APPARATUS FOR OUTPUTTING ALTERNATING CURRENT POWER SOURCE

An AC power output device includes a switching component connected to each of a plurality of batteries and configured to turn ON or OFF an electrical connection between a corresponding battery and another battery depending on an operational state, a filter component configured to receive an output voltage from the plurality of batteries, to adjust a polarity of the output voltage from the plurality of batteries according to an operational state, and to output the voltage of the adjusted polarity, and a controller configured to control the operational states of the switching component and the filter component so that the AC power is output from the plurality of batteries.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0102311, filed on Aug. 4, 2023, with the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an alternating current power output device.

BACKGROUND

Inverters have been used in battery packs configured with battery cells or modules, to convert direct current (DC) generated in the battery packs into alternating current (AC), and AC power is output from the battery packs. For example, an inverter may convert a DC voltage of a battery pack into an AC voltage of a three phase (e.g., U, V, and W), using internal power semiconductors. The AC voltage converted in this way is supplied to, for example, Electric Vehicles (EVs) to be used as a drive source.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides an alternating current (AC) power output device that generates and outputs AC power from batteries connected in series or in parallel, through a switch control without using an inverter.

An AC power output device according to one aspect of the present disclosure outputs AC power from a plurality of batteries connected in series, and may include a switching component connected to each of the plurality of batteries and configured to turn ON and OFF an electrical connection between a corresponding battery and another battery depending on an operational state of the switching component and the filter component, a filter component configured to receive an output voltage from the plurality of batteries, to adjust the polarity of the output voltage from the plurality of batteries according to an operational state of the switching component and the filter component, and to output the voltage of the adjusted polarity, and a controller configured to control the operational states of the switching component and the filter component, so that the AC power is output from the plurality of batteries.

The controller may be configured to control the operational state of the switching component at each preset first cycle to change the number of batteries connected in series.

The AC power output device according to another aspect of the present disclosure may further include a measurement component configured to measure battery information including at least one of a voltage, current and temperature of each of the plurality of batteries.

The controller may be configured to determine the priority for the plurality of batteries based on the battery information measured by the measurement component, and to control the operational state of the corresponding switching component based on the determined priority.

The controller may be configured to estimate the state of charge (SOC) of each of the plurality of batteries based on the battery information, and to assign a higher priority in the order of the estimated SOC from the highest to the lowest.

The controller may be configured to estimate the SOC and the State of Health (SOH) of each of the plurality of batteries based on the battery information, and to assign a higher priority in the order of the estimated SOH and estimated SOC from the highest to the lowest.

The controller may be configured to estimate the SOC and the SOH of each of the plurality of batteries based on the battery information, and to assign a higher priority in the order of the estimated SOH from the highest to the lowest, and when the estimated SOH is the same, the controller is configured to assign a higher priority in the order of the estimated SOC from the highest to the lowest.

The controller may be configured to select a corresponding number of batteries from the plurality of batteries in the order of highest to the lowest priority at each first cycle and to control the operational state of the switching component corresponding to the selected batteries to a turn ON state so that the selected batteries are connected in series.

The controller may be configured to update the priority for the plurality of batteries at each first cycle.

The controller may be configured to control the operational state of the filter component at each preset second cycle to reverse the polarity of the output voltage from the batteries connected in series.

The switching component may be configured to include a first contact configured to be connected to one end of the battery, a second contact configured to be connected to a remaining end of the battery, and a third contact configured to be electrically connected to the first contact or the second contact when the operational state of the switching component is a turn ON state.

The AC power may be configured as non-sinusoidal AC power.

A battery pack, according to still another aspect of the present disclosure, may include the AC power output device according to the one aspect of the present disclosure.

A vehicle, according to a further aspect of the present disclosure, may include the AC power output device according to the one aspect of the present disclosure.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is an advantage in generating and outputting AC power through the switch control, without using an inverter.

Further, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, since an inverter is not required, there is an advantage that the circuit configuration of a battery pack including an AC power output device may be simplified, and the production cost of the battery pack may be reduced.

The effects of the present disclosure are not limited to those mentioned above, and other effects that have not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The terms or words used in this specification and the claims should not be interpreted as being limited to their usual or dictionary meanings, but should be interpreted as having meanings and concepts that are consistent with the technical idea of the present disclosure, based on the principles that the inventors may appropriately define the concepts of the terms to describe their disclosure in the best way possible.

Therefore, since the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations illustrated in the drawings are merely the embodiments of the present disclosure and do not represent all of the technical ideas of the present disclosure, it should be understood that various equivalents and modifications that may replace them at the time of filing may exist.

In addition, when describing the present disclosure, detailed descriptions of related known configuration or function will be omitted when they deemed to obscure the gist of the disclosure.

Terms such as “first” and “second” used to include ordinal numbers are intended to distinguish any one of various components from the others, and are not used to limit the components by these terms.

When a certain part is said to “include” a certain component throughout the specification, this means that other components may also be included unless specifically stated otherwise, rather than excluding other components.

Furthermore, throughout the specification, when a certain part is said to be “connected” to another part, this includes not only cases where they are “directly connected” but also cases where they are “indirectly connected” with other elements therebetween.

Conventionally, when using secondary batteries that mainly generate DC power, a separate component called an inverter is provided to output AC power. This causes an increase in both the cost and the size of a battery pack. For example, as the size of the battery pack increases, the size of the inverter tends to increase as well, which may result in a lower energy density of the entire battery pack. Additionally, the output efficiency of the battery pack may be reduced due to the loss in the power switching operation of the inverter itself.

The present disclosure addresses these issues by providing an AC power output device capable of generating and outputting AC power through switch control, without using an inverter, as well as a battery pack and electric vehicle (EV) including the battery pack.

FIG.1is a diagram schematically illustrating an AC power output device100according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG.2is a diagram schematically illustrating an example configuration of the AC power output device100according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

The AC power output device100according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may output AC power from a plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4connected in series. For example, the AC power output device100may convert DC power generated by the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4into AC power, and output the AC power, without a need for an inverter or similar components. Meanwhile, in the present embodiment, four batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4, including a first battery B1, a second battery B2, a third battery B3, and a fourth battery B4, are used, but this is not limiting, and for example, other numbers of batteries may be combined and used depending on the needs and environment.

Here, each battery B1, B2, B3, or B4refers to a single physically separable, independent cell with a negative terminal and a positive terminal. In one example, each battery B1, B2, B3, or B4may be considered as a lithium ion battery or a lithium polymer battery. Additionally, in the AC power output device100according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a battery may also refer to a battery module composed of a plurality of cells connected in series and/or parallel. For the convenience of description, each battery B1, B2, B3, or B4will be described below as representing a single independent cell.

Referring toFIG.1, the AC power output device100may include a switching component110, a filter component120, a controller130, a measurement component140, and a storage component150.

The switching component110may be configured to be connected to each of the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4.

For example, in the embodiment ofFIG.2, a plurality of switching components111,112,113, and114may be provided to correspond to the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4, respectively. A first switching component111may be connected to the first battery B1, and a second switching component112may be connected to the second battery B2. A third switching component113may be connected to the third battery B3, and a fourth switching component114may be connected to the fourth battery B4.

The switching component110may be configured to turn ON and OFF the electrical connection between a corresponding battery and another battery, depending on the operational state thereof.

According to one embodiment, the operational state of the switching component110may include a first turn ON state, a second turn ON state, and a turn OFF state.

The turn OFF state refers to the switching component110being in an OFF state. When the switching component110is in the turn OFF state, the switching component110may be in a no-load state.

The first turn ON state refers to the switching component110being controlled by the controller130and connected to the corresponding battery. When the switching component110is in the first turn ON state, the corresponding battery is electrically connected to the other adjacent battery.

The second turn ON state refers to the switching component110being controlled by the controller130, but not connected to the corresponding battery. When the switching component110is in the second turn ON state, the corresponding battery is not electrically connected to other batteries. For example, when the switching component110is in the second turn ON state, the corresponding battery is not electrically connected to the other adjacent battery.

For example, in the embodiment ofFIG.2, each switching component111,112,113, or114may include a first contact c1, a second contact c2, and a third contact c3. For example, in the switching component111for the first battery B1, the first contact c1may be configured to be connected to one end of the first battery B1, and the second contact c2may be configured to be connected to the other end of the first battery B1. Additionally, the third contact c3for the first battery B1may be configured to be connected to one end of the adjacent second battery B2. Through such connections, the third contact c3for the first battery B1may be selectively connected to either the first contact c1or the second contact c2, as needed. For example, when the operational state of the switching component111is the first turn ON state, the third contact c3for the first battery B1is electrically connected to the first contact c1, causing the first battery B1to be electrically connected to the adjacent second battery B2. Then, when the operational state of the switching component111is the second turn ON state, the third contact c3for the first battery B1is electrically connected to the second contact c2, and in this case, the first battery B1may be configured to be electrically disconnected from the adjacent second battery B2.

In the embodiment ofFIG.2, each switching component111,112,113, or114is illustrated as positioned on the negative pole side of the corresponding battery B1, B2, B3, or B4. However, the connection position of the switching component110is not limited to the embodiment ofFIG.2, and each switching component111,112,113, or114may be positioned on the positive pole side of the corresponding battery B1, B2, B3, or B4. In this case, for example, the first contact c1for each battery may be connected to a positive pole of the battery, and the second contact c2may be connected to a negative pole of the battery. Then, the third contact c3for each battery may be configured to be selectively connected to either the first contact or the second contact, when the operational state of the switching component110is in the turn ON state.

The filter component120may be configured to receive an output voltage from the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4.

For example, the filter component120may be connected to a high current path L of the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4. In other words, a DC voltage output from the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4may be applied to the filter component120.

For example, in the embodiment ofFIG.2, the filter component120may be connected to the high current path L of the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4. In other words, the DC voltage output from the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4may be input to the filter component120.

The filter component120may be configured to adjust the polarity of the output voltage from the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4, depending on the operational state thereof.

For example, the filter component120may be configured to reverse the polarity of the output voltage received from the plurality of batteries B. For example, the filter component120may adjust the polarity of the output voltage to either positive (+) or negative (−), depending on the operational state thereof. Alternatively, the filter component120may use separate battery cells for positive and negative voltages, or employ a circuit-based approach such as a full-bridge or half-bridge configuration for the application of positive and negative voltages, to adjust the polarity of the output voltage to either positive (+) or negative (−).

The controller130may be configured to control the operational states of the switching component110and filter component120to ensure that AC power is output from the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4.

The controller130may be connected to be able to communicate with the plurality of switching components111,112,113, and114, and the filter component120. Then, the controller130may control the operational state of each of the plurality of switching components111,112,113, and114, and the operational state of the filter component120.

For example, in the embodiment ofFIG.2, the controller130may be connected to each of the plurality of switching components111,112,113, and114, and the filter component120.

According to one embodiment, the controller130may adjust the number of batteries that are connected from among the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4by controlling the switching component110, and may adjust the polarity of the output voltage from the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4by controlling the filter component120.

In one embodiment, the AC power may be configured as non-sinusoidal AC power. Since the output voltage from the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4is a DC voltage and the polarity of the output voltage is adjusted to AC by the filter component120, the AC power output by the AC power output device100may be non-sinusoidal AC power.

FIG.3is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration implementing the controller130included in the AC power output device100, according to the present disclosure.

The controller130according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may include a micro control unit (MCU)132, a memory134, a communication interface (I/F)136, and an input/output I/F138. The MCU132serves as a processor that executes various programs stored in the memory134, processes various data used in these programs, and performs functions of the controller130.

The memory134may store operation data of various programs related to the operation of a lithium secondary battery system for the operation of the controller130. The memory134may be provided in a plural number as needed. The memory134may be a volatile or non-volatile memory. As a volatile memory, examples of the memory134may include a RAM, DRAM, SRAM, and others. As a nonvolatile memory, examples of the memory134may include a ROM, PROM, EAROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory, and others. The listed examples of the memory134are merely illustrative and the memory134is not limited to these.

The communication I/F136is configured to be able to transmit and receive various data to and from a server, and may be any of various devices that may support wired or wireless communication. For example, the communication I/F136may transmit and receive programs, various data and others for the operation of the controller130to and from an external server, which is separately provided, in a wired or wirelessly manner. The input/output I/F138may provide an interface that interconnects an input device (not illustrated) such as a keyboard, mouse, or touch panel, an output device (not illustrated) such as a display, and the MCU132to enable data transmission and reception therebetween.

FIG.4is a diagram schematically illustrating an AC power according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. For example, the embodiment ofFIG.4schematically illustrates an AC power output from a battery pack10illustrated inFIG.2.

In the embodiment ofFIG.4, voltages v1, v2, v3, and v4correspond to the voltages output by one, two, three, and four batteries, respectively. A positive voltage indicates a positive polarity, while a negative voltage indicates a negative polarity. Referring toFIGS.2and4, non-sinusoidal AC power may be output, starting from time point t1, using the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4.

The AC power output device100according to one embodiment of the present disclosure generates and outputs AC power from the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4without a need for an inverter, which is an advantage over the conventional AC power output device which requires an inverter. The AC power output device100according to one embodiment of the present disclosure has further advantage with a relatively simple circuit configuration, because an inverter is not required.

The controller130may be configured to control the operational state of the switching component110at each preset first cycle T1in order to change the number of batteries connected in series.

For example, the controller130may control the operational state of the switching component110at each first cycle T1. Thus, the number of batteries connected in series may be changed at each first cycle T1.

In the embodiment ofFIG.4, assuming that AC power is output starting from time point t1, the number of batteries connected in series may be changed at each cycle T1from time point t1. At time point t1, one battery may be connected to the filter component120. This may result in voltage v1being output at time point t1.

Afterwards, the number of connected batteries may be changed by one at each cycle T1. For example, at time point t2, two batteries are connected, outputting voltage v2; at time point t3, three batteries are connected, outputting voltage v3; and at time point t4, four batteries are connected, outputting voltage v4. Then, at time point t5, the number of connected batteries decreases to three, outputting voltage v3; at time point t6, two batteries are connected, outputting voltage v2; and at time point t7, one battery is connected, outputting voltage v1.

The controller130may be configured to control the operational state of the filter component120at each preset second cycle T2to reverse the polarity of the output voltage from the batteries connected in series.

For example, the controller130may control the operational state of the filter component120at each second cycle T2. Thus, the polarity of the output voltage from the batteries may be reversed at each second cycle T2.

In the embodiment ofFIG.4, the polarity of the output voltage may be reversed at each cycle T2starting from time point t1. In other words, at time point t1, a positive polarity voltage is output, and the polarity of the output voltage may be reversed at each cycle T2. For example, at time point t8, one battery is connected, outputting voltage-v1; at time point t9, two batteries are connected, outputting voltage-v2; at time point t10, three batteries are connected, outputting voltage-v3; and at time point t11, four batteries are connected, outputting voltage-v4. Then, at time point t12, the number of connected batteries decreases to three, outputting voltage-v3: at time point t13, two batteries are connected, outputting voltage-v2; and at time point t14, one battery is connected, outputting voltage-v1.

Referring toFIGS.2and4, the AC power output device100according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may output AC power with a maximum voltage of “v4[V]” and a minimum voltage of “-v4[V],” and with a cycle of “2×T2.” In this way, the AC power output device100according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may appropriately adjust parameters such as the number and cycle of battery connections to adjust the battery voltage from the stage of generating the voltage from the batteries, ensuring that AC power with required specifications may be output without a need for components such as an inverter. Additionally, by selectively connecting the batteries used at different time points, for example, battery cells used during the peak states would have a lower usage frequency, allowing for the uniform usage of all battery cells and effectively managing battery lifespan.

Hereinbelow, descriptions are made for an embodiment in which the controller130controls the switching component110to determine the batteries connected in series among the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4.

Referring back toFIG.1, the AC power output device100may further include the measurement component140.

The measurement component140may be configured to measure battery information, which includes at least one of the voltage, current, and temperature of each of the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4.

For example, the measurement component140may be connected to each of the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4. The measurement component140may then be configured to measure the voltage and/or temperature of each of the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4. Additionally, the measurement component140may be connected to the current path of each of the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4, and may measure the current of each of the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4.

In the embodiment ofFIG.2, the measurement component140may measure the voltage of each of the first battery B1, the second battery B2, the third battery B3, and the fourth battery B4.

The measurement component140may be connected to the controller130to enable wired and/or wireless communication therebetween. The measurement component140may then transmit the measured battery information to the controller130.

The controller130may be configured to estimate the SOC of each of the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4, based on the battery information measured by the measurement component140.

For example, the controller130may estimate the SOC based on the voltage information received from the measurement component140, using a preset profile that represents a relationship between voltage and SOC.

In another example, the controller130may estimate the SOC based on voltage information and temperature information received from the measurement component140, using a preset profile that represents the relationship among the voltage, the temperature, and the SOC. In other words, the controller130may use a profile that correlates the SOC with the voltage and temperature to estimate the SOC of the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4.

The controller130may be configured to determine the priority of the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4based on the estimated SOC.

According to one embodiment, the controller130may be configured to assign a higher priority in the order of the estimated SOC from the highest to the lowest.

The controller130may also be configured to control the operational state of the corresponding switching component110based on the determined priority.

For example, the controller130may control the operational state of the corresponding switching component110based on the determined priority of the batteries, so that the batteries with a larger SOC are discharged first. This allows for even utilization of the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4during the process of outputting AC power.

According to the AC power output device100, since the batteries are discharged based on the SOC-based priority, for example, the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4may degrade evenly. As a result, degradation imbalance of the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4may be suppressed or prevented, which may enhance the expected lifespan of the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4.

Thus, the AC power output device100according to one embodiment of the present disclosure has the advantage of suppressing or preventing the degradation imbalance of the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4, and further suppressing or preventing capacity loss for the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4by controlling the switching component110based on the SOC-based priority.

FIG.5is a diagram schematically illustrating the AC power, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

The embodiment ofFIG.5illustrates an example in which the AC power is output from the battery pack10according to the embodiment ofFIG.2, starting from time point t1. For the convenience of description, illustration for the output voltage of negative polarity is omitted.

The controller130may be configured to select the corresponding number of batteries among the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4in the order of the highest to the lowest priority at each first cycle T1.

In the embodiment ofFIG.5, the first battery B1may be selected from time point t1to time point t2, and the second battery B2and third battery B3may be selected from time point t2to time point t3. The first battery B1, second battery B2, and fourth battery B4may be selected from time point t3to time point t4, and the first battery B1, second battery B2, third battery B3, and fourth battery B4may be selected from time point t4to time point t5. The first battery B1, third battery B3, and fourth battery B4may be selected from time point t5to time point t6, and the second battery B2and third battery B3may be selected from time point t6to time point t7. The fourth battery B4may be selected from time point t7to time point t8.

The controller130may also be configured to control the operational state of the switching component110corresponding to the selected batteries to the first turn ON state so that the selected batteries are connected in series.

For example, in the embodiment ofFIG.5, the first battery B1may be discharged from time point t1to time point t2. To this end, from time point t1to time point t2, the controller130may control the first switching component111to be in the first turn ON state, and the second switching component112, third switching component113, and fourth switching component114to be in the second turn ON state.

The second battery B2and third battery B3may be connected in series and discharged from time point t2to time point t3. To this end, from time point t2to time point t3, the controller130may control the second switching component112and third switching component113to be in the first turn ON state and the first switching component111and fourth switching component114to be in the second turn ON state.

The first battery B1, second battery B2, and fourth battery B4may be connected in series and discharged from time point t3to time point t4. To this end, from time point t3to time point t4, the controller130may control the first switching component111, second switching component112, and fourth switching component114to be in the first turn ON state, and the third switching component113to be in the second turn ON state.

The first battery B1, second battery B2, third battery B3, and fourth battery B4may be connected in series and discharged from time point t4to time point t5. To this end, from time point t4to time point t5, the controller130may control the first switching component111, second switching component112, third switching component113, and fourth switching component114to be in the first turn ON state.

The first battery B1, third battery B3, and fourth battery B4may be connected in series and discharged from time point t5to time point t6. To this end, from time point t5to time point t6, the controller130may control the first switching component111, third switching component113, and fourth switching component114to be in the first turn ON state and the second switching component112to be in the second turn ON state.

The second battery B2and third battery B3may be connected in series and discharged from time point t6to time point t7. To this end, from time point t6to time point t7, the controller130may control the second switching component112and third switching component113to be in the first turn ON state and the first switching component111and fourth switching component114to be in the second turn ON state.

The fourth battery B4may be discharged from time point t7to time point t8. To this end, from time point t7to time point t8, the controller130may control the fourth switching component114to be in the first turn ON state and the first switching component111, second switching component112, and third switching component113to be in the second turn ON state.

Meanwhile, the controller130may be configured to update the priority of the plurality of batteries B at each first cycle T1.

For example, when the priority of the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4is not updated, the degradation imbalance of the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4may occur. Therefore, the controller130may update the priority at each first cycle T1in order to suppress or prevent the degradation imbalance of the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4. Here, the controller130may estimate the SOC of the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4at each first cycle T1, and update the priority of the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4based on the estimated SOC.

FIG.6is a diagram schematically illustrating the priority and the SOC of the batteries at each time point in the embodiment ofFIG.5. In the embodiment ofFIG.6, it is assumed that the first battery B1, second battery B2, third battery B3, and fourth battery B4have the same initial SOC of 100%, and the SOC of the discharged batteries decreases by 10% at each first cycle T1. For the convenience of description, it is then assumed that when the SOC of two or more batteries is the same, the battery with a lower reference numeral is assigned with a higher priority.

Referring toFIG.6, the controller130may adjust the number of batteries connected in series at each first cycle T1to output AC power. In this process, since the SOC of the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4may differ, the controller130may update the SOC-based priority of the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4at each first cycle T1. Then, the controller130may select the batteries to be connected in series at a next cycle based on the updated priority. According to one embodiment, the controller130may select the batteries to be connected in series at a next cycle in the order of the updated higher priority.

In the embodiment ofFIG.6, since the priority is updated at each first cycle T1, the first battery B1, second battery B2, third battery B3, and fourth battery B4may have the same SOC of 60% at time point t8. Therefore, the degradation imbalance of the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4may be suppressed or prevented by updating the priority. Afterwards, the polarity of the output voltage may be reversed by the filter component120from time point t8, so that AC power with a negative polarity may be output from time point t8.

Meanwhile, the controller130may estimate the SOC and the SOH of each of the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4based on battery information.

For example, the controller130may estimate the SOC and the SOH of each of the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4, based on battery information received from the measurement component140. Here, the method, by which the controller130estimates the SOH of the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4based on the battery information received from the measurement component140, may employ, for example, a conventional SOH estimation method.

The controller130may set the priority of each of the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4by considering the SOC and the SOH of the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4. For example, the controller130may assign a higher priority in the order of the estimated SOH and the estimated SOC from the highest to the lowest.

Meanwhile, the controller130may set the priority of the batteries in the order of the estimated SOH from the highest to the lowest. Among the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4, the batteries with the same estimated SOH may be assigned a higher priority in the order of larger estimated SOC.

The controller130may estimate the SOC and the SOH of each of the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4based on battery information, and may assign a higher priority in the order of the estimated SOH from the highest to the lowest. Then, when some of the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4have the same estimated SOH, the controller130may assign a higher priority in the order of the estimated SOC from the highest to the lowest.

For example, the controller130may primarily consider the estimated SOH, and secondarily consider the estimated SOC when setting the priority of the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4. According to one embodiment, when some of the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4have the same estimated SOH and estimated SOC, the battery with a lower reference numeral may be assigned a higher priority. The controller130may then be configured to control the operational state of the corresponding switching component110based on the determined priority.

Furthermore, the controller130may be configured to update the priority based on the SOC and the SOH of the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4at each first cycle T1. Similar to the previous embodiments, in order to suppress or prevent the degradation imbalance of the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4, the controller130may estimate the SOC and the SOH of the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4at each first cycle T1. Then, the controller130may update the priority of the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4at each first cycle T1based on the estimated SOC and the estimated SOH.

The AC power output device100may suppress or prevent the degradation imbalance of the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4during the process of outputting AC power by updating the priority in consideration of the SOC and the SOH of the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4.

Additionally, the AC power output device100may further include the storage component150. The storage component150, separate from the memory134of the controller130, may store data or programs required for the operation and function of each component of the AC power output device100, or data and others generated during the process of performing the operation and function. The storage component150may be any known information storage device capable of recording, erasing, updating, and reading data, without any particular limitation on the type. Examples of information storage device may include a RAM, flash memory, ROM, EEPROM, register, and others. Additionally, the storage component150may store program codes that define processes executable by the controller130.

For example, the storage component150may store the voltage of each of the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4measured by the measurement component140. The storage component150may also store the SOC of each of the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4estimated by the controller130. The storage component150may then store the SOH of each of the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4estimated by the controller130. Additionally, the storage component150may store the priority of the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4determined by the controller130.

The AC power output device100according to the present disclosure may be applied to a Battery Management System (BMS). For example, the BMS according to the present disclosure may include the AC power output device100described above. In this configuration, at least some of the components of the AC power output device100may be implemented by supplementing or adding the functions of the components included in a conventional BMS. For example, the switching component110, filter component120, controller130, measurement component140, and storage component150of the AC power output device100may be implemented as components of the BMS.

Furthermore, the AC power output device100according to the present disclosure may be included in the battery pack10. For example, the battery pack10according to the present disclosure may include the AC power output device100described above and one or more batteries. In addition, the battery pack10may further include electrical components (such as relay and fuse), a case, and others.

Referring back toFIG.2, the battery pack10according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may include the plurality of batteries B1, B2, B3, and B4, and the AC power output device100. Then, the battery pack10may output AC power through the AC power output device100without a need for a separate inverter.

FIG.7is a diagram schematically illustrating a vehicle700according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

The AC power output device100according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may be included in the vehicle700such as an electric vehicle (EV) or a hybrid vehicle (HV).

For example, in the embodiment ofFIG.7, the vehicle700may include a battery pack710and the AC power output device100. According to one embodiment, the AC power output device100may be included in the battery pack710. The AC power output through the AC power output device100may be applied to a motor of the vehicle700.

The vehicle700may be driven by applying the AC power to the motor of the vehicle700through the AC power output device100.

While the present disclosure has been described above with reference to several embodiments thereof, the present disclosure is not limited by the embodiments, and various changes and modifications can be made by a person ordinarily skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains without departing from the technical spirit and equivalent scope of the present disclosure defined by the appended claims.

In addition, the present disclosure described above may be substituted, modified, and changed in various ways without departing from the technical spirit of the present disclosure by those skilled in the art, and therefore, the present disclosure is not limited by the above-described embodiments and the accompanying drawings. All or part of each embodiment may be selectively combined and configured to allow various modifications to be made.