Battery pack and control method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017005482-A1
Application number	US-201615007609-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 27, 2016
Priority date	Jun 30, 2015
Publication date	Jan 5, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a battery pack for connecting an external load via a switch is produced. The output-limiting resistor is used to limit an output current value. And the output-limiting resistor is configured to implement three different resistance values. The switching module is configured to switch a resistance value of the output-limiting resistor to one of the three different resistance values. The measurement module is configured to measure the output current value and a voltage value of the external load. And the control module is configured to perform control for connecting the external load to the battery pack via the switch (SW 0 ) without the output-limiting resistor.

First claim

1 . A battery pack for connecting an external load via a switch, the battery pack comprising:
an output-limiting resistor arranged between an internal battery of the battery pack and the external load, wherein the output-limiting resistor is used to limit an output current value to be output to the external load, and wherein the output-limiting resistor is configured to implement three different resistance values of a first resistance value, a second resistance value, and a third resistance value; a switching module configured to switch a resistance value of the output-limiting resistor to one of the first resistance value, the second resistance value, and the third resistance value; a measurement module configured to measure the output current value and a voltage value of the external load, for each of the first resistance value, the second resistance value, and the third resistance value; and a control module configured to perform, in accordance with an external load estimated based on the measurement result, control for connecting the external load to the battery pack via the switch (SW 0 ) without the output-limiting resistor.

2 . The battery pack of claim 1 ,
wherein the first resistance value is larger than the second resistance value, and the second resistance value is larger than the third resistance value, and wherein the switching module performs switching in an order of the first resistance value, the second resistance value, and the third resistance value.

3 . The battery pack of claim 1 ,
wherein the external load comprises a modeled circuit comprising three parameters of an external battery, an external battery resistor connected in series with the external battery, and a resistance load connected in parallel to the external battery and the external battery resistor, and wherein the number of parameters is equal to the number of resistance values implemented by the output-limiting resistor.

4 . The battery pack of claim 1 , wherein the control module calculates the output current value before the external load is connected to the battery pack via the switch without the output-limiting resistor, and connects the external load to the battery pack if the calculated output current value is smaller than an allowable current value of the battery pack.

5 . The battery pack of claim 1 , wherein the external load comprises at least one of a battery load, a resistance load, and a constant-current load.

6 . The battery pack of claim 1 , wherein the output-limiting resistor comprises at least two parallel-connected fixed resistors or a variable resistor.

7 . A control method for a battery pack for connecting an external load via a switch, the control method comprising:
switching a resistance value of an output-limiting resistor arranged between an internal battery of the battery pack and the external load to one of the first resistance value, the second resistance value, and the third resistance value, wherein the output-limiting resistor is used to limit an output current value to be output to the external load, and wherein the output-limiting resistor is configured to implement three different resistance values of a first resistance value, a second resistance value, and a third resistance value; measuring the output current value and a voltage value of the external load, for each of the first resistance value, the second resistance value, and the third resistance value; and performing, in accordance with an external load estimated based on the measurement result, control for connecting the external load to the battery pack via the switch without the output-limiting resistor.

Assignees

• Toshiba Kk

Inventors

• Matsushita Hiroki

Classifications

• H02J7/62

  against overcurrent · CPC title

• H02J7/855

  with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery · CPC title

• H02J7/663

  using battery or load disconnect circuits (H02J9/002 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H02J7/94 Primary

  in response to battery current · CPC title

• H02J7/007 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic