Abstract: A battery cartridge-connecting system for battery modules including bus bars, each of which includes a plate-shaped bar body, coupling parts, and electrical connection parts; a base plate, to which the bus bars are easily mounted; and a printed circuit board (PCB), which is easily coupled to the bus bars and is mounted to the base plate in a compact structure. The present invention also provides a battery module and a medium- or large-sized battery system including the battery cartridge-connecting system.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a battery pack including a module assembly consisting of two or more unit modules having different outputs and capacities, a detection unit for detecting the current and/or the voltage of the battery pack and transmitting the detected current signal and/or the detected voltage signal to a control unit, the control unit for selecting an optimal unit module from the module assembly based on the current signal and/or the voltage signal received from the detection unit, and a switching unit for electrically connecting a specific unit module of the module assembly to an external input and output terminal under the control of the control unit. In the battery pack according to the present invention, an appropriate unit module is selected and operated depending upon the operating conditions of a device in which the battery pack is mounted, whereby the operating efficiency of the battery pack is improved.

Abstract: An apparatus for estimating an OCV of a battery includes a voltage sensing unit for measuring a battery output voltage; a temperature sensing unit for measuring a battery temperature; a data storing unit for periodically receiving the battery output voltage and temperature data from the sensing units and storing the data in a memory; an OCV variation estimating unit for calculating an OCV variation from a varying pattern of battery output voltages measured in the past and at the present, stored in the memory, by applying a mathematical model defining a correlation between the varying pattern and the OCV variation, and estimating an OCV at a current stage by reflecting a correction factor corresponding to the battery temperature on the calculated OCV variation; and an OCV estimating unit for estimating an OCV at the current stage by reflecting the estimated OCV variation on the OCV estimated at a last stage.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a power switching module for a battery module assembly constructed in a structure in which a plurality of rectangular battery modules, each having a plurality of battery cells or unit modules connected in series to each other, are stacked in the width direction (the longitudinal direction) and the height direction (the transverse direction) by at least twos such that the rectangular battery modules generally constitute a hexahedral structure (hexahedral stack), outer edges of the hexahedral stack are fixed by a frame member, and input and output terminals of the rectangular battery modules are oriented such that the input and output terminals of the rectangular battery modules are directed toward one surface (a) of the hexahedral stack, wherein the power switching module comprises an insulative substrate mounted to the surface (a) of the hexahedral stack in a coupling fashion, elements mounted on the insulative substrate for controlling voltage and current during the charge and discharge o

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a member for mechanically and electrically connecting two or more objects, including an insulation body having a plurality of coupling holes for coupling the objects formed therein, a plate-shaped conductive strip mounted at the rear surface of the insulation body in the diagonal direction of the insulation body while the conductive strip is isolated from the front surface of the insulation body, the conductive strip having connection holes formed at opposite ends thereof such that the connection holes communicate with the insulation body, and a connecting bar constructed such that the connecting bar can be inserted into the corresponding connection hole of the conductive strip while the strip is connected to the objects. The connecting member accomplishes excellent mechanical connection and stable electrical connection of objects, easy assembly and disassembly, and low possibility of short circuits.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for controlling the discharge or charge power of a battery, capable of preventing over-charge and over-discharge of battery cells according to states of the battery cells, and solving a problem that the lifetime of a conventional battery pack is rapidly reduced due to the over-charge or over-discharge of some cells of the battery pack. The method includes the steps of estimating the maximum power of the battery, measuring voltage of a battery cell or pack, checking whether or not the voltage of the battery cell or pack deviates from a preset limited range so as to correspond to the maximum power, and when the voltage of the battery cell or pack deviates from a preset limited range, controlling the discharge or charge power of the battery.

Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for accurately estimating a state of charge of a battery, which can measure a change of temperature and an open circuit voltage so as to estimate the state of charge at an initial time when a vehicle is not driven, and while measuring a decrement in a capacity of a battery according to charging and discharging of the battery when the vehicle is driven. The method includes the steps of: measuring a temperature in an initial estimation of the state of charge; measuring an open circuit voltage; obtaining parameters indicating a change of the open circuit voltage according to a change of temperature; and calculating the state of charge using the parameters and the open circuit voltage which is measured depending on the obtained parameters.

Abstract: A method of controlling a mobile terminal is provided. The method may include displaying an icon on the mobile terminal indicating that at least one access-failed website is currently accessible by the mobile terminal. The at least one access-failed website may be a website that the mobile terminal previously failed to access. In response to selection of the icon displayed on the mobile terminal, a website list may be displayed o n the mobile terminal. The website list may include information of the access-failed website that is currently accessible.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a heat exchange system that controls the temperature of a medium- or large-sized battery pack including a plurality of unit cells. The heat exchange system includes a sealed type housing surrounding the outer surface of the battery pack such that a predetermined flow channel, through which a heat exchange medium flows, is defined between the housing and the battery pack, a driving fan mounted in the housing for driving the heat exchange medium to flow, and a heat exchange unit mounted at one side of the housing for controlling the temperature of the heat exchange medium. In the heat exchange system according to the present invention, the heat exchange medium, for example, air is not introduced from the outside of the battery system, but is circulated in the battery system by the heat exchange unit.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a middle- or large-sized battery pack including a plurality of unit cells electrically connected with each other, wherein the battery pack is constructed in a structure in which a heat transfer medium flows through gaps defined between the unit cells for controlling the overall temperature of the battery pack to be within a predetermined temperature range for the optimum operation of the battery pack, and each unit cell is provided at the outer surface thereof, at which the heat transfer medium is brought into contact with each unit cell, with a layer containing a phase transformation material (‘phase transformation layer’) for minimizing individual temperature difference between the unit cells. The present invention has the effect of controlling the overall temperature of the battery pack and individual controlling the temperatures of unit cells constituting the battery pack.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a plate-shaped secondary battery used as a unit cell for middle- or large-sized battery pack, the secondary battery having an electrode assembly, which can be charged and discharged, mounted in a sheet-shaped battery case including a metal layer and a resin layer in a sealed state, the electrode assembly having electrode terminals protruding outside a sealing part of the battery case, wherein at least one of the electrode terminals is provided at a position spaced a predetermined distance from the sealing part with a self cutting part having a vertical sectional area less than that of the remaining part of the at least one electrode terminal such that the self cutting part can break first when overcurrent flows in the secondary battery.

Abstract: A mobile terminal is provided including a display module, an acceleration sensor, and a controller. The display module is for displaying first content and second content. The acceleration sensor is for providing measurement data on a direction of gravitational acceleration. The controller is configured to display the first content and the second content in line vertically and to rotate the first content and the second content when the measurement data indicate that the mobile terminal has been rotated to a first position while uniformly maintaining a display direction of the display module. The controller is further configured to display the first content and the second content in line horizontally and to rotate the first content and the second content when the measurement data indicate that the mobile terminal has been rotated to a second position while uniformly maintaining the display direction of the display module.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus of estimating a state of health (SOH) of a battery using internal resistance, which has been found to act as a parameter exerting the greatest influence on the SOH of the battery. The method comprises the steps of: storing an SOH estimation table constructing SOH values corresponding to various values of internal resistance according to temperature and a state of charge (SOC) in a memory; performing measurement of the temperature and estimation of the SOC of the battery when a request is made to estimate the SOH; detecting the internal resistance value of the battery; and reading the SOH values corresponding to the measured temperature, the estimated SOC of the battery, and the detected internal resistance value of the battery from the SOH estimation table.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for setting an initial SOC value, which initializes the SOC in consideration of not only the temperature change of the external environment of the battery but also the internal temperature change of the battery before the battery reaches a stable unloaded state, thereby enhancing the accuracy in the setup of the initial SOC value. The method includes: measuring internal temperatures of the battery and SOCs corresponding to voltages of the battery, which change according to the time passage after a loaded state is converted into an unloaded state, and constructing an SOC estimation table by using measured values, and storing the SOC estimation table; measuring the internal temperature and the voltage of the battery when estimation of an initial SOC value of the battery is required; and reading an SOC corresponding to the measured internal temperature and the voltage of the battery from the SOC estimation table.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a cooling system for a battery pack that is usable as a power source of electric vehicles and hybrid-electric vehicles. The cooling system has the effect of effectively dissipating heat generated from battery cells by supplying a refrigerant to the battery cells at a constant flow rate, and of minimizing a temperature difference between the battery cells during a cooling process. This prevents degradation in the performance of the battery cells, and achieves optimal temperature control. Also, the cooling system employs a single refrigerant guide member arranged at a side of the battery pack, resulting in a reduction in the size of an overall battery system.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a battery includes a capacitor for charging a voltage when the apparatus is on and discharging a voltage when the apparatus is off, a discharging circuit for discharging the voltage charged in the capacitor; a first switching unit for connecting or disconnecting the capacitor to/from a predetermined power source for the purpose of charging of the capacitor; a second switching unit for connecting or disconnecting the capacitor to/from the discharging unit; a voltage measuring unit for measuring a voltage charged in the capacitor; and a controller for calculating a power-off duration time according to the measured voltage. This apparatus may continuously calculate a power-off duration time of a battery pack.

Abstract: A process for controlling temperature of a battery pack includes operating a fan to change a battery temperature to an optimal range of temperature (Topt) when a condition is satisfied that the battery temperature is equal to or greater than a maximum acceptable temperature (Tmax) or when the battery temperature is equal to or less than a minimum acceptable temperature (Tmin) and, at the same time, when the difference between a battery temperature (Tbat) and an air temperature (Tair) of air is equal to or greater than a critical temperature (Tcrt), and operating the fan to change the battery temperature to an optimal range of temperature variation (Topt1) of each unit cell when the battery temperature does not satisfy the condition, and a temperature variation (Tvar) of each unit cell is equal to or greater than a predetermined critical temperature (Tcrt1).

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of estimating a maximum output of a battery for a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV). The method comprises extracting maximum charge/discharge outputs of the battery depending on a plurality of charged states (SOC) of the battery under which the vehicle is able to be driven and calculating an interrelation between them; extracting maximum charge/discharge outputs of the battery at plural temperatures under which the vehicle is able to be driven, and calculating an interrelation between them; extracting degradations of outputs of the battery as a capacity of the battery is discharged during the traveling, and calculating an interrelation between them; and based on the interrelations obtained, estimating a maximum output of the battery using a function.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a secondary battery module comprising a plurality of unit cells stacked one on another, wherein the unit cells are spaced apart from each other such that a channel for heat dissipation is defined between the unit cells, the battery module further comprises at least one piezoelectric sensor mounted in the channel, and the at least one piezoelectric sensor is connected to a battery management system (BMS). According to the present invention, the piezoelectric sensor is mounted in the channel defined between the unit cells of the secondary battery module. Consequently, no additional space for installing the piezoelectric sensor is needed, and therefore, the increase of the size of the battery module is effectively prevented. Furthermore, the change of the internal pressure of the battery is accurately detected by the piezoelectric sensor, and therefore, the expansion or the explosion of the battery caused due to the overcharge or overheating of the unit cells is effectively prevented.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a terminal-connecting device including an electrically insulating hollow connecting device body having an open upper end, and an electrically insulating cover coupled to the open upper end of the connecting device body. The terminal-connecting device is constructed such that a plate-shaped conductive bus bar is mounted to the lower end of the connecting device body, two or more terminal insertion holes are formed in the lower end of the connecting device body and the bus bar, the terminal insertion holes formed in the lower end of the connecting device body communicating with the terminal insertion holes formed in the bus bar, and a connecting member insertion slit is formed in one side of connecting device body for allowing further connection of the corresponding electrode terminal to an external connecting member, as occasion demands.