Vehicle Battery Authenticity Verification Using Physical Property Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems are inadequate in effectively detecting unauthorized battery replacement in vehicles, particularly in battery-powered vehicles that are leased or rented, where there is a high risk of replacing genuine batteries with non-genuine or inferior products.

Innovation Solution

A determination system that includes a sensor to measure physical properties of a target battery installed in a vehicle and an information processing apparatus connected to the sensor. The apparatus acquires vehicle identification information, first battery identification information corresponding to the vehicle, physical properties of the target battery, second battery identification information corresponding to these properties, and compares these to determine the authenticity of the battery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If battery replacement is allowed in leased or rented vehicles, then ease of operation and adaptability are improved, but reliability and security deteriorate due to unauthorized replacement with non-genuine batteries

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery replacement flexibilityVSAvoidbattery authenticity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary registration of genuine battery information (identification information and physical property values) in a database before the battery is installed in a vehicle. When battery replacement occurs, the system measures the physical properties of the replacement battery and compares them against the pre-registered values to verify authenticity, thus preventing unauthorized replacement while allowing legitimate changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors battery physical properties through sensors and provides feedback by comparing measured values against registered reference values. When a discrepancy is detected indicating unauthorized replacement, the system generates alerts and notifications to relevant parties, creating a closed-loop verification system that maintains reliability while permitting authorized operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If battery authenticity verification is implemented, then reliability and security are improved, but device complexity increases due to additional sensors and processing systems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery authenticity verificationVSAvoidverification system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The verification system utilizes the battery's own inherent physical properties (such as inductance, resistance, or other electrical characteristics) as identification markers. These properties are naturally present in the battery and require no additional hardware embedded in the battery itself. The system measures these existing properties and compares them against registered values, allowing verification without adding complexity to the battery unit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs general-purpose sensors and processing units that can serve multiple functions: monitoring battery health, verifying authenticity, and tracking battery performance. By using multi-functional components rather than dedicated verification-only hardware, the system achieves reliable authentication while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Manufacturing precision

If physical property measurement is used for battery identification, then manufacturing precision requirements are reduced, but measurement precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery production toleranceVSAvoidphysical property measurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system measures and registers the physical property values of genuine batteries during or after manufacturing while the batteries are still under controlled conditions. These baseline measurements capture the actual properties of each battery unit. During operation, the system compares real-time measurements against these pre-established references, allowing for natural manufacturing variations while detecting deviations that indicate replacement with non-genuine batteries.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system utilizes multiple physical property parameters (such as inductance, resistance, capacitance, or frequency characteristics) to identify batteries. By measuring several parameters rather than relying on a single tight-tolerance dimension, the system reduces the impact of manufacturing variations on any single measurement while maintaining high verification accuracy through multi-parameter comparison against registered profiles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system effectively determines the authenticity of the battery installed in a vehicle by comparing identification information with physical property-based identification, thereby detecting unauthorized battery replacements.

Implementation Method 1

a sensor configured to measure physical properties of a target battery that is a battery installed in a vehicle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic Induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS20250046883A1Determination system, information processing apparatus, determination method, and program
Publication Date: 2025.02.06 YOKOGAWA ELECTRIC CORP
  • US20250046883A1 patent drawing
  • US20250046883A1 patent drawing
  • US20250046883A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A determination system (1) includes a sensor (22) configured to measure physical properties of a target battery (41) that is a battery installed in a vehicle (40), and an information processing apparatus (10) communicably connected to the sensor (22), the information processing apparatus (10) including a controller (11). The controller (11) acquires vehicle identification information that identifies the vehicle (40), acquires first battery identification information that identifies a battery corresponding to the acquired vehicle identification information, acquires the physical properties of the target battery (41) as measured by the sensor (22), acquires second battery identification information that identifies a battery corresponding to the acquired physical properties, compares the first battery identification information with the second battery identification information to determine authenticity of the target battery installed in the vehicle (40), and outputs the result of determination of the authenticity of the target battery.