DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ACHIEVING DYNAMIC CHARGING AND BALANCE OF BATTERY CELLS AND RECHARGEABLE BATTERY DEVICE
20220329079 · 2022-10-13
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
H02J7/0014
ELECTRICITY
Y02E60/10
GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
H01M2010/4271
ELECTRICITY
H01M10/425
ELECTRICITY
G01R31/396
PHYSICS
H01M10/482
ELECTRICITY
International classification
H02J7/00
ELECTRICITY
G01R31/396
PHYSICS
H01M10/42
ELECTRICITY
Abstract
A device for achieving dynamic charging and balance of battery cells is disclosed. The device is configured for monitoring a plurality of battery voltages from a plurality of battery cells in a multi-cell battery pack. In case of a battery voltage difference between two of the battery cells being greater than a pre-determined voltage difference, the device generates a plurality of balance charging currents for charging the battery cells. In which, each of the balance charging currents is calculated based on remaining charge time, measured battery voltage, and rated battery capacity. Thus, in a charge cycle, one balance charging current for charging the battery cell with low battery voltage is designed to be greater than another one balance charging current for charging the battery cell with high battery voltage. Consequently, elimination of the battery voltage difference existing between any two of the battery cells is achieved.
Claims
1. A device for achieving dynamic charging and balance of battery cells, being applied in a multi-cell battery pack that comprises a plurality of battery cells and a battery management circuit, wherein the device is integrated in the battery management circuit, and comprising: a battery voltage sensing unit, being coupled to the plurality of battery cells, so as to apply a battery voltage detection to each of the plurality of battery cells, thereby outputting a plurality of voltage sensing signals; and a battery balancing module, being coupled to the battery voltage sensing unit to receive the plurality of voltage sensing signals, and being also coupled to a controller unit of the battery management circuit; wherein the battery balancing module comprises: a first signal processing unit for converting the plurality of voltage sensing signals to a plurality of battery voltages; and a balance executing unit, being coupled to the first signal processing unit 1341 for receiving the plurality of battery voltages, and being configured to generates a plurality of balance charging currents for charging the plurality of battery cells of the multi-cell battery pack; wherein an intensity of each of the balance charging currents is calculated based on a target battery voltage, a remaining charge time, the battery voltage, and a rated battery capacity.
2. The device of claim 1, further comprising: a charging current sensing unit, being coupled to the controller unit of the battery management circuit, so as to apply a current detection to a charging current that is transmitted from the controller unit to the multi-cell battery pack, thereby generating a charging current sensing signal.
3. The device of claim 2, wherein the battery balancing module further comprises: a second signal processing unit, being coupled to the charging current sensing unit for receiving the charging current sensing signal, so as to convert the charging current sensing signal to a charging current; wherein the second signal processing unit is also coupled to the balance executing unit, such that the balance executing unit acquires an intensity of the charging current from the second signal processing unit; and a time counter, being coupled to the balance executing unit, and being adopted for counting a passing charge time of the battery cell, such that the balance executing unit calculates the remaining charge time according to a pre-determined charge time and the passing charge time that is acquired from the time counter.
4. The device of claim 3, wherein the battery balancing module further comprises: a storage unit, being coupled to the balance executing unit, and storing with a plurality of setting parameters, wherein the plurality of setting parameters comprises: the pre-determined charge time, the target battery voltage and the rated battery capacity.
5. The device of claim 4, wherein the balance executing unit utilizes following mathematical formula to complete a calculation of the balance charging current:
6. The device of claim 4, wherein the balance executing unit utilizes following mathematical formula to complete a calculation of the balance charging current:
7. The device of claim 1, wherein the battery management circuit is configured to further perform a plurality of functions of temperature sensing, overcharge protection, over- discharge protection, overcurrent protection, short circuit protection, and charge time protection.
8. The device of claim 1, wherein in case of the balance charging current being greater than a maximum charging current, the balance executing unit down-regulating an intensity of the balance charging current to be equal to an intensity of the maximum charging current.
9. The device of claim 1, wherein in case of the balance charging current being greater than a minimum charging current, the balance executing unit up-regulating an intensity of the balance charging current to be equal to an intensity of the minimum charging current.
10. A method for achieving dynamic charging and balance of battery cells, being executed by a battery balancing module, wherein a multi-cell battery pack comprises a plurality of battery cells and a battery management circuit, and the battery balancing module being integrated in the battery management circuit; the method comprising steps of: (1) controlling a voltage sensing unit to apply a battery voltage detection to each of the plurality of battery cells, thereby acquiring a plurality of battery voltages corresponding to the plurality of battery cells; (2) starting a battery voltage balancing treatment for the multi-cell battery pack in case of there being any two of the plurality of battery cells having a battery voltage difference that is greater than an upper threshold value; (3) generating a plurality of balance charging currents for charging the plurality of battery cells of the multi-cell battery pack; wherein an intensity of each of the plurality of balance charging currents is calculated based on a target battery voltage, a remaining charge time, the battery voltage, and a rated battery capacity; and (4) repeatedly executing the forgoing steps (1)-(3), and then stopping battery voltage balancing treatment for the multi-cell battery pack in case of the battery voltage difference is down-regulated to be less than a lower threshold value.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the battery balancing module comprises: a first signal processing unit, being coupled to the battery voltage sensing unit to receive a plurality of voltage sensing signals, thereby converting the plurality of voltage sensing signals to the plurality of battery voltages; a second signal processing unit, being coupled to a charging current sensing unit that is coupled to a controller unit of the battery management circuit; wherein the charging current sensing unit detecting a charging current transmitted from the controller unit so as to generate a charging current sensing signal, and the second signal processing unit converting the charging current sensing signal to a charging current; a balance executing unit, being coupled to the first signal processing unit for receiving the plurality of battery voltages, and being also coupled to the second signal processing unit for acquires an intensity of the charging current; wherein the balance executing unit is configured to generates the plurality of balance charging currents; a storage unit, being coupled to the balance executing unit, and storing with a plurality of setting parameters, wherein the plurality of setting parameters comprises: the pre-determined charge time, the target battery voltage and the rated battery capacity; and a time counter, being coupled to the balance executing unit, and being adopted for counting a passing charge time of the battery cell, such that the balance executing unit calculates the remaining charge time according to a pre-determined charge time and the passing charge time that is acquired from the time counter.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the balance executing unit utilizes following mathematical formula to complete a calculation of the balance charging current:
13. The method of claim 11, wherein the balance executing unit utilizes following mathematical formula to complete a calculation of the balance charging current:
14. The method of claim 10, wherein the battery management circuit is further configured to perform a plurality functions of temperature sensing, overcharge protection, over- discharge protection, overcurrent protection, short circuit protection, and charge time protection.
15. The method of claim 10, wherein in case of the balance charging current being greater than a maximum charging current, the battery balancing module down-regulating an intensity of the balance charging current to be equal to an intensity of the maximum charging current.
16. The method of claim 10, wherein in case of the balance charging current being greater than a minimum charging current, the battery balancing module up-regulating an intensity of the balance charging current to be equal to an intensity of the minimum charging current.
17. A rechargeable battery device comprising a multi-cell battery pack that comprises a plurality of battery cells and a battery management circuit, characterized in that there is a battery balancing module integrated in the battery management circuit for executing a method for achieving dynamic charging and balance of battery cells; the method comprising steps of: (1) controlling a voltage sensing unit to apply a battery voltage detection to each of the plurality of battery cells, thereby acquiring a plurality of battery voltages corresponding to the plurality of battery cells; (2) starting a battery voltage balancing treatment for the multi-cell battery pack in case of there being any two of the plurality of battery cells having a battery voltage difference that is greater than an upper threshold value; (3) generating a plurality of balance charging currents for charging the plurality of battery cells of the multi-cell battery pack; wherein an intensity of each of the plurality of balance charging currents is calculated based on a target battery voltage, a remaining charge time, the battery voltage, and a rated battery capacity; and (4) repeatedly executing the forgoing steps (1)-(3), and then stopping battery voltage balancing treatment for the multi-cell battery pack in case of the battery voltage difference is down-regulated to be less than a lower threshold value.
18. The rechargeable battery device of claim 17, the rechargeable battery device is applied in power supply of an apparatus selected from a group consisting of cordless electrical device, electric vehicle, electric scooter, and high-capacity power bank.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0038] The invention as well as a preferred mode of use and advantages thereof will be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0039]
[0040]
[0041]
[0042]
[0043]
[0044]
[0045]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0046] To more clearly describe a device and method for achieving dynamic charging and balance of battery cells disclosed by the present invention, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings hereinafter.
[0047] With reference to
[0048] As
[0049] When the rechargeable battery device 32 using the multi-cell battery pack 1 is in a low capacity state or is going to run down, it needs to use the charging device 33 to charge the rechargeable battery device 32. During the charging of the rechargeable battery device 32, the charge device generates a constant charging current, such that the controller unit 131 of the battery management circuit 13 transmits the charging current to each of the battery cells 11. From
[0050] As described in more detail below, the battery balancing module 134 is coupled to the controller unit 131, the battery voltage sensing unit 132 and the charging current sensing unit 133, and comprises: a first signal processing unit 1341, a second signal processing unit 1342, a storage unit 1343, a time counter 1344, and a balance executing unit 1340. In which, the first signal processing unit 1341 is coupled to the battery voltage sensing unit 132 to receive a plurality of voltage sensing signals, thereby converting the plurality of voltage sensing signals to the plurality of battery voltages. On the other hand, the second signal processing unit 1342 is coupled to the charging current sensing unit 133 for receiving the charging current sensing signal, so as to convert the charging current sensing signal to a charging current.
[0051] According to the present invention, the balance executing unit 1340 is configured for starting to apply a battery voltage balancing treatment for the multi-cell battery pack 1 in case of there being any two of the plurality of battery cells 11 having a battery voltage difference that is greater than an upper threshold value. During the execution of the battery voltage balancing treatment, the balance executing unit 1340 firstly generates a plurality of balance charging currents, and then utilizes the balance charging currents to charge the battery cells 11 of the multi-cell battery pack 1 for a number of times of charging cycles. In each of the charging cycles, each balance charging current's intensity is calculated based on a target battery voltage, a remaining charge time, the battery voltage (detected by battery voltage sensing unit 132), and a rated battery capacity (of the battery cell).
[0052] Commercial battery management circuit 13 is commonly configured to further perform a plurality of functions, including: temperature sensing, overcharge protection, over-discharge protection, overcurrent protection, short circuit protection, and charge time protection. Therefore, during the charging of the multi-cell battery pack 1, the management circuit 13 stops charging the multi-cell battery pack 1 in case of a total charge time of the multi-cell battery pack 1 being over a pre-determined charge time (e.g., 7 hours, by the intensity of the constant charging current). According to the present invention, the so-called remaining charge time can be calculated by subtracting a passing charge time from the pre-determined charge time. Accordingly, as
[0053] Moreover, the storage unit 1343 is coupled to the balance executing unit 1340, and stores with a plurality of setting parameters, wherein the plurality of setting parameters comprises: the pre-determined charge time, the target battery voltage and the rated battery capacity. Thus, during the execution of the battery voltage balancing treatment, the balance executing unit 1340 generates a plurality of balance charging currents in each of the charging cycles, according to the target battery voltage, the remaining charge time, the battery voltage, and the rated battery capacity.
[0054] As described in more detail below, the balance executing unit 1340 utilizes following mathematical formula (I) or (II) to complete a calculation of the balance charging current:
[0055] In the forgoing two mathematical formulas, K is a scale coefficient, I.sub.B is the balance charging current, B.sub.C is the rated battery capacity, V.sub.target is the target battery voltage, V.sub.cell is the battery voltage, and T.sub.C is the remaining charge time. According to the present invention, the balance executing unit 1340 down-regulates the intensity of the balance charging current to be equal to that of the maximum charging current (e.g., 450 mA) in case of the balance charging current being greater than a maximum charging current. On the other hand, in case of the balance charging current being greater than a minimum charging current (e.g., 45 mA or 140 mA), the balance executing unit 1340 up-regulates an intensity of the balance charging current to be equal to an intensity of the minimum charging current.
[0056] For example, it is able to take Samsung ICR18650-22P consisting of 22 pieces of 18650 lithium-ion rechargeable battery cells as a sample of the multi-cell battery pack 1, and then set a target battery voltage, a maximum charging current and a minimum charging current to be 4.3V, 450 mA and 45 mA, respectively. Please refer to following Table (2), which lists the balance charging currents generated by the balance executing unit 1340 in difference charging cycles, based on different remaining charge time and battery voltages. It needs to further explain that the rated battery capacity of the battery cell (11) is 2200 mA/h, and the balance charging currents listed in following Table (2) are calculated by using the mathematical formula (I).
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 6 hrs 5 hrs 4 hrs 3 hrs 2 hrs 1 hr 3.2 V 403.3 450.0 450.0 450.0 450.0 450.0 mA mA mA mA mA mA 3.3 V 366.7 440.0 450.0 450.0 450.0 450.0 mA mA mA mA mA mA 3.4 V 330.0 396.0 450.0 450.0 450.0 450.0 mA mA mA mA mA mA 3.5 V 293.3 352.0 440.0 450.0 450.0 450.0 mA mA mA mA mA mA 3.6 V 256.7 308.0 385.0 450.0 450.0 450.0 mA mA mA mA mA mA 3.7 V 220.0 264.0 330.0 440.0 450.0 450.0 mA mA mA mA mA mA 3.8 V 183.3 220.0 275.0 366.7 450.0 450.0 mA mA mA mA mA mA 3.9 V 146.7 176.0 220.0 293.3 440.0 450.0 mA mA mA mA mA mA 4.0 V 110.0 132.0 165.0 220.0 330.0 450.0 mA mA mA mA mA mA 4.1 V 73.3 88.0 110.0 146.7 220.0 440.0 mA mA mA mA mA mA 4.2 V 45.0 45.0 55.0 73.3 110.0 220.0 mA mA mA mA mA mA
[0057]
[0058] On the other hand, it can also take Samsung ICR18650-22P consisting of 22 pieces of 18650 lithium-ion rechargeable battery cells as a sample of the multi-cell battery pack 1, and then set a target battery voltage, a maximum charging current and a minimum charging current to be 4.3V, 450 mA and 140 mA, respectively. Please refer to following Table (3), which lists the balance charging currents generated by the balance executing unit 1340 in difference charging cycles, based on different remaining charge time and battery voltages. It needs to further explain that the rated battery capacity of the battery cell 11 is 2200 mA/h, and the balance charging currents listed in following Table (3) are calculated by using the mathematical formula (I).
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 6 hrs 5 hrs 4 hrs 3 hrs 2 hrs 1 hr 3.2 V 450 450.0 450.0 450.0 450.0 450.0 mA mA mA mA mA mA 3.3 V 449.1 450.0 450.0 450.0 450.0 450.0 Ma mA mA mA mA mA 3.4 V 429.0 450.0 450.0 450.0 450.0 450.0 mA mA mA mA mA mA 3.5 V 401.7 440.0 450.0 450.0 450.0 450.0 mA mA mA mA mA mA 3.6 V 375.7 411.6 450.0 450.0 450.0 450.0 mA mA mA mA mA mA 3.7 V 347.9 381.1 426.0 450.0 450.0 450.0 mA mA mA mA mA mA 3.8 V 317.5 347.9 388.9 449.1 450.0 450.0 mA mA mA mA mA mA 3.9 V 284.0 311.1 347.9 401.7 450.0 450.0 mA mA mA mA mA mA 4.0 V 246.0 269.4 301.2 347.9 426.0 450.0 mA mA mA mA mA mA 4.1 V 200.8 220.0 246.0 284.0 347.9 450.0 mA mA mA mA mA mA 4.2 V 142.0 155.6 173.9 200.8 246.0 347.9 mA mA mA mA mA mA
[0059]
[0060] Thus through above descriptions, all embodiments and their constituting elements of the device for achieving dynamic charging and balance of battery cells according to the present invention have been introduced completely. Furthermore, the present invention also discloses a method for achieving dynamic charging and balance of battery cells, which is executed by a battery balancing module 134 (as shown in
[0061] As
[0062] After the Samsung ICR18650-22P (i.e., a sample of the multi-cell battery pack 1) is applied with the battery voltage balancing treatment, related experimental data have been recorded in following Table (4). From Table (4), it is found that the balance executing unit 1340 accomplished the (battery voltage) balance of the 22 pieces of battery cells 11 of the Samsung ICR18650-22P by 6 times of charge cycles. Moreover, experiment data of the multi-cell battery pack 1 (Samsung ICR18650-22P) shows that a first (total) charge time and a second (total) charge time in the first time and the second charging cycles are 3.25 hours and 4.76 hours, respectively. Clearly, 3.25 hours and 4.76 hours are both just a little bit lower than the pre-determined charge time (e.g., 6 hours), implying that that method disclosed by the present invention also make good use of the pre-determined charge time.
TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Maximum battery Minimum battery voltage of battery voltage of battery Charging cell 11a cell 11a cycle (Vcell_MAX) (Vcell_MIN) Charge time Run1 3.95 V 3.60 V 3.25 hours (First time) Run2 3.77 V 3.32 V 4.76 hours (Second time) Run3 3.70 V 3.34 V 5.18 hours (Third time) Run4 3.68 V 3.42 V 5.42 hours (Fourth time) Run5 3.58 V 3.33 V 5.81 hours (Fifth time) Run6 3.5 V 3.35 V 6.03 hours (Sixth time)
[0063] Therefore, through above descriptions, all embodiments and their constituting elements of the device for achieving dynamic charging and balance of battery cells according to the present invention have been introduced completely and clearly. The above description is made on embodiments of the present invention. However, the embodiments are not intended to limit scope of the present invention, and all equivalent implementations or alterations within the spirit of the present invention still fall within the scope of the present invention.