TECHNICAL FIELD
This disclosure relates to a battery pack management and more particularly to manage powering down and powering up for a battery pack.
BACKGROUND
Lithium ion batteries are beginning to be widely used due to several advantages where maximum operating time and battery cycles life is required over wide temperature range, coupled with compact size and minimum weight. Lithium ion cells currently in wide-spread commercial use are among the highest energy density batteries in common use. Li-ion batteries are preferred for certain power applications due to their high specific energy density, lack of memory effect, and long cycle life. Currently, Li-ion batteries are predominantly used in consumer electronics and more increasingly now in transportation applications (like hybrid or electric vehicles). Usually, multiple individual Li-Ion cells are connected in series and parallel to form application specific battery packs.
However, Lithium ion cells require stern usage criteria and depletion of charges below a certain limit may deem the cells dead and unfit for further usage.
Therefore, there exists the need for a better battery management system for modern battery packs.
SUMMARY
Accordingly, one aspect of the present disclosure relates to a battery pack for performing at least one action. The battery pack comprising a power source configured to provide an electrical power to at least one of an input/output terminal and a battery management module. The battery management module is configured to determine at least one operational parameter of the power source, generate a first input signal for one of activating and deactivating a switching circuit, and generate a second input signal for one of activating and

deactivating a power converter. The battery pack also comprises an auxiliary control module configured to receive the electrical power based on activation of the power converter by the battery management module, receive the at least one operational parameter from the battery management module, and perform the at least one action based on at least one of the at least one operational parameter from the battery management module and a third input signal received from a input/output port. Lastly, the at least one action includes one of allowing and restricting the electrical power from the power source.
Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method for performing at least one action by a battery pack. The method comprising providing, by a power source, an electrical power to at least one of an input/output terminal and a battery management module. Further, the method step involves determining, by the battery management module, at least one operational parameter of the power source; generating, by the battery management module, a first input signal and a second input signal for one of activating and deactivating a switching circuit and a power converter, respectively. Furthermore, the method step involves, receiving, by the auxiliary control module, the electrical power based on activation of the power converter; receiving, by the auxiliary control module, the at least one operational parameter from the battery management module; receiving, by the auxiliary control module, a third input signal from a input/output port. The last method step involves performing, by the auxiliary control module, the at least one action based on at least one of the at least one operational parameter received from the battery management module, and the third input signal, wherein the at least one action includes one of allowing and restricting the electrical power from the power source.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure like reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the different drawings. Components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Also, the embodiments shown in the figures are not to be construed as limiting the disclosure, but the possible variants of present disclosure are illustrated herein to highlight the advantages.
Fig. la is a line diagram illustrating exemplary environment, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
Fig. lb is a line diagram illustrating another exemplary environment, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a battery pack, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
Fig. 3A a flow chart illustrating a method for performing at least one action performed by the auxiliary control module based on the at least one operational parameter from battery management system, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.
Fig. 3B illustrates a method for initiating at least one action to be performed by the auxiliary control module based on a third input signal from the input/output port, in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosure.
Fig. 4 is a flow chart illustrating restriction of flow of electric power from the electric source, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.
Fig. 5 is a flow chart illustrating the method flow involving the third input signal

initiation, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.
Fig. 6A is a flow chart illustrating wake-up signal initiation, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.
Fig. 6B is a flow charts illustrating wake-up signal execution, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.
It may be evident to skilled artisans that mechanical components in the figure are only illustrative, for simplicity and clarity, and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the mechanical components in the figure may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, various specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. It will be apparent, however, that the present disclosure can be practiced without these specific details. Several features described hereafter can each be used independently of one another or with any combination of other features. However, any individual feature may not address any of the problems discussed above or might address only one of the problems discussed above. Some of the problems discussed above might not be fully addressed by any of the features described herein. Although, headings are provided, information related to a particular heading, but not found in the section having that heading, may also be found elsewhere in the specification. Example embodiments of the present disclosure are described below, as illustrated in various drawings in which like reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the different drawings.
Referring now to Fig.la, a line diagram illustrates an exemplary environment

[100]. The environment [100] includes a functional unit [102]. The functional unit [102] may be a house [102]. The house [102] is provided with a power source [104]. The power source [104] may have rechargeable Lithium ion cells. The power source [104] may have a nominal voltage of 48 V and may consist of four batteries of nominal voltage of 12 V connected in series. A DC-DC switching regulator [106], working as an auxiliary power source, is provided along with the power source [104]. The DC-DC switching regulator [106] gets nominal 48 V power from power source [104]. The DC-DC switching regulator [106] further decreases and normalizes it to a stable power of nominal 12 V and delivers it to multiple control devices such as home automation devices control unit [108], home appliances control unit [110] and home lighting control [112]. As DC-DC switching regulator [106] delivers a steady nominal 12 V power even if power source [104] faces voltage fluctuation, the multiple control devices [108]-[112] can operate stably.
Referring now to Fig. IB, a line diagram illustrates another exemplary environment [150]. The environment [150] may be within an automotive [152] like a scooter, vehicle, bike etc. The automotive [152] includes a power source [154], a DC- DC switching regulator [156] having function similar to DC-DC switching regulator [106] described earlier), a vehicle lighting control unit [158], a vehicle control unit [160] and an electric motor [162].
The power source [154] is connected directly to the electric motor [162] by means of cables. As explained above, the DC-DC switching regulator [106], works as an auxiliary power source. The auxiliary devices, that is, the vehicle control unit [160] and the vehicle lighting control unit [158] which are supplied with the constant voltage power from power source [104], are all those specified for use with nominal 12 V and hence can be selected efficiently from a great variety of products on the market manufactured in large quantities for general automotive use. The control unit [160] controls mainly the electric motor [162] of the

automotive.
Referring now to Fig. 2, a block diagram illustrating a battery pack [200]. The battery pack [200], may be utilized to power up a house or for powering up an electrical vehicle such as a car, a truck, a scooter, a bike etc.
The battery pack [200] comprises a power source [202], a switching circuit [204], a battery management module (BMM) [210], an auxiliary control module [208], a power converter [212], at least one input/output terminal [216], and an input/output port [214].
The power source [202], as described earlier may be a rechargeable power source. The power source [202] may include, but not limited to, a flooded lead acid battery, a deep cycle lead acid battery, a VRLA lead acid battery, a Ni-Cd battery, a nickel-metal hydride battery, a lithium-ion battery, and a Li-ion polymer battery. The power source [202] may have at least one terminal (not shown in the figure) powered up by the power source [202], wherein the terminal helps in getting the power to the required parts from the power source. The power source [202] may be a solar charged, an electrically charged or a combination of both. The power source [202] is configured to provide an electrical power to at least one of an input/output terminal [216] and the battery management module [208].
The switching circuit [204] is circuit configured as an on/off switch that connects and disconnects the terminal from the power source [202]. The switching circuit [204] may use a solid-state switch. The power source [202] may be connected to an at least one terminal [216] through the switching circuit [204]. The switching circuit [204] may turn-off and turn-on the power to the at least one terminal [216] based on a first input signal from the BMM [210]. In an embodiment, the at least one terminal [216] may be configured to provide charging current to the power source [202].

The power converter [212] is connected to the power source [202] and is configured to provide suitable power to the auxiliary control module [208] connected to the power converter [212]. The converter circuit [212] may include, but not limited to, a DC-DC converter, an AC-AC converter, an AC-DC converter, and a DC-AC converter. In an embodiment, the DC-DC converter converts DC power from one voltage value to another voltage level so as to maintain a driving voltage for the power converter circuit. The power converter [212] may be controlled by the BMM [210] through an enable pin of the power converter [212] to receive a second input signal. The power converter [212] may also be controlled/wake-up by the input/output port [214] using a wake-up signal. More particularly, the power converter [212] may be waken-up by either the BMM [210] using the enable pin or the input/output port [214]. The power converter [212] is also configured to power on the auxiliary control module [208]. The above described second input signal is generated by the BMM [210] and may one of activate and deactivate the power converter [212].
Further, the BMM [210] and the auxiliary control module [208] are connected through a communication bus [218]. The communication bus [218] may be a two-way communication bus. Further, the BMM [210] is connected to the power source [202] through an interface of communication channels [220].
The BMM [210] detects, monitors, and controls of the overall operable parameters of the power source [202]. The BMM [210] is configured to continuously receives at least one data, wherein the at least one data may include, but not limited to, a charge status, a current status, percentage of charge/state of charge of the power source [202]. Further, the BMM [210] is configured to determine at least one operational parameter based on the at least some data, correspondingly. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the BMM [210] may be a microcontroller/micro-processor configured to function as an interface between the auxiliary control module [208] and the power source

[202]. The auxiliary control module [208] may be a configured as slave or as parallel to the BMM [210]. Further, the BMM [210] continuously/periodically shares the at least one parameter of the power source [202] with the auxiliary control module [208]. The at least one parameter may include, but not limited to, a charge status, a state of charge, and an output voltage of the power source [202]. As described above, the BMM [210] is configured to generate the first input signal based on a command of the auxiliary control module [208]. The first input signal may one of activate and deactivate the switching circuit [204].
Further, the auxiliary control module [208] may be a microprocessor or a control unit. The auxiliary control module [208] may act as a slave to the BMM [210]. Furthermore, the auxiliary control module [208] is configured to receive the at least one operational parameter from the BMM [210]. The auxiliary control module [208] also coordinates various functions of the battery pack [200] and an external environment. The external environment may include, but not limited to, a vehicle environment like electronic control unit. Furthermore, the auxiliary control module [208] together with BMM [210] may also help in managing the overall working of the battery pack [200]. The auxiliary control module [208] controls the communication of the battery pack [200] with the external environment through the input/output port [214].
Further, in another implementation, the BMM [210] and the auxiliary control module [208] may be connected to communicate with a communication bus [218]. The communication bus [218] may be a standard two-way communication bus to carry information and instructions to and from the BMM [210] and the auxiliary control module [208].
Furthermore, a watchdog module is connected to the auxiliary control module [208]. The watchdog module may have a watchdog timer circuit and configured to reset on an event of some malfunction of the auxiliary control module [208]. The watchdog module may also be configured to keep in check an operable

status of the auxiliary control module [208].
In an exemplary operation, the auxiliary control module [208] is connected to the power source through the BMM [210], wherein the BMM [210] continuously determines the at least one parameter of the power source [202]. As described above, the auxiliary control module [208] may be configured to receive the electrical power based on activation of the power converter [212] by the BMM [210]. The auxiliary control module [208] receives the at least one parameter of the power source [202] through the BMM [210] either continuously or periodically. The auxiliary control module [208] may either continuously or periodically compare the at least one parameter received with a predefined threshold value that may be stored within a memory (not shown in the figure). In case the at least one parameter value is greater than the threshold value, there is no action taken. Whereas, if the at least one parameter value falls below the threshold value, at least one action is initiated by the auxiliary control module [208] or vice-versa. The auxiliary control module [208] is configured to transmit a command to BMM [210] for performing the at least one action. The at least one action may include, allowing the electrical power or restricting the electrical power from the power source to any components of battery pack [200] such as the switching module, BMM [210], the auxiliary control module [208], the power converter [212] etc.
For battery packs, the individual cell threshold values for the current value may be one ampere. The threshold values for the voltage may be 2900 millivolts and for the charge percentage is 1%.
In yet another exemplary operation, the auxiliary control module [208] may receive a third input signal through the input/output port [214]. The third input signal may include, but not limited to, an external manual input, and an external automatic input. In an embodiment, the input/output port [214] may be connected to an external module such as a dashboard or an electronic control

unit of a vehicle. The external input signal may be from the external module (not shown in figure) connected to the battery pack [200]. The external module may be configured to receive an input from a user that may want to turn off the battery pack [200] for a long non-usable period such as during going on a vacation. Further, the external module may be configured to generate the external automatic input signal when the battery pack [200] has crossed a threshold time limit of non-use. Therefore, based on the third input signal received from the input/output port [214], the auxiliary control module [208] may transmit a command to the BMM [210] to perform the at least one action.
Referring to Fig. 3A, a flow chart illustrating a method [300] for performing the at least one action performed by the auxiliary control module [208] based on the at least one operational parameter from the BMM [210].
The method [300] is initiates at step [301]. At step [302], the electrical power is provided to the at least one input/output terminal [216] and the BMM [210]. At step [304], the at least one operational parameter of the power source [202] is determined by the BMM [210]. At step [306], the auxiliary control module [208] receives the electrical power based on the activation of the power converter [212] by the BMM [210]. At step [308] wherein the auxiliary control module [208] receives the at least one operational parameter from the BMM [210]. At step [310], the auxiliary control module [208] compares the at least one operational parameter. At step [312], based on the comparison in the previous step, the auxiliary control module [208] determines whether at least one operational parameter is above the threshold value or not.
In case the at least one parameter is above the threshold value, at step [320], the auxiliary control module [208] transmits the command to the BMM [210] to continue allowing the flow of electric power from the power source [202] to the input/output terminal [216]. At step [322], the command for allowing the flow of electric power is transmitted to the BMM [210]. At step [324], the BMM [210]

processes the command and allows the flow of electric power from the power source [202] to the input/output terminal [216].
However, in case the at least one parameter is below the threshold value, then at step [314], the auxiliary control module [208] initiates the procedure for generating a command for restricting the flow of electric power from the power source [202] to the input/output terminal [216]. At step [316], the command for restricting the flow of electric power is transmitted to the BMM [210]. At step [318], the BMM [210] processes the command and initiates a procedure for restricting the flow of the electric power. Having said command, the input/output terminal [216] is powered OFF and the auxiliary control module [208] is also switched OFF.
Referring to Fig. 3B, a flow chart illustrates a method [350] for initiating the at least one action to be performed by the auxiliary control module [208] based on the third input signal from the input/output port [214]. The method [350] starts at step [351]. At step [352], the third input signal that may be manually generated or automatically generated by the external environment reached at input/output port [214], and subsequently, is received by the auxiliary control module [208]. At step [354], the auxiliary control module [208], initiates the command for performing at least one action that is transmitted to the BMM [210] at step [356] for initiating of the at least one action. At step [358], the method [250] finally ends.
Referring to Fig. 4, a flow chart illustrates the method [400] of restricting the flow of electric power from the electric source [202], in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. The method [400] starts at step [401]. At step [402], the BMM [210] receives the command for restricting the flow of electric power from the electric source [202] from the auxiliary control module [208]. At step [404], the BMM [210], generates and transmits the first input signal to the switching circuit [204]. After receiving the instructions, at step [406], the

switching circuit [204] is switched to the "off-state" by the first input signal. Once the switching circuit [204] is in the "off-state", the terminal is powered down, at step [408], until it is woken up by a wake-up signal that will be described later in detail. Hence, charge within the power source [202] is protected from getting more depleted than the threshold value.
At step [410], when the terminal [216] has been powered down, the BMM [210] initiates the second input signal and transmits it to the power converter [212]. The second input signal is transmitted through the enable pin of the power converter [212] in order to disable it. Further, since the auxiliary control module [208] is powered by the power source [202] through the power converter circuit [212] hence, the powering down of the power converter [212] results in powering down of the auxiliary control module [208] at step [412]. Finally, the method [400] ends at step [414].
In an embodiment of the disclosure complete power down of the battery pack [200] may be executed under critical conditions like at least one operational parameter being very low that is up to 1%. However, in other embodiments, a local shutdown may also be performed for less critical situations. In an exemplary case if the remaining battery is about 25%, then a local shutdown may be performed that shuts down only the terminal [216]. Hence, in such shutdown procedure no third input signal is generated and the auxiliary control module [208] is not powered down. The battery pack [200] is put in a standby mode and an alert may be sent to the user on the external module to recharge. The alert may be communicated to the external module through the input/output port [214] by the auxiliary control module [208].
Referring to Fig. 5, a flow chart illustrates the method [500] involving the third input signal initiation, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. The third input signal may be generated by the external module connected to the innut/outnut nort T7141 as described earlier in the descrintion. The method T5001

starts at step [501]. At step [502], the control processor (not shown in figure) within the external module checks for external input/non-used /powered down timing of the external module. At step [504], the control processor determines whether the powered down timing of the external module is above or below a threshold time value. In case the powered down time is below the threshold value, the method is terminated at step [510]. However, in case the powered down time is above the threshold value then at step [506], a vacation mode signal is initiated by the control processor. At step [508], the vacation mode signal is transmitted to the auxiliary control module [208], through the input/output port [214] to initiate the third input signal for performing at least one action procedure as described above in detail. Finally, the method [500] ends at the step [510].
Referring to Figs. 6A-6B, flow charts illustrating the wake-up signal initiation and execution, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.
Fig. 6A illustrates a method [600] starting at step [601]. At step [602], the wake-up signal is generated by the external module or a wake-up device (maybe a power supply connected to charger port) and provided at the input/output port [214]. At step [604], the wake-up signal is transmitted to the power converter [212] by the input/output port [214] for waking-up the power converter [212]. At step [606], the auxiliary control module [208] is enabled pursuant to waking-up of the power converter [212]. At step [608], the BMM [210] receives an update via the commination bus [218] once the auxiliary control module [208] is enabled. The method [600] ends at step [610].
Referring to Fig. 6B, the method [650] initiates at step [652]. At step [654], the BMM [210] receives the update, pertaining to the auxiliary control module [208] being enabled, via the commination bus [218]. At step [656], the BMM [210] simultaneously, initiates the first input signal and transmits it to the switching circuit [204].

Further, at step [658], the switching circuit [204] is switched to "On State". This in turn, powers up the terminal [216] at step [660]. After powering up the terminal [216], the BMM [210], at step [662] initiates the second input signal that is transmitted through the enable pin of the power converter [212] which activates the power converter [212]. Subsequently, at step [664], the auxiliary control module [208] is powered up and hence, the battery pack [200] becomes functional. Finally the method [650] ends at step [666].
Therefore, in a nutshell, the present disclosure provides us a battery pack which performs an action for maintaining a sufficient power in the battery.
Although, the present disclosure has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments and examples thereof, other embodiments and equivalents are possible. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with functional and procedural details, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms. Thus, various modifications are possible of the presently disclosed system and process without deviating from the intended scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly, in one embodiment, such modifications of the presently explained disclosure are included in the scope of the present disclosure.

We Claim:
1. A battery pack [200] for performing at least one action, the battery pack [200] comprising:
a power source [202] configured to provide an electrical power to at least one of an input/output terminal [216] and a battery management module [210], wherein the battery management module [210] is configured to:
determine at least one operational parameter of the power source [202],
generate a first input signal for one of activating and deactivating a switching circuit [204], and
generate a second input signal for one of activating and deactivating a power converter [212]; and
an auxiliary control module [208] configured to:
receive the electrical power based on activation of the power converter [212] by the battery management module [210],
receive the at least one operational parameter from the battery management module [210], and
perform the at least one action based on at least one of the at least one operational parameter from the battery management module [210] and a third input signal received from an input/output port [214], wherein the at least one action includes one of allowing and restricting the electrical power from the power source [202].

2. The battery pack [200] as claimed in claim 1, wherein the auxiliary control module [208] is further configured to receive the electrical power in an event a wakeup signal is received, by the power converter [212], from the input/output port [214] for activating the power converter [212].
3. The battery pack [200] as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power source [202] is a rechargeable energy storage device and includes a flooded lead-acid battery, a deep-cycle lead-acid battery, a VRLA lead-acid battery, a NiCd battery, a nickel-metal hydride battery, a lithium-ion battery, and a Li-ion polymer battery.
4. The battery pack [200] as claimed in claim 1, wherein the input/output terminal [216] is configured to one of draw and provide current to the power source [202].
5. The battery pack [200] as claimed in claim 1, wherein the battery management module [210] and the auxiliary control module [208] include one of a microcontroller and a microprocessor.
6. The battery pack [200] as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one operational parameter comprises at least one of charge status, a state of charge (SOC), and an output voltage of the power source [202].
7. The battery pack [200] as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first input signal is generated based on a comparison of the at least one operational parameter with a threshold value.
8. The battery pack [200] as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power converter [212] includes one of an AC-AC converter, an AC-DC converter, a DC-AC converter, and an DC-DC converter.

9. The battery pack [200] as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one communication channels [220] for one of drawing the electrical power from the power source [202] and receiving the at least one operational parameter of the power source [202].
10. The battery pack [200] as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a communication bus [218] for receiving the at least one operational parameter from the BMM [210].
11. The battery pack [200] as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a watchdog module, coupled with the auxiliary control module [208], configured to reset the auxiliary control module [208].
12. The battery pack [200] as claimed in claim 11, wherein the watchdog module reset the auxiliary control module [208] in an event the auxiliary control module [208] is irresponsive for a predefined time limit.
13. A method for performing at least one action by a battery pack [200], the method comprising:
providing, by a power source [202], an electrical power to at least one of an input/output terminal [216] and a battery management module [210];
determining, by the battery management module [210], at least one operational parameter of the power source [202];
generating, by the battery management module [210], a first input signal and a second input signal for one of activating and deactivating a switching circuit [204] and a power converter [212], respectively;
receiving, by the auxiliary control module [208], the electrical power based on activation of the power converter [212];
receiving, by the auxiliary control module [208], the at least one

operational parameter from the battery management module [210];
receiving, by the auxiliary control module [208], a third input signal from a input/output port [214]; and
performing, by the auxiliary control module [208], the at least one action based on at least one of the at least one operational parameter received from the battery management module [210], and the third input signal, wherein the at least one action includes one of allowing and restricting the electrical power from the power source [202].
14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the power source [202] is a rechargeable energy storage device and includes a flooded lead-acid battery, a deep-cycle lead-acid battery, a VRLA lead-acid battery, a NiCd battery, a nickel-metal hydride battery, a lithium-ion battery, and a Li-ion polymer battery.
15. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the input/output terminal [216] is configured to one of draw and provide current to the power source [202].
16. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the battery management module [210] and the auxiliary control module [208] include one of a microcontroller and a microprocessor.
17. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the at least one operational parameter comprises a charge status, a state of charge (SOC), and an output voltage of the power source [202].
18. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first input signal is generated based on a comparison of the at least one operational parameter with at least one predefined operational parameter.

19. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the power converter [212] includes one of an AC-AC converter, an AC-DC converter, a DC-AC converter, and an DC-DC converter.
20. The method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising at least one communication channels [220] for one of drawing the electrical power from the power source [202] and receiving the at least one operational parameter of the power source [202].
21. The method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a communication bus [218] for receiving the at least one operational parameter from the BMM [210].
22. The method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a watchdog module, coupled with the auxiliary control module [208], configured to reset the auxiliary control module [208].
23. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the watchdog module resets the auxiliary control module [208] in an event the auxiliary control module [208] is irresponsive for a predefined time limit.