TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to batteries. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a battery management system.

BACKGROUND

Rechargeable lithium batteries are appealing energy storage devices for portable electronic devices and electrical system because of their high specific energy compared to other electrochemical energy storage devices.

Various problems arrive for conventional battery management system to detect one or more parameters such as each cell voltage, internal resistance, current, temperature, and the like of the battery cells in a battery pack. One of the major problems arrives to perform testing of each battery in a battery pack to detect the one or more parameters. Performing test of individual cells in a battery pack to detect the one or more parameters. Performing test of individual cells or batteries in a battery pack is one of a major point of concern in electronics industry.

Therefore, there exists a need for a battery management system that is capable of solving aforementioned problems of the conventional battery management systems.

SUMMARY

In view of the foregoing, a battery management system is disclosed. The battery management system includes a plurality of batteries, a plurality of sensors, and processing circuitry. The plurality of sensors coupled to each battery of the plurality of batteries such that the plurality of sensors is configured to sense signals representing one or more parameters of each battery of the plurality of batteries. The processing circuitry is coupled to the plurality of sensors and configured to determine, based on the one or more parameters of each battery of the plurality of batteries, a status signal. The status signal includes a positive value and a negative value. The processing circuitry is further configured to generate one of, a null signal and a control signal, when the status signal has the positive and negative values, respectively. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the one or more parameters includes balancing, temperature, voltage, and current.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the status signal has the positive value when the one or more parameters are within pre-defined limits of the one or more parameters and the status signal has the negative value when the one or more parameters are beyond the pre-defined limits of the one or more parameters.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the processing circuitry is further configured to, upon generation of the control signal, control the one or more parameters to maintain the one or more parameters within the predefined limits.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, upon generation of the null signal, the one or more parameters remains unchanged.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the battery management system further includes a switch that is coupled to the processing circuitry and configured to, upon generation of the null signal, facilitate an electrical connection between a positive terminal and a negative terminal of each battery of the plurality of batteries.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the battery management system further includes a detection unit that is coupled to each battery of the plurality of batteries and configured to detect one of, an internal resistance and an internal impedance of each battery of the plurality of batteries.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the detection unit is further configured to, based on one of, the internal resistance and the internal impedance, determine state of charge, state of life, and health parameters associated with each battery of the plurality of batteries.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the detection unit includes one of, a DCLT circuit and an ACLT circuit to facilitate balancing of each battery of the plurality of batteries such that the balancing is remotely controlled. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the DCLT ACLT circuits are integrated as single microchip.

In some aspects of the present disclosure, a method for determining status of each battery of a plurality of batteries is disclosed. The method includes sensing signals representing one or more parameters of each battery of the plurality of batteries. The method further includes the one or more parameters comprises balancing, temperature, voltage, and current. The method further includes determining a status signal based on the one or more parameters of each battery of the plurality of batteries. The status signal includes a positive value and a negative value. The method further includes generating one of, a null signal and a control signal when the status signal has the positive and negative values, respectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The above and still further features and advantages of embodiments of the present disclosure becomes apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of embodiments thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a battery management system, in accordance with an embodiment herein;

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a detection unit, in accordance with an embodiment herein;

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of an ACLT circuit, in accordance with an embodiment herein; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart of a method for determining status of each battery of a plurality of batteries, in accordance with an embodiment herein.

To facilitate understanding, like reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate like elements common to the figures. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a battery management system. The following description provides specific details of certain embodiments of the disclosure illustrated in the drawings to provide a thorough understanding of those embodiments. It should be recognized, however, that the present disclosure can be reflected in additional embodiments and the disclosure may be practiced without some of the details in the following description.

The various embodiments including the example embodiments are now described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the various embodiments of the disclosure are shown. The disclosure may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure is thorough and complete, and fully conveys the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the sizes of components may be exaggerated for clarity.

It is understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it can be directly on, connected to, or coupled to the other element or layer or intervening elements or layers that may be present. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

The subject matter of example embodiments, as disclosed herein, is described specifically to meet statutory requirements. However, the description itself is not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Rather, the inventor/inventors have contemplated that the claimed subject matter might also be embodied in other ways, to include different features or combinations of features similar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction with other technologies. Generally, the various embodiments including the example embodiments relate to a battery management system. FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a battery management system 100 (hereinafter referred to and designated as “the system 100”), in accordance with an embodiment herein. The system 100 may include a plurality of batteries 102a-102n (hereinafter collectively referred to and designated as “the batteries 102”), a plurality of sensors 104a-104n (hereinafter collectively referred to and designated as “the sensors 104”), processing circuitry 106, a switch 108, and a detection unit 110.

Each battery of the batteries 102 may have a positive terminal 112a and a negative terminal 112b. The sensors 104 may be coupled to each battery of the batteries 102. The sensors 104 may be configured to sense signals representing one or more parameters of each battery of the batteries 102.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the one or more parameters may include balancing, temperature, voltage, and current.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the sensors 104 may include, but not limited to, voltage sensors, current sensors, temperature sensors, and the like.

The processing circuitry 106 may be coupled to the sensors 104. The processing circuitry 106 may be configured to determine, based on the one or more parameters of each battery of the batteries 102, a status signal. The status signal may include a positive value and a negative value. The processing circuitry 106 may be configured to generate a null signal and a control when the status signal has the positive and negative values, respectively. The status signal may have the positive value when the one or more parameters are within pre-defined limits of the one or more parameters. The status signal may have the negative value when the one or more parameters are beyond the pre-defined limits of the one or more parameters. The processing circuitry 106 may be further configured to, upon generation of the control signal, control the one or more parameters to maintain the one or more parameters within the predefined limits. The one or more parameters may remain unchanged upon generation of the null signal. In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 106 may be any or a combination of microprocessor, microcontroller, Arduino Uno, At mega 328, Raspberry Pi or other similar processing unit, and the like. In yet another embodiment, the processing circuitry 106 may include one or more processors coupled with a memory (not shown) such that the memory storing computer-readable instructions executable by the one or more processors.

In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 106 may be implemented as one or more microprocessors, microcomputers, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, central processing units, logic circuitries, and/or any devices that manipulate data based on operational instructions stored in a memory. The computer-readable instructions or routines stored in the memory may be fetched and executed to create or share the data units over a network service. The memory may include any non-transitory storage device including, for example, volatile memory such as RAM, or non-volatile memory such as EPROM, flash memory, and the like.

In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 106 may be implemented as a combination of hardware and programming (for example, programmable instructions) to implement one or more functionalities of the processing circuitry 106. In examples described herein, such combinations of hardware and programming may be implemented in several different ways. For example, the programming for the processing circuitry 106 may be processor executable instructions stored on a non- transitory machine-readable storage medium and the hardware for the processing circuitry 106 may include a processing resource (for example, one or more processors), to execute such instructions. In the present examples, the machine-readable storage medium may store instructions that, when executed by the processing resource, implement the processing circuitry 106. In such examples, the processing circuitry 106 may include the machine-readable storage medium storing the instructions and the processing resource to execute the instructions, or the machine-readable storage medium may be separate but accessible to the processing circuitry 106 and the processing resource. In other examples, the processing circuitry 106 may be implemented by an electronic circuitry.

The switch 108 may be coupled to each battery of the batteries 102 and the processing circuitry 106. The switch 108 may be configured to, upon generation of the null signal, facilitate an electrical connection between the positive terminal and the negative terminal of each battery of the batteries 102.

The detection unit 110 may be coupled to each battery of the batteries 102. The detection unit 110 may be configured to detect one of, an internal resistance and an internal impedance of each battery of the batteries 102. The detection unit 110 may be further configured to, upon detection of the internal resistance, determine state of charge, state of life, and health parameters associated with each battery of the batteries 102.

In some embodiments, the detection unit 110 may include circuitry like a chipset, a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a server, and the like. The circuitry and type of the detection unit 110 may be changed without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a detection unit 110, in accordance with an embodiment herein. The detection unit 110 may include a battery damage detection engine 202 and a resistive load 204. The battery damage detection engine 202 may be configured to detect the internal resistance of each battery of the batteries 102. The battery damage detection engine 202 may be further configured to determine contact status of batteries 102, state of charge, state of life, and health parameters associated with each battery of the batteries 102.

In some embodiments, the detection unit 110 may be single integrated circuit.

In some embodiments, the detection unit 110 may include a DCLT circuit that may be configured to utilize direct current (DC) to test and determine the internal resistance of each battery of the batteries 102. In some embodiments, the DCLT circuit may perform a load test on each battery of the batteries 102 to determine the internal resistance of each battery of the batteries 102. In some embodiments, the DCLT circuit may facilitate balancing of each battery of the batteries 102. Specifically, the DCLT may facilitate balancing of each battery of the batteries 102 if a voltage difference more than 100 Megavolt (mv) exists. The DCLT circuit may therefore advantageously eliminate the need of disassembling the batteries 102. The DCLT circuit may advantageously save time and cost associated for balancing of each battery of the batteries 102.

In some embodiments, the system 100 may include a user interface (not shown) that may facilitate a user to enter one or more instructions associated with balancing of each battery of the batteries 102. Upon receipt of the one or more instructions, the DCLT circuit may initiate balancing of each battery of the batteries 102. During balancing, the DCLT circuit may drain an excess energy from higher charged batteries of the batteries 102 to balance the batteries 102. Further, the balancing of each battery of the batteries 102 may be remotely controlled from any other location.

In some embodiments, the detection unit 110 may include an ACLT circuit that may be configured to utilize alternating current (AC) to test and determine the internal impedance of each battery of the batteries 102. In some embodiments, the ACLT circuit may perform a load test on each battery of the batteries 102 to determine the internal resistance of each battery of the batteries 102. In some embodiments, the ACLT circuit may facilitate balancing of each battery of the batteries 102. Specifically, the ACLT may facilitate balancing of each battery of the batteries 102 if a voltage difference more than 100 Megavolt (mv) exists. The ACLT circuit may therefore advantageously eliminate the need of disassembling the batteries 102. The ACLT circuit may advantageously save time and cost associated for balancing of each battery of the batteries 102.

In some embodiments, the system 100 may include a user interface (not shown) that may facilitate a user to enter one or more instructions associated with balancing of each battery of the batteries 102. Upon receipt of the one or more instructions, the ACLT circuit may initiate balancing of each battery of the batteries 102. During balancing, the ACLT circuit may drain an excess energy from higher charged batteries of the batteries 102 to balance the batteries 102. Further, the balancing of each battery of the batteries 102 may be remotely controlled from any other location.

In some embodiments, the DCLT and ACLT circuits may be integrated as single microchip.

The resistive load 204 may be coupled to the battery damage detection engine 202. The resistive load 204 may be configured to receive various battery parameters such as current, voltage, temperature, and the like.

In some embodiments, the resistive load 204 may include, but not limited to, a RC load, an LC load, a RLC load, and the combination thereof.

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of the ACLT circuit 300, in accordance with an embodiment herein. The ACLT circuit 300 may include monitoring engine 302, a load 304, a key 306, a DC-AC convertor 308, and a signal generator 310.

The monitoring engine 302 may be coupled to the load 304. The monitoring engine 302 may be configured to monitor the voltage of each battery of the batteries 102. The monitoring engine 302 may be further configured to check whether each battery of the batteries 102 is balanced or not. The monitoring engine 302 may be further configured to transmit a plurality of data packets associated with the batteries 102 to the load 304. The load 304 may be coupled to the key 306. The load 304 may be configured to receive the plurality of data packets associated with the batteries 102.

In some aspects of the present disclosure, the load 304 may be one of, an external motor, a static load, a dynamic load, and the combination thereof.

The DC-AC convertor 308 may be coupled to the key 306 and the signal generator 310. The DC-AC convertor 308 may be configured to receive a direct current (DC) signal from the key 306. The DC-AC convertor 308 may further be configured to convert the DC signal to an alternating current (AC) signal. The signal generator 310 may be coupled to the AC -DC convertor 308 such that the AC signal may be transmitted to the signal generator 310.

In some aspects of the present disclosure, the signal generator 310 may be a high frequency signal generator. The signal generator 310 may be coupled to the batteries 102.

FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart of a method 400 for determining status of each battery of the batteries 102, in accordance with an embodiment herein. The method 400 may include following steps: -

At step 402, the system 100, by way of the sensors 104, may be configured to sense the signals representing the one or more parameters of each battery of the batteries 102.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the one or more parameters may include balancing, temperature, voltage, and current.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the sensors 104 may include, but not limited to, voltage sensors, current sensors, temperature sensors, and the like.

At step 404, the system 100, by way of the processing circuitry 106, may be configured to determine the status signal based on the one or more parameters of each battery of the batteries 102. The status signal may include a positive value and a negative value.

At step 406, the system 100, by way of the processing circuitry 106, may be configured to generate a null signal and a control when the status signal has the positive and negative values, respectively. The status signal may have the positive value when the one or more parameters are within pre-defined limits of the one or more parameters. The status signal may have the negative value when the one or more parameters are beyond the pre-defined limits of the one or more parameters. The processing circuitry 106 may be further configured to, upon generation of the control signal, control the one or more parameters to maintain the one or more parameters within the predefined limits. The one or more parameters may remain unchanged upon generation of the null signal. At step 408, the system 100, by way of the switch 108, upon generation of the null signal, may be configured to facilitate the electrical connection between the positive terminal and the negative terminal of each battery of the batteries 102.

At step 410, the system 100, by way of the detection unit 110, may be configured to detect the internal resistance of each battery of the batteries 102. The detection unit 110 may be further configured to, upon detection of the internal resistance, determine state of charge, state of life, and health parameters associated with each battery of the batteries 102.

Thus, the system 100 may advantageously allow easy determination of the internal resistance of each battery of the batteries 102. This may facilitate easier detection of health of each battery of the batteries 102. The system 100 may further facilitate easy detection of an affected battery of the batteries 102 to undertake a proper preventive measure or repair of the affected battery of the batteries 102.

The foregoing discussion of the present disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to limit the present disclosure to the form or forms disclosed herein. In the foregoing Detailed Description, for example, various features of the present disclosure are grouped together in one or more embodiments, configurations, or embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. The features of the embodiments, configurations, or embodiments may be combined in alternate embodiments, configurations, or embodiments other than those discussed above. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention the present disclosure requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive embodiments lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment, configuration, or aspect. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate aspect of the present disclosure.

Moreover, though the description of the present disclosure has included description of one or more embodiments, configurations, or embodiments and certain variations and modifications, other variations, combinations, and modifications are within the scope of the present disclosure, e.g., as may be within the skill and knowledge of those in the art, after understanding the present disclosure. It is intended to obtain rights which include alternative embodiments, configurations, or embodiments to the extent permitted, including alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps to those claimed, whether or not such alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps are disclosed herein, and without intending to publicly dedicate any patentable subject matter.