FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10, rule 13)
“BATTERY MANAGEMENT APPARATUS AND OPERATING
METHOD THEREOF”
LG ENERGY SOLUTION, LTD., Tower 1, 108, Yeouidaero, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul 07335, Republic of Korea
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is
to be performed.
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[DESCRIPTION]
[INVENTION TITLE]
BATTERY MANAGEMENT APPARATUS AND OPERATING METHOD
THEREOF
[TECHNICAL FIELD]
[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0002] This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application
No. 10-2022-0019799 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on February 15,
2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
[0003] TECHNICAL FIELD
[0004] Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a battery management apparatus and an
operating method thereof.
[BACKGROUND ART]
[0005] Recently, research and development of secondary batteries have been actively
performed. Herein, the secondary batteries, which are chargeable/dischargeable batteries,
may include all of conventional nickel (Ni)/cadmium (Cd) batteries, Ni/metal hydride
(MH) batteries, etc., and recent lithium-ion batteries. Among the secondary batteries, a
lithium-ion battery has a much higher energy density than those of the conventional Ni/Cd
batteries, Ni/MH batteries, etc. Moreover, the lithium-ion battery may be manufactured
to be small and lightweight, such that the lithium-ion battery has been used as a power
source of mobile devices, and recently, a use range thereof has been extended to power
sources for electric vehicles, attracting attention as next-generation energy storage media.
[0006] When charging a battery included in a vehicle, a user is often absent while
connecting a connector to the vehicle. After completion of battery charge, all devices
inside the vehicle enter a sleep mode after a preset time to prevent the vehicle from being
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discharged, making it difficult to collect data in case of occurrence of ignition inside the
vehicle or take measures to prevent ignition.
[DISCLOSURE]
[TECHNICAL PROBLEM]
[0007] Embodiments disclosed herein aim to provide a battery management apparatus
and an operating method thereof in which in case of occurrence of ignition inside a vehicle
after completion of vehicle charge, an operation of detecting and preventing ignition may
be performed.
[0008] Embodiments disclosed herein aim to provide a battery management apparatus
and an operating method thereof in which after completion of vehicle charge, minimum
power may be supplied from a charging connector to enable constant monitoring of
ignition inside the vehicle.
[0009] Technical problems of the embodiments disclosed herein are not limited to the
above-described technical problems, and other unmentioned technical problems would
be clearly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art from the following description.
[TECHNICAL SOLUTION]
[0010] A battery management apparatus according to an embodiment disclosed herein
includes a sensor configured to generate information about occurrence of fire and a
controller configured to control charge of the battery based on power for charging the
battery, supplied from a charger, monitor the information about occurrence of the fire
based on power for monitoring the fire, supplied from the charger, upon completion of
charge of the battery, and determine whether the fire occurs based on a monitoring result.
[0011] In an embodiment, the controller may be further configured to control another
device inside the vehicle to perform an operation for preventing the fire, based on whether
the fire occurs.
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[0012] In an embodiment, the controller may be further configured to store information
about the fire in the charger or the battery management apparatus when determining that
the fire occurs.
[0013] In an embodiment, the controller may be further configured to receive minimum
power for determining whether the fire occurs from the charger.
[0014] In an embodiment, the controller may be further configured to determine whether
connection with the charger is released, upon completion of the charge of the battery,
request supply of power for monitoring the fire to the charger when determining that
connection with the charger is not released, and receive the power for monitoring the fire
from the charger.
[0015] In an embodiment, the controller may be further configured to switch to a sleep
mode when determining that connection with the charger is released. In an embodiment,
the controller may be further configured to receive a user command for activating or
deactivating a fire monitoring function, upon completion of the charge of the battery
during activation of the fire monitoring function in response to a first user command,
monitor the information about occurrence of the fire based on the power for monitoring
the fire after completion of the charge, and upon completion of the charge of the battery
during deactivation of the fire monitoring function in response to a second user command,
switch to a sleep mode after completion of the charge.
[0016] An operating method of a battery management apparatus according to an
embodiment disclosed herein includes generating information about occurrence of fire,
controlling charge of the battery based on power for charging the battery, supplied from
a charger, monitoring the information about occurrence of the fire, based on power for
monitoring the fire, supplied from the charger, upon completion of the charge of the
battery, and determining whether the fire occurs, based on a monitoring result.
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[0017] In an embodiment, the operating method may further include controlling another
device inside the vehicle to perform an operation for preventing the fire, based on whether
the fire occurs.
[0018] In an embodiment, the operating method may further include storing information
about the fire in the charger or the battery management apparatus when determining that
the fire occurs.
[0019] In an embodiment, the operating method may further include determining
whether connection with the charger is released, upon completion of the charge of the
battery and requesting supply of power for monitoring the fire to the charger when
determining that connection with the charger is not released, and receiving power for
monitoring the fire from the charger or switching to a sleep mode when determining that
connection with the charger is released.
[0020] In an embodiment, the operating method may further include receiving a user
command for activating or deactivating a fire monitoring function and upon completion
of the charge of the battery during activation of the fire monitoring function in response
to a first user command, monitoring the information about occurrence of the fire based
on the power for monitoring the fire after completion of the charge or upon completion
of the charge of the battery during deactivation of the fire monitoring function in response
to a second user command, switching to a sleep mode after completion of the charge.
[ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS]
[0021] A battery management apparatus and an operating method thereof according to
an embodiment disclosed herein may detect ignition inside a vehicle and perform a
required operation because there is no need to enter a sleep mode even when charge of
the vehicle is completed.
[0022] A battery management apparatus and an operating method thereof according to
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an embodiment disclosed herein may constantly monitor a state of the vehicle after
completion of charge of the vehicle to collect data in case of occurrence of ignition inside
the vehicle, thereby fundamentally analyzing a cause for the ignition.
[0023] A battery management apparatus and an operating method thereof according to
an embodiment disclosed herein may receive minimum power from the charger after
completion of the charge of the vehicle to maintain an operation mode without entering
the sleep mode, thereby detecting in advance a cause for ignition inside the vehicle and
taking measures to the ignition.
[0024] A battery management apparatus and an operating method thereof according to
an embodiment disclosed herein may provide, to the user, a user interface for selecting
whether to enter the sleep mode or maintain the operation mode to the user after
completion of the charge of the vehicle, thereby allowing the user to make selection.
[0025] Moreover, various effects recognized directly or indirectly from the disclosure
may be provided.
[DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS]
[0026] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a general battery pack.
[0027] FIG. 2 is a view showing a vehicle including a battery management apparatus,
according to an embodiment disclosed herein.
[0028] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a battery management apparatus according to an
embodiment disclosed herein.
[0029] FIG. 4 shows an example of a display of a battery management apparatus
according to an embodiment disclosed herein.
[0030] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an operating method of a battery management apparatus
according to an embodiment disclosed herein.
[0031] FIGS. 6 to 8 are flowcharts of an operating method of a battery management
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apparatus, according to an embodiment disclosed herein.
[0032] FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a computing
system for performing an operating method of a battery management apparatus, according
to an embodiment disclosed herein.
[MODE FOR INVENTION]
[0033] Hereinafter, embodiments disclosed in this document will be described in detail
with reference to the exemplary drawings. In adding reference numerals to components
of each drawing, it should be noted that the same components are given the same
reference numerals even though they are indicated in different drawings. In addition, in
describing the embodiments disclosed in this document, when it is determined that a
detailed description of a related known configuration or function interferes with the
understanding of an embodiment disclosed in this document, the detailed description
thereof will be omitted.
[0034] To describe a component of an embodiment disclosed herein, terms such as first,
second, A, B, (a), (b), etc., may be used. These terms are used merely for distinguishing
one component from another component and do not limit the component to the essence,
sequence, order, etc., of the component. The terms used herein, including technical and
scientific terms, have the same meanings as terms that are generally understood by those
skilled in the art, as long as the terms are not differently defined. Generally, the terms
defined in a generally used dictionary should be interpreted as having the same meanings
as the contextual meanings of the relevant technology and should not be interpreted as
having ideal or exaggerated meanings unless they are clearly defined in the present
application.
[0035] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a general battery pack.
[0036] Referring to FIG. 1, a battery control system including a battery pack 1 and a
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higher-level controller 2 included in a higher-level system according to an embodiment
of the present disclosure is schematically shown.
[0037] As shown in FIG. 1, the battery pack 1 may include a battery module 10 that
includes one or more battery cells and is chargeable/dischargeable, a switching unit 14
serially connected to a positive (+) terminal side or a negative (-) terminal side of the
battery module 10 to control a charging/discharging current flow of the battery module
10, and a battery management system 20 for control and management to prevent overcharging and over-discharging by monitoring voltage, current, temperature, etc., of the
battery pack 1. The battery pack 1 may include the battery module 10, the sensor 12, the
switching unit 14, and the battery management system 20 provided in plural.
[0038] Herein, as the switching unit 14 which is an element for controlling a current
flow for charging or discharging of the plurality of battery modules 10, for example, at
least one relay, magnetic contactor, etc., may be used according to specifications of the
battery pack 1.
[0039] The battery management system 20, which is an interface for receiving
measurement values of the above-described various parameter values, may include a
plurality of terminals and a circuit, etc., connected thereto to process input values. The
battery management system 20 may control on/off of the switching unit 14, e.g., a relay,
a contactor, etc., and may be connected to the battery module 10 to monitor the state of
each battery module 10. According to an embodiment, the battery management system
20 may include a battery management apparatus 100 of FIG. 3. According to another
embodiment, the battery management system 20 may be different from the battery
management apparatus 100 of FIG. 2. That is, the battery management apparatus 100 of
FIG. 3 may be included in the battery pack 1 and may be configured as another device
outside the battery pack 1.
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[0040] The higher-level controller 2 may transmit a control signal regarding the battery
module 10 to the battery management system 20. Thus, the battery management system
20 may also be controlled in terms of an operation thereof based on a signal applied from
the higher-level controller 2.
[0041] FIG. 2 is a view showing a vehicle including a battery management apparatus,
according to an embodiment disclosed herein.
[0042] Referring to FIG. 2, the battery management apparatus (e.g., the battery
management apparatus 100 of FIG. 3) according to an embodiment disclosed herein may
be included in a vehicle 4. For example, the vehicle 4 may include means of transportation
capable of including a battery such as a wheelbarrow, a two-wheeler, a tricycle, a
quadricycle, an electric vehicle, an electric bicycle, a truck, a bus, etc.
[0043] The charger 3 may charge a battery of the vehicle 4. For example, the charger 3
may be connected to the vehicle 4 through a charging cable 5, and charge the vehicle 4.
[0044] Depending on an embodiment, the charger 3 may continuously supply power
when the vehicle 4 is completely charged. For example, the vehicle 4 may receive power
for monitoring fire from the charger 3 upon completion of charge. In another example,
the vehicle 4 may receive minimum power for monitoring the fire of the vehicle 4 from
the charger 3.
[0045] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a battery management apparatus according to an
embodiment disclosed herein.
[0046] Referring to FIG. 3, the battery management apparatus 100 according to an
embodiment disclosed herein may include a sensor 110 and a controller 120. Depending
on an embodiment, the battery management apparatus 100 may be included in the vehicle
4 of FIG. 2. Depending on an embodiment, the battery management apparatus 100 may
be included in the BMS 20 of FIG. 1 or may be another device that is different from the
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BMS 20 of FIG. 1.
[0047] The sensor 110 may generate information about occurrence of the fire. For
example, the sensor 110 may detect at least any one of temperature, gas, voltage deviation
between battery cells, generation of light, and over-voltage and over-current. In another
example, the sensor 110 may include at least any one of a voltage detecting sensor, a
current detecting sensor, a thermistor, a temperature sensor, a light detecting sensor, and
a gas sensor.
[0048] Depending on an embodiment, the sensor 110 may detect at least any one of
battery electrolyte leakage, insulation breakdown, 2 line-to-ground fault, and pouch tear.
According to another embodiment, the sensor 110 may sense at least any one of gas,
pressure, current, insulating resistance, temperature, and light emission of a battery and
generate information about occurrence of fire based on sensed information.
[0049] The controller 120 may control charge of the battery based on power for charging
the battery, supplied from the charger. For example, the controller 120 may control charge
of the battery based on state information such as voltage, current, SoC, etc., of the battery.
[0050] The controller 120 may monitor the information about occurrence of the fire,
based on power for monitoring the fire, supplied from the charger, upon completion of
the charge of the battery. For example, the controller 120 may maintain an operation mode
(or a monitoring mode) based on power supplied to the vehicle upon completion of the
charge of the battery, and the controller 120 may monitor the information about
occurrence of the fire in the operation mode. For example, the operation mode may be a
mode where a function of the battery management apparatus 100 may be performed. In
another example, the opposite of the operation mode may be the sleep mode, and when
the controller 120 enters the sleep mode, the function of the controller 120 may not be
performed.
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[0051] The controller 120 may determine whether the fire occurs, based on a monitoring
result. For example, the controller 120 may determine, based on the information about
occurrence of the fire, obtained as the monitoring result, that the fire occurs, in at least
any one case of when a temperature increases above a set value, when generated light is
generated above a set value, when gas is generated above a set value, over-voltage occurs
above a set value, and when a voltage deviation between battery cells is a set value or
higher.
[0052] The controller 120 may control another internal device to perform an operation
for preventing the fire, based on whether the fire occurs. For example, the controller 120
may control another device inside the vehicle to perform at least any one of a forced vent
operation, a fast cooling operation, and an operation of extinguishing the fire through a
water nozzle. In another example, the controller 120 may prevent ignition of the vehicle
by shutting down all systems inside the vehicle when the fire is expected to occur.
Depending on an embodiment, the controller 120 may determine whether the fire occurs
and control another device inside the vehicle to perform an operation for preventing the
fire of the vehicle.
[0053] The controller 120 may store the information about the fire in a charger (e.g., the
charger 2 of FIG. 2) or the battery management apparatus 100 when determining that the
fire occurs. For example, when the fire occurs, to prevent loss of data, when determining
that the fire occurs, the controller 120 may store the information about the fire, collected
in the sensor 110, in the battery management apparatus 100 or the charger. Depending on
an embodiment, the controller 120 may transmit the information about the fire to an
external server (e.g., the high-level controller 2 of FIG. 1).
[0054] Depending on an embodiment, the controller 120 may receive minimum power
for determining whether the fire occurs from a charger (e.g., the charger 3 of FIG. 2).
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[0055] The controller 120 may determine whether connection with the charger is
released, upon completion of charge of the battery. For example, when determining that
connection with the charger is not released, the controller 120 may request supply of
power for monitoring the fire to the charger and receive power for monitoring the fire
from the charger. In another example, when determining that connection with the charger
is released, the controller 120 may switch to the sleep mode. According to an embodiment,
when connection with the charger is released, it means that a user of the vehicle is present
in the field, such that the controller 120 may switch to the sleep mode to prevent the
battery from being discharged.
[0056] The battery management apparatus 100 according to an embodiment disclosed
herein may further include a display 130.
[0057] The display 130 may receive a user input. For example, the display 130 may
provide a user interface to the user to allow the user to set whether to switch the battery
management apparatus 100 to the sleep mode.
[0058] Depending on an embodiment, the display 130 may provide a user interface to
the user to allow the user to set whether to switch the battery management apparatus 100
to the sleep mode or maintain the battery management apparatus 100 in the operation
mode, when charge is completed.
[0059] The controller 120 may receive a user command for activating or deactivating a
fire monitoring function. For example, the controller 120 may receive a user command
from the display 130.
[0060] The controller 120 may determine whether to activate the fire monitoring
function based on the user command. For example, upon completion of the charge of the
battery during activation of the fire monitoring function in response to a first user
command, the controller 120 may monitor the information about occurrence of the fire
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based on the power for monitoring the fire after completion of the charge. In another
example, upon completion of the charge of the battery during deactivation of the fire
monitoring function in response to a second user command, the controller 120 may switch
to the sleep mode after completion of the charge.
[0061] FIG. 4 shows an example of a display of a battery management apparatus
according to an embodiment disclosed herein.
[0062] Referring to FIG. 4, a user interface 40 of the battery management apparatus 100
according to an embodiment disclosed herein may provide a button 45 for setting whether
to maintain an operation mode (or a monitoring mode). For example, the battery
management apparatus 100 may receive a user command for activating or deactivating a
fire monitoring function through a display.
[0063] Depending on an embodiment, through the button 45 for setting whether to
maintain the operation mode, the user may select whether to maintain the battery
management apparatus 100 in the operation mode or switch the battery management
apparatus 100 to the sleep mode when charge of the battery is completed.
[0064] Depending on an embodiment, the battery management apparatus 100 may
receive a user command for activating or deactivating the fire monitoring function
through the button 45.
[0065] Depending on an embodiment, the operation mode may be referred to as the
monitoring mode.
[0066] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an operating method of a battery management apparatus
according to an embodiment disclosed herein.
[0067] Referring to FIG. 5, an operating method of the battery management apparatus
100 according to an embodiment disclosed herein may include operation S110 of
generating information about occurrence of fire, operation S120 of controlling charge of
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the battery based on power for charging the battery, supplied from a charger, operation
S130 of monitoring the information about occurrence of the fire, based on power for
monitoring the fire, supplied from the charger, upon completion of the charge of the
battery, and operation S140 of determining whether the fire occurs, based on a monitoring
result.
[0068] In operation S110 of generating the information about occurrence of the fire, the
sensor 110 may sense generate the information about occurrence of the fire. For example,
the sensor 110 may detect at least any one of temperature, gas, voltage deviation between
battery cells, generation of light, and over-voltage and over-current, and generate the
information about occurrence of the fire based on the detected information. In another
example, the sensor 110 may include at least any one of a voltage detecting sensor, a
current detecting sensor, a thermistor, a temperature sensor, a light detecting sensor, and
a gas sensor.
[0069] In operation S120 of controlling charge of the battery based on the power for
charging the battery, supplied from the charger, the controller 120 may control charge of
the battery based on the power for charging the battery, supplied from the charger.
[0070] In operation S130 of monitoring the information about occurrence of the fire,
based on power for monitoring the fire, supplied from the charger, upon completion of
the charge of the battery, the controller 120 may monitor the information about occurrence
of the fire based on the power for monitoring the fire, supplied from the charger, upon
completion of the charge of the battery. For example, the controller 120 may monitor the
information about occurrence of the fire, generated from the sensor 110, based on
minimum power for monitoring the fire, supplied from the charger.
[0071] In operation S140 of determining whether the fire occurs based on the monitoring
result, the controller 120 may determine whether the fire occurs based on the monitoring
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result. For example, the controller 120 may determine, based on the information about
occurrence of the fire, that the fire occurs in the vehicle, in at least any one case of when
a temperature increases above a set value, when generated light is generated above a set
value, when gas is generated above a set value, over-voltage occurs above a set value, and
when a voltage deviation between battery cells is a set value or higher.
[0072] FIGS. 6 to 8 are flowcharts of an operating method of a battery management
apparatus, according to an embodiment disclosed herein.
[0073] Referring to FIG. 6, an operating method of the battery management apparatus
100 included in the vehicle receiving power for monitoring fire from the charger upon
completion of charge according to an embodiment disclosed herein may further include
operation S210 of controlling another device inside the vehicle to perform an operation
for preventing the fire based on whether the fire occurs, and operation S220 of storing the
information about the fire in the charger or the battery management apparatus when
determining that the fire occurs. Depending on an embodiment, the operating method of
the battery management apparatus 100 may further include at least any one of operation
S210 and operation S220.
[0074] In operation S210 of controlling another device inside the vehicle to perform an
operation for preventing the fire based on whether the fire occurs, the controller 120 may
control another device inside the vehicle to perform an operation for preventing the fire,
based on whether the fire occurs. For example, the controller 120 may control another
device inside the vehicle to perform at least any one of a forced vent operation, a fast
cooling operation, and an operation of extinguishing the fire through a water nozzle. In
another example, the controller 120 may prevent ignition of the vehicle by shutting down
all systems inside the vehicle when the fire is expected to occur.
[0075] In operation S220 of storing the information about the fire in the charger or the
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battery management apparatus when determining that the fire occurs, the controller 120
may store the information about the fire in the charger (e.g., the charger 2 of FIG. 2) or
the battery management apparatus 100. For example, when the fire occurs, to prevent loss
of data, when determining that the fire occurs, the controller 120 may store the
information about the fire, collected in the sensor 110, in the battery management
apparatus 100 or the charger. Depending on an embodiment, the controller 120 may
transmit the information about the fire to an external server (e.g., the high-level controller
2 of FIG. 1).
[0076] Referring to FIG. 7, the operating method of the battery management apparatus
100 according to an embodiment disclosed herein may further include operation S310 of
determining whether connection with the charger is released, upon completion of charge
of the battery and operations S320 and S330 of requesting supply of power for monitoring
the fire to the charger and receiving the power for monitoring the fire from the charger or
switching to the sleep mode when determining that connection with the charger isreleased.
[0077] In operation S310 of determining whether connection with the charger is released
upon completion of the charge of the battery, the controller 120 may determine whether
connection with the charger is released upon completion of the charge of the battery. For
example, when energy delivered from the charger exists, the controller 120 may
determine that connection with the charger is not released, and when there is no energy
delivered from the charger, the controller 120 may determine that connection with the
charger is released.
[0078] When determining that connection with the charger is not released, the controller
120 may request supply of power for monitoring the fire to the charger and receive power
for monitoring the fire from the charger, in operation S320. For example, the controller
120 may receive minimum power for monitoring the fire from the charger.
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[0079] When determining that connection with the charger is released, the controller 120
may switch to the sleep mode in operation S330.
[0080] Referring to FIG. 8, the operating method of the battery management apparatus
100 according to an embodiment disclosed herein may further include operation S410 of
receiving a user command for activating or deactivating a fire monitoring function,
operation S420 of determining activation or deactivation of a monitoring function,
operation S430 of, upon completion of the charge of the battery during activation of the
fire monitoring function in response to a first user command, monitoring the information
about occurrence of the fire based on the power for monitoring the fire after completion
of the charge, and operation S440 of, upon completion of the charge of the battery during
deactivation of the fire monitoring function in response to a second user command,
switching to a sleep mode after completion of the charge.
[0081] In operation S410 of receiving the user command for activating or deactivating
the fire monitoring function, the controller 120 may receive a user command for
activating or deactivating the fire monitoring function. For example, the controller 120
may receive a user command received from the display 130.
[0082] In operation S420 of determining activation or deactivation of the monitoring
function, the controller 120 may determine activation or deactivation of the monitoring
function based on a user command.
[0083] When the user input (e.g., the first user command) for activating the monitoring
function is received, in operation S430, upon completion of the charge of the battery
during activation of the fire monitoring function, the controller 120 may monitor the
information about occurrence of the fire based on the power for monitoring the fire after
completion of the charge.
[0084] When the user input (e.g., the second user command) for deactivating the
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monitoring function is received, in operation S440, upon completion of the charge of the
battery during deactivation of the fire monitoring function, the controller 120 may switch
to the sleep mode after completion of the charge.
[0085] FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a computing
system for performing an operating method of a battery management apparatus, according
to an embodiment disclosed herein.
[0086] Referring to FIG. 9, a computing system 1000 according to an embodiment
disclosed herein may include an MCU 1010, a memory 1020, an input/output I/F 1030,
and a communication I/F 1040.
[0087] The MCU 1010 may be a processor that executes various programs (e.g., a
battery pack voltage or current collection program, a relay control program, a battery fire
detection program, etc.) stored in the memory 1020, processes various information
including a voltage, a temperature, occurrence of fire, etc., of a battery pack through these
programs, and executes the above-described functions of the battery management
apparatus shown in FIG. 2.
[0088] The memory 1020 may store various programs regarding log information
collection and diagnosis of the battery, etc. The memory 1020 may store various
information such as a current and a voltage of the battery, and a voltage, a temperature,
etc., of the battery pack.
[0089] The memory 1020 may be provided in plural, depending on a need. The memory
1020 may be volatile memory or non-volatile memory. For the memory 1020 as the
volatile memory, random access memory (RAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), static RAM
(SRAM), etc., may be used. For the memory 1020 as the nonvolatile memory, read only
memory (ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), electrically alterable ROM (EAROM),
erasable PROM (EPROM), electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM), flash memory, etc.,
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may be used. The above-listed examples of the memory 1020 are merely examples and
are not limited thereto.
[0090] The input/output I/F 1030 may provide an interface for transmitting and receiving
data by connecting an input device (not shown) such as a keyboard, a mouse, a touch
panel, etc., and an output device such as a display (not shown), etc., to the MCU 1010.
[0091] The communication I/F 1040, which is a component capable of transmitting and
receiving various data to and from a server, may be various devices capable of supporting
wired or wireless communication. For example, the battery management apparatus may
transmit and receive a relay control program or information such as a voltage, a current,
a temperature, and occurrence of fire of various battery packs from an external server
separately provided through the communication I/F 1040.
[0092] As such, a computer program according to an embodiment disclosed herein may
be recorded in the memory 1020 and processed by the MCU 1010, thus being
implemented as a module that performs functions shown in FIG. 3.
[0093] The above description is merely illustrative of the technical idea of the present
disclosure, and various modifications and variations will be possible without departing
from the essential characteristics of embodiments of the present disclosure by those of
ordinary skill in the art to which the embodiments disclosed herein pertains.
[0094] Therefore, the embodiments disclosed herein are intended for description rather
than limitation of the technical spirit of the embodiments disclosed herein and the scope
of the technical spirit of the present disclosure is not limited by these embodiments
disclosed herein. The protection scope of the technical spirit disclosed herein should be
interpreted by the following claims, and all technical spirits within the same range should
be understood to be included in the range of the present disclosure.

[CLAIMS]
[Claim 1]
A battery management apparatus comprising:
a sensor configured to generate information about occurrence of fire; and
a controller configured to control charge of the battery based on power for
charging the battery, supplied from a charger, monitor the information about occurrence
of the fire based on power for monitoring the fire, supplied from the charger, upon
completion of charge of the battery, and determine whether the fire occurs based on a
monitoring result.
[Claim 2]
The battery management apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further
configured to control another device inside the vehicle to perform an operation for
preventing the fire, based on whether the fire occurs.
[Claim 3]
The battery management apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further
configured to store information about the fire in the charger or the battery management
apparatus when determining that the fire occurs.
[Claim 4]
The battery management apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further
configured to receive minimum power for determining whether the fire occurs from the
charger.
[Claim 5]
The battery management apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further
configured to:
determine whether connection with the charger is released, upon completion of
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the charge of the battery;
request supply of power for monitoring the fire to the charger when determining
that connection with the charger is not released; and
receive the power for monitoring the fire from the charger.
[Claim 6]
The battery management apparatus of claim 5, wherein the controller is further
configured to switch to a sleep mode when determining that connection with the charger
is released.
[Claim 7]
The battery management apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further
configured to:
receive a user command for activating or deactivating a fire monitoring function;
upon completion of the charge of the battery during activation of the fire
monitoring function in response to a first user command, monitor the information about
occurrence of the fire based on the power for monitoring the fire after completion of the
charge; and
upon completion of the charge of the battery during deactivation of the fire
monitoring function in response to a second user command, switch to a sleep mode after
completion of the charge.
[Claim 8]
An operating method of a battery management apparatus, the operating method
comprising:
generating information about occurrence of fire;
controlling charge of the battery based on power for charging the battery,
supplied from a charger;
monitoring the information about occurrence of the fire, based on power for
monitoring the fire, supplied from the charger, upon completion of the charge of the
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battery; and
determining whether the fire occurs, based on a monitoring result.
[Claim 9]
The operating method of claim 8, further comprising controlling another device
inside the vehicle to perform an operation for preventing the fire, based on whether the
fire occurs.
[Claim 10]
The operating method of claim 8, further comprising storing information about
the fire in the charger or the battery management apparatus when determining that the fire
occurs.
[Claim 11]
The operating method of claim 8, further comprising:
determining whether connection with the charger is released, upon completion of
the charge of the battery; and
requesting supply of power for monitoring the fire to the charger when
determining that connection with the charger is not released and receiving power for
monitoring the fire from the charger, or
switching to a sleep mode when determining that connection with the charger is
released.
[Claim 12]
The operating method of claim 8, further comprising:
receiving a user command for activating or deactivating a fire monitoring
function; and
upon completion of the charge of the battery during activation of the fire
monitoring function in response to a first user command, monitoring the information
about occurrence of the fire based on the power for monitoring the fire after completion
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of the charge, or
upon completion of the charge of the battery during deactivation of the fire
monitoring function in response to a second user command, switching to a sleep mode
after completion of the charge.