Li-Ion Battery Backup BMS with Cell-Level Protection Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current battery energy storage systems lack comprehensive management and protection mechanisms, particularly for Li-ion batteries, which can lead to inefficiencies and reliability issues in applications like data centers and electric vehicles, due to inadequate voltage monitoring, current measurement, and protection against over-voltage, over-current, and temperature fluctuations.

Innovation Solution

A battery management system (BMS) is designed with back-to-back transistors, a high-side driver, analog front-end circuit, microcontroller unit, multiphase converters, and auxiliary power sources to monitor and control Li-ion battery systems, providing over-voltage protection, cell balancing, and bidirectional charging/discharging capabilities, ensuring reliable energy storage and backup power.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If comprehensive management and protection mechanisms are implemented for Li-ion battery systems, then reliability and safety are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery system reliabilityVSAvoidmanagement system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The battery system is divided into multiple battery cell groups that can be independently managed. Each group has its own switching circuit and control mechanisms, allowing the system to manage complexity through modular segmentation while maintaining comprehensive protection across all cells.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A microcontroller unit serves as an intermediary that coordinates between multiple sensing circuits, switching circuits, and protection mechanisms. This central controller integrates various management functions, reducing overall system complexity by providing a single point of coordination rather than distributed control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If voltage monitoring and current measurement are enhanced for each battery cell, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoltage and current monitoring precisionVSAvoidmonitoring system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The monitoring system is segmented into dedicated sensing circuits for each battery cell group, with each circuit independently measuring voltage and current parameters. This segmentation allows high precision measurement for each cell while organizing the complexity into manageable, repeatable modules.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sensing circuits are designed with multi-functional capabilities, where single circuits can measure multiple parameters (voltage, current) across different battery cell groups. This universality reduces the total number of dedicated circuits needed, lowering overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive monitoring precision.

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

3Object-affected harmful factors

If protection mechanisms against over-voltage, over-current, and temperature fluctuations are implemented, then battery safety is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery protection against harmful factorsVSAvoidprotection system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements preliminary protection actions through pre-configured switching circuits that can rapidly disconnect battery cell groups when threshold violations are detected. By preparing the protection mechanisms in advance and using predetermined response thresholds, the system provides comprehensive safety without requiring complex real-time decision-making algorithms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The sensing circuits continuously monitor battery parameters and provide feedback to the microcontroller unit, which automatically adjusts switching states to maintain safe operating conditions. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures comprehensive protection while using simple, rule-based control logic rather than complex algorithms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 BMS effectively manages Li-ion battery systems by monitoring voltage, current, and temperature, providing protection against over-voltage, over-current, and temperature fluctuations, ensuring reliable energy storage and backup power in applications like data centers and electric vehicles.

Implementation Method 1

a multiphase converter connected with the pair of back-to-back transistors and configured to convert voltage from the battery pack

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

a pair of back-to-back transistors configured to selectively discharge battery cells of a battery pack

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 3

an analog front end (AFE) circuit configured to monitor a voltage of each cell within the battery pack

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVoltage detection: Electric Field

Data Source

PatentUS11836027B2Enhanced battery backup unit battery management system
Publication Date: 2023.12.05 BAIDU USA LLC
  • US11836027B2 patent drawing
  • US11836027B2 patent drawing
  • US11836027B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Embodiments are disclosed of a battery management system (BMS). The BMS includes a pair of back-to-back transistors configured to selectively discharge battery cells of a battery pack; a high-side driver configured to control operation of the pair of back-to-back transistors; an analog front end (AFE) circuit configured to monitor a voltage of each cell within the battery pack; and a micro controller unit (MCU) configured to control and monitor the AFE circuit and provide over-voltage protection to the pair of back-to-back transistors.