Abstract: The energy management system capable of increasing consciousness of a user for energy saving and inducing the user to act for the energy saving by means of providing energy-saving information is provided. In the energy management system, a center device SV includes an information database where bits of knowledge are successively stored as energy-saving information. Upon receiving a display request to display a display screen for displaying the bits of knowledge from a terminal device such as a display control device CV, a personal computer PC, and a portable terminal PT, the center device SV generates image data of the display screen for displaying the bits of knowledge and transmits the same to the terminal device that is a requestor of the display screen. The terminal device displays the image data received from the center device SV.

Abstract: A pulse charge method for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, includes: a charge control step of pulse charging by supplying a pulsed current periodically to the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery; a battery voltage detection step of measuring a battery voltage of the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery; a comparison step of comparing the battery voltage, measured in the battery voltage detection step when the pulsed current is supplied, with a predetermined set voltage; and a charge end control step of ending the pulse charging when a comparison result shows that the measured battery voltage is equal to or higher than the set voltage.

Abstract: A secondary battery charge control method includes: a charge control step of executing charging by supplying a charge current to a secondary battery; a charge information acquisition step of acquiring information relating to the charging executed in the charge control step; a storage step of storing the information acquired in the charge information acquisition step as charge data; and a charge inhibition determination step of determining whether to inhibit the charging in the charge control step on the basis of the charge data of a previous cycle that have been stored in the storage step when charging in the charge control step is started again after charging in the charge control step has been completed.

Abstract: A voltage measurement apparatus is provided in which: among battery cells which make up a battery-cell group, a sampling switch electrically connects any one or more battery cells targeted for measurement to a capacitor so that the capacitor is charged by these battery cells; a measurement section acquires the voltage of the charged capacitor as a measurement voltage and corrects the measurement voltage so that the voltage error in the measurement voltage caused by the inter-terminal capacitance of the sampling switch can be narrowed; and an over-voltage prevention switch turns on immediately before the sampling switch is turned on and grounds the input terminal of the measurement section so that the measurement section can be protected from an over-voltage.

Abstract: There is a ground-fault resistance measurement circuit which measures a ground-fault resistance between a conductive frame body of electrical equipment and a charge section insulated from the frame body. This ground-fault resistance measurement circuit includes: a capacitor which is connected between the charge section and the frame body; a switch which opens and closes a connection path between the charge section and the capacitor; a charging unit which charges the capacitor to a predetermined voltage; a voltage measurement section which measures a charging voltage of the capacitor; a discharge control section which connects the capacitor and the charge section after the capacitor is charged, and discharges the capacitor; and a calculation section which calculates a resistance between the charge section and the frame body, based on a change in the charging voltage of the capacitor.

Abstract: A battery pack is provided which includes: a battery set having a plurality of secondary-battery cells connected in series and in parallel; and a battery-abnormality detection circuit. The battery-abnormality detection circuit controls a battery-set circuit separation switch, so as to detect an abnormality in each secondary-battery cell based on a change in the voltage of each cell when parallel-connection separation switches are turned off, and if detecting an abnormal secondary-battery cell, so as to separate the series module including this cell from a battery-set body.

Abstract: There is a ground-fault resistance measurement circuit which measures a ground-fault resistance between a conductive frame body of electrical equipment and a charge section insulated from the frame body. This ground-fault resistance measurement circuit includes: a capacity which is connected between the charge section and the frame body; a switch which opens and closes a connection path between the charge section and the capacity; a charging unit which charges the capacity to a predetermined voltage; a voltage measurement section which measures a charging voltage of the capacity; a discharge control section which connects the capacity and the charge section after the capacity is charged, and discharges the capacity; and a calculation section which calculates a resistance between the charge section and the frame body, based on a change in the charging voltage of the capacity.

Abstract: A voltage measurement apparatus is provided in which: among battery cells which make up a battery-cell group, a sampling switch electrically connects any one or more battery cells targeted for measurement to a capacitor so that the capacitor is charged by these battery cells; a measurement section acquires the voltage of the charged capacitor as a measurement voltage and corrects the measurement voltage so that the voltage error in the measurement voltage caused by the inter-terminal capacitance of the sampling switch can be narrowed; and an over-voltage prevention switch turns on immediately before the sampling switch is turned on and grounds the input terminal of the measurement section so that the measurement section can be protected from an over-voltage.

Abstract: A battery pack is provided which includes: a battery set having a plurality of secondary-battery cells connected in series and in parallel; and a battery-abnormality detection circuit. The battery-abnormality detection circuit controls a battery-set circuit separation switch, so as to detect an abnormality in each secondary-battery cell based on a change in the voltage of each cell when parallel-connection separation switches are turned off, and if detecting an abnormal secondary-battery cell, so as to separate the series module including this cell from a battery-set body.

Abstract: A method for inspecting relay open/close contacts for a contact weld is provided, each relay open/close contact being connected serially to each of a plurality of battery pack blocks. Battery ECUs for controlling the operating condition of each of the battery pack blocks employ one battery pack block for transmitting an inspection signal and the other battery pack blocks for receiving the inspection signal, such that the transmitting battery ECU transmits the inspection signal with its open/close contact closed. When any one of the other battery pack blocks receives the inspection signal at its battery ECU in which its open/close contact has not been closed, the open/close contact is determined to be welded. This inspection is performed successively with the transmitting and receiving battery ECUs being employed alternately in order to check the plurality of open/close contacts and their secondary open/close contacts for a contact weld.

Abstract: A method for inspecting relay open/close contacts for a contact weld is provided, each relay open/close contact being connected serially to each of a plurality of battery pack blocks. Battery ECUs for controlling the operating condition of each of the battery pack blocks employ one battery pack block for transmitting an inspection signal and the other battery pack blocks for receiving the inspection signal, such that the transmitting battery ECU transmits the inspection signal with its open/close contact closed. When any one of the other battery pack blocks receives the inspection signal at its battery ECU in which its open/close contact has not been closed, the open/close contact is determined to be welded. This inspection is performed successively with the transmitting and receiving battery ECUs being employed alternately in order to check the plurality of open/close contacts and their secondary open/close contacts for a contact weld.

Abstract: A battery voltage detection device includes: a plurality of (N+1) voltage detection terminals connected to the plurality of N battery blocks; a first plurality of switches each having an inter-terminal capacitance, the plurality of switches being connected to the respective voltage detection terminals connected to the battery blocks; a second switch having an inter-terminal capacitance, to which the first plurality of switches are collectively connected, the first plurality of switches being connected to odd-numbered voltage detection terminals; a third switch having an inter-terminal capacitance, to which the first plurality of switches are collectively connected; a pair of fourth switches connected in series to the second switch and the third switch; and a capacitor provided between the connection point of the second switch and one of the fourth switches, and the connection point of the third switch and the other of the fourth switches.

Abstract: A battery voltage measurement device includes: a plurality of first switching sections, wherein each pair of adjacent first switching sections sequentially selects two output terminals of each of a plurality of battery blocks included in a battery pack; a level change section for changing a level of a battery voltage of each battery block which is input to the level change section via the first switching section; an A/D conversion section for performing an A/D conversion of battery voltage data output from the level change section; and a reference voltage control section for controlling an output of a reference voltage of the level change section according to the polarity of the voltage input to the level change section.

Abstract: A battery voltage measurement device includes: a plurality of first switching sections, wherein each pair of adjacent first switching sections sequentially selects two output terminals of each of a plurality of battery blocks included in a battery pack so that each of the selected output terminals are connected to one of a pair of conductor wires; a voltage detection section for detecting a battery voltage of each of the plurality of battery blocks via the pair of conductor wires; and second switch sections each being provided on a respective one of the pair of conductor lines and being serially connected to each group of the plurality of first switch sections connected in parallel to one of the pair of conductor lines.

Abstract: A voltage measurement apparatus is provided for measuring a voltage of each of N power sources connected in series. The apparatus includes N capacitance elements provided respectively corresponding to the N power sources, and connected in series, a first switching section for simultaneously applying a voltage of each power source to one of the N capacitance elements corresponding to said power source, a voltage measurement section for measuring a voltage of each capacitance element, and a second switching section for sequentially connecting each capacitance element to the voltage measurement section.

Abstract: A device is provided that allows a physical quantity of a battery pack to be determined at low cost with high accuracy with respect to variations in environmental temperature. A voltage regulator supplies a temperature detecting part and an A/D converter with reference voltages as a reference voltage for detection and a reference voltage for conversion, respectively, and supplies a storage part and a signal processing part with the reference voltage as a supply voltage. Based on signal levels obtained from physical quantity detecting parts and the temperature detecting part via the A/D converter so as to correspond to a plurality of temperatures in a predetermined temperature range, which have been stored in the storage part, a signal level obtained from the physical quantity detecting part via the A/D converter is corrected in the signal processing part.

Abstract: A battery voltage detection device includes: a plurality of (N+1) voltage detection terminals connected to the plurality of N battery blocks; a first plurality of switches each having an inter-terminal capacitance, the plurality of switches being connected to the respective voltage detection terminals connected to the battery blocks; a second switch having an inter-terminal capacitance, to which the first plurality of switches are collectively connected, the first plurality of switches being connected to odd-numbered voltage detection terminals; a third switch having an inter-terminal capacitance, to which the first plurality of switches are collectively connected; a pair of fourth switches connected in series to the second switch and the third switch; and a capacitor provided between the connection point of the second switch and one of the fourth switches, and the connection point of the third switch and the other of the fourth switches.

Abstract: A device is provided that allows a physical quantity of a battery pack to be determined at low cost with high accuracy with respect to variations in environmental temperature. A voltage regulator supplies a temperature detecting part and an A/D converter with reference voltages as a reference voltage for detection and a reference voltage for conversion, respectively, and supplies a storage part and a signal processing part with the reference voltage as a supply voltage. Based on signal levels obtained from physical quantity detecting parts and the temperature detecting part via the A/D converter so as to correspond to a plurality of temperatures in a predetermined temperature range, which have been stored in the storage part, a signal level obtained from the physical quantity detecting part via the A/D converter is corrected in the signal processing part.

Abstract: A battery voltage measurement device includes: a plurality of first switching sections, wherein each pair of adjacent first switching sections sequentially selects two output terminals of each of a plurality of battery blocks included in a battery pack; a level change section for changing a level of a battery voltage of each battery block which is input to the level change section via the first switching section; an A/D conversion section for performing an A/D conversion of battery voltage data output from the level change section; and a reference voltage control section for controlling an output of a reference voltage of the level change section according to the polarity of the voltage input to the level change section.

Abstract: A battery voltage measurement device includes: a plurality of first switching sections, wherein each pair of adjacent first switching sections sequentially selects two output terminals of each of a plurality of battery blocks included in a battery pack so that each of the selected output terminals are connected to one of a pair of conductor wires; a voltage detection section for detecting a battery voltage of each of the plurality of battery blocks via the pair of conductor wires; and second switch sections each being provided on a respective one of the pair of conductor lines and being serially connected to each group of the plurality of first switch sections connected in parallel to one of the pair of conductor lines.