Battery classification apparatus and method

1 . A battery classification apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

memory having programmed thereon instructions that, when executed, are configured to cause the processor to:

measure a voltage of a battery and measure a resistance corresponding to the voltage of the battery;

obtain battery information about the measured voltage and the measured resistance of the battery generate a resistance profile representing a corresponding relationship between the voltage and the resistance based on the battery information;

determine a criterion resistance based on a resistance value in the resistance profile;

determine a reference resistance corresponding to a highest voltage in the resistance profile;

classify a type of the battery into a high nickel-based battery or a low nickel-based battery based on the criterion resistance and the reference resistance, wherein the high nickel-based battery or the low nickel-based battery is determined according to a content of nickel contained in the battery;

determine a target voltage in a target voltage region between a voltage corresponding to the criterion resistance and a voltage corresponding to the reference resistance;

set the determined target voltage as a charging upper limit for the battery; and

control the voltage of the battery to charge up to the charging upper limit for the battery to prevent a degradation of the battery.

2 . The battery classification apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the instructions are configured to cause the processor to determine a lowest resistance value in the resistance profile as the criterion resistance.

3 . The battery classification apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the instructions are configured to cause the processor to set a threshold resistance based on the criterion resistance, compare the set threshold resistance with the reference resistance, and classify the type of the battery according to the comparison result.

4 . The battery classification apparatus according to claim 3 ,

wherein the type of the battery is classified into a high nickel-based battery or a low nickel-based battery according to the content of nickel contained in the battery; and

wherein the instructions are configured to cause the processor to:

classify the battery into a high nickel-based battery, when the reference resistance is equal to or greater than the threshold resistance, and

classify the battery into a low nickel-based battery, when the reference resistance is less than the threshold resistance.

5 . The battery classification apparatus according to claim 3 ,

wherein the instructions are configured to cause the processor to set the threshold resistance by applying a preset criterion ratio to the criterion resistance.

6 . The battery classification apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the type of the battery is classified into a high nickel-based battery or a low nickel-based battery according to the content of nickel contained in the battery, and

wherein the instructions are configured to cause the processor to set the charging upper limit voltage for the battery when the battery is classified as the high nickel-based battery.

7 . The battery classification apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the instructions are configured to cause the processor to calculate a resistance change rate of the resistance for each voltage in the target voltage region and set a lowest voltage among voltages at which the calculated resistance change rate is equal to or greater than a preset criterion value as the charging upper limit voltage.

8 . The battery classification apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the instructions are configured to determine a resistance flat region based on the criterion resistance in the target voltage region and set an end voltage of the determined resistance flat region as the charging upper limit voltage.

9 . The battery classification apparatus according to claim 8 ,

wherein the instructions are configured to cause the processor to determine a voltage region corresponding to a resistance region equal to or less than a preset threshold value from the criterion resistance in the target voltage region and determine the determined voltage region as the resistance flat region.

10 . The battery classification apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the instructions are configured to calculate a capacity of the battery in a process of charging the battery and measure the voltage and the resistance whenever the calculated capacity of the battery increases by a predetermined ratio.

11 . A battery pack, comprising the battery classification apparatus according to claim 1 .

12 . A battery classification method, comprising:

measuring by a processor, a voltage of a battery and a resistance corresponding to the voltage of the battery;

obtaining, by the processor, a resistance profile representing a corresponding relationship between the voltage and the resistance based on the voltage and the resistance of the battery;

determining, by the processor, a criterion resistance based on a resistance value in the resistance profile and a reference resistance corresponding to a highest voltage in the resistance profile;

classifying, by the processor, a type of the battery into a high nickel-based battery or a low nickel-based battery based on the criterion resistance and the reference resistance wherein the high nickel-based battery or the low nickel-based battery is determined according to a content of nickel contained in the battery; and

determining, by the processor, a target voltage in a target voltage region between a voltage corresponding to the criterion resistance and a voltage corresponding to the reference resistance;

setting, by the processor, the determined target voltage as a charging upper limit for the battery; and

controlling, by the processor, the voltage of the battery so as to charge the battery up to the charging upper limit for the battery to prevent a degradation of the battery.

13 . The battery classification apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a charging structure, and wherein the instructions are configured to cause the processor to control the charging structure to charge the battery up to the charging upper limit voltage to prevent a degradation of the battery.