CIRCUIT
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APLICATION
This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2010-
0019924 filed in Republic of Korea on March 5, 2010, the entire contents of which are
incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for diagnosing an
abnormality in a cell balancing circuit, and more particularly, to an apparatus and a
method for diagnosing an abnormality in a cell balancing circuit by determining whether
there is an abnormality in a cell balancing switch included in the cell balancing circuit.
BACKGROUND ART
Recently, with exhaustion of fossil fuels and concern about environmental
pollution, there is an increasing interest in electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles using
electrical energy, but not using fossil energy.
To run the electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles, a driving motor requiring a high
output should be operated. For this purpose, batteries for the electric vehicles or hybrid
vehicles use, as a power source, electricity outputted from a battery pack including a
plurality of battery cells connected in series.
A plurality of battery cells included in the battery pack need to individually
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maintain a uniform voltage for ensuring stability, a long life span, and a high output.
A method for uniformly balancing the charging voltages of battery cells includes
increasing the voltage of a battery cell having a relatively low voltage by supplying a
charging current, decreasing the voltage of a battery cell having a relatively high voltage
by discharging the corresponding battery cell, discharging a battery cell having a voltage
higher than a target balance voltage set based on the voltage of each battery cell and
charging a battery cell having a voltage lower than the target balance voltage, and the
like.
These cell balancing methods are implemented by a cell balancing circuit
connected to each battery cell. The cell balancing circuit includes a switching circuit
for controlling the start and end of a cell balancing operation, and a discharging resistor
for discharging a battery cell.
However, when an abnormality occurs during a cell balancing operation using the
cell balancing circuit, for example, when overcurrent instantaneously flows in the cell
balancing circuit, or when overvoltage higher than an operating voltage is applied to a
switching circuit, or when overheat is generated through a discharging resistor, a
component included in the cell balancing circuit is short-circuited or open-circuited, and
consequently, the cell balancing circuit is not operated normally.
When the cell balancing circuit abnormally operates due to this problem, the
voltage of a battery cell connected to the corresponding cell balancing circuit excessively
increases or decreases, and as a result, severe results may be produced, for example, a
battery pack may explode or the operation of a load connected to the battery pack may
suddenly stop.
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To overcome this drawback, there is a need of a separate diagnosis circuit
connected to a cell balancing circuit for diagnosing an abnormality in the cell balancing
circuit.
For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2007-085847 (conventional art)
discloses an apparatus for detecting an abnormality in a cell balancing circuit, in which
the cell balancing circuit including a field effect transistor (FET) and a discharging
resistor, and a resistor interposed between the source and the drain of the FET are
installed at each battery cell, a difference in voltage between the source and the drain is
measured through the resistor using two comparators applied with different levels of
reference power sources, and an abnormality of the cell balancing circuit is determined
based on the measured voltage level (high, low).
However, the conventional art needs a separate circuit configuration, that is, the
diagnosis circuit for detecting an abnormality in the cell balancing circuit, and the
additional two comparators for each diagnosis circuit, and thus, it has a disadvantage of
increased manufacturing cost of the apparatus. Also, it is possible to determine
whether there is an abnormality in a cell balancing circuit corresponding to each cell, but
it is difficult to correctly recognize the cause of an abnormality when the abnormality
occurs in the entire cell balancing circuit.
DISCLOSURE
Technical Problem
The present invention is designed to solve the problems of the conventional art,
and therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus and a method for
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diagnosing an abnormality in a cell balancing circuit, which may determine whether
there is an abnormality in a cell balancing circuit and if any, the cause of the abnormality
correctly using a simple circuit configuration.
Technical Solution
In order to achieve the object, an apparatus for diagnosing an abnormality in a
cell balancing circuit according to an aspect of the present invention may include a
plurality of cell balancing circuits respectively connected to a plurality of battery cells
included in a battery pack for balancing voltages of the battery cells, a diagnosis resistor
respectively installed between the cell balancing circuit and a cathode terminal and an
anode terminal of the corresponding battery cell, a voltage measuring unit for measuring
a voltage difference of the balancing circuit corresponding to each of the battery cells,
and a control unit for turning on or off a cell balancing circuit to be diagnosed and for
determining whether there is an abnormality in the cell balancing circuit to be diagnosed,
based on a variation pattern of the voltage difference of a cell balancing circuit adjacent
to the cell balancing circuit to be diagnosed that is measured by the voltage measuring
unit.
Preferably, the voltage difference of the adjacent cell balancing circuit may be a
difference in voltage between a low potential node where one end of the adjacent cell
balancing circuit is connected to an anode terminal of the corresponding battery cell and
a high potential node where the other end of the adjacent cell balancing circuit is
connected to a cathode terminal of the corresponding battery cell.
Preferably, the cell balancing circuit may include a discharge resistor for
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discharging the corresponding battery cell, and a cell balancing switch for establishing a
connection between the discharge resistor and the corresponding battery cell or for
releasing the connection, and the control unit may control the turn-on or turn-off of the
cell balancing switch to balance the voltages of the battery cells.
According to the present invention, the cell balancing circuit may further include
a diode for limiting the flow of a discharge current and a return current through the
discharge resistor.
According to the present invention, the cell balancing switch may be a field effect
transistor (FET).
Preferably, the control unit may turn off the adjacent cell balancing circuit and
turn on or off the cell balancing circuit to be diagnosed, and the control unit may control
measures the voltage difference of the adjacent cell balancing circuit through the voltage
measuring unit when the cell balancing circuit to be diagnosed is turned on or off.
According to an aspect of the present invention, the control unit may determine
that the cell balancing circuit to be diagnosed is normal, when the voltage difference of
the adjacent cell balancing circuit measured while the cell balancing circuit to be
diagnosed is turned on, has a higher voltage level than the corresponding cell voltage,
and when the voltage difference of the adjacent cell balancing circuit measured while the
cell balancing circuit to be diagnosed is turned off, has the same voltage level as the
corresponding cell voltage.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the control unit may
determine that an open circuit occurred in the cell balancing circuit to be diagnosed,
when the voltage differences of the adjacent cell balancing circuit measured while the
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cell balancing circuit to be diagnosed is turned on and off, have the same voltage level as
the corresponding cell voltage.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, the control unit may
determine that a short circuit occurred in the cell balancing circuit to be diagnosed, when
the voltage differences of the adjacent cell balancing circuit measured while the cell
balancing circuit to be diagnosed is turned on and off, have a higher voltage level than
the corresponding cell voltage.
In order to achieve the object, an apparatus for diagnosing an abnormality in a
cell balancing circuit according to another aspect of the present invention may include a
plurality of cell balancing circuits respectively connected to a plurality of battery cells
included in a battery pack for balancing voltages of the battery cells, a voltage measuring
unit for measuring a voltage difference of the cell balancing circuit corresponding to each
of the battery cells, a discharge resistor and a diagnosis switch installed between a battery
cell at a highest potential side or a lowest potential side and the corresponding cell
balancing circuit, and a control unit for turning on or off the entire cell balancing circuit
and turning on or off the diagnosis switch, and for determining whether there is an
abnormality in the entire cell balancing circuit based on a variation pattern of the voltage
difference of the entire cell balancing circuit measured by the voltage measuring unit
when the diagnosis switch is turned on and off.
According to an aspect of the present invention, the control unit may determine
that an open circuit occurred in the entire cell balancing circuit, when the voltage
differences of the entire cell balancing circuit measured while the entire cell balancing
circuit is turned on and the diagnosis switch is turned on and off, have the same voltage
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level as the entire cell voltage.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the control unit may
determine that a short circuit occurred in the entire cell balancing circuit, when the
voltage difference of the entire cell balancing circuit measured while the entire cell
balancing circuit is turned off and the diagnosis switch is turned on, has a smaller voltage
level than the voltage difference of the entire cell balancing circuit measured while the
entire cell balancing circuit is turned off and the diagnosis switch is turned off.
According to the present invention, the control unit may include a switch control
module for controlling the operation of the cell balancing switch included in the cell
balancing circuit, an analog/digital (A/D) conversion module for converting an analog
voltage signal outputted from the voltage measuring unit into a digital voltage signal, and
a central processing module for receiving the digital voltage signal from the A/D
conversion module and determining whether there is an abnormality in the cell balancing
circuit.
Optionally, the apparatus may further include an abnormality alarm for visually
or audibly outputting an abnormality in the cell balancing circuit, and the control unit
may control the abnormality alarm to visually or audibly inform an abnormality in the
cell balancing circuit when the abnormality occurs in the cell balancing circuit.
The object of the present invention may be achieved by a battery management
system, a battery operating system, a battery pack comprising the above-described
apparatus for diagnosing an abnormality in a cell balancing circuit.
In order to achieve the object, a method for diagnosing an abnormality in a cell
balancing circuit according to an aspect of the present invention may diagnose an
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abnormality in a plurality of cell balancing circuits respectively connected to a plurality
of battery cells included in a battery pack for balancing voltages of the battery cells, and
the method may include measuring a voltage difference of a cell balancing circuit
adjacent to a cell balancing circuit to be diagnosed when the cell balancing circuit to be
diagnosed is turned on and the adjacent cell balancing circuit is turned off, measuring a
voltage difference of the adjacent cell balancing circuit when the cell balancing circuit to
be diagnosed is turned off and the adjacent cell balancing circuit is turned off, and
determining whether there is an abnormality in the cell balancing circuit to be diagnosed,
based on a variation pattern of the voltage difference of the adjacent cell balancing
circuit measured when the cell balancing circuit to be diagnosed is turned on or off.
In order to achieve the object, a method for diagnosing an abnormality in the
entire cell balancing circuit according to another aspect of the present invention may
diagnose an abnormality in the entire cell balancing circuit using a plurality of cell
balancing circuits respectively connected to a plurality of battery cells included in a
battery pack for balancing voltages of the battery cells, and a discharge resistor and a
diagnosis switch installed between a battery cell at a highest potential side or a lowest
potential side and the corresponding cell balancing circuit, and the method may include
measuring a voltage difference of the entire cell balancing circuit when the entire cell
balancing circuit is turned on or off and the diagnosis switch is turned on or off, and
determining whether there is an abnormality in the entire cell balancing circuit, based on
a variation pattern of the voltage difference of the entire cell balancing circuit measured
when the diagnosis switch is turned on or off.
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EFFECT OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, an abnormality in a cell balancing circuit and
the cause of the abnormality may be diagnosed using a simple circuit configuration.
Also, even when the entire cell balancing circuit is short-circuited or open-circuited, the
cause of the abnormality may be correctly diagnosed. Accordingly, damage to a battery
or a load caused by the abnormality in the cell balancing circuit may be prevented.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of preferred embodiments of
the present invention will be more fully described in the following detailed description,
taken accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of an apparatus for diagnosing an abnormality in a cell
balancing circuit according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a structure of a control unit according to a
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 3 to 5 are diagrams illustrating a method for diagnosing an abnormality in
a cell balancing circuit and the cause of the abnormality according to a preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method for diagnosing an abnormality in a cell
balancing circuit according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method for diagnosing an abnormality in the
entire cell balancing circuit according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
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MODE FOR INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the
accompanying drawings. Prior to the description, it should be understood that the terms
used in the specification and appended claims should not be construed as limited to
general and dictionary meanings, but interpreted based on the meanings and concepts
corresponding to technical aspects of the present invention on the basis of the principle
that the inventor is allowed to define terms appropriately for the best explanation.
Therefore, the description proposed herein is just a preferable example for the purpose of
illustrations only, not intended to limit the scope of the invention, so it should be
understood that other equivalents and modifications could be made thereto without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of an apparatus for diagnosing an abnormality in a cell
balancing circuit according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Although FIG. 1 shows three cells, the present invention is not limited to a specific
number of cells.
Referring to FIG. 1, the apparatus for diagnosing an abnormality in a cell
balancing circuit according to the present invention may include a plurality of cell
balancing circuits 20 respectively connected to a plurality of battery cells VB1, VB2, and
VB3 included in a battery pack 10 for balancing the voltages of the battery cells VB1,
VB2, and VB3, a diagnosis resistor Rm respectively installed between the cell balancing
circuit 20 and cathode and anode terminals of each of the battery cells VB1, VB2, and
VB3, a voltage measuring unit 30 for measuring a voltage difference of the cell balancing
circuit 20 respectively corresponding to the battery cells VB1, VB2, and VB3, and a
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control unit 40 for determining whether there is an abnormality in the cell balancing
circuit 20 to be diagnosed based on a variation pattern of the voltage difference of the
cell balancing circuit 20 adjacent to the cell balancing circuit 20 to be diagnosed that is
measured by the voltage measuring unit 30.
The cell balancing circuit 20 may be a protection circuit of the battery pack 10 for
balancing the voltages of the battery cells VB1, VB2, and VB3 under the control of the
control unit 40.
The cell balancing circuit 20 may be, at each end, connected to voltage measuring
lines connected to cathode and anode terminals of each of the battery cells VB1, VB2, and
VB3, and may be connected to the battery cells VB1, VB2, and VB3 in parallel,
respectively. In this instance, a node where one end of the corresponding cell balancing
circuit 20 is connected to a voltage measuring line extending from a cathode terminal of
each of the battery cells VB1, VB2, and VB3 may be a high potential node A, and a node
where the other end of the corresponding cell balancing circuit 20 is connected to a
voltage measuring line extending from an anode terminal of each of the battery cells VB1,
VB2, and VB3 may be a low potential node B. Also, a voltage difference of the cell
balancing circuit 20 is a difference in voltage between the high potential node A and the
low potential node B. Here, the high potential node A and the low potential node B are
relative points where the cell balancing circuit 20 and the voltage measuring line are
connected, and for example, a connection point of the cell balancing circuit 20 and a
voltage measuring line connected to and extending from a cathode terminal of the first
cell VB1 is a high voltage node A, and in turn, the high voltage node A may act as a low
voltage node B at a connection point of the cell balancing circuit 20 and a voltage
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measuring line connected to and extending from an anode terminal of the second cell
VB2.
The cell balancing circuit 20 may include a discharge resistor Rd for discharging
each of the battery cells VB1, VB2, and VB3, and cell balancing switches SWb1, SWb2,
and SWb3 for establishing a connection between the battery cells VB1, VB2, and VB3 and
the discharge resistor Rd or releasing the connection, respectively. Also, although not
essential, the cell balancing circuit 20 may further include a diode D at the side of the
low potential node B of the cell balancing circuit 20 to limit the flow of a discharge
current and a return current through the discharge resistor Rd. In this instance, the cell
balancing switches SWb1, SWb2, and SWb3 may be preferably a field effect transistor
(FET). The FET has a source terminal, a drain terminal, and a gate terminal, and when
an operating voltage is applied to the gate terminal under the control of the control unit
40, the cell balancing circuit 20 is turned on and the battery cells VB1, VB2, and VB3 are
discharged through the discharge resistor Rd.
In the present invention, the diagnosis resistor Rm is a component used to
diagnose an abnormality in the cell balancing switches SWb1, SWb2, and SWb3, and while
the battery cells VB1, VB2, and VB3 are discharged, the cell balancing circuit 20 may
make a difference in voltage between when a discharge current flows through the
discharge resistor Rd and when a discharge current does not flow. That is, when the cell
balancing switches SWb1, SWb2, and SWb3 are turned on or short-circuited, a discharge
current may flow along a discharge loop indicated as an arrow. In this instance, when
compared with the case where the discharge current does not flow, the potential of the
high potential node may decrease due to the discharge current flowing through the
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diagnosis resistor Rm at the side of the high potential node, and the potential of the low
potential node may increase due to the discharge current flowing through the diagnosis
resistor Rm at the side of the low potential node. As a result, a voltage difference
between the nodes of the cell balancing circuit 20 through which the discharge current
flows may decrease when compared with the case where the discharge current does not
flow. Conversely, when the cell balancing switches SWb1, SWb2, and SWb3 are turned
off or open-circuited, the discharge current does not flow along the discharge loop, and
in this case, a voltage difference between the nodes of the cell balancing circuit 20 may
have the same voltage level as the cell voltage. This is because a voltage drop across
the diagnosis resistor Rm does not occur and an original cell voltage is applied between
the nodes when the discharge current does not flow along the discharge loop.
When the cell balancing switches SWb1, SWb2, and SWb3 are turned on or off
under the control of the cell balancing circuit 20, the voltage measuring unit 30 may
measure a voltage difference between the high potential node A and the low potential
node B of the cell balancing circuit 20 for the purpose of diagnosing an abnormality in
the cell balancing switches SWb1, SWb2, and SWb3, and may output the voltage difference
as an analog voltage signal.
Preferably, the voltage measuring unit 30 may use a typical circuit to periodically
measure the cell voltages of the battery cells VB1, VB2, and VB3. In this instance, the
voltage measuring unit 30 does not need a separate voltage measuring unit 30 to diagnose
an abnormality in the cell balancing circuit 20.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a structure of the control unit 40 according
to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
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As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 40 may include an analog/digital (A/D)
conversion module 41, a central processing module 42, and a switch control module 43.
The A/D conversion module 41 may convert the analog voltage signal outputted
from the voltage measuring unit 30 into a digital voltage signal, and may output the
digital voltage signal to the central processing module 42. The analog voltage signal
may include a signal corresponding to the cell voltage of each of the battery cells VB1,
VB2, and VB3, and a voltage signal corresponding to the voltage difference of the cell
balancing circuit 20.
The central processing module 42 may receive the digital voltage signal from the
A/D conversion module 41, and may determine whether there is an abnormality in the
cell balancing circuit 20 and if any, the cause of the abnormality. That is, the central
processing module 42 may determine an abnormality in the cell balancing circuit 20 to be
diagnosed and the cause of the abnormality based on a variation pattern of the voltage
difference of the cell balancing circuit 20 adjacent to the cell balancing circuit 20 to be
diagnosed.
The switch control module 43 may control the turn-on or turn-off of the cell
balancing switches SWb1, SWb2, and SWb3 included in the cell balancing circuit 20.
Hereinafter, a process for determining an abnormality in the cell balancing circuit
20 and the cause of the abnormality by the apparatus for diagnosing an abnormality in a
cell balancing circuit according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is
described below with regard to an abnormality diagnosis process in the cell balancing
circuit 20 corresponding to the second cell VB2.
First, the control unit 40 may turn off the cell balancing switches SWb1 and SWb3
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of the first cell VB1 and the third cell VB3 adjacent to the second cell VB2 to be diagnosed,
and may turn on the cell balancing switch SWb2 of the second cell VB2. Next, the
control unit 40 may measure and store a voltage difference of each of the cell balancing
circuits 20 corresponding to the first cell VB1 and the third cell VB3 through the voltage
measuring unit 30. Next, the control unit 40 may turn off the cell balancing switch
SWb2 of the second cell VB2, and may measure and store a voltage difference of each of
the cell balancing circuits 20 corresponding to the first cell VB1 and the third cell VB3
through the voltage measuring unit 30. In this instance, the control unit 40 may
sequentially turn on or turn off the cell balancing switch SWb2 of the second cell VB2.
Here, the term ‘sequentially’ means controlling the turn-on or turn-off of the cell
balancing switch SWb2 at a time interval, and it will be applied as the same concept
throughout the specification. Next, the control unit 40 may analyze a variation pattern
of the voltage difference of each of the cell balancing cells 20 corresponding to the first
cell VB1 and the third cell VB3 measured when the cell balancing switch SWb2 of the
second cell VB2 of the second cell VB2 is turned on or off, and may determine whether
there is an abnormality in the cell balancing circuit 20 corresponding to the second cell
VB2 and if any, the cause of the abnormality, based on the analysis results.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the cell balancing switch SWb2 of the second cell VB2
is turned on, a voltage difference VAB of each of the cell balancing cells 20
corresponding to the first cell VB1 and the third cell VB3 adjacent to the second cell VB2
has a higher voltage level than the cell voltages V1 and V3, respectively. When the cell
balancing switch SWb2 of the second cell VB2 is turned on, a discharge current flows
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along a discharge loop of the second cell VB2, and accordingly, the potential of the high
potential node of the first cell VB1 increases and the potential of the low potential node of
the third cell VB3 decreases, so that a voltage difference VAB of each of the cell balancing
circuits 20 corresponding to the first cell VB1 and the third cell VB3 has a higher voltage
level than the cell voltages V1 and V3, respectively. Also, when the cell balancing
switch SWb2 of the second cell VB2 is turned off, a voltage difference VAB of each of the
cell balancing circuits 20 corresponding to the first cell VB1 and the third cell VB3 has
the same voltage level as the cell voltages V1 and V3, respectively.
Accordingly, when a voltage difference of an adjacent cell balancing circuit
measured while a cell balancing circuit of a cell to be diagnosed is turned on, has a
higher voltage level than a corresponding cell voltage, and when a voltage difference of
an adjacent cell balancing circuit measured while a cell balancing circuit of a cell to be
diagnosed is turned off, has the same voltage level as a corresponding cell voltage, the
control unit determines that the cell balancing circuit of the cell to be diagnosed is
normal.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the cell balancing switch SWb2 of the second cell VB2
is short-circuited, a discharge current flows along a discharge loop regardless of whether
the cell balancing switch SWb2 is turned on or off. As a result, a voltage difference VAB
of each of the cell balancing circuits 20 corresponding to the first cell VB1 and the third
cell VB3 has a higher voltage level than the cell voltages V1 and V3, respectively,
regardless of whether the cell balancing switch SWb2 of the second cell VB2 is turned on
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or off. The reason why a voltage difference of an adjacent cell balancing circuit has a
higher voltage level than a corresponding cell voltage when a discharge current flows
along a discharge loop of the second cell VB2 is described above with regard to the case
1.
Accordingly, when voltage differences of an adjacent cell balancing circuit
measured while a cell balancing circuit of a cell to be diagnosed is turned on and off,
have a higher voltage level than a corresponding cell voltage, the control unit determines
that a short circuit occurred in the cell balancing circuit of the cell to be diagnosed.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the cell balancing switch SWb2 of the second cell VB2
is open-circuited, a discharge current does not flow along a discharge loop regardless of
whether the cell balancing switch SWb2 is turned on or off. As a result, a voltage
difference VAB of each of the cell balancing circuits 20 corresponding to the first cell
VB1 and the third cell VB3 has the same voltage level as the cell voltages V1 and V3,
respectively, regardless of whether the cell balancing switch SWb2 of the second cell VB2
is turned on or off.
Accordingly, when voltage differences of an adjacent cell balancing circuit
measured while a cell balancing circuit of a cell to be diagnosed is turned on and off,
have the same voltage level as a corresponding cell voltage, the control unit determines
that an open circuit occurred in the cell balancing circuit of the cell to be diagnosed.
Meanwhile, the open circuit in the cell balancing circuit may include an open
circuit in the discharge resistor Rd and an open circuit in a circuit line of the cell
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balancing circuit as well as an open circuit in a cell balancing switch. In this case, it is
obvious that a variation pattern of a voltage difference of a cell balancing circuit adjacent
to a cell balancing circuit to be diagnosed will show the same aspect as the variation
pattern of the voltage difference shown in FIG. 5.
The apparatus for diagnosing an abnormality in a cell balancing circuit according
to the present invention may further include an additional circuit configuration for
correctly diagnosing a short circuit or an open circuit in the entire cell balancing circuit.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus for diagnosing an abnormality in a
cell balancing circuit according to the present invention may further include a discharge
resistor Rz and a diagnosis switch SWz installed between the battery cell VB1 at the
lowest potential side and the cell balancing circuit 20 corresponding to the battery cell
VB1. It is obvious that the discharge resistor Rz and the diagnosis switch SWz may be
installed between the battery cell VB3 at the highest potential side and the cell balancing
circuit 20 corresponding to the battery cell VB3.
A process for determining an abnormality in the entire cell balancing circuit and
the cause of the abnormality in the apparatus for diagnosing an abnormality in a cell
balancing circuit according to the present invention is described below.
First, the control unit 40 may turn on all of the cell balancing switches SWb1,
SWb2, and SWb3, and the control unit 40 may measure a voltage difference of the cell
balancing circuit 20 corresponding to each of the battery cells VB1, VB2, and VB3
through the voltage measuring unit 30, and sum up the measured voltage differences to
calculate a first voltage difference of the entire cell balancing circuit 20. Next, the
control unit 40 may turn on the diagnosis switch SWz while all of the cell balancing
20
switches SWb1, SWb2, and SWb3 are turned on, and the control unit 40 may measure a
voltage difference of the cell balancing circuit 20 corresponding to each of the battery
cells VB1, VB2, and VB3 through the voltage measuring unit 30, and sum up the
measured voltage differences to calculate a second voltage difference of the entire cell
balancing circuit 20. Next, the control unit 40 may compare the first voltage difference
of the entire cell balancing circuit 20 with the second voltage difference of the entire cell
balancing circuit 20, and when the first voltage difference has the same voltage level as
the second voltage difference, the control unit 40 may determine that an open circuit
occurred in the entire cell balancing circuit 20.
Conversely, the control unit 40 may turn off all of the cell balancing switches
SWb1, SWb2, and SWb3, and the control unit 40 may measure a voltage difference of the
cell balancing circuit 20 corresponding to each of the battery cells VB1, VB2, and VB3
through the voltage measuring unit 30, and sum up the measured voltage differences to
calculate a first voltage difference of the entire cell balancing circuit 20. Next, the
control unit 40 may turn on the diagnosis switch SWz while all of the cell balancing
switches SWb1, SWb2, and SWb3 are turned off, and the control unit 40 may measure a
voltage difference of the cell balancing circuit 20 corresponding to each of the battery
cells VB1, VB2, and VB3 through the voltage measuring unit 30, and sum up the
measured voltage differences to calculate a second voltage difference of the entire cell
balancing circuit 20. Next, the control unit 40 may compare the first voltage difference
of the entire cell balancing circuit 20 with the second voltage difference of the entire cell
balancing circuit 20, and when the second voltage difference has a smaller voltage level
than the first voltage difference, the control unit 40 may determine that a short circuit
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occurred in the entire cell balancing circuit 20.
As described above, the reason why the first voltage difference of the entire cell
balancing circuit has the same voltage level as the second voltage difference of the entire
cell balancing circuit when an open circuit occurred in the entire cell balancing circuit, is
because a discharge current does not flow into the discharge resistor Rz side. Also, the
reason why the second voltage difference of the entire cell balancing circuit has a smaller
voltage level than the first voltage difference of the entire cell balancing circuit when a
short circuit occurred in the entire cell balancing circuit, is because a discharge current
flows into the discharge resistor Rz side and a voltage drop effect by the discharge
resistor Rz is reflected on the voltage difference of the entire cell balancing circuit.
As shown in FIG. 2, the apparatus for diagnosing an abnormality in a cell
balancing circuit according to the present invention may further include an abnormality
alarm 50. In this case, when an abnormality occurs in the cell balancing circuit 20, the
control unit 40 may control the abnormality alarm 50 to inform the abnormality. That
is, when the control unit 40 determines there is an abnormality in the cell balancing
circuit 20, the control unit 40 may control the abnormality alarm 50 to visually or audibly
inform the abnormality by transmitting an abnormality alarm signal to the abnormality
alarm 50.
The abnormality alarm 50 may include a liquid emitting display (LED), a liquid
crystal display (LCD), an alarm, or combinations thereof. In this instance, when the
abnormality alarm signal is inputted, the abnormality alarm 50 may flash an LED, may
output an alarm message on an LCD, or may generate an alarm buzz, to inform the
abnormality in the cell balancing circuit to a user. The exemplary LED, LCD, and
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alarm are just an example of the abnormality alarm 50, and it is obvious to an ordinary
person skilled in the art that various types of modified visual or audio alarms may be
used in the abnormality alarm 50.
It is also obvious to an ordinary person skilled in the art that diagnosis of an
abnormality in a cell balancing circuit as described above may be repeatedly performed
at a predetermined interval, and may be performed in response to a user’s diagnosis
command or a diagnosis command automatically generated by a control algorithm of the
control unit 40.
Also, the control unit 40 may be configured as a microprocessor to execute a
program code for implementing a method for diagnosing an abnormality in a cell
balancing circuit, or as an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) with a logic
circuit for implementing a control stream of a method for diagnosing an abnormality in a
cell balancing circuit, however the present invention is not limited in this regard.
The above-described apparatus for diagnosing an abnormality in a cell balancing
circuit according to the present invention may be used in association with a battery
operating system that is provided with a power source from a battery pack.
As an example, the present invention may be used in association with a various
kinds of electronic appliances provided with an operating voltage from batteries, such as
notebook computers, mobile phones, personal portable multimedia players, and the like.
As another example, the present invention may be used in association with a
various kinds of power equipment such as fossil fuel vehicles, electric vehicles, hybrid
vehicles, electric bicycles, and the like.
Also, the present invention may be included in a battery management system
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(BMS) for controlling charge/discharge of a battery pack and protecting a battery pack
from overcharge, over-discharge, and the like.
Further, the apparatus for diagnosing an abnormality in a cell balancing circuit
according to the present invention may be included in a battery pack.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method for diagnosing an abnormality in a cell
balancing circuit according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Hereinafter, the turn-on or turn-off of the cell balancing circuit 20 means turn-on or turnoff
of the cell balancing switches SWb1, SWb2, and SWb3 included in the cell balancing
circuit 20.
First, in step S11, the control unit may measure and store the cell voltage of each
battery cell through the voltage measuring unit. In this instance, the control unit may
turn off a cell balancing circuit corresponding to each battery cell.
In step S12, the control unit may turn off a cell balancing circuit adjacent to a cell
balancing circuit to be diagnosed.
In step S13, the control unit may turn on the cell balancing circuit to be diagnosed
while the adjacent cell balancing circuit is turned off, and may measure and store a
voltage difference of the adjacent cell balancing circuit.
In step S14, the control unit may turn off the cell balancing circuit to be
diagnosed while the adjacent cell balancing circuit is turned off, and the control unit may
measure and store a voltage difference of the adjacent cell balancing circuit.
In step S15, the control unit may determine whether there is an abnormality in the
cell balancing circuit to be diagnosed and if any, the cause of the abnormality, based on a
variation pattern of the voltage difference of the adjacent cell balancing circuit measured
24
when the adjacent cell balancing circuit is turned on or off.
That is, when the voltage difference of the adjacent cell balancing circuit
measured while the cell balancing circuit to be diagnosed is turned on, has a higher
voltage level than the corresponding cell voltage, and when the voltage difference of the
adjacent cell balancing circuit measured while the cell balancing circuit to be diagnosed
is turned off, has the same voltage level as the corresponding cell voltage, the control
unit may determine that the cell balancing circuit to be diagnosed is normal.
Also, when the voltage differences of the adjacent cell balancing circuit measured
while the cell balancing circuit to be diagnosed is turned on and off, have the same
voltage level as the corresponding cell voltage, the control unit determines that an open
circuit occurred in the cell balancing circuit to be diagnosed.
Also, when the voltage differences of the adjacent cell balancing circuit measured
while the cell balancing circuit to be diagnosed is turned on and off, have a higher
voltage level than the corresponding cell voltage, the control unit determines that a short
circuit occurred in the cell balancing circuit to be diagnosed.
In step S16, the control unit may proceed with an alternate process based on the
abnormality diagnosis result of the cell balancing circuit. When it is determined there
is no abnormality in the cell balancing circuit to be diagnosed, the control unit may
terminate the process for diagnosing an abnormality in a cell balancing circuit.
Conversely, when it is determined there is an abnormality in the cell balancing circuit to
be diagnosed, the control unit may perform the step S17 for visually or audibly informing
the abnormality to a user through the abnormality alarm.
It is obvious to an ordinary person skilled in the art that the steps S11 to S17 may
25
be performed for each cell balancing circuit corresponding to each battery cell. Also, it
is obvious to an ordinary person skilled in the art that diagnosis of an abnormality in the
cell balancing circuit may be repeatedly performed at a predetermined interval, and may
be performed in response to a user’s diagnosis command or a diagnosis command
automatically generated by a control algorithm of the control unit.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method for diagnosing an abnormality in the
entire cell balancing circuit according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
First, in step S21, the control unit may turn on the entire cell balancing circuit and
turn off the diagnosis switch, and may measure a voltage difference of each cell
balancing circuit through the voltage measuring unit, and sum up the measured voltage
differences to calculate a first voltage difference of the entire cell balancing circuit.
In step S22, the control unit may turn on the diagnosis switch while the entire cell
balancing circuit is turned on, and may measure a voltage difference of each cell
balancing circuit through the voltage measuring unit, and sum up the measured voltage
differences to calculate a second voltage difference of the entire cell balancing circuit.
In step S23, the control unit may compare the first voltage difference of the entire
cell balancing circuit with the second voltage difference of the entire cell balancing
circuit. When the first voltage difference has the same voltage level as the second
voltage difference, the control unit may determine that an open circuit occurred in the
entire cell balancing circuit.
In step S24, the control unit may proceed with an alternate process based on the
abnormality diagnosis result of the entire cell balancing circuit. When it is determined
that an open circuit occurred in the entire cell balancing circuit, the control unit may
26
perform the step S29 for visually or audibly informing the open circuit in the entire cell
balancing circuit to a user through the abnormality alarm. When it is determined that
the open circuit did not occur in the entire cell balancing circuit, the control unit may
perform the step S25.
In step S25, the control unit may turn off the diagnosis switch and turn off the
entire cell balancing circuit, and may measure a voltage difference of each cell balancing
circuit through the voltage measuring unit, and sum up the measured voltage differences
to calculate a first voltage difference of the entire cell balancing circuit.
In step S26, the control unit may turn on the diagnosis switch while the entire cell
balancing circuit is turned off, and may measure a voltage difference of each cell
balancing circuit through the voltage measuring unit, and sum up the measured voltage
differences to calculate a second voltage difference of the entire cell balancing circuit.
In step S27, the control unit may compare the first voltage difference of the entire
cell balancing circuit with the second voltage difference of the entire cell balancing
circuit. When the second voltage difference of the entire cell balancing circuit has a
smaller voltage level than the first voltage difference of the entire cell balancing circuit,
the control unit may determine that a short circuit occurred in the entire cell balancing
circuit.
In step S28, the control unit may proceed with an alternate process based on the
abnormality diagnosis result of the entire cell balancing circuit. When it is determined
that a short circuit occurred in the entire cell balancing circuit, the control unit may
perform the step S29 for visually or audibly informing the short circuit in the entire cell
balancing circuit to a user through the abnormality alarm. When it is determined that
27
the short circuit did not occur in the entire cell balancing circuit, the control unit may
terminate the process for diagnosing an abnormality in the entire cell balancing circuit.
It is obvious to an ordinary person skilled in the art that the method for
diagnosing an abnormality in a cell balancing circuit may be repeatedly performed at a
predetermined interval during use of a battery pack, and may be performed in response to
a user’s diagnosis command or a diagnosis command automatically generated by a
control algorithm of the control unit.
Also, the configuration for outputting the abnormality diagnosis result of the cell
balancing circuit to the abnormality alarm may be omitted. In this case, the control unit
may preferably store and maintain the abnormality diagnosis result and the cause of the
abnormality in a memory.
The present invention is not limited to a specific order of turn-on or turn-off of
the cell balancing circuit and the diagnosis switch. Various changes and modifications
may be arbitrarily made to the order of turn-on or turn-off of the cell balancing circuit
and the diagnosis switch without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
invention.
Hereinafter, the preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in
detail. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific
examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of
illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of
the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed
description.
28
WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. An apparatus for diagnosing an abnormality in a cell balancing circuit, the
apparatus comprising:
a plurality of cell balancing circuits respectively connected to a plurality of
battery cells included in a battery pack for balancing voltages of the battery cells;
a diagnosis resistor respectively installed between the cell balancing circuit and a
cathode terminal and an anode terminal of the corresponding battery cell;
a voltage measuring unit for measuring a voltage difference of the balancing
circuit corresponding to each of the battery cells; and
a control unit for turning on or off a cell balancing circuit to be diagnosed and for
determining whether there is an abnormality in the cell balancing circuit to be diagnosed,
based on a variation pattern of the voltage difference of a cell balancing circuit adjacent
to the cell balancing circuit to be diagnosed that is measured by the voltage measuring
unit.
2. The apparatus for diagnosing an abnormality in a cell balancing circuit according
to claim 1,
wherein the voltage difference of the adjacent cell balancing circuit is a difference
in voltage between a low potential node where one end of the adjacent cell balancing
circuit is connected to an anode terminal of the corresponding battery cell and a high
potential node where the other end of the adjacent cell balancing circuit is connected to a
cathode terminal of the corresponding battery cell.
29
3. The apparatus for diagnosing an abnormality in a cell balancing circuit according
to claim 1,
wherein the cell balancing circuit includes:
a discharge resistor for discharging the corresponding battery cell; and
a cell balancing switch for establishing a connection between the discharge
resistor and the corresponding battery cell or for releasing the connection,
wherein the control unit controls the turn-on or turn-off of the cell balancing
switch to balance the voltages of the battery cells.
4. The apparatus for diagnosing an abnormality in a cell balancing circuit according
to claim 3,
wherein the cell balancing circuit further includes a diode for limiting the flow of
a discharge current and a return current through the discharge resistor.
5. The apparatus for diagnosing an abnormality in a cell balancing circuit according
to claim 3,
wherein the cell balancing switch is a field effect transistor (FET).
6. The apparatus for diagnosing an abnormality in a cell balancing circuit according
to claim 1,
wherein the control unit turns off the adjacent cell balancing circuit and turns on
or off the cell balancing circuit to be diagnosed, and the control unit controls measures
30
the voltage difference of the adjacent cell balancing circuit through the voltage
measuring unit when the cell balancing circuit to be diagnosed is turned on or off.
7. The apparatus for diagnosing an abnormality in a cell balancing circuit according
to claim 1 or 6,
wherein the control unit determines that the cell balancing circuit to be diagnosed
is normal, when the voltage difference of the adjacent cell balancing circuit measured
while the cell balancing circuit to be diagnosed is turned on, has a higher voltage level
than the corresponding cell voltage, and when the voltage difference of the adjacent cell
balancing circuit measured while the cell balancing circuit to be diagnosed is turned off,
has the same voltage level as the corresponding cell voltage.
8. The apparatus for diagnosing an abnormality in a cell balancing circuit according
to claim 1 or 6,
wherein the control unit determines that an open circuit occurred in the cell
balancing circuit to be diagnosed, when the voltage differences of the adjacent cell
balancing circuit measured while the cell balancing circuit to be diagnosed is turned on
and off, have the same voltage level as the corresponding cell voltage.
9. The apparatus for diagnosing an abnormality in a cell balancing circuit according
to claim 1 or 6,
wherein the control unit determines that a short circuit occurred in the cell
balancing circuit to be diagnosed, when the voltage differences of the adjacent cell
31
balancing circuit measured while the cell balancing circuit to be diagnosed is turned on
and off, have a higher voltage level than the corresponding cell voltage.
10. An apparatus for diagnosing an abnormality in a cell balancing circuit, the
apparatus comprising:
a plurality of cell balancing circuits respectively connected to a plurality of
battery cells included in a battery pack for balancing voltages of the battery cells;
a voltage measuring unit for measuring a voltage difference of the cell balancing
circuit corresponding to each of the battery cells;
a discharge resistor and a diagnosis switch installed between a battery cell at a
highest potential side or a lowest potential side and the corresponding cell balancing
circuit; and
a control unit for turning on or off the entire cell balancing circuit and turning on
or off the diagnosis switch, and for determining whether there is an abnormality in the
entire cell balancing circuit based on a variation pattern of the voltage difference of the
entire cell balancing circuit measured by the voltage measuring unit when the diagnosis
switch is turned on and off.
11. The apparatus for diagnosing an abnormality in a cell balancing circuit according
to claim 10,
wherein the control unit determines that an open circuit occurred in the entire cell
balancing circuit, when the voltage differences of the entire cell balancing circuit
measured while the entire cell balancing circuit is turned on and the diagnosis switch is
32
turned on and off, have the same voltage level as the entire cell voltage.
12. The apparatus for diagnosing an abnormality in a cell balancing circuit according
to claim 10,
wherein the control unit determines that a short circuit occurred in the entire cell
balancing circuit, when the voltage difference of the entire cell balancing circuit
measured while the entire cell balancing circuit is turned off and the diagnosis switch is
turned on, has a smaller voltage level than the voltage difference of the entire cell
balancing circuit measured while the entire cell balancing circuit is turned off and the
diagnosis switch is turned off.
13. The apparatus for diagnosing an abnormality in a cell balancing circuit according
to claim 1 or 10,
wherein the control unit includes:
a switch control module for controlling the operation of the cell balancing switch
included in the cell balancing circuit;
an analog/digital (A/D) conversion module for converting an analog voltage
signal outputted from the voltage measuring unit into a digital voltage signal; and
a central processing module for receiving the digital voltage signal from the A/D
conversion module and determining whether there is an abnormality in the cell balancing
circuit.
14. The apparatus for diagnosing an abnormality in a cell balancing circuit according
33
to claim 1 or 10, further comprising:
an abnormality alarm for visually or audibly outputting an abnormality in the cell
balancing circuit,
wherein the control unit controls the abnormality alarm to visually or audibly
inform an abnormality in the cell balancing circuit when the abnormality occurs in the
cell balancing circuit.
15. A battery management system comprising the apparatus for diagnosing an
abnormality in a cell balancing circuit defined in any one of claims 1 to 14.
16. A battery operating system comprising the apparatus for diagnosing an
abnormality in a cell balancing circuit defined in any one of claims 1 to 14.
17. A battery pack comprising the apparatus for diagnosing an abnormality in a cell
balancing circuit defined in any one of claims 1 to 14.
18. A method for diagnosing an abnormality in a cell balancing circuit, which
diagnoses an abnormality in a plurality of cell balancing circuits respectively connected
to a plurality of battery cells included in a battery pack for balancing voltages of the
battery cells, the method comprising:
measuring a voltage difference of a cell balancing circuit adjacent to a cell
balancing circuit to be diagnosed when the cell balancing circuit to be diagnosed is
turned on and the adjacent cell balancing circuit is turned off;
34
measuring a voltage difference of the adjacent cell balancing circuit when the cell
balancing circuit to be diagnosed is turned off and the adjacent cell balancing circuit is
turned off; and
determining whether there is an abnormality in the cell balancing circuit to be
diagnosed, based on a variation pattern of the voltage difference of the adjacent cell
balancing circuit measured when the cell balancing circuit to be diagnosed is turned on or
off.
19. The method for diagnosing an abnormality in a cell balancing circuit according to
claim 18,
wherein the determining of whether there is an abnormality in the cell balancing
circuit comprises determining that the cell balancing circuit to be diagnosed is normal,
when the voltage difference of the adjacent cell balancing circuit measured while the cell
balancing circuit to be diagnosed is turned off, has a smaller voltage level than the
voltage difference of the adjacent cell balancing circuit measured while the cell balancing
circuit to be diagnosed is turned on.
20. The method for diagnosing an abnormality in a cell balancing circuit according to
claim 18,
wherein the determining of whether there is an abnormality in the cell balancing
circuit comprises determining that an open circuit occurred in the cell balancing circuit to
be diagnosed, when the voltage differences of the adjacent cell balancing circuit
measured while the cell balancing circuit to be diagnosed is turned on and off, have the
35
same voltage level as the corresponding cell voltage.
21. The method for diagnosing an abnormality in a cell balancing circuit according to
claim 18,
wherein the determining of whether there is an abnormality in the cell balancing
circuit comprises determining that a short circuit occurred in the cell balancing circuit to
be diagnosed, when the voltage differences of the adjacent cell balancing circuit
measured while the cell balancing circuit to be diagnosed is turned on and off, have a
higher voltage level than the corresponding cell voltage.
22. A method for diagnosing an abnormality in the entire cell balancing circuit using
a plurality of cell balancing circuits respectively connected to a plurality of battery cells
included in a battery pack for balancing voltages of the battery cells, and a discharge
resistor and a diagnosis switch installed between a battery cell at a highest potential side
or a lowest potential side and the corresponding cell balancing circuit, the method
comprising:
measuring a voltage difference of the entire cell balancing circuit when the entire
cell balancing circuit is turned on or off and the diagnosis switch is turned on or off; and
determining whether there is an abnormality in the entire cell balancing circuit,
based on a variation pattern of the voltage difference of the entire cell balancing circuit
measured when the diagnosis switch is turned on or off.
23. The method for diagnosing an abnormality in a cell balancing circuit according to
36
claim 22,
wherein the determining of whether there is an abnormality in the entire cell
balancing circuit comprises determining that an open circuit occurred in the entire cell
balancing circuit, when the voltage differences of the entire cell balancing circuit
measured while the entire cell balancing circuit is turned on and the diagnosis switch is
turned on and off, have the same voltage level as the entire cell voltage.
24. The method for diagnosing an abnormality in a cell balancing circuit according to
claim 22,
wherein the determining of whether there is an abnormality in the entire cell
balancing circuit comprises determining that a short circuit occurred in the entire cell
balancing circuit, when the voltage difference of the entire cell balancing circuit
measured while the entire cell balancing circuit is turned off and the diagnosis switch is
turned on, has a smaller voltage level than the voltage difference of the entire cell
balancing circuit measured while the entire cell balancing circuit is turned off and the
diagnosis switch is turned off.
25. The method for diagnosing an abnormality in a cell balancing circuit according to
claim 18 or 22, further comprising:
37
visually or audibly informing an abnormality in the cell balancing circuit when it is
determined that the abnormality occurred in the cell balancing circuit.