Motor vehicle, battery, and method for controlling a battery

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9744875-B2
Application number	US-201214369798-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 11, 2012
Priority date	Jan 17, 2012
Publication date	Aug 29, 2017
Grant date	Aug 29, 2017

Abstract

A battery comprises a number n of battery module strings, wherein n is a natural number greater than or equal to two. The battery module strings have several battery modules, and one battery module has a coupling unit. The coupling unit is configured as a voltage transformer and couples the battery modules to each other. A method of controlling the battery includes supplying a load connected to the battery with a predefined and substantially constant total power. The total power corresponds to a sum of n individual powers of the n battery module strings. The method further includes setting n−1 string voltages, which are each present at the n−1 battery module strings, according to the total power, the load, and by defining a string voltage present at an nth battery module string with amplitude and phase position. At least two of the n individual powers are asymmetrical to each other.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for controlling a battery comprising a number n of battery module strings which have a plurality of battery modules, each battery module having a coupling unit configured as a voltage converter and configured to couple the battery modules to one another, the method comprising:
supplying a load, which is connected to the battery, with a predetermined and substantially constant total power, the total power corresponding to a sum of n individual powers of the n battery module strings; and
adjusting n−1 string voltages which are present in each case at n−1 battery module strings, by the total power, the load and by setting a string voltage present at an nth battery module string with amplitude and phase relation,
wherein at least two of the n individual powers are unbalanced with respect to one another, and
wherein n is a natural number and is greater than or equal to two.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein one of the n battery module strings is charged by the other battery module strings via the load.

3. A battery comprising:
a number n of battery module strings which have a plurality of battery modules, each battery module having a coupling unit configured as a voltage converter and configured to couple the battery modules to one another,
wherein n is a natural number and is greater than or equal to two,
wherein the battery is configured to supply a connected load with a predetermined and substantially constant total power which corresponds to a sum of n individual powers of the n battery module strings,
wherein the battery is configured to adjust n−1 string voltages which are present in each case at the n−1 battery module strings, by the total power, the connected load, and by setting a string voltage present at an nth battery module string with amplitude and phase relation, and
wherein at least two of the n individual powers are unbalanced with respect to one another.

4. The battery as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the coupling unit is further configured such that either (i) a positive battery module voltage and a voltage of 0 volt can optionally be output, or (ii) a positive battery module voltage, a negative battery module voltage, and a voltage of 0 volt can be output.

5. The battery as claimed in claim 3 , wherein:
the n battery module strings form a polyphase system, and
a battery module string in each case corresponds to a phase.

6. The battery as claimed in claim 3 , wherein n equals three battery module strings configured to form a three-phase system, which is connected to a load configured as a three-phase machine.

7. The battery as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the battery module comprises at least one battery cell, which is connected to the coupling unit.

8. The battery as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the battery modules of the n battery module strings are in each case connected in series.

9. A motor vehicle comprising:
an electric drive motor configured to drive the motor vehicle; and
a battery connected to the electric drive motor, the battery including a number n of battery module strings which have a plurality of battery modules each battery module having a coupling unit configured as a voltage converter and configured to couple the battery modules to one another,
wherein n is a natural number and is greater than or equal to two,
wherein the battery is configured to supply a connected load with a predetermined and substantially constant total power which corresponds to a sum of n individual powers of the n battery module strings,
wherein the battery is configured to adjust n−1 string voltages which are present in each case at the n−1 battery module strings, by the total power, the connected load, and by setting a string voltage present at an nth battery module string with amplitude and phase relation, and
wherein at least two of the n individual powers are unbalanced with respect to one another.

Assignees

• Bosch Gmbh Robert
• Samsung Sdi Co Ltd

Inventors

• Schmidt Ralph
• Hasenkopf Dirk
• Butzmann Stefan
• Fink Holger

Classifications

• B60L58/21

  having the same nominal voltage · CPC title

• H01M10/441

  for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially · CPC title

• H01M2010/4271

  Battery management systems including electronic circuits, e.g. control of current or voltage to keep battery in healthy state, cell balancing · CPC title

• H01M10/4257

  Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries · CPC title

• B60L2240/549

  Current · CPC title