battery management system. The battery pack comprises: a control unit, at least two battery modules, and a thermal management system; a power supply circuit is provided between the at least two battery modules and the thermal management system; and the control unit is connected to the power supply circuit, and is used for controlling, when the temperature of a first battery module among the at least two battery modules is abnormal, at least one second battery module other than the first battery module among the at least two battery modules to supply power to the thermal management system. When no battery module has an abnormal temperature, the battery pack normally supplies power to the outside, and when there is a battery module in the battery pack has an abnormal temperature, the thermal management system is started by the remaining battery modules which are not abnormal, and the thermal management system processes the temperature of the battery pack, thereby achieving active cooling when thermal runaway has occurred. Compared with the mode of waiting for natural cooling when thermal runaway has occurred, the method has higher cooling efficiency and safety.

Description

Battery pack, battery pack temperature control method and battery management system

[0001] This disclosure claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202411628977.8, filed on November 13, 2024, entitled “Battery Pack, Temperature Control Method for Battery Pack and Battery Management System”, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This disclosure relates to the field of battery management, and more particularly to a battery pack, a method for controlling the temperature of the battery pack, and a battery management system. Background Technology

[0003] Abnormal battery pack temperatures can lead to a series of serious consequences, such as reduced battery performance and lifespan, battery safety issues, and even explosions and fires. For example, a chain reaction phenomenon triggered by various factors—thermal runaway—can cause a rapid increase in the internal temperature of the battery pack, generating large amounts of heat and harmful gases, potentially leading to a fire or explosion. To prevent the spread of abnormal temperatures within the battery pack, thermal isolation measures are implemented, such as the installation of thermally resistive materials and thermal circuit breakers. When a cell experiences an abnormal temperature, these devices can quickly disconnect the abnormal cell from other cells, preventing heat dissipation and ensuring the safety of the entire battery pack. However, due to the overall good insulation performance of the battery pack, the heat transfer rate between the internal components and the external environment is slow. When some cells in the battery pack experience abnormal temperatures, the abnormal cells can affect the normal operation of other cells. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this disclosure is to provide a battery pack, a battery pack temperature control method, and a battery management system to solve the technical problem of slow heat dissipation during thermal runaway of the battery pack in the prior art.

[0005] In a first aspect, a battery pack is disclosed, comprising: a control unit, at least two battery components, and a thermal management system; a power supply circuit is provided between the at least two battery components and the thermal management system.

[0006] The control unit is connected to the power supply circuit and is used to control at least one second battery module (excluding the first battery module) to supply power to the thermal management system in the event of an abnormal temperature of the first battery module among at least two battery modules.

[0007] In a second aspect, a method for temperature control of a battery pack is disclosed, the battery pack comprising at least two battery components, wherein the at least two battery components have a power supply circuit with the thermal management system of the battery pack, the method comprising:

[0008] In the event of an abnormal temperature in the first battery module of at least two battery modules, at least one second battery module other than the first battery module is controlled to supply power to the thermal management system.

[0009] Thirdly, a battery management system for a battery pack is disclosed, the battery pack including at least two battery components, and the at least two battery components having a power supply circuit with the thermal management system of the battery pack;

[0010] The battery management system is used to control the temperature of the battery pack, specifically in the method steps described in the above embodiments.

[0011] Fourthly, an electronic device is disclosed, comprising: a memory and a processor;

[0012] The memory stores the instructions that the computer executes;

[0013] The processor executes computer execution instructions stored in memory, causing the processor to perform various possible implementations of the first and / or second aspects described above.

[0014] Fifthly, a computer-readable storage medium is disclosed, which stores computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, are used to implement the first aspect and / or various possible embodiments of the first aspect.

[0015] In a sixth aspect, a computer program product is disclosed, comprising a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the first aspect and / or various possible implementations of the first aspect.

[0016] Based on the above technical solutions, a battery pack, a battery pack temperature control method, and a battery management system are disclosed. The battery pack includes a control unit, at least two battery modules, and a thermal management system. A power supply circuit is provided between the at least two battery modules and the thermal management system. The control unit is connected to the power supply circuit and is used to control at least one second battery module (excluding the first battery module) to supply power to the thermal management system when the temperature of the first battery module is abnormal. This embodiment divides the battery pack into multiple battery modules. When no battery module has an abnormal temperature, the battery pack supplies power normally. When a battery module in the battery pack has an abnormal temperature, the remaining non-abnormal battery modules activate the thermal management system, which then manages the temperature of the battery pack. This allows for active cooling in the event of thermal runaway, offering higher cooling efficiency and safety compared to waiting for natural cooling after thermal runaway. Attached Figure Description

[0017] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this disclosure.

[0018] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the battery cell in a battery pack provided in one embodiment;

[0019] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a battery pack provided in one embodiment;

[0020] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a battery pack provided in one embodiment;

[0021] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a battery pack provided in one embodiment;

[0022] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a battery pack provided in one embodiment;

[0023] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a battery pack provided in one embodiment;

[0024] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a battery pack provided in one embodiment;

[0025] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a battery pack provided in one embodiment;

[0026] Figure 9 shows a voltage amplifier circuit provided in one embodiment;

[0027] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a battery pack provided in one embodiment;

[0028] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a battery pack provided in one embodiment;

[0029] Figure 12 is a power supply circuit diagram of a battery pack provided in one embodiment;

[0030] Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of the power supply circuit for M2 to power the thermal management system in one embodiment;

[0031] Figure 14 is a schematic diagram of the power supply circuit for M1 to power the thermal management system in one embodiment;

[0032] Figure 15 is an internal structure diagram of an electronic device provided in one embodiment.

[0033] Reference numerals: 1: Battery cell; 2: Thermal insulation material; 10: Control unit; 20: At least two battery modules; 201: First battery module; 202: Second battery module; 203: Third battery module; 204: Fourth battery module; 30: Thermal management system; 40: First switch; 50: Second switch; 60: Circuit protection unit; 70: Switching unit; 80: Voltage conversion unit; 90: Energy storage unit.

[0034] The accompanying drawings have illustrated specific embodiments of this disclosure, which will be described in more detail below. These drawings and descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the concept in any way, but rather to illustrate the concepts of this disclosure to those skilled in the art through reference to particular embodiments. Detailed Implementation

[0035] Exemplary embodiments will now be described in detail, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description relates to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numerals in different drawings denote the same or similar elements. 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.

[0036] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. The terminology used herein in the specification of this disclosure is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the disclosure. It is understood that the terms “first,” “second,” etc., as used herein may be used to describe various information or data, but these elements are not limited by these terms. These terms are used only to distinguish first information from another information. For example, without departing from the scope of this disclosure, first action information may be referred to as second action information, and similarly, second action information may be referred to as first action information. Both first action information and second action information are action information, but they are not the same action information.

[0037] First, let's explain the terms used in this disclosure:

[0038] Battery cell: A battery cell is the most basic element that makes up a battery assembly and battery pack; it is a single battery cell. It typically provides a specific voltage (usually between 3V and 4V) and has a certain capacity. Battery cells can be cylindrical, square, or pouch-type, and internally contain components such as a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator, and an electrolyte.

[0039] Battery Modules: Battery modules are composed of multiple individual battery cells connected in series, parallel, or series-parallel configurations to provide higher voltage and capacity. Battery modules typically also include an integrated management system (BMS) to monitor and manage the status of each individual battery cell, ensuring safety and consistent performance. Battery module voltages can range from 12V to 1000V, and capacities can range from tens of ampere-hours to hundreds of kiloampere-hours.

[0040] Battery Pack: A battery pack consists of multiple battery components and includes a casing, connectors, protection devices, a cooling system, etc. The battery pack is designed with higher energy density and power density in mind to provide longer driving range and higher power output. It also includes a more advanced management system for monitoring battery status, controlling the charging and discharging process, and providing safety protection.

[0041] Battery Management System (BMS): Responsible for monitoring and managing battery modules to ensure their safe use during charging and discharging. Key functions of the BMS include measuring battery terminal voltage, energy balancing between individual cells, estimating state of charge and state of health, limiting power input and output, controlling charging curves, and isolating battery modules from the load.

[0042] Automotive thermal management systems consist of systems and circuits such as battery thermal management systems, drive system thermal management systems, in-vehicle thermal management systems, and external air thermal management systems. They are used to manage the heat generated during vehicle operation. Specifically, the battery thermal management system maintains the battery module temperature within a suitable range under varying ambient temperatures inside and outside the vehicle through the circulation of a fluid medium. Simultaneously, it can adjust its operating status in real time based on changes in vehicle speed and battery charge, and respond to high and low temperature alarms, thereby improving battery safety and lifespan.

[0043] Thermal runaway refers to a chain reaction phenomenon triggered by various factors. It causes a rapid increase in the internal temperature of the battery pack, generating a large amount of heat and harmful gases, potentially leading to a fire or explosion. To prevent the spread of thermal runaway in the power battery pack, thermal isolation measures are implemented. As shown in Figure 1, thermal insulation material 2 is placed between cells 1. When a cell experiences an abnormal temperature, these devices can quickly disconnect the abnormal cell from other cells, preventing heat dissipation and ensuring the safety of the entire battery pack. In battery pack applications, if a cell experiences thermal runaway, the power supply to the external environment is usually cut off to ensure vehicle safety. At this time, the vehicle's thermal management system cannot operate to remove the heat generated by the thermal runaway cells. The heat can only dissipate slowly through natural cooling. However, due to the battery pack's good overall insulation performance, the heat from the abnormal cell cannot quickly diffuse into the environment during thermal runaway; instead, it diffuses within the pack, affecting the normal operation of other cells.

[0044] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this disclosure provides a battery pack capable of active cooling, a battery pack temperature control method, and a battery management system by adding some control circuitry, without affecting the existing functions of the battery pack.

[0045] The technical solutions of this disclosure and how they solve the aforementioned technical problems will be described in detail below with specific embodiments. These specific embodiments can be combined with each other, and the same or similar concepts or processes may not be repeated in some embodiments. The embodiments of this disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0046] In a first aspect, the present disclosure provides a battery pack, as shown in FIG2, the battery pack includes: a control unit 10, at least two battery components 20 (including battery components 1 to n, n≥2), and a thermal management system 30 of the battery pack; a power supply circuit 101 is provided between the at least two battery components 20 and the thermal management system 30.

[0047] The control unit 10 is connected to the power supply circuit 101 and is used to control at least one second battery component 202 (excluding the first battery component 201) in at least two battery components 20 to supply power to the thermal management system 30 in the event of an abnormal temperature of the first battery component 201 in at least two battery components 20.

[0048] Functionally, at least two battery modules 20 in the battery pack of this embodiment provide electrical energy to an electrical system, which includes a thermal management system 30. The thermal management system 30 manages the temperature of the at least two battery modules 20. For example, the at least two battery modules 20 generate heat during normal charging and discharging. To ensure the safety of the at least two battery modules 20 during normal charging and discharging, the thermal management system 30 manages the heat generated by the at least two battery modules 20. The thermal management system 30 can employ both air cooling and liquid cooling methods to cool the at least two battery modules 20. The thermal management system 30 is part of an automotive thermal management system. Furthermore, when the at least two battery modules 20 are in a cold condition, the thermal management system 30 can also heat them up.

[0049] During the normal charging and discharging of at least two battery modules 20, these modules provide power to the thermal management system 30, which regulates the temperature of the normally charging and discharging modules. However, in the event of abnormal temperatures in at least two battery modules 20, to ensure safety, all external power supply circuits to these modules, including the power supply circuit to the thermal management system 30, will be disconnected. For example, if the abnormal temperature of a battery module is caused by thermal runaway, thermal runaway has a significant impact on the overall safety of the battery pack.

[0050] Therefore, in this embodiment of the disclosure, under normal power supply conditions, there is a main power supply circuit between at least two battery modules 20 and the thermal management system 30, with the thermal management system 30 powered by the at least two battery modules 20. Under normal power supply conditions, the connection relationship between the at least two battery modules 20 can be series, parallel, or a combination of series and parallel. A separate power supply circuit also exists between the at least two battery modules 20 and the thermal management system 30. Under normal power supply conditions, this separate power supply circuit is disconnected, with the thermal management system 30 powered by the at least two battery modules 20. If at least two battery modules 20 experience temperature anomalies, the thermal management system can be powered by other normal battery modules to achieve active cooling.

[0051] For example, under normal circumstances, at least two battery modules 20 provide energy to the outside in series, that is, at least two battery modules 20 are connected in series with the thermal management system 30.

[0052] It should be noted that the battery module division is designed to allow power to the thermal management system 30 from the cells in another battery module should an abnormal temperature occur. Therefore, the battery module division is pre-defined, and the number of cells in each battery module is not limited. For example, a battery module can be 2*1, 2*2, 2*3, or 2*4. Furthermore, since any battery module may experience abnormal temperatures, in the circuit design, any remaining battery module or combination of battery modules can supply power to the thermal management system 30. Considering the operating voltage of the thermal management system, it is typically divided into two battery modules with similar voltage differences to facilitate processing the voltage of the normal battery modules before supplying power to the thermal management system 30.

[0053] Specifically, the first battery module 201 refers to the battery module with an abnormal temperature among at least two battery modules 20, and the second battery module refers to the battery module with a normal temperature among at least two battery modules 20 that supplies power to the thermal management system 30. In the embodiments provided in this disclosure, the battery status of at least two battery modules 20 is monitored in real time by the control unit 10, and the control unit 10 determines the first battery module 201 among at least two battery modules 20 based on the monitoring results. There may be multiple first battery modules 201, but the number of first battery modules 202 cannot be equal to the total number of battery modules in at least two battery modules 20. That is, if the temperature of all battery modules is abnormal, there are no safe battery modules, and therefore, the thermal management system 30 cannot be supplied with power.

[0054] After identifying a first battery module 201 with an abnormal temperature among at least two battery modules 202, the thermal management system 30 is powered by the other battery modules besides the first battery module 201. The number of second battery modules 202 that power the thermal management system 30 can be one or more. In the case of multiple second battery modules 202, the thermal management system 30 can be powered by multiple second battery modules 202 connected in series.

[0055] The battery pack provided in the above embodiments includes: a control unit, at least two battery modules, and a thermal management system; a power supply circuit is provided between the at least two battery modules and the thermal management system; the control unit is connected to the power supply circuit and is used to control at least one second battery module (excluding the first battery module) to supply power to the thermal management system when the temperature of the first battery module among the at least two battery modules is abnormal. This embodiment divides the battery pack into multiple battery modules. When no battery module has an abnormal temperature, the battery pack supplies power normally. When a battery module in the battery pack has an abnormal temperature, the remaining non-abnormal battery modules activate the thermal management system, which then manages the temperature of the battery pack. This allows for active cooling in the event of thermal runaway, offering higher cooling efficiency and safety compared to waiting for natural cooling after thermal runaway.

[0056] In one embodiment, at least two battery modules 20 have a first power supply circuit 1011 between them and the thermal management system 30;

[0057] The first power supply circuit 1011 is connected to the control unit 10. The control unit 10 is used to control the first power supply circuit 1011 of the second battery module 202 to be turned on when the temperature of the first battery module 201 is abnormal. The first power supply circuit 1011 is used to instruct any one of the at least two battery modules 20 to supply power to the thermal management system 30 individually.

[0058] In one embodiment, at least two battery modules 20 also have a second power supply circuit 1012 between them and the thermal management system 30;

[0059] The second power supply circuit 1012 is connected to the control unit 10. The control unit 10 is also used to control the second power supply circuit 1012 of the first battery assembly 201 and the second power supply circuit 1012 of the second battery assembly 202 to disconnect when the temperature of the first battery assembly 201 is abnormal. The second power supply circuit 1012 is used to instruct at least two battery assemblies 20 to supply power to an external load.

[0060] Specifically, the first power supply circuit 1011 of at least two battery modules 20 refers to any one of the at least two battery modules 20 serving as a separate power supply circuit for the thermal management system 30, acting as the second battery module 202, in the event of an abnormal temperature reading. The second power supply circuit 1012 refers to the main power supply circuit for the at least two battery modules 20 when their temperatures are normal, used to supply power to external loads, such as the battery pack in a vehicle supplying power to the vehicle's electrical system. In this case, the thermal management system of the battery pack is considered an external load. The second power supply circuit 1012 is also a normal discharge circuit for the at least two battery modules 20.

[0061] The connection relationship of all battery components in at least two battery packs 20 is uncertain; therefore, the relationship of the second power supply circuits 1012 of the first battery pack 201 and the second battery pack 202 is also uncertain. For example, when all battery components in the battery pack are connected in parallel, each battery component has a first power supply circuit 1011 that supplies power to the thermal management system 30 separately, and a second power supply circuit 1012 that supplies power to all connected external loads. In this case, the second power supply circuit 1012 of each battery component can be a part of the first power supply circuit 1011, that is, the part of the circuit that supplies power to the thermal management system 30 separately.

[0062] When all battery modules in at least two battery modules 20 are connected in series, all battery modules in series form a whole to supply power to all connected external loads. Therefore, there is only one second power supply circuit 1012 for all battery modules, and it is the same circuit. That is, the second power supply circuit 1012 of the first battery module 201 is also the second power supply circuit 1012 of the second battery module 202. Once the second power supply circuit 1012 of the first battery module 201 is disconnected, the second power supply circuit 1012 of the second battery module 202 is also disconnected.

[0063] When one or more battery modules need to individually power the thermal management system 30, a first power supply circuit for one or more battery modules needs to be deployed. This first power supply circuit can be a separate circuit between the battery module and the thermal management system 30, or it can utilize a portion of the second power supply circuit of each battery module. By switching the power supply circuit, the second battery module 202 can power the thermal management system 30. Specifically, a corresponding circuit switch can be deployed on the second power supply circuit of each battery module. The control unit 10 controls the circuit switches, enabling the deployment of the first power supply circuit with minimal additional circuitry.

[0064] When the temperature of all battery components in at least two battery modules 20 is normal, the control unit 10 controls the second power supply circuit of at least two battery modules 20 to be turned on and controls the first power supply circuit of at least two battery modules 20 to be turned off, so as to realize the normal discharge of at least two battery modules 20 to the outside.

[0065] In the battery pack provided in the above embodiment, the power supply circuits of at least two battery components 20 are divided, including a second power supply circuit when the power supply is normal and a first power supply circuit when the power supply is isolated. When the temperature of some battery components in the battery pack is found to be abnormal, the power supply state of all battery components is quickly switched.

[0066] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG3, the battery pack further includes: a first switch 40 and a second switch 50 corresponding to each battery component 20;

[0067] The first switch 40 corresponding to each battery assembly 20 is connected to the second power supply circuit 1012 between each battery assembly 20 and the thermal management system 30, and the second switch 50 corresponding to each battery assembly 20 is connected to the first power supply circuit 1011 between each battery assembly 20 and the thermal management system 30.

[0068] The control terminals of the first switch 40 and the second switch 50 are both connected to the control unit 10. The control unit 10 is used to control the first switch 40 of the first battery assembly 201 and the first switch 40 of the second battery assembly 202 to open and close the second switch 50 of the second battery assembly 202 when the temperature of the first battery assembly 201 is abnormal.

[0069] The first switch 40 is located on the second power supply circuit 1012 of each battery module 20, and the on / off state of the first switch 40 determines whether at least two battery modules 20 (i.e., each battery module) supply power to the outside. The second switch 50 is located on the first power supply circuit 1011 of each battery module 20, and the on / off state of the second switch 50 determines whether the battery module 20 supplies power to the thermal management system 30 independently.

[0070] It should be noted that the first switch 40 and the second switch 50 mentioned in this embodiment are defined in terms of their functions. The control unit 10 controls the first switch 40 of the first battery assembly 201 and the first switch 40 of the second battery assembly 202 to be turned off, so that the first battery assembly 201 and the second battery assembly 202 cannot supply power to the outside world. That is, by controlling the first switches 40 of all battery assemblies to be turned off, the power supply of the battery pack to the outside world is cut off. The control unit 10 controls the second switch 50 of the second battery assembly 202 to be turned on, so that the second battery assembly 202 supplies power to the thermal management system 30.

[0071] In practical applications, after a temperature anomaly occurs in the first battery module 201, the first switches 40 of all battery modules will be opened, thereby disconnecting the second power supply circuit 1012 to protect the battery pack and its load. Then, when the second battery module 202 supplies power to the thermal management system 30, since the first power supply circuit 1011 of the second battery module 202 may overlap with the second power supply circuit 1012, the control unit 10 may need to close not only the second switch 50 on the first power supply circuit 1011 but also the first switch 40 on the second power supply circuit 1012 of the second battery module 202 to enable the first power supply circuit 1011 to conduct. As shown in Figure 4, the battery pack includes two battery modules M1 and M2, which are connected in series. When M1 fails, the first switches 40 of M1 and M2 are opened to stop external power supply. Then, when supplying power to the thermal management system separately, it is necessary not only to turn on the second switch 50 of M2 but also to switch the first switch 40 of M2 from open to on.

[0072] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG5, the battery pack further includes: a circuit protection unit 60;

[0073] The circuit protection unit 60 is connected to the power supply circuit 101 between at least two battery packs 20 and the thermal management system 30.

[0074] The circuit protection unit 60 is connected to the power supply circuit 101 between at least two battery modules 20 and the thermal management system 30 to protect the safety of the power supply circuit. For each battery module 20, a circuit protection unit 60 is provided on its first power supply circuit 1011 and second power supply circuit 1012. The circuit protection units 60 are connected in series in the power supply circuit 101. When the power supply circuit 101 is abnormal, the circuit protection unit 60 can protect the safety of the battery module 20 on the power supply circuit 101 and the external load by disconnecting the power supply circuit 101.

[0075] It should be noted that a single battery assembly 20 typically has two circuit protection units 60, which respectively protect the first power supply circuit 1011 and the second power supply circuit 1012. However, for at least two battery assemblies 20, since there may be overlapping portions between the first power supply circuits 1011 and the second power supply circuits 1012, the two circuit protection units 60 of at least two battery assemblies 20 can be shared, depending on the specific circuit connection relationship of the at least two battery assemblies 20.

[0076] The circuit protection unit 60, the first switch 40, and the second switch 50 can all disconnect the power supply circuit. However, the circuit protection unit 60 does not require the control unit 10 to protect the circuit. The circuit protection unit 60 protects the power supply circuit based on the actual situation of the power supply circuit, such as detecting the current in the power supply circuit.

[0077] Specifically, the first switch 40 and the second switch 50 are relays. The control unit 10 controls the on / off state of the power supply circuit by controlling whether the relays are engaged. The circuit protection unit 60 is a fuse, which can be connected to the relays to protect the power supply circuit. As shown in Figure 6, relay 1 is the first switch 40 of M1, relay 2 is the first switch 40 of M2, relay 3 is the second switch 50 of M1, and relay 4 is the second switch 50 of M2. Fuses 1 and 2 are used to protect the safety of the second power supply circuits of M1 and M2, and fuses 3 and 4 are used to protect the safety of the first power supply circuits of M1 and M2.

[0078] By setting the first and second switches, the control unit can control the on / off state of the first and second power supply circuits with only a few components.

[0079] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG7, the battery pack further includes a switching unit 70;

[0080] The switching unit 70 is connected to the second power supply circuit 1012 of at least two battery packs 20. The switching unit 70 includes a switch corresponding to each battery pack 20. The first end of the switching unit 70 is connected to at least two battery packs 20, the second end of the switching unit 70 is connected to the thermal management system 30, and the control end of the switching unit 70 is connected to the control unit 10.

[0081] The control unit 10 is used to control the corresponding switch of the second battery component 202 in the switching unit 70 to be turned on when the temperature of the first battery component 201 is abnormal.

[0082] The switching unit 70 is used to switch the second power supply circuit 1012 between each battery assembly 20 and the thermal management system 30. The switching unit 70 includes a switching circuit that allows direct current to flow and controls the direction of current flow. For example, the switching circuit can be a bridge circuit. Taking at least two battery assemblies 20, including two battery assemblies M1 and M2, as an example, the bridge circuit includes multiple bridge arms, each including an upper IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor) bridge arm and a lower IGBT bridge arm. The control unit 10 controls the conduction state of the upper and lower bridge arms of the switching circuit to achieve conduction control of the second power supply circuits for M1 and M2.

[0083] In the above embodiments, the switching unit is used to control the conduction and switching of the second power supply circuit, which facilitates control by the control unit. Furthermore, the switching unit can control the current direction. Since the connection of the positive and negative terminals of the power supply needs to be considered, using a switching unit simplifies the power supply circuit of multiple battery modules to the thermal management system.

[0084] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG8, the battery pack further includes a voltage conversion unit 80;

[0085] The input terminal of the voltage conversion unit 80 is connected to the output terminal of the switching unit 70, and the output terminal of the voltage conversion unit 80 is connected to the input terminal of the thermal management system 30.

[0086] The voltage conversion unit 80 is used to convert the output voltage of the second battery assembly 202 into the operating voltage of the thermal management system 30.

[0087] Since all battery components in the battery pack are divided into at least two battery components in this embodiment, when the second battery module 202 supplies power to the thermal management system 30, there may be a situation where the supply voltage of the second battery module 202 cannot reach the operating voltage of the thermal management system 30. For example, when at least two battery modules 20 have four battery components connected in series, if the voltage of each battery component is U, then under normal circumstances, the voltage provided by at least two battery modules 20 to the thermal management system 30 is 4U, and the operating voltage of the thermal management system 30 is also 4U, so at least two battery modules 20 can supply power to the thermal management system 30 normally; however, when the first battery module 201 experiences thermal runaway, one second battery module 202 can only provide a voltage of U. If only one second battery module 202 supplies power to the thermal management system 30, then the output voltage of the second battery module 202 needs to be amplified to drive the thermal management system 30.

[0088] In one embodiment, a voltage amplifier circuit can be constructed using transistors and diodes in a switching circuit to achieve voltage amplification. The voltage conversion unit 80 includes the voltage amplifier circuit shown in Figure 9.

[0089] Specifically, the control unit 10 is also connected to the control terminal of the voltage conversion unit 80;

[0090] The control unit 10 is also configured to determine the voltage conversion parameters of the voltage conversion unit 80 based on the number and / or output voltage of the second battery assembly 202, and control the voltage conversion unit 80 to perform voltage conversion according to the voltage conversion parameters.

[0091] In the above embodiments, the voltage conversion unit processes the output voltage of the second battery module to meet the operating voltage of the thermal management system and ensure the normal startup of the thermal management system.

[0092] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG10, the battery pack further includes an energy storage unit 90;

[0093] The first end of the energy storage unit 90 is connected to at least two battery modules 20, and the second end of the energy storage unit 90 is connected to the first end of the switching unit 70.

[0094] Energy storage unit 90 is used to store energy of a third battery component 203 in at least two battery components, or to release energy to at least one fourth battery component 204 in at least two battery components other than the third battery component 203.

[0095] In this configuration, the third battery module 203 is any one of the at least two battery modules 20, and the fourth battery module 204 is any one of the at least two battery modules 20 other than the third battery module 203. The self-heating function is achieved by controlling the conduction states of the first and second power supply circuits for the third battery module 203 and the fourth battery module 204. It should be noted that the self-heating function is typically triggered when the battery pack is operating normally due to a low temperature, requiring that no battery module in the battery pack has experienced thermal runaway. Therefore, the first battery module 201 and the second battery module 202 represent the division of at least two battery modules in the event of thermal runaway, while the third battery module 203 and the fourth battery module 204 represent the division of at least two battery modules under normal battery pack conditions.

[0096] In one embodiment, the control unit 10 is also used to control the switch corresponding to the third battery component 203 in the switching unit 70 and the switch corresponding to the fourth battery component 204 in the switching unit 70 to be turned on alternately.

[0097] Specifically, when the switch corresponding to the third battery component in the switching unit is turned on, the third battery component charges the energy storage unit; when the switch corresponding to the fourth battery component in the off unit is turned on, the energy storage unit charges the fourth battery component.

[0098] The self-heating function works by using direct current to charge at least two battery modules, generating heat through a large current to warm the battery pack from the inside out. Under normal conditions, if all battery modules are fully charged, it's impossible for one module to charge another. By setting up an energy storage unit 90, energy is stored within the unit, enabling self-heating under any circumstances. Specifically, the energy storage unit 90 includes a coil. When one battery module charges the coil, a magnetic field is generated within it. Subsequently, disconnecting the charging circuit from that battery module to the coil induces electricity within the coil, opening the circuit between the other battery module and the coil, thus charging that other battery module. Since the internal resistance of battery modules is typically high at low temperatures, the charging and discharging process generates a large amount of heat, achieving rapid and uniform heating within the at least two battery modules. The energy storage unit 90 can be a three-phase motor.

[0099] The principle of self-heating is explained below using at least two battery modules 20, including two battery modules M1 and M2, as an example. In the circuit shown in Figure 10, battery modules M1 and M2 are connected in series to supply power. A wire is led out from the connection point between the negative terminal of battery module M1 and the positive terminal of M2 to connect to a three-phase motor. The windings in the motor are connected to a three-phase bridge circuit. The upper arm of the three-phase bridge circuit is connected to the negative terminal of battery module M2, and the lower arm is connected to the positive terminal of battery module M1. It should be noted that the circuit shown in Figure 10 is only for explaining the principle of self-heating. In practical applications, the circuit should also include circuit protection structures, such as circuit switches and fuses.

[0100] In the circuit of Figure 11, the following two states are switched by controlling the state of the switching circuit: (1) Battery component M1 or M2 forms an RL oscillation circuit through the winding in the motor, and the motor realizes the function of storing energy; (2) The motor charges the stored energy to battery component M2 or M1. During the charging and discharging process, the battery component will heat up due to its large internal resistance, which plays a self-heating role.

[0101] The energy storage unit 90 is designed to accept direct current; therefore, the current direction can be controlled via the switching circuit in the switching unit 70, enabling self-heating. Based on the circuitry for active cooling, both automatic heating and active cooling functions can be achieved without adding numerous components or altering the circuit structure, thus better protecting the battery pack's health.

[0102] In one embodiment, the battery pack further includes a data acquisition unit, and the control unit 10 is also connected to the data acquisition unit; the control unit 10 is also used to acquire data of the battery assembly and determine whether the battery assembly has experienced thermal runaway based on the acquired data.

[0103] The data types in the collected data are used to indicate the health status of the battery pack and to measure whether thermal runaway has occurred. Numerous sensors are present in at least two battery modules 20 to acquire real-time data on the status of these modules, such as temperature, voltage, and air pressure. Data is collected for each battery module; therefore, when there are multiple battery modules, there are multiple sets of collected data. Each set of collected data is sent to the control unit 10, which determines whether the corresponding battery module has experienced or is about to experience thermal runaway, and then controls the circuit accordingly.

[0104] The collected data includes one or more of the following: air pressure data, insulation data, voltage data, and temperature data. Specifically, air pressure detection is achieved through an air pressure sensor within the BDU (Brain Pack Disconnect Unit); a change in air pressure exceeding a fluctuation threshold indicates thermal failure. Insulation monitoring is performed by the HVSU (High Voltage Safety Unit) monitoring pack+ and link+ to confirm the voltage difference with the tray ground and determine whether a failure has occurred. Voltage detection is achieved by acquiring the cell voltage difference through an internal data acquisition unit within the battery assembly; an outlier in the battery assembly voltage difference triggers an alarm. Temperature detection is achieved through a negative temperature coefficient thermistor (NTC), which can determine the temperature rise based on current changes; an alarm is triggered when the temperature exceeds a threshold.

[0105] When only one type of data is collected, thermal failure can be determined directly based on that data. If multiple types of data are collected, the number of abnormal data points can be set, and thermal failure of the battery module can be determined when certain conditions are met. For example, if both temperature and voltage are abnormal, thermal failure of the battery module can be determined. Alternatively, the importance of the data type can be considered; for example, temperature data can be used directly, and if the temperature data is abnormal, thermal failure of the battery module can be considered.

[0106] In practical applications, determining whether a battery module has experienced thermal failure by collecting various data from the battery module can not only effectively avoid misjudgments caused by errors in a single data point, but also quickly identify when a battery module experiences thermal failure, ensuring the safety of the vehicle and its occupants.

[0107] In the battery pack provided in the above embodiments, the control unit belongs to the battery management system of the battery pack. The battery management system monitors the real-time status of the battery pack and controls the second battery component to start the thermal management system when a battery component in the battery pack experiences thermal failure, thereby achieving active cooling.

[0108] Based on the above description, this disclosure provides a battery pack temperature management method applied to a control unit. The battery pack includes at least two battery modules, and the at least two battery modules have a power supply circuit with a thermal management system. The method includes:

[0109] In the event of an abnormal temperature in the first battery module of at least two battery modules, at least one second battery module other than the first battery module is controlled to supply power to the thermal management system.

[0110] The method provided in the above embodiments divides the battery pack into multiple battery components. When no battery component temperature is abnormal, the battery pack supplies power normally. When there is a temperature abnormality in a battery component in the battery pack, the thermal management system is activated by the remaining battery components with normal temperature. The thermal management system controls the temperature of the battery pack to achieve active cooling. Compared with waiting for natural cooling after thermal runaway, it has higher cooling efficiency and safety.

[0111] For example, to avoid the hazards caused by thermal runaway of a battery pack, a battery pack is provided to solve the thermal runaway problem. As shown in Figure 12, the battery pack in this embodiment includes a control unit 10, at least two battery components 20, a thermal management system 30, a switching unit 70, a voltage conversion unit 80, an energy storage unit 90, relays 5-9, and fuses 5-6; wherein, the at least two battery components 20 include two battery components M1 and M2;

[0112] The total voltage of at least two battery modules 20 is V-pack, and the at least two battery modules 20 are divided into two battery modules M1 and M2. M1 and M2 are two modules with similar voltage difference. M1 and M2 are connected in series to supply power to the power system. A fuse 5 and a relay 5 are connected in series between the negative terminal of M1 and the positive terminal of M2. The positive terminal of M1 is connected to the external power supply port through a relay 6 and the negative terminal of M2 is connected to a relay 7.

[0113] The negative terminal of M1 is connected to one end of the energy storage unit 90 via relay 8 and fuse 6, and the positive terminal of M2 is connected to one end of the energy storage unit 90 via relay 9 and fuse 6. The other end of the energy storage unit 90 is connected to one end of the switching unit 70; the upper bridge arm of the switching unit 70 is connected to the negative terminal of M2 and to the first input terminal of the voltage conversion unit 80; the lower bridge arm of the switching unit 70 is connected to the positive terminal of M1 and to the second input terminal of the voltage conversion unit 80; the input terminal of the voltage conversion unit 80 is connected to the input terminal of the thermal management system 30.

[0114] During the normal charging and discharging of at least two battery modules 20, relays 8 and 9 are in the open state by default, while relays 5, 6, and 7 are energized, allowing at least two battery modules 20 to charge and discharge normally. Control unit 10 monitors the status of M1 and M2 in real time, using pressure detection, insulation detection, voltage detection, and temperature detection strategies to determine if thermal failure has occurred in the battery modules. Upon thermal failure, relays 5, 6, and 7 are deactivated, ensuring that at least two battery modules 20 no longer supply power to external sources, effectively cutting off power supply from at least two battery modules 20 to all external loads. At this time, due to the deactivation of relay 5, the overall voltage of the battery pack is reduced to 1 / 2V-pack.

[0115] If M1 experiences thermal failure, the control unit 10 controls relays 7 and 9 to engage, and controls the lower bridge arm of the switching unit 70 to conduct. At this time, the current of M2 flows out from the positive terminal, through relay 9, fuse 6, energy storage unit 90, and the lower bridge arm of the switching unit 70, and flows into the voltage conversion unit 80 to supply power to the thermal management system 30. After that, the current returns to the negative terminal of M2 through the voltage conversion unit 80 and relay 7, forming a power supply circuit, as shown in Figure 13.

[0116] If M2 experiences thermal failure, the control unit 10 controls relays 6 and 8 to engage, and controls the upper bridge arm of the switching unit 70 to conduct. At this time, the current of M2 flows out from the positive terminal, through relay 6 into the voltage conversion unit 80, and after flowing through the thermal management system 30, it returns to the negative terminal of M1 via the voltage conversion unit 80, the upper bridge arm of the switching unit 70, the energy storage unit 90, the fuse 6, and the relay 8, forming a power supply circuit, as shown in Figure 14.

[0117] In the above circuit, fuse 5 protects the main power supply circuit of at least two battery packs 20. In the event of thermal failure, it disconnects relays 5, 6, and 7. Disconnecting relay 5 reduces the overall pack voltage to 1 / 2V-pack, lowering the risk of high voltage. Disconnecting relays 6 and 7 prevents the main circuit from conducting. Disconnecting relay 5 alone could cause arcing under vehicle load, and in the event of thermal runaway, the harsh internal environment would reduce the electrical safety distance. Therefore, it is necessary to disconnect relays 5, 6, and 7. Fuse 6 protects the individual power supply circuit of M1 or M2 to the thermal management system 30.

[0118] In a car, the compressor in the vehicle's thermal management system can be started using the voltage output from the voltage conversion unit 80, thereby achieving active cooling. Specifically, when starting the compressor, the voltage output from the voltage conversion unit 80 needs to be connected to the compressor's input detection module. The input detection module performs voltage or power detection on the voltage output from the voltage conversion unit 80, and starts the compressor when the starting voltage is reached.

[0119] Figure 15 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the electronic device provided in this disclosure. As shown in Figure 15, the electronic device 150 provided in this embodiment includes at least one processor 1501 and a memory 1502. Optionally, the device 150 further includes a communication component 1503. The processor 1501, the memory 1502, and the communication component 1503 are connected via a bus 1504.

[0120] In a specific implementation, at least one processor 1501 executes computer execution instructions stored in memory 1502, causing at least one processor 1501 to perform the above-described method.

[0121] The specific implementation process of processor 1501 can be found in the above method embodiments, and its implementation principle and technical effect are similar. It will not be repeated here.

[0122] In the above embodiments, it should be understood that the processor can be a Central Processing Unit (CPU), or other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), etc. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor. The steps of the method disclosed in this invention can be directly implemented by a hardware processor, or implemented by a combination of hardware and software modules within the processor.

[0123] The memory may include random access memory (RAM) and may also include non-volatile memory (NVM), such as at least one disk storage device.

[0124] The bus can be an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, or an Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) bus, etc. Buses can be categorized as address buses, data buses, control buses, etc. For ease of illustration, the buses shown in the accompanying drawings are not limited to a single bus or a single type of bus.

[0125] This disclosure also provides a computer program product, including a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the above-described method.

[0126] This disclosure also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions, which, when executed by a processor, implement the above-described method.

[0127] The aforementioned readable storage medium can be implemented by any type of volatile or non-volatile storage device or a combination thereof, such as static random access memory (SRAM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), read-only memory (ROM), magnetic storage, flash memory, magnetic disk, or optical disk. The readable storage medium can be any available medium accessible to a general-purpose or special-purpose computer.

[0128] An exemplary readable storage medium is coupled to a processor, enabling the processor to read information from and write information to the readable storage medium. Of course, the readable storage medium can also be a component of the processor. The processor and the readable storage medium can reside in an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC). Alternatively, the processor and the readable storage medium can exist as discrete components in the device.

[0129] The division of units is merely a logical functional division; in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, devices, or units, and may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0130] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0131] In addition, the functional units in the various embodiments of the present invention can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit.

[0132] If the functionality is implemented as a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this invention, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or a part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause an electronic device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods of the various embodiments of this invention. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0133] Those skilled in the art will understand that all or part of the steps of the above-described method embodiments can be implemented by hardware related to program instructions. The aforementioned program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. When executed, the program performs the steps of the above-described method embodiments; and the aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as ROM, RAM, magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0134] This disclosure also provides a vehicle that includes the battery pack described in any of the above embodiments.

Claims

1. A battery pack, wherein, The battery pack includes: a control unit (10), at least two battery modules (20), and a thermal management system (30); a power supply circuit (101) is provided between the at least two battery modules (20) and the thermal management system (30); The control unit (10) is connected to the power supply circuit (101) and is used to control at least one second battery component (202) other than the first battery component (201) in the at least two battery components (20) to supply power to the thermal management system (30) in the event of an abnormal temperature of the first battery component (201) in the at least two battery components (20).

2. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein, The at least two battery modules (20) have a first power supply circuit (1011) between them and the thermal management system (30); The first power supply circuit (1011) is electrically connected to the control unit (10). The control unit (10) is used to control the first power supply circuit (1011) of the second battery component (202) to be turned on when the temperature of the first battery component (201) is abnormal. The first power supply circuit (1011) is used to instruct any one of the at least two battery components (20) to supply power to the thermal management system (30) separately.

3. The battery pack according to claim 2, wherein, The at least two battery modules (20) also have a second power supply circuit (1012) between them and the thermal management system (30); The second power supply circuit (1012) is connected to the control unit (10), and the control unit (10) is also used to control the second power supply circuit (1012) of the first battery assembly (201) and the second power supply circuit (1012) of the second battery assembly (202) to disconnect in the event of an abnormal temperature of the first battery assembly (201). The second power supply circuit (1012) is used to instruct the at least two battery assemblies (20) to supply power to an external load.

4. The battery pack according to claim 3, wherein, The control unit (10) is also configured to, in the event of an abnormal temperature in any of the at least two battery components (20), control the second power supply circuit (1012) of the at least two battery components (20) to be turned on, and control the first power supply circuit (1011) of the at least two battery components (20) to be turned off.

5. The battery pack according to claim 3 or 4, wherein, The battery pack further includes a first switch (40) and a second switch (50) corresponding to each of the battery components (20); The first switch (40) corresponding to each of the battery components (20) is connected to the second power supply circuit (1012) between each of the battery components (20) and the thermal management system (30), and the second switch (50) corresponding to each of the battery components (20) is connected to the first power supply circuit (1011) between each of the battery components (20) and the thermal management system (30); The control terminals of the first switch (40) and the second switch (50) are both connected to the control unit (10). The control unit (10) is used to control the first switch (40) corresponding to the first battery component (201) and the first switch (40) corresponding to the second battery component (202) to open when the temperature of the first battery component (201) is abnormal, and to control the second switch (50) corresponding to the second battery component (202) to close.

6. The battery pack according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein, The battery pack also includes: a circuit protection unit (60); The circuit protection unit (60) is connected to the power supply circuit (101) between the at least two battery assemblies (20) and the thermal management system (30); The circuit protection unit (60) is used to disconnect the power supply circuit (101) when an abnormality is detected in the power supply circuit (101).

7. The battery pack according to claim 5, wherein, The first switch (40) and the second switch (50) are relays.

8. The battery pack according to claim 6, wherein, The circuit protection unit (60) is a fuse.

9. The battery pack according to any one of claims 2-5, characterized in that, The battery pack also includes: a switching unit (70); The switching unit (70) is connected to the second power supply circuit (1012) of the at least two battery components (20). The switching unit (70) includes a switch corresponding to each battery component (20). The first end of the switching unit (70) is connected to the at least two battery components (20). The second end of the switching unit (70) is connected to the thermal management system (30). The control end of the switching unit (70) is connected to the control unit (10). The control unit (10) is used to control the corresponding switch of the second battery component (202) in the switching unit (70) to be turned on when the temperature of the first battery component (201) is abnormal.

10. The battery pack according to claim 9, wherein, The battery pack also includes: a voltage conversion unit (80); The input terminal of the voltage conversion unit (80) is connected to the output terminal of the switching unit (70), and the output terminal of the voltage conversion unit (80) is connected to the input terminal of the thermal management system (30). The voltage conversion unit (80) is used to convert the output voltage of the second battery assembly (202) into the operating voltage of the thermal management system (30).

11. The battery pack according to claim 10, wherein, The control unit (10) is also connected to the control terminal of the voltage conversion unit (80); The control unit (10) is also configured to determine the voltage conversion parameters of the voltage conversion unit (80) based on the number and / or output voltage of the second battery assembly (202), and control the voltage conversion unit (80) to perform voltage conversion according to the voltage conversion parameters.

12. The battery pack according to any one of claims 9-11, wherein, The battery pack also includes: an energy storage unit (90); The first end of the energy storage unit (90) is connected to the battery pack (20), and the second end of the energy storage unit (90) is connected to the first end of the switching unit (70); The energy storage unit (90) is used to store the energy of the third battery module (203) of the at least two battery modules, or to release energy to at least one fourth battery module (204) of the at least two battery modules other than the third battery module (203).

13. The battery pack according to claim 12, wherein, The control unit (10) is also used to control the switch corresponding to the third battery assembly (203) in the switch unit (70) and the switch corresponding to the fourth battery assembly (204) in the switch unit (70) to be turned on alternately; When the corresponding switch of the third battery assembly (203) in the switching unit (70) is turned on, the third battery assembly (203) charges the energy storage unit (90). When the corresponding switch of the fourth battery assembly (204) in the switching unit (70) is turned on, the energy storage unit (90) charges the fourth battery assembly (204).

14. The battery pack according to any one of claims 1-13, wherein, The battery pack also includes a data acquisition unit; the control unit (10) is also connected to the data acquisition unit; The control unit (10) is also used to acquire data collected by the data collector and determine whether the temperature of the battery assembly is abnormal based on the acquired data.

15. The battery pack according to claim 14, wherein, The collected data includes one or more of the following: air pressure data, insulation data, voltage data, and temperature data.

16. The battery pack according to any one of claims 1-15, wherein, The battery pack also includes a battery management system, and the control unit (10) belongs to the battery management system.

17. A method for temperature control of a battery pack, wherein, The battery pack includes at least two battery components, and the at least two battery components have a power supply circuit with the thermal management system of the battery pack. The method includes: In the event of an abnormal temperature in the first battery module of the at least two battery modules, at least one second battery module other than the first battery module is controlled to supply power to the thermal management system.

18. A battery management system for a battery pack, wherein, The battery pack includes at least two battery components, and the at least two battery components have a power supply circuit with the thermal management system of the battery pack; The battery management system is used to control the temperature of the battery pack, specifically to perform the steps of the method described in claim 17.

19. An electronic device, wherein, include: Memory, processor; The memory stores computer-executed instructions; The processor executes computer execution instructions stored in the memory, causing the processor to perform the method as described in claim 17.

20. A computer-readable storage medium, wherein, The computer-readable storage medium stores computer-executable instructions, which, when executed by a processor, are used to implement the method as described in claim 17.

21. A computer program product, wherein, Includes a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the method of claim 17.

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