Voltage monitoring method and circuit for electrical energy storage device

1 . A voltage monitoring method for an electrical energy storage device, comprising:

detecting voltages of one or more unit cells constituting the electrical energy storage device;

generating logical signals depending on respective levels of the detected voltages; and

generating a detection signal indicating whether the unit cells are abnormal in response to the logical signals.

2 . The voltage monitoring method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the detecting the voltages of the unit cells is performed using one or more switching elements that are turned on/off at a predetermined voltage.

3 . The voltage monitoring method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the generating the logical signals comprises:

activating one or more light-emitting elements only when levels of the detected voltages fall within a set operating voltage range; and

outputting the logical signals by activating one or more light-receiving elements in response to outputs of the light-emitting elements.

4 . The voltage monitoring method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the generating the logical signals comprises:

inactivating one or more light-emitting elements only when levels of the detected voltages fall within a set operating voltage range; and

outputting the logical signals by activating one or more light-receiving elements in response to outputs of the light-emitting elements.

5 . The voltage monitoring method as set forth in claim any one of 3 and 4 , wherein the light-emitting elements and the light-receiving elements are electrically isolated from each other.

6 . The voltage monitoring method as set forth in claim any one of 3 and 4 , wherein the generating the logical signals comprises outputting the logical signals using one or more opto-couplers.

7 . The voltage monitoring method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the generating the detection signals comprises receiving the logical signals and performing an AND operation, through which a logic high signal is output only when all of the unit cells are normal.

8 . A voltage monitoring circuit for an electrical energy storage device, comprising:

one or more unit cells constituting the electrical energy storage device;

one or more voltage detection units for detecting respective voltages of the unit cells using one or more switching elements that are turned on/off at a predetermined voltage;

one or more unit circuits for generating respective logical signals depending on levels of voltages detected by the voltage detection units; and

a logical operation unit for performing logical operation on the logical signals and generating a detection signal indicating whether the unit cells are abnormal.

9 . The voltage monitoring circuit as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the unit circuits comprise:

one or more light-emitting elements activated only when the voltages detected by the voltage detection unit fall within a set operating voltage range; and

one or more light-receiving elements, electrically isolated from the light-emitting elements and configured to output the logical signals in response to respective outputs of the light-emitting elements.

10 . The voltage monitoring circuit as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the unit circuits comprises:

one or more light-emitting elements activated only when the voltages detected by the voltage detection units fall within a set operating voltage range; and

one or more light-receiving elements electrically isolated from the light-emitting elements and configured to output the logical signals in response to respective outputs of the light-emitting elements.

11 . The voltage monitoring circuit as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the unit circuits comprise one or more opto-couplers.

12 . The voltage monitoring circuit as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the logical operation unit comprises an AND gate that receives the logical signals and outputs a logic high signal only when all of the unit cells are normal.

13 . The voltage monitoring circuit as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the voltage detection units are arranged on one side of a printed circuit board, and the unit circuits and the logical operation unit are arranged on a remaining side of the printed circuit board.