阅读说明：本技术 电压测量装置和方法 (Voltage measurement device and method ) 是由 金东玄 于 2018-11-19 设计创作，主要内容包括：提供了电压测量装置和方法。根据本发明的电压测量装置用于测量包括在电池模块中的多个二次电池中的每一个的两端的电压。电池模块还包括汇流条。汇流条电连接在多个二次电池中的一个的负极端子和电池模块的负极端子之间。该电压测量装置包括多个电压输入端子，所述多个电压输入端子电连接到多个二次电池中的每一个的两端，并且用于接收多个二次电池中的每一个的两端的电压。多个电压输入端子中的一个是与第一参考接地电分离的参考电压输入端子。参考电压输入端子电连接到第二参考接地，第二参考接地连接到汇流条的一端并且接收施加到第二参考接地的电压。(Voltage measurement devices and methods are provided. The voltage measuring device according to the present invention is used to measure the voltage across each of a plurality of secondary batteries included in a battery module. The battery module further includes a bus bar. The bus bar is electrically connected between a negative terminal of one of the plurality of secondary batteries and a negative terminal of the battery module. The voltage measuring device includes a plurality of voltage input terminals electrically connected to both ends of each of the plurality of secondary batteries and for receiving voltages of both ends of each of the plurality of secondary batteries. One of the plurality of voltage input terminals is a reference voltage input terminal electrically separated from the first reference ground. The reference voltage input terminal is electrically connected to a second reference ground that is connected to one end of the bus bar and receives a voltage applied to the second reference ground.)

1. An apparatus connected to a battery module including a positive terminal, a negative terminal, a bus bar, and a plurality of secondary batteries connected in series in a sequential order between the positive terminal and the negative terminal, the apparatus for measuring a voltage of each of the plurality of secondary batteries, the apparatus comprising:

a measurement unit including a plurality of voltage input terminals electrically connected to both ends of each of the plurality of secondary batteries to receive voltages of both ends of each of the plurality of secondary batteries; and a first ground terminal electrically connected to a first reference ground electrically connected to the negative terminal of the battery module; and

a control unit configured to receive a voltage across each of the plurality of secondary batteries from the measurement unit; and the control unit comprises a second ground terminal electrically connected to the first reference ground,

wherein one of the plurality of voltage input terminals is a reference voltage input terminal electrically connected to a second ground reference connected to one end of the bus bar to receive a voltage applied to the second ground reference, and

the reference voltage input terminal is electrically separated from the first reference ground such that the reference voltage input terminal and the first reference ground have different reference potentials.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is further configured to calculate the direct-current internal resistance of at least one of the plurality of secondary batteries using a voltage across at least one of the plurality of secondary batteries.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reference voltage input terminal is electrically connected to the second reference ground through a first wiring, and

the first reference ground is electrically connected to the negative terminal of the battery module through a second wiring electrically separated from the first wiring.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the reference voltage input terminal takes a voltage applied to the second reference ground connected to one end of the bus bar as a reference potential of the reference voltage input terminal, and

the first reference ground takes a voltage applied to the negative terminal of the battery module connected to the other end of the bus bar as a reference potential of the first reference ground.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first and second wires are electrically separated from each other on a printed circuit board.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first and second wires are configured to prevent a charge/discharge current from flowing.

7. An apparatus connected to a battery module including a positive terminal, a negative terminal, a bus bar, and a plurality of secondary batteries connected in series in a sequential order between the positive terminal and the negative terminal, the apparatus for measuring a voltage of each of the plurality of secondary batteries, the apparatus comprising:

a measurement unit comprising: a plurality of voltage input terminals electrically connected to both ends of each of the plurality of secondary batteries to receive a voltage across both ends of each of the plurality of secondary batteries; and a plurality of current measurement terminals connected to both ends of a current sensor connected to the battery module to receive voltages of both ends of the current sensor; and

a control unit configured to receive a voltage across each of the plurality of secondary batteries and a voltage across the current sensor measured from the measuring unit at the same measurement time, calculate a voltage value of each of the plurality of secondary batteries based on the voltage across each of the plurality of secondary batteries, and calculate a current value using the voltage across the current sensor,

wherein one of the plurality of voltage input terminals is a reference voltage input terminal electrically separated from a first reference ground such that the reference voltage input terminal and the first reference ground have different reference potentials, and

the reference voltage input terminal is electrically connected to a second reference ground connected to one end of the bus bar to receive a voltage applied to the second reference ground.

8. A battery pack comprising the device of any one of claims 1-7.

9. A method of measuring a voltage of each of a plurality of secondary batteries using a device connected to a battery module, the battery module including a positive terminal, a negative terminal, a bus bar, and the plurality of secondary batteries connected in series in sequential order between the positive terminal and the negative terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a voltage across each of the plurality of secondary batteries using a voltage applied to a reference voltage input terminal electrically connected to a second reference ground electrically separated from a first reference ground as a second reference potential, wherein the first reference ground has a first reference potential and is electrically connected to the negative terminal of the battery module; and

calculating a direct current internal resistance of at least one of the plurality of secondary batteries using at least one of voltages across the plurality of secondary batteries.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for measuring voltage, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for measuring voltage of a secondary battery included in a battery module.

The present application claims priority from korean patent application No. 10-2017-.

Background

Recently, the demand for portable electronic products such as laptop computers, video cameras, and mobile phones has been sharply increased, and with the widespread development of secondary batteries for energy storage, robots, and satellites, many studies are being conducted on high-performance secondary batteries that can be repeatedly recharged.

Currently, commercially available secondary batteries include nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-hydrogen batteries, nickel-zinc batteries, lithium secondary batteries, and the like, among which the lithium secondary batteries have little or no memory effect, and thus the lithium secondary batteries are more spotlighted than the nickel-based secondary batteries due to their advantages of free charge and discharge, very low self-discharge rate, and high energy density.

Battery packs are used in various fields, and in many cases, they are used in applications requiring large capacity, such as an electrically driven vehicle or a smart grid system. In order to increase the capacity of the battery pack, there may be a method of increasing the capacity of the secondary battery or the battery cell itself, but in this case, the capacity increasing effect is not so large, and there is a physical limitation in the size expansion of the secondary battery. Therefore, a battery pack including a plurality of battery modules connected in series and parallel is generally widely used.

In many cases, the battery pack includes a Battery Management System (BMS) to manage the battery modules. In addition, the BMS monitors the temperature, voltage, and current of the battery modules, and controls a balancing operation, a cooling operation, a charging operation, or a discharging operation of the battery pack based on the monitored states of the battery modules. For example, when a battery module includes a plurality of secondary batteries, the BMS measures voltages of the plurality of secondary batteries, and estimates a Direct Current Internal Resistance (DCIR), a state of charge (SOC), and a state of health (SOH) of each secondary battery based on the measured voltages of the secondary batteries.

In the conventional voltage measurement technology, the voltage of each secondary battery is measured using the operating potential of the components within the BMS, which is equal to the reference potential of the voltage measurement, for the convenience of measurement.

However, in the case of the conventional voltage measuring device, the charge/discharge current flowing in the charge/discharge path provided in the battery pack flows in the internal components of the BMS, not in the charge/discharge path, which results in a measured voltage error of the secondary battery and errors in the estimated DCIR, SOC, and SOH.

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem

The present disclosure is directed to solving the above-mentioned problems, and therefore, the present disclosure is directed to providing an apparatus and method for voltage measurement with improved reliability by reducing errors in voltage measurement in measuring the voltage of each secondary battery provided in a battery module.

These and other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be understood by the following description, and will be apparent from the embodiments of the present disclosure. Further, it will be readily understood that the objects and advantages of the present disclosure may be realized by means set forth in the appended claims and combinations thereof.

Technical scheme

In order to achieve the above object, an apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure for measuring a voltage of each of a plurality of secondary batteries is connected to a battery module including a positive terminal, a negative terminal, the plurality of secondary batteries connected in series in a sequential order between the positive terminal and the negative terminal, and a bus bar. The apparatus includes a measurement unit including a plurality of voltage input terminals electrically connected to both ends of each of the plurality of secondary batteries to receive voltages of both ends of each of the plurality of secondary batteries; a first ground terminal electrically connected to a first reference ground electrically connected to a negative terminal of the battery module; and a control unit configured to receive a voltage across each of the plurality of secondary batteries from the measurement unit, and including a second ground terminal electrically connected to the first reference ground. One of the plurality of voltage input terminals is a reference voltage input terminal electrically connected to a second reference ground connected to one end of the bus bar to receive a voltage applied to the second reference ground. The reference voltage input terminal is electrically separated from the first reference ground such that the reference voltage input terminal and the first reference ground have different reference potentials.

The control unit may be further configured to calculate the direct current internal resistance of at least one of the plurality of secondary batteries using voltages across the at least one of the plurality of secondary batteries.

The reference voltage input terminal is electrically connected to the second reference ground through the first wiring. The first reference ground may be electrically connected to the negative terminal of the battery module through a second wiring electrically separated from the first wiring.

The reference voltage input terminal may take a voltage applied to a second reference ground connected to one end of the bus bar as a reference potential of the reference voltage input terminal. The first reference ground may have a voltage applied to a negative terminal of the battery module connected to the other end of the bus bar as a reference potential of the first reference ground.

The first wiring and the second wiring may be electrically separated from each other on the printed circuit board.

The first wiring and the second wiring may be configured to prevent a charge/discharge current from flowing.

An apparatus according to another aspect of the present disclosure is connected to a battery module including a positive terminal, a negative terminal, a plurality of secondary batteries connected in series in a sequential order between the positive terminal and the negative terminal, and a bus bar, for measuring a voltage of each of the plurality of secondary batteries. The apparatus includes a measurement unit including a plurality of voltage input terminals electrically connected to both ends of each of the plurality of secondary batteries to receive voltages of both ends of each of the plurality of secondary batteries; and a plurality of current measurement terminals connected to both ends of a current sensor connected to the battery module to receive voltages of both ends of the current sensor; and a control unit configured to receive the voltage across each of the plurality of secondary batteries and the voltage across the current sensor simultaneously measured from the measuring unit, calculate a voltage value of each of the plurality of secondary batteries based on the voltage across each of the plurality of secondary batteries, and calculate a current value using the voltage across the current sensor. One of the plurality of voltage input terminals is a reference voltage input terminal electrically separated from the first reference ground such that the reference voltage input terminal and the first reference ground have different reference potentials. The reference voltage input terminal is electrically connected to a second reference ground connected to one end of the bus bar to receive a voltage applied to the second reference ground.

A battery pack according to still another aspect of the present disclosure includes a device that measures voltage.

A method according to yet another aspect of the present disclosure measures a voltage of each of a plurality of secondary batteries using a device connected to a battery module including a positive terminal, a negative terminal, a plurality of secondary batteries connected in series between the positive terminal and the negative terminal in a sequential order, and a bus bar. The method includes receiving a voltage across each of the plurality of secondary batteries using a voltage applied to a reference voltage input terminal electrically connected to a second reference ground electrically separated from the first reference ground as a second reference potential. The first reference ground has a first reference potential and is electrically connected to the negative terminal of the battery module. The method further includes calculating a direct current internal resistance of at least one of the plurality of secondary batteries using at least one of voltages on both ends of the plurality of secondary batteries.

Advantageous effects

According to the present disclosure, the reference potential for voltage measurement and the reference potential for operation of the voltage measurement device are electrically separated from each other, and they have different potentials. In addition, during the voltage measurement, the charge/discharge current flowing through the charge/discharge path does not flow in the voltage measurement device. Therefore, the reliability of voltage measurement in the voltage measurement process can be improved.

The present disclosure may have various other effects, and these and other effects may be understood by the following description, and will be apparent from the embodiments of the present disclosure.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the detailed description below of the disclosure, serve to provide a further understanding of the technical aspects of the disclosure, and therefore the disclosure should not be construed as being limited to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a schematic view illustrating connections between components of a device for measuring voltage and a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 2 is a schematic view illustrating a connection between a BMS printed circuit board including a device measuring voltage and a charge/discharge path of a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 3 is a table for reference in describing an operation of the apparatus for measuring voltage calculating the internal resistance of the secondary battery according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating connections between components of a device for measuring voltage and a battery pack according to a comparative example of the present disclosure.

Fig. 5 is a diagram for reference in describing a current path formed by the apparatus for measuring voltage according to the comparative example of the present disclosure.

Fig. 6 is a table for reference in describing an operation of the voltage measuring apparatus according to the comparative example of the present disclosure to calculate the internal resistance of the secondary battery.

Fig. 7 is a schematic flow chart diagram illustrating a method of measuring voltage according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Before the description, it should be understood that the terms or words used in the specification and the appended claims should not be construed as limited to general and dictionary meanings, but interpreted based on the meanings and concepts corresponding to technical aspects of the present disclosure on the basis of the principle that the inventor is allowed to define terms appropriately for the best explanation.

Therefore, the embodiments described herein and the illustrations shown in the drawings are only the most preferred embodiments of the present disclosure and are not intended to fully describe the technical aspects of the present disclosure, and therefore it should be understood that various other equivalents and modifications may be made thereto at the time of filing this application.

In addition, in describing the present disclosure, a detailed description of related known elements or functions will be omitted herein when it is considered that the detailed description makes the key subject matter of the present disclosure unclear.

Unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, it will be understood that when the term "comprises" or "comprising" is used in this specification, it specifies the presence of the stated elements, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other elements. In addition, the term "control unit" used herein refers to a processing unit having at least one function or operation, and it may be implemented in hardware or software, alone or in combination.

Further, throughout the specification, it will also be understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or intervening elements may be present.

In the present specification, the secondary battery may include one unit cell or a plurality of unit cells connected in parallel. A unit cell refers to a physically separable self-contained battery having a negative terminal and a positive terminal. For example, a pouch type lithium polymer battery may be considered as the unit.

Fig. 1 is a schematic view illustrating connections between components of an apparatus for measuring voltage and a battery pack 1 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to fig. 1, the battery Pack 1 may include a battery module BM, a first power supply terminal Pack +, a second power supply terminal Pack-, a device 2, and a current sensor 70. Specifically, the battery module BM and the current sensor 70 may be connected in series on a charge/discharge path that electrically connects the first power terminal Pack + of the battery Pack 1 to the second power terminal Pack-of the battery Pack 1. For example, as shown in the configuration of fig. 1, the first power supply terminal Pack + of the battery Pack 1 may be connected to the positive terminal of the battery module BM, and the negative terminal MV-of the battery module BM may be connected to one end of the current sensor 70. In addition, the other end of the current sensor 70 may be connected to the second power supply terminal Pack-of the battery Pack 1. The current sensor 70 may be a shunt resistor. Hereinafter, for convenience of description, it is assumed that the battery module BM includes six secondary batteries 10. Of course, the secondary battery module BM may include the number of secondary batteries 10 greater than or less than six.

The battery module BM may include a plurality of secondary batteries 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and bus bars B. The plurality of secondary batteries 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 may be electrically connected in series with each other and/or in parallel with each other. For example, as shown in the configuration of fig. 1, the plurality of secondary batteries 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 may be electrically connected in series with each other between the positive terminal of the battery module BM and the negative terminal MV-of the battery module BM.

As shown in the configuration of fig. 1, the bus bar B may connect one end (e.g., a negative terminal) of at least one of the plurality of secondary batteries 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 to a negative terminal MV-of the battery module BM. Specifically, the bus bar B may electrically connect one end of the secondary battery 11 to the negative electrode terminal MV-of the battery module BM-in series. Here, the bus bar B may have a resistance, i.e., a resistance member that impedes the flow of current. For example, the bus bar B may be disposed between one end of the secondary battery 11 and the negative terminal MV-of the battery module BM. The bus bar B may be a conductive metal plate.

As shown in the configuration of fig. 1, the apparatus 2 may include a measurement unit 100 and a control unit 200. The measurement unit 100 may include a plurality of voltage input terminals V0, V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, V6, and a first ground terminal G1.

The plurality of voltage input terminals V0, V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, V6 may be electrically connected to both ends of each of the plurality of secondary batteries 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, respectively. Specifically, a plurality of wiring resistances R0, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 may be provided between the plurality of voltage input terminals V0, V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, V6 and both ends of each of the plurality of secondary batteries 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. The wiring resistance may be the resistance of the wiring connecting the battery module BM to the device 2. The voltage input terminal V0 may also be referred to as a reference voltage input terminal, and is electrically connected to a node N0 through a wiring having a reference wiring resistance R0, and a node N0 is a connection point between the negative electrode terminal of the secondary battery 11 and the bus bar B. The voltage input terminal V1 is electrically connected to a node N1 through a wiring having a first wiring resistance R1, and a node N1 is a connection point between the positive electrode terminal of the secondary battery 11 and the negative electrode terminal of the secondary battery 12. The voltage input terminal V2 is electrically connected to a node N2 through a wiring having a second wiring resistance R2, and a node N2 is a connection point between the positive electrode terminal of the secondary battery 12 and the negative electrode terminal of the secondary battery 13. The voltage input terminal V3 is electrically connected to a node N3 through a wiring having a third wiring resistance R3, and a node N3 is a connection point between the positive electrode terminal of the secondary battery 13 and the negative electrode terminal of the secondary battery 14. The voltage input terminal V4 is electrically connected to a node N4 through a wiring having a fourth wiring resistance R4, and a node N4 is a connection point between the positive electrode terminal of the secondary battery 14 and the negative electrode terminal of the secondary battery 15. The voltage input terminal V5 is electrically connected to a node N5 through a wiring having a fifth wiring resistance R5, and a node N5 is a connection point between the positive electrode terminal of the secondary battery 15 and the negative electrode terminal of the secondary battery 16. The voltage input terminal V6 is electrically connected to a node N6 through a wiring having a sixth wiring resistor R6, and a node N6 is a connection point between the positive terminal and a positive terminal (plus terminal) Pack + of the secondary battery 16. Node N0 may also be referred to as a second reference ground.

Accordingly, the plurality of voltage input terminals V0, V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, V6 may receive voltages across the plurality of secondary batteries 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. Specifically, the plurality of voltage input terminals V0, V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, V6 may receive voltages from both ends of each of the plurality of secondary batteries 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, respectively. In detail, as shown in the configuration of fig. 1, the reference voltage input terminal V0 may be electrically connected to the second reference ground N0 through a wiring having a reference wiring resistance R0 to receive a voltage applied to the second reference ground N0 as a second reference potential. Similarly, the first voltage input terminal V1 may receive the voltage applied to the first node N1 from the first node N1. Similarly, the second voltage input terminal V2 may receive the voltage applied to the second node N2 from the second node N2. Similarly, the third voltage input terminal V3 may receive a voltage applied to the third node N3 from the third node N3. Similarly, the fourth voltage input terminal V4 may receive the voltage applied to the fourth node N4 from the fourth node N4. Similarly, the fifth voltage input terminal V5 may receive the voltage applied to the fifth node N5 from the fifth node N5. Similarly, the sixth voltage input terminal V6 may receive the voltage applied to the sixth node N6 from the sixth node N6.

The first ground terminal G1 may be electrically connected to a reference ground BG, which is electrically connected to the negative terminal MV-of the battery module BM. The reference ground BG may be electrically connected to a negative terminal MV-of the battery module BM through a wiring having a resistor RG. Specifically, the first ground terminal G1 may be directly connected to the reference ground BG. With this configuration, the measurement unit 100 operates with the potential of the reference ground BG as an operation reference potential (also referred to as "first reference potential").

Preferably, the measuring unit 100 may further comprise a plurality of current measuring terminals K1, K2. A plurality of current measurement terminals K1, K2 may be connected to both ends of the current sensor 70 connected to the battery module BM to receive voltages of both ends of the current sensor 70. That is, a plurality of current measurement terminals K1, K2 may be connected to both ends of the current sensor 70 to receive voltages of both ends of the current sensor 70 from both ends of the current sensor 70. In one embodiment, the measurement unit 100 may use the voltage across the current sensor 70 to measure the direction, magnitude, or amount of current flowing in the current sensor 70. For example, the measurement unit 100 may measure the current flowing in the current sensor 70 by substituting a pre-stored resistance of the current sensor 70 and a voltage across the current sensor 70 into ohm's law.

The control unit 200 receives a voltage signal indicating a voltage across each of the plurality of secondary batteries 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 from the measurement unit 100. That is, the control unit 200 may be operatively coupled to the measurement unit 100 to receive a voltage signal indicating a voltage across the plurality of secondary batteries 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 from the measurement unit 100. Specifically, the control unit 200 may receive a voltage signal indicating a voltage across each of the plurality of secondary batteries 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 from the measurement unit 100 within a preset period.

Preferably, the control unit 200 may receive the voltage across each of the plurality of secondary batteries 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and the voltage across the current sensor 70 from the measurement unit 100. Specifically, the control unit 200 may receive the voltage across each of the plurality of secondary batteries 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and the voltage across the current sensor 70 measured at the same measurement time or in the same measurement cycle from the measurement unit 100. Specifically, the control unit 200 receives a voltage signal indicating the voltage across both ends of the current sensor 70 and the voltage across each of the plurality of secondary batteries 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, which are simultaneously measured due to the synchronized measurement time or measurement period, from the measurement unit 100.

In addition, the control unit 200 may calculate a voltage value of each of the plurality of secondary batteries 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 based on the voltage across each of the plurality of secondary batteries 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. For example, the control unit 200 may calculate a voltage value of the secondary battery 12 based on a voltage difference between two voltage input terminals (e.g., V2, V1).

In addition, the control unit 200 may calculate a current value using the voltage across the current sensor 70. For example, the control unit 200 may calculate the current value by substituting a pre-stored resistance of the current sensor 70 and a voltage across the current sensor 70 into ohm's law.

In addition, the control unit 200 may calculate a Direct Current Internal Resistance (DCIR) of at least one of the plurality of secondary batteries 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 using the voltage across each of the plurality of secondary batteries 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. Specifically, the control unit 200 may calculate the DCIR of the secondary battery 10 using the voltages at both ends of the secondary battery 10 before and after charging and discharging and the amount of current flowing in the current sensor 70. For example, the control unit 200 may calculate the DCIR using equation 1 below.

< equation 1>

Here, DCIRi denotes the DCIR of the secondary battery 1I, I denotes the magnitude of the current flowing through the current sensor 70, CVi_AIndicates the voltage, CVi, across the secondary battery 1i measured when current is not flowing through the current sensor 70_BWhich represents the voltage across the secondary battery 1i measured when a current flows through the current sensor 70.

In addition, the control unit 200 may include a second ground terminal G2. The second ground terminal G2 may be electrically connected to a reference ground BG, which is electrically connected to the negative terminal MV-of the battery module BM. Specifically, the second ground terminal G2 may be directly connected to the reference ground BG. With this configuration, the control unit 200 can operate with the potential of the reference ground BG as a reference operation potential.

In addition, the reference voltage input terminal V0 may be electrically connected to the second reference ground N0, and the second reference ground N0 is connected to one end of the bus bar B. Specifically, the reference voltage input terminal V0 may be connected to the second reference ground N0 directly connected to one end of the bus bar B to receive a voltage applied to the second reference ground N0.

The measurement unit 100 may measure the voltage across each of the plurality of secondary batteries 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 using the voltage applied to the second reference ground N0 as a reference potential (also referred to as "second reference potential"). In detail, the measurement unit 100 may measure the voltage of each secondary battery 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 using the voltage applied to the second reference ground N0 as a reference potential and a potential difference between the voltage applied to each of the remaining voltage input terminals V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, V6 and the voltage applied to the reference voltage input terminal V0. In this case, since current does not flow in the wiring connecting the battery module BM to the plurality of voltage input terminals V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, and V6, voltage drop due to the plurality of wiring resistances RG, R0, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6 does not occur.

For example, the voltage of the first secondary battery 11 is a potential difference between the second reference ground N0 and the first node N1, and may be measured using a potential difference between the reference voltage input terminal V0 and the first voltage input terminal V1. Similarly, the voltage of the second secondary battery 12 is a potential difference between the first node N1 and the second node N2, and may be measured using a potential difference between the first voltage input terminal V1 and the second voltage input terminal V2. Similarly, the voltage of the third secondary battery 13 is a potential difference between the second node N2 and the third node N3, and may be measured using a potential difference between the second voltage input terminal V2 and the third voltage input terminal V3. Similarly, the voltage of the fourth secondary battery 14 is a potential difference between the third node N3 and the fourth node N4, and may be measured using a potential difference between the third voltage input terminal V3 and the fourth voltage input terminal V4. Similarly, the voltage of the fifth secondary battery 15 is a potential difference between the fourth node N4 and the fifth node N5, and may be measured using a potential difference between the fourth voltage input terminal V4 and the fifth voltage input terminal V5. Similarly, the voltage of the sixth secondary battery 16 is a potential difference between the fifth node N5 and the sixth node N6, and may be measured using a potential difference between the fifth voltage input terminal V5 and the sixth voltage input terminal V6.

In particular, reference voltage input terminal V0 may be electrically separated from reference ground BG within apparatus 2. In addition, the reference voltage input terminal V0 and the reference ground BG may have different reference potentials from each other. This will be described in detail in the description of fig. 2.

Further, the control unit 200 may be implemented to selectively include a processor, an application specific integrated circuit, a chipset, a logic circuit, a register, a communication modem, and/or a data processing device known in the art to perform the operations as described above.

Preferably, the control unit 200 may include a storage device. The storage device is not limited to a specific type and includes any storage medium capable of recording and erasing information. The storage device may be, for example, a RAM, a ROM, a register, a hard disk, an optical recording medium, or a magnetic recording medium. The storage device may be electrically connected to the control unit 200 through, for example, a data bus to allow the control unit 200 to access it. The storage device may store and/or update and/or clear and/or transfer programs including various types of control logic executed by the control unit 200 and/or data created when the control logic is executed. The storage device may be logically divided into two or more.

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a connection between the device for voltage measurement 2 and a charge/discharge path of the battery pack 1 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Here, differences between the embodiment and the previous embodiment will be mainly described, and descriptions of the previous embodiment may be equally or similarly applied thereto are omitted herein.

Referring to fig. 1 and 2, an apparatus 2 according to the present disclosure may include a printed circuit board P. Specifically, the printed circuit board P may be electrically connected to the charge/discharge path L of the battery pack 1. For example, as shown in fig. 2, the second reference ground N0 may be a contact point at which one end of the bus bar B disposed on the charge/discharge path L is commonly connected with the first wiring L1. In addition, the negative terminal MV-of the battery module BM may be a contact point at which the other end of the bus bar B on the charge/discharge path L is commonly connected to the second electric wiring L2. Here, the first wiring L1 may be a wiring that electrically connects the reference voltage input terminal V0 on the printed circuit board P to the second reference ground N0. In addition, the second wiring L2 may be a wiring that electrically connects the reference ground BG on the printed circuit board P to the negative terminal MV-of the battery module. The first wiring L1 may have a resistance R0. The second wiring L2 may have a resistance RG.

Preferably, a reference potential for sensing a voltage across each of the plurality of secondary batteries 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 may be applied to the reference voltage input terminal V0. In addition, a reference potential for the operation of the components 100, 200 comprised in the apparatus 2 may be applied to the reference ground BG. Further, the apparatus 2 may be included in a Battery Management System (BMS). Other components of the BMS, such as a microcontroller unit (MCU), may also operate at a reference potential applied from the reference ground BG. Specifically, the reference voltage input terminal V0 may have a voltage applied to the second reference ground N0 connected to one end of the bus bar B as a reference potential, and the reference ground BG may have a voltage applied to the negative terminal MV-of the battery module connected to the other end of the bus bar B as a reference potential.

Here, the components of the BMS may be mounted in the printed circuit board P in the form of a chip or a circuit. For example, the reference ground BG may be mounted in the printed circuit board P by being soldered to a circuit. Alternatively, the reference voltage input terminal V0 may be in contact with the printed circuit board P. For example, the printed circuit board P may be a Printed Circuit Board (PCB).

Specifically, the first wiring L1 and the second wiring L2 may be electrically separated from each other on the printed circuit board P. That is, the first wiring L1 and the second wiring L2 may be configured such that they are electrically separated from each other on the printed circuit board P.

Preferably, the first wiring L1 and the second wiring L2 may be configured to prevent the flow of charge/discharge current. In detail, the first and second wirings L1 and L2 may be electrically isolated from each other on the printed circuit board P such that the first and second wirings L1 and L2 may be separated from each other to prevent a current from flowing therebetween. That is, the reference voltage input terminal V0 may be electrically connected to the second reference ground N0 through a first wiring L1, and the reference ground BG may be electrically connected to the negative terminal MV-of the battery module through a second wiring L2 electrically separated from the first wiring L1 in the BMS. With this configuration, in contrast to the conventional art, the device 2 does not have a current path flowing into the BMS through the charge/discharge path during charging and discharging, and can provide electrical isolation between the charge/discharge path and the BMS.

For example, as shown in the configuration of fig. 2, the device 2e may have a first wiring line L1 and a second wiring line L2 electrically separated from each other on the printed circuit board P for electrical isolation between the charging/discharging path L and the BMS to prevent current from flowing from the charging/discharging path L into the BMS. For example, the charge/discharge current passing through the second reference ground N0 on the charge/discharge path L flows in the bus bar B, not in the first wiring L1. In addition, the charge/discharge current passing through the bus bar B does not flow into the second wiring L2, but flows through the negative terminal MV-of the battery module.

Fig. 3 is a table for reference in describing an operation of the apparatus for measuring voltage 2 for calculating the internal resistance of the secondary battery according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to fig. 1 and 3, the device 2 may calculate the internal resistance of the secondary battery, preferably, the storage device may include a table 300 to calculate the internal resistance of the secondary battery, the table 300 includes a plurality of records 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312, each of which may include (i) the voltage of the secondary battery before and after charging and discharging, and (ii) the DCIR of the secondary battery associated with the voltage of the secondary battery in the table of fig. 3, ① is the voltage of the secondary battery measured when the discharging current does not flow, ② is the voltage of the secondary battery measured when the discharging current flows, and ③ is the DCIR of the secondary battery associated with the voltage of the secondary battery before and after discharging, for example, the first record 302 is a record of the DCIR of the first secondary battery 11, in addition, the second record 304 is a record of the DCIR of the second secondary battery 12, and likewise, the third to sixth records 306, 308, 310, 312 are records of the DCIR of the third to sixth secondary batteries 13, 14, 15, 16 in this order.

Specifically, there is no large deviation among the voltages of the secondary batteries measured before ① discharge, ② discharge, and ③ associated with the voltages of the secondary batteries before and after discharge in the plurality of records 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312.

For example, referring to the first record 302, the voltage of the secondary battery measured before discharge is 2.330V, and the deviation between the first record 302 and the second to sixth records 304, 306, 308, 310, 312 is not too large. In addition, the voltage of the secondary battery measured after the discharge was 2.171V, and the deviation between the first record 302 and the second to sixth records 304, 306, 308, 310, 312 was not too large. In addition, the DCIR of the secondary battery associated with the voltages of the secondary battery before and after the discharge is 0.795 Ω, and the deviation between the first record 302 and the second to sixth records 304, 306, 308, 310, 312 is not so large.

The device 2 can accurately measure the internal resistance of the secondary battery without a large deviation in the internal resistance of each secondary battery. In detail, the apparatus 2 can achieve accurate voltage measurement of the secondary battery during charging and discharging of the secondary battery. Accordingly, the reliability of the estimation of the state of health (SOH) and the state of charge (SOC) of the secondary battery performed by the MCU included in the BMS may be improved.

The device 2 may be included in a BMS. In this configuration, at least some components of the device for measuring voltage 2 according to the present disclosure may be implemented by supplementing or adding functions of components included in the conventional BMS. For example, the measurement unit and the control unit of the device 2 may be implemented as components of a BMS.

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating connections between components of the voltage measuring device 2 and the battery pack 1 according to a comparative example of the present disclosure. Fig. 5 is a diagram for reference in describing a current path formed by the device 2 for measuring voltage according to the comparative example of the present disclosure. The description of the connection between the components of the device for measuring voltage 2 and the battery pack 1 as described in fig. 1, which is omitted herein, may be equally or similarly applied to the detailed description thereof, and the differences between this embodiment and the previous embodiment will be mainly described.

Referring to fig. 4 and 5, the device for measuring voltage 2 according to the comparative example of the present disclosure may be configured to allow current to flow between the charging/discharging path L of the battery pack 1 and the BMS. In detail, the apparatus 2 for measuring voltage according to the comparative example of the present disclosure may have a current path on the printed circuit board P through which a current transmitted from the charge/discharge path L flows. For example, as shown in the configurations of fig. 4 and 5, the voltage measuring apparatus 2 according to the comparative example of the present disclosure may have a reference voltage input terminal V0 and a reference ground BG electrically connected to each other. In detail, the reference voltage input terminal V0 and the reference ground BG may be electrically connected to each other on the printed circuit board P. Here, there may be a pattern resistance RP between the reference voltage input terminal V0 and the reference ground BG. That is, the pattern resistance RP may be a resistance of a pattern or circuit that connects the reference voltage input terminal V0 to the reference ground BG on the printed circuit board P.

In addition, the device 2 for measuring voltage according to the comparative example of the present disclosure may have the first wiring L1 and the second wiring L2, through which current flows during charge and discharge through the first wiring L1 and the second wiring L2. For example, as shown in the configuration of fig. 5, two current paths I1, I2 may be formed through which current may flow from the second reference ground N0 to the negative terminal MV-of the battery module. In detail, a first path I1 flowing through the first and second wirings L1 and L2 and a second path I2 flowing through the bus bar B may be formed.

Here, referring to fig. 1 and 4, in the case of the device 2 as shown in fig. 1, the voltage of the first secondary battery 11 measured by the potential difference between the reference voltage input terminal V0 and the first voltage input terminal V1 may be calculated using the following equation 2.

< equation 2>

V1＝CV1+V0

In equation 2, V1 is the voltage applied to the first voltage input terminal V1, V0 is the voltage applied to the reference voltage input terminal V0, and CV1 is the voltage across the first secondary battery 11. That is, the apparatus 2 for measuring voltage according to one embodiment of the present disclosure as shown in fig. 1 has no error in voltage measurement.

In the case of the apparatus 2 for measuring voltage according to the comparative example of the present disclosure as shown in fig. 4, the voltage of the first secondary battery 11 measured by the potential difference between the reference voltage input terminal V0 and the first voltage input terminal V1 may be calculated using the following equation 3.

< equation 3>

Here, V1 is the voltage applied to the first voltage input terminal V1, V0 is the voltage applied to the reference voltage input terminal V0, CV1 is the voltage across the first secondary battery 11, and V_BIs the voltage applied across bus bar B. Referring to fig. 5 together, due to the formation of the current path I1 flowing in the first wiring L1 and the second wiring L2, the voltage applied to the reference voltage input terminal V0 is affected by the voltage drop of the resistor R0, and therefore, the device 2 for measuring voltage according to the comparative example of the present disclosure shown in fig. 4 has an error in voltage measurement.

Fig. 6 is a table for reference in describing an operation of the voltage measuring device 2 for calculating the internal resistance of the secondary battery according to a comparative example of the present disclosure.

Fig. 6 shows an exemplary table 400 for the apparatus 2 for measuring voltage to calculate the internal resistance of the secondary battery according to the comparative example of the present disclosure, table 400 includes a plurality of records 402, 404, 406, 408, 410, 412, each record may include (i) the voltage of the secondary battery before and after charging and discharging, and (ii) the DCIR of the secondary battery associated with the voltage of the secondary battery, referring to fig. 4 and 6, ① being the voltage of the secondary battery measured before discharging, ② being the voltage of the secondary battery measured after discharging, and ③ being the DCIR of the secondary battery associated with the voltage of the secondary battery 10 before and after discharging, for example, the first record 402 is a record of the DCIR of the first secondary battery 11, in addition, the second record 404 is a record of the DCIR of the second secondary battery 12, likewise, the third to sixth records 406, 408, 410, 412 are records of the DCIR of the third to sixth secondary batteries 13, 14, 15, 16, respectively.

Specifically, when the first record 402 of the plurality of records 402, 404, 406, 408, 410, 412 is compared with the second to sixth records 404, 406, 408, 410, 412, ① does not have a large deviation in the voltage of the secondary battery measured before discharge, whereas the voltage of the secondary battery measured after ② discharge and the DCIR of the secondary battery whose ③ is correlated with the voltage of the secondary battery before and after discharge may have a large deviation.

For example, referring to the first record 402, the voltage of the secondary battery measured after discharge is 2.002V, and when compared with the second to sixth records 404, 406, 408, 410, 412 showing the distribution of 2.038V to 2.043V, a deviation of 0.0385V on average may occur. In addition, in the case of the first record 402, the DCIR is 0.94 Ω, and a deviation of 0.1875 Ω on average may occur when compared with the second to sixth records 404, 406, 408, 410, 412 showing a distribution of 0.74 Ω to 0.765 Ω.

Therefore, in the case of the apparatus 2 for measuring voltage according to the comparative example of the present disclosure, an error occurs in the voltage measurement of the secondary battery, and an error may occur in the measurement of the internal resistance calculated based on the voltage of the secondary battery. In addition, when an error occurs in the voltage measurement, an error may occur in the estimation of the state of health (SOH) and the state of charge (SOC) of the secondary battery.

Fig. 7 is a schematic flow chart diagram illustrating a method of measuring voltage according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. In fig. 7, the object to perform each step may be each component of the apparatus for measuring voltage 2 according to the present disclosure as described previously.

As shown in fig. 7, in step S100, the measurement unit 100 receives the voltages on both ends of each of the plurality of secondary batteries 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 using the voltage applied to the reference voltage input terminal V0 as a reference potential. In the device 2, the reference voltage input terminal V0 is electrically separated from the reference ground BG, which is electrically connected to the negative terminal MV-of the battery module BM. The reference potential supplied from the reference ground BG is different from the reference potential supplied from the reference voltage input terminal V0.

In step S110, the control unit 200 calculates the DCIR of at least one of the plurality of secondary batteries 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 using the voltage across at least one of the plurality of secondary batteries 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 received in step S100.

In addition, when the control logic is implemented in software, the control unit 200 may be implemented as a set of program modules. In such cases, the program modules may be stored in the storage device and executed by the processor.

In addition, if at least one of the control logics can be combined, and the combined control logic can be written in a computer-readable encoding system to allow a computer to access and read, there is no particular limitation on the type of the control logic of the control unit. For example, the recording medium includes at least one selected from the group consisting of a ROM, a RAM, a register, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a hard disk, a floppy disk, and an optical data recording apparatus. In addition, the encoding system may be stored and executed in computers that are connected in a distributed manner via a network. In addition, functional programs, codes, and code segments for implementing the combinational control logic may be easily inferred by programmers skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains.

Although the present disclosure has been described above with respect to a limited number of embodiments and drawings, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and those skilled in the art can make various modifications and changes within the technical aspects of the present disclosure and the equivalent scope of the appended claims.

Although the term "unit" such as "measurement unit" and "control unit" is used herein, it refers to a logical component unit, and it is obvious to those skilled in the art that the term does not necessarily indicate a component that may or should be physically separated.