RELAY CONTROL SYSTEM AND BATTERY SYSTEM

Abstract

A relay control system for a battery system is provided. The relay control system includes: an electrical interface configured to detachably receive a connector; a power supply electrically connected in parallel to a coil of a relay through power supply lines; a relay driver switch interconnected between the power supply and the coil in one of the power supply lines; and a controller electrically connected in parallel to the relay driver switch through relay driver control lines to control the relay driver switch. One of the power supply lines or the relay driver control lines is routed across the interface, and the relay control system is configured to open the relay when the one of the power supply lines or the relay driver control lines is interrupted in response to the connector being detached from the interface.

Claims

1. A relay control system for a battery system, the relay control system comprising: an electrical interface configured to detachably receive a connector; a power supply electrically connected in parallel to a coil of a relay through power supply lines; a relay driver switch interconnected between the power supply and the coil in one of the power supply lines; and a controller electrically connected in parallel to the relay driver switch through relay driver control lines to control the relay driver switch, wherein one from among the power supply lines or the relay driver control lines is routed across the interface such that the one from among the power supply lines or the relay driver control lines is electrically conductive across the interface when the connector is connected to the interface and is electrically interrupted across the interface when the connector is detached from the interface, and wherein the relay control system is configured to open the relay when the one from among the power supply lines or the relay driver control lines is interrupted in response to the connector being detached from the interface.

2. The relay control system according to claim 1, wherein one of the relay driver control lines is routed across the interface, and wherein the relay driver switch is configured to open the relay when the relay driver control line is interrupted in response to the connector being detached from the interface.

3. The relay control system according to claim 1, wherein one of the relay driver control lines is routed across the interface, and wherein the relay driver switch is configured to open the relay when a control signal of the controller is interrupted in response to the connector being detached from the interface.

4. The relay control system according to claim 3, wherein the control signal is a logic high level, and wherein the relay driver switch is configured to open the relay when the logic high level is interrupted in response to the connector being detached from the interface.

5. The relay control system according to claim 3, wherein the control signal is an electrical current, and wherein the relay driver switch is configured to open the relay when the electrical current is interrupted in response to the connector being detached from the interface.

6. The relay control system according to claim 1, wherein one of the power supply lines is routed across the interface, and wherein the relay is configured to open when the one of the power supply lines is interrupted in response to the connector being detached from the interface.

7. The relay control system according to claim 6, wherein the one of the power supply lines is routed across the interface and extends between the relay driver switch and the coil.

8. The relay control system according to claim 1, wherein the power supply is an AC power supply.

9. The relay control system according to claim 1, wherein the power supply is a DC power supply.

10. The relay control system according to claim 1, wherein the relay driver switch is a high side driver switch.

11. The relay control system according to claim 1, wherein the relay driver switch is a low side driver switch.

12. A battery system comprising the relay control system according to claim 1.

13. The battery system according to claim 12, further comprising: a plurality of battery cells electrically connected between a first output terminal and second output terminal; and output power lines respectively connected to the first output terminal and the second output terminal, wherein the relay is integrated in one of the output power lines.

14. A vehicle including the battery system according to claim 12.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] Aspects and features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by describing, in detail, embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[0036] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a relay control system and a battery system according to a first embodiment; and

[0037] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a relay control system and a battery system according to a second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Aspects and features of the embodiments, and implementation methods thereof, will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals denote like elements, and redundant descriptions may be omitted. The present disclosure, however, may be embodied in various different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments illustrated herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided as examples so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the aspects and features of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art.

[0039] Accordingly, processes, elements, and techniques that are not considered necessary to those having ordinary skill in the art for a complete understanding of the aspects and features of the present disclosure may not be described. In the figures, dimensions of the various elements, layers, etc. may be exaggerated for clarity of illustration. The same reference numerals designate the same elements. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Further, the use of “may” when describing embodiments of the present disclosure relates to “one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.” Expressions, such as “at least one of,” when preceding a list of elements, modify the entire list of elements and do not modify the individual elements of the list. As used herein, the terms “use,” “using,” and “used” may be considered synonymous with the terms “utilize,” “utilizing,” and “utilized,” respectively. As used herein, the terms “substantially,” “about,” and similar terms are used as terms of approximation and not as terms of degree, and are intended to account for the inherent variations in measured or calculated values that would be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art.

[0040] Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” or “over” the other elements or features. Thus, the term “below” may encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations), and the spatially relative descriptors used herein should be interpreted accordingly.

[0041] It will be understood that although the terms “first” and “second” are used to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another element. For example, a first element may be named a second element and, similarly, a second element may be named a first element, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Expressions such as “at least one of,” when preceding a list of elements, modify the entire list of elements and do not modify the individual elements of the list.

[0042] It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, connected, or coupled to the other element or layer or one or more intervening elements or layers may also be present. When an element or layer is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there are no intervening elements or layers present. For example, when a first element is described as being “coupled” or “connected” to a second element, the first element may be directly coupled or connected to the second element or the first element may be indirectly coupled or connected to the second element via one or more intervening elements.

[0043] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing embodiments of the present disclosure and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a” and “an” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “includes,” “including,” “comprises,” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

[0044] The electronic or electric devices and/or any other relevant devices or components according to embodiments of the present disclosure described herein may be implemented utilizing any suitable hardware, firmware (e.g. an application-specific integrated circuit), software, or a combination of software, firmware, and hardware. Further, the various components of these devices may be implemented on a flexible printed circuit film, a tape carrier package (TCP), a printed circuit board (PCB), or formed on one substrate. The electrical connections or interconnections described herein may be realized by wires or conducting elements, e.g. on a PCB or another kind of circuit carrier. The conducting elements may comprise metallization, e.g. surface metallizations and/or pins, and/or may comprise conductive polymers or ceramics.

[0045] Further electrical energy might be transmitted via wireless connections, e.g. using electromagnetic radiation and/or light.

[0046] Further, the various components of these devices may be a process or thread, running on one or more processors, in one or more computing devices, executing computer program instructions and interacting with other system components for performing the various functionalities described herein. The computer program instructions are stored in a memory which may be implemented in a computing device using a standard memory device, such as, for example, a random access memory (RAM). The computer program instructions may also be stored in other non-transitory computer readable media such as, for example, a CD-ROM, flash drive, or the like.

[0047] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and/or the present specification, and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense, unless expressly so defined herein.

[0048] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a relay control system 10 and a battery system 100 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0049] The relay control system 10 includes an electrical interface 20. The interface 20 may be formed in a support panel 24 and/or in a support frame of the relay control system 10 of the battery system 100. The support panel 24 may be part of a housing. A connector 22, for example, a service connector, is detachably connected to the interface 20. The interface 20 may include a first interface terminal I1 and a second interface terminal I2. The connector 22 may include a first connector terminal C1 and a second connector terminal C2, which are respectively connected to the corresponding interface terminals I1, I2. The connector 22 and/or the interface 20 may include mechanical fixation elements, which allow for a releasable mechanical coupling by, for example, a user for service or maintenance.

[0050] For example, the connector 22 can repeatedly detached from and (re)attached to the interface 20. The connector 22 may be a service plug or a service connector, which is removed from the interface 20 for when service is to be performed.

[0051] The connector 22 may have a conductive section which, when the connector 22 is connected to the interface 20, electrically connects the interface terminals I1, I2 through the conductive section of the connector 22.

[0052] The relay control system 10 further includes a power supply 60, which may be an integrated power supply. The power supply 60 may include a first voltage terminal V1 and a second voltage terminal V2. In the illustrated embodiment, the power supply may be a DC power supply, but in other embodiments, the power supply may be an AC power supply. When the power supply 60 is a DC power supply, the first voltage terminal V1 may be a plus (or positive) pole and the second voltage terminal V2 may be a minus (or negative) pole, for example. The power supply 60 may provide a current of, for example, about 1 A and a voltage of, for example, more than about 5 V, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The power supply 60 is electrically connected in parallel with a coil 32 of a relay 30. The power supply 60 provides a current to flow through the coil 32. For example, when the relay 30 is in a closed (or conductive) state, the current provided by the power supply may flow through the coil 32. The power supply 60 may be electrically connected to the coil 32 by power supply lines PL1; PL2. The first power supply line PL1 may interconnect the first voltage terminal V1 with the coil 32. The second power supply line PL2 may interconnect the second voltage terminal V2 with the coil 32.

[0053] The relay control system 10 further includes a relay driver switch 40. The relay driver switch 40 is interconnected between the power supply 60 and the coil 32 in one of the power supply lines PL1, PL2. In the illustrated embodiment, the relay driver switch 40 is integrated in the first power supply line PL1. Thus, the relay driver switch 40 in this example is a high side driver switch while the coil 32 is directly connected to the second voltage terminal V2. However, the relay driver switch may, in other embodiments, be a low side driver switch.

[0054] Further, the relay control system 10 may include a controller 50 (e.g., a microcontroller). The controller 50 is connected in parallel to the relay driver switch 40 through relay driver control lines RL1; RL2. The controller 50 controls the relay driver switch 40. A first relay driver control line RL1 may interconnect a first voltage output terminal of the controller 50 with the relay driver switch 40, while the second relay driver control line RL2 may interconnect a second voltage output terminal with the relay driver switch 40.

[0055] In the illustrated example, the first power supply line PL1 from among the power supply lines PL1; PL2 is routed across the interface 20, but the present disclosure is not restricted thereto. For example, a first part of the first power supply line PL1 is electrically connected to the interface terminal I1, and a second part of the first power supply line PL2 extends from the interface terminal I2 to the coil 32 of the relay 30. Thus, the first power supply line PL1 is lead through the interface 20 or routed across the interface 20. The first power supply line PL1 may be routed across the interface 20 between the relay driver switch 40 and the coil 32. The interface 20 may be positioned between the relay driver switch 40 and the coil 32 of the relay 30.

[0056] The power supply line PL1 is electrically conductive across the interface 20 when the connector 22 is connected to the interface 20. The conductive section of the connector 22 forms an electric continuation across the interface 20. Thus, when the connector 22 is connected to the interface 20, the first power supply line PL1 is non-interrupted (or is conductive) across the interface 20. Otherwise, when the connector 22 is detached or removed from the interface 20, the power supply line PL1 is electrically interrupted (or is non-conductive) across the interface 20. The removal may be a mechanical removal by a user, for example, for service purposes.

[0057] In response to the detachment (or removal) of the connector 22, the relay control system 10 is configured to open the relay 30 when the first power supply line PL1 is interrupted. In the illustrated example, when the power supply line PL1 is interrupted in response to the connector 22 being detached from the interface 20, the relay 30 is configured to open. In this case, because the power supply line PL1 is interrupted, the current flow through the coil 32 is interrupted (or blocked). Thus, in response (e.g., in direct response) to the detachment of the connector 22, the relay 30 is opened because the current through the coil 32 is blocked due to the interruption of the power supply line PL1 across the interface 20.

[0058] The illustrated embodiment provides for intrinsic opening of the relay 30 by using the power supply lines PL1; PL2 such that the interruption of the power line PL1 can directly lead to an opening of the relay 30. For example, the power supply lines PL1, PL2 directly sense the interrupt and open the relay 30. Therefore, the reaction time is particularly fast, and no additional hardware is needed. Only the power supply line PL1 need to be routed across the interface 20 such that the connector 22, when removed, interrupts the power supply line PL1.

[0059] Further, a battery system 100 including the relay control system 10 is described. For example, the battery system 100 may include a plurality of battery cells 110 electrically connected between a first output terminal 111 and second output terminal 112. The first output terminal 111 may refer to the high output voltage. Further, output power lines may be respectively connected to the first output terminal 111 and the second output terminal 112. In the illustrated example, the relay 30, 34 is integrated in the power line connected to the high output voltage (e.g., the first output terminal 111). Further, a load 115 may be electrically connected in parallel to the plurality of battery cells 110.

[0060] Therefore, when the relay 30, 34 is opened in response to the connector 22 being detached from the interface 20, the battery becomes disconnected through the opening of the relay 30, 34. For example, in response to the opening of the relay 30, a load 115 becomes disconnected from the battery voltage and, thus, hazardous voltages are removed.

[0061] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a relay control system 10 and a battery system 100 according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. Redundant descriptions with respect to FIG. 1 may be omitted for the sake of conciseness. Details described as having the same features as in FIG. 1 above apply to the embodiment described below and may be omitted for the purpose of conciseness.

[0062] The relay control system 10 for a battery system 100 according to the illustrated embodiment includes an electrical interface 20 to which a connector 22 is detachably connected. The power supply 60 is electrically connected in parallel to a coil 32 of a relay 30 via power supply lines PL1, PL2. The relay driver switch 40 is interconnected between the power supply 60 and the coil 32 in one of the power supply lines PL1, PL2. The controller 50 (e.g., the microcontroller) is electrically connected in parallel to the relay driver switch 40 by relay driver control lines RL1; RL2 to control the relay driver switch 40. The relay driver switch may be a high side driver switch.

[0063] In the illustrated embodiment, different from the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, one of the relay driver control lines from among the relay driver control lines RL1; RL2 is routed across the interface 20. In one embodiment, the first relay driver control line RL1 is routed across the interface 20. In other embodiments, the second relay driver control line RL2 may be routed across the interface 20. For example, the first relay driver control line RL1 is routed across the interface 20 and may interconnect a first output terminal of the controller 50 with the relay driver switch 40. The second relay driver control line RL2 may be directly connected to the relay driver switch 40.

[0064] The interface 20 is configured in the same manner as in FIG. 1. For example, the first relay driver control line RL1 is electrically conductive across the interface 20 when the connector 22 is connected to the interface 20. Further, the relay driver control line RL1 is electrically interrupted at the interface 20 when the connector 22 is detached from the interface 20. For example, a first part of the first relay driver control line RL1 is electrically connected to the first interface terminal I1, and a second part of the first relay driver control line RL2 extends from the second interface terminal I2 to the relay driver switch 40. The conductive section of the connector 22 forms an electric continuation across the interface 20 for the first relay driver control line RL1.

[0065] Thus, when the connector 22 is connected to the interface 20, the first relay driver control line RL1 is non-interrupted. Otherwise, when the connector 22 is detached (or removed) from the interface 20, the first relay driver control line RL1 is electrically interrupted (i.e., is non-conductive) across the interface 20.

[0066] Also, in this embodiment, the relay control system 10 is configured to open the relay 30 when the relay driver control lines RL1 is interrupted and in response to the connector 22 being detached from the interface 20.

[0067] In the illustrated embodiment, the relay driver switch 40 is configured to open the relay 30 when the relay driver control line RL1 is interrupted in response to the connector 22 being detached from the interface 20. Therefore, the relay 30 is not directly opened, as compared to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, but is opened via the relay driver switch 40. For example, when the relay driver switch 40 is opened in response to the connector 22 being detached as described above, the first power line PL1 is interrupted (or disconnected) from the power supply 60 such that the current flow through the coil 32 is interrupted (or blocked). As a result, the relay 30 may open.

[0068] Thus, the relay 30 can be opened by using the relay driver control lines RL1; RL2 to sense the interruption due to the detachment of the connector 22. Because only relatively small voltages, for example, about 3.3 V or about 5V, and currents are present in the relay driver control circuit, the use of control lines provides improved electromagnetic compatibility and, thus, can be used in environments where low interference is needed. Also, electric arcs at the interface 20 may be prevented when the relay control lines RL1, RL2 are used. For example, the power supply 60 may be configured as an AC power source to save energy but still have high electromagnetic compatibility. However, a DC power source may be used.

[0069] The opening of the relay driver switch 40 can be performed by one or more of the following examples. The relay driver switch 40 may be configured to open the relay 30 when a control signal of the controller 50 is interrupted in response to the connector 22 being detached from the interface 20. For example, the relay driver switch 40 may receive a control signal (e.g., a permanent or constant control signal) in the closed state, which may be the default state. When this control signal is interrupted, this interruption is indicative of the connector 22 being detached from the interface 20. Thus, the interruption of the control signal may initiate the opening of the relay driver switch 40.

[0070] In an example, the control signal may be a logic high level (e.g., a logic ‘1’, for example, 3.3 V or 5V). The interruption of the relay driver control line RL1 interrupts the control signal such that the logic high level is interrupted (e.g., is not received by or not applied to the relay driver switch 40). Also, the control signal may be an electrical current and the relay driver switch 40 is configured to open the relay 30 when the electrical current is interrupted (e.g., blocked) in response to the connector 22 being detached from the interface 20. The interruption of the electric current may, thus, trigger the relay driver switch 40 to open the relay 30 by disconnecting the coil 32 from the power supply 60.

[0071] Also, in the illustrated embodiment, a battery system 100 may be provided which includes the relay control system 10. For example, the battery system 100 may include a plurality of battery cells 110 electrically connected between a first output terminal 111 and second output terminal 112. The first output terminal 111 may refer to the high output voltage. Further, output power lines may be respectively connected to the first output terminal 111 and the second output terminal 112. In the illustrated example, the relay 34 is integrated in the power line connected to the high output voltage (e.g., the first output terminal 111). Further, a load 115 may be electrically connected in parallel to the plurality of battery cells 110.

[0072] When one of the power supply lines or one of the relay driver control lines is routed across the interface 20, detaching the connector 22 is directly recognizable through these internal control lines and detachment is directly sensed and can be directly used to open the relay 30. Safety is increased because no additional failure rates (e.g., points of possible failure) need to be considered. Further, the reaction time is fast as there is no HVIL and no additional hardware and software units involved.

Some Reference Numerals

[0073] 10 relay control system

[0074] 20 interface

[0075] 22 connector

[0076] 24 support panel

[0077] 30, 34 relay

[0078] 32 coil

[0079] 40 relay driver switch

[0080] 50 controller/microcontroller

[0081] 60 power supply

[0082] V1 first voltage terminal

[0083] V2 second voltage terminal

[0084] PL1 power supply line

[0085] PL2 power supply line

[0086] RL1 relay driver control line

[0087] RL2 relay driver control line

[0088] C1, C2 first/second connector terminal

[0089] I1, I2 first/second interface terminal

[0090] 100 battery system

[0091] 111 first output terminal

[0092] 112 second output terminal

[0093] 115 load