Patent Description:
The state information of the battery may be diagnosed through a diagnosis code called DTC (Diagnostic Trouble Code). However, since the DTC itself is only a value for a fault phenomenon, it is difficult for a general user to figure out a fault state and related measures by checking the DTC.

As a related art, Patent Literature <NUM> discloses an intelligent battery sensor for a vehicle, which is capable of identifying the cause of a failure of a battery through a generated DTC, and a data storage method using the same. However, Patent Literature <NUM> uses only an internal memory (volatile and nonvolatile) to identify the cause of a failure according to internal variables of IBS (Intelligent Battery Sensor) immediately before DTC generation.

That is, the memory of Patent Literature <NUM> cannot be updated to be customized to the battery or the environment around the vehicle, and the generated DTC is stored only in the memory inside the vehicle. Thus, there is a fatal problem that it is impossible to check the history of the generated DTC if the memory is damaged due to vehicle damage or the like.

Further examples related to a battery state diagnosis can be found for instance in <CIT>, <CIT> or <CIT>. (Patent Literature <NUM>) <CIT>.

The present disclosure is designed to solve the problems of the related art, and therefore the present disclosure is directed to providing a battery diagnosing system and method, which updates a diagnosis table of a battery diagnosing apparatus by communication between a central server and the battery diagnosing apparatus, and stores battery state information and a diagnosis code as a backup.

The present disclosure provides a battery diagnosing system for diagnosing a state of a battery module as defined by the independent claim <NUM> and a battery diagnosing method as defined by the independent claim <NUM>. Preferred embodiments are defined in the appended dependent claims. The battery diagnosing system for diagnosing a state of a battery module having at least one battery cell, the battery diagnosing system comprising: a battery diagnosing apparatus configured to generate battery state information based on at least one of temperature, voltage and current of the battery module, generate a diagnosis code corresponding to the battery state information by using a pre-stored first diagnosis table, and transmit at least one of the battery state information and the diagnosis code; and a central server configured to receive at least one of the battery state information and the diagnosis code from the battery diagnosing apparatus, determine whether the received diagnosis code is misdiagnosed by using a stored second diagnosis table and the received battery state information, and transmit a misdiagnosis determination result and the second diagnosis table to the battery diagnosing apparatus when the diagnosis code is determined as being misdiagnosed.

The battery diagnosing apparatus may be configured to update the pre-stored first diagnosis table to the second diagnosis table when the misdiagnosis determination result and the second diagnosis table are received from the central server.

The central server may be configured to determine whether the received diagnosis code is misdiagnosed by comparing a result obtained by putting the battery state information into the second diagnosis table with the received diagnosis code.

The battery diagnosing apparatus may be configured to store the second diagnosis table received from the central server in an area different from the area in which the first diagnosis table is stored, and change the first diagnosis table to the second diagnosis table when the second diagnosis table is completely stored.

The battery diagnosing apparatus may be configured to store the first diagnosis table in an area indicated by a first reference address, and change the first reference address and a second reference address with each other when the second diagnosis table is stored in an area indicated by the second reference address.

The central server may be connected to a plurality of battery diagnosing apparatuses and configured to transmit the misdiagnosis determination result and the second diagnosis table to a battery diagnosing apparatus that has transmitted the misdiagnosed diagnosis code among the plurality of battery diagnosing apparatuses.

When the second diagnosis table is updated, the central server may be configured to transmit the updated second diagnosis table to all of the plurality of battery diagnosing apparatuses, based on an updated content or a predetermined cycle.

The central server may be configured to store the battery state information and the diagnosis code received from each of the plurality of battery diagnosing apparatuses and store an update history of the stored first diagnosis table in each of the plurality of battery diagnosing apparatuses.

The central server may be configured to calculate a deviation of the battery state information for each battery cell included in the battery module based on the battery state information, diagnose a state of the battery module based on the calculated deviation, and transmit the diagnosis result to the battery diagnosing apparatus.

The battery diagnosing apparatus may be configured to receive the diagnosis result and perform balancing to each battery cell included in the battery module according to the received diagnosis result.

The battery diagnosing method comprises: a battery state information generating step of, by a battery diagnosing apparatus, generating battery state information based on at least one of temperature, voltage and current of a battery module; a diagnosis code generating step of, by the battery diagnosing apparatus, generating a diagnosis code corresponding to the battery state information by using a pre-stored first diagnosis table; an information receiving step of, by a central server, receiving at least one of the battery state information and the diagnosis code from the battery diagnosing apparatus; a misdiagnosis determining step of, by the central server, determining whether the received diagnosis code is misdiagnosed by using a stored second diagnosis table and the received battery state information; a misdiagnosis determination result transmitting step of, by the central server, transmitting a misdiagnosis determination result and the second diagnosis table to the battery diagnosing apparatus when the diagnosis code is determined as being misdiagnosed; and a diagnosis table updating step of, by the battery diagnosing apparatus, updating the pre-stored first diagnosis table to the second diagnosis table when the misdiagnosis determination result and the second diagnosis table are received from the central server.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, since the diagnosis table stored in the battery diagnosing apparatus may be updated to a latest state, the battery state may be diagnosed more accurately.

In addition, according to an aspect of the present disclosure, since the central server determines whether the diagnosis code generated by the battery diagnosing apparatus is misdiagnosed, the battery state may be diagnosed more accurately and reliably.

In addition, according to an aspect of the present disclosure, since the diagnosis table is updated in consideration of the surrounding situation of the battery, the battery state may be diagnosed in consideration of the surrounding situation.

In addition, according to an aspect of the present disclosure, since the battery state information and the diagnosis code are backed up in the central server, even if the battery diagnosing apparatus is damaged, it is possible to provide the battery diagnosis history.

Therefore, the description proposed herein is just a preferable example for the purpose of illustrations only, not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, so it should be understood that other modifications could be made thereto without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

Furthermore, the term "control unit" described in the specification refers to a unit that processes at least one function or operation, and may be implemented by hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software.

<FIG> is a diagram schematically showing a battery diagnosing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, a battery diagnosing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> and a central server <NUM>. In addition, the battery diagnosing system may diagnose a state of a battery module <NUM> having at least one battery cell. Here, at least one battery cell may be connected in series and/or in parallel in the battery module <NUM>. In addition, the battery cell refers to one independent cell that has a negative electrode terminal and a positive electrode terminal and is physically separable. For example, one pouch-type lithium polymer cell may be regarded as the battery cell.

The battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> may include a communication unit <NUM>, a measuring unit <NUM>, a control unit <NUM>, and a storage unit <NUM>. A detailed exemplary configuration of the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> is a diagram showing an exemplary configuration of a battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM>, in the battery diagnosing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> may be provided inside a battery pack <NUM>. In addition, the battery pack <NUM> may include the battery module <NUM>, and the battery module <NUM> may be connected to the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM>. Hereinafter, for convenience of description, it is assumed that the battery module <NUM> includes a first battery cell, a second battery cell, and a third battery cell.

For example, in the embodiment of <FIG>, the measuring unit <NUM> may include a temperature measuring unit <NUM>, a voltage measuring unit <NUM>, and a current measuring unit <NUM>. In addition, the temperature measuring unit <NUM> may measure a temperature of the battery module <NUM> through a first sensing line SL1 connected to the battery module <NUM>.

The voltage measuring unit <NUM> may measure a voltage of each battery cell and a voltage of the battery module <NUM> through a plurality of connected sensing lines.

For example, in the embodiment of <FIG>, the voltage measuring unit <NUM> may be connected to the battery module <NUM> through a second sensing line SL2, a third sensing line SL3, a fourth sensing line SL4 and a fifth sensing line SL5. Specifically, the voltage measuring unit <NUM> may measure a potential at both ends of the first battery cell by using the second sensing line SL2 and the third sensing line SL3, and measure a voltage of the first battery cell by obtaining a difference between the measured potentials. Similarly, the voltage measuring unit <NUM> may measure a voltage of the second battery cell by using the third sensing line SL3 and the fourth sensing line SL4. In addition, the voltage measuring unit <NUM> may measure a voltage of the third battery cell by using the fourth sensing line SL4 and the fifth sensing line SL5. In addition, the voltage measuring unit <NUM> may measure the voltage of the battery module <NUM> by using the second sensing line SL2 and the fifth sensing line SL5.

The current measuring unit <NUM> may measure a current flowing through a charging and discharging path of the battery module <NUM> through the connected sensing line. Specifically, an ampere meter A may be disposed between a negative electrode terminal of the battery module <NUM> and a negative electrode terminal P- of the battery pack <NUM>. However, the position of the ampere meter A is not limited thereto, and the ampere meter A may also be disposed between a positive electrode terminal of the battery module <NUM> and a positive electrode terminal P+ of the battery pack <NUM>.

In addition, the current measuring unit <NUM> may measure a charging and discharging current of the battery module <NUM> through a sixth sensing line SL6 connected to the ampere meter A.

The battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> may be configured to generate battery state information based on at least one of temperature, voltage and current of the battery module <NUM>.

Specifically, the control unit <NUM> included in the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> may receive temperature information, voltage information and current information of the battery module <NUM> measured by the measuring unit <NUM>. In addition, the control unit <NUM> may generate battery state information including at least one of the temperature information, the voltage information and the current information.

In addition, the control unit <NUM> may estimate a SOC (State of Charge) of the battery module <NUM> based on the temperature information and the voltage information received from the measuring unit <NUM>. For example, in the embodiment of <FIG>, a main storage area <NUM> of the storage unit <NUM> may store a look-up table in which SOCs corresponding to the temperature information and the voltage information are mapped. Accordingly, the control unit <NUM> may generate SOC information based on the temperature information and the voltage information received from the measuring unit <NUM> by using the look-up table stored in the main storage area <NUM> of the storage unit <NUM>.

In addition, the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> may be configured to generate a diagnosis code corresponding to the battery state information by using the pre-stored first diagnosis table. For example, in the embodiment of <FIG>, the first diagnosis table may be stored in a first storage area <NUM> of the storage unit <NUM>.

Specifically, the control unit <NUM> of the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> may be configured to generate the diagnosis code by putting the generated battery state information into a first diagnosis table. In addition, the generated battery state information and the generated diagnosis code may be mapped with each other and stored in the main storage area <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram schematically showing an example of a first diagnosis table for a voltage of a battery cell. <FIG> is a diagram schematically showing an example of a second diagnosis table for the voltage of the battery cell. That is, <FIG> show examples of the first diagnosis table and the second diagnosis table for the voltage of one battery cell.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the first diagnosis table may include a diagnosis code and a diagnosis state according to each diagnosis condition. For example, the control unit <NUM> of the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> may generate a diagnosis code for the state of each of the plurality of battery cells B1, B2 and B3 based on the voltages of the plurality of battery cells B1, B2 and B3. Specifically, if a diagnosis target voltage (X) of the first battery cell B1 is less than <NUM>[v] or exceeds <NUM>[v], the control unit <NUM> may generate a diagnosis code G for the first battery cell B1 that indicates a battery failure state.

The battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> stores the first diagnosis table for each of temperature, voltage and current of the battery module <NUM>, and may generate a diagnosis code for the battery module <NUM> by using the stored first diagnosis table. In addition, the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> may generate a diagnosis code by combining two or more of temperature, voltage and current of the battery module <NUM>.

The battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> may be configured to transmit at least one of the battery state information and the diagnosis code.

Specifically, the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> and the central server <NUM> may be connected to through a wireless communication channel and communicate with each other.

For example, in the embodiment of <FIG>, the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> may include a communication unit <NUM> configured to enable wireless communication with the central server <NUM>. In addition, the control unit <NUM> may transmit the battery state information and the diagnosis code to the central server <NUM> through the communication unit <NUM>.

The central server <NUM> may be configured to receive at least one of the battery state information and the diagnosis code from the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM>.

In addition, the central server <NUM> may be configured to determine whether the received diagnosis code is misdiagnosed by using the stored second diagnosis table and the received battery state information.

Specifically, the second diagnosis table different from the first diagnosis table stored in the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> may be stored in the central server <NUM>. For example, referring to <FIG>, the first diagnosis table stored in the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> and the second diagnosis table stored in the central server <NUM> may have different diagnosis conditions. The central server <NUM> may determine whether the diagnosis code determined by the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> according to the battery state information is accurately diagnosed by using the second diagnosis table.

For example, it is assumed that the voltage of the first battery cell B1 and the second battery cell B2 is <NUM>[V], and the voltage of the third battery cell B3 is <NUM>[V]. The central server <NUM> may generate a diagnosis code by putting the battery state information received from the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> into the second diagnosis table. Here, referring to <FIG>, the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> may generate all of the diagnosis codes of the plurality of battery cells B <NUM>, B2 and B3 as S by using the first diagnosis table. Also, referring to <FIG>, the central server <NUM> may generate all of the diagnosis codes of the plurality of battery cells B <NUM>, B2 and B3 as S by using the second diagnosis table. In addition, since the diagnosis code generated for each of the plurality of battery cells B <NUM>, B2 and B3 and the diagnosis code received from the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> are identical, the central server <NUM> may determine that the battery state of the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> is correctly diagnosed.

If it is determined that the diagnosis code diagnosed by the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> is misdiagnosed, the central server <NUM> may be configured to transmit a misdiagnosis determination result and the second diagnosis table to the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM>.

That is, if it is determined that the diagnosis code diagnosed by the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> according to the battery state information by using the first diagnosis table is misdiagnosed, the central server <NUM> may transmit the misdiagnosis determination result determined based on the second diagnosis table and the second diagnosis table to the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM>.

For example, the second diagnosis table may be updated by a user or according to preset conditions. That is, although the second diagnosis table identical to the first diagnosis table shown in <FIG> is stored in the central server <NUM>, the diagnosis condition may be updated with the second diagnosis table shown in <FIG>. Therefore, diagnosis codes may be determined differently by the first diagnosis table and the second diagnosis table. In this case, the central server <NUM> may transmit the second diagnosis table and the misdiagnosis determination result to the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM>. That is, the second diagnosis table stored in the central server <NUM> may be a table used as a criterion for determining the diagnosis code.

The battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> may be configured to update the pre-stored first diagnosis table to the second diagnosis table, when receiving the misdiagnosis determination result and the second diagnosis table from the central server <NUM>.

The battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> may receive and store the misdiagnosis determination result from the central server <NUM> and update a diagnosis table used for generating the diagnosis code according to the battery state information from the first diagnosis table to the second diagnosis table.

After that, the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> may generate a diagnosis code of the battery module <NUM> by using the diagnosis table identical to the second diagnosis table of the central server <NUM>.

According to the battery diagnosing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, since the central server <NUM> determines whether the diagnosis code diagnosed by the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> is misdiagnosed, the accuracy and reliability of the diagnosis code generated for the battery module <NUM> may be improved.

In addition, since the diagnosis tables used in the central server <NUM> and the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> are kept to be identical to each other, there is an advantage that an accurate diagnosis code may be generated for the battery module <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the control unit <NUM> provided to the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> may selectively include processors known in the art, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), other chipsets, logic circuits, registers, communication modems, data processing devices, and the like to execute various control logic performed in the present disclosure. Also, when the control logic is implemented in software, the control unit <NUM> may be implemented as a set of program modules. At this time, the program module may be stored in a memory and executed by the control unit <NUM>. The memory may be located inside or out of the control unit <NUM> and may be connected to the control unit <NUM> by various well-known means.

That is, the storage unit <NUM> provided to the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> may store programs, data and the like required for operating the control unit <NUM>. That is, the storage unit <NUM> may store data necessary for operation and function of each component of the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM>, data generated in the process of performing the operation or function, or the like. The storage unit <NUM> is not particularly limited in its kind as long as it is a known information storage means that can record, erase, update and read data. As an example, the information storage means may include RAM, flash memory, ROM, EEPROM, registers, and the like. In addition, the storage unit <NUM> may store program codes in which processes executable by the control unit <NUM> are defined.

The central server <NUM> may be configured to compare a result obtained by putting the battery state information into the second diagnosis table with the received diagnosis code to determine whether the received diagnosis code is misdiagnosed.

Specifically, the central server <NUM> may generate a diagnosis code using the second diagnosis table by putting the battery state information received from the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> into the stored second diagnosis table. The central server <NUM> may determine whether the generated diagnosis code is identical to the diagnosis code received from the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM>.

For example, it is assumed that the diagnosis target voltage (X) in the battery state information generated by the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> is <NUM>[v]. Referring to <FIG>, the diagnosis code generated by the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> using the first diagnosis table may be A. Meanwhile, referring to <FIG>, the diagnosis code generated by the central server <NUM> using the second diagnosis table may be S.

In other words, since the diagnosis conditions of the first diagnosis table and the second diagnosis table are different, the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> determines that the state of the battery cell with the diagnosis target voltage (X) of <NUM>[v] is as a battery warning state, but the central server <NUM> may determine that the state of the battery cell is a battery normal state. Therefore, the central server <NUM> may determine that the diagnosis code generated by the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> is misdiagnosed.

In this case, the central server <NUM> may transmit the misdiagnosis determination result and the second diagnosis table to the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM>, and the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> may receive the second diagnosis table and update the stored first diagnosis table.

Since the battery diagnosing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure generates diagnosis codes for the battery state information twice by the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> and the central server <NUM> and checks whether the generated diagnosis codes are identical to each other, it is possible to improve the accuracy of battery state diagnose.

<FIG> is a diagram schematically showing a process for the central server <NUM> and the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> to communicate as time goes, in the battery diagnosing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> may first generate battery state information. In addition, the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> may generate a diagnosis code corresponding to the generated battery state information by using the first diagnosis table.

For example, the first diagnosis table may be the same as the diagnosis table shown in <FIG>. The battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> may generate a diagnosis code for the voltage of the battery cell by putting the voltage of the battery cell in the generated battery state information into the first diagnosis table.

In addition, the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> may transmit the generated battery state information and the generated diagnosis code to the central server <NUM>.

The central server <NUM> may detect an error in the received diagnosis code. That is, the central server <NUM> may determine whether the received diagnosis code is misdiagnosed by using the second diagnosis table. For example, the central server <NUM> may generate a diagnosis code by putting the received battery state information into the second diagnosis table shown in <FIG>. In addition, if the generated diagnosis code and the received diagnosis code are different from each other, the central server <NUM> may transmit error detection information and the second diagnosis table to the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM>.

Here, the error detection information may be a result of comparing the diagnosis code generated by the central server <NUM> with the diagnosis code generated by the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM>.

The battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> may receive and store the error detection information from the central server <NUM> and update the first diagnosis table to the received second diagnosis table.

In addition, the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> may regenerate battery state information, regenerate a diagnosis code by using the updated first diagnosis table, and transmit the regenerated battery state information and the regenerated diagnosis code to the central server <NUM>. That is, the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> may periodically upload the battery state information and the diagnosis code to the central server <NUM>.

The battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> may be configured to store the second diagnosis table received from the central server <NUM> in an area different from the area in which the first diagnosis table is stored.

For example, in the embodiment of <FIG>, the first diagnosis table may be stored in the first storage area <NUM> of the storage unit <NUM>. In addition, the second diagnosis table received through the communication unit <NUM> may be stored in a second storage area <NUM> of the storage unit <NUM>.

In addition, the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> may be configured to change the first diagnosis table to the second diagnosis table, if the second diagnosis table is completely stored.

That is, the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> may generate the diagnosis code by using the first diagnosis table even while receiving the second diagnosis table from the central server <NUM>. In addition, if the second diagnosis table is completely received, namely if the second diagnosis table is stored in the second storage area <NUM>, the first diagnosis table may be updated to the second diagnosis table.

For example, assuming that it is simultaneously performed to receive the second diagnosis table and update the first diagnosis table, a gap may occur in generating the diagnosis code for the battery state information according to the communication environment between the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> and the central server <NUM>.

Specifically, it is assumed that the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> is provided to a vehicle. If the vehicle is in an environment where communication with the central server <NUM> is not available, for example in a tunnel, or if the communication speed between the vehicle and the central server <NUM> is rapidly lowered, it may be delayed to receive the second diagnosis table. In this case, if the second diagnosis table is received and the first diagnosis table is updated at the same time, the accuracy of diagnosis code generation may be seriously deteriorated.

Preferably, while the first diagnosis table is being updated, the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> may be set not to generate a diagnosis code. If a diagnosis code is generated while the first diagnosis table is being updated, a gap section in which the diagnosis code is not generated may occur.

For example, while the first diagnosis table shown in <FIG> is updated to the second diagnosis table shown in <FIG>, X is a voltage of the battery state information, which may be a diagnosis target voltage. In addition, it is assumed that the section in which the diagnosis condition is <NUM>[v] ≤ X < <NUM>[v] is updated. In this case, by using the first diagnosis table being updated, the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> may generate a diagnosis code A if the voltage of the battery cell falls within the section <NUM>[v] ≤ X < <NUM> [v], may generate a diagnosis code S if the voltage of the battery cell falls within the section <NUM>[v] ≤ X ≤ <NUM>[v]. That is, the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> has a problem in that it not possible to generate a corresponding diagnosis code if the voltage of the battery cell falls within the section <NUM>[v] ≤ X < <NUM>[v].

Therefore, in order to prevent the gap in the generation of diagnosis code, the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> may receive and store the second diagnosis table in an area separate from the first diagnosis table, and then update the first diagnosis table to the second diagnosis table if the second diagnosis table is completely stored. In addition, while receiving the second diagnosis table, the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> stores the second diagnosis table in an area separate from the area in which the first diagnosis table is stored, so that diagnosis codes for the battery state information are successively generated, thereby having an advantage of diagnosing the state of the battery module <NUM> continuously.

The battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> may be configured to store the first diagnosis table in an area indicated by a first reference address.

Here, the first reference address may be an address indicating an area in which the first diagnosis table is stored. That is, the control unit <NUM> of the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> may access the first reference address and read the first diagnosis table.

For example, the first reference address may be a start address of the first storage area <NUM> of the storage unit <NUM>. Therefore, the control unit <NUM> may access the first storage area <NUM> by accessing the first reference address. In addition, the control unit <NUM> may read the first diagnosis table by accessing the first storage area <NUM>.

Also, the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> may be configured to change the first reference address and a second reference address to each other if the second diagnosis table is stored in an area indicated by the second reference address.

For example, the area indicated by the second reference address may be a start address of the second storage area <NUM> of the storage unit <NUM>. If the second diagnosis table is completely stored in the second storage area <NUM>, the control unit <NUM> may change the area indicated by the first reference address to the starting address of the second storage area <NUM>, and change the area indicated by the second reference address to the starting address of the first storage area <NUM>.

After that, the control unit <NUM> may access the second storage area <NUM> by accessing the first reference address. In addition, the control unit <NUM> may read the second diagnosis table by accessing the second storage area <NUM>. Therefore, the control unit <NUM> may generate a diagnosis code for the battery state information by using the second diagnosis table.

That is, after the second diagnosis table is completely stored, the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may significantly reduce the changing time of the first diagnosis table and the second diagnosis table by changing the first reference address and the second reference address. Therefore, there is an advantage in that the gap in the generation of diagnosis code for the battery state information may be minimized.

<FIG> is a diagram showing a battery diagnosing system according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, a battery diagnosing system according to another embodiment of the present disclosure may include one central server <NUM> and a plurality of battery diagnosing apparatuses <NUM>.

The central server <NUM> may be configured to be connected to the plurality of battery diagnosing apparatuses <NUM>. However, hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, as shown in <FIG>, the central server <NUM> will be described as being connected to a first battery diagnosing apparatus 100a, a second battery diagnosing apparatus 100b and a third battery diagnosing apparatus 100c.

Preferably, each of the plurality of battery diagnosing apparatuses <NUM> may be connected to the central server <NUM> through a wireless communication channel.

The central server <NUM> may be configured to transmit the misdiagnosis determination result and the second diagnosis table to the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM>, which has transmitted the misdiagnosed diagnosis code, among the plurality of battery diagnosing apparatuses <NUM>. That is, the central server <NUM> may be configured to transmit the misdiagnosis determination result and the second diagnosis table only to the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> that has transmitted the misdiagnosis diagnosis code.

The plurality of battery diagnosing apparatuses <NUM> may be configured to independently receive the misdiagnosis determination result and the second diagnosis table, so that the battery module <NUM> connected to each of the plurality of battery diagnosing apparatuses <NUM> has a most optimized diagnosis table.

For example, the first battery diagnosing apparatus 100a and the second battery diagnosing apparatus 100b may store the same first diagnosis table, and the first battery diagnosing apparatus 100a and the third battery diagnosing apparatus 100c may store different first diagnosis tables.

In addition, the central server <NUM> may prevent a communication delay caused by an overload of a communication channel by transmitting the misdiagnosis determination result and the second diagnosis table only to the corresponding battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> among the plurality of battery diagnosing apparatuses <NUM>. Accordingly, as a result, the plurality of battery diagnosing apparatuses <NUM> may include the first diagnosis table in which different diagnosis conditions are set according to the state information of the connected battery module <NUM>.

The battery diagnosing system according to another embodiment of the present disclosure has an advantage that the first diagnosis table <NUM> is updated only for the corresponding battery diagnosing apparatuses among the plurality of battery diagnosing apparatuses <NUM> in order to create an optimized communication environment between the central server <NUM> and the plurality of battery diagnosing apparatuses <NUM>.

In addition, the battery diagnosing system may prevent the system space of the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> from being unnecessarily wasted by preventing the first diagnosis table from being updated unnecessarily frequently.

If the second diagnosis table is updated, the central server <NUM> may be configured to transmit the updated second diagnosis table to all of the plurality of battery diagnosing apparatuses <NUM> based on the updated content or a predetermined cycle.

Specifically, the diagnosis condition of the second diagnosis table stored in the central server <NUM> may be updated. For example, if the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> is provided to a vehicle, the state of the battery module <NUM> included in the vehicle may be affected by temperature. Therefore, the central server <NUM> may collect weather information from the outside and change the diagnosis condition of the second diagnosis table according to the temperature.

For example, in winter when the temperature is low, the battery module <NUM> may be rapidly discharged. Therefore, the central server <NUM> may change the diagnosis condition of a low voltage section (for example, a section less than <NUM>[v]) of the battery module <NUM> in the second diagnosis table in consideration of the discharge of the battery module <NUM> in winter. In the embodiment of <FIG>, X denotes the diagnosis target voltage, like the former embodiment. The central server <NUM> may change the diagnosis condition of the section X < <NUM>[v] to X < <NUM>[v] and change the diagnosis condition of the section <NUM>[v] ≤ X < <NUM>[v] to <NUM> [v] ≤ X < <NUM>[v]. In addition, the central server <NUM> may change the diagnosis condition of the section <NUM>[v] ≤ X < <NUM>[v] to <NUM>[v] ≤ X < <NUM>[v] and change the of the section <NUM>[v] ≤ X ≤ <NUM>[v] to <NUM>[v] ≤ X ≤ <NUM>[v]. As such, the central server <NUM> may more strictly apply the diagnosis code according to the discharge of the battery module <NUM> by changing the diagnosis condition in the low voltage section in consideration of the discharge of the battery module <NUM> according to the ambient temperature.

As another example, in summer when the temperature is high, the temperature of the battery module <NUM> may rise due to not only chemical reactions during charging and discharging but also ambient temperature. Therefore, the central server <NUM> may more strictly apply the diagnosis code according to the temperature rise of the battery module <NUM> by changing the diagnosis condition in a high temperature section in consideration of the temperature rise of the battery module <NUM> according to the ambient temperature. For example, even if the temperature of the battery module <NUM> in winter and the temperature of the battery module <NUM> in summer are the same, a diagnosis code of a higher level may be generated for the battery module <NUM> in summer.

As another example, the central server <NUM> may transmit the second diagnosis table to the plurality of battery diagnosing apparatuses <NUM> at every predetermined cycle. For example, the central server <NUM> may transmit the second diagnosis table to the plurality of battery diagnosing apparatuses <NUM> at every month. If the diagnosis condition of the second diagnosis table is updated according to season change as in the former embodiment, in some of the plurality of battery diagnosing apparatuses <NUM>, the first diagnosis table may be updated only by the seasonal change. Therefore, the central server <NUM> may maintain the state of the first diagnosis tables stored in the plurality of battery diagnosing apparatuses <NUM> as a latest state by not only updating the second diagnosis table but also transmitting the second diagnosis table to the plurality of battery diagnosing apparatuses <NUM> at every predetermined cycle.

As such, the battery diagnosing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may improve the accuracy of the state diagnosis for the battery module <NUM> by updating the first diagnosis table stored in the plurality of battery diagnosing apparatuses <NUM> to the second diagnosis table in which the latest content is reflected.

The central server <NUM> may be configured to store the battery state information and the diagnosis codes received from each of the plurality of battery diagnosing apparatuses <NUM>.

Preferably, the central server <NUM> may serve as a backup server for storing the battery state information and the diagnosis codes for each of the plurality of battery diagnosing apparatuses <NUM>. Therefore, even if the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> is damaged so that the battery state information and the diagnosis code stored in the main storage area <NUM> of the storage unit <NUM> are lost, the corresponding battery state information and the corresponding diagnosis code may be recovered through the central server <NUM>.

In addition, the central server <NUM> may store the battery state information and the diagnosis codes for each of the plurality of battery diagnosing apparatuses <NUM> and provide the same to each user. Accordingly, the user may obtain the battery state information and the diagnosis code by accessing the central server <NUM> without accessing the main storage area <NUM> of the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> to obtain the battery state information and the diagnosis code. Therefore, there is an advantage in that the user may conveniently perform self-diagnosis for the battery module <NUM> by accessing the central server <NUM>.

Also, preferably, the central server <NUM> may provide the user with information about a diagnosis state and a diagnosis measure for the stored diagnosis code. Therefore, the user may more conveniently self-diagnose the state of the battery module <NUM> and take a self-measure.

In addition, the central server <NUM> may be configured to store update history of the first diagnosis table stored in each of the plurality of battery diagnosing apparatuses <NUM>.

Preferably, when transmitting the second diagnosis table to the plurality of battery diagnosing apparatuses <NUM>, the central server <NUM> may selectively transmit the second diagnosis table only to the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> that stores a first diagnosis table different from the contents of the second diagnosis table at present. Accordingly, by preventing an overload of a communication channel to which the central server <NUM> and the plurality of battery diagnosing apparatuses <NUM> are connected, it is possible to transmit the second diagnosis table and update the first diagnosis table more quickly.

The battery diagnosing system according to another embodiment of the present disclosure has an advantage of storing the battery state information and the diagnosis code of the plurality of battery diagnosing apparatuses <NUM>, preventing the battery state information and the diagnosis code from being lost due to damage to the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM>, and providing the contents of the battery state information and the diagnosis code to the user.

In addition, the battery diagnosing system has an advantage of preventing an overload of the communication channel so that the first diagnosis table is updated more quickly.

The central server may be configured to calculate a deviation of the battery state information for each battery cell included in the battery module, based on the battery state information.

For example, in the embodiment of <FIG>, even if the state of each of the plurality of battery cells B <NUM>, B2 and B3 is diagnosed as a battery normal state based on the voltage or SOC, the voltages or SOCs of the plurality of battery cells B1, B2 and B3 may be different from each other.

That is, if the states of the plurality of battery cells B1, B2 and B3 provided in one battery module <NUM> are different from each other, the performance efficiency of the battery module <NUM> may be deteriorated, and an overcharge or overdischarge problem may occur. Therefore, the central server <NUM> may calculate a deviation of the battery state information of the plurality of battery cells B1, B2 and B3.

The central server <NUM> may be configured to diagnose the state of the battery module based on the calculated deviation.

Specifically, the central server <NUM> may calculate a voltage or SOC deviation of the plurality of battery cells B1, B2 and B3.

For example, if the SOC of the third battery cell B3 is lower than the SOCs of the first battery cell B1 and the second battery cell B2, the central server <NUM> may diagnose that the state of the battery module <NUM> is a state where balancing is required (or, a balancing-required state). Preferably, the central server <NUM> may diagnose the state of the battery module <NUM> as a balancing-required state if the SOCs of the plurality of battery cells B1, B2 and B3 provided in the battery module <NUM> are different from each other by <NUM>% or more.

That is, the central server <NUM> may diagnose the state of each of the plurality of battery cells B1, B2 and B3 and diagnose the deviation among the plurality of battery cells B1, B2 and B3, based on the battery state information received from the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM>. Accordingly, the central server <NUM> may generate a comprehensive diagnosis result for the battery module <NUM> including the plurality of battery cells B1, B2 and B3.

In addition, the central server <NUM> may be configured to transmit a diagnosis result to the battery diagnosing apparatus.

As in the former embodiment, if the state of the battery module <NUM> is diagnosed as a balancing-required state, the central server <NUM> may transmit the diagnosis result to the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM>. In addition, preferably, the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> may be configured to receive the diagnosis result and perform balancing for each of the plurality of battery cells B1, B2 and B3 provided in the battery module <NUM> according to the received diagnosis result.

That is, the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> may reduce the voltage or SOC deviation of the plurality of battery cells B1, B2, and B3 by balancing the battery module <NUM> according to the received diagnosis result, thereby improving the performance efficiency of the battery module <NUM>. In addition, by performing balancing, the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> may prevent an overdischarge or overcharge problem that may occur in the plurality of battery cells B1, B2 and B3.

Therefore, the battery diagnosing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has an advantage of improving reliability by more accurately diagnosing the state of the battery module <NUM> through the primary state diagnosis by the battery diagnosing apparatus and the secondary state diagnosis by the central server.

<FIG> is a diagram showing a battery diagnosing method according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure. The battery diagnosing method may be performed by the battery diagnosing system. Specifically, each step of the battery diagnosing method may be performed by the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> or the central server <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, a battery diagnosing method according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure may include a battery state information generating step (S100), a diagnosis code generating step (S200), an information receiving step (S300), a misdiagnosis determining step (S400), a misdiagnosis determination result transmitting step (S500) and a diagnosis table updating step (S600).

The battery state information generating step (S100) is a step of generating battery state information based on at least one of temperature, voltage and current of the battery module <NUM>, and may be performed by the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM>. Specifically, the battery state information generating step (S100) may be performed by the control unit <NUM> of the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM>.

First, before the battery state information is generated, the measuring unit <NUM> of the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> may measure the temperature, voltage and current of the connected battery module <NUM>.

In addition, the control unit <NUM> may generate battery state information such as temperature information, voltage information, current information and SOC information based on the temperature, voltage and current of the battery module <NUM> measured by the measuring unit <NUM>.

The diagnosis code generating step (S200) is a step of generating a diagnosis code for the battery state information by using a pre-stored first diagnosis table, and may be performed by the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM>. Specifically, the diagnosis code generating step (S200) may be performed by the control unit <NUM> of the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM>.

The control unit <NUM> may generate the diagnosis code according to the battery state information by putting the generated battery state information into the first diagnosis table stored in the first storage area <NUM> of the storage unit <NUM> and then reading a corresponding diagnosis code.

The information receiving step (S300) is a step of receiving at least one of the battery state information and the diagnosis code from the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM>, and may be performed by the central server <NUM>.

The battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> and the central server <NUM> may be connected through a wireless communication channel. Accordingly, the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> may transmit the generated battery state information and the generated diagnosis code to the central server <NUM>, and the central server <NUM> may receive the battery state information and the diagnosis code from the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM>.

The misdiagnosis determining step (S400) is a step of determining whether the received diagnosis code is misdiagnosed by using the stored second diagnosis table and the received battery state information, and may be performed by the central server <NUM>.

The central server <NUM> may store the second diagnosis table. The central server <NUM> may compare the result obtained by putting the battery state information received from the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> into the second diagnosis table with the diagnosis code received from the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> to determine whether they are identical to each other.

If the result obtained through the second diagnosis table and the received diagnosis code are identical, the central server <NUM> may determine that the battery state information is accurately diagnosed by the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM>. If the result obtained through the second diagnosis table and the received diagnosis code are different, the central server <NUM> may determine that the battery state information is incorrectly diagnosed by the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM>.

The misdiagnosis determination result transmitting step (S500) is a step of transmitting a misdiagnosis determination result and the second diagnosis table to the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> if it is determined that the diagnosis code is misdiagnosed, and may be performed by the central server <NUM>.

That is, the misdiagnosis determination result transmitting step (S500) may be performed only when the central server <NUM> determines that the diagnosis code of the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> is misdiagnosed in the misdiagnosis determination step.

The central server <NUM> may transmit the misdiagnosis determination result and the second diagnosis table to the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM>. Here, the misdiagnosis determination result may be a result obtained by comparing the result obtained through the second diagnosis table with the diagnosis code received from the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM>.

The diagnosis table updating step (S600) is a step of updating the pre-stored first diagnosis table to the second diagnosis table if the misdiagnosis determination result and the second diagnosis table are received from the central server <NUM>, and may be performed by the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM>.

The battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> may receive and store the misdiagnosis determination result, and may update the first diagnosis table by receiving the second diagnosis table. In this case, the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> may receive and store the second diagnosis table in an area different from the area in which the first diagnosis table is stored. In addition, if the second diagnosis table is completely stored, the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> may update the first diagnosis table to the second diagnosis table. At this time, the battery diagnosing apparatus <NUM> may update the first diagnosis table by overwriting the second diagnosis table on the first diagnosis table, or by changing the first reference address indicating the area where the first diagnosis table is stored and the second reference address indicating the area where the second diagnosis table is stored with each other.

Claim 1:
A battery diagnosing system for diagnosing a state of a battery module (<NUM>) having at least one battery cell (B1, B2, B3), the battery diagnosing system comprising:
a battery diagnosing apparatus (<NUM>) configured to generate battery state information based on at least one of temperature, voltage and current of the battery module, generate a diagnosis code corresponding to the battery state information by using a pre-stored first diagnosis table, and transmit at least one of the battery state information and the diagnosis code; and
a central server (<NUM>) configured to receive at least one of the battery state information and the diagnosis code from the battery diagnosing apparatus, determine whether the received diagnosis code is misdiagnosed by using a stored second diagnosis table and the received battery state information, and transmit a misdiagnosis determination result and the second diagnosis table to the battery diagnosing apparatus when the diagnosis code is determined as being misdiagnosed,
wherein the battery diagnosing apparatus is configured to update the pre-stored first diagnosis table to the second diagnosis table when the misdiagnosis determination result and the second diagnosis table are received from the central server,
wherein the central server is configured to determine the received diagnosis code is misdiagnosed, when a result obtained by putting the battery state information into the second diagnosis table and the received diagnosis code are different.