Cell stack management system

Abstract

A cell stack management system includes a cell monitoring unit that measures an output voltage of a plurality of power storage cells, a battery management unit that manages a cell stack, and a first communication network that connects the cell monitoring unit and the battery management unit. The battery management unit includes: a first communication circuit connected to the first communication network; a second communication circuit connected to a second communication network for connecting to a higher-level system; a control circuit that controls the battery management unit; and a control circuit power supply. The cell stack management system includes a normal mode and a low-power mode as modes of operation. During transition from the low-power mode to the normal mode, the first communication circuit activates at least one of the control circuit power supply, the control circuit, or the second communication circuit.

1 . A cell stack management system that manages a cell stack including a plurality of power storage cells connected in series or parallel, the cell stack management system comprising:
 a cell monitoring unit that is connected to the plurality of power storage cells and measures an output voltage of at least one of the plurality of power storage cells;   a battery management unit that manages the cell stack; and   a first communication network that connects the cell monitoring unit and the battery management unit, wherein   the battery management unit includes:
 a first communication circuit connected to the first communication network; 
 a second communication circuit connected to a second communication network for connecting to a higher-level system of the cell stack management system; 
 a control circuit that controls the battery management unit; and 
 a control circuit power supply that supplies power to the control circuit, 
   the cell stack management system includes, as modes of operation, a normal mode and a low-power mode that consumes less power than the normal mode,   in the low-power mode, at least one of the control circuit power supply, the control circuit, or the second communication circuit is deactivated, and   during transition from the low-power mode to the normal mode, the first communication circuit activates at least one of the control circuit power supply, the control circuit, or the second communication circuit.   
     
     
         2 . The cell stack management system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the cell monitoring unit outputs a first operation signal indicating a state of the plurality of power storage cells to the first communication circuit,   when at least one of the control circuit power supply, the control circuit, or the second communication circuit is deactivated and the cell monitoring unit detects an anomaly, the cell monitoring unit outputs the first operation signal indicating an anomaly, and   when the first communication circuit receives the first operation signal indicating an anomaly, the first communication circuit activates the control circuit power supply, the control circuit, and the second communication circuit.   
     
     
         3 . The cell stack management system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the control circuit power supply is activated by the first communication circuit or the higher-level system.   
     
     
         4 . The cell stack management system according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the second communication circuit is deactivated in the low-power mode,   when activated by the first communication circuit, the second communication circuit notifies the higher-level system via the second communication network of the activation of the second communication circuit, and   the higher-level system activates at least one of the control circuit power supply or the control circuit via the second communication network.   
     
     
         5 . The cell stack management system according to  claim 2 , wherein
 when the control circuit or the second communication circuit is deactivated, the first operation signal transmitted by the cell monitoring unit is a repeating pulse signal.   
     
     
         6 . The cell stack management system according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the battery management unit includes a first power supply and a power converter which supply power to the first communication circuit,   the battery management unit includes a function for deactivating the first power supply in the low-power mode,   when the first power supply is deactivated, the power converter converts a signal transmitted in the first communication network to direct-current power, and supplies the direct-current power to the first communication circuit,   when the first power supply is deactivated and the cell monitoring unit detects an anomaly, the cell monitoring unit outputs the first operation signal indicating an anomaly, and   when the first communication circuit receives the first operation signal indicating an anomaly via the first communication network, the first communication circuit activates the first power supply and stops output of the direct-current power by the power converter.   
     
     
         7 . A cell stack management system that manages a cell stack including a plurality of power storage cells connected in series or parallel, the cell stack management system comprising:
 a cell monitoring unit that is connected to the plurality of power storage cells and measures an output voltage of at least one of the plurality of power storage cells;   a battery management unit that manages the cell stack; and   a first communication network that connects the cell monitoring unit and the battery management unit, wherein   the battery management unit includes:
 a first communication circuit connected to the first communication network; 
 a second communication circuit connected to a second communication network for connecting to a higher-level system of the cell stack management system; and 
 a control circuit that controls the battery management unit, and 
   the first communication circuit is connected to a third communication network for connecting to the higher-level system.   
     
     
         8 . The cell stack management system according to  claim 7 , wherein
 when at least one of the control circuit or the second communication circuit cannot communicate, the first communication circuit communicates with the higher-level system via the third communication network.   
     
     
         9 . The cell stack management system according to  claim 7 , wherein
 when at least one of the control circuit or the second communication circuit is deactivated:
 the cell monitoring unit transmits a first operation signal to the first communication circuit; and 
 the first communication circuit transmits, via the third communication network, a second operation signal indicating that the cell monitoring unit and the first communication circuit are in operation, and 
   the first operation signal and the second operation signal that are transmitted when at least one of the control circuit or the second communication circuit is deactivated are repeating pulse signals.   
     
     
         10 . The cell stack management system according to  claim 9 , wherein
 when the control circuit or the second communication circuit is deactivated and the cell monitoring unit detects an anomaly, the cell monitoring unit outputs the first operation signal indicating an anomaly, and   when the first communication circuit receives the first operation signal indicating an anomaly via the first communication network, the first communication circuit outputs the second operation signal indicating an anomaly.   
     
     
         11 . The cell stack management system according to  claim 9 , wherein
 when the first communication circuit outputs the second operation signal indicating an anomaly, the higher-level system activates the control circuit or the second communication circuit.   
     
     
         12 . The cell stack management system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 before deactivating, the control circuit diagnoses a state of the first communication circuit.   
     
     
         13 . The cell stack management system according to  claim 9 , wherein
 before the control circuit deactivates, the first communication circuit outputs the second operation signal to at least one of the control circuit or the higher-level system, and   the at least one of the control circuit or the higher-level system diagnoses a state of the first communication circuit based on the second operation signal.   
     
     
         14 . The cell stack management system according to  claim 9 , wherein
 before the control circuit deactivates, the first communication circuit outputs, to the control circuit, a control activation signal for activating the control circuit, and   the control circuit diagnoses a state of the first communication circuit based on the control activation signal.   
     
     
         15 . The cell stack management system according to  claim 9 , wherein
 the cell monitoring unit includes a first timer, and   when the first timer detects that a preset first time has elapsed, the first timer causes the cell monitoring unit to output the first operation signal indicating an anomaly.   
     
     
         16 . The cell stack management system according to  claim 15 , wherein
 when the first timer detects that the preset first time has elapsed, the first timer stops operation of the cell monitoring unit.   
     
     
         17 . The cell stack management system according to  claim 9 , wherein
 when at least one of the control circuit or the second communication circuit is deactivated and the first operation signal is stopped, and when at least one of the control circuit or the second communication circuit is deactivated and there is an anomaly in the first communication circuit, the first communication circuit stops transmitting the second operation signal.   
     
     
         18 . The cell stack management system according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a control circuit power supply that supplies power to the control circuit, wherein   when the first operation signal is stopped, the first communication circuit activates at least one of the control circuit power supply, the control circuit, or the second communication circuit.   
     
     
         19 . The cell stack management system according to  claim 9 , wherein
 the first communication circuit includes a second timer, and   when the second timer detects that a preset second time has elapsed, the second timer stops the second operation signal.   
     
     
         20 . The cell stack management system according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a control circuit power supply that supplies power to the control circuit, wherein   the first communication circuit includes a second timer, and   when the second timer detects that a preset second time has elapsed, the second timer activates at least one of the control circuit power supply, the control circuit, or the second communication circuit.