Battery monitoring device

Abstract

The invention relates to a battery monitoring device (1) for monitoring an electric battery formed from battery cells, comprising a module (10) provided in the form of an integrated circuit and having a communication interface (11) for communicating data between the battery monitoring device (1) and at least one cell monitoring unit (2-1, 2-2) provided in the battery in order to transmit monitoring data, which is detected by means of the at least one cell monitoring unit (2-1, 2-2) at respective associated battery cells using sensors, from the at least one cell monitoring unit (2-1, 2-2) to the battery monitoring device (1) via the communication interface (11). In order to allow greater design freedom with regard to the implementation of such a battery monitoring device, it is provided that the module (10) is designed to be flexibly configurable with regard to a protocol used in data communication. The invention further relates to an electrical energy storage system having such a battery monitoring device and to a use of such a battery monitoring device.

Description

[0001] 202400979

[0002] 1

[0003] Description

[0004] Battery monitoring device

[0005] The present invention relates to a battery monitoring device according to the preamble of claim 1, for monitoring an electric battery formed from electrically interconnected battery cells. The invention further relates to an electric energy storage system equipped with such a battery monitoring device, and to the use of such a battery monitoring device.

[0006] The monitored electrical battery can be, in particular, for example, an electrical battery or battery module of a vehicle (e.g.,

[0007] Electric vehicle (such as BEV, HEV, etc.) installed electrical energy storage system.

[0008] Furthermore, a battery monitoring device of the type of interest here can be used in numerous other application areas, such as monitoring an electrical battery of an electrical energy storage system installed in a photovoltaic system.

[0009] In the prior art, energy storage systems implemented with electric batteries are often equipped with a so-called battery management system (hereinafter also referred to as BMS) for monitoring battery operation. This system includes a battery monitoring unit (hereinafter also referred to as BMU) that receives monitoring data acquired by sensors at the battery cells of the electric battery and, for example, evaluates and / or communicates it further. For sensor acquisition at the battery cells, several cell monitoring units (hereinafter also referred to as CSCs for "Cell Supervisory Controllers") can be provided, distributed within the battery and each electrically connected to its respective battery cells. Each CSC is configured to monitor at least one operating parameter (e.g., cell voltage(s), cell temperature(s), etc.).) to measure the associated battery cells and generate a data package regarding the operating status of the associated battery cells and transmit it to the BMU as monitoring data. 202400979.

[0010] 2

[0011] In today's battery management systems, wired daisy-chain communication structures are often implemented for communication between the CSCs (e.g., including U / l meters) and the BMU. Such a daisy-chain structure can, for example, consist of two twisted pairs of wires.

[0012] Since the protocols (communication protocols) used for data communication by the BMU and the CSCs are individual and proprietary depending on the supplier of the corresponding chipsets (for BMU and CSCs), the user is forced to always use a "bundle" of cell monitoring ICs in the CSCs on the one hand and a BMU IC or communication IC in the BMU on the other.

[0013] The approach used in the state of the art is therefore usually to select suitable cell monitoring ICs from a supplier for the respective specific application and to use a communication IC in the BMU that is offered by the selected supplier for communication with its cell monitoring ICs using a suitable proprietary protocol.

[0014] However, such bundling is often undesirable from a commercial and project planning perspective, for example because a change of supplier for cell monitoring ICs also requires a more extensive redesign of the BMU, for example with regard to a change of a communication IC used in the BMU.

[0015] It is therefore an object of the present invention to show a way to eliminate the problem explained above in the case of battery monitoring of the type mentioned at the outset and thus, in particular, to enable greater freedom of design with regard to the implementation of a battery monitoring device.

[0016] According to the invention, this problem is solved in a battery monitoring device of the type mentioned above by the fact that the component (e.g. BMU-IC or communication IC for a BMU) is flexibly configurable with respect to a protocol used in data communication.

[0017] An advantage of the invention is, for example, that there is no need to bundle cell monitoring ICs and possibly additional separate measuring ICs (e.g., U / I measuring ICs).

[0018] 3

[0019] The invention does not require separate ICs in the CSCs and, on the other hand, BMU ICs or communication ICs in the BMU. Instead, suitable or optimally selected ICs for the specific application can be used in the CSCs in combination with a component (e.g., a communication IC) that is flexibly configurable with regard to the protocol used for data communication. Advantageously, a complete redesign of the entire monitoring system architecture is not required if the design of the CSCs changes. In particular, the invention thus enables universal or flexible communication for transmitting monitoring data, e.g., in a daisy-chain structure (or another transmission structure).

[0020] The monitoring data can include, for example, information regarding cell voltages and / or cell temperatures. Alternatively or additionally, the monitoring data can also include information regarding operating parameters derived from such physical quantities measured at the battery cells (such as voltage(s) and / or temperature(s)) (e.g., through appropriate processing of measured values ​​in a cell monitoring unit). Examples of such operating parameters are, for example, so-called "State of Charge" (SOC) values ​​and "State of Health" (SOH) values ​​relating to battery cells or the battery as a whole.

[0021] The battery monitoring device can, for example, be a functional component of a BMS, which, in addition to the monitoring of interest here, can also have other tasks (such as controlling a so-called balancing of the battery cells).

[0022] The invention enables the creation of a flexible architecture for communication ICs that can be used within a BMU or other battery monitoring device. Advantageously, such a component (communication IC) can provide, on the one hand, manufacturer-specific and proprietary data communication protocols (e.g., for data transmission in a daisy-chain structure or the like) and, on the other hand, a standard protocol or interface, such as UART, SPI, CAN, etc., to a microcontroller in the monitoring device (e.g., BMU).

[0023] Thus, a manufacturer-independent communication IC can be implemented for use in the battery monitoring device, which, due to the 202400979

[0024] 4

[0025] The invention enables flexible configurability, allowing for at least "approximation" of several different protocols (proprietary communication protocols from multiple manufacturers), so that, for example, cell monitoring ICs in one or more cell monitoring units (CSCs) can be replaced without requiring a simultaneous redesign of the battery monitoring device (e.g., by replacing ICs in a BMU). Instead, the invention provides a battery monitoring device with an integrated circuit (e.g., a communication IC) that is flexible and can be adapted to one of several different communication protocols simply by adjusting various software settings regarding protocol properties or parameters.

[0026] Within the scope of the invention, the component can be designed, for example, as an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit) component or, for example, as a configured FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) component.

[0027] In one embodiment of the battery monitoring device, the component, designed as an integrated circuit and providing the communication interface to the cell monitoring unit(s), is configurable with respect to the protocol used for data communication such that one of several pre-configured protocols can be selected for use in this data communication. In this case, the configuration can, for example, consist of transmitting information identifying the relevant protocol (e.g., an ID code) to the component (e.g., by writing it to a register).

[0028] Alternatively or additionally, the component can also be configured with respect to the protocol used for data communication such that predetermined protocol properties of a protocol predefined for use in the component for data communication can be set. In one variant of this embodiment, for example, only a single "predefined protocol" is provided, whereby the configuration can then consist of transmitting information to the component that further specifies the predefined protocol (e.g., regarding properties of a data preamble, a data postamble, and data bits in between) (e.g., corresponding protocol parameters (e.g., regarding the number of bits, length)).

[0029] 5

[0030] (e.g., pauses between bits, meaning of bits, etc.) to be written into a register). With this embodiment, the component can advantageously even be configured for future (as yet unknown) proprietary protocols.

[0031] The two aforementioned embodiments can also be advantageously combined. In this case, for example, one of several different protocols predefined (more or less "roughly") in the component can be set (selected), and more specific information for the predefined protocol set (e.g., by means of an ID code) can then be transmitted to the component, e.g., quantitative protocol parameters (such as the number of bits and / or length of "0 / 1" levels, bits, pauses between bits, etc.).

[0032] Such predetermined protocol properties may include, in particular, one or more of the following properties: structure of a data preamble ("leading bits"), structure of the data, structure of a data postamble ("end bits"), communication timing.

[0033] Regarding the structure of a data preamble, for example, the following could be adjustable: number of bits in the preamble (including zero, i.e., no preamble), meaning of these bits (e.g., so-called "Sync" bits or "Start of Message" bit sequence, etc.).

[0034] The "data structure" could, for example, include adjustable parameters such as: the number of data bits (e.g., after a preamble and / or before a postamble), the meaning of these bits, etc.

[0035] The "structure of a data postambel" could, for example, include: the number of bits in the postambel (including zero, i.e., no postambel), the meaning of these bits (e.g., so-called protection bits (e.g., error detection and / or error correction bits, CRC bits, etc.) or "End of Message" bit sequence, etc.).

[0036] The "communication timing" could, for example, allow for the adjustment of certain protocol timing parameters relating to the transmission of a data preamble (if provided), the transmission of the (user) data, and / or the transmission of a data postamble (if provided). 202400979

[0037] 6

[0038] The setting of corresponding timing parameters can be individually enabled for the aforementioned components (preamble, (user) data, postamble) of the corresponding data packages (data frames).

[0039] If certain pauses between successive data elements, e.g. between data bits, are provided in the transmission, the length of such pauses can be specified as part of a communication timing setting (including, for example, timing based on so-called "sync" bits in a preamble).

[0040] Alternatively or in addition to the adjustability of the duration of a pause between successive bits, the duration of a (logical) "O" level and / or the duration of a (logical) "1" level can also be adjustable with regard to communication timing.

[0041] The following table illustrates, by way of example, some protocol properties that can be taken into account within the scope of the invention for three different protocols (Protocols 1-3) and differences between the three protocols with regard to these protocol properties:

[0042] "

[0043] "" "

[0044] " "

[0045] " "

[0046]

[0047] Within the scope of the invention, for the specific design of the component, such differences between the relevant (within the scope of configurability "approximable") protocols can first be analyzed and subsequently a corresponding adaptation algorithm defined, by202400979

[0048] 7

[0049] which define the calculations to be performed for the purpose of protocol adaptation.

[0050] The adaptation is preferably designed for bidirectional communication, i.e., for communication of data from the at least one cell monitoring unit to the battery monitoring device as well as for communication of data from the battery monitoring device to the at least one cell monitoring unit.

[0051] The preceding explanations of relevant protocol properties and corresponding parameters are to be understood as examples. In practice, these adjustable properties or parameters can always be chosen appropriately to configure the protocol to be used to one of several (proprietary) protocols specified by chipset vendors.

[0052] In one embodiment of the invention, the battery monitoring device comprises a microcontroller implemented separately from the component, which communicates with the component. The component and the microcontroller can be structurally combined on a common circuit board, for example as two ICs in a control unit (BMU) of a BMS.

[0053] Regarding the communication link between the component and the microcontroller, it can be provided, for example, that the microcontroller communicates with the component via a standard bus system or a standard interface system (e.g. SPI, CAN, UART etc.).

[0054] In one embodiment, the component includes an input memory for temporarily storing data supplied to it by the microcontroller via the communication link, in order to be forwarded via the component's communication interface to one or more of the at least one cell monitoring unit according to the protocol used for data communication. In another embodiment, the component includes an output memory for temporarily storing data to be supplied to the microcontroller by the component via the communication link. 202400979

[0055] 8

[0056] Such intermediate storage or storage provided for this purpose advantageously allows for even greater flexibility in the communication between the battery monitoring device and the at least one cell monitoring unit, be it (by means of the input memory) the communication for the transmission of data (e.g. balancing control data etc.) from the microcontroller to the cell monitoring unit(s), or (by means of the output memory) the communication for the transmission of the monitoring data (e.g. cell voltages and / or cell temperatures, etc., or operating parameters derived therefrom) from the cell monitoring unit(s) to the microcontroller.

[0057] In a further training course, the module includes a computer device that is trained to read data temporarily stored in the input memory and to calculate data to be communicated to at least one cell monitoring unit via the communication interface according to the protocol used in data communication.

[0058] Furthermore, such a computer system can also be designed to calculate data to be temporarily stored in the output memory from data communicated via the communication interface by at least one cell monitoring unit.

[0059] If the component includes a computer device of the type mentioned above, the component may, for example, also include a configurable setting device designed to control the calculations to be performed by the computer device.

[0060] The protocol used for data communication can advantageously be defined wholly or partially by the calculations performed by the computer system and be flexibly configurable using the aforementioned setting device. If the battery monitoring device has a microcontroller implemented separately from the component, which is in communication with the component, then advantageously some of the calculations required for protocol adaptation can also be performed by the microcontroller (e.g., calculation and / or verification of so-called protection bits, such as CRC bits in the data to be transmitted).

[0061] For the specific design of the battery monitoring device, one can proceed, for example, by first selecting a 202400979

[0062] 9

[0063] A selection of multiple (proprietary) protocols is performed, e.g., a selection of at least 3, in particular at least 5, and / or a maximum of 20, in particular a maximum of 10, different protocols (e.g., protocols used for data transmission in common battery management systems). Then, an identification of similar data structures and / or data elements in the selected (and typically often very different) communication protocols can be carried out, and finally, an assignment of these data structures and / or data elements to, if applicable, "leading bits" (preamble), "closing bits" (postamble), and other bits, e.g., data bits located between the leading and closing bits, depending on suitable settings. These settings can, for example,Several of the protocol properties mentioned above are affected and must be usable by the battery monitoring device in monitoring mode within the configurability of the module (after prior appropriate configuration of the setting device).

[0064] In one embodiment, the component is designed with the communication interface for data communication between the battery monitoring device and several cell monitoring units, in particular, for example, several cell monitoring units in a daisy-chain structure.

[0065] In one embodiment of a daisy-chain structure, this is formed by two conductors, preferably two twisted conductors. Preferably, all conductors used for data communication in the invention are operated without potential differences with respect to the electrical potentials prevailing at the battery cells within the electrical battery.

[0066] According to a further aspect of the present invention, an electrical energy storage system is proposed comprising an electrical battery formed from electrically interconnected battery cells, which is equipped with at least one cell monitoring unit arranged within the battery for sensorially acquiring monitoring data from associated battery cells and with a battery monitoring device of the type described herein for monitoring the electrical battery. The battery can, for example, also be a battery module of an electrical energy storage system formed from several such battery modules.

[0067] 10

[0068] The embodiments and special configurations described here for the battery monitoring device according to the invention can, individually or in any combination, also be provided in an analogous manner as embodiments or special configurations of the energy storage system according to the invention.

[0069] In one embodiment of the electrical energy storage system, it is equipped with several cell monitoring units arranged in a daisy-chain structure within the battery for sensorially acquiring monitoring data from the respective assigned battery cells, wherein the component provided in the battery monitoring device is designed with the communication interface for data communication between the battery monitoring device and the several cell monitoring units.

[0070] According to another aspect of the present invention, a battery monitoring device of the type described herein is proposed for monitoring an electric battery of an electric energy storage system. For example, this could be an electric energy storage system installed in a vehicle (e.g., for monitoring a so-called traction battery of the vehicle). Furthermore, numerous other areas of application are of interest within the scope of the invention, such as monitoring an electric battery of an electric energy storage system installed in a system for alternative energy generation (such as a photovoltaic system, wind turbine, etc.). In this case, the energy storage system can serve to adapt fluctuations in energy generation output to fluctuations in energy consumption. Another use arises, for example,For monitoring the electrical battery of an electrical energy storage system installed in a charging station for electric vehicles (e.g., BEV, HEV, etc.). In this case, the energy storage system can enable at least a temporary increase in electrical power during energy transfer (from the charging station to the vehicle and / or from the vehicle to the charging station).

[0071] The invention is further described below with reference to exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings. These schematically represent: 202400979

[0072] 11

[0073] Fig. 1 shows a block diagram of a battery monitoring device for monitoring an electric battery according to an exemplary embodiment, and

[0074] Fig. 2 shows a block diagram of a communication IC that can be used in a battery monitoring device according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0075] Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a battery monitoring device 1 for monitoring an electric battery formed from electrically interconnected battery cells.

[0076] Figure 1 does not show the individual battery cells, e.g., electrochemical battery cells such as lithium-ion cells. However, Figure 1 shows two so-called battery cell clusters CC1 and CC2 as examples, each consisting of a multitude of battery cells electrically connected in series and / or parallel. In this example, clusters CC1 and CC2 (and other such clusters) are electrically arranged in series to provide a battery voltage with DC- and DC+ potentials, as shown.

[0077] In this example, the monitored electric battery is a battery used to supply energy to the electric drive system of a vehicle, such as a battery electric vehicle (BEV) or a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV). The battery voltage (difference between DC+ and DC-) is typically several hundred volts in this case, for example, around 800 V.

[0078] In the example shown, the battery monitoring device 1 forms a so-called battery management system (BMS), or a component of a BMS, and is structurally combined with the battery and the other components shown in Fig. 1 to form an electrical energy storage system of the vehicle in question.

[0079] The battery monitoring device 1 comprises a microcontroller 20, which in the example is connected via a data interface 60 to a digital communication bus system (e.g. CAN) and via this e.g.

[0080] Can receive commands from a higher-level control unit of the vehicle (e.g., central vehicle control unit) and / or send data relating to battery monitoring (monitoring data and / or data derived therefrom) to such a higher-level control unit. 202400979

[0081] 12

[0082] In the example, the battery monitoring device 1 also includes a voltage measuring device 40 and a current measuring device 50 for recording the battery voltage and battery current (using a current measuring resistor Rs) and providing corresponding recording data U and I to the microcontroller 20.

[0083] The battery monitoring device 1 further comprises a component 10, hereinafter also referred to as the communication IC, which is designed separately from the microcontroller 20 as an integrated circuit, but which is in communication connection 30 with the microcontroller 20. In this example, it is a standard communication connection such as SPI, UART or CAN.

[0084] The component 10 provided in the battery monitoring device 1 has a further communication interface 11, via which data communication is effected between, on the one hand, the battery monitoring device 1 and, on the other hand, one or more cell monitoring units distributed throughout the battery. In the example shown, the electrical energy storage system is equipped with two cell monitoring units 2-1, 2-2 distributed within the battery in a daisy-chain structure 3 for the sensorial acquisition of monitoring data from the respective assigned battery cells.

[0085] The module 10 with the communication interface 11 thus serves for data communication between the battery monitoring device 1 and the cell monitoring units 2-1, 2-2. This allows data (e.g.

[0086] Monitoring data) from the cell monitoring units 2-1, 2-2 can be transmitted via the daisy-chain structure 3, the communication interface 11 of the module 10, and further via the communication link 30 to the microcontroller 20. Furthermore, data (e.g., commands within the framework of battery management) can be transmitted in the reverse direction from the microcontroller 20 via the communication link 30 and the communication interface 11 of the module 10, and further via the daisy-chain structure 3 to the cell monitoring units 2-1, 2-2.

[0087] Using the cell monitoring unit 2-1, the following data is collected on assigned battery cells of the electric battery (here: battery cells of cell clusters CC1 and CC2) 202400979

[0088] 13

[0089] Sensor-acquired monitoring data from the cell monitoring unit 2-1 is transmitted to the battery monitoring device 1 via the daisy chain structure 3 and the communication interface 11.

[0090] By means of the cell monitoring unit 2-2, sensor-acquired monitoring data from (other) assigned battery cells (other cell cluster) are transmitted from the cell monitoring unit 2-2 to the battery monitoring device 1 via the daisy chain structure 3 and the communication interface 11.

[0091] Since the cell monitoring units 2-1 and 2-2 in the example have an identical structure, for the sake of simplicity only cell monitoring unit 2-1 will be discussed below.

[0092] The cell monitoring unit 2-1 comprises a first monitoring IC, IC1, for monitoring battery cells in battery cell cluster CC1, and a second monitoring IC, IC2, for monitoring battery cells in battery cell cluster CC2. For this purpose, the monitoring ICs IC1 and IC2 are electrically connected to the respective cells in cluster CC1 and CC2, respectively, as shown. This allows the monitoring ICs IC1 and IC2 to, for example, record the cell voltages of the respective battery cells. Furthermore, the aforementioned electrical connections can also be used to record other cell operating parameters, such as one or more cell temperatures of the battery cells in the respective cluster CC1 or CC2.Information resulting from this monitoring can be encoded into corresponding data packets in the respective cell monitoring unit and communicated to the battery monitoring device 1 according to the intended protocol.

[0093] Finally, the electrical connections between the cell monitoring units and the respective assigned battery cells can also be used to control or effect, for example, a so-called balancing of the battery cells.

[0094] The cell monitoring unit 2-1 further comprises power supply units SUP1 and SUP2, each of which is designed, for example, as an integrated circuit and serves to power the monitoring ICs IC1 and IC2. As shown, each of the monitoring ICs IC1 and IC2 is assigned a respective power supply unit SUP1 or SUP2 in order to draw power from a single source.

[0095] 14

[0096] The voltage tapped from the respective cluster CC1 or CC2 is used to form a respective supply voltage for the monitoring ICs IC1 and IC2.

[0097] Within the cell monitoring unit 2-1, the monitoring ICs IC1 and IC2 are communicatively connected and, in the example shown, form separate participants in the communication via the daisy-chain structure 3.

[0098] Although the cell monitoring unit 2-1 in the illustrated example has two such "subunits" (monitoring ICs IC1, IC2), this number can also be smaller (a single monitoring IC) or larger (more than two monitoring ICs) than shown in the example. The same applies to the number of cell monitoring units. Although the example shows two cell monitoring units (2-1, 2-2), this number can also be smaller (a single cell monitoring unit) or larger (more than two cell monitoring units).

[0099] In the example, the daisy chain structure 3 is formed by 2 twisted conductors, which are operated without potential with respect to the electrical potentials prevailing at the battery cells within the electrical battery.

[0100] As shown in Fig. 1, the daisy-chain structure 3 is arranged in a so-called ring configuration. However, a so-called ring configuration would also be possible, deviating from this example.

[0101] Stack configuration possible.

[0102] A special feature of the battery monitoring device 1 is that the component 10 is flexibly configurable with respect to the protocol used for data communication (between battery monitoring device 1 and cell monitoring units 2-1, 2-2). This advantageously allows for greater design freedom regarding the implementation of the battery monitoring device and significantly simplifies, for example, a "redesign" of the battery monitoring device if other monitoring ICs are to be used in the unit(s) 2-1, 2-2 in question.

[0103] These advantages are based on the special design of module 10, i.e., its flexible configurability with regard to the protocol used for data communication with the at least one cell monitoring unit at communication interface 11. Module 10 allows, on the one hand (at the 202400979

[0104] 15

[0105] Communication interface 11) supports a vendor-specific and proprietary protocol for communication with at least one cell monitoring unit, and on the other hand (at communication link 30) a standardized interface such as UART or SPI is used to connect to the microcontroller 20. This functionality is implemented by component 10, which thus represents a universally applicable, "manufacturer-independent" communication IC capable of "approximating" several different protocols (e.g., proprietary communication protocols from several different manufacturers) through the aforementioned configurability. This allows the cell monitoring ICs in the CSCs to be exchanged with cell monitoring ICs from other manufacturers, while the "communication device" (component 10) in the battery monitoring unit 1 (BMU) does not need to be replaced, as it is flexible and, for example,It can only be adapted to other communication protocols through various software settings. Therefore, in such a case, a hardware change within the BMU is no longer absolutely necessary.

[0106] In the following description of a further embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for components that act identically, essentially only the differences to the embodiment already described are discussed, and otherwise, reference is expressly made to the description of the preceding embodiment.

[0107] Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of a component (communication IC) 10 designed as an integrated circuit (semiconductor chip) for use in a battery monitoring device of the type described here. In the following description of the component 10, it is assumed by way of example that it is used in the battery monitoring device 1 of Fig. 1.

[0108] The module 10 includes a communication interface 11, an input memory 12, an output memory 13, a computer unit 15 and a configurable setting unit 16.

[0109] The communication interface 11 serves for bidirectional data communication between, on the one hand, the battery monitoring device 1 containing the component 10 and, on the other hand, at least one cell monitoring unit connected to it; in the example of Fig. 1, these are the 202400979

[0110] 16

[0111] The two cell monitoring units 2-1 and 2-2 are connected via the daisy-chain structure 3. In this example, the daisy-chain structure 3 is formed by two (preferably twisted) lines L and H (wire pair) arranged in a ring configuration. The communication interface 11 comprises a "receiver section" (not shown in Fig. 2) integrated into the computer unit 15 for receiving data from the daisy-chain 3 and an "transmitter section" (controllable half-bridges connected to a supply voltage Vout, shown in Fig. 2) external to the computer unit 15 for generating the signals to send data to the cell monitoring units arranged in the daisy-chain 3. The computer unit 15 also includes a "transmitter section" (not shown) of the communication interface 11, which generates the control signals for the transmitter section.

[0112] In contrast to the daisy-chain structure 3 shown, any other structure for data transmission (data transmission path) can also be provided within the scope of the invention, in which case the communication interface 11 can then have a correspondingly modified design.

[0113] The input memory 12 serves to temporarily store the data that originates from the microcontroller 20 (Fig. 1) and is supplied to the component 10 in order to be forwarded via the communication interface 11 of the component 10 to one or more of the cell monitoring units 2-1, 2-2 (e.g. in the form of addressed data packets) according to the protocol to be used for data communication (corresponding to the protocol used by the monitoring ICs IC1, IC2).

[0114] The output memory 13 serves to temporarily store the data that the component 10 is to supply to the microcontroller 20. This data thus includes the monitoring data acquired by the cell monitoring units 2-1, 2-2, which is to be transmitted from the cell monitoring units 2-1, 2-2 to the battery monitoring device 1 via the daisy-chain structure 3 and the communication interface 11 according to the protocol to be used for data communication (depending on the monitoring ICs IC1, IC2).

[0115] The input memory 12 and the output memory 13 can be implemented as block-level components of the communication link as shown in Fig. 2.202400979

[0116] 17

[0117] 30 can be considered, through which communication with the microcontroller 20 takes place. In an alternative embodiment, the input memory and / or the output memory could, for example, be implemented in the microcontroller 20, e.g., by a correspondingly configured peripheral device (I / O module) of the microcontroller 20.

[0118] The computer unit 15 serves, firstly, to read data temporarily stored in the input memory 12 and, secondly, to calculate data to be communicated to at least one cell monitoring unit 2-1, 2-2 via the communication interface 11 according to the protocol to be used for data communication. This calculation (adaptation algorithm) implements the protocol to be used when sending data to the cell monitoring units 2-1, 2-2.

[0119] In other words, the computer unit 15 (in combination with the setting unit 16) functions in this direction of data transmission as an 'adaptation unit' for adapting or converting "standardized" (via UART, SPI etc.) received data into "proprietary" data intended for transmission to the cell monitoring units 2-1 , 2-2.

[0120] The computer unit 15 also serves to calculate data to be temporarily stored in the output memory 13 from the data received from the cell monitoring units 2-1, 2-2 via the communication interface 11 according to the protocol to be used for data communication (and thus to make it available to the microcontroller 20). This calculation (adaptation algorithm) adapts or converts the "proprietary" data received (according to the protocol to be used) into "standardized" data intended for forwarding (via UART, SPI, etc.) to the microcontroller 20 in this direction of data transmission.

[0121] In other words, the computer device 15 (in combination with the setting device 16) also functions in this reverse direction of data transmission as an "adaptation device" for adaptation or

[0122] Conversion of the relevant data or data packets.

[0123] The configurable setting device 16 serves to control the calculations to be carried out by the computer device 15 in such a way as to 202400979

[0124] 18

[0125] to define that this will allow the aforementioned adjustments or conversions of the data to be carried out for the purpose of configuring the protocol used in data communication.

[0126] The calculations can take into account one or more, and in particular all, of the following protocol properties:

[0127] The presence and, if applicable, structure of a data preamble (leading bits), the structure of the data, and the presence and, if applicable, structure of a data postamble (ending bits) are considered. Furthermore, communication timing can be taken into account, which specifies time durations defined within a data frame.

[0128] The computer unit 15, which can be flexibly configured (e.g., programmable) via the setting device 16, allows, for example, the adaptation of a standardized command (e.g., from a set of predefined commands) originating from the battery monitoring unit 1 (MCU) to a proprietary command on the daisy chain 3. This adaptation can be accomplished, in particular, using algorithms in firmware or a state machine. The adaptation can be based on parameters (concerning specific protocol properties) that are passed to the setting device 16 by software running on the microcontroller 20 during the initialization of the battery monitoring unit 1 (and stored, for example, in a register of the setting device 16).

[0129] In addition to the parameters passed to the setting device 16, which control the calculations to be performed by the computer device 15 for protocol adaptation and which depend on the properties of the protocol used by the "target ICs" (cell monitoring ICs) in the daisy-chain structure 3, data to be transmitted to the cell monitoring units 2-1 and 2-2 can also be generated during monitoring operation. Such data ("payload" data) must then also be transmitted from the microprocessor 20 to the component 10 (communication IC). The monitoring data must be transmitted in the reverse direction, i.e., from the component 10 to the microprocessor 20.

[0130] Since both the data stream to be transferred from microprocessor 20 to component 10 and the data stream to be transferred from component 10 to microprocessor 20 can be quite long (e.g., more than 50 bits long), it is advantageous to use the input and output memories 12, 13 mentioned above, e.g., input registers and 202400979

[0131] 19

[0132] Output registers in component 10 (communication IC) should be provided with sufficient size, e.g., with at least 80 bits, preferably at least 100 bits. On the other hand, in many applications, a maximum of 300 bits, in particular a maximum of 200 bits, is sufficient.

[0133] The data to be transmitted to the cell monitoring units 2-1, 2-2 can be provided by the battery monitoring device 1 (MCU) or, for example, the microprocessor 20, according to the protocol to be used for data communication, and written to the input memory 12 so that it can be sent by the block 10 on the daisy chain 3, or it can be further processed by the battery monitoring device 1 if it is received via the data interface 60 (e.g., from a higher-level control unit) for the purpose of adapting it to the protocol to be used for data communication.

[0134] In most of the proprietary protocols of interest within the scope of the invention (those of the manufacturers of the aforementioned chipsets), "protection bits" are provided for error detection and / or error correction. Depending on the protocol, these may be, for example, parity bits or CRC (cyclic redundancy check) bits. Alternatively or additionally, depending on the protocol, other protection bits (check values) may be provided, calculated from the user data according to a predetermined method and added to this user data before its transmission.

[0135] In this embodiment, CRC bits (if provided for in the protocol to be used for data communication) are calculated by the external microcontroller 20 and added to the data to be written to the input memory 12 when data is to be transmitted to the cell monitoring units 2-1, 2-2, whereas parity bits are calculated within the module 10 by the computer unit 15. This advantageously takes into account the fact that an implementation with CRC bits generally requires significantly more complex calculations than an implementation with parity bits.

[0136] In summary, the invention and the described embodiments advantageously enable "flexible communication" in battery monitoring by using a novelly designed component that is capable of using the communication methods employed by cell monitoring units.

[0137] 20

[0138] to replicate proprietary protocols or at least approximate them to such an extent that replacing cell monitoring units in the battery and a corresponding change in the protocol no longer necessarily requires replacing communication devices such as a communication IC in the battery monitoring unit. 202400979

[0139] 21

[0140] Reference symbol list

[0141] 1 battery monitoring unit, 2-1, 2-2 cell monitoring units IC1, IC2 monitoring ICs

[0142] SUP1, SUP2 Power supply units CC1, CC2 Battery cell clusters

[0143] 3 Daisy-chain structure

[0144] Vout supply voltage

[0145] 10 building blocks (IC)

[0146] 11 Communication interface

[0147] 12 input memory

[0148] 13 Output memory

[0149] 15 Computer setup

[0150] 16 Adjustment device

[0151] 20 microcontrollers

[0152] 30 Communication connection

[0153] 40 Voltage measuring device DC, DC+ battery potentials

[0154] 50 Current measuring device

[0155] Rs current measuring resistor

[0156] 60 Data interface

Claims

202400979 22 Patent claims 1. Battery monitoring device (1) for monitoring an electric battery formed from electrically interconnected battery cells, comprising a component (10) designed as an integrated circuit with a communication interface (11) for data communication between the battery monitoring device (1) and at least one cell monitoring unit (2-1, 2-2) arranged in the battery, in order to transmit monitoring data acquired by sensors at the respective associated battery cells of the electric battery from the at least one cell monitoring unit (2-1, 2-2) via the communication interface (11) to the battery monitoring device (1), where component (10) is flexibly configurable with respect to a protocol used in data communication.

2. Battery monitoring device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the component (10) is configured with respect to the protocol used in data communication such that one of several protocols preconfigured in the component (10) can be selected for use in this data communication.

3. Battery monitoring device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the component (10) is configured with respect to the protocol used in data communication such that predetermined protocol properties of a protocol predefined for use in data communication in the component (10) can be set.

4. Battery monitoring device (1) according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined protocol properties comprise one or more of the following properties: - Structure of a data preamble, - Structure of the data, - Structure of a data postamble, - Communication timing.202400979 23 5. Battery monitoring device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the battery monitoring device (1) further comprises a microcontroller (20) implemented separately from the component (10), which is in communication connection (30) with the component (10).

6. Battery monitoring device (1) according to claim 5, wherein the microcontroller (20) is in communication connection with the component (10) via a standard bus system, in particular SPI, or a standard interface system, in particular UART.

7. Battery monitoring device (1) according to one of claims 5 or 6, wherein the component (10) further comprises: - an input memory (12) for temporarily storing data supplied by the microcontroller (20) to the component (10) via the communication link, in order to be forwarded via the communication interface (11) of the component (10) to one or more of the at least one cell monitoring unit (2-1 , 2-2) according to the protocol used in data communication, - an output memory (13) for temporary storage of data to be supplied from the component (10) to the microcontroller (20) via the communication link, - a computer device (15) configured to read data temporarily stored in the input memory (12) and to calculate data to be communicated to the at least one cell monitoring unit (2-1, 2-2) via the communication interface (11) in accordance with the protocol used for data communication, and to calculate data to be temporarily stored in the output memory (13) from data communicated via the communication interface (11) by the at least one cell monitoring unit (2-1, 2-2), and - a configurable setting device (16) designed to control the calculations to be performed by the computer device (15).

8. Battery monitoring device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the component (10) is connected to the communication interface (11) for 202400979 24 a data communication between the battery monitoring device (1) and several cell monitoring units (2-1 , 2-2) is formed in a daisy-chain structure (3).

9. Electrical energy storage system comprising an electrical battery formed from electrically interconnected battery cells, equipped with at least one cell monitoring unit (2-1 , 2-2) arranged within the battery for sensorially acquiring monitoring data at each associated battery cell and with a battery monitoring device (1) according to one of the preceding claims for monitoring the electrical battery.

10. Electrical energy storage system according to claim 9, wherein the electrical energy storage system is equipped with several cell monitoring units (2-1 , 2-2) arranged in a daisy-chain structure (3) within the battery for sensorially acquiring monitoring data at respective assigned battery cells, and wherein the component (10) provided in the battery monitoring device (1) is configured with the communication interface (11) for data communication between the battery monitoring device (1) and the several cell monitoring units (2-1, 2-2).

11. Use of a battery monitoring device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8 for monitoring an electric battery of an electric energy storage system installed in a vehicle or an electric energy storage system installed in a photovoltaic system.

Images