Vehicle Battery Aging Estimation Using Engine Speed and Coolant Temperature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current battery management systems for lead-acid batteries in vehicles are complex and expensive, necessitating a cost-effective method to estimate battery aging and determine when a battery needs replacement.
Innovation Solution
A method using a computer that collects data from a temperature sensor and a speed sensor to determine engine speed thresholds based on coolant temperature, incrementing counters to detect battery aging without requiring additional sensors, and alerting the driver when the battery is worn out.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a battery management system with integrated sensors is used to detect battery state of wear, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reuses existing sensors (temperature sensor and speed sensor) that were originally designed for other functions (monitoring engine temperature and speed) to also detect battery aging. By making these sensors multi-functional, the system achieves battery state monitoring without adding dedicated battery sensors, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses data already being collected by the vehicle's existing sensor network for purposes beyond their original design. The temperature and speed sensors serve themselves by providing dual functionality - their primary function plus battery aging detection - eliminating the need for separate dedicated monitoring systems
2Measurement precision
If a battery management system with integrated sensors is used to detect battery state of wear, then measurement precision is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes existing temperature and speed sensors multi-functional by using their data for both original purposes and battery aging detection. This eliminates the need to manufacture and install additional dedicated battery sensors, directly reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines battery aging detection functionality with the existing temperature monitoring and speed monitoring systems. By merging these functions into a unified analysis process in the computer, the system avoids the cost of separate hardware components while achieving comprehensive monitoring
3Measurement precision
If engine speed threshold comparison is performed multiple times during engine operation, then measurement precision of battery aging is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs engine speed threshold comparisons at periodic intervals during engine operation rather than continuously. By sampling at specific moments (multiple times during operation but not constantly), the system accumulates sufficient data for accurate battery aging estimation while minimizing the time lost to processing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs a sufficient number of comparisons to achieve accurate measurement without performing every possible comparison. The system determines an appropriate number of measurements needed for statistical significance and stops there, avoiding excessive processing time while maintaining measurement precision
Data Source
AI summary
A method for estimating the aging of a battery of a motor vehicle with a combustion engine, the vehicle including an electric starter, a temperature sensor for the temperature of the coolant, a speed sensor for the speed of the combustion engine and a computer for managing the drive system of the vehicle. The method includes, each time the combustion engine is started, the steps of the computer determining the value of the speed of the combustion engine and the value of the temperature, if the determined value of the speed is higher than a speed threshold, incrementing a first counter, if the determined value of the speed is lower than the speed threshold, incrementing a second counter, detecting the aging of the battery when the value of the second counter is higher than a predetermined alert threshold.