Abstract: A switch failure detector configured to be installed in an electric system including an electric storage device, the switch failure detector includes at least one electronic switch connected in a path in which a charging current to the electric storage device and a discharging current from the electric storage device flow, at least one rectifier for passing a discharging current by bypassing the electronic switch when the electronic switch is turned off, a switch voltage detection circuit configured to detect a voltage drop caused by the at least one electronic switch, and a controller for sending an on-command signal to the at least one electronic switch to turn on the electronic switch, and receiving the voltage detected by the switch voltage detection circuit while the on-command signal is sent to the electronic switch.

Abstract: An electric storage device protection apparatus includes switches arranged between an electric device and an electric storage device and connected in parallel to each other, and each of which being configured to be switched to be in an open state and a closed state, a rectifier component connected in series to one of the switches between a pair of common connection points of the switches, and a controller configured to perform a process to make the one of the switches that is connected to the rectifier component to be in the closed state and make another one of the switches to be in the open state when determining that the electric storage device is in a state where a voltage of the electric storage device becomes higher than a reference range.

Abstract: An energy storage device management method for deciding an SOC estimated value includes: preparing first and second SOC estimation methods for estimating an SOC; and employing a predetermined value as the SOC estimated value when a first SOC region and a second SOC region are different. V-SOC correlation between a voltage and the state of charge of the energy storage device is sectioned into a plurality of SOC regions. The first SOC region is the SOC region that the SOC estimated by the first SOC estimation method belongs to, and the second SOC region is the SOC region that the SOC estimated by the second SOC estimation method belongs to. The predetermined value is set to a value close to a boundary value on a side close to the first SOC region of boundary values sectioning the second SOC region, or a value between the boundary value and an intermediate value of the second SOC region.

Abstract: An electric storage device management system includes a voltage sensor, a memory, and a controller. The voltage sensor detects a voltage across an electric storage device having a correlation between an open circuit voltage (OCV) and a state of charge (SOC) including a slight change region and a sharp change region. The memory stores information on correlation between OCV and SOC in the sharp change region. The controller is configured to: determine an OCV based on a voltage detected by the voltage sensor; determine whether the defined OCV is within the sharp change region; determine an SOC corresponding to the defined OCV based on the stored information stored if the defined OCV is within the sharp change region; determine the determined SOC as an estimated SOC; and prohibit the determining of the SOC as an estimated SOC if the defined OCV is out of the sharp change region.

Abstract: A switch failure detection device configured to be installed in an electric system including an electric storage device, the switch failure detection device including at least one electronic switch to be connected in a path in which a charging current to the electric storage device and a discharging current from the electric storage device flow, the at least one electronic switch including a first electronic switch, at least one rectifier for passing a discharging current by bypassing the electronic switch when the electronic switch is turned off, the at least one rectifier including a first rectifier being connected parallel to or being parasitic to the first electronic switch such that a forward direction thereof corresponds to a direction in which the discharging current flows, a switch voltage detection circuit configured to detect a voltage drop caused by the at least one electronic switch, and a controller.

Abstract: An electric storage device protection apparatus includes switches arranged between an electric device and an electric storage device and connected in parallel to each other, a rectifier component connected in series to one of the switches between a pair of common connection points of the switches, and a controller. The controller is configured to make the switch connected to the rectifier component to be in the open state when determining that a voltage of the electric storage device is within a reference range, and make the switch that is connected to the rectifier component to be in the closed state and make another one of the switches to be in the open state when determining that a voltage of the electric storage device becomes outside the reference range due to a current flowing in a reverse direction of the rectifier component.

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 method for equalizing states of electric storage devices, which are connected in series, of an electric storage device assembly, includes preparing discharging time period data including discharging time periods associated with sequential numbers, determining whether a voltage of each electric storage device has reached a reference voltage during charging or discharging of the electric storage device assembly, and discharging the electric storage devices, using a discharging circuit, for respective discharging time periods associated with the sequential numbers, the sequential numbers being assigned to the electric storage devices according to a sequence of the electric storage devices determined based on time points at which the voltages of the electric storage devices have reached the reference voltage.

Abstract: A battery deterioration determination device includes a temperature sensor that detects a temperature of a battery; and a determination unit that determines whether the battery has deteriorated or not, wherein the determination unit executes a different deterioration determination process between a first case where the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is less than a predetermined temperature and a second case where the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A switch failure diagnosis device for using in a current path between an electric device and an electric storage device includes plural switches, a switch terminal voltage detector, and a controller. The switches are connected parallel to each other in the current path. The switch terminal voltage detector outputs a switch terminal voltage detection signal. The controller is configured to select the switches at different time in sequence and input an open instruction signal to each switch at the time when the switch is selected, and to determine, based on the switch terminal voltage detection signal output while the open instruction signal is given, that at least one of the switches has a failure if the detected voltage is in a failure determination range.

Abstract: A switch failure diagnosis device for using in a current path between an electric device and an electric storage device includes plural switches, a switch terminal voltage detector, and a controller. The switches are connected parallel to each other in the current path. The switch terminal voltage detector outputs a switch terminal voltage detection signal. The controller is configured to: select the switches at different time in sequence and input an open instruction signal to each switch at the time when the switch is selected; and determine, based on the switch terminal voltage detection signal output while the open instruction signal is given, that at least one of the switches has a failure if the detected voltage is in a failure determination range.

Abstract: A method for equalizing capacities of electric storage devices that are connected in series in an electric storage device assembly charged and discharged by a charger/discharger includes charging/discharging the electric storage device assembly at a charging/discharging rate of 1 C or lower, individually measuring voltages of the electric storage devices, respectively, determining whether a time rate of change in voltage of one electric storage device of the electric storage devices has reached a time-rate-of-change reference value and then a time rate of change in voltage of another electric storage device of the electric storage devices has reached the time-rate-of-change reference value, and individually discharging, based on a determining result, the electric storage device by a discharging circuit provided separately from the discharger.

Abstract: An electric storage device management apparatus is provided for monitoring an electric storage device assembly charged and discharged by a charger/discharger. The electric storage assembly includes a plurality of electric storage devices connected in series. The electric storage device management apparatus includes a voltmeter, a discharging circuit, and a controller. The voltmeter is configured to measure voltages of the electric storage devices respectively. The discharging circuit is configured to discharge the electric storage devices individually. The controller is configured to: determine whether a voltage of each electric storage device has reached a reference voltage during charging or discharging of the electric storage device assembly; and control the discharging circuit to discharge each electric storage device if the voltage of the electric storage device has reached the reference voltage.

Abstract: A switch failure diagnosis device for using in a current path between an electric device and an electric storage device includes plural switches, a switch terminal voltage detector, and a controller. The switches are connected parallel to each other in the current path. The switch terminal voltage detector outputs a switch terminal voltage detection signal. The controller is configured to: select the switches at different time in sequence and input an open instruction signal to each switch at the time when the switch is selected; and determine, based on the switch terminal voltage detection signal output while the open instruction signal is given, that at least one of the switches has a failure if the detected voltage is in a failure determination range.

Abstract: A power control method of an electric storage apparatus that includes an electric storage device and an output terminal connected to the electric storage device via a power supply route, the output terminal being electrically connected to a system including an engine, the method includes detecting a variation value corresponding to an amount of charge of the electric storage device, determining whether the detected variation value is equal to or lower than an opening threshold, the opening threshold being larger than an engine activation low-threshold by a predetermined value, the engine activation low-threshold being a lowest level of the amount of charge at which the engine is able to be started, and shutting down the power supply route in the electric storage apparatus, which connects the electric storage device to the output terminal, if the variation value is equal to or lower than the opening threshold.

Abstract: An electric storage device management apparatus is provided for monitoring an electric storage device assembly including a plurality of electric storage devices connected in series. The apparatus includes a voltmeter, a discharging circuit, and a controller. The discharging circuit is configured to discharge the electric storage devices individually. The controller is configured to: determine whether a unit time variation in voltage of a first electric storage device has increased to a reference value and a unit time variation in voltage of a second electric storage device has increased to the reference value; measure an elapsed time period since the unit time variation of the first electric storage device has increased to the reference value; and control the discharging circuit to discharge the electric storage devices based on the elapsed time period such that capacities of the electric storage devices are equalized.

Abstract: A switch failure detection device configured to be installed in an electric system including an electric storage device, the switch failure detection device including at least one electronic switch to be connected in a path in which a charging current to the electric storage device and a discharging current from the electric storage device flow, the at least one electronic switch including a first electronic switch, at least one rectifier for passing a discharging current by bypassing the electronic switch when the electronic switch is turned off, the at least one rectifier including a first rectifier being connected parallel to or being parasitic to the first electronic switch such that a forward direction thereof corresponds to a direction in which the discharging current flows, a switch voltage detection circuit configured to detect a voltage drop caused by the at least one electronic switch, and a controller.

Abstract: An electric storage apparatus includes an output terminal configured to be electrically connected to a system including an engine, an electric storage device, a monitoring apparatus including a detector and a controller, and a relay disposed between the output terminal and the electric storage device. The detector is configured to detect a variation value corresponding to an amount of charge of the electric storage device. The controller is configured to determine whether the variation value is equal to or lower than an opening threshold, and execute an opening process to switch the relay from a closed state to an open state if the variation value is equal to or lower than the opening threshold. The opening threshold is larger than an engine activation low-threshold by a predetermined value. The engine activation low-threshold is a lowest level of the amount of charge at which the engine is able to be started.

Abstract: A switch failure detection device includes a switch, a rectifier, a switch voltage detection circuit, and a controller. The switch is connected in a path in which a charging current to and a discharging current flow. The rectifier passes a discharging current by bypassing the switch when the switch is turned off. The detection circuit detects a voltage between an input and an output of the switch. The controller is configured to: determine whether the electric storage device is in a discharging state; send an off-command signal to the switch if the electric storage device is in the discharging state; receive the voltage; determine an input-output voltage of the switch based on the voltage; determine whether the input-output voltage is lower than a first reference voltage; and determine the switch has a turn-off problem if the input-output voltage is lower than the first reference voltage.

Abstract: A battery system includes a secondary battery and a bypass circuit provided with a semiconductor switch element, and the secondary battery and the bypass circuit are connected parallely. In this battery system, the semiconductor switch element is attached so as to radiate heat to a surface of a battery outer case of the secondary battery or to a bus bar.