Battery pack and connecting circuits of battery modules

Abstract

A battery pack and connecting circuits of battery modules. The battery pack includes a plurality of battery modules connected in series, wherein each battery module is provided with a connecting circuit. When the battery module operates normally, the connecting circuit serially connects the current battery module to the previous battery module and the succeeding battery module. When the battery module operates abnormally, the connecting circuit selectively disconnects the current battery module, and if it disconnects the current battery module, it directly connects the previous battery module and the succeeding battery module in series. When a battery module is damaged or abnormal, the current damaged battery module can be disconnected from the series battery pack and bypassed. As such, the previous battery module may be directly connected with the succeeding battery module, ensuring the normal connection of the series circuit.

1 . A battery pack, comprising:
 a plurality of battery modules connected in a series, wherein:
 each battery module is connected in the series through a corresponding connecting circuit, the connecting circuit for the battery module comprising: a first switch and a second switch, and a bridge having a first end and a second, wherein the connecting circuit for the battery module is configured such that
 when the battery module operates in a normal state, the first switch of the connecting circuit is connected to a positive terminal of the battery module and the second switch of the connecting circuit is connected to a negative terminal of the battery module such that the battery module is connected through the connecting circuit; and 
 when the battery module operates in an abnormal state, the first switch of the connecting circuit is connected to the first end of the bridge and the second switch of the connecting circuit is connected to the second end of the bridge such that the bridge forms a closed circuit that bypasses the battery module; and 
 
   the battery pack further comprises a plurality of driving circuits respectively connected with the connecting circuits and configured to control the connecting circuit to disconnect the current battery module.   
     
     
         2 . The battery pack of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each battery module comprises one or more battery units.   
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The battery pack of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a control device comprising a processer for transmitting control signals to control the first switch and the second switch.   
     
     
         5 . The battery pack of  claim 1 , wherein,
 a driving circuit in the plurality of driving circuits that corresponds to the battery module is configured to control connection states of the first switch and the second switch according to the control signals transmitted by the control device.   
     
     
         6 . The battery pack of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 monitoring circuits, which are respectively connected with the plurality of battery modules, and configured to monitor working states of the plurality of battery modules and transmit monitoring signals to the control device; and   a battery monitoring unit provided within the control device and configured to receive the monitoring signals of the monitoring circuits and analyze the monitoring signals,   wherein the control device controls the plurality of driving circuits according to a determination result of the battery monitoring system with respect to the working states of the battery modules.   
     
     
         7 . The battery pack of  claim 6 , wherein,
 the battery monitoring unit is configured such that monitoring the working states of the plurality of battery modules includes monitoring a working voltage V and a working temperature T of the plurality of battery modules via the monitoring circuits;   when the working voltage V of the current battery module is less than a lower limit Vbot 1  or the working temperature T is greater than an upper limit Ttop 1 , the battery monitoring unit is further configured to determine that the battery module is operating in the abnormal state, and transmits a signal indicating the abnormal state to the processer;   the processor is configured to analyze a working voltage state and a working temperature state of the battery module to determine whether to disconnect the current battery module operating in the abnormal state and transmit one or more fault signals to a vehicle control unit (VCU); and, wherein   when the processer analyzes the working voltage state of the current battery module, the working voltage V of the battery module is compared with a safety lower limit Vbot 2 ;   the battery module is determined to be in a state A if Vbot 1 >V>Vbot 2 , and the current battery module is determined to be in a state B if V<Vbot 2 ;   when the control device analyzes the working temperature state of the battery module, the working temperature T of the battery module is compared with a safety upper limit Ttop 2 , the current battery module is determined to be in a state C if Ttop 2 >T>Ttop 1 , and the current battery module is determined to be in a state D if T>Ttop 2 ;   wherein, if the processer determines that the battery module is in the state A or C, the processor determines that the battery module is operating in the abnormal state without an immediate danger, and determines not to disconnect the battery module, maintains the connection of the battery module, and transmits a fault signal of warning a driver to drive to a maintenance station as early as possible to the VCU;   if the processor determines that the battery module is in the state B, B and C, A and C, A and D, or D, the processor determines that the battery module is operating in the abnormal state with a potential danger, and disconnects the battery module, and transmits a fault signal of warning the driver to drive to the maintenance station immediately to the VCU; and   if the processor determines that the battery module is in the state B and D, the processor determines that the current battery module is operating in the abnormal state with an immediate danger, and disconnects the abnormal battery module, and transmits a fault signal of warning the driver to leave the vehicle immediately to the VCU.   
     
     
         8 . A method of controlling a vehicle battery pack having a plurality of battery modules connected in a series, each battery module connected in the series through a corresponding connecting circuit, the connecting circuit for the battery module comprising: a first switch and a second switch, and a bridge having a first end and a second, said method comprising:
 monitoring a state of the battery module via a battery monitoring unit, wherein the battery module is connected is connected to a positive terminal of the battery module and the second switch of the connecting circuit is connected to a negative terminal of the battery module such that the battery module is connected through the connecting circuit;   detecting, via the battery monitoring unit, an abnormal state of the current battery;   sending a switching signal to a driving circuit connected to the first connecting circuit based at least in part on said detecting; and   based at least in part on the switching signal, connecting the first switch to the first end of the bridge and the second switch to the second end of the bridge such that the bridge forms a closed circuit that bypasses the battery module.   
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said disconnecting includes transmitting control signals via a control device to control the first switch and the second switch. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein,
 a driving circuit in the plurality of driving circuits that corresponds to the battery module is configured to control connection states of the first switch and the second switch according to the control signals transmitted by the control device.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 monitoring working states of the plurality of battery modules via monitoring circuits respectively connected with the plurality of battery modules;   transmitting monitoring signals from the monitoring circuits to the control device;   receiving the monitoring signals at a battery monitoring unit provided within the control device;   analyzing the monitoring signals via the battery monitoring unit; and   controlling the plurality of driving circuits via the control device according to a determination result of the battery monitoring unit with respect to the working states of the battery modules.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein,
 the battery monitoring unit is configured such that monitoring the working states of the plurality of battery modules includes monitoring a working voltage V and a working temperature T of the plurality of battery modules via the monitoring circuits, and the method further comprising   when the working voltage V of the current battery module is less than a lower limit Vbot 1  or the working temperature T is greater than an upper limit Ttop 1 , determining, by the battery monitoring unit, that the battery module is operating in the abnormal state, and transmitting a signal indicating the abnormal state to a processer of the control device.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , the method further comprising:
 analyzing, by the processor, a working voltage state and a working temperature state of the battery module to determine whether to disconnect the current battery module operating in the abnormal state and transmit one or more fault signals to a vehicle control unit (VCU);   wherein, when analyzing the working voltage state of the current battery module, the working voltage V of the current battery module is compared with a safety lower limit Vbot 2 ,   the current battery module is determined to be in a state A if Vbot 1 >V>Vbot 2 , and the current battery module is determined to be in a state B if V<Vbot 2 ;   when analyzing, by the control device, the working temperature state of the current battery module, the working temperature T of the battery module is compared with a safety upper limit Ttop 2 , the current battery module is determined to be in a state C if Ttop 2 >T>Ttop 1 , and the current battery module is determined to be in a state D if T>Ttop 2 .   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein:
 if the processer determines that the current battery module is in the state A or C, the processor determines that the current battery module is operating in the abnormal state without an immediate danger, and determines not to disconnect the current battery module, maintains the connection of the current battery module, and transmits a fault signal of warning a driver to drive to a maintenance station as early as possible to the VCU;   if the processer determines that the current battery module is in the state B, B and C, A and C, A and D, or D, the processor determines that the current battery module is operating in the abnormal state with a potential danger, and disconnects the current battery module, and transmits a fault signal of warning the driver to drive to the maintenance station immediately to the VCU; and   if the processer determines that the current battery module is in the state B and D, the processor determines that the current battery module is operating in the abnormal state with an immediate danger, and disconnects the abnormal battery module, and transmits a fault signal of warning the driver to leave the vehicle immediately to the VCU.   
     
     
         16 . An electric vehicle power system, comprising:
 a battery pack including a plurality of battery modules connected in a series;   a plurality of connecting circuits, each of the connecting circuits connected to a respective battery module, the connecting circuit comprising: a first switch and a second switch, and a bridge having a first end and a second, wherein the connecting circuit for the battery module is configured such that:
 when the battery module operates in a normal state, the first switch of the connecting circuit is connected to a positive terminal of the battery module and the second switch of the connecting circuit is connected to a negative terminal of the battery module such that the battery module is connected through the connecting circuit; and 
 when the battery module operates in an abnormal state, the first switch of the connecting circuit is connected to the first end of the bridge and the second switch of the connecting circuit is connected to the second end of the bridge such that the bridge forms a closed circuit that bypasses the battery module; and 
   a plurality of driving circuits connected with the connecting circuits and configured to control each of the connecting circuits to selectively disconnect one or more of the battery modules;   a plurality of monitoring circuits respectively connected with the plurality of battery modules, and configured to monitor working states of the plurality of battery modules and to transmit monitoring signals;   a control device configured to receive the monitoring signals, to determine battery state information based at least in part on the monitoring signals, and to transmit switching signals to one or more of the driving circuits based at least in part on the battery state information,   wherein the plurality of battery modules include at least a current battery module connected in the series between a first battery module and a second battery module during normal operation, and the switching signals cause the current battery module to be disconnected from the first battery module and the second battery module, and cause the first battery module and second battery module to be connected directly in series.   
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the control device includes a battery monitoring unit that is configured to monitor a working voltage V and a working temperature T of the plurality of battery modules via the monitoring circuits; and
 when the working voltage V of the current battery module is less than a lower limit Vbot 1  or the working temperature T is greater than an upper limit Ttop 1 , the battery monitoring unit is configured to determine that the current battery module is operating in an abnormal state, and to transmit a signal indicating the abnormal state to a processer of the control device.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein,
 the processor is configured to analyze a working voltage state and a working temperature state of the current battery module to determine whether to disconnect the current battery module operating in the abnormal state and transmit one or more fault signals to a vehicle control unit (VCU); and, wherein   when the processer analyzes the working voltage state of the current battery module, the working voltage V of the current battery module is compared with a safety lower limit Vbot 2 ;   the battery module is determined to be in a state A if Vbot 1 >V>Vbot 2 , and the current battery module is determined to be in a state B if V<Vbot 2 ;   when the control device analyzes the working temperature state of the current battery module, the working temperature T of the battery module is compared with a safety upper limit Ttop 2 , the current battery module is determined to be in a state C if Ttop 2 >T>Ttop 1 , and the current battery module is determined to be in a state D if T>Ttop 2 .   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the control device is configured to initiate at least two different alerts based on the determination of whether the current battery module is in state A, B, C, D or combinations thereof.