IP Library Granted Patent US 12,388,271
Granted Patent B2
US 12,388,271 · App. 17/885,095 · Granted Aug 12, 2025

Cell equalization system

Inventor: Tatsuya Kaneko (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
H02J7/0016B60L58/22H01M10/425H01M10/441H01M50/204H01M50/51H01M2010/4271H01M2220/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,388,271
App. No.
17/885,095
Granted
Aug 12, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A cell equalization system includes: a battery including a plurality of chargeable cells connected in series and mounted on a vehicle; a battery ECU configured to control the battery; an equalization circuit configured to perform equalization of remaining capacity variation of the plurality of cells; and an equalization control unit configured to control the equalization circuit. The battery ECU is configured to calculate the remaining capacity variation at startup of ECU in which the battery ECU changes from a sleep state to a startup state. The cell equalization system is configured to execute first equalization processing for performing the equalization when the battery ECU is in the startup state, and second equalization processing for performing the equalization when the battery ECU is in the sleep state.

Claims (42)

1. A cell equalization system comprising:

a battery including a plurality of chargeable cells connected in series and mounted on a vehicle;

a battery ECU configured to control the battery;

an equalization circuit configured to perform equalization of remaining capacity variation of the plurality of cells; and

an equalization control unit configured to control the equalization circuit, wherein

the battery ECU is configured to calculate the remaining capacity variation at startup of the battery ECU in which the battery ECU changes from a sleep state to a startup state, and

the cell equalization system is configured to execute

first equalization processing for performing the equalization when the battery ECU is in the startup state, and

second equalization processing for performing the equalization when the battery ECU is in the sleep state, wherein

the cell equalization system is configured to execute

the first equalization processing when the remaining capacity variation is equal to or greater than a first threshold value, and

the second equalization processing when the remaining capacity variation is equal to or greater than a second threshold value which is smaller than the first threshold value.

2. The cell equalization system according to claim 1 , wherein

the first threshold value is set based on an abnormality determination threshold value related to the remaining capacity variation and an estimation error of the remaining capacity variation.

3. The cell equalization system according to claim 2 , wherein

when determining that the second equalization processing is necessary, the battery ECU calculates an operation time based on a maximum value of the remaining capacity variation, which is a largest variation of remaining capacity among the remaining capacity variation of the plurality of cells at the startup of ECU, the second threshold value, and an equalization current.

4. The cell equalization system according to claim 3 , wherein

in the second equalization processing, the battery ECU maintains the sleep state, and the equalization control unit executes the equalization until the operation time elapses.

5. The cell equalization system according to claim 2 , wherein

the cell equalization system is configured to execute the second equalization processing after the first equalization processing, and

the battery ECU is configured to

calculate an operation time of the first equalization processing based on a maximum value of the remaining capacity variation, which is a largest variation of remaining capacity among the remaining capacity variation of the plurality of cells at the startup of the ECU, the first threshold value, and an equalization current,

calculate the maximum value of the remaining capacity variation immediately before sleep of ECU in which the battery ECU changes from the startup state to the sleep state based on the maximum value of the remaining capacity variation at the startup of ECU, the operation time of the first equalization processing, and the equalization current, and

calculate an operation time of the second equalization processing after the first equalization processing based on the calculated maximum value of the remaining capacity variation, the second threshold value, and the equalization current.

6. The cell equalization system according to claim 1 , wherein

the battery ECU is configured

to calculate the remaining capacity variation when an elapsed time from ignition off to the startup state exceeds a predetermined time, and

not to calculate the remaining capacity variation when the elapsed time is less than the predetermined time.

7. The cell equalization system according to claim 6 , wherein

the battery ECU is configured to

determine whether the equalization is necessary based on the remaining capacity variation when the remaining capacity variation is calculated at the startup of ECU, and

determine whether the equalization is necessary based on the remaining capacity variation calculated last time when the remaining capacity variation is not calculated at the startup of ECU.

8. A cell equalization system comprising:

a battery including a plurality of chargeable cells connected in series and mounted on a vehicle;

a battery ECU configured to control the battery;

an equalization circuit configured to perform equalization of remaining capacity variation of the plurality of cells; and

an equalization control unit configured to control the equalization circuit, wherein

the battery ECU is configured to calculate the remaining capacity variation at startup of the battery ECU in which the battery ECU changes from a sleep state to a startup state,

the cell equalization system is configured to execute

first equalization processing for performing the equalization when the battery ECU is in the startup state, and

second equalization processing for performing the equalization when the battery ECU is in the sleep state, and

the battery ECU is configured to prohibit the first equalization processing during external charging of the battery and during constant voltage control.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 10, 2022
From: KANEKO, TATSUYA
To: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 060772/0402 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2021-135959 · Aug 23, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230058220A1 · Feb 23, 2023
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