AVAILABILITY DETERMINATION APPARATUS, AVAILABILITY DETERMINATION METHOD, AND PROGRAM

An availability determination apparatus includes: a characteristic calculation portion that calculates a curve representing characteristics of a charging state and an open circuit voltage of a deteriorated secondary battery; a low-load determination portion that determines a use availability of the deteriorated secondary battery at a low load time based on a result of comparison between a first threshold value and a first capacity determined by an upper limit voltage and a lower limit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery based on the curve representing the characteristics of the charging state and the open circuit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery; and a high-load determination portion that calculates an upper limit voltage and a lower limit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery after correction based on the curve representing the characteristics of the charging state and the open circuit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery after correction, and determines a use availability of the deteriorated secondary battery at a high load time based on a result of comparison between a second threshold value and a second capacity determined by the upper limit voltage and the lower limit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery after correction.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-053530, filed on Mar. 29, 2022, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an availability determination apparatus, an availability determination method, and a program.

Background

In recent years, research and development relating to secondary batteries that contribute to energy efficiency have been conducted in order to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and advanced energy for more people. Further, there is growing interest in electric vehicles for reducing CO2 emissions from the viewpoint of climate-related disasters, and the use of lithium-ion secondary batteries for in-vehicle applications is also being considered (as related documents, for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2020-109367, and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2017-166874).

SUMMARY

In the technique relating to secondary batteries, whether or not a deteriorated secondary battery can be used is simply determined based solely on an indicator (SOH: State of Health) of a deterioration state. Therefore, a deteriorated secondary battery of which a usable application remains may be discarded.

The purpose of the present application is to reduce the probability that a deteriorated secondary battery of which a usable application remains is discarded. The present application will eventually contribute to energy efficiency.

An availability determination apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes: an acquisition portion that acquires an open circuit potential curve for each single electrode before deterioration of a deteriorated secondary battery by a differential analysis of a voltage and a capacity and a charging and discharging curve fitting; a characteristic calculation portion that calculates a shrinkage rate for each single electrode from a capacity shift amount of the deteriorated secondary battery, a deterioration amount of a positive electrode, and a deterioration amount of a negative electrode, and calculates a curve representing characteristics of a charging state and an open circuit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery by deforming the open circuit potential curve for each single electrode before deterioration of the deteriorated secondary battery by the shrinkage rate for each single electrode based on a fixed point; a low-load determination portion that calculates an upper limit voltage and a lower limit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery based on the curve representing the characteristics of the charging state and the open circuit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery, and determines a use availability of the deteriorated secondary battery at a low load time based on a result of comparison between a first threshold value and a first capacity determined by the upper limit voltage and the lower limit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery; and a high-load determination portion that corrects the curve representing the characteristics of the charging state and the open circuit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery using a voltage drop amount in accordance with a DC resistance and a DC current of the deteriorated secondary battery, calculates an upper limit voltage and a lower limit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery after correction based on the curve representing the characteristics of the charging state and the open circuit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery after correction, and determines a use availability of the deteriorated secondary battery at a high load time based on a result of comparison between a second threshold value and a second capacity determined by the upper limit voltage and the lower limit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery after correction.

A second aspect of the present invention is an availability determination method that is executed by a computer of an availability determination apparatus, the method including: acquiring an open circuit potential curve for each single electrode before deterioration of a deteriorated secondary battery by a differential analysis of a voltage and a capacity and a charging and discharging curve fitting; calculating a shrinkage rate for each single electrode from a capacity shift amount of the deteriorated secondary battery, a deterioration amount of a positive electrode, and a deterioration amount of a negative electrode, and calculating a curve representing characteristics of a charging state and an open circuit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery by deforming the open circuit potential curve for each single electrode before deterioration of the deteriorated secondary battery by the shrinkage rate for each single electrode based on a fixed point; calculating an upper limit voltage and a lower limit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery based on the curve representing the characteristics of the charging state and the open circuit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery, and determining a use availability of the deteriorated secondary battery at a low load time based on a result of comparison between a first threshold value and a first capacity determined by the upper limit voltage and the lower limit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery; and correcting the curve representing the characteristics of the charging state and the open circuit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery using a voltage drop amount in accordance with a DC resistance and a DC current of the deteriorated secondary battery, calculating an upper limit voltage and a lower limit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery after correction based on the curve representing the characteristics of the charging state and the open circuit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery after correction, and determining a use availability of the deteriorated secondary battery at a high load time based on a result of comparison between a second threshold value and a second capacity determined by the upper limit voltage and the lower limit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery after correction.

A third aspect of the present invention is a computer-readable non-transitory recording medium that includes a program causing a computer to execute: acquiring an open circuit potential curve for each single electrode before deterioration of a deteriorated secondary battery by a differential analysis of a voltage and a capacity and a charging and discharging curve fitting; calculating a shrinkage rate for each single electrode from a capacity shift amount of the deteriorated secondary battery, a deterioration amount of a positive electrode, and a deterioration amount of a negative electrode, and calculating a curve representing characteristics of a charging state and an open circuit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery by deforming the open circuit potential curve for each single electrode before deterioration of the deteriorated secondary battery by the shrinkage rate for each single electrode based on a fixed point; calculating an upper limit voltage and a lower limit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery based on the curve representing the characteristics of the charging state and the open circuit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery, and determining a use availability of the deteriorated secondary battery at a low load time based on a result of comparison between a first threshold value and a first capacity determined by the upper limit voltage and the lower limit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery; and correcting the curve representing the characteristics of the charging state and the open circuit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery using a voltage drop amount in accordance with a DC resistance and a DC current of the deteriorated secondary battery, calculating an upper limit voltage and a lower limit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery after correction based on the curve representing the characteristics of the charging state and the open circuit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery after correction, and determining a use availability of the deteriorated secondary battery at a high load time based on a result of comparison between a second threshold value and a second capacity determined by the upper limit voltage and the lower limit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery after correction.

According to the first to third embodiments, it is possible to reduce the probability that a deteriorated secondary battery of which a usable application remains is discarded.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of an availability determination apparatus, an availability determination method, and a program of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG.1is a diagram which shows a configuration example of an availability determination apparatus1according to an embodiment. The availability determination apparatus1is an information-processing device that determines the use availability of a deteriorated secondary battery for each load (output) of the secondary battery. The secondary battery is, for example, a lithium-ion battery.

The availability determination apparatus1includes a calculation unit10, a storage device20, an operation unit30, and a communication unit40. The calculation unit10includes an acquisition unit11(acquisition portion), a characteristic calculation unit12(characteristic calculation portion), a low-load determination unit13(low-load determination portion), and a high-load determination unit14(high-load determination portion).

These components are realized by, for example, a hardware processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) executing a computer program (software). Some or all of these components may be realized by hardware (a circuit unit; including circuitry) such as a LSI (Large-Scale Integration), an ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit), a FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), and a GPU (Graphics-Processing Unit), or may be realized by software and hardware in cooperation. The program may be stored in advance in a storage device (a storage device including a non-transitory storage medium) such as a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or a flash memory, or may be stored in a detachable storage medium (a non-transitory storage medium) such as a DVD or a CD-ROM and installed by the storage medium being attached to a drive device.

The storage device20stores a parameter representing the characteristics of a secondary battery before deterioration (at an initial stage), a parameter (deterioration model) representing the characteristics of a deteriorated secondary battery, and a program executed by the calculation unit10. The operation unit30is a device that receives an operation by a user, and is, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, or a touch panel. The operation by the user is, for example, an operation of inputting a parameter representing the characteristics of a secondary battery. The communication unit40executes communication with another device (not shown). For example, the communication unit transmits image data representing a result of calculation by the calculation unit10to a display device (not shown). For example, the communication unit40may acquire a computer program and a parameter.

A worker (not shown) performs disassembly and characteristic measurement of a secondary battery before deterioration (at an initial stage). For example, the worker (not shown) measures parameters of a deterioration amount of a positive electrode, a deterioration amount of a negative electrode, a capacity shift amount, and a 10-second DC resistance of the secondary battery before deterioration. The worker (not shown) may also perform disassembly and characteristic measurement of the deteriorated secondary battery.

FIG.2is a diagram which shows a positive electrode capacity maintaining rate (a capacity maintaining rate when an initial value is 100%) and a negative electrode capacity maintaining rate of a deteriorated secondary battery. A first vertical axis represents a capacity maintaining rate (the positive electrode capacity maintaining rate, the negative electrode capacity maintaining rate). A second vertical axis represents the capacity shift amount. The horizontal axis represents a durability time of the secondary battery. A model (deterioration model) of the positive electrode capacity maintaining rate, the negative electrode capacity maintaining rate, and the capacity shift amount of the deteriorated secondary battery is determined in advance with respect to the durability time on the basis of a measurement result of a positive electrode potential, a negative electrode potential, and a capacity shift amount of the deteriorated secondary battery.

FIG.3is a diagram which shows an example of a DC resistance for 10 seconds of the deteriorated secondary battery. The vertical axis represents the maintaining rate of the DC resistance for 10 seconds. The horizontal axis represents a durability time of the secondary battery. The DC resistance for 10 seconds is measured by applying a pulse current to the deteriorated secondary battery for 10 seconds. A model (deterioration model) of the 10-second DC resistance of the deteriorated secondary battery is determined in advance with respect to the durability time on the basis of a measurement result of the DC resistance for 10 seconds of the deteriorated secondary battery.

FIG.4is a diagram which shows a potential curve for each single electrode of a secondary battery before deterioration (at the initial stage) and a potential curve for each single electrode of a deteriorated secondary battery at a low load time. The horizontal axis represents a capacity “Q” (Ah). The vertical axis represents an open circuit potential (OCP). The acquisition unit11acquires an open circuit potential curve (a charging and discharging curve) for each single electrode before deterioration of the deteriorated secondary battery by a dV/dQ analysis (a differential analysis of a voltage and a capacity) and a charging and discharging curve fitting. The graph on the left side inFIG.4represents an open circuit potential curve for each single electrode before deterioration (at the initial stage).

The characteristic calculation unit12acquires the model (deterioration model) of the positive electrode potential, the negative electrode potential, and the capacity shift amount of the deteriorated secondary battery shown inFIG.2from the storage device20, the operation unit30, or the communication unit40. The characteristic calculation unit12calculates a shrinkage rate of the positive electrode from the capacity shift amount of the deteriorated secondary battery and the deterioration amount of the positive electrode. The characteristic calculation unit12calculates a shrinkage rate of the negative electrode from the capacity shift amount of the deteriorated secondary battery and the deterioration amount of the negative electrode.

The characteristic calculation unit12calculates a curve representing characteristics of a charging state and an open circuit voltage (open circuit potential) of the deteriorated secondary battery at a low load time by deforming the open circuit potential curve for each single electrode before deterioration of the deteriorated secondary battery by the shrinkage rate for each single electrode based on a fixed point. The graph on the right side inFIG.4represents an open circuit potential curve (a charging and discharging curve) for each deteriorated single electrode at the low load time.

The low-load determination unit13calculates an upper limit voltage and a lower limit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery on the basis of the difference (voltage) between the open circuit potential of the positive electrode and the open circuit potential of the negative electrode of the deteriorated secondary battery, and a predetermined calculation condition. The low-load determination unit13calculates the capacity (first capacity) of the deteriorated secondary battery at the low load time on the basis of the difference between the capacity at the upper limit voltage and the capacity at the lower limit voltage. Since a voltage drop amount (IR drop) is small at the low load time, the open circuit voltage (OCV) at the low load time may be considered as an approximation of a closed circuit voltage (CCV) at the low load time.

FIG.5is a diagram which shows a potential curve for each single electrode of a deteriorated secondary battery at a high load time and a capacity for each load. The high-load determination unit14acquires a model (deterioration model) of the DC resistance shown inFIG.3from the storage device20, the operation unit30, or the communication unit40. The high-load determination unit14corrects the curves representing the characteristics of the charging state and the open circuit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery using a voltage drop amount (IR drop) in accordance with the DC resistance and the DC current of the deteriorated secondary battery. For example, the high-load determination unit14causes the curve representing the open circuit potential of the positive electrode of the deteriorated secondary battery to be offset in a downward direction in accordance with the multiplication result (voltage drop amount) of the DC resistance and the DC current of the deteriorated secondary battery.

The high-load determination unit14calculates an upper limit voltage and a lower limit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery after correction on the basis of the difference (voltage) between the open circuit potential of the positive electrode and the open circuit potential of the negative electrode of the deteriorated secondary battery after correction (after offset), and a predetermined calculation condition. The high-load determination unit14calculates the capacity (second capacity) of the deteriorated secondary battery at the high load time on the basis of the difference between the capacity at the upper limit voltage and the capacity at the lower limit voltage.

The low-load determination unit13determines the use availability of the deteriorated secondary battery at the low load time on the basis of the result of comparison between the first threshold value and the first capacity determined by the upper limit voltage and the lower limit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery before correction. When the capacity (first capacity) of the deteriorated secondary battery at the low load time is equal to or more than a predetermined first threshold value, the low-load determination unit13determines that the secondary battery as a determination target is usable for a low load application. When the capacity (first capacity) of the deteriorated secondary battery at the low load time is less than the predetermined first threshold value, the low-load determination unit13determines that the secondary battery as the determination target is not usable for the low load application.

The high-load determination unit14determines the use availability of the deteriorated secondary battery at the high load time on the basis of the result of comparison between the second threshold value and the second capacity determined by the upper limit voltage and the lower limit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery after correction. When the capacity (second capacity) of the deteriorated secondary battery at the high load time is equal to or more than a predetermined second threshold value, the high-load determination unit14determines that the secondary battery as a determination target is usable for a high load application. When the capacity (second capacity) of the deteriorated secondary battery at the high load time is less than the predetermined second threshold value, the high-load determination unit14determines that the secondary battery as the determination target is not usable for the high load application.

When the capacity of a deteriorated secondary battery at the high load time is equal to or more than the second threshold value, the high-load determination unit14determines that the secondary battery is usable, for example, for a four-wheel vehicle. When the capacity of the deteriorated secondary battery at the low load time is equal to or more than the first threshold value and the capacity of the deteriorated secondary battery at the high load time is less than the second threshold value, at least one of the low-load determination unit13and the high-load determination unit14determines that the secondary battery is usable, for example, for a two-wheel vehicle. When the capacity of the deteriorated secondary battery at the low load time is less than the first threshold value and the capacity of the deteriorated secondary battery at the high load time is less than the second threshold value, at least one of the low-load determination unit13and the high-load determination unit14determines that the secondary battery is usable, for example, for a stationary application.

Operation Example of Availability Determination Apparatus

FIG.6is a flowchart which shows an operation example of the availability determination apparatus1. The acquisition unit11acquires an open circuit potential curve for each single electrode before the deterioration of the deteriorated secondary battery by the differential analysis (the dV/dQ analysis) of a voltage and a capacity and the charging and discharging curve fitting (Step S101). Next, the characteristic calculation unit12calculates a shrinkage rate for each single electrode from the capacity shift amount of the deteriorated secondary battery, the deterioration amount of the positive electrode, and the deterioration amount of the negative electrode (Step S102). Next, the characteristic calculation unit12calculates a curve representing the characteristics of the charging state and the open circuit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery by deforming the open circuit potential curve for each single electrode before the deterioration of the deteriorated secondary battery by the shrinkage rate for each single electrode based on a fixed point (Step S103).

Next, the low-load determination unit13calculates the upper limit voltage and the lower limit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery before correction on the basis of the curve representing the characteristics of the charging state and the open circuit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery (Step S104). Next, the low-load determination unit13determines the use availability of the deteriorated secondary battery at the low load time on the basis of the result of comparison between the first threshold value and the first capacity determined by the upper limit voltage and the lower limit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery before correction (Step S105).

Next, the high-load determination unit14corrects (offsets) the curve representing the characteristics of the charging state and the open circuit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery using a voltage drop amount in accordance with a DC resistance and a DC current of the deteriorated secondary battery (Step S106). Next, the high-load determination unit14calculates the upper limit voltage and the lower limit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery after correction on the basis of the curve representing the characteristics of the charging state and the open circuit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery after correction (Step S107). Next, the high-load determination unit14determines the use availability of the deteriorated secondary battery at the high load time on the basis of the result of comparison between the second threshold value and the second capacity determined by the upper limit voltage and the lower limit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery after correction (Step S108).

As described above, the calculation unit10determines the use availability of a deteriorated secondary battery for each load (output) of the secondary battery. Thereby, it is possible to reduce the probability that a deteriorated secondary battery of which a usable application (a secondary use application) remains is discarded. Since the calculation accuracy of the closed circuit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery is improved, it is possible to improve the calculation accuracy of the residual capacity with respect to an arbitrary load, and it is possible to select an optimum application (for example, a four-wheel vehicle application, a two-wheel vehicle application, and a stationary application) of the deteriorated secondary battery on the basis of the residual capacity for each load.

The embodiment described above can be expressed as follows.

The availability determination apparatus includes a storage device that stores a program, and a hardware processor, and is configured to, by the hardware processor executing the program: acquire an open circuit potential curve for each single electrode before deterioration of a deteriorated secondary battery by a differential analysis of a voltage and a capacity and a charging and discharging curve fitting; calculate a shrinkage rate for each single electrode from a capacity shift amount of the deteriorated secondary battery, a deterioration amount of a positive electrode, and a deterioration amount of a negative electrode, and calculate a curve representing characteristics of a charging state and an open circuit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery by deforming the open circuit potential curve for each single electrode before deterioration of the deteriorated secondary battery by the shrinkage rate for each single electrode based on a fixed point; calculate an upper limit voltage and a lower limit voltage of the degraded secondary battery based on the curve representing the characteristics of the charging state and the open circuit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery, and determine a use availability of the deteriorated secondary battery at a low load time based on a result of comparison between a first threshold value and a first capacity determined by the upper limit voltage and the lower limit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery; and correct the curve representing the characteristics of the charging state and the open circuit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery using a voltage drop amount in accordance with a DC resistance and a DC current of the deteriorated secondary battery, calculate an upper limit voltage and a lower limit voltage of the degraded secondary battery after correction based on the curve representing the characteristics of the charging state and the open circuit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery after correction, and determine a use availability of the deteriorated secondary battery at a high load time based on a result of comparison between a second threshold value and a second capacity determined by the upper limit voltage and the lower limit voltage of the deteriorated secondary battery after correction.

Modified Example

The potential curve for each single electrode before deterioration may be determined on the basis of an output of a secondary battery as a prediction target without disassembling the secondary battery as the prediction target.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a battery state measurement technology of the present invention will be described with reference toFIG.7toFIG.11. In the following description, an example is described in which the battery state measurement technology of the present invention is adopted in an electric vehicle (EV) (hereinafter, it may be simply referred to as a “vehicle”); however, the battery state measurement technology of the present invention is not limited to batteries installed in vehicles and can also be applied to batteries other than in-vehicle batteries.

A configuration of a vehicle in which the battery state-measuring system is adopted and a battery state measurement method, which will be described below, are merely examples of embodiments of the battery state measurement technology of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[Configuration of Vehicle in which Battery State-Measuring System is Adopted]

A battery state measurement technology of the present invention can be used, for example, as a battery state-measuring system.

FIG.7is a diagram which shows an example of a configuration of a vehicle15in which the battery state-measuring system2according to the embodiment is adopted. The vehicle15shown inFIG.7is a battery electric vehicle (BEV) that travels by an electric motor driven by electric power supplied from a battery for traveling (a lithium-ion battery). Examples of the vehicle15include, for example, not only a four-wheeled vehicle, but also a saddle-type two-wheeled vehicle or a three-wheeled vehicle (including a vehicle with two front wheels and one rear wheel in addition to a vehicle with one front wheel and two rear wheels), and furthermore, all vehicles that travel by an electric motor driven by an operation of an internal combustion engine or electric power supplied from a battery, such as assisted bicycles.

The vehicle15shown inFIG.7includes, for example, a motor17, a driving wheel18, a brake device16, a vehicle sensor21, a power control unit (PCU)30, a battery41, a battery sensor (an acquisition portion)42such as a voltage sensor, a current sensor, and a temperature sensor, a communication device (a transmission portion)50, a human machine interface (HMI)60including a display device, a charging port70, and a connection circuit72.

The motor17is, for example, a three-phase AC motor. A rotor of the motor17is connected to the driving wheel18. The motor17is driven by electric power supplied from a power storage unit (not shown) provided in the battery41and transmits rotational power to the driving wheels18. In addition, the motor17generates power using a motion energy of the vehicle15when the vehicle15decelerates.

The brake device16includes, for example, a brake caliper, a cylinder that transmits a hydraulic pressure to the brake caliper, and an electric motor that generates a hydraulic pressure in the cylinder. The brake device16may also include, as a backup mechanism, a mechanism that transmits a hydraulic pressure generated by an operation of a user (a driver) of the vehicle15with respect to a brake pedal (not shown) to the cylinder via a master cylinder. The brake device16is not limited to a constituent described above, and may be, for example, an electronically controlled hydraulic brake device that transmits a hydraulic pressure of the master cylinder to the cylinder.

The vehicle sensor21includes, for example, an accelerator opening sensor, a vehicle speed sensor, and a brake stepping amount sensor. The accelerator opening sensor is attached to an accelerator pedal. The accelerator opening sensor detects an amount of operation of the accelerator pedal by the driver, and outputs the detected amount of operation as an accelerator opening to a control unit (an observation unit)36provided in the PCU31, which will be described below. The vehicle speed sensor includes, for example, a wheel speed sensor and a speed calculator attached to each wheel of the vehicle15, derives a speed (a vehicle speed) of the vehicle15by collecting wheel speeds detected by the wheel speed sensor, and outputs it to a control unit36and the HMI60. The brake stepping amount sensor is attached to the brake pedal. The brake stepping amount sensor detects the amount of operation of the brake pedal by the driver, and outputs the detected amount of operation to the control unit36as a brake stepping amount.

The PCU31includes, for example, a converter32, a voltage control unit (VCU)34, and the control unit36. InFIG.7, these components are shown as a single configuration as the PCU31, but the shown example is only an example, and these components in the vehicle15may be disposed in a distributed manner.

The converter32is, for example, an AC-DC converter. A DC side terminal of the converter32is connected to a DC link DL. The battery41is connected to the DC link DL via the VCU34. The converter32converts an alternating current generated by the motor17into a direct current and outputs it to the DC link DL.

The VCU34is, for example, a DC-DC converter. The VCU34boosts the power supplied from the battery41and outputs it to the DC link DL.

The control unit36includes, for example, a motor control unit, a brake control unit, and a battery and VCU control unit. The motor control unit, the brake control unit, and the battery and VCU control unit may be replaced with separate control devices, for example, control devices such as a motor electronic control unit (ECU), a brake ECU, and a battery ECU.

In addition, the control unit36, and the motor control unit, the brake control unit, and the battery and VCU control unit provided in the control unit36are realized, respectively, by, for example, each a hardware processor such as a central processing unit (CPU) executing a program (software). In addition, some or all of these components may be realized by hardware (a circuit unit; including circuitry) such as large-scale integration (LSI), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or a graphics-processing unit (GPU), and may also be realized by software and hardware in cooperation. In addition, some or all of functions of these components may be realized by dedicated LSI. The program may be stored in advance in a storage device (a non-transitory storage medium) such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a flash memory provided in the vehicle15. Alternatively, the program may be stored in a detachable storage medium (a non-transitory storage medium) such as a DVD or CD-ROM, and may be installed in the HDD or flash memory provided in the vehicle15by this storage medium being attached to a drive device provided in the vehicle15.

The control unit36, in the motor control unit, controls driving of the motor17on the basis of an output from the accelerator opening sensor provided in the vehicle sensor21. In addition, the control unit36, in the brake control unit, controls the brake device16on the basis of an output from the brake stepping amount sensor provided in the vehicle sensor21. Moreover, the control unit36, in the battery and VCU control unit, calculates, for example, a state of charge (SOC; hereinafter, referred to as a “battery charging rate”) of the battery41on the basis of an output from the battery sensor42to be described below, which is connected to the battery41and outputs it to the VCU34and the HMI60. Furthermore, the control unit36may also output information on a vehicle speed output by the vehicle sensor21to the HMI60. The VCU34increases a voltage of the DC link DL according to an instruction from the battery and VCU control unit.

The battery41is a secondary battery which can be repeatedly charged and discharged, such as a lithium-ion battery. As a secondary battery constituting the battery41, for example, in addition to a lead-acid battery, a nickel-hydrogen battery, a sodium-ion battery, and the like, a capacitor such as an electric double-layer capacitor, or a composite battery combining a secondary battery and a capacitor may be considered. In addition, in the embodiment of the present invention, a configuration of the secondary battery in the battery41is not particularly defined. In addition, the battery41may be, for example, a cassette-type battery pack that is detachably attached to the vehicle15. The battery41stores electric power introduced from a charger500outside the vehicle15and discharges the electric power for traveling of the vehicle15.

As described above, the battery state-measuring system2according to the embodiment exhibits an effect of being able to analyze a deterioration state with high accuracy, especially when the deterioration state of a lithium-ion battery is analyzed.

The battery sensor42detects physical quantities of a current, a voltage, and a temperature of the battery41.

The battery sensor42includes, for example, a current sensor, a voltage sensor, and a temperature sensor. The battery sensor42detects a current of a secondary battery (hereinafter simply referred to as the “battery41”) that constitutes the battery41with the current sensor, detects a voltage of the battery41with the voltage sensor, and detects a temperature of the battery41with the temperature sensor. The battery sensor42outputs data of the detected physical quantities of the current value, voltage value and temperature of the battery41(hereinafter referred to as “physical quantity data”) to the control unit36and the communication device50. The battery sensor42is an example of an “acquisition portion.”

The control unit36observes the physical quantity data of the current value, voltage value and temperature of the battery41detected and output by the battery sensor42, and calculates characteristics related to changes in a state of the battery41, used to analyze (diagnose and determine) a deterioration state of the battery41. For example, the control unit36observes the current value, the voltage value, and a capacity value (obtained from a positive electrode value and a negative electrode value) output by the battery sensor42, and calculates a positive electrode single electrode data P and a negative electrode single electrode data N representing changes in the state of the battery41. In addition, the control unit36may also calculate, for example, on the basis of the current value, voltage value, and capacity value observed at a predetermined observation time, the positive electrode single electrode data P and the negative electrode single electrode data N representing changes in the state of the battery41in relation to these values. A plurality of times (periods) are set as the predetermined observation time. This predetermined observation time can be set to, for example, a period of 5 seconds, 10 seconds, 15 seconds, or the like. Each period is set as a separate observation time depending on whether the battery41is in a charged state or in a discharged state. When a period during which the state of the battery41is continuously the same corresponds to any one of the “predetermined observation times,” the physical quantity data observed during this period is adopted as observation data at the corresponding observation time.

For example, the physical quantity data observed during a period in which the battery41is continuously discharged for 5 seconds is adopted as the observation data for a discharge time of 5 seconds. In addition, for example, the physical quantity data observed during a period in which the battery41is continuously discharged for 10 seconds is adopted as the observation data for a discharge time of 10 seconds. When there are a plurality of corresponding predetermined observation times, the same physical quantity data may be redundantly adopted as observation data for different observation times. For example, in the physical quantity data observed during the period in which the battery41is continuously discharged for 10 seconds, the physical quantity data for continuous 5 seconds may be adopted as both the observation data for a discharge time of seconds and the observation data for a discharge time of 10 seconds.

The control unit36outputs data representing each of characteristics related to changes in the state of the battery41calculated on the basis of physical quantity data (observation data) observed at a predetermined observation time (hereinafter referred to as “characteristic data”) to the communication device50. The control unit36is an example of the “observation unit.”

The communication device50includes a wireless module for connecting a cellular network and a Wi-Fi network.

The communication device50may include a wireless module for using Bluetooth (a registered trademark) or the like. The communication device50transmits or receives various types of information related to the vehicle15to or from, for example, the server device or the like to be described below, which is provided on a network (not shown) that manages the traveling of the vehicle15and the state of the battery41according to communication in a wireless module. The communication device50transmits each piece of characteristic data of the battery41output by the control unit36to the server device200to be described below. The communication device50may receive information representing the deterioration state of the battery41analyzed by the server device200to be described below and transmitted from the server device200, and output the received information representing the deterioration state of the battery41to the HMI60. The communication device50is an example of the “transmitting unit.”

The HMI60presents various types of information to the user of the vehicle15, such as the driver, and receives an input operation by the user. The HMI60is, for example, a so-called touch panel obtained by combining a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) and an input device that detects an input operation. The HMI60may include various display units other than the display device, a speaker, a buzzer, a switch other than the input device, a key, and the like. The HMI60may share the display device or input device with, for example, a display device or input device such as an in-vehicle navigation device.

The charging port70is a mechanism for charging the battery41(a lithium-ion battery). The charging port70is provided toward the outside of a vehicle body of the vehicle15. The charging port70is connected to the charger500via a charging cable520. The charging cable520includes a first plug522and a second plug524. The first plug522is connected to the charger500. The second plug524is connected to the charging port70. Electricity supplied from the charger500is input (supplied) to the charging port70via the charging cable520.

Also, the charging cable520includes a signal cable attached to a power cable. A signal cable mediates communication between the vehicle15and the charger500. Therefore, each of the first plug522and the second plug524is provided with a power connector for connecting the power cable and a signal connector for connecting the signal cable.

The connection circuit72is provided between the charging port70and the battery41. The connection circuit72transmits a current introduced from the charger500via the charging port70, for example, a direct current, as a current to be supplied to the battery41. In addition, the connection circuit72outputs, for example, a direct current to the battery41to store (charge) electric power in the battery41(lithium-ion battery).

Next, an example of a battery state-measuring system including a vehicle15in which the battery41is mounted will be described.FIG.8is a diagram which shows an example of a configuration of the battery state-measuring system2according to the embodiment.

The battery state-measuring system2shown inFIG.8is roughly configured to include, for example, an in-vehicle device101provided in the vehicle15in which the battery41is mounted, and a server device200.

The communication device50and the server device200communicate with each other via a network NW.

The network NW is, for example, a wireless communication network including the Internet, a wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), a provider device, a wireless base station, and the like. Note thatFIG.8shows a state where a user terminal T is connected to the network NW. In this case, for example, the server device200can also communicate with the user terminal T via the network NW.

The battery state-measuring system2is a system for analyzing and determining the deterioration state of the battery41provided in the vehicle15. In the battery state-measuring system2, the in-vehicle device101provided in the vehicle15transmits each piece of characteristic data related to changes in the state of the battery41to the server device200via the network NW. Then, in the battery state-measuring system2, the server device200analyzes the deterioration state of the battery41provided in the vehicle15on the basis of each piece of characteristic data transmitted by the in-vehicle device101. In the battery state-measuring system2, the server device200transmits information on a result of analyzing the deterioration state of the battery41(an analysis result) to the vehicle15via the network NW.

As a result, for example, the HMI60provided in the vehicle15presents the information on an analysis result transmitted from the server device200to the user of the vehicle15by, for example, displaying it on a display device. Moreover, in the battery state-measuring system2, the server device200may transmit the information on an analysis result of the deterioration state of the battery41to the user terminal T via the network NW. As a result, the user terminal T can notify, for example, the user of the vehicle15of the information of the analysis result transmitted by the server device200.

The battery state-measuring system2may perform learning of the deterioration state of the battery41on the basis of a result of the server device200analyzing the deterioration state of the battery41.

As a result, in the battery state-measuring system2, the server device200can more appropriately manage the deterioration state of the battery41provided in the vehicle15.

The in-vehicle device101includes, for example, the battery sensor (the acquisition portion)42that acquires physical quantity data indicating the physical quantity related to the state of the battery41mounted in the vehicle15, the control unit36(the observation unit) that observes characteristics related to changes in the state of the battery41on the basis of the physical quantity data, and the communication device (the transmitting unit)50that transmits a plurality of pieces of characteristic data representing the observed characteristics to the server device200.

The battery sensor42detects the current value, voltage value, and temperature of the battery41at, for example, 10 millisecond intervals. The battery sensor42outputs the physical quantity data such as the current value, voltage value, and temperature of the detected battery41to the control unit36.

The control unit36observes the physical quantity data such as the current value, voltage value, capacity value, and temperature of the battery41output by the battery sensor42, and generates characteristic data representing the state of the battery41on the basis of the observed physical quantity data. Characteristic data is, for example, data representing dV/dQ of the battery41used for analyzing the deterioration state of the battery41. For example, the control unit36can be configured to generate characteristic data for each observation time when the discharge time is 5 seconds, 10 seconds, and 15 seconds, and characteristic data for each observation time when the charging time is 5 seconds, 10 seconds, and 15 seconds. In this case, the control unit36measures each period of observation time by, for example, a timer function, and generates each piece of characteristic data on the basis of the physical quantity data observed during the measured period of observation time. For example, when characteristic data representing dV/dQ for an observation time of the discharge time of 5 seconds is generated, the control unit36measures 5 seconds for which the battery41is continuously discharged, and generates characteristic data representing dV/dQ on the basis of each voltage value and a corresponding capacity value obtained by, for example, observing the physical quantity data of the battery41detected and output by the battery sensor42at intervals of 10 milliseconds during the measured period. Similarly, the control unit36generates characteristic data representing dV/dQ for each observation time of the discharge time of 10 seconds and a discharge time of 15 seconds, and characteristic data for each observation time of a charging time of 5 seconds, a charging time of 10 seconds, and a charging time of 15 seconds.

The characteristic data representing dV/dQ is not shown, but are obtained from a charge and discharge curve in which each capacity value obtained by observation is plotted on the horizontal axis and a capacity differential of a corresponding voltage value is plotted on the vertical axis. This dV/dQ is data used for the analysis of the deterioration state of the battery41. The control unit36may use the physical quantity data observed at a start of an observation time and the physical quantity data observed at an end of an observation time as characteristic data. That is, the control unit36may set a set of two current values, two voltage values, and two capacity values (four pieces of physical quantity data) at the start and end of the observation time as one piece of characteristic data representing dV/dQ.

The control unit36outputs the characteristic data generated as described above, including information on the observation time and information on whether the battery41is in a charged state or a discharged state, to the communication device50. The characteristic data may also include information indicating changes in the temperature of the battery41and information on an SOC (a battery charging rate) of the battery41.

The communication device50transmits the characteristic data of the battery41for each observation time output by the control unit36to the server device200by communication via the network NW.

The user terminal T is, for example, a terminal device such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal owned by a user of the user terminal T (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a “user U”) such as a driver of the vehicle15. The user terminal T may be, for example a stationary terminal device used by the user U. At the user terminal T, an application (hereinafter referred to as a “battery checking application”) for checking and receiving notification of the deterioration state of the battery41is executed. When the user terminal T receives the information on an analysis result transmitted from the server device200, the user terminal T presents the received information on an analysis result to the user U by, for example, displaying it on a display device. The user U can request the server device200to check a current deterioration state of the battery41at any timing by operating the battery checking application being executed by the user terminal T. In this case, the user terminal T transmits a checking request requesting transmission of the deterioration state of the battery41to the server device200via the network NW.

The server device200manages the deterioration state of the battery41that is provided in the vehicle15. The server device200includes, for example, a communication unit (a receiving unit)202and a diagnostic unit (an analyzing unit)204. The communication unit202and the diagnostic unit204are realized, respectively, by, for example, a hardware processor such as a CPU executing a program (software). In addition, some or all of these components may be realized by hardware (a circuit unit; including circuitry) such as LSI, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a GPU, and may also be realized by software and hardware in cooperation. In addition, some or all of functions of these components may be realized by dedicated LSI. The program may be stored in advance in a storage device (a storage device including a non-transitory storage medium) such as an HDD or a flash memory provided in the server device200. Alternatively, the program may be stored in a detachable storage medium (a non-transitory storage medium) such as a DVD or CD-ROM, and may be installed in the HDD or flash memory provided in the server device200by this storage medium being attached to a drive device provided in the server device200.

The communication unit202exchanges information by communicating with the communication device50provided in the vehicle15and the user terminal T via the network NW. The communication unit202receives each piece of the characteristic data of the battery41transmitted by the in-vehicle device101provided in the vehicle15by communication via the network NW. The communication unit202outputs the each received piece of the characteristic data of the battery41to the diagnostic unit204. When the communication unit202receives the checking request of the battery41transmitted by the user terminal T by communication via the network NW, it outputs the received checking request of the battery41to the diagnostic unit204. The communication unit202is an example of the “receiving unit.”

The diagnostic unit204analyzes the deterioration state of the battery41on the basis of each piece of the characteristic data of the battery41output from the communication unit202. More specifically, the diagnostic unit204collects each piece of the characteristic data of the battery41output by the communication unit202separately for each observation time included in the characteristic data. Then, the diagnostic unit204analyzes the deterioration state of the battery41based on a characteristic data group including a plurality of pieces of collected characteristic data for a predetermined observation time. When the characteristic data representing dV/dQ is transmitted by the in-vehicle device101, the diagnostic unit204dV/dQ analyzes the deterioration state of the battery41based on, for example, the characteristic data group including the plurality of pieces of characteristic data representing dV/dQ for a predetermined observation time. The predetermined observation time that the diagnostic unit204uses as a reference when analyzing the deterioration state of the battery41is, for example, the characteristic data group when the observation time is the shortest 5 seconds, which can be collected with the highest frequency. The diagnostic unit204uses characteristic data groups for observation times other than the reference observation time as assistance when analyzing the deterioration state of the battery41. For example, when the characteristic data group when the observation time is 5 seconds is used as the reference, the diagnostic unit204uses a characteristic data group when the observation time is 10 seconds or 15 seconds to correct an analysis result obtained by analyzing the deterioration state of battery41.

Here, an example of the analysis of the deterioration state of the battery41in the diagnostic unit204will be described.

FIG.9is a diagram which shows an example of processing of analyzing the deterioration state of the battery41in the server device200(more specifically, the diagnostic unit204), and is a graph describing an example of the analysis processing when a peak of a dV/dQ curve collapses at the time of analyzing the battery state using the dV/dQ curve.FIG.9(a)shows the dV/dQ curve when the discharge time transmitted from the in-vehicle device101is t0,FIG.9(b)shows the dV/dQ curve when the discharge time is t1, andFIG.9(c)shows the dV/dQ curves when the discharge time is t2, respectively. In theseFIGS.9(a) to9(c), the horizontal axis is a capacity value (Ah) and the vertical axis is a dV/dQ.

As described above, the diagnostic unit204collects the characteristic data representing the dV/dQ of the battery41, transmitted by the in-vehicle device101and output from the communication unit202, separately for each observation time. InFIGS.9(a) to9(c), the diagnostic unit204collects characteristic data representing dV/dQ when the discharge time is to, characteristic data representing a dV/dQ curve when the discharge time is t1, and characteristic data representing dV/dQ when the discharge time is t2separately as respective characteristic data groups.

Based on the characteristic data described above, the diagnostic unit204analyzes the deterioration state of the battery41using an analysis of a dV/dQ curve that indicates an amount of change in voltage with respect to a change in a reference capacity of the battery41.

As will be described in detail below, the diagnostic unit204repeatedly executes processing of obtaining a negative electrode value based on an initial positive electrode value in the dV/dQ curve and a cell value one cycle before, and calculating a cell value on the basis of the initial positive electrode value and the negative electrode value.

Here, graphs ofFIGS.9(a) to9(c)described above show dV/dQ curves obtained by dismantling the battery41at an initial stage and fitting an initial positive electrode single electrode data (an initial positive electrode value) P0and an initial negative electrode single electrode data No acquired in a coin cell state in advance with respect to measured values of the positive electrode single electrode data P and the negative electrode single electrode data N in the battery41used for the times described above, respectively.FIG.9(a)is the dV/dQ curve (a real cell0) for time to when a real cell is used,FIG.9(b)is the dV/dQ curve (a real cell1) for time t1, andFIG.9(c)is the dV/dQ curve (a real cell2) for time t2.

First, the battery41is dismantled in the initial stage in advance, and the initial positive electrode single electrode data P0and the initial negative electrode single electrode data No are acquired in the coin cell state to obtain an Ah-OCP (Open Circuit Potential) curve. In addition, for each Ah-OCP curve obtained by observation, a dV/dQ curve with a capacity value plotted on the horizontal axis and a capacity differential of a corresponding voltage value plotted on the vertical axis is obtained. Then, an Ah-OCP curve, that is, the capacity, of a single electrode Sim cell0can be obtained based on the single electrode positive electrode and negative electrode Ah-OCP curves described above.

Next, as shown inFIG.9(a), using the initial positive electrode single electrode data P0and the initial negative electrode single electrode data No, the positive electrode single electrode data P and the negative electrode single electrode data N of real cell scale are generated, and a dV/dQ curve of Sim cell0is generated by fitting feature amounts derived from a positive electrode and a negative electrode of the dV/dQ curve of the real cell0. Then, using the initial positive electrode single electrode data P0and the Sim cell0optimized by the dV/dQ analysis, virtual negative electrode single electrode data No′ is generated. A dV/dQ relationship between a cell and each piece of single electrode data at this time is represented by the following equation (1).

Then, as shown inFIG.9(b), using the initial positive electrode single electrode data P0and the virtual negative electrode single electrode data N0′, a dV/dQ curve is generated by fitting feature amounts derived from a positive electrode and a negative electrode of the real cell1for the time t1(for example, two weeks later) when the battery41is used. At this time, by subtracting the dV/dQ curve of the positive electrode single electrode data P optimized by the dV/dQ analysis from the dV/dQ curve of the real cells, a dV/dQ curve of a deteriorated negative electrode single electrode data (a negative electrode value) N1is generated. The dV/dQ relationship between a cell and each piece of single electrode data at this time is also represented by the equation (1) described above.

Then, as shown inFIG.9(c), using the initial positive electrode single electrode data P0and the deteriorated negative electrode single electrode data N1described above, a dV/dQ curve is generated by fitting feature amounts derived from a positive electrode and a negative electrode of the real cell2for time t2when the battery41is used (for example, 4 weeks later).

In the battery state-measuring system2according to the embodiment, by repeating the processing shown inFIGS.9(a) to9(c), fitting of the dV/dQ curve of an nthnegative electrode single electrode data N is performed by using the dV/dQ curve using an updated (n−1)th negative electrode single electrode data Nn−1.

As shown inFIGS.9(a) to9(c), if real cell deterioration progresses as time elapses with the real cell0, real cell1, and real cell2, the peak of a curve of “real cell_actual measurement” shown inFIGS.9(a) to9(c)gradually collapses. On the other hand, in the battery state-measuring system2according to the embodiment, since the negative electrode single electrode data Nn−1is updated, Sim cellxdata generated using the updated negative electrode single electrode data Nn−1can also reproduce the collapse of the peak of the dV/dQ curve, like the real cellx, it is possible to improve a fitting accuracy. As a result, even when the deterioration of the battery41consisting of a lithium-ion battery is analyzed using the dV/dQ curve, since a relative positional relationship between a capacity deterioration amount of the positive electrode and the negative electrode and a potential of the positive and negative electrodes can be evaluated with high accuracy, it is possible to increase a Sim accuracy of a cell capacity obtained using a capacity value (Ah)-OCP curve of the positive electrode and the negative electrode.

In the following description, a procedure for updating the dV/dQ curve of the negative electrode single electrode data N will be described with reference toFIGS.10(a) to10(d).FIG.10is a graph which shows an example of processing of analyzing the deterioration of the battery41at an initial stage (FIG.10(a)), one week later (FIG.10(b)), two weeks later (FIG.10(c)), and four weeks later (FIG.10(d)) using the dV/dQ curve.

Even in the procedure shown inFIGS.10(a) to10(c), as described with reference toFIGS.9(a) to9(c)above, the collapse of the peak of the dV/dQ curve can be reproduced by updating the negative electrode single electrode data Nn−1as time elapses with the initial stage, one week later, two weeks later, and four weeks later, and thus it possible to significantly improve the fitting accuracy.

Returning toFIG.8, the diagnostic unit204outputs information on an analysis result representing the analyzed deterioration state of the battery41to the communication unit202. Note that, when the communication unit202outputs a checking request from the user terminal T, the diagnostic unit204outputs information on an analysis result representing the current deterioration state of the battery41analyzed using the characteristic data collected so far to the communication unit202.

The communication unit202transmits the information on an analysis result output by the diagnostic unit204to the in-vehicle device101and the user terminal T provided in the vehicle15by communication via the network NW. As a result, the analysis result of the deterioration state of the battery41analyzed by the diagnostic unit204is displayed on, for example, a display device by the HMI60provided in the vehicle15. In addition, the analysis result of the deterioration state of the battery41analyzed by the diagnostic unit204may be displayed on a display device of the user terminal T and presented to the user U by the battery checking application.

[Overall Flow of Processing of Battery State-Measuring System]

Next, an example of an overall flow of processing for analyzing (diagnosing and determining) the deterioration state of the battery41in the battery state-measuring system2will be described.FIG.11is a sequence diagram which shows an example of the overall flow of processing in the battery state-measuring system2.FIG.11shows an example of processing between the in-vehicle device101and the server device200that cooperate when the deterioration state of the battery41in the battery state-measuring system2is analyzed. The processing of this sequence diagram is repeatedly executed while the battery41is being used in the vehicle15. Note that the in-vehicle device101and the server device200perform operations corresponding to the components shown inFIG.8, respectively, but it is assumed that the in-vehicle device101and the server device200directly exchange information for analyzing the deterioration state of the battery41and information on an analysis result for ease of description in the following description. In addition, in the following description, it is assumed that the deterioration state of the battery41is analyzed on the basis of the dV/dQ curve obtained from a plurality of pieces of characteristic data. The observation of the physical quantity data of the battery41in the in-vehicle device101is performed regardless of whether the battery41is in a charged state or a discharged state, but it is assumed that the observation of the physical quantity data is started when the battery41is in a discharged state for ease of description in the following description.

In one example of processing in the battery state-measuring system2shown inFIG.11, first, when the battery41starts to be used in the vehicle15and is in a discharged state, the in-vehicle device101starts the observation of the physical quantity data of the battery41(step S10).

After that, the in-vehicle device101checks whether the physical quantity data for an observation time (a discharge time) of 5 seconds has been observed (step S20). That is, the in-vehicle device101checks whether it is possible to check the physical quantity data in a state where the battery41is continuously discharged during the discharge time of 5 seconds. When it is checked in step S20that the physical quantity data for the discharge time of 5 seconds has been observed, the in-vehicle device101calculates dV/dQ for the observation time (the discharge time) of 5 seconds in the battery41on the basis of the observed physical quantity data (step S22). Then, the in-vehicle device101generates characteristic data representing the calculated dV/dQ for the observation time (the discharge time) of 5 seconds and transmits it to the server device200(step S24). As a result, the server device200collects the characteristic data transmitted by the in-vehicle device101as a characteristic data group for the discharge time of 5 seconds (step S50). Moreover, the in-vehicle device101advances the processing to step S30.

On the other hand, when it is checked in step S20that the physical quantity data for a discharge time of 5 seconds has not been observed, the in-vehicle device101advances the processing to step S30. It is considered that the physical quantity data for a discharge time of 5 seconds has not been observed in step S20when, for example, the battery41changes from a discharged state to a charged state for the discharge time of 5 seconds, and the like. In this case, the in-vehicle device101starts the observation of the physical quantity data for the observation time (a charging time) of 5 seconds in a state where the battery41is being charged.

Subsequently, the in-vehicle device101checks whether the physical quantity data for an observation time (a discharge time) of 10 seconds has been observed (step S30). In other words, the in-vehicle device101checks whether it is possible to observe the physical quantity data in a state where the battery41is continuously discharged for 5 seconds following the discharge time of 5 seconds, after checking in step S20, or for 10 seconds starting from a timing different from a start timing of the discharge time of 5 seconds. When it is checked in step S30that the physical quantity data for the discharge time of 10 seconds has been observed, the in-vehicle device101calculates dV/dQ for the observation time (the discharge time) of 10 seconds in the battery41on the basis of the observed physical quantity data (step S32). Then, the in-vehicle device101generates characteristic data representing the calculated dV/dQ for the observation time (the discharge time) of 10 seconds and transmits it to the server device200(step S34). Accordingly, the server device200collects the characteristic data transmitted by the in-vehicle device101as a characteristic data group for the discharge time of 10 seconds in step S50. In addition, the in-vehicle device101advances the processing to step S40.

On the other hand, when it is checked in step S30that the physical quantity data for the discharge time of 10 seconds has not been observed, the in-vehicle device101advances the processing to step S40. It is considered that the physical quantity data for the discharge time of 10 seconds has not been observed in step S30when, for example, the battery41may change from a discharged state to a charged state for 5 seconds following the discharge time of 5 seconds or for the discharge time of 10 seconds, and the like. In this case, the in-vehicle device101starts the observation of the physical quantity data for the observation time (a charging time) of 10 seconds in a state where the battery41is being charged.

Subsequently, the in-vehicle device101checks whether the physical quantity data for an observation time (a discharge time) of 15 seconds has been observed (step S40). In other words, the in-vehicle device101checks whether it is possible to observe the physical quantity data in a state where the battery41is continuously discharged for 5 seconds following the discharge time of 10 seconds, or after checking in step S30, or for seconds starting from a timing different from the start timing of the discharge time of seconds or the discharge time of 10 seconds. When it is checked in step S40that the physical quantity data for the discharge time of 15 seconds has been observed, the in-vehicle device101calculates dV/dQ for the observation time (the discharge time) of 15 seconds in the battery41on the basis of the observed physical quantity data (step S42). Then, the in-vehicle device101generates characteristic data representing the calculated dV/dQ for the observation time (the discharge time) of 15 seconds and transmits it to the server device200(step S44). Accordingly, the server device200collects the characteristic data transmitted by the in-vehicle device101as a characteristic data group for the discharge time of 15 seconds in step S50. In addition, the in-vehicle device101continues the observation of the physical quantity data in a next observation time (a discharge time).

On the other hand, when it is checked in step S40that the physical quantity data for the discharge time of 15 seconds has not been observed, the in-vehicle device101continues the observation of the physical quantity data in a next observation time (a discharge time). It is considered that the physical quantity data for the discharge time of seconds has not been observed in step S40when, for example, the battery41may change from a discharged state to a charged state for 5 seconds following the discharge time of 10 seconds or for the discharge time of 15 seconds, and the like. In this case, the in-vehicle device101starts the observation of the physical quantity data for the observation time (a charging time) of 15 seconds in a state where the battery41is being charged.

After that, the server device200analyzes the deterioration state of the battery41on the basis of a characteristic data group including the characteristic data for each observation time collected in step S50(step S60). A timing at which the server device200starts to analyze the deterioration state of the battery41in step S60is an arbitrary timing. For example, the server device200may collect the characteristic data for a reference observation time (for example, the characteristic data for the discharge time of seconds) as much as necessary to analyze the deterioration state of the battery41, and then analyze the deterioration state of the battery41. In addition, for example, the server device200may collect characteristic data for an observation time (for example, the characteristic data for the discharge time of 10 seconds or 15 seconds) used for correcting an analysis result of the analyzed deterioration state of the battery41as much as necessary to correct the analysis result, and then start the analysis of the deterioration state of the battery41. In addition, for example, the server device200may start the analysis of the deterioration state of the battery41when it receives a checking request for the battery41transmitted by the user terminal T.

Then, the server device200transmits the information on an analysis result of analyzing the deterioration state of the battery41to the in-vehicle device101(step S62). As a result, the in-vehicle device101outputs the information on an analysis result of analyzing the deterioration state of the battery41transmitted from the server device200to, for example, the HMI60provided in the vehicle15, and causes the HMI60to display it on the display device, and to present it to the user of the vehicle15(step S70).

According to this overall processing flow, in the battery state-measuring system2, the in-vehicle device101and the server device200provided in the vehicle15in which the battery41is mounted cooperate with each other to analyze the deterioration state of the battery41. At this time, in the battery state-measuring system2, the in-vehicle device101performs a certain degree of processing (processing for calculating dV/dQ for a predetermined observation time) related to the analysis of the deterioration state of the battery41, and generates characteristic data representing dV/dQ used for the analysis of the deterioration state of the battery41to transmit it to the server device200. As a result, in the battery state-measuring system2, the in-vehicle device101reduces a computational load thereon rather than analyzing the deterioration state of the battery41and the server device200analyzes the deterioration state of the battery41with higher accuracy, thereby managing the deterioration state of the battery41provided in the vehicle15.

Moreover, in the battery state-measuring system2, since each piece of characteristic data of the battery41, which is transmitted to the server device200by the in-vehicle device101, is characteristic data generated in the in-vehicle device101, for example, a data amount is reduced further than the physical quantity data detected by the battery sensor42. For this reason, the battery state-measuring system2can curb pressure on an information (data) communication band in a network NW between the in-vehicle device101and the server device200.

In addition, the battery state-measuring system2can transmit the analysis result of the deterioration state of the battery41analyzed by the server device200to the user terminal T. As a result, the user (user U) of the user terminal T, such as the driver of the vehicle15, can check the current deterioration state of the battery41at an arbitrary timing even when he or she is not boarding in the vehicle15.

A flow of processing between the server device200and the user terminal T consists of processing of transmitting a checking request from the user terminal T to the server device200in a state where the battery checking application is being executed, and processing of transmitting the analysis result of the deterioration state of the battery41from the server device200to the user terminal T, and can be easily understood. For this reason, a detailed description of the flow of processing between the server device200and the user terminal T will be omitted.

According to the battery state-measuring system that performs processing according to the flow shown in the sequence diagram ofFIG.11, the in-vehicle device provided in the vehicle15observes the detected physical quantity of the battery at a plurality of different observation times, calculates characteristics related to a state change of the battery, and transmits the generated characteristic data to the server device. In the battery state-measuring system of the embodiment, the server device collects the characteristic data representing the characteristics related to the state change of the battery transmitted by the in-vehicle device separately for each observation time, and analyzes the deterioration state of the battery on the basis of a group of the collected characteristic data representing the characteristics related to the state change of the battery. As a result, in the battery state-measuring system of the embodiment, the server device can analyze the deterioration state of the battery with higher accuracy, and manage the deterioration state of the battery provided in the vehicle. Moreover, in the battery state-measuring system of the embodiment, the in-vehicle device transmits characteristic data in a state in which processing for obtaining the characteristics related to the state change of the battery has been completed to some extent to the server device, and thus it is possible to analyze and manage the deterioration state of the battery in a state where the pressure on an information (data) communication band in the network NW between the in-vehicle device and the server device is curbed.

According to the battery state-measuring system of the embodiment described above, the in-vehicle device101includes the battery sensor42that acquires physical quantity data indicating the physical quantity related to the state of the battery41mounted in the vehicle15, the control unit36that observes characteristics related to changes in the state of the battery41on the basis of the physical quantity data, and the communication device50that transmits a plurality of pieces of characteristic data representing the observed characteristics to the server device200, and the server device200includes the communication unit202that receives the plurality of pieces of characteristic data transmitted by the in-vehicle device101, and the diagnostic unit204that analyzes the deterioration state of the battery41on the basis of the plurality of pieces of characteristic data. Then, in the battery state-measuring system of the embodiment, the diagnostic unit204analyzes the deterioration state of the battery41using the analysis of the dV/dQ curve that indicates an amount of change in voltage with respect to changes in the reference capacity of the battery41, and repeatedly executes processing of obtaining a negative electrode value on the basis of an initial positive electrode value in the dV/dQ curve and a cell value one cycle before and calculating a cell value on the basis of the initial positive electrode value and the negative electrode value. As a result, even if the peak of the dV/dQ curve collapses due to the deterioration of the battery41, voltage fluctuation characteristics with respect to the reference capacity of the battery41can be accurately recognized, and therefore it is possible to detect and determine with high accuracy how much the battery41has deteriorated from the initial state by comparing a generated dV/dQ curve for determining the deterioration with the dV/dQ curve acquired in the initial state of the battery. Therefore, in the vehicle15in which the battery state-measuring system is adopted, it is possible to manage the deterioration state of the battery41provided in the vehicle15with higher accuracy in the server device200, and to improve convenience of using the vehicle15by, for example, notifying the user of the vehicle15in advance of a state in which a distance that the vehicle15can travel is significantly shortened, and the like.

The embodiment described above can be expressed as follows.

A battery state-measuring system includes at least a server device that analyzes a state of a battery, in which the server device includes a hardware processor and a storage device that has stored a program, and the hardware processor reads and executes a program stored in the storage device, thereby receiving a plurality of pieces of characteristic data representing characteristics related to changes in a state of the battery on the basis of physical quantity data indicating physical quantities related to the state of the battery to analyze a deterioration state of the battery by an analysis of a dV/dQ curve that indicates an amount of change in voltage with respect to a change in a reference capacity of the battery, and repeatedly executing processing of obtaining a negative electrode value on the basis of an initial positive electrode value in the dV/dQ curve and a cell value one cycle before to calculate a cell value on the basis of the initial positive electrode value and the negative electrode value.

In the embodiment, a case where the vehicle15in which the battery state-measuring system is adopted is a BEV has been described. However, as an electric vehicle, there is, for example, also a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), that travels by electric power supplied in response to an operation of an internal combustion engine such as an engine operating on a fuel, or electric motor driven by electric power supplied from a battery (a lithium-ion battery) for traveling. For this reason, the battery state-measuring system can also be adopted in such hybrid electric vehicles.

In this case, in hybrid electric vehicles, even a time when the internal combustion engine is operating to charge the battery can be the observation time of an object observing the physical quantity data to analyze the deterioration state of the battery.

Even in such a case, similarly to the above, the server device can analyze the deterioration state of the battery mounted in hybrid electric vehicles with higher accuracy. Note that the overall flow of processing in the battery state-measuring system adopted in hybrid electric vehicles can be easily understood by considering it in the same manner as the overall flow of processing in the battery state-measuring system adopted in BEV in the embodiment described above. For this reason, a detailed description of the overall processing flow in the battery state-measuring system adopted in hybrid electric vehicles will be omitted.

There are also electric vehicles such as fuel cell vehicles (FCV) that travel using an electric motor driven by electric power supplied from a fuel cell. The battery state-measuring system can also be adopted in the fuel cell vehicles. In this case, the battery described in the embodiment will be replaced with a fuel cell.

Even in this fuel cell, deterioration occurs in a process of use even with the cause different from that of a battery. For this reason, the battery state-measuring system can also be adopted in such fuel cell vehicles. However, the physical quantity observed by the in-vehicle device and the processing of analyzing the deterioration state by the server device correspond to the fuel cell mounted in the fuel cell vehicles. On the other hand, an overall flow of processing in a battery state-measuring system adopted in a fuel cell vehicle can be easily understood by considering it in the same manner as the overall flow of processing for the battery state-measuring system adopted in a BEV in the embodiment described above. For this reason, a detailed description of the overall flow of processing in the battery state-measuring system adopted in fuel cell vehicles will be omitted.

As described above, although the embodiment of implementing the battery state measurement technology of the present invention in a vehicle has been described, the present invention can be implemented in a constituent other than a vehicle as long as it has a power supply (outlet), a charger, and a battery.

According to the battery state measurement method described above, the analysis of the deterioration state of a battery can be performed by the dV/dQ analysis in a server device without dismantling a used battery, and can be performed with high accuracy following changes in material characteristics due to deterioration even if the peak of the dV/dQ curve has collapsed.

As described above, a mode for carrying out the present invention has been described using the embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to such embodiments at all, and various modifications and replacements can be added within a range not departing from the gist of the present invention.