Patent ID: 8791668
Filing Date: 2014-07-29
Classification: B60L,G01R,H02J,Y02E,Y02T,Y04S

Abstract:
1. A battery system, comprising: a plurality of unit battery cells that are electrically connected in series and each include a plurality of battery cells that are electrically connected in series; a plurality of integrated circuits that are provided to respectively correspond to the plurality of unit battery cells, each are electrically connected to terminals of the plurality of battery cells of a corresponding unit battery cell to monitor the plurality of battery cells of the corresponding unit battery cell, wherein: each of the plurality of integrated circuits includes a first signal transmission line via which the one bit signal is transmitted in series through the plurality of integrated circuits is provided among the plurality of integrated circuits so that a signal is outputted from a first signal output terminal of a first integrated circuit based upon a signal inputted at a first signal input terminal of the first integrated circuit to be inputted at a first signal input terminal of a second integrated circuit; a second signal transmission line via which the command signal is transmitted in series through the plurality of integrated circuits is provided among the plurality of integrated circuits so that a signal is outputted from a second signal output terminal of a first integrated circuit based upon a signal inputted at a second signal input terminal of the first integrated circuit to be inputted at a second signal input terminal of a second integrated circuit, wherein the first signal input terminal comprises a fault-flag input terminal and and the first signal output terminal comprises a fault-flag output terminal configured to respectively receive and send an abnormality-indicating signal which has a single first level to indicate a normal condition and a single second level to indicate an abnormal condition so that the normal condition is indicated by the single first level without the need for additional signals or levels, and so that the abnormal condition is indicated by the single second level, without the need for additional signals or levels, and wherein the battery system is configured such that the fault-flag output terminal sends the abnormality-indicating signal having the single second level when the fault-flag input terminal receives the abnormality-indicating signal having the single second level, wherein the battery system includes a battery cell abnormality detection circuit to detect an abnormality in one of the battery cells, and wherein the battery system is configured to send the abnormality-indicating signal having the single second level from the fault-flag output terminal when the battery cell abnormality detection circuit detects an abnormality in one of the battery cells.