Adaptive Battery Current Limits for Vehicle Function Availability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery management systems for motor vehicles often restrict electrical functions unnecessarily due to high battery currents, leading to reduced driving comfort and potential battery overload, which can negatively impact the battery's service life.
Innovation Solution
A method for operating a battery management system that predicts potential battery current load using a control unit, determines an adaptive battery current limit as an integral function of time, and restricts electrical functions based on a load indication value compared to the adaptive limit, with weighting applied to prioritize essential functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed battery current limit is used to prevent battery overload, then battery reliability is improved, but electrical function availability deteriorates due to unnecessary restrictions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from a fixed battery current limit to a dynamic, adaptive current limit that changes over time based on predicted battery load. The control unit continuously adjusts the current limit according to predicted operating modes and actual battery current measurements, allowing the system to optimize both battery protection and electrical function availability in real-time conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by predicting future battery load based on anticipated operating modes before the actual load occurs. The control unit uses predicted battery current to proactively adjust the current limit in advance, preventing unnecessary restrictions on electrical functions while ensuring battery protection when high currents are expected.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If battery current is restricted to extend battery life, then battery durability is improved, but driving comfort deteriorates due to loss of electrical functions
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the current limit based on real-time battery current measurements and predicted load, allowing electrical functions to operate freely when battery conditions permit and only restricting them when necessary to protect battery life, thus maintaining driving comfort while extending battery durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by continuously measuring actual battery current and comparing it with predicted battery current. The control unit uses this feedback to adjust the current limit adaptively, ensuring that electrical functions are restricted only when actual battery conditions warrant protection, thereby maintaining driving comfort while protecting battery life.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If a predictive adaptive current limit is implemented to optimize battery operation, then battery life is extended, but system complexity increases due to prediction and continuous adjustment mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by implementing prediction of battery current based on anticipated operating modes before actual high-current events occur. This allows the system to prepare appropriate current limits in advance, extending battery life through proactive management rather than reactive protection, while keeping the complexity manageable by using prediction models based on known operating mode characteristics.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for operating a battery management system (1) of a motor vehicle (2) having a battery (3), an electric machine (4) and a control unit (5). The method has the following steps: - establishing a prediction of a potential battery current load (B) of the battery (3) using the control unit (5), - determining an adaptive battery current limit (A) of the battery (3) using the control unit (5), wherein the adaptive battery current limit (A) is determined on the basis of the established prediction of the potential battery current load (B), - identifying a current battery current load (B) of the battery (3) using the control unit (5), - generating a battery load indication value by comparing the battery current load (B) with the adaptive battery current limit (A) using the control unit (5), - restricting at least one electrical function of the motor vehicle (2) using the control unit (5) if the battery load indication value exceeds a predetermined load tolerance value. The invention furthermore relates to a battery management system (1) and to a motor vehicle (2).