Control device and method and power supply device

Abstract

A control device includes a controller causing a plurality of cell blocks each configured of one or plurality of secondary battery cells and connected in series to be charged with a cell balance, and the controller includes a detector detecting a voltage of each of the cell blocks, an updater sequentially updating a maximum voltage of the detected voltage of each of the cell blocks, and a discharger discharging a cell block among the plurality of cell blocks, the cell block with a voltage range between the detected voltage and the updated maximum voltage within a discharge target voltage range defined in advance.

The application is claimed as follows: 
     
       1. A control device comprising a controller causing a plurality of cell blocks each configured of one or plurality of secondary battery cells and connected in series to be charged with a cell balance; wherein
 the controller includes 
 a detector detecting a voltage of each of the cell blocks, 
 an updater sequentially updating a maximum voltage of the detected voltage of each of the cell blocks, and 
 a discharger discharging a cell block among the plurality of cell blocks, the cell block with a voltage range between the detected voltage and the updated maximum voltage within a discharge target voltage range defined in advance. 
 
     
     
       2. The control device according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller performs cell balance control so that a voltage range between a maximum voltage and a minimum voltage of each cell block detected is within a specified voltage range defined in advance. 
     
     
       3. The control device according to  claim 2 , wherein the discharge target voltage range and the specified voltage range have a relation of the specified voltage range≧the discharge target voltage range. 
     
     
       4. The control device according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller stops charging of the plurality of cell blocks when the detected voltage of each cell block becomes equal to or larger than a specified maximum voltage defined in advance. 
     
     
       5. A control method of a control device including a controller causing a plurality of cell blocks each configured of one or plurality of secondary battery cells and connected in series to be charged with a cell balance; wherein
 the controller detects a voltage of each of the cell blocks, 
 sequentially updates a maximum voltage of the detected voltage of each of the cell blocks, and 
 discharges a cell block among the plurality of cell blocks, the cell block with a voltage range between the detected voltage and the updated maximum voltage within a discharge target voltage range defined in advance. 
 
     
     
       6. A power supply device comprising:
 a plurality of cell blocks each configured of one or plurality of secondary battery cells and connected in series; 
 charging means for charging the plurality of cell blocks; and 
 control means for causing the plurality of cell blocks to be charged with a cell balance; wherein 
 the control means includes 
 detecting means for detecting a voltage of each of the cell blocks, 
 updating means for sequentially updating a maximum voltage of the detected voltage of each of the cell blocks, and 
 discharging means for discharging a cell block among the plurality of cell blocks, the cell block with a voltage range between the detected voltage and the updated maximum voltage within a discharge target voltage range defined in advance. 
 
     
     
       7. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the discharger includes switching elements and resistors.  
     
     
       8. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the discharger includes a plurality of discharge circuits respectively corresponding to the plurality of cell blocks.  
     
     
       9. The control device according to claim 8, wherein each one of the plurality of discharge circuits is connected in parallel to a corresponding cell block.  
     
     
       10. The control device according to claim 9, wherein each one of the plurality of discharge circuits includes a switching element and a discharge resistor.  
     
     
       11. The control device according to claim 10, wherein in response to a control signal from the controller, each one of the plurality of discharge circuits is configured to perform a switching operation.  
     
     
       12. The control device according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of cell blocks have equal internal impedances.  
     
     
       13. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of cell blocks include cell blocks with different internal impedances.  
     
     
       14. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the discharge target voltage range is less than or equal to 20 mV.  
     
     
       15. The control device according to claim 3, wherein the discharge target voltage range is equal to the specified voltage range.  
     
     
       16. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the controller stops charging of at least one of the plurality of cell blocks when the detected voltage of the at least one of the plurality of cell blocks becomes equal to or larger than a specified maximum voltage defined in advance.  
     
     
       17. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of battery cells includes a lithium-ion battery.  
     
     
       18. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of battery cells includes a nickel metal hydride battery.  
     
     
       19. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of battery cells includes a nickel-cadmium battery.