Abstract: A battery monitoring unit includes a control IC, a CPU, and a load circuit. In the inside of the battery monitoring unit, the control IC and the CPU each of which is a control circuit are connected to a unit internal ground that is common thereto. The load circuit is connected to a power ground different from the unit internal ground. In the inside of the battery monitoring unit, the power ground and the unit internal ground are connected with each other via a diode. The unit internal ground and the power ground are connected to an external ground that is common thereto via an electric wire extending from a first ground terminal and an electric wire extending from a second ground terminal, respectively.

Abstract: In a self-diagnostic processing performed by a CPU, whether a vehicle is in an idle stop state is determined based on obtained vehicle operation information and engine operation information in order to perform abnormality detection processing. When an engine has stopped in a vehicle equipped with an idle stop function, electric power is supplied to electrical components of the vehicle, which means a battery supplies currents to the electrical components. Consequently, if a current measurement result obtained by measuring a current while the vehicle is stationary and an ignition is ON indicates that the measurement value is equal to or below a prescribed current value, the CPU determines that an abnormality has occurred in a measuring system.

Abstract: There is provided a voltage monitoring apparatus for monitoring an output voltage of an assembled battery. The voltage monitoring apparatus comprises: voltage monitoring sections, each section monitoring a voltage of each block of the plurality of blocks into which the plurality of unit cells are divided, wherein the voltage monitoring sections are connected one another through communication lines; and a control unit which is connected to the voltage monitoring section through the communication lines. The voltage monitoring section compares the respective detected voltages of the unit cells with the threshold voltage to determine a result of the comparison, and transmits the comparison result to the control unit. In a case where the threshold voltage is changed, the control unit transmits a registration signal indicating the changed threshold voltage, and when received the registration signal, the voltage monitoring section changes the stored threshold voltage to the changed threshold voltage.

Abstract: In a self-diagnostic processing performed by a CPU, whether a vehicle is in an idle stop state is determined based on obtained vehicle operation information and engine operation information in order to perform abnormality detection processing. When an engine has stopped in a vehicle equipped with an idle stop function, electric power is supplied to electrical components of the vehicle, which means a battery supplies currents to the electrical components. Consequently, if a current measurement result obtained by measuring a current while the vehicle is stationary and an ignition is ON indicates that the measurement value is equal to or below a prescribed current value, the CPU determines that an abnormality has occurred in a measuring system.

Abstract: A battery monitoring unit includes a control IC, a CPU, and a load circuit. In the inside of the battery monitoring unit, the control IC and the CPU each of which is a control circuit are connected to a unit internal ground that is common thereto. The load circuit is connected to a power ground different from the unit internal ground. In the inside of the battery monitoring unit, the power ground and the unit internal ground are connected with each other via a diode. The unit internal ground and the power ground are connected to an external ground that is common thereto via an electric wire extending from a first ground terminal and an electric wire extending from a second ground terminal, respectively.

Abstract: A fail signal indicating overcharge/overdischarge of unit cells detected by voltage detecting ICs (21-1) to (21-n) is transmitted as a digital signal and an analog signal to a CPU 32. If the analog fail signal and digital fail signal agree with each other, the CPU 32 determines that overcharge or overdischarge is occurring in the unit cells. If the fail signals disagree with each other, it is determined that an error is occurring in data communication in communication lines L1 to L3 and the error is informed to an operator with an alarm signal or the like. As a result, overcharge or overdischarge is highly accurately detectable.

Abstract: A voltage detection apparatus includes first to third circuit boards are provided on first to third battery packs of a battery system respectively. The first circuit board includes a first voltage detection portion detecting a voltage of the first battery pack, a control portion controlling the first voltage detection portion, and a first insulation device which connecting the first voltage detection portion with the control portion. The second circuit board includes a second voltage detection portion detecting a voltage of the second battery pack, and a second insulation device connecting the second voltage detection portion with the control portion. The third circuit board includes a third voltage detection portion connected in series with the second voltage detection portion and detecting a voltage of the third battery pack. The control portion controls the second and third voltage detection portions.

Abstract: A voltage detection device includes: a plurality of voltage-detecting ICs installed in order to detect voltages of a plurality of blocks of a secondary battery, each of the voltage-detecting ICs being installed for each of the blocks; and an interruption control unit that controls interruption operations of the voltage-detecting ICs. After resetting all of the voltage-detecting ICs by transmitting a trigger signal to all of the voltage detecting ICs, the interruption control unit transmits a control signal in which an address of a voltage-detecting IC allowed to execute an interruption operation is designated. Each of the voltage-detecting ICs receives the control signal within a designated time set in advance, executes the interruption operation when an address of its own is designated, and is left reset when the address of its own is not designated.

Abstract: In a voltage measuring apparatus for a plural battery according to the present invention, each of voltage detecting ICs (21-1) to (21-5) connects a switch SW1 to a reference voltage generator 24 and supplies a reference voltage Vf from the reference voltage generator 24 to an A/D converter 26. The A/D converter 26 digitizes the reference voltage Vf, which is transmitted to a main microcomputer 33. The main microcomputer 33 finds a theoretical value of the reference voltage according to an ambient temperature, compares the theoretical value with the measured value of the reference voltage Vf, and determines whether or not the voltage detecting accuracy of the first voltage detecting IC (21-1) is good.

Abstract: A plurality of result signals are driven low when abnormal condition is detected and driven high when no abnormal condition is detected. Presence and absence of the abnormal conditions of different types are indicated in a predetermined sequence by high and low signal levels of the result signals. The voltage detecting circuits simultaneously output the result signals on corresponding branching lines connected to a main line of a communication line. An OR gate outputs a result signal on which the result signals output by the voltage detecting circuits are superimposed. When at least one of the result signals of the voltage detecting circuits is at a level indicative of the presence of the abnormal condition, the OR gate outputs on the main line the result signal having the level indicative of the abnormal condition.

Abstract: A voltage measuring apparatus for measuring an output voltage of an assembled battery in which a plurality of unit cells are connected in series and are divided into a plurality of blocks is provided. The voltage measuring apparatus includes: a block voltage detection unit which detects a voltage of at least one of the plurality of blocks; a sampling voltage generation unit which is provided in the block voltage detection unit and generates an analog sampling voltage applied in the sampling voltage generation unit; an A/D conversion unit which is provided in the block voltage detection unit and digitizes the analog sampling voltage to output a digital sampling voltage; and a voltage variation detection unit which obtains an error ratio of the voltage detected by the block voltage detection unit based on the digital sampling voltage.

Abstract: A state monitoring unit monitors a state of an assembled battery in which unit cells are connected in series. The state monitoring unit includes a plurality of voltage monitoring devices and a controller. The controller transmits a common voltage measurement command to the voltage monitoring devices connected in a daisy-chain scheme. Each of the voltage monitoring devices measures the voltage of the corresponding unit cells in response to the command that is received from the controller or the adjacent voltage monitoring device at a leading end of the communication channel, and transmits the command to the adjacent voltage monitoring device at a termination of the communication channel. When received the measured voltage from the adjacent voltage monitoring device at the termination, the voltage monitoring device transmits it with the own measured voltage. The controller determines the abnormality in reception state based on the number of received, measured voltages.

Abstract: A fail signal indicating overcharge/overdischarge of unit cells detected by voltage detecting ICs (21-1) to (21-n) is transmitted as a digital signal and an analog signal to a CPU 32. If the analog fail signal and digital fail signal agree with each other, the CPU 32 determines that overcharge or overdischarge is occurring in the unit cells. If the fail signals disagree with each other, it is determined that an error is occurring in data communication in communication lines L1 to L3 and the error is informed to an operator with an alarm signal or the like. As a result, overcharge or overdischarge is highly accurately detectable.

Abstract: A voltage detection device includes: a plurality of voltage-detecting ICs installed in order to detect voltages of a plurality of blocks of a secondary battery, each of the voltage-detecting ICs being installed for each of the blocks; and an interruption control unit that controls interruption operations of the voltage-detecting ICs. After resetting all of the voltage-detecting ICs by transmitting a trigger signal to all of the voltage detecting ICs, the interruption control unit transmits a control signal in which an address of a voltage-detecting IC allowed to execute an interruption operation is designated. Each of the voltage-detecting ICs receives the control signal within a designated time set in advance, executes the interruption operation when an address of its own is designated, and is left reset when the address of its own is not designated.

Abstract: In a voltage measuring apparatus for a plural battery according to the present invention, each of voltage detecting ICs (21-1) to (21-5) connects a switch SW1 to a reference voltage generator 24 and supplies a reference voltage Vf from the reference voltage generator 24 to an A/D converter 26. The A/D converter 26 digitizes the reference voltage Vf, which is transmitted to a main microcomputer 33. The main microcomputer 33 finds a theoretical value of the reference voltage according to an ambient temperature, compares the theoretical value with the measured value of the reference voltage Vf, and determines whether or not the voltage detecting accuracy of the first voltage detecting IC (21-1) is good.

Abstract: A state monitoring unit monitors a state of an assembled battery in which a plurality of unit cells are connected in series. The state monitoring unit includes: a plurality of voltage monitoring devices provided in a high voltage side and a controller provided in a low voltage side electrically isolated with the high voltage side. The controller transmits a common voltage measurement command to the respective voltage monitoring devices connected via a communication channel in a daisy-chain scheme. The controller includes a storage for storing latency time determined based on a required time for each of the voltage monitoring devices elapsing from transmission of the common voltage measurement command with respect to the communication channel to voltage measurement of the unit cells, and measures charging/discharging current of the assembled battery when the latency time has elapsed from the transmission of the common voltage measurement command with respect to the communication channel.

Abstract: A malfunction detecting apparatus for detecting a malfunction of a voltage detecting device accurately, including a low-voltage-system CPU which controls voltage detecting circuits to detect voltage between both terminals of one unit cell from among unit cells included in blocks corresponding to voltage detecting circuits. When variation of the voltage between both terminals detecting by the low-voltage-system CPU is at least an allowable error determined by a detection accuracy of the voltage detecting circuits, an abnormal condition of the voltage detecting circuits is detected.

Abstract: A voltage monitoring apparatus includes a plurality of voltage monitoring sections corresponding to a plurality of blocks of unit cells of a multiple-set battery respectively and a main control section. Each of the voltage monitoring section includes a voltage detection section which detects voltages of the unit cells of a corresponding block, a voltage adjustment section which adjusts the voltages of the unit cells of the corresponding block so that the voltages are uniformized, an active power source which obtains power from the unit cells of the corresponding block, and supplies power to the voltage detection section and the voltage adjustment section, a power source switching section which switches a power supply mode and a power disconnect mode of the active power source, and a low consumption power source which obtains the power from the unit cells of the corresponding block, and supplies power to the power source switching section.

Abstract: A voltage detection apparatus includes first to third circuit boards are provided on first to third battery packs of a battery system respectively. The first circuit board includes a first voltage detection portion detecting a voltage of the first battery pack, a control portion controlling the first voltage detection portion, and a first insulation device which connecting the first voltage detection portion with the control portion. The second circuit board includes a second voltage detection portion detecting a voltage of the second battery pack, and a second insulation device connecting the second voltage detection portion with the control portion. The third circuit board includes a third voltage detection portion connected in series with the second voltage detection portion and detecting a voltage of the third battery pack. The control portion controls the second and third voltage detection portions.

Abstract: A voltage measuring apparatus measures an output voltage of an assembled battery in which a plurality of unit cells are connected in series and are divided into a plurality of blocks. The apparatus includes: a block voltage detection section which detects a voltage of at least one of the plurality of blocks and provides an analog voltage signal; a reference power supply which generates a reference voltage; a sampling voltage generation section which generates a sampling voltage based on the reference voltage; a storage for storing voltage date corresponding to the sampling voltage; and an A/D conversion section of the block voltage detection section that digitizes the sampling voltage with the reference voltage for A/D conversion. A difference between the digitized sampling voltage and the voltage data is calculated and it is determined that abnormality occurs in the A/D conversion section when the difference is larger than a threshold.