Method and apparatus for calculating power-off duration time and state of charging of battery
View Patent ↗An apparatus for controlling a battery includes a capacitor for charging a voltage when the apparatus is on and discharging a voltage when the apparatus is off, a discharging circuit for discharging the voltage charged in the capacitor; a first switching unit for connecting or disconnecting the capacitor to/from a predetermined power source for the purpose of charging of the capacitor; a second switching unit for connecting or disconnecting the capacitor to/from the discharging unit; a voltage measuring unit for measuring a voltage charged in the capacitor; and a controller for calculating a power-off duration time according to the measured voltage. This apparatus may continuously calculate a power-off duration time of a battery pack.
1. An apparatus for controlling a battery, comprising:
a capacitor for charging a voltage when the apparatus is on and discharging a voltage when the apparatus is off;
a discharging circuit for discharging the voltage charged in the capacitor;
a first switching unit for connecting or disconnecting the capacitor to/from a predetermined power source for the purpose of charging of the capacitor;
a second switching unit for connecting or disconnecting the capacitor to/from the discharging unit;
a voltage measuring unit for measuring a power-off charging voltage of the capacitor when the apparatus is off and a charging voltage of the capacitor when the apparatus is on;
a controller for calculating a power-off duration time according to a difference between the power-off charging voltage or a full-charging voltage of the capacitor and the charging voltage; and
a memory for storing the full-charging voltage and the power-off charging voltage,
wherein the controller reads the full-charging voltage or the power-off charging voltage, stored in the memory, and then calculates a power-off duration time based on a difference between the read full-charging voltage or the read power-off charging voltage and the measured charging voltage.
2. The apparatus for controlling a battery according to claim 1 , further comprising a diode for intercepting the voltage charged in the capacitor not to flow to the predetermined power source.
3. An apparatus for controlling a battery, comprising:
a power-off duration time detection unit including a charging circuit for charging a voltage when the apparatus is on and discharging a voltage when the apparatus is off; and
a controller for calculating a power-off duration time according to the voltage charged in the charging circuit when the apparatus is on, calculating a state of charging (SOC) of a battery pack according to an open voltage of the battery pack when the apparatus is on in case the power-off duration time exceeds a predetermined time, estimating an open voltage according to a characteristic curve representing a stabilization of the battery pack in case the power-off duration time is less than the predetermined time, and calculating a SOC of the battery based on the estimated open voltage.
4. The apparatus for controlling a battery according to claim 3 , wherein the power-off duration time detection unit includes:
a capacitor for charging a voltage when the apparatus is on and discharging a voltage when the apparatus is off;
a discharging circuit for discharging the voltage charged in the capacitor;
a first switching unit for connecting or disconnecting the capacitor to/from a predetermined power source for the purpose of charging of the capacitor;
a second switching unit for connecting or disconnecting the capacitor to/from the discharging circuit; and
a voltage measuring unit for measuring a voltage charged in the capacitor and providing the measured voltage to the controller.
5. The apparatus for controlling a battery according to claim 4 , further comprising a memory for storing a full-charging voltage of the capacitor or a charging voltage when power is off,
wherein the controller reads the full-charging voltage or the power-off charging voltage, stored in the memory, and then calculates a power-off duration time based on a difference between the read full-charging voltage or the read power-off charging voltage and the measured charging voltage.
6. A method for controlling a battery, comprising:
when power is off, measuring and storing a charging voltage of a charging element, which has been charged when power is on, and also discharging the charging element; and
measuring a charging voltage of the charging element when power is on, and calculating a power-off duration time according to a difference between the measured charging voltage and the stored charging voltage.
7. The method for controlling a battery according to claim 6 , further comprising:
checking whether the power-off duration time is less than a predetermined time; and
in case the power-off duration time exceeds the predetermined time, calculating a SOC of a battery pack according to an open voltage of the battery pack when power is on, but, in case the power-off duration time is less than the predetermined time, estimating an open voltage according to a characteristic curve representing a stabilization of the battery pack and then calculating a SOC of the battery pack based on the estimated open voltage.