Manage system of rechargeable battery and a method for managing thereof

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a system to recharge batteries (or secondary cell, storage battery) and a method for managing the system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a system and a method for managing rechargeable batteries which are used in various portable electrical equipment such as a wireless radio, an audio tape player, a camera, an electric lamp and so on. In the system the termination voltage is equalized using parallel discharging method before charging the rechargeable battery so that the durability of the rechargeable battery is expanded and the efficiency of the charging is enhanced.

[0004] 2.Description of the Background Art

[0005] The rechargeable battery, so called a secondary battery, or a storage battery is produced and sold in various types and sizes. The typical types of the rechargeable battery includes a nickel cadmium (NiCd) type, a lead-acid type, a nickel metal hydride (NiMH) type, a lithium ion (Li-ion) type, a lithium polymer type, an alkaline type and so on.

[0006] These rechargeable batteries should be charged using the appropriate charging method in order that they may be used to their full extent. For example, the NiCd type is preferred to be fully discharged periodically. The Li-ion type, used in notebook computers video cameras, mobile telephones and so on, is preferred to be charged before it is discharged up to the discharge terminal voltage. The lithium polymer type, used in the small electrical devices, the medical equipment, computers and so on, should be always in a charged state before it is exhausted by discharge. The durability of the lithium polymer type could be shortened, if it is fully discharged like nickel cadmium type.

[0007] As mentioned above, many rechargeable batteries are not fully utilized and are wasted due to misuse. The wasted rechargeable batteries contributed to environmental pollution, especially, the Ni—Cd type battery, which causes a serious environmental problem due to the toxicity of cadmium. Many countries use their budget and carry out the educational campaign for collecting the used batteries. Furthermore, wasting of the rechargeable batteries unnecessarily consumes natural resource.

[0008] Hereinafter, we will focus the Ni—Cd and NiMH type chargeable batteries. Because the Ni—Cd type costs less and is easy to store and deliver as well as being rechargeable in a short time, it is still used in many fields.

[0009] Furthermore, it is the best kind of the rechargeable battery in the industrial field because the discharging energy per time is large, it is durable and it can be repeatedly recharged others. It is applied to electrical devices which need significant amount electrical energy such as a flash of a camera, a cordless telephone, a radio, a satellite auxiliary battery, a motor driver, a portable and wireless vacuum cleaner, a diving light, a radio controlled model (car, airplane and ship) and so on.

[0010] However, it the Ni-type battery is recharged without deep discharging, the rechargeable capacitance is reduced due to memory effect of crystalizing the un-reacted active materials.

[0011] Generally, the rechargeable batteries are used in serial connection with many cells except for the case of using only one cell. In this case, the cells are discharged so that they are in a different energy state. After the cells are used in a serial connection so that, they are discharged in different energy states, the energy state of the cells also become different if they are recharged. If a group of the cells are discharged and recharged many times, then the termination voltage of some cells could be lower than 0.1 volt. In this state, if the user further uses these cells, then the electrical potential is reversed so that these cells are in the battery reversal state.

[0012] If the secondary battery which comprises many rechargeable cells having different energy states are connected serially are recharged, then the recharging is stopped when one cell having the most high energy state sends the termination signal to the charger stopping the charge despite that other cells are not charged yet.

[0013] On the other hand, in the case of the secondary battery including an over discharged cell, the other cells reach over charged state before the over discharged cell is completely charged. That is, the status of some cells comprised in the secondary battery moves back and forth between the uncompleted charging state and the over discharging (or battery reversal) state. At the same time, the status of the other cells move back and forth between the completed charging state and the uncompleted discharging state. Therefore, all the cells are damaged.

[0014] The performance of the Ni-type rechargeable battery can be enhanced by deep discharging periodically so that the crystallized electrolytes are removed. However, the secondary battery generally comprises many cells connected in serial in order to obtain the desired electric voltage for using in the electrical device. Under this state, if one the secondary battery cell is discharged for management, then other cells of the secondary battery can be over discharged or be in the battery reversal state. That is, it is hard to recover or to equalize the cells using the discharging method in the serial connection.

[0015] In order to solve the above problem, the individual discharging method is suggested in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,980,940, as shown in FIG. 1. This conventional invention suggests a method for managing the secondary battery in which the cells are equalized by deep discharging individually before they are recharged in serial connection. The rechargeable batteries (cells) 1a, 1b, 1cand, 1dare connected in serial connection. The recharging means 11 is connected to the rechargeable batteries 1ato 1d. The discharging means 21 comprising the electrical load means 23a, 23b, 23cand 23dand discharging blocking switch 25a, 25b, 25cand, 25dis connected with the rechargeable batteries 1ato 1dindividually. That is, the electrical load means 23ato 23dand the discharging blocking switch 25ato 25dare connected to the rechargeable batteries 1ato 1d, respectively.

[0016] In this conventional invention, each cell 1ato 1dis discharged individually using the discharging means 21 after the cells are recharged in serial connection using the recharging means 11.

[0017] However, according to the conventional invention, the amount of the energy wastes during individual discharging is very big and it takes a long time to discharge all the cells in different energy state should be fully discharged.

[0018] There is a need for a system and a method in which the rechargeable batteries are equalized without the deep discharging of each battery individually. After that, the charging can be performed for a shorter time period. One object of the present invention is to provide a system and a method for managing the rechargeable batteries in which they are protected from the being damaged due to over discharge or over charge by equalizing the energy difference of the each rechargeable battery.

[0019] Another object of the present invention is to provide a system and a method for managing the chargeable batteries in which the rechargeable batteries are discharged in parallel connection for equalizing the energy states of the each battery and then they are recharged in serial connection, so that the discharging efficiency is maximized and the charging is performed quickly.

[0020] In order to obtain these objects, the present invention provides a managing system for rechargeable battery comprising a plurality of a rechargeable unit batteries, a closed loop circuit method which connects the cells in parallel connection electrically, an electrical load having regular voltage which is the sum of the maximum output voltage among the plurality of cells and being in parallel connection with the rechargeable cells which are connected in parallel with the closed loop circuit method, a rechargeable battery manager including a discharging blocking switch inserted between the plurality of cells and the electrical load means in order to cut off the current flowing in the electrical load means in case it reaches the discharge termination voltage of the plurality of rechargeable cells.

[0021] In addition, the present invention provides a method of managing the rechargeable battery including a step of discharging for a certain time period by parallel connecting the plurality of rechargeable cells which have different energy level using the battery manager for discharging.

[0022] The present invention also provides a plurality of rechargeable cells, a closed loop circuit means connecting the rechargeable cells, a selection switch connected to the closed loop circuit means which allows the cells to be connected either by parallel connection or serial connection, an electrical load having regular voltage which is the sum of the maximum output voltage among the plurality of cells and being in parallel connection with the rechargeable cells which are connected in parallel with the closed loop circuit method and a manager for rechargeable battery including a voltage applying means which provides rechargeable voltage between the both electrodes of the cells connected in the serial connection in case the cells are in serial connection at the same time the current flowing in the electrical load means is cut off by the switch means. Finally, the present invention provides a managing method for rechargeable batteries including steps of discharging the plurality of rechargeable cells which have different energy level for a certain time period by connecting them in parallel connection using the manager for chargeable cells and charging the plurality of the rechargeable cells by connecting them in serial connection after the above mentioned parallel discharge.

[0023] FIG. 1 is a illustration showing a method and a system of recharging the rechargeable battery individually after fully discharging by using the conventional method of individual discharging method.

[0024] FIG. 2ais an illustration showing a method and a system of managing the rechargeable batteries by parallel discharging according to the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 2bis an illustration showing a method and a system of managing the rechargeable batteries by parallel discharging using a diode switch to block over discharging.

[0026] FIG. 2cis an illustration showing a method and a system of managing the rechargeable batteries by parallel discharging using a timer to block over discharging.

[0027] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the main concept of the present invention which suggests a method and a system of managing the rechargeable batteries by parallel discharging and serial recharging.

[0028] FIG. 4 is a close loop circuit diagram of the present invention.

[0029] FIG. 5ais an illustration showing circuit in which the cells are connected in parallel by the switch operation.

[0030] FIG. 5bis an illustration showing circuit in which the cells are connected in serial by the switch operation.

[0031] FIG. 6 is an illustration showing the operation condition of the battery managing device according to the present invention.

[0032] Detailed description of the present invention will be described hereinafter with the preferred embodiments referring to the drawings.

[0033] The FIG. 2ais a view showing a manager for the rechargeable battery system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It shows the core scope of the present invention which is the managing module and the managing method thereof in order to have equalization of the rechargeable battery by the parallel connection. A rechargeable battery, in other words, a secondary battery, comprising at least one or more cells to be one group, is described.

[0034] In general, the secondary battery connects two, three, four, five, six, eight or ten cells in serial connection and is used to obtain the suitable electromotive force for the device to be used. In this preferred embodiment, a case of using four cells 101a, 101b, 101cand 101dwhich are used commonly in digital camera, a flash of camera, under water diving flash lights and toys is described. In case at least one of the cells 101a, 101b, 101cand 101dreaches the discharge termination voltage when the secondary battery is applied to a device, it needs to be recharged.

[0035] After separating the cells 101a, 101b, 101cand 101dfrom the devices, the cells are reconnected in parallel. Then, an electrical load 123 having the regular voltage corresponding to the electromotive force of a cell is connected in parallel with the cells 101a, 101b, 101cand 101d. As a result, each of the cells 101a, 101b, 101cand 101dcomprising the secondary battery discharges simultaneously. The cells 101a, 101b, 101cand 101dmay start with different voltage states, but are equalized after the parallel discharge. After each of the cells are equalized by carrying out the parallel discharge for a certain period of time, the cells are charge by connecting to the serial charging circuit. Time consumed in managing the chargeable battery by using parallel discharge can differ according to the condition of each cell. It is usually preferred to take the time consumed until the reaching the discharge termination voltage of the secondary battery connected in parallel as the managing time. Therefore, a silicon diode 125 having minimum through voltage (threshold voltage) corresponding to the sum of the discharge termination voltage of the secondary battery can be used by connecting it with the cells 101a, 101b, 101cand 101din parallel as shown in FIG. 2b.

[0036] In another method, a timer 127 is installed in order to control the discharging time artificially as shown in FIG. 2c. According to our experience, effective management can be obtained by discharging 3 to 5 minutes when the discharge ratio is 1C to 2C (1C means charging or discharging its capacitance in an hour).

[0037] The rechargeable battery of the present invention basically includes the following elements: battery holders 103a, 103b, 103cand 103dwhich electrically connect the cells 101a, 101b, 101cand 101d, in other words, the plurality of rechargeable battery in order to carry out the managing method of the rechargeable battery. The cells 101a, 101b, 101cand 101dcan be used in a serial connection so that they suit electromotive force of the electrical device being used.

[0038] A closed loop circuit 105 which connect the cells 101a, 101b, 101cand 101din parallel connection is included. An electrical load 123 connected in parallel and having regular voltage which suits the electromotive force of the cells between both terminal of the cells 101a, 101b, 101cand 101din the closed loop circuit means 105 is included. For the electrical load 123, a device like resistance, bulb and electrical motor which can consume regular voltage corresponding to the electromotive force of the cell is used.

[0039] A discharging blocking switch 125, which is in serial connection with the electrical load 123 and in parallel connection with cells 101a, 101b, 101cand 101d, prevents further discharge when the parallel connected cells 101a, 101b, 101cand 101dstart discharging and finish discharging when it reaches the discharge termination voltage. It is preferable to use silicon diode having the minimum through voltage (threshold voltage) corresponding to the discharge termination voltage (in other words, the sum of parallel connection of the discharge termination voltage of each of the cells) of the secondary battery for the discharging blocking switch 125.

[0040] The preferred embodiment 1 illustrates the managing device and the managing method thereof in order to carry out parallel discharge of the rechargeable cells comprising the secondary battery for the purpose of equalization before recharging. In this second preferred embodiment, a managing device for the rechargeable battery which includes the charging function and the managing method thereof is illustrated. The FIG. 3 is a view showing the basic concept structure of a managing device for the rechargeable battery according to this preferred embodiment.

[0041] A rechargeable battery 101 comprising one or more cells as one group is needed. The chargeable battery 101 is connected to a closed loop circuit 105 which has a switch 107 that can choose between serial connection and parallel connection.

[0042] It is preferred that the selection switch 107 is connected to a battery condition tester 109 as the selection whether it is parallel or serial is determined by the voltage condition of the chargeable batteries 101. If the rechargeable batteries 101 are parallel connected by the selection switch 107, make the rechargeable battery to be connected with a discharger 123 having the regular voltage which corresponds to the electromotive force of one cell between the both terminals of the batteries 101.

[0043] A timer 127, which can send signal to change the connection of the rechargeable batteries 101 into serial connection after the discharging has been carried out for a certain period of time, may be connected between the selection switch 107 and the discharging means 123. After the parallel discharge is carried out for a certain period of time by the signal of the timer 127, a charger 111 for recharging the chargeable batteries 101 after transferring into a serial connection by the selection switch 107 is connected to the closed loop circuit 105.

[0044] Hereinafter, the concrete example of the present embodiment will be described. A secondary battery comprising one or more cell as one group is needed. In general, the secondary battery connects two, three, or more cells serially in order to obtain an acceptable electromotive force suitable for the device to be used. In this embodiment usage of four cells is introduced again as an example for it is used mostly commonly.

[0045] Battery holders 103a, 103b, 103cand 103dhold cells 101a, 101b, 101cand 101d. A closed loop circuit 105, which allows the cells 101a, 101b, 101cand 101dto be connected in parallel or in serial by using the conductive wire, like an electric wire is connected to the battery holder 103a, 103b, 103cand 103d.

[0046] A selection switch 107 which chooses either a serial connection or a parallel connection for the cells 101a, 101b, 101cand 101dis included in the closed loop circuit 105. The selection switch 107 can be selected among a rotary switch, relay or a semiconductor element like MOSFET (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor).

[0047] Both terminals of the cells 101a, 101b, 101cand 101dare connected to the charger 111 if the cells 101a, 101b, 101cand 101dare connected in serial connection and both terminals of the cells 101a, 101b, 101cand 101dare connected to the charger 123 if the cells 101a, 101b, 101cand 101dare connected in parallel connection according to the connection of the selection switch 107.

[0048] The FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of closed loop circuit 105 which is structured to connect either by serial connection or parallel connection. FIG. 5ashows a circuit when the cells are serially connected by the switch operation and FIG. 5bshows a circuit when the cells are parallely connected by the switch operation.

[0049] The managing method using the above mentioned device for managing the rechargeable battery is described in the following. FIG. 6 is a view showing the operation condition of the battery managing device according to the present invention.

[0050] The closed loop circuit 105 connects the cells 101a, 101b, 101cand 101dserially in the initial stage 6aas shown in FIG. 6. Test the electromotive force of the cells 101a, 101b, 101cand 101dwhich are connected to the closed loop circuit 105 structured in serial and check whether it is lower than the usable voltage or not as shown in state 6bof FIG. 6. If the electromotive force is lower than the usable voltage, the selection switch 107 changes and connects the cells 101a, 101b, 101cand 101din a parallel connection as shown in state 6cof FIG. 6. Then, the cells 101a, 101b, 101cand 101dare parallel discharged by the discharger 123 as shown in stage 6dof FIG. 6.

[0051] The time consumed in parallel discharge is automatically set up by a timer 127 which is installed between the 123 and the selection switch 107. It is preferred that the time for discharging is set up to be within 5 minutes as shown in state 6eof FIG. 6. When the signal indicating that the parallel discharging is completed by the timer 127 is transferred to the selection switch 107, the connection of the cells 101a, 101b, 101cand 101dare changed into a serial connection as shown in state 6fof FIG. 6. Then, the cells 101a, 101b, 101cand 101dare connected to the charging means 111 in serial connection and recharging is carried out as shown in state 6gof FIG. 6. The electromotive force is monitored while charging and if it is same or higher than the using voltage as shown in stage 6bof FIG. 6, charging is ceased and goes into a waiting mode as shown in stage 6hof FIG. 6.

[0052] In case of recharging, in order to carry out the charging in high speed, the parallel discharge is carried out for about 3 to 5 minutes for managing and carry out the discharge under the condition of charging ratio of about 3C-4C. As a result, charging is completed within 30 minutes.

[0053] The present invention provides the managing device for chargeable battery which charges by connecting the same kinds of chargeable batteries in serial connection after carrying out in discharging the parallel connection.

[0054] According to the present invention, high speed charging is possible as the chargeable battery is recharged after equalizing the battery cells through parallel discharge. Also, over charged and over discharged rechargeable battery which were thought to be destroyed are recycled during the process of equalization through the parallel discharge.

[0055] Finally, durability of the chargeable battery is expanded even though the number of managing and charging are repeated by the battery managing device according to the present invention.