Battery Block Anomaly Detection Using Voltage Deviation Mapping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for monitoring battery blocks in a series connection lack the ability to detect anomalous states efficiently and reliably without relying on an ideal reference battery, and often require intrusive measurements.

Innovation Solution

A method that utilizes voltage and current measurements from a battery management system to calculate deviation values and create mappings of these values to detect anomalous states by emphasizing extreme values, using self-generated averages and reference mappings from similar batteries to identify potential safety-relevant or manufacturing defects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If voltage measurements are taken from all battery blocks to detect anomalous states, then detection reliability is improved, but measurement complexity and system intrusiveness increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection reliabilityVSAvoidmeasurement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the necessary information (voltage deviations) from the complete measurement data of all battery blocks. By calculating deviation values relative to the average voltage and selecting only extreme values, the system reduces measurement complexity while maintaining detection reliability for anomalous states.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by measuring voltage at specific points in time and only for battery blocks showing extreme deviations, rather than continuously monitoring all blocks. This selective monitoring reduces system complexity while maintaining effective anomaly detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Measurement precision

If an ideal reference battery is used to detect anomalous states, then detection precision is improved, but system complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection precisionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the battery system to self-diagnose by using the average voltage of its own blocks as a reference. Each battery block's voltage is compared to the group average, allowing the system to identify anomalies without requiring an external ideal reference battery, thereby reducing complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using a physical ideal reference battery, the patent creates a virtual reference by calculating the average voltage profile from the battery blocks themselves. This copied reference model allows for anomaly detection without requiring additional physical reference components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Reliability

If continuous monitoring of all battery blocks is implemented, then anomaly detection capability is improved, but energy consumption and processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanomaly detection capabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic monitoring by selecting specific points in time for voltage measurements rather than continuous monitoring. The system measures voltage at discrete time intervals and only processes data when deviations are detected, significantly reducing energy consumption while maintaining effective anomaly detection capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent reduces processing requirements by only analyzing battery blocks that show extreme voltage deviations from the average, rather than continuously processing data from all blocks. This selective processing approach maintains detection capability while reducing computational energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP4707831A1A method of monitoring battery blocks of a battery
Publication Date: 2026.03.11 NOVUM ENG GMBH
  • EP4707831A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4707831A1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2d
  • EP4707831A1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3d

AI summary

A system and a method of monitoring the behavior of battery blocks (b1,...,bn) connected in series. For each of a plurality of points in time (t0,t -1,t -2), and for each battery block, a deviation value (ΔUb1,...,ΔUbn) is calculated, being a voltage deviation of the voltage measurement from an average (M) of the voltage measurements (Ub1,...,Ubn) of the battery blocks, or is a corresponding charge deviation. A mapping (10) of voltage values (U1,...,Uz) or current values to deviation values (ΔU1,...,ΔUz) is determined. To each voltage or current value is assigned an extreme value of those deviation values of the battery block that have been calculated for points in time at which a voltage or current measurement has been measured that corresponds to the voltage or current value. The mapping (10) is evaluated to detect a potentially anomalous state of the battery block.