Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and method of controlling switch units between a battery pack and a load, and a battery pack and a battery management system comprising the same. The apparatus comprises a memory for storing the turn-off number and order of first and second switch units connecting the battery pack with the load according to current ranges; and a control unit for equalizing the turn-off order of the first switch unit and the second switch unit with reference to the turn-off number and order in a current range corresponding to a magnitude level of discharge current of a battery. Accordingly, the present invention reduces the frequency of breakdown or malfunction of the switch units and increases the using period of the switch units.

Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and method of controlling switch units between a battery pack and a load, and a battery pack and a battery management system comprising the same. The apparatus comprises a memory for storing the turn-off number and order of first and second switch units connecting the battery pack with the load according to current ranges; and a control unit for equalizing the turn-off order of the first switch unit and the second switch unit with reference to the turn-off number and order in a current range corresponding to a magnitude level of discharge current of a battery. Accordingly, the present invention reduces the frequency of breakdown or malfunction of the switch units and increases the using period of the switch units.

Abstract: An apparatus for sensing a leakage current of a battery comprises a floating capacitor charged with voltage detected from a cathode or anode terminal of a battery, a cathode terminal selection switching unit for selecting a voltage detection path for the cathode terminal and charging the floating capacitor with a detection voltage of the cathode terminal, an anode terminal selection switching unit for selecting a voltage detection path for the anode terminal and charging the floating capacitor with a detection voltage of the anode terminal, a DC voltage applying unit for applying DC voltage through the voltage detection path for the anode terminal, a voltage measuring unit for measuring the charged detection voltage of the cathode or anode terminal, and a leakage current determining unit for determining the occurrence of leakage current based on the measured detection voltages of the cathode and anode terminals.

Abstract: An apparatus estimates SOH of a battery based on a battery voltage variation pattern. A data storing unit obtains and stores battery voltage, current and temperature data from sensors, at each SOH estimation. A first SOC estimating unit estimates first SOC by current integration using the battery current data. A second SOC estimating unit estimates open-circuit voltage from the voltage variation pattern, and calculates and stores second SOC corresponding to the open-circuit voltage and temperature using correlations between the open-circuit voltage/temperature and SOC. A weighted mean convergence calculating unit calculates and stores convergence value for weighted mean value of ratio of the second SOC variation to the first SOC variation. A SOH estimating unit estimates capacity corresponding to the weighted mean convergence value using correlation between the weighted mean convergence value and the capacity, estimates relative ratio of the estimated capacity to an initial capacity, and stores it as SOH.

Abstract: A circuit current balancing apparatus balances circuit currents among units of a battery device. The circuit current balancing apparatus is provided with a plurality of cell stacks respectively composed of at least one cell. The apparatus balances a circuit current of a control circuit connected to each of the plurality of cell stacks for controlling and monitoring a status of the cell stack. The apparatus also includes a comparator for calculating and outputting a voltage difference between an output voltage of the corresponding cell stack and a voltage of the control circuit connected to the corresponding cell stack, and a current source for adding or subtract a dummy current to/from a circuit current of the control circuit in correspondence with the output of the comparator.

Abstract: An apparatus for sensing a leakage current of a battery comprises a floating capacitor charged with a voltage detected from a cathode or anode terminal of a battery; a terminal selection switching unit for selecting a voltage detection path for the cathode or anode terminal; a charge switching unit for charging the floating capacitor with a detection voltage of the cathode or anode terminal, detected through the selected voltage detection path; a polarity reverse switching unit for reversing a polarity of the detection voltage of the anode terminal charged to the floating capacitor; and a leakage current determining unit for sensing the detection voltage of the cathode terminal charged to the floating capacitor and the polarity-reversed detection voltage of the anode terminal charged to the floating capacitor to calculate a leakage resistance, and comparing the calculated leakage resistance with a criterion insulation resistance to determine whether a leakage current occurs.

Abstract: Disclosed is a battery cell voltage measuring apparatus and method. The battery cell voltage measuring apparatus comprises a plurality of floating capacitors provided corresponding to a plurality of cells contained in a battery pack; a plurality of switching units provided corresponding to each cell of the battery pack and switchable into a charge mode or a measurement mode; and a cell voltage detector for measuring the voltage of each cell by switching each switching unit into a charge mode to charge the voltage of each cell on each corresponding floating capacitor and time-differentially switching each switching unit into a measurement mode to apply the cell voltage charged on the floating capacitor between a reference potential and a common cell voltage measuring line.

Abstract: An apparatus estimates SOH of a battery based on a battery voltage variation pattern. A data storing unit obtains and stores battery voltage, current and temperature data from sensors, at each SOH estimation. A first SOC estimating unit estimates first SOC by current integration using the battery current data. A second SOC estimating unit estimates open-circuit voltage from the voltage variation pattern, and calculates and stores second SOC corresponding to the open-circuit voltage and temperature using correlations between the open-circuit voltage/temperature and SOC. A weighted mean convergence calculating unit calculates and stores convergence value for weighted mean value of ratio of the second SOC variation to the first SOC variation. A SOH estimating unit estimates capacity corresponding to the weighted mean convergence value using correlation between the weighted mean convergence value and the capacity, estimates relative ratio of the estimated capacity to an initial capacity, and stores it as SOH.

Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and a method for diagnosing an abnormality in a cell balancing circuit. The apparatus may include a plurality of cell balancing circuits respectively connected to a plurality of battery cells included in a battery pack for balancing the voltages of the battery cells, a diagnosis resistor respectively installed between the cell balancing circuit and a cathode terminal and an anode terminal of the corresponding battery cell, a voltage measuring unit for measuring a voltage difference of the balancing circuit corresponding to each of the battery cells, and a control unit for turning on or off a cell balancing circuit to be diagnosed and for determining whether there is an abnormality in the cell balancing circuit to be diagnosed, based on a variation pattern of a voltage difference of a cell balancing circuit adjacent to the cell balancing circuit to be diagnosed that is measured by the voltage measuring unit.

Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and a method for diagnosing an abnormality in a cell balancing circuit. The apparatus may include a floating capacitor charged with voltage of a battery cell, a cell balancing circuit for discharging the floating capacitor, a voltage measuring unit for measuring the battery cell voltage of the charged floating capacitor and a residual voltage of the discharged floating capacitor, and a control unit for determining an abnormality in the cell balancing circuit based on the residual voltage of the discharged floating capacitor.

Abstract: An apparatus estimates SOH of a battery based on a battery voltage variation pattern. A data storing unit obtains and stores battery voltage, current and temperature data from sensors, at each SOH estimation. A first SOC estimating unit estimates first SOC by current integration using the battery current data. A second SOC estimating unit estimates open-circuit voltage from the voltage variation pattern, and calculates and stores second SOC corresponding to the open-circuit voltage and temperature using correlations between the open-circuit voltage/temperature and SOC. A weighted mean convergence calculating unit calculates and stores convergence value for weighted mean value of ratio of the second SOC variation to the first SOC variation. A SOH estimating unit estimates capacity corresponding to the weighted mean convergence value using correlation between the weighted mean convergence value and the capacity, estimates relative ratio of the estimated capacity to an initial capacity, and stores it as SOH.

Abstract: A multi battery pack system is composed of a plurality of battery packs. The master battery pack receives a total voltage from each slave battery pack and calculates a target total voltage using its total voltage and total voltages of all slave battery pack whenever a predetermined time period passes, sends the calculated target total voltage to each slave battery pack, compares the target total voltage with its total voltage, and then connects or disconnects its cell group and output terminals according to the comparison result. The slave battery packs include at least one slave battery pack, which sends its total voltage according to a request of the master battery pack, receives a target total voltage from the master battery pack, compares the target total voltage with its total voltage, and then connects or disconnects its cell group and output terminals according to the comparison result.

Abstract: A cell voltage measuring apparatus of a battery pack comprises a plurality of multiplexers connected corresponding to each cell group of the battery pack and operated to output a voltage signal of each cell in each cell group based on a reference potential applied from a corresponding cell group; a plurality of floating capacitors connected corresponding to each cell in each cell group and on which the voltage of each cell is charged and held; a switching means for enabling the voltage of each cell to be charged and held on each corresponding floating capacitor; and a controller for controlling the switching means per each cell group to enable the voltage of each cell to be charged and held on each corresponding floating capacitor and controlling each multiplexer to measure the cell voltage held on each floating capacitor of each cell group connected to each corresponding multiplexer.

Abstract: Disclosed are a separator for a battery, which is coated with a gel polymer over 40-60% of total separator area, and a rechargeable lithium battery using the separator. The separator partially coated with a gel polymer reduces the battery resistance so that the battery power can be improved. Additionally, the separator increases electrolyte impregnation rate and provides uniform electrolyte impregnation, thereby improving the life, capacity and high-rate discharge property of a battery. Further, the separator permits electrode reactions to be performed uniformly, thereby preventing lithium precipitation and improving the battery safety.

Abstract: A multi battery pack system is composed of a plurality of battery packs. The master battery pack receives a total voltage from each slave battery pack and calculates a target total voltage using its total voltage and total voltages of all slave battery pack whenever a predetermined time period passes, sends the calculated target total voltage to each slave battery pack, compares the target total voltage with its total voltage, and then connects or disconnects its cell group and output terminals according to the comparison result. The slave battery packs include at least one slave battery pack, which sends its total voltage according to a request of the master battery pack, receives a target total voltage from the master battery pack, compares the target total voltage with its total voltage, and then connects or disconnects its cell group and output terminals according to the comparison result.

Abstract: Disclosed is a battery cell voltage measuring apparatus and method. The battery cell voltage measuring apparatus comprises a plurality of floating capacitors provided corresponding to a plurality of cells contained in a battery pack; a plurality of switching units provided corresponding to each cell of the battery pack and switchable into a charge mode or a measurement mode; and a cell voltage detector for measuring the voltage of each cell by switching each switching unit into a charge mode to charge the voltage of each cell on each corresponding floating capacitor and time-differentially switching each switching unit into a measurement mode to apply the cell voltage charged on the floating capacitor between a reference potential and a common cell voltage measuring line.

Abstract: A multi battery pack system is composed of a plurality of battery packs. The master battery pack receives a total voltage from each slave battery pack and calculates a target total voltage using its total voltage and total voltages of all slave battery pack whenever a predetermined time period passes, sends the calculated target total voltage to each slave battery pack, compares the target total voltage with its total voltage, and then connects or disconnects its cell group and output terminals according to the comparison result. The slave battery packs include at least one slave battery pack, which sends its total voltage according to a request of the master battery pack, receives a target total voltage from the master battery pack, compares the target total voltage with its total voltage, and then connects or disconnects its cell group and output terminals according to the comparison result.

Abstract: A multi battery pack system is composed of a plurality of battery packs. The master battery pack receives a total voltage from each slave battery pack and calculates a target total voltage using its total voltage and total voltages of all slave battery pack whenever a predetermined time period passes, sends the calculated target total voltage to each slave battery pack, compares the target total voltage with its total voltage, and then connects or disconnects its cell group and output terminals according to the comparison result. The slave battery packs include at least one slave battery pack, which sends its total voltage according to a request of the master battery pack, receives a target total voltage from the master battery pack, compares the target total voltage with its total voltage, and then connects or disconnects its cell group and output terminals according to the comparison result.

Abstract: An apparatus for sensing a leakage current of a battery comprises a floating capacitor charged with voltage detected from a cathode or anode terminal of a battery, a cathode terminal selection switching unit for selecting a voltage detection path for the cathode terminal and charging the floating capacitor with a detection voltage of the cathode terminal, an anode terminal selection switching unit for selecting a voltage detection path for the anode terminal and charging the floating capacitor with a detection voltage of the anode terminal, a DC voltage applying unit for applying DC voltage through the voltage detection path for the anode terminal, a voltage measuring unit for measuring the charged detection voltage of the cathode or anode terminal, and a leakage current determining unit for determining the occurrence of leakage current based on the measured detection voltages of the cathode and anode terminals.

Abstract: A multi battery pack system is composed of a plurality of battery packs. The master battery pack receives a total voltage from each slave battery pack and calculates a target total voltage using its total voltage and total voltages of all slave battery pack whenever a predetermined time period passes, sends the calculated target total voltage to each slave battery pack, compares the target total voltage with its total voltage, and then connects or disconnects its cell group and output terminals according to the comparison result. The slave battery packs include at least one slave battery pack, which sends its total voltage according to a request of the master battery pack, receives a target total voltage from the master battery pack, compares the target total voltage with its total voltage, and then connects or disconnects its cell group and output terminals according to the comparison result.