BACKGROUND
The present disclosure relates to, for example, a
monitoring apparatus, a monitoring control apparatus, a
monitoring method, and a monitoring control method that
monitor a power supply apparatus having a plurality of
batteries. Furthermore, the present disclosure relates to,
for example, a power supply apparatus having a plurality of
batteries, a power storage system that uses the power supply
apparatus, an electronic apparatus, a motor-driven vehicle,
and an electric power system.
Applications of lithium ion secondary batteries and the
like have expanded to electric power storage devices for
storing power, storage cells for automobiles, household
electric appliances, which are combined with reproducible
energy systems of solar batteries, wind power generation,
and the like. In recent years, in order to generate a large
output, a battery system in which one or more power storage
modules (also called assembled batteries) are connected has
been used. Such a power storage module is formed in such a
manner that, for example, one or more battery blocks are
housed in an exterior case. A battery block is formed in
such a manner that a plurality of unit batteries (also
called electric cells, simply referred to as batteries as
appropriate in the following description), which are
examples of power storage elements, are connected to one
another.
In the battery system, for example, a voltage value and
an electric current value for each battery are detected, and
states of batteries and power storage modules are detected
by computation operations in which a voltage value and an
electric current value are used as parameters. PTL 1 below
describes an apparatus that detects a voltage value and an
electric current value of a power storage module in an
assembled battery for automobiles in such a manner that
these detection operations are synchronized with each other.
SUMMARY
The disclosure disclosed in PTL 1 uses a plurality of
A/D converters so as to detect a voltage value for each
battery. For this reason, there is a problem in that a
detection error of a voltage value, which results from
variations in the performance of an A/D converter, is
necessary to be taken into consideration. In addition, in
the disclosure disclosed in PTL 1, an electric current value
is detected in synchronization with a timing at which the
voltage value of a power storage module formed of 12
batteries is detected. For this reason, there is a problem
in that it is not possible to cause the detection timing of
the voltage value of an individual battery to be
synchronized with the detection timing of the electric

the first digital data supplied from the first converter,
and the second digital data supplied from the second
converter,
wherein the first analog data and the second analog
data are data having the same timing.
The present disclosure provides a power supply
apparatus including:
a plurality of batteries;
a first converter that converts first analog data
indicating a voltage value of each of the batteries into
first digital data; and
a second converter that converts second analog data
indicating an electric current value flowing through the
plurality of batteries into second digital data, and
wherein the first analog data and the second analog
data are data having the same timing.
The present disclosure may be a power storage system
that includes one or more power supply apparatuses that are
shown as an example, wherein the one or more power supply
apparatuses are charged by a power generation device that
performs electric power generation on the basis of
reproducible energy.
The present disclosure may be a power storage system
that includes one or more power supply apparatuses that are
shown as an example, wherein electric power is supplied to
an electronic apparatus connected to the one or more power
supply apparatuses.
The present disclosure may be an electronic apparatus
that includes one or more power supply apparatuses that are
shown as an example, wherein supply of electric power is
received from the one or more power supply apparatuses.
The present disclosure may be a motor-driven vehicle
that includes one or more power supply apparatuses that are
shown as an example, a conversion device that receives
supply of electric power from the one or more power supply
apparatuses and that converts the electric power into a
driving force of the vehicle, and a control device that
performs information processing regarding vehicle control on
the basis of the information on the one or more power supply
apparatuses.
The present disclosure may be an electric power system
that includes one or more power supply apparatuses that are
shown as an example, and an electric power information
transmitting/receiving unit that transmits and receives a
signal to and from another device via a network, wherein
charging/discharging control of the one or more power supply
apparatuses is performed on the basis of the information
received by the electric power information
transmitting/receiving unit.
The present disclosure may be an electric power system
that includes one or more power supply apparatuses that are
shown as an example, wherein supply of electric power is
received from the one or more power supply apparatuses or
electric power is supplied from the one or more power supply
apparatuses or a power generation device to the one or more
power supply apparatuses.
The present disclosure provides a power supply
apparatus including:
a plurality of batteries;
a first converter that converts first analog data
indicating a voltage value of each of batteries into first
digital data;
a second converter that converts second analog data
indicating an electric current value flowing through the
plurality of batteries into second digital data; and
a control unit that performs control corresponding to
the first digital data supplied from the first converter,
and the second digital data supplied from the second
converter,
wherein the first analog data and the second analog
data are data having the same timing.
The present disclosure may be a power storage system
that includes one or more power supply apparatuses that are
shown as an example, wherein the one or more power supply
apparatuses are charged by a power generation device that
performs electric power generation on the basis of
reproducible energy.
The present disclosure may be a power storage system
that includes one or more power supply apparatuses that are
shown as an example, wherein electric power is supplied to
an electronic apparatus connected to the one or more power
supply apparatuses.
The present disclosure may be an electronic apparatus
that includes one or more power supply apparatuses that are
shown as an example, wherein supply of electric power is
received from the one or more power supply apparatuses.
The present disclosure may be a motor-driven vehicle
that includes one or more power supply apparatuses that are
shown as an example, a conversion device that receives
supply of electric power from the one or more power supply
apparatuses and that converts the electric power into a
driving force of the vehicle, and a control device that
performs information processing regarding vehicle control on
the basis of the information on the one or more power supply
apparatuses.
The present disclosure may be an electric power system
that includes one or more power supply apparatuses that are
shown as an example, and an electric power information
transmitting/receiving unit that transmits and receives a
signal to and from another device via a network, wherein
charging/discharging control of the one or more power supply
apparatuses is performed on the basis of the information
received by the electric power information
transmitting/receiving unit.
The present disclosure may be an electric power system
that includes one or more power supply apparatuses that are
shown as an example, wherein supply of electric power is
received from the one or more power supply apparatuses or
electric power is supplied from a power generation device or
an electric power network to the one or more power supply
apparatuses.
The present disclosure provides a monitoring method for
use with a monitoring apparatus including a first converter
and a second converter, the monitoring method including:
converting, by using the first converter, first analog
data indicating a voltage value of each of batteries into
first digital data; and
converting, by using the second converter, second
analog data indicating an electric current value flowing
through the plurality of batteries into second digital data,
and
wherein the first analog data and the second analog
data are data having the same timing.
The present disclosure provides a monitoring control
method for use with a monitoring apparatus including a first
converter, a second converter, and a control unit, the
monitoring control method including:
converting, by using the first converter, first analog
data indicating a voltage value of each of batteries into
first digital data; and
converting, by using the second converter, second
analog data indicating an electric current value flowing
through the plurality of batteries into second digital data;
and
performing, by using the control unit, control
corresponding to the first digital data supplied from the
first converter, and the second digital data supplied from
the second converter,
wherein the first analog data and the second analog
data are data having the same timing.
According to at least one embodiment, it is possible
for a power storage module to detect an electric current
value flowing through an electric current path at the same
time as the timing at which a voltage value for each battery
is detected.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a schematic line diagram illustrating an
example of the configuration of a battery system in the
present disclosure;
Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of
the configuration of a power supply apparatus in the present
disclosure;
Fig. 3 is a schematic line diagram illustrating an
example of a timing at which a voltage value for each
battery, and an electric current value are detected;
Fig. 4 is a schematic line diagram illustrating a
timing at which a voltage value for each battery, and an
electric current value are detected in an embodiment of the
present disclosure;
Fig. 5 is a schematic line diagram illustrating an
example of a timing at which a voltage value for each
battery, an electric current value, and a temperature for
each battery are detected in an embodiment of the present
disclosure;
Fig. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an example of
the configuration of a power supply apparatus in a
modification of the present disclosure;
Fig. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an example of
the configuration of a monitoring apparatus in the present
disclosure;
Fig. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an example of
the configuration of a monitoring control apparatus in the
present disclosure;
Fig. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an application
example of a power supply apparatus in the present
disclosure; and
Fig. 10 is a block diagram illustrating another
application example of the power supply apparatus in the
present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
A description will be given below of embodiments of the
present disclosure with reference to the drawings
throughout which like parts are referred to by like
references. The description will be given in the following
order.
1. Embodiment
2. Modification
3. Application Example
Embodiments, modifications, and application examples,
which will be described below, are preferred specific
examples of the present disclosure, and the present
disclosure is not limited to these embodiments,
modifications, and application examples.
1. Embodiment
Configuration of battery system
Fig. 1 illustrates an example of the configuration of a
battery system in an embodiment of the present disclosure.
A battery system 1 includes a plurality of power storage
modules, and a controller CNT. In the example shown in Fig.
1, the battery system 1 includes a power storage module MOD1,
a power storage module MOD2, a power storage module MOD3,
... , and a power storage module MOD6, that is, six power
storage modules.
When it is not particularly necessary to distinguish
among individual power storage modules, they will be
referred to as power storage modules MOD as appropriate.
The battery system 1 is connected to an external system
(load) through the controller CNT.
Electric power is supplied from the battery system 1 to
the external system, and communication in compliance with a
standard, such as, for example, RS-232C (Recommended
Standard 232 version C) or CAN (Controller Area Network) is
performed between the battery system 1 and the external
system. The external system is set up in accordance with
the intended application of the inverter circuit of the
motor system in an electric automobile, and with the
intended application of the battery system 1, such as an
electric power system for a house.
In the battery system 1, six of the power storage
modules MOD1 to the power storage module MOD6 are connected
in series with one another. The number of power storage
modules MOD and the way in which the power storage modules
MOD are connected to one another can be changed as
appropriate. For example, N power storage modules MOD,
which are connected in series with one another, may be
connected in parallel with one another. The positive pole
terminals and the negative pole terminals of the power
storage modules MOD are connected to one another by using
power cables. For example, the positive pole terminal of
the power storage module MOD2 is connected to the negative
pole terminal of the power storage module MOD3, which is a
power storage module at a higher level. The negative pole
terminal of the power storage module MOD2 is connected to
the positive pole terminal of the power storage module MOD1,
which is a power storage module at a lower level. The
negative pole terminal of the power storage module MOD1 at
the lowest level and the positive pole terminal of the power
storage module MOD6 at the highest level are each connected
to the controller CNT.
The power storage module MOD includes an exterior case.
It is preferable that a material having high conductivity
and high emissivity be used for the exterior case. By using
a material having high conductivity and high emissivity, it
is possible to obtain a superior heat dissipation effect in
the exterior case. As a result of obtaining a superior heat
dissipation effect, it is possible to suppress an increase
in the temperature inside the exterior case. In addition,
it is possible to minimize or discard the opening part of
the exterior case, and thus high dust-proof/drip-proof
characteristics can be realized. For the exterior case, for
example, a material, such as aluminum, an aluminum alloy,
copper, or a copper alloy, is used.
The power storage module MOD includes a battery block
inside the exterior case. The battery block is formed in
such a manner that eight cylindrical lithium ion secondary
batteries are connected in parallel with one another.
Inside the exterior case, for example, 16 battery blocks are
connected in series with one another. The number of battery
blocks and the way in which the battery blocks are connected
to one another can be changed as appropriate. Furthermore,
secondary batteries other than lithium ion secondary
batteries may be used. When the output voltage per lithium
ion secondary battery is set at, for example, 3.2 V, the
output voltage per power storage module MOD is about 51.2 V
(3.2 V x 16). That is, the battery system 1 including six
power storage module MODS can supply a voltage of about
307.2 V (51.2 V x 6) to the external system.
The power storage modules MOD and the controller CNT
are connected through an insulation interface, such as a
photocoupler. Communication is performed between the
respective power storage modules MOD and the controller CNT
through the insulation interface. A control signal
transmitted from the controller CNT to a power storage
module MOD at a higher level is sequentially transmitted
through, for example, a power storage module MOD at a lower
level. The control signal may be directly transmitted from
the controller CNT to each power storage module MOD.
Communication may be performed between a predetermined power
storage module MOD and a power storage module MOD at a
higher level or at a lower level with respect to the
predetermined power storage module MOD.
The controller CNT controls the whole of the battery
system 1. For example, the controller CNT receives internal
information of the respective power storage modules MOD.
The controller CNT performs control of supplying or cutting
off charging current or discharging current to the
respective power storage modules MOD in accordance with the
received internal information.
In addition, the controller CNT performs a process for
detecting the state of the individual batteries forming the
power storage modules MOD and the battery block on the basis
of the internal information of the power storage modules MOD.
For example, the controller CNT receives the voltage value
of the individual battery, and the electric current value
flowing through the electric current path of the power
storage module MOD from the power storage module MOD, and
detects the deteriorated state of the individual battery by
using the voltage value and the electric current value. A
process for calculating a state of charge (SOC) may be
performed by the controller CNT by using the voltage value
and the electric current value. It may be determined by the
controller CNT as to whether or not the voltage value of the
individual battery is an appropriate value. A process (cell
balance control) for making uniform the voltages of a
plurality of batteries may be performed by the controller
CNT in accordance with the determination result.
Configuration of power storage module MOD
Fig. 2 illustrates an example of the configuration of a
power storage module MOD, which is an example of a power
supply apparatus. In Fig. 2 the power storage module MODl
is used as an example. The power storage module MOD2, which
is another power storage module MOD, and the like, have the
same configuration as the configuration shown in Fig. 2.
The power storage module MODl includes, for example, 16
battery blocks BAT1, BAT2, BAT3, , and BAT16, which are
connected in series with one another. When it is not
particularly necessary to distinguish among the individual
battery blocks, they will be referred to as battery blocks
BAT as appropriate. In the following description, for the
sake of simplicity of description, each battery block is
represented using one battery, and the battery block will be
simply referred to as a battery.
A battery BAT is, for example, a lithium ion secondary
battery. The positive pole side of the battery BAT1 is
connected to the positive pole terminal 11 of the power
storage module MOD1. The negative pole side of the battery
BAT16 is connected to the negative pole terminal 12 of the
power storage module MOD1.
An FET (Field Effect Transistor) 1, an FET2, an FET3,
... , and an FET16 for performing cell balance control of a
passive method may be connected between the terminals of the
respective batteries BAT. For example, it is assumed that
the deterioration of the battery BAT2 has particularly
progressed and that the internal impedance of the battery
BAT2 has increased. When charging is performed in the power
storage module MOD1 in this state, the batteries BAT other
than the battery BAT2 are normally charged up to, for
example, 3.5 V.
In comparison, since the internal impedance of the
battery BAT2 has increased, the battery BAT2 is not charged
up to 3.5 V, and is only charged up to, for example, 3.0 V.
For this reason, the voltage for each battery BAT differs,
and variations occur in the balance between cells.
Therefore, in order to eliminate variations in the balance
between cells, FETs, which are connected to the batteries
BAT other than the battery BAT2, are turned on, and the
batteries BAT other than the battery BAT2 are made to be
discharged by 0.5 V. After the discharge, the FETs are
turned off. After the discharge, the voltages of the
batteries BAT become, for example, 3.0 V, and balance among
the cells can be achieved. As described above, cell balance
control referred to as a passive method may be performed.
The method of the cell balance control is not limited to the
above-mentioned passive method, and a so-called active
method, or other various methods can be applied.
The power storage module MOD1 is provided with a
voltage detection unit (not shown) for detecting respective
voltages between the terminals of the batteries BAT. The
voltage value of the battery BAT is, for example, constantly
detected regardless of whether the battery BAT is in the
middle of being charged or discharged. The voltage value of
the battery BAT may be detected at a predetermined interval.
The voltage value (analog voltage data Vb) of each
battery BAT, which is detected by the voltage detection unit,
is supplied to a cell voltage multiplexer (MUX) 13. For
example, analog voltage data Vbl indicating the voltage
value of the battery BAT1 is supplied to the cell voltage
multiplexer 13. Analog voltage data Vb2 indicating the
voltage value of the battery BAT2 is supplied to the cell
voltage multiplexer 13. Similarly, analog voltage data Vb3
through to analog voltage data Vb16 indicating the
respective voltage values of the batteries BAT3 to BAT16,
are supplied to the cell voltage multiplexer 13.
The cell voltage multiplexer 13 switches between the
channels, for example, in response to a predetermined
control signal, and selects one analog voltage datum Vb from
among the 16 analog voltage data Vbl to Vb16. The one
analog voltage datum Vb selected by the cell voltage
multiplexer 13 is supplied to an analog-to-digital converter
(ADC) 14. The predetermined control signal is, for example,
a channel switching signal that is supplied from the
controller CNT through the communication unit 20.
The power storage module MOD1 is provided with a
temperature detection unit 15 for detecting the temperature
of an individual battery BAT. A temperature in units of
batteries or a temperature in units of battery blocks may be
detected by the temperature detection unit 15. The
temperature detection unit 15 is formed of a temperature
detection element, such as a thermistor. The temperature of
the battery BAT is, for example, constantly detected
regardless of whether the battery BAT is in the middle of
being charged or discharged. The temperature of the battery
BAT may be detected at a predetermined interval.
The analog temperature data T indicating the
temperature for each battery BAT, which is detected by the
temperature detection unit 15, is supplied to a cell
temperature multiplexer (MUX) 16. For example, analog
temperature data TI indicating the temperature of the
battery BAT1 is supplied to the cell temperature multiplexer
16. Analog temperature data T2 indicating the temperature
of the battery BAT2 is supplied to the cell temperature
multiplexer 16. Similarly, analog temperature data T3 to
T16 indicating the respective temperatures of the batteries
BAT3 to BAT16 are supplied to the cell temperature
multiplexer 16.
The cell temperature multiplexer 16 switches between C
the channels in response to a predetermined control signal,
and selects one analog temperature datum T from among the 16
analog temperature data TI to T16. Then, the one analog
temperature datum T selected by the cell temperature
multiplexer 16 is supplied to the ADC 14. The predetermined
control signal is, for example, a channel switching signal
that is supplied from the controller CNT through the
communication unit 20.
The ADC 14, which is an example of a first converter,
converts the analog voltage data Vb supplied from the cell
voltage multiplexer 13 into digital voltage data Vb. The
ADC 14 converts the analog voltage data Vb into, for example,
14- to 18-bit digital voltage data Vb. For the conversion
method in the ADC 14, various methods, such as a sequential
comparison method or a AC (delta sigma) method, can be
applied.
The ADC 14 includes, for example, an input terminal, an
output terminal, a control signal input terminal to which a
control signal is input, and a clock pulse input terminal to
which clock pulses are input. The analog voltage data Vb is
input to the input terminal. The digital voltage data Vb is
output from the output terminal.
For example, a control signal that is supplied from the
controller CNT through the communication unit 20 is input to
the control signal input terminal. The control signal is,
for example, an obtaining instruction signal that instructs
obtaining of the analog voltage data Vb supplied from the
cell voltage multiplexer 13. When the obtaining instruction
signal is input, the ADC 14 obtains the analog voltage data
Vb and converts the obtained analog voltage data Vb into
digital voltage data Vb. Then, the digital voltage data Vb
is output through the output terminal in response to a clock
pulse for synchronization, which is input to the clock pulse
input terminal. The output digital voltage data Vb is
stored in a memory 21.
In addition, an obtaining instruction signal that
instructs obtaining of analog temperature data T supplied
from the cell temperature multiplexer 16 is input to the
control signal input terminal. In response to the obtaining
instruction signal, the ADC 14 obtains the analog
temperature data T. The obtained analog temperature data T
is converted into digital temperature data T by the ADC 1 4 .
The analog temperature data T is converted into, for example,
1 4 - to 18-bit digital temperature data T. The converted
digital temperature data T is output through the output
terminal, and the output digital temperature data T is
stored in the memory 2 1 . The details of the operation of
! the ADC 1 4 will be described later.
The power storage module MOD1 includes an electric
current detection unit for detecting an electric current
value flowing through the electric current path of the power
storage module MOD1. The electric current detection unit
detects the electric current value flowing through a
plurality of batteries BAT. The electric current detection
-
unit is formed of, for example, an electric current
detection resistor 17 that is connected between the negative
I
pole side of the battery BAT16 and the negative pole
terminal 12, and an electric current detection amplifier 18.
- The electric current detection resistor 1 7 detects analog
electric current data Vc indicating a voltage value across
the electric current detection resistor 17. The analog
electric current data Vc is constantly detected regardless
of whether the battery BAT is in the middle of being charged
or discharged. The analog electric current data Vc may be
detected at a predetermined interval.
The detected analog electric current data Vc is
supplied to the electric current detection amplifier 18.
The electric current detection amplifier 18 amplifies the
supplied analog electric current data Vc. The gain of the
electric current detection amplifier 18 is set at, for
example, approximately 50 to 100 times. The amplified
analog electric current data Vc is supplied to the ADC 19.
The ADC 19, which is an example of a second converter,
converts the analog electric current data Vc supplied from
the electric current detection amplifier 18 into digital
electric current data Vc. The ADC 19 converts the analog
electric current data Vc into, for example, 14- to 18-bit
digital electric current data Vc. For the conversion method
in the ADC 19, various methods, such as a sequential
comparison method or a A2 (delta sigma) method, can be
applied.
The ADC 19 includes, for example, an input terminal, an
output terminal, a control signal input terminal to which a
control signal is input, and a clock pulse input terminal to
which clock pulses are input. The analog electric current
data Vc is input to the input terminal. The digital
electric current data Vc is output from the output terminal.
For example, a control signal that is supplied from the
controller CNT through the communication unit 20 is input to
the control signal input terminal of the ADC 19. The
control signal is, for example, an obtaining instruction
1 signal that instructs obtaining of the analog electric
current data Vc that is supplied from the electric current
detection amplifier 18. When the obtaining instruction
signal is input, the ADC 19 obtains the analog electric
current data Vc and converts the obtained analog electric
current data Vc into digital electric current data Vc. Then,
in response to a clock pulse for synchronization, which is
input to the clock pulse input terminal, the digital
electric current data Vc is output from the output terminal.
The output digital electric current data Vc is stored in the
memory 21. The details of the operation of the ADC 19 will
be described later.
The communication unit 20 performs communication with
the controller CNT. Between the communication unit 20 and
the controller CNT, both-way communication in compliance
with IZC, which is a standard of serial communication, and a
standard, such as SMBus (System Management Bus), SPI (Serial
Peripheral Interface), or CAN, is performed.
The communication may be performed in a wired manner or
in a wireless manner. The communication unit 20 performs,
for example, time-division multiplexing on the digital
voltage data Vb and the digital electric current data Vc,
which are stored in the memory 21, and transmits the
resulting data to the controller CNT. The system
information stored in the memory 21 may be transmitted to
the controller CNT through the communication unit 20.
The control signal transmitted from the controller CNT
to the power storage module MODl is received by the
communication unit 20. The received control signal is
transmitted to each unit of the power storage module MOD1.
The control signal received by the communication unit 20 is
transmitted as appropriate to the cell voltage multiplexer
13, the cell temperature multiplexers 16, the ADC 14, the
ADC 19, and the like. The control signal for a power
storage module MOD at a higher level, such as the power
storage module MOD2, is, for example, transmitted through
the power storage module MODl at a lower level.
The memory 21 is, for example, formed of a non-volatile
memory. The digital voltage data Vb that is supplied from
the ADC 14 and the digital electric current data Vc that is
supplied from the ADC 19 are stored in the memory 21. The
digital temperature data T supplied from the ADC 14 may be
stored in the memory 21. The system information may be
stored in the memory 21. The system information is, for
example, the resistance value of the electric current
detection resistor 17, the impedance and an appropriate
voltage value of the battery BAT before shipment. The
system information, for example, may be detected when the
use of the power storage module MOD starts, so that the
detected system information is stored in the memory 21. The
memory 21 may be formed of a plurality of memories.
A band gap reference (BGR) 22 generates a reference
voltage for making a determination as to a logical level of
1 or 0 in the conversion process in the ADC 14 and the ADC
19. Electric power may be supplied from the battery BAT to
the BGR 22 or may be supplied from an external power supply
to the BGR 22.
A regulator (REG) 23 is connected to the line between
the positive pole side of the battery BATl and the positive
pole terminal 11. The regulator 23 is, for example, a
series regulator. The regulator 23 steps down the voltage
output from the battery BATl or the like so as to generate a
voltage for operating each unit of the power storage module
MOD1. The regulator 23 generates, for example, a voltage to
be supplied to the above-mentioned BGR 22, and a voltage
used to operate the control unit in a case where a control
unit, such as a microcomputer, is provided within the power
storage module MOD1. The regulator 23 generates, for
example, a voltage of 3.3 to 5.0 V. A switch may be
provided so that the voltage supplied from the regulator 23
and a voltage from the outside can be switched between.
A power shutdown switch 24 is connected to the line
between the positive pole side of the battery BATl and the
positive pole terminal 11. The power shutdown switch 24 is
turned on at normal times, and is turned off when a
fundamental abnormality occurs in the power storage module
MOD1. For example, in a case where communication becomes
not possible between the communication unit 20 and the
controller CNT and in a case where the transmission of data
becomes not possible between the ADC 14 and the
communication unit 20, the power shutdown switch 24 is
turned off, and the circuit of the power storage module MOD1
is cut off. The on/off control for the power shutdown
switch 24 is performed by, for example, the controller CNT.
Operation of ADC
In the manner described above, the power storage module
MOD in an embodiment includes the ADC 14 and the ADC 19 as
two ADCs. Here, for the purpose of reference, a description
will be given of an operation in a case where, unlike the
present disclosure, the power storage module MOD is formed
by one ADC (hereinafter, this ADC will be referred to as an
ADC 30 as appropriate). The analog voltage data Vb output
from the cell voltage multiplexer 13, and the analog
electric current data Vc output from the electric current
detection amplifier 18 are input to the ADC 30.
Fig. 3 illustrates an example of a timing of the
operation of the ADC 30. A control signal (obtaining
instruction signal) is input to the control signal input
terminal of the ADC 30. The analog voltage data Vbl of the
battery BATl is obtained by the ADC 30 in response to the
obtaining instruction signal. The obtained analog voltage
data Vbl is converted into digital voltage data Vbl, and the
converted digital voltage data Vbl is output from the ADC 30.
Similarly, the analog voltage data Vb2 to Vb16 of the
batteries BAT2 to BAT16 are sequentially obtained by the ADC
30. The obtained analog voltage data Vb2 to Vb16 are
converted into digital voltage data Vb2 to Vb16 by the ADC
30. The digital voltage data Vb2 to Vb16 are output from
the ADC 30.
After all the analog voltage data Vb of the batteries
BATl to BAT16 is converted into digital voltage data Vb by
the ADC 30, the analog electric current data Vc is input to
the input terminal of the ADC 30. The input analog electric
, current data Vc is converted into digital electric current
data Vc by the ADC 30. The converted digital electric
current data Vc is output from the ADC 30.
Here, if the processing time period during which the
analog voltage data Vb per battery BAT is converted into
digital voltage data Vb is set at, for example, 10 msec, the
processing time period during which 16 analog voltage data
I
Vb is converted into digital voltage data Vb is about 160
msec. As a result, at least an error of 160 msec occurs
between the timing at which the analog voltage data Vbl of
the battery BATl is obtained by the ADC 30 and the timing at
which the analog electric current data Vc is obtained by the
ADC 30. As described above, when, for example, the
impedance of the battery BATl is calculated by using the
voltage value and the electric current value, which are
detected at timings having an error, it is not possible to
calculate an accurate impedance. A similar problem arises
in the other batteries BAT.
In particular, in a case where, for example, an
inverter circuit of a motor system with violent load
variations is connected, it is demanded that an accurate
voltage value and electric current value be detected, and an
accurate impedance be calculated by following variations in
load. However, in the manner described above, in one ADC 30,
inevitably, an error occurs between the timing at which a
voltage value is detected and the timing at which an
electric current value is detected. For this reason, for
example, the accurate impedance of the battery BAT is
difficult to be calculated.
Therefore, in an embodiment of the present disclosure,
by using, for example, two ADCS, the detection of the
voltage value and the detection of the electric current
value for each battery BAT are performed simultaneously.
Fig. 4 schematically shows the relationship between the
timing of the detection of the electric current value and
the timing of the detection of the voltage value for each
battery BAT. Fig. 4 illustrates that, for example, the
obtaining instruction signal of the analog voltage data Vbl
of the battery BAT1 is supplied to the ADC 14, the analog
voltage data Vbl is obtained by the ADC 14 and at the same
time, the obtaining instruction signal of the analog
electric current data Vcl at that timing is supplied to the
ADC 19, and the ADC 19 obtains the analog electric current
data Vcl. This also applies to the other batteries BAT.
The operation will be described below in detail.
Initially, a control signal is transmitted from the
controller CNT to the power storage module MOD1. A control
signal includes, for example, an obtaining instruction
signal S1 for the ADC 14 and the ADC 19, and a channel
switching signal ST1 for the cell voltage multiplexer 13.
The transmitted control signal is received by the
communication unit 20 of the power storage module MOD1. The
received obtaining instruction signal S1 is supplied to the
ADC 14 and the ADC 19. The channel switching signal ST1 is
supplied to the cell voltage multiplexer 13.
The cell voltage multiplexer 13 switches to the channel
specified using the channel switching signal ST1, and
selects one analog voltage datum Vb. For example, the cell
voltage multiplexer 13 selects the analog voltage data Vbl
of the battery BAT1. The selected analog voltage data Vbl
is output from the cell voltage multiplexer 13, and the
output analog voltage data Vbl is supplied to the ADC 14.
In response to the supplied obtaining instruction
signal S1, the ADC 14 obtains the analog voltage data Vbl
supplied from the cell voltage multiplexer 13. The ADC 14
converts the obtained analog voltage data Vbl into digital
voltage data Vbl. The converted digital voltage data Vbl is
output from the ADC 14, and the output digital voltage data
Vbl is stored in the memory 21.
The ADC 19 obtains the analog electric current data Vcl
supplied from the electric current detection amplifier 18 in
response to the supplied obtaining instruction signal S1.
The ADC 19 converts the obtained analog electric current
data Vcl into digital electric current data Vcl. The
converted digital electric current data Vcl is output from
the ADC 19, and the output digital electric current data Vcl
is stored in the memory 21. The digital voltage data Vbl
and the digital electric current data Vcl are stored, for
example, in such a manner as to be associated with each
other.
Here, the ADC 14 and the ADC 19 have obtained the
analog voltage data Vbl and the analog electric current data
Vcl in response to the same obtaining instruction signal S1.
That is, the analog voltage data Vbl and the analog electric
current data Vcl are data having the same timing.
The timing at which the digital voltage data Vbl is
output from the ADC 14 and the timing at which the digital
electric current data Vcl is output from the ADC 19 are
specified using a clock pulse that is input to the ADC 14
and the ADC 19. These two output timings may be coincident
or different.
When the digital voltage data Vbl and the digital
electric current data Vcl are stored in the memory 21, an
ending signal is transmitted from the communication unit 20
to the controller 20. When the controller CNT receives the
ending signal, the controller CNT transmits a control signal
to the power storage module MOD1. This control signal
includes, for example, an obtaining instruction signal S2
for the ADC 14 and the ADC 19, and a channel switching
signal ST2 for the cell voltage multiplexer 13. The
obtaining instruction signal S2 is supplied to the ADC 14
and the ADC 19, and the channel switching signal ST2 is
supplied to the cell voltage multiplexer 13.
The cell voltage multiplexer 13 switches between the
channels in response to the supplied channel switching
signal ST2, and selects one analog voltage datum. The cell
voltage multiplexer 13 selects the analog voltage data Vb2
of the battery BAT2. The selected analog voltage data Vb2
is output from the cell voltage multiplexer 13, and the
output analog voltage data Vb2 is supplied to the ADC 14.
The ADC 14 obtains the analog voltage data Vb2 supplied
from the cell voltage multiplexer 13 in response to the
supplied obtaining instruction signal S2. The obtained
analog voltage data Vb2 is converted into digital voltage
data Vb2 by the ADC 14. The converted digital voltage data
Vb2 is output from the ADC 14. The output digital voltage
data Vb2 is stored in the memory 21.
The ADC 19 obtains the analog electric current data Vc2
supplied from the electric current detection amplifier 18 in
response to the supplied obtaining instruction signal S2.
The obtained analog electric current data Vc2 is converted
into digital electric current data Vc2 by the ADC 19. The
converted digital electric current data Vc2 is output from
the ADC 19, and the output digital electric current data Vc2
is stored in the memory 21. Here, the ADC 14 and the ADC 19
have obtained the analog voltage data Vb2 and the analog
electric current data Vc2 in response to the same obtaining
instruction signal 52. That is, the analog voltage data Vb2
and the analog electric current data Vc2 are data having the
same timing.
Similarly, in response to an obtaining instruction
signal S3 from the controller CNT, the ADC 14 obtains the
analog voltage data Vb3 of the battery BAT3. At the same
time, the ADC 19 obtains the analog electric current data
Vc3. The same processing is performed on the battery BAT4,
the battery BAT5, a - m , and battery BAT16. The analog
voltage data Vb of the individual batteries BAT is obtained
by the ADC 14 and at the same time, the analog electric
current data Vc at each timing is obtained in the respective
timings.
When the conversion process on the analog voltage data
Vb of all the batteries BAT is completed, in the memory 21,
16 digital voltage data Vb, and 16 digital electric current
data Vc associated with the respective digital voltage data
Vb are stored. The communication unit 20 performs, for
example, time-division multiplexing on the digital voltage
data Vb and the digital electric current data Vc, which are
stored in the memory 21, and the transmits the resulting
data to the controller CNT.
As an example, an identifier (ID) indicating the power
storage module MOD1 is appended to the header of the data to
be transmitted. After that, the data on which the digital
voltage data Vbl, the digital electric current data Vcl, the
digital voltage data Vb2, the digital electric current data
Vc2, a * - , digital voltage data Vb16, and the digital
electric current data Vc16 have been multiplexed, is
transmitted to the controller CNT. The resistance value of
the electric current detection resistor 17 of the power
storage module MOD1, and the system information, such as the
impedance of each battery BAT before shipment, may be
contained in the data to be transmitted.
The controller CNT receives the data transmitted from
the communication unit 20, and performs processing
corresponding to the received data. For example, the
controller CNT calculates an electric current value by
performing a computation operation using the digital
electric current data Vcl and the resistance value of the
electric current detection resistor 17. Then, the
controller CNT calculates the impedance of the battery BATl
by using the calculated electric current value and the
digital voltage data Vbl.
The controller CNT compares the calculated impedance
with the impedance of the battery BATl before shipment,
which has been transmitted from the power storage module
MOD1, and obtains the degree of deterioration of the battery
BAT1. The impedance of the battery BATl before shipment may
be stored in the controller CNT.
The controller CNT calculates the degree of
deterioration of the batteries BAT2 to BAT16 in a similar
manner. Then, the controller CNT performs, for example, the
above-mentioned cell balance process in accordance with the
calculated degree of deterioration. The controller CNT may
obtain the impedance of the most deteriorated battery BAT,
and may obtain the deterioration rate of the power storage
module MOD1 on the basis of the ratio with respect to the
impedance before shipment. For the process for obtaining
the degree of deterioration of each battery BAT, another
technique of public knowledge can be adopted. In addition,
the controller CNT may perform another process. For example,
the controller CNT may calculate the SOC on the basis of the
obtained impedance. For example, whether or not the digital
voltage data Vb transmitted from the power storage module
MOD1 is a value in an appropriate range may be determined by
the controller CNT.
Here, the digital voltage data Vb and the digital
electric current data Vc are data obtained by converting the
analog voltage data Vb and the analog electric current data
Vc at the same timing. Therefore, it is possible to obtain
an accurate voltage value and electric current value at a
certain timing. In addition, an impedance detection error
resulting from a timing error (offset) does not occur, and
an accurate impedance can be obtained.
Detection of temperature
As an example of a timing is shown in Fig. 5, a process
for detecting a temperature may be performed.
After the above-mentioned process, a control signal is
transmitted from the controller CNT to the power storage
module MOD1. The control signal contains, for example, an
obtaining instruction signal S17 for the ADC 14, and a
-*
channel switching signal ST17 for the cell temperature
multiplexer 16. In response to the channel switching signal
ST17, the cell temperature multiplexer 16 switches between
the channels, and selects one analog temperature datum. For
example, the analog temperature data TI of the battery BAT1
is selected by the cell temperature multiplexer 16. The
selected analog temperature data T1 is output from the
output terminal of the ADC 14. The output analog
temperature data TI is supplied to the ADC 14.
In response to the obtaining instruction signal S17
from the controller CNT, the ADC 14 obtains the analog
temperature data T1 supplied from the cell temperature
multiplexer 16. The obtained analog temperature data T1 is
converted into digital temperature data T1 by the ADC 14.
For example, the analog temperature data T1 is converted
into digital temperature data T1 of 14 to 18 bits. The
converted digital temperature data T1 is output from the ADC
14, and the output digital temperature data TI is stored in
the memory 21.
After the digital temperature data TI is stored in the
memory 21, an ending signal is transmitted from the
communication unit 20 to the controller CNT. When the
controller CNT receives the ending signal, the controller
CNT transmits the control signal to the power storage module
MOD1. The control signal contains, for example, an
obtaining instruction signal S18 for the ADC 14, and a
channel switching signal ST18 for the cell temperature
multiplexer 16.
The cell temperature multiplexer 16 switches between
the channels in response to the channel switching signal
ST18, and selects one analog temperature datum. For example,
the analog temperature data T2 of the battery BAT2 is
selected by the cell temperature multiplexer 16. The
selected analog temperature data T2 is supplied to the ADC
14.
In response to the obtaining instruction signal S18
from the controller CNT, the ADC 14 obtains the analog
temperature data T2 supplied from the cell temperature
multiplexer 16. The obtained analog temperature data T2 is
converted into digital temperature data T2 by the ADC 14.
The converted digital temperature data T2 is output from the
ADC 14, and the output digital temperature data T2 is stored
in the memory 21. In a similar manner, the analog
temperature data T3 to TI6 of the batteries BAT3 to BAT16
are obtained. The obtained analog temperature data T3 to
T16 are converted into digital temperature data T3 to T16,
respectively. The converted digital temperature data T3 to
TI6 is stored in the memory 21.
The 16 digital temperature data T1 to TI6 stored in the
memory 21 are transmitted to the controller CNT by the
communication unit 20. The digital temperature data T may
be transmitted to the controller CNT together with the
digital voltage data Vb and the digital electric current
data Vb, and may be transmitted to the controller CNT
separately from the digital voltage data Vb and the digital
electric current data Vc. In addition, the 16 digital
temperature data T may be transmitted individually at
different timings.
The analog temperature data T may be detected at an
interval longer than the interval at which the analog
voltage data Vb is detected. For example, it is assumed
that a process for reading the analog voltage data Vb is
performed periodically and that a processing time period of
160 msec is taken to read the analog voltage data Vb of 16
batteries BAT. In this case, the detection of the analog
temperature data T may be performed every 160 msec or may be
performed every integral multiple of 160 msec.
The variation in the analog temperature data T of the
battery BAT is small in comparison to the variation in the
analog voltage data Vb of the battery BAT and the variation
in the analog electric current data Vc flowing through the
electric current path. For this reason, the necessity of
detecting the analog temperature data T at the same time as
the detection of the analog voltage data Vb is small. In
the present disclosure, the analog temperature data T is
detected after the analog voltage data Vb of all the
batteries BAT is detected. Since the detection of the
analog temperature data T is not performed at the same time
as the detection of the analog voltage data Vb, it is not
necessary to provide a dedicated ADC for converting the
analog temperature data T into digital temperature data T.
Therefore, the hardware-like configuration can be reduced,
and costs can be reduced. In addition, the amount of
electric power used can be suppressed.
2. Modification
In the foregoing, an embodiment of the present
disclosure has been described. However, the present
disclosure is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment,
and various modifications can be made. Modifications will
be described below.
Fig. 6 illustrates an example of the configuration of a
power storage module MOD in a modification. In Fig. 6, the
power storage module MODl is used as an example. The power
storage modules MOD2 to MOD6 are configured in the same way.
In Fig. 6, the components, which are the same as those of
the power storage module MODl in the embodimeht, are
designated with the same reference numerals.
As shown in Fig. 6, in the power storage module MODl in
the modification, the analog temperature data T output from
the cell temperature multiplexer 16 is output to the ADC 19.
Then, the ADC 19 converts the analog temperature data T into
digital temperature data T. The converted digital
temperature data T is output from the ADC 19, and the output
digital temperature data T is stored in the memory 21. As
described above, the analog temperature data T output from
the cell temperature multiplexer 16 may be supplied to the
ADC 19. The processing performed by the power storage
module MODl is the same as the processing of the power
storage module MODl in the above-described embodiment.
The present disclosure can also be configured as a
monitoring apparatus. For example, as shown in Fig. 7, the
present disclosure can be configured as a monitoring
apparatus 40 including at least the ADC 14 and the ADC 19.
The monitoring apparatus 40 may include the memory 21. The
function of the BGR 22 may be incorporated into each of the
ADC 14 and the ADC 19. In the monitoring apparatus 40, the
same processing as the processing in the above-described
embodiment is performed.
The present disclosure can also be configured as a
monitoring control apparatus. For example, as shown in Fig.
8, the power storage module MODl is provided with a control
unit 25. The control unit 25 may control the functions of
the above-mentioned controller CNT. The control unit 25 may
be configured as a monitoring control apparatus 50 including
at least the ADC 14, the ADC 19, and the control unit 25.
The monitoring control apparatus 50 may include the memory
21. The monitoring control apparatus 50 may include the
communication unit 20.
In addition, the control unit 25 may directly control
the ADC 14, the ADC 19, and the memory 21 without using the
communication unit 20. In addition, the control unit 25 can
also be configured as a power storage module MOD including
at least a plurality of batteries BAT, the ADC 14, the ADC
19, and the control unit 25. In addition, the control unit
25 may be formed as a one-chip IC (Integrated Circuit), so
that the functions of the ADC 14, the ADC 19, the memory 21,
and the like are incorporated into the control unit 25. In
the monitoring control apparatus 50, the same processing as
the above-described embodiment is performed.
In the above-described embodiment and modification, the
digital voltage data Vb, the digital electric current data
Vc, and the digital temperature data T may be transmitted to
the controller CNT without being stored in the memory 21.
In the above-described embodiment and modification, a
computation operation for obtaining an electric current
value by using a voltage value across the electric current
detection resistor 17 and the resistance value of the
electric current detection resistor 17 is performed by the
controller CNT. Alternatively, the computation operation
may be performed by 'the power storage module MOD.
In the above-described embodiment and modification, the
analog temperature data T is obtained after the analog
voltage data Vb of 16 batteries BAT is detected.
Alternatively, the analog temperature data T may be obtained
intermittently. For example, the analog temperature data T
may be obtained at a timing between the timing at which the
analog voltage data Vbl of the battery BAT1 is obtained and
the timing at which the analog voltage data Vb2 of the
battery BAT2 is obtained.
In the above-described embodiment and modification, 16
digital voltage data Vb and 16 digital electric current data
Vc are collectively transmitted to the controller CNT.
Alternatively, individual digital voltage data Vb and
individual digital electric current data Vc may be
transmitted. For example, when an ending signal is
transmitted from the communication unit 20 to the controller
CNT, individual digital voltage data Vb and digital electric
current data Vc (for example, the digital voltage data Vbl
and the digital electric current data Vcl) may be
transmitted at the same time as for the ending signal.
In the above-described embodiment and modification, the
content of communication performed between the power storage
module MOD and the controller CNT can be changed as
appropriate. For example, in response to the obtaining
instruction signal from the controller CNT, the digital
voltage data Vb and the digital electric current data Vc of
the respective batteries BAT are sequentially obtained at a
predetermined interval. The obtained digital voltage data
Vb and digital electric current data Vc are stored in the
memory 21, and the stored digital voltage data Vb and
digital electric current data Vc may be transmitted to the
controller CNT.
In the above-described embodiment and modification, in
a case where the batteries BAT are formed by a battery block,
the voltage values of the individual batteries forming the
battery block are measured and at the same time, the
electric current value flowing through a plurality of
battery blocks are measured.
The configuration the processing in the embodiment and
modification can be combined as appropriate in a range in
which a technological contradiction does not occur. In
addition, the processing in the above-described embodiment
and modification can be configured as a monitoring method
and a monitoring control method. In addition, the
processing can be configured as a program that is executed
by the control unit or the like or as a recording medium on
which the program is recorded.
3. Application Example
A description will be given below of an application
example of a power storage module MOD. The application
example of the power storage module MOD is not limited to
the application example which will be described below.
Power storage system in house as application example
A description will be given, with reference to Fig. 9,
of an example in which the present disclosure is applied to
a power storage system for a house. For example, in a power
storage system 100 for a house 101, electric power is
supplied from a centralized power system 102, such as
thermal power generation 102a, atomic power generation 102b,
and wind power generation 102c, to a power storage apparatus
103 through an electric power network 109, an information
network 112, a smart meter 107, a power hub 108, and the
like. Along with this, electric power is supplied to the
power storage apparatus 103 from an independent power supply,
such as an in-house power generation device 104.
The electric power supplied to the power storage
apparatus 103 is stored. By using the power storage
apparatus 103, electric power to be used in the house 101 is
supplied. Not limited to the house 101, the same power
storage system can be used with regard to a building.
The house 101 is provided with the power generation
device 104, a power consumption device 105, the power
storage apparatus 103, a control device 110 that controls
each device, a smart meter 107, and sensors 111 that obtain
various information. The devices are connected to one
another through the electric power network 109 and the
information network 112. For the power generation device
104, a solar battery, a fuel battery, a windmill, or the
like is used, and the generated electric power is supplied
to the power consumption device 105 and/or the power storage
apparatus 103. Examples of the power consumption device 105
include a refrigerator 105a, an air-conditioning device 105b,
a television receiver 105c, and a bath 105d. In addition,
the power consumption device 105 includes a motor-driven
vehicle 106. Examples of the motor-driven vehicle 106
include an electric automobile 106a, a hybrid car 106b, and
a motorcycle 106c. The motor-driven vehicle 106 may be a
motor-assisted bicycle or the like.
The above-mentioned power storage apparatus of the
present disclosure is applied to the power storage apparatus
103. The power storage apparatus 103 is constituted by a
secondary battery or a capacitor. The power storage
apparatus 103 is, for example, constituted by a lithium-ion
battery. The lithium-ion battery may be of a stationary
type or may be that used in the motor-driven vehicle 106.
The smart meter 107 has functions of measuring the amount of
commercial electric power used and transmitting the measured
use amount to an electric power company. The electric power
network 109 may be any one of DC power supply, AC power
supply, and noncontact supply of electric power, or may be
such that two or more of them are combined.
Examples of various sensors 111 include a human
detection sensor, an illumination sensor, an object
detection sensor, a power consumption sensor, a vibration
sensor, a contact sensor, a temperature sensor, and an
infrared sensor. The information obtained by the various
sensors 111 is transmitted to the control device 110. The
state of the weather conditions, the state of a person, and
the like are understood on the basis of the information from
the sensors 111, and the power consumption device 105 can be
automatically controlled to minimize energy consumption. In
addition, it is possible for the control device 110 to
transmit information on the house 101 to an external
electric power company and the like through the Internet.
Processing, such as branching of electric power lines
and DC/AC conversion, is performed by using the power hub
108. Examples of a communication scheme for the information
network 112 that is connected with the control device 110
include a method of using a communication interface, such as
UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transceiver:
transmission/reception circuit for asynchronous serial
communication), and a method of using a sensor network based
on a wireless communication standard, such as Bluetooth,
ZigBee, or WiFi. The Bluetooth method can be applied to
multimedia communication, so that one-to-many connection
communication can be performed. ZigBee uses the physical
layer of IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics
Engineers) 802.16.4. IEEE 802.16.4 is the title of the
short-distance wireless network standard called PAN
(Personal Area Network) or W (Wireless) PAN.
The control device 110 is connected to an external
server 113. The server 113 may be managed by one of the
house 101, an electric power company, and a service provider.
The information that is transmitted and received by the
server 113 is, for example, information on power consumption
information, life pattern information, an electric power fee,
weather information, natural disaster information, and
electricity transaction. These pieces of information may be
transmitted and received from a power consumption device
(for example, television receiver) inside a house.
Alternatively, the pieces of information may be transmitted
and received from an out-of-home device (for example, a
mobile phone, etc.). These pieces of information may be
displayed on a device having a display function, for example,
a television receiver, a mobile phone, or a personal digital
assistant (PDA) .
The control device 110 that controls each unit is
access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), and the like.
I In this example, the control device 110 is stored in the
I power storage apparatus 103. The control device 110 is
connected to the power storage apparatus 103, the in-house
I power generation device 104, the power consumption device
105, the various sensors 111, and the server 113 through the
information network 112, and has functions of adjusting the
amount of the commercial electric power used, and the amount
of electric power generated. In addition, the control
device 110 may have a function of performing electricity
transaction in the electric power market.
As described above, not only the centralized power
system 102 in which power is thermal power 102a, atomic
power 102b, wind power 102c, or the like, but also the
generated power of the in-house power generation device 104
(solar power generation, wind power generation) can be
stored in the power storage apparatus 103. Therefore, even
if the generated power of the in-house power generation
device 104 varies, it is possible to perform control such
that the amount of electric power to be sent to the outside
is made constant or electric discharge is performed by only
a necessary amount. For example, usage is possible in which
electric power obtained by solar power generation is stored
in the power storage apparatus 103, late-night electric
power whose fee is low during night time is stored in the
power storage apparatus 103, and the electric power stored
by the power storage apparatus 103 is discharged and used in
a time zone in which the fee during daytime is high.
In this example, an example has been described in which
the control device 110 is stored in the power storage
apparatus 103. Alternatively, the control device 110 may be
stored in the smart meter 107 or may be configured singly.
In addition, the power storage system 100 may be used by
targeting a plurality of houses in a block of apartments or
may be used by targeting a plurality of single-family
detached houses.
Power storage system in vehicle as application example
A description will be given, with reference to Fig. 10,
of an example in which the present disclosure is applied to
a power storage system for vehicles. Fig. 10 schematically
shows an example of the configuration of a hybrid vehicle
adopting a series hybrid power system to which the present
disclosure is applied. Such a series hybrid power system is
a car that runs using an electric power driving force
transducer by using electric power generated by a power
generator that is driven by an engine or by using electric
power that is temporarily stored in a battery.
A hybrid vehicle 200 is mounted with an engine 201, a
power generator 202, an electric power driving force
transducer 203, a driving wheel 204a, a driving wheel 204b,
a wheel 206a, a wheel 2O6b, a battery 208, a vehicle control
device 209, various sensors 210, and a charging slot 211.
The above-mentioned power storage apparatus of the present
disclosure is applied to the battery 208.
The hybrid vehicle 200 runs by using the electric power
driving force transducer 203 as a power source. An example
of the electric power driving force transducer 203 is a
motor. The electric power driving force transducer 203
operates using the electric power of the battery 208, and
the rotational force of the electric power driving force
transducer 203 is transferred to the driving wheels 204a and
204b. By using direct current - alternating current (DC-AC)
or inverse conversion (AC-DC conversion) at a necessary
place, the electric power driving force transducer 203 can
use any of an AC motor and a DC motor. The various sensors
210 control the engine rotation speed through the vehicle
control device 209 or controls the opening (throttle
opening) of a throttle valve (not shown). The various
sensors 210 include a speed sensor, an acceleration sensor,
an engine rotation speed sensor, and the like.
The rotational force of the engine 201 is transferred
to the power generator 202, and the electric power generated
by the power generator 202 by using the rotational force can
*
be stored in the battery 208.
When the hybrid vehicle decelerates by a braking
mechanism (not shown), the resistance force at the time of
the deceleration is added as a rotational force to the
electric power driving force transducer 203, and the
regenerative electric power.that is generated by the
electric power driving force transducer 203 by using the
rotational force is stored in the battery 208.
The battery 208, as a result of being connected to an
external power supply of the hybrid vehicle, receives supply
of electric power by using a charging slot 211 as an input
slot from the external power supply, and can store the
received electric power.
Although not shown in the figures, the present
disclosure may include an information processing apparatus
that performs information processing for vehicle control on
the basis of information on a secondary battery. Examples
of such information processing apparatuses include an
information processing apparatus that performs display of
the remaining amount of a battery on the basis of the
information on the remaining amount of the battery.
In the foregoing, a description has been given by using,
as an example, a series hybrid car that runs using a motor
by using electric power generated by a power generator that
is driven by an engine or by using electric power that was
temporarily stored in a battery. However, the present
disclosure can be effectively applied to a parallel hybrid
car in which the outputs of both the engine and the motor
are used as a driving source and in which switching between
three methods, that is, running using only an engine,
running using only a motor, and running using an engine and
a motor, is performed as appropriate. In addition, the
present disclosure can be effectively applied to a so-called
motor-driven vehicle that runs by being driven using only a
driving motor without using an engine.
The present disclosure can take the following
configurations.
(1) A monitoring apparatus including:
a first converter that converts first analog data
indicating a voltage value of each of batteries into first
digital data; and
a second converter that converts second analog data
indicating an electric current value flowing through the
plurality of batteries into second digital data,
wherein the first analog data and the second analog
data are data having the same timing.
(2) The monitoring apparatus as set forth in the above (I),
wherein third analog data indicating a temperature of a
1 plurality of batteries or each battery is detected at an I
interval longer than an interval at which the first analog
data is detected, and
wherein the third analog data is supplied to one of the
first and second converters.
(3) The monitoring apparatus as set forth in the above (1)
or ( 2 ) , further including a storage unit that stores the
first digital data and the second digital data.
(4) The monitoring apparatus as set forth in any of the
above (1) to (3), further including a communication unit
that transmits the first digital data and the second digital
data to the outside.
(5) A monitoring control apparatus including:
a first converter that converts first analog data
indicating a voltage value of each of batteries into first
digital data;
a second converter that converts second analog data
indicating an electric current value flowing through the
plurality of batteries into second digital data; and
a control unit that performs control corresponding to
the first digital data supplied from the first converter,
and the second digital data supplied from the second
converter,
wherein the first analog data and the second analog
data are data having the same timing.
(6) The monitoring control apparatus as set forth in the
above (5),
wherein third analog data indicating a temperature of a
plurality of batteries or each battery is detected at an
interval longer than an interval at which the first analog
data is detected, and
wherein the third analog data is supplied to one of the
first and second converters.
(7) A power supply apparatus including:
a plurality of batteries;
a first converter that converts first analog data
indicating a voltage value of each of the batteries into
first digital data; and
a second converter that converts second analog data
indicating an electric current value flowing through the
plurality of batteries into second digital data, and
wherein the first analog data and the second analog
data are data having the same timing.
(8) A power supply apparatus including:
a plurality of batteries;
a first converter that converts first analog data
indicating a voltage value of each of batteries into first
digital data;
a second converter that converts second analog data
indicating an electric current value flowing through the
plurality of batteries into second digital data; and
a control unit that performs control corresponding to
the first digital data supplied from the first converter,
and the second digital data supplied from the second
converter,
wherein the first analog data and the second analog
data are data having the same timing.
(9) A monitoring method for use with a monitoring apparatus
including a first converter and a second converter, the
monitoring method including:
converting, by using the first converter, first analog
data indicating a voltage value of each of batteries into
first digital data; and
converting, by using the second converter, second
analog data indicating an electric current value flowing
through the plurality of batteries into second digital data,
and
wherein the first analog data and the second analog
data are data having the same timing.
(10) A monitoring control method for use with a monitoring
apparatus including a first converter, a second converter,
and a control unit, the monitoring control method including:
converting, by using the first converter, first analog
data indicating a voltage value of each of batteries into
first digital data; and
converting, by using the second converter, second
analog data indicating an electric current value flowing
through the plurality of batteries into second digital data;
and
performing, by using the control unit, control
corresponding to the first digital data supplied from the
first converter, and the second digital data supplied from
the second converter,
wherein the first analog data and the second analog
data are data having the same timing.
(11) A power storage system including:
one or more power supply apparatuses according to the
above 7 or 8, wherein the one or more power supply
apparatuses are charged by a power generation device that
performs electric power generation from reproducible energy.
(12) A power storage system including:
one or more power supply apparatuses according to the
above 7 or 8, wherein electric power is supplied to an
electronic apparatus connected to the one or more power
supply apparatuses.
(13) An electronic apparatus including:
one or more power supply apparatuses according to the
above 7 or 8, wherein supply of electric power is received
from the one or more power supply apparatuses.
(14) A motor-driven vehicle including:
one or more power supply apparatuses according to the
above 7 or 8, a conversion device that receives supply of
electric power from the one or more power supply apparatuses
and that converts the electric power into a driving force of
the vehicle, and a control device that performs information
processing regarding vehicle control on the basis of the
information on the one or more power supply apparatuses.
(15) An electric power system including:
one or more power supply apparatuses according to the
above 7 or 8; and
an electric power information transmitting/receiving
unit that transmits and receives a signal to and from
another device via a network,
wherein charging/discharging control of the one or more
power supply apparatuses is performed on the basis of the
information received by the electric power information
transmitting/receiving unit.
(16) An elec.tric power system including:
one or more power supply apparatuses according to the
above 7 or 8,
wherein supply of electric power is received from the
one or more power supply apparatuses, or electric power is
supplied from a power generation device or an electric power
network to the one or more power supply apparatuses.
The present disclosure contains subject matter related
to that disclosed in Japanese Priority Patent Application JP
2011-140453 filed in the Japan Patent Office on June 24,
2011, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated
by reference.
It should be understood by those skilled in the art
that various modifications, combinations, sub-cornbinations
and alterations may occur depending on design requirements
and other factors insofar as they are within the scope of
the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A monitoring apparatus comprising:
a first converter that converts first analog data
indicating a voltage value of each of batteries into first
digital data; and
a second converter that converts second analog data
indicating an electric current value flowing through the
plurality of batteries into second digital data,
wherein the first analog data and the second analog
data are data having the same timing.
2. The monitoring apparatus according to Claim 1,
wherein third analog data indicating a temperature of a
plurality of batteries or each battery is detected at an
interval longer than an interval at which the first analog
data is detected, and
wherein the third analog data is supplied to one of the
first and second converters.
3. The monitoring apparatus according to Claim 1,
further comprising a storage unit that stores the first
digital data and the second digital data.
4. The monitoring apparatus according to Claim 1,
further comprising a communication unit that transmits the
first digital data and the second digital data to the
outside.
5. A monitoring control apparatus comprising:
a first converter that converts first . analog data
indicating's voltage value of each of batteries into first
digital data;
a second converter that converts second analog data
indicating an electric current value flowing through the
plurality of batteries into second digital data; and
a control unit that performs control corresponding to
the first digital data supplied from the first converter,
and the second digital data supplied from the second
converter,
wherein the first analog data and the second analog
data are data having the same timing.
6. The monitoring control apparatus according to Claim
5 ,
wherein third analog data indicating a temperature of a
plurality of batteries or each battery is detected at an
interval longer than an interval at which the first analog
data is detected, and
wherein the third analog data is supplied to one of the
first and second converters.
7 . A power supply apparatus comprising:
a plurality of batteries;
a first converter that converts first analog data
indicating a voltage value of each of the batteries into
first digital data; and
a second converter that converts second analog data
indicating an electric current value flowing through the
plurality of batteries into second digital data, and
wherein the first analog data and the second analog
data are data having the same timing.
8. A power supply apparatus comprising:
a plurality of batteries;
a first converter that converts first analog data
indicating a voltage value of each of batteries into first
digital data;
a second converter that converts second analog data
indicating an electric current value flowing through the
plurality of batteries into second digital data; and
a control unit that performs control corresponding to
the first digital data supplied from the first converter,
and the second digital data supplied from the second
converter,
wherein the first analog data and the second analog
data are data having the same timing.
9. A monitoring method for use with a monitoring
apparatus including a first converter and a second converter,
the monitoring method comprising:
converting, by using the first converter, first analog
data indicating a voltage value of each of batteries into
first digital data; and
converting, by using the second converter, second
analog data indicating an electric current value flowing
through the plurality of batteries into second digital data,
and
wherein the first analog data and the second analog
data are data having the same timing.
10. A monitoring control method for use with a
monitoring apparatus including a first converter, a second
converter, and a control unit, the monitoring control method
comprising:
converting, by using the first converter, first analog
data indicating a voltage value of each of batteries into
first digital data; and
converting, by using the second converter, second
analog data indicating an electric current value flowing
through the plurality of batteries into second digital data;
and
performing, by using the control unit, control
corresponding to the first digital data supplied from the
first converter, and the second digital data supplied from
the second converter,
wherein the first analog data and the second analog
data are data having the same timing.
11. A power storage system comprising:
one or more power supply apparatuses according to Claim
7 or 8, wherein the one or more power supply apparatuses are
charged by a power generation device that performs electric
power generation from reproducible energy.
12. A power storage system comprising:
one or more power supply apparatuses according to Claim
7 or 8, wherein electric power is supplied to an electronic
apparatus connected to the one or more power supply
apparatuses.
13. An electronic apparatus comprising:
one or more power supply apparatuses according to Claim
7 or 8, wherein supply of electric power is received from
the one or more power supply apparatuses.
14. A motor-driven vehicle comprising:
one or more power supply apparatuses according to Claim
7 or 8, a conversion device that receives supply of electric
power from the one or more power supply apparatuses and that
converts the electric power into a driving force of the
vehicle, and a control device that performs information
processing regarding vehicle control on the basis of the
information on the one or more power supply apparatuses.
15. An electric power system comprising:
one or more power supply apparatuses according to Claim
7 or 8; and
an electric power information transmitting/receiving
unit that transmits and receives a signal to and from
another device via a network,
wherein charging/discharging control of the one or more
power supply apparatuses is performed on the basis of the
information received by the electric power information
transmitting/receiving unit.
16. An electric power system comprising:
one or more power supply apparatuses according to Claim
7 or 8,
wherein supply of electric power is received from the
one or more power supply apparatuses, or electric power is
supplied from a power generation device or an electric power
network to the one or more power supply apparatuses.
Dated this 07/06/2012
HRISHIKES
OF REMFRY & SA# R ATTORNEY FOR THE APPLICANTS