Battery management apparatus and method

Abstract

A battery management apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a profile acquisition unit configured to obtain a battery profile that represents the relationship between the voltage and capacity of a battery; and a control unit configured to generate a differential profile representing the relationship between the voltage and differential capacity on the basis of the battery profile, determine a target peak from among one or more peaks included in the differential profile, and classify the type of the battery on the basis of the voltage and differential capacity at the target peak.

Description

Battery management device and method

[0001] This application is a priority application for Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0183869 filed on December 11, 2024, and all contents disclosed in the specification and drawings of said application are incorporated into this application by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to a battery management device and method for classifying types of batteries and managing batteries based on the classification results.

[0003] Recently, as the demand for portable electronic products such as laptops, video cameras, and mobile phones has increased rapidly, and the development of electric vehicles, energy storage batteries, robots, and satellites has accelerated, research on high-performance batteries capable of repeated charging and discharging is actively underway.

[0004] Currently commercialized batteries include nickel-cadmium, nickel-hydrogen, nickel-zinc, and lithium batteries. Among these, lithium batteries are gaining attention for their advantages, such as having almost no memory effect compared to nickel-based batteries, allowing for free charging and discharging, a very low self-discharge rate, and high energy density.

[0005] Since batteries are assembled using methods such as high-temperature bonding, welding, or adhesive application, these joints can be damaged during the disassembly process. Furthermore, the reassembly of a battery after disassembly can lead to significant performance degradation due to deformation of the internal structure, seal failure, or damage to the joints. Moreover, because microscopic damage may occur in the reassembled battery, the risk of fire or explosion can also increase significantly. As such, disassembling and reassembling a battery is practically impossible.

[0006] Furthermore, if the internal composition of a battery is unknown, proper management becomes difficult. For instance, if the internal composition is unknown, charging and discharging may proceed at excessively high rates that are incompatible with the battery. In such cases, swelling may occur, increasing the risk of battery fire or explosion. Therefore, technology is required to determine the battery type non-destructively and to manage the battery in a manner appropriate to that type.

[0007] The present invention was devised to solve the above-mentioned problems and aims to provide a battery management device and method for classifying and managing unknown batteries.

[0008] Other objects and advantages of the present invention may be understood from the following description and will become more clearly apparent from the embodiments of the present invention. Furthermore, it will be readily apparent that the objects and advantages of the present invention can be realized by the means and combinations thereof set forth in the claims.

[0009] A battery management device according to one aspect of the present invention may include: a profile acquisition unit configured to acquire a battery profile representing a correspondence relationship between the voltage and capacity of a battery; and a control unit configured to generate a differential profile representing a correspondence relationship between the voltage and differential capacity based on the battery profile, determine a target peak among one or more peaks included in the differential profile, and classify the type of the battery based on the voltage and differential capacity of the target peak.

[0010] The control unit may be configured to compare the voltage with a preset reference voltage, compare the differential capacity with a preset reference differential capacity, and classify the battery based on the comparison result.

[0011] The control unit may be configured to classify the type of the battery into one of a plurality of batteries based on the result of comparing the voltage and the reference voltage and the result of comparing the differential capacity and the reference differential capacity.

[0012] The control unit may be configured to classify the type of battery as a first battery if the voltage is less than the reference voltage and the differential capacity is greater than or equal to the reference differential capacity.

[0013] The control unit may be configured to classify the type of battery as a second battery if the voltage is greater than or equal to the reference voltage and the differential capacity is greater than or equal to the reference differential capacity.

[0014] The control unit may be configured to classify the type of battery as a third battery if the voltage is less than the reference voltage and the differential capacity is less than the reference differential capacity.

[0015] The control unit above may be configured to classify the type of battery as a fourth battery if the voltage is greater than or equal to the reference voltage and the differential capacity is less than the reference differential capacity.

[0016] The above batteries may be provided in multiple quantities.

[0017] The control unit may be configured to determine a target peak in the differential profile of each of the plurality of batteries, group the plurality of batteries based on the voltage and differential capacity of the determined plurality of target peaks, and for each group, classify the type of battery belonging to each group into one of the plurality of batteries based on the result of comparing the magnitude of a representative voltage and the reference voltage and the result of comparing the magnitude of a representative differential capacity and the reference differential capacity.

[0018] The above control unit may be configured to set usage conditions for the battery based on the classification result of the battery.

[0019] The control unit may be configured to classify the positive electrode type of the battery based on the voltage of the target peak and the differential capacity.

[0020] The control unit may be configured to determine one or more peaks in the differential profile and to determine the peak with the largest corresponding voltage among the one or more peaks as the target peak.

[0021] The control unit may be configured to normalize the capacity of the battery profile and generate the differential profile based on the voltage and the normalized capacity.

[0022] A battery management method according to another aspect of the present invention may include: a battery profile acquisition step of acquiring a battery profile representing a correspondence relationship between the voltage and capacity of a battery; a differential profile generation step of generating a differential profile representing a correspondence relationship between the voltage and differential capacity based on the battery profile; a target peak determination step of determining a target peak among one or more peaks included in the differential profile; and a classification step of classifying the type of battery based on the voltage and differential capacity of the target peak.

[0023] A computer-readable recording medium according to another aspect of the present invention may store a program for executing a battery management method.

[0024] According to one aspect of the present invention, the battery management device has the advantage of being able to non-destructively classify the type of battery based on the charge and discharge information of the battery, even when the type of battery is unknown.

[0025] The effects of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other unmentioned effects will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description in the claims.

[0026] The following drawings attached to this specification serve to further enhance understanding of the technical concept of the invention in conjunction with the detailed description of the invention set forth below; therefore, the invention should not be interpreted as being limited only to the matters described in such drawings.

[0027] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a battery management device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a battery profile according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a differential profile according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the classification results of a battery according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the classification results of a plurality of batteries according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a normalization profile according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a battery management method according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] Terms and words used in this specification and claims should not be interpreted as being limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, but should be interpreted in a meaning and concept consistent with the technical spirit of the invention, based on the principle that the inventor can appropriately define the concept of the terms to best describe his invention.

[0036] Therefore, the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations illustrated in the drawings are merely the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent all of the technical ideas of the present invention; thus, it should be understood that various equivalents and modifications that can replace them may exist at the time of filing this application.

[0037] In addition, in describing the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of related known components or functions may obscure the essence of the invention, such detailed description is omitted.

[0038] Terms including ordinal numbers, such as first, second, etc., are used for the purpose of distinguishing one of the various components from the rest, and are not used to limit the components by such terms.

[0039] Throughout the specification, when a part is described as "including" a certain component, this means that, unless specifically stated otherwise, it does not exclude other components but may include additional components.

[0040] Additionally, throughout the specification, when it is said that a part is "connected" to another part, this includes not only cases where they are "directly connected," but also cases where they are "indirectly connected" with other components in between.

[0041]

[0042] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0043] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a battery management device (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] Referring to FIG. 1, the battery management device (100) may include a profile acquisition unit (110) and a control unit (120).

[0045] The profile acquisition unit (110) may be configured to acquire a battery profile (BP) that indicates the corresponding relationship between the voltage and capacity of the battery.

[0046] Here, a battery refers to a single, independent cell that is physically separable and equipped with a negative terminal and a positive terminal. For example, a lithium-ion battery or a lithium-polymer battery may be considered a battery. Additionally, the battery may be of the cylindrical, prismatic, or pouch type. Furthermore, a battery may refer to a battery bank, battery module, or battery pack in which multiple cells are connected in series and / or parallel. For the sake of convenience of explanation, the term "battery" below is described as referring to a single, independent cell.

[0047] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a battery profile (BP) according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the battery profile (BP) may be represented as an XY graph in which the X-axis is set as capacity (Q) and the Y-axis is set as voltage (V). However, it should be noted that the battery profile (BP) of FIG. 2 is represented in the form of a graph only for convenience of explanation, and there are no restrictions on the format in which the battery profile (BP) is represented as long as a corresponding relationship between the battery capacity and voltage is shown.

[0048] In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the battery profile (BP) is generated during the process of charging the battery until its capacity reaches Qf from Qi. That is, the voltage and capacity at the start of charging the battery are Vi and Qi, and the voltage and capacity at the end of charging are Vf and Qf.

[0049] For example, there is no specific limit on the C-rate during charging or discharging for generating a battery profile (BP). However, preferably, to obtain a more accurate battery profile (BP), the battery must be charged or discharged at a low rate. For example, a battery profile (BP) can be generated during the process of charging or discharging the battery at 0.05C.

[0050] For example, the profile acquisition unit (110) may be connected via wired and / or wireless means to enable communication with the outside. And, the profile acquisition unit (110) can acquire a battery profile (BP) by receiving a battery profile (BP) from the outside.

[0051] As another example, the profile acquisition unit (110) can be electrically connected to the battery to directly measure the voltage and current of the battery. Then, the profile acquisition unit (110) can calculate the capacity of the battery based on the measured current. The profile acquisition unit (110) can generate a battery profile (BP) to show the correspondence between the measured voltage and the calculated capacity. That is, the profile acquisition unit (110) can acquire the battery profile (BP) by directly generating the battery profile (BP).

[0052] The profile acquisition unit (110) can be connected to the control unit (120) so as to be able to communicate with it. For example, the profile acquisition unit (110) can be connected to the control unit (120) via wired and / or wireless connections. The profile acquisition unit can transmit the acquired battery profile (BP) to the control unit (120).

[0053] The control unit (120) can be configured to generate a differential profile (DP) representing the corresponding relationship between voltage and differential capacity based on the battery profile (BP).

[0054] Here, the differential capacity is expressed as "dQ / dV" or "dQdV" and represents the value obtained by differentiating the capacity (Q) with respect to the voltage (V). That is, the differential capacity can be described as the instantaneous rate of change of the capacity (Q) with respect to the voltage (V). The control unit (120) can generate a differential profile (DP) representing the correspondence between the voltage (V) and the differential capacity (dQdV) of the battery by differentiating the battery profile (BP) with respect to the voltage.

[0055] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a differential profile (DP) according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the differential profile (DP) may be represented as an XY graph in which the X-axis is set as voltage (V) and the Y-axis is set as differential capacity (dQdV). However, it should be noted that the differential profile (DP) of FIG. 3 is represented in the form of a graph only for convenience of explanation, and there are no restrictions on the format in which the differential profile (DP) is represented as long as a corresponding relationship between the voltage and differential capacity of the battery is shown.

[0056] The control unit (120) may be configured to determine a target peak (tp) among one or more peaks included in the differential profile (DP).

[0057] Here, the peak is the point in the derivative profile (DP) where the instantaneous rate of change is zero, and the slope of the derivative profile (DP) can change from positive to negative with respect to the peak. In other words, the peak represents a maximum point included in the derivative profile (DP).

[0058] Specifically, the control unit (120) may be configured to determine one or more peaks in the differential profile (DP).

[0059] Generally, the battery profile (BP) is a curve containing multiple inflection points. And, the inflection points of the battery profile (BP) correspond to the maximum or minimum points of the differential profile (DP). That is, the differential profile (DP) may contain at least one maximum and one minimum point. As previously explained, since the maximum point of the differential profile (DP) is defined as a peak, the control unit (120) can determine one or more peaks included in the differential profile (DP).

[0060] In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the control unit (120) can determine the first peak (p1), the second peak (p2), the third peak (p3), and the fourth peak (p4) in the differential profile (DP).

[0061] And, the control unit (120) can be configured to determine the peak with the largest corresponding voltage among one or more peaks as the target peak (tp).

[0062] Specifically, the control unit (120) can determine the peak with the largest corresponding voltage among one or more peaks included in the differential profile (DP) as the target peak (tp). That is, the control unit (120) can determine the peak located at the highest potential side among one or more peaks as the target peak (tp).

[0063] In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the control unit (120) can determine the fourth peak (p4) as the target peak (tp).

[0064] The control unit (120) can be configured to classify the type of battery based on the voltage and differential capacity of the target peak (tp).

[0065] The control unit (120) can be configured to compare the voltage with a preset reference voltage (Vr), and the control unit (120) can be configured to compare the differential capacity with a preset reference differential capacity (dQdVr).

[0066] Specifically, the control unit (120) may be configured to classify the type of battery into one of a plurality of batteries based on the result of comparing the voltage and the reference voltage (Vr) and the result of comparing the differential capacity and the reference differential capacity (dQdVr).

[0067] Here, the reference voltage (Vr) is a first reference value set to classify the type of battery. Specifically, the reference voltage (Vr) can be set from a reference battery for each type of battery being classified.

[0068] For example, it is assumed that the first to fourth reference batteries are different types of batteries. The reference voltage (Vr) can be set to a voltage that can distinguish the first to fourth reference batteries from at least one other based on the voltage of the target peak (tp) of the first to fourth reference batteries.

[0069] In one embodiment, a reference voltage (Vr) may be set so that the first to fourth reference batteries can be divided and separated. For example, the reference voltage (Vr) may be set such that the voltage of the target peak (tp) of the first and fourth reference batteries is less than the reference voltage (Vr), and the voltage of the target peak (tp) of the second and third reference batteries is greater than or equal to the reference voltage (Vr).

[0070] In another embodiment, a plurality of reference voltages (Vr) may be set so that the voltages of the target peaks (tp) of the first to fourth reference batteries can be distinguished. In this case, the types of batteries that can be classified may be increased compared to the preceding embodiment.

[0071] Additionally, the reference differential capacity (dQdVr) is a second reference value set to classify the type of battery. Specifically, the reference differential capacity (dQdVr) can be set from a reference battery for each type of battery to which it is classified.

[0072] For example, it is assumed that the first to fourth reference batteries are different types of batteries. The reference differential capacity (dQdVr) can be set as a differential capacity capable of distinguishing the first to fourth reference batteries into at least one or more based on the differential capacity of the target peak (tp) of the first to fourth reference batteries.

[0073] In one embodiment, a reference differential capacity (dQdVr) may be set so that the first to fourth reference batteries can be allocated and distinguished. For example, the reference differential capacity (dQdVr) may be set such that the differential capacity of the target peak (tp) of the first and second reference batteries is greater than or equal to the reference differential capacity (dQdVr), and the differential capacity of the target peak (tp) of the third and fourth reference batteries is less than the reference differential capacity (dQdVr).

[0074] In another embodiment, a plurality of reference differential capacities (dQdVr) may be set so that the differential capacities of the target peak (tp) of the first to fourth reference batteries can each be distinguished. In this case, the types of batteries that can be classified may be increased compared to the preceding embodiment.

[0075] That is, the reference voltage (Vr) and the reference differential capacity (dQdVr) can be set to distinguish the first to fourth reference batteries, respectively. For example, the first and fourth reference batteries and the second and third reference batteries can be distinguished based on their relative relationship with the reference voltage (Vr). Additionally, the first and second reference batteries and the third and fourth reference batteries can be distinguished based on their relative relationship with the reference differential capacity (dQdVr). Consequently, by considering both the relative relationship with the reference voltage (Vr) and the reference differential capacity (dQdVr), the first to fourth reference batteries can be distinguished.

[0076] The control unit (120) can determine which of the first to fourth reference batteries a battery is classified into based on the result of comparing the voltage of the battery's target peak (tp) with the reference voltage (Vr) and the result of comparing the differential capacity of the battery's target peak (tp) with the reference differential capacity (dQdVr). Additionally, the control unit (120) can classify the type of battery into the corresponding reference battery among the first to fourth reference batteries based on the classification result.

[0077] A battery management device (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention can determine a reference battery corresponding to a battery among a plurality of reference batteries based on the voltage and differential capacity of a target peak (tp), and classify the type of battery to correspond to the determined reference battery. That is, the battery management device (100) has the advantage of being able to classify the type of battery based on the charge / discharge information of the battery even when the type of battery is unknown.

[0078]

[0079] Meanwhile, the control unit (120) provided in the battery management device (100) may optionally include a processor, an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit), another chipset, a logic circuit, a register, a communication modem, a data processing device, etc., known in the art, to execute various control logics performed in the present invention. Additionally, when the control logic is implemented in software, the control unit (120) may be implemented as a set of program modules. At this time, the program modules may be stored in memory and executed by the control unit (120). The memory may be located inside or outside the control unit (120) and may be connected to the control unit (120) by various well-known means.

[0080] Additionally, the battery management device (100) may further include a storage unit (130). The storage unit (130) may store data or programs necessary for each component of the battery management device (100) to perform operations and functions, or data generated during the process of performing operations and functions. The storage unit (130) is not subject to any special restrictions on its type as long as it is a known information storage means capable of recording, erasing, updating, and reading data. As an example, the information storage means may include RAM, flash memory, ROM, EEPROM, registers, etc. Additionally, the storage unit (130) may store program codes that define processes executable by each component of the battery management device (100).

[0081] For example, the storage unit (130) can store information such as a battery profile (BP), a differential profile (DP), a reference voltage (Vr), and a reference differential capacity (dQdVr).

[0082]

[0083] The control unit (120) can be configured to classify the positive electrode type of the battery based on the voltage and differential capacity of the target peak (tp).

[0084] For example, the first to fourth reference batteries may each be configured to have different types of positive electrodes.

[0085] The first to third reference batteries are NCM batteries that use an oxide containing nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), and manganese (Mn) as the cathode material. Specifically, the first to third reference batteries can be classified according to their nickel content.

[0086] The first reference battery is a low nickel battery with a nickel content of less than about 60% or a mid nickel battery with a nickel content of more than about 60% and less than 70%.

[0087] The second reference battery is a high-nickel battery with a nickel content of about 70% or more.

[0088] The third reference battery is a high-voltage mid-nickel battery with a nickel content of approximately 60% or more and less than 70%. Here, the high-voltage mid-nickel battery is a battery in which the nickel content is similar to that of a mid-nickel battery, but special treatments are applied to the electrolyte and cathode material for high output and high capacity. For example, the high-voltage mid-nickel battery differs from the mid-nickel battery in that it contains an electrolyte that is robust to high voltage and uses cathode material particles (single particles) made of a single crystal.

[0089] Reference Battery No. 4 is a manganese-rich (Mn-rich) battery that uses a cathode material consisting of a mixture of nickel-manganese oxide and lithium-manganese oxide with a high manganese content. Manganese-rich batteries have the advantage of being able to operate stably even at high voltages due to the structural stability of manganese.

[0090] The control unit (120) may be configured to classify the type of battery as a first battery if the voltage is less than the reference voltage (Vr) and the differential capacity is greater than or equal to the reference differential capacity (dQdVr). That is, the control unit (120) may classify the type of battery as a first battery corresponding to the first reference battery. For example, if the voltage of the target peak (tp) of the battery is less than the reference voltage (Vr) and the differential capacity of the target peak (tp) is greater than or equal to the reference differential capacity (dQdVr), the control unit (120) may classify the battery as a low nickel battery or a mid nickel battery.

[0091] The control unit (120) may be configured to classify the type of battery as a second battery if the voltage is greater than or equal to the reference voltage (Vr) and the differential capacity is greater than or equal to the reference differential capacity (dQdVr). That is, the control unit (120) may classify the type of battery as a second battery corresponding to the second reference battery. For example, if the voltage of the battery's target peak (tp) is greater than or equal to the reference voltage (Vr) and the differential capacity of the target peak (tp) is greater than or equal to the reference differential capacity (dQdVr), the control unit (120) may classify the battery as a high-nickel battery.

[0092] The control unit (120) may be configured to classify the type of battery as a third battery if the voltage is greater than or equal to the reference voltage (Vr) and the differential capacity is less than the reference differential capacity (dQdVr). That is, the control unit (120) may classify the type of battery as a third battery corresponding to the third reference battery. For example, if the voltage of the battery's target peak (tp) is greater than or equal to the reference voltage (Vr) and the differential capacity of the target peak (tp) is less than the reference differential capacity (dQdVr), the control unit (120) may classify the battery as a high-voltage mid-nickel battery.

[0093] The control unit (120) may be configured to classify the type of battery as a fourth battery if the voltage is less than the reference voltage (Vr) and the differential capacity is less than the reference differential capacity (dQdVr). That is, the control unit (120) may classify the type of battery as a fourth battery corresponding to the fourth reference battery. For example, if the voltage of the battery's target peak (tp) is less than the reference voltage (Vr) and the differential capacity of the target peak (tp) is less than the reference differential capacity (dQdVr), the control unit (120) may classify the battery as a manganese-rich battery.

[0094] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the classification results of a battery according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the voltage (Vt) of the target peak (tp) of the battery is greater than or equal to the reference voltage (Vr), and the differential capacity (dQdVt) of the target peak (tp) is greater than or equal to the reference differential capacity (dQdVr). Accordingly, the control unit (120) can classify the type of battery as a second battery. For example, the control unit (120) can classify the battery as a high-nickel battery.

[0095] An unknown battery is a battery whose chemical composition is unclear, and may be, for example, a battery recovered for reuse. If such an unknown battery is charged or discharged using a preset charge / discharge protocol, it may be overcharged or overdischarged because the chemical composition of the unknown battery is not taken into account. In other words, if the unknown battery is used without identifying its chemical composition, the likelihood of unexpected accidents such as ignition and explosion increases significantly. Furthermore, since the charging and discharging of the unknown battery is not properly controlled, there is a problem of reduced charge / discharge efficiency and reduced cycle life. Therefore, since the battery management device (100) can classify the type of unknown battery using a non-destructive method, the utility value of the unknown battery can be significantly increased according to the battery management device (100).

[0096]

[0097] In another embodiment, multiple batteries may be provided.

[0098] The control unit (120) can be configured to determine a target peak (tp) in each of the differential profiles (DP) of a plurality of batteries.

[0099] Specifically, the profile acquisition unit (110) can receive a battery profile (BP) for each of a plurality of batteries. Then, the control unit (120) can generate a plurality of differential profiles (DP) based on the plurality of battery profiles (BP). The control unit (120) can determine a plurality of peaks in each differential profile (DP) and determine the peak with the largest corresponding voltage among the determined plurality of peaks as the target peak (tp).

[0100] For example, when the profile acquisition unit (110) acquires n battery profiles (BP), the control unit (120) can generate n differential profiles (DP). Then, the control unit (120) can determine a target peak (tp) in each of the n differential profiles (DP). That is, there are a total of n determined target peaks (tp).

[0101] The control unit (120) may be configured to group multiple batteries based on the voltage and differential capacity of a plurality of determined target peaks (tp).

[0102] The control unit (120) can classify a plurality of target peaks (tp) according to voltage and differential capacitance.

[0103] For example, the control unit (120) can determine a quadrant based on the number of preset reference voltages (Vr) and reference derivative capacities (dQdVr). Then, the control unit (120) can group multiple batteries by checking the distribution of multiple target peaks (tp) based on the determined quadrant.

[0104] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the classification results of a plurality of batteries according to an embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a scatter plot of a plurality of batteries.

[0105] In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the control unit (120) can determine a first area (①), a second area (②), a third area (③), and a fourth area (④). The control unit (120) can set the batteries belonging to the first area (①) as a first group (G1) and the batteries belonging to the second area (②) as a second group (G2). Additionally, the control unit (120) can set the batteries belonging to the third area (③) as a third group (G3) and the batteries belonging to the fourth area (④) as a fourth group (G4).

[0106] As another example, the control unit (120) can group multiple batteries using a preset classification model. Here, the classification model is a model preset for grouping multiple batteries and may be a model to which various clustering techniques are applied. For example, the classification model may apply K-means clustering, DBSCAN (Density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise), or Hierarchical clustering.

[0107] The control unit (120) may be configured to classify the type of battery belonging to each group into one of a plurality of batteries based on the result of comparing the magnitude of a representative voltage and a reference voltage (Vr) and the result of comparing the magnitude of a representative differential capacity and a reference differential capacity (dQdVr) for each group.

[0108] Specifically, the control unit (120) can determine a representative voltage and a representative differential capacity for each group in order to classify the types of batteries belonging to each group. For example, the control unit (120) can determine the average voltage of one or more batteries belonging to each group as the representative voltage of that group. Likewise, the control unit (120) can determine the average differential capacity of one or more batteries belonging to each group as the representative differential capacity of that group.

[0109] And, the control unit (120) can compare the representative voltage of each group with the reference voltage (Vr) and compare the representative derivative capacity with the reference derivative capacity (dQdVr).

[0110] In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the representative voltage of the first group (G1) is less than the reference voltage (Vr), and the representative differential capacity of the first group (G1) is greater than or equal to the reference differential capacity (dQdVr). Accordingly, the control unit (120) can classify the batteries belonging to the first group (G1) as the first batteries. That is, the batteries belonging to the first group (G1) can be classified as low-nickel batteries or mid-nickel batteries.

[0111] The representative voltage of the second group (G2) is greater than or equal to the reference voltage (Vr), and the representative differential capacity of the second group (G2) is greater than or equal to the reference differential capacity (dQdVr). Therefore, the control unit (120) can classify the batteries belonging to the second group (G2) as the second batteries. That is, the batteries belonging to the second group (G2) can be classified as high-nickel batteries.

[0112] The representative voltage of the third group (G3) is greater than or equal to the reference voltage (Vr), and the representative differential capacity of the third group (G3) is less than the reference differential capacity (dQdVr). Therefore, the control unit (120) can classify the batteries belonging to the third group (G3) as third batteries. That is, the batteries belonging to the third group (G3) can be classified as high-voltage mid-nickel batteries.

[0113] The representative voltage of the fourth group (G4) is less than the reference voltage (Vr), and the representative differential capacity of the fourth group (G4) is less than the reference differential capacity (dQdVr). Therefore, the control unit (120) can classify the batteries belonging to the fourth group (G4) as the fourth batteries. That is, the batteries belonging to the fourth group (G4) can be classified as manganese-rich batteries.

[0114] A battery management device (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention classifies the types of multiple batteries in a non-destructive manner, so it can prevent unexpected accidents such as fire and explosion from unknown batteries from occurring in advance.

[0115]

[0116] The control unit (120) can be configured to set usage conditions for the battery based on the classification result of the battery.

[0117] Specifically, the control unit (120) can set optimal usage conditions for each battery by taking into account the characteristics of the classified batteries.

[0118] Specifically, the control unit (120) can set usage conditions for each battery by considering the high voltage stability and lifespan characteristics of the low nickel battery, mid nickel battery, high nickel battery, high voltage mid nickel battery and manganese-rich battery.

[0119] The control unit (120) can set the upper limit voltage of the battery classified as the first battery to be below a preset threshold voltage. For example, low-nickel batteries or mid-nickel batteries do not have high energy density, but have excellent stability and lifespan characteristics. Low-nickel batteries and mid-nickel batteries operate stably at 4.2[V] or lower, and deformation of the electrodes or side reactions may occur at high voltages. Therefore, the control unit (120) can improve the usage efficiency of the first battery by setting the upper limit voltage of the first battery to be lower than the threshold voltage.

[0120] The control unit (120) can set the upper limit voltage of a battery classified as a second battery to be below a preset threshold voltage. For example, a high-nickel battery has a high nickel content and thus has a large energy storage capacity, but has low structural stability. Therefore, the control unit (120) can improve the usage efficiency of the second battery by setting the upper limit voltage of the second battery relatively low, below the threshold voltage. The control unit (120) can set the upper limit voltage of a battery classified as a third battery to be above the threshold voltage. For example, a high-voltage mid-nickel battery has high energy density and excellent high-voltage stability and lifespan characteristics. Therefore, the control unit (120) can improve the usage efficiency of the third battery by setting the upper limit voltage of the third battery relatively high, above the threshold voltage.

[0121] The control unit (120) can set the upper limit voltage of the battery classified as the fourth battery to be higher than the threshold voltage. For example, since the thermal stability of the manganese-rich battery is improved as the manganese content increases, side reactions with the electrolyte are reduced even at high voltages, thereby improving the cycle life. In addition, the manganese-rich battery can operate to store energy even at higher voltages compared to the NCM battery. As a result, the manganese-rich battery has increased energy density and can be suitable for high-output applications. Therefore, the control unit (120) can maintain a balance between the energy density and stability of the third battery by setting the upper limit voltage of the fourth battery to be relatively higher than the threshold voltage.

[0122] For example, the threshold voltage may be preset to a voltage of 4.25[V] or less, taking into account the high-voltage stability and life characteristics of low-nickel batteries, mid-nickel batteries, high-nickel batteries, high-voltage mid-nickel batteries, and manganese-rich batteries. Accordingly, the upper limit voltage of the first and second batteries may be set to a value of less than 4.25[V], and the upper limit voltage of the third and fourth batteries may be set to a value of 4.25[V] or more.

[0123]

[0124] The control unit (120) can be configured to normalize the capacity of the battery profile (BP) and generate a differential profile (DP) based on the voltage and the normalized capacity.

[0125] Specifically, the control unit (120) can generate a differential profile (DP) from a battery profile (BP) and classify the battery according to the target peak (tp) determined from the generated differential profile (DP). If the capacity of the battery is not normalized, a large deviation occurs in the differential capacity of the target peak (tp) for each battery, so the battery cannot be classified according to a certain standard. Therefore, the control unit (120) can classify the battery according to a certain standard by generating a differential profile (DP) that represents the correspondence between the voltage and the normalized capacity.

[0126] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a normalized profile according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the control unit (120) can normalize the capacity of the battery profile (BPo) to generate a normalized battery profile (BPn). The control unit (120) can also generate a differential profile (DP) for the normalized battery profile (BPn).

[0127] Even if the control unit (120) classifies the types of multiple batteries, the control unit (120) can normalize the battery profile (BP) of the multiple batteries to a capacity range Qin to Qfn and generate a differential profile (DP) from the normalized battery profile (BP).

[0128] That is, since the battery is prevented from being misclassified based on the difference in battery capacity, the battery management device (100) can classify the type of unknown battery more accurately.

[0129]

[0130] The battery management device (100) according to the present invention may be applied to a Battery Management System (BMS). That is, the BMS according to the present invention may include the battery management device (100) described above. In this configuration, at least some of the components of the battery management device (100) may be implemented by supplementing or adding the functions of the components included in a conventional BMS. For example, the profile acquisition unit (110), control unit (120), and storage unit (130) of the battery management device (100) may be implemented as components of the BMS.

[0131] In addition, the battery management device (100) according to the present invention may be provided in a battery pack. That is, the battery pack according to the present invention may include the battery management device (100) described above and one or more battery cells. In addition, the battery pack may further include electrical components (relays, fuses, etc.) and a case, etc.

[0132] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a battery pack (10) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0133] The positive terminal of the battery (11) can be connected to the positive terminal (P+) of the battery pack (10), and the negative terminal of the battery (11) can be connected to the negative terminal (P-) of the battery pack (10).

[0134] The measuring unit (12) can be connected to the first sensing line (SL1), the second sensing line (SL2), and the third sensing line (SL3). Specifically, the measuring unit (12) can be connected to the positive terminal of the battery (11) through the first sensing line (SL1) and to the negative terminal of the battery (11) through the second sensing line (SL2). The measuring unit (12) can measure the voltage of the battery (11) based on the voltage measured at each of the first sensing line (SL1) and the second sensing line (SL2).

[0135] Additionally, the measuring unit (12) can be connected to a current measuring unit (A) through a third sensing line (SL3). For example, the current measuring unit (A) may be an ammeter or a shunt resistor capable of measuring the charging current and discharging current of the battery (11). The measuring unit (12) can calculate the charging amount by measuring the charging current of the battery (11) through the third sensing line (SL3). Furthermore, the measuring unit (12) can calculate the discharging amount by measuring the discharging current of the battery (11) through the third sensing line (SL3).

[0136] For example, the profile acquisition unit (110) can receive battery information regarding the voltage and current of the battery from the measurement unit (12). Then, the profile acquisition unit (110) can generate a battery profile (BP) based on the battery information.

[0137] As another example, the profile acquisition unit (110) can receive a battery profile (BP) from the measurement unit (12).

[0138] An external device may be connected to the positive terminal (P+) and the negative terminal (P-) of the battery pack (10). For example, the external device may be a charging device or a load. Also, the positive terminal of the battery (11), the positive terminal (P+) of the battery pack (10), the external device, the negative terminal (P-) of the battery pack (10), and the negative terminal of the battery (11) may be electrically connected.

[0139]

[0140] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a battery management method according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0141] Referring to FIG. 8, the battery management method may include a battery profile (BP) acquisition step, a differential profile generation step (S200), a target peak determination step (S300), and a classification step (S400).

[0142] Preferably, each step of the battery management method can be performed by a battery management device (100). For convenience of explanation, details that overlap with previously described content will be omitted or briefly explained below.

[0143] The battery profile (BP) acquisition step is a step of acquiring a battery profile (BP) that represents the corresponding relationship between the voltage and capacity of the battery, and can be performed by the profile acquisition unit (110).

[0144] For example, the profile acquisition unit (110) may be connected via wired and / or wireless means to enable communication with the outside. And, the profile acquisition unit (110) can acquire a battery profile (BP) by receiving a battery profile (BP) from the outside.

[0145] As another example, the profile acquisition unit (110) can be electrically connected to the battery to directly measure the voltage and current of the battery. Then, the profile acquisition unit (110) can calculate the capacity of the battery based on the measured current. The profile acquisition unit (110) can generate a battery profile (BP) to show the correspondence between the measured voltage and the calculated capacity. That is, the profile acquisition unit (110) can acquire the battery profile (BP) by directly generating the battery profile (BP).

[0146] The differential profile generation step (S200) is a step of generating a differential profile (DP) that represents the correspondence relationship between voltage and differential capacity based on the battery profile (BP), and can be performed by the control unit (120).

[0147] For example, the control unit (120) can generate a differential profile (DP) representing the correspondence between the voltage (V) of the battery and the differential capacity (dQdV) by differentiating the battery profile (BP) with respect to voltage.

[0148] The target peak determination step (S300) is a step of determining a target peak (tp) among one or more peaks included in the differential profile (DP), and can be performed by the control unit (120).

[0149] For example, the control unit (120) may be configured to determine one or more peaks in the differential profile (DP). And, the control unit (120) may be configured to determine the peak with the largest corresponding voltage among the one or more peaks as the target peak (tp).

[0150] The classification step (S400) is a step of classifying the type of battery based on the voltage and differential capacity of the target peak (tp), and can be performed by the control unit (120).

[0151] For example, the control unit (120) may be configured to classify the type of battery into one of a plurality of batteries based on the result of comparing the voltage and the reference voltage (Vr) and the result of comparing the differential capacity and the reference differential capacity (dQdVr).

[0152] The embodiments of the present invention described above are not limited to implementation through devices and methods, but may also be implemented through a program that realizes a function corresponding to the configuration of the embodiments of the present invention or a recording medium on which such a program is recorded. Such implementation can be easily achieved by a person skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains, based on the description of the embodiments described above.

[0153] Another embodiment of the present invention may provide a computer-readable recording medium having a program recorded thereon for executing the various embodiments described above on a computer.

[0154] A program may be implemented as hardware components, software components, and / or a combination of hardware and software components. A program may be executed by any system capable of executing computer-readable instructions.

[0155] Software may include computer programs, code, instructions, or a combination thereof, and may configure a processing unit to operate as desired or command the processing unit independently or collectively.

[0156] Software can be implemented as a computer program containing instructions stored on a computer-readable storage medium. Examples of computer-readable storage media include magnetic storage media (e.g., ROM (read-only memory), RAM (random-access memory), floppy disks, hard disks, etc.) and optical reading media (e.g., CD-ROMs, DVDs (Digital Versatile Discs)). Computer-readable storage media can be distributed across networked computer systems, allowing computer-readable code to be stored and executed in a distributed manner. The storage medium is readable by a computer, stored in memory, and can be executed by a processor.

[0157] Computer-readable recording media may be provided in the form of non-transitory recording media. Here, 'non-transitory storage media' simply means that it is a tangible device and does not contain a signal (e.g., electromagnetic waves), and the term does not distinguish between cases where data is stored semi-permanently and cases where it is stored temporarily. For example, 'non-transitory storage media' may include a buffer in which data is stored temporarily.

[0158] In addition, the program may be provided as part of a computer program product. Computer program products may be traded between a seller and a buyer as goods.

[0159] A computer program product may include a software program or a computer-readable recording medium on which the software program is stored. For example, a computer program product may include a product in the form of a software program that is distributed electronically through a manufacturer of an electronic device or an electronic market (e.g., a downloadable application). For electronic distribution, at least a portion of the software program may be stored on a recording medium or temporarily created. In this case, the recording medium may be a server of the manufacturer of the electronic device, a server of the electronic market, or a recording medium of a relay server that temporarily stores the software program.

[0160] Although the present invention has been described above by limited embodiments and drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto, and it is obvious that various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the technical spirit of the present invention and the equivalent scope of the claims described below by those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs.

[0161] Furthermore, since the present invention described above allows for various substitutions, modifications, and changes within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention to those skilled in the art without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention, it is not limited by the aforementioned embodiments and attached drawings, but rather all or part of each embodiment may be selectively combined to allow for various modifications.

[0162] (Explanation of symbols)

[0163] 10: Battery pack

[0164] 11: Battery

[0165] 12: Measurement section

[0166] 100: Battery Management Unit

[0167] 110: Profile Acquisition Section

[0168] 120: Control unit

[0169] 130: Storage section

Claims

1. A profile acquisition unit configured to acquire a battery profile representing the corresponding relationship between the voltage and capacity of a battery; and A battery management device comprising a control unit configured to generate a differential profile representing a correspondence relationship between the voltage and differential capacity based on the battery profile, determine a target peak among one or more peaks included in the differential profile, and classify the type of the battery based on the voltage and differential capacity of the target peak.

2. In Paragraph 1, The above control unit is, A battery management device configured to compare the above voltage with a preset reference voltage, compare the above differential capacity with a preset reference differential capacity, and classify the battery based on the comparison result.

3. In Paragraph 2, The above control unit is, A battery management device configured to classify the type of battery into one of a plurality of batteries based on the result of comparing the magnitude of the above voltage and the above reference voltage and the result of comparing the magnitude of the above differential capacity and the above reference differential capacity.

4. In Paragraph 3, The above control unit is, If the above voltage is less than the above reference voltage and the above differential capacity is greater than or equal to the above reference differential capacity, the type of battery is classified as a first battery, and If the above voltage is greater than or equal to the above reference voltage and the above differential capacity is greater than or equal to the above reference differential capacity, the type of battery is classified as a second battery, and If the above voltage is less than the above reference voltage and the above differential capacity is less than the above reference differential capacity, the type of the battery is classified as a third battery, and A battery management device configured to classify the type of battery as a fourth battery when the above voltage is greater than or equal to the above reference voltage and the above differential capacity is less than the above reference differential capacity.

5. In Paragraph 2, The above batteries are provided in multiple quantities, The above control unit is, Determine the target peak in the differential profile of each of the multiple batteries, and The plurality of batteries are grouped based on the voltage and differential capacity of the determined plurality of target peaks, and A battery management device configured to classify the type of battery belonging to each group into one of a plurality of batteries based on, for each group, the result of comparing the magnitude of a representative voltage and the reference voltage and the result of comparing the magnitude of a representative differential capacity and the reference differential capacity.

6. In Paragraph 1, The above control unit is, A battery management device configured to set usage conditions for the battery based on the classification result of the battery.

7. In Paragraph 1, The above control unit is, A battery management device configured to classify the positive electrode type of the battery based on the voltage of the target peak and the differential capacity.

8. In Paragraph 1, The above control unit is, A battery management device configured to determine one or more peaks in the above differential profile and to determine the peak with the largest corresponding voltage among the one or more peaks as the target peak.

9. In Paragraph 1, The above control unit is, A battery management device configured to normalize the capacity of the above battery profile and generate the above differential profile based on the above voltage and the normalized capacity.

10. A battery profile acquisition step for acquiring a battery profile that represents the correspondence relationship between the voltage and capacity of the battery; A differential profile generation step for generating a differential profile representing the correspondence relationship between the voltage and the differential capacity based on the battery profile above; A target peak determination step for determining a target peak among one or more peaks included in the differential profile above; and A battery management method comprising a classification step for classifying the type of battery based on the voltage and differential capacity of the target peak.

11. A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for executing the battery management method according to paragraph 10.

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