Auxiliary Power Supply Address Allocation for Multi-Storage Modules

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing auxiliary power supply systems with multiple electrical storage devices face challenges in managing inventory due to the need for assigning unique communication addresses, leading to potential redundancy or limitations in inventory management.

Innovation Solution

The system allows each electrical storage device to provisionally select a communication address from a set provided by a communications partner, and upon detecting communication errors, the device changes to an unused address, eliminating address overlaps and enabling management without relying on specific communication addresses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If communication addresses are assigned to multiple electrical storage devices for individual control, then the ability to control each device individually is improved, but inventory management becomes difficult due to redundancy or limitations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindividual control capabilityVSAvoidinventory management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by having each electrical storage device autonomously select a provisional communication address before actual use. This preliminary address selection allows devices to be manufactured without pre-assigned addresses, simplifying inventory management while enabling individual control when needed through the address selection process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Each electrical storage device serves itself by autonomously selecting its own communication address from the plurality of available addresses. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for external address assignment during manufacturing, reducing inventory complexity while maintaining individual device controllability through the selected addresses

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Loss of information

If communication addresses are assigned in advance during manufacturing, then individual device identification is improved, but device versatility deteriorates due to inventory redundancy or limitations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice identification accuracyVSAvoidinventory flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The communication address assignment is made dynamic rather than static. Each electrical storage device dynamically selects its communication address from a pool of available addresses at the time of use rather than having a fixed address assigned during manufacturing. This dynamic approach maintains device identification accuracy while significantly improving inventory flexibility and versatility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of communication address assignment from a fixed manufacturing-time parameter to a flexible runtime parameter. Devices can select from multiple available addresses, allowing the same physical device to potentially use different addresses in different contexts, thereby improving adaptability without sacrificing identification accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If multiple electrical storage devices use the same communication address, then manufacturing and inventory management are simplified, but communication reliability deteriorates due to address overlaps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidcommunication reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where each electrical storage device monitors the communication environment to detect whether its selected provisional address is already in use. When a communication error or address conflict is detected, the device receives feedback and automatically changes to a different unused address from the available pool, ensuring communication reliability while maintaining manufacturing simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system takes preliminary anti-action by proactively detecting and preventing address conflicts before they cause communication failures. Each device checks for address uniqueness and changes its provisional address if a conflict is detected, preventing communication reliability issues before they occur while keeping the manufacturing process simple

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Data Source

PatentUS12272539B2Auxiliary power supply system, module, auxiliary power supply control method, and program

Publication Date: 2025.04.08 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

AI summary

An auxiliary power supply system includes a plurality of electrical storage devices that supply power to an electrical device. Each of the storage devices has the communication capability with the electrical device. Each of the storage devices provisionally selects one of a plurality of first communication addresses as a provisional communication address of its own. The plurality of first communication addresses have been set for the plurality of electrical storage devices by the electrical device. Each of the storage devices returns a response signal in reply to a transmission signal, to which the provisional communication address of its own is added. Each of the storage devices changes, when finding that any communication error has occurred while returning the response signal, the provisional communication address of its own into one of one or more unused communication addresses belonging to the plurality of first communication addresses that have been set.