Battery Capacity Allocation to Protect EV Range Under Deterioration

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

When a battery mounted on a mobile object, such as a vehicle, is shared between users, battery deterioration can lead to a decrease in the chargeable capacity allocated to the user, resulting in a reduced travel range, which discourages sharing and inefficient battery utilization.

Innovation Solution

A battery management system that virtually divides the battery capacity into two regions, allocates one region to the primary user and another to a secondary user, estimates the deterioration decrease, and adjusts the chargeable capacity of the secondary region when deterioration is below a specified threshold, thereby mitigating the impact on the primary user's travel range.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the battery capacity is shared between the mobile-object user and another user, then the battery utilization efficiency is improved, but the chargeable capacity of the mobile-object user decreases due to battery deterioration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery utilization efficiencyVSAvoidchargeable capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the battery capacity into multiple regions (first region for mobile-object user, second region for another user, and third region as buffer). This segmentation allows independent management of each region's chargeable capacity, enabling the system to adjust the buffer region to compensate for deterioration effects on the mobile-object user's allocated capacity while maintaining sharing functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If the battery capacity is shared between the mobile-object user and another user, then the battery utilization efficiency is improved, but the travel range of the mobile object decreases due to battery deterioration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery utilization efficiencyVSAvoidtravel range
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the battery capacity into distinct regions, with the first region allocated to the mobile-object user and a third region serving as a buffer. By monitoring and adjusting the buffer region's chargeable capacity based on deterioration rates, the system ensures that the mobile-object user's travel range is maintained even as the battery deteriorates over time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Duration of action of moving object

If the chargeable capacity of the second region is reduced to compensate for deterioration, then the mobile-object user's travel range is maintained, but the chargeable capacity available to the second user decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetravel rangeVSAvoidchargeable capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent establishes a buffer region (third region) in advance that can be used to compensate for future deterioration effects. By proactively managing this buffer region and adjusting its chargeable capacity based on predicted deterioration rates, the system prevents the mobile-object user's travel range from decreasing while minimizing the impact on the second user's available capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Stability of the object's composition

If the buffer region's chargeable capacity is increased to protect the mobile-object user, then the travel range stability is improved, but the chargeable capacity for the second user is further reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetravel range stabilityVSAvoidchargeable capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic adjustment of the buffer region's chargeable capacity based on real-time monitoring of deterioration rates and usage patterns. The control unit continuously optimizes the buffer region's capacity allocation, increasing it only when necessary to maintain travel range stability, thereby minimizing the impact on the second user's available capacity while ensuring protection for the mobile-object user.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20230302959A1Battery management system and battery management method
Publication Date: 2023.09.28 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD
  • US20230302959A1 patent drawing
  • US20230302959A1 patent drawing
  • US20230302959A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A battery management system includes: a battery-capacity dividing unit that virtually divides a chargeable capacity of a battery mounted on a mobile object into a first region and a second region to enable a first user to use the first region in the battery and a second user to use the second region in the battery; an amount-of-deterioration-decrease estimation unit that estimates the amount of deterioration decrease that is the amount of decrease in the chargeable capacity of the battery due to deterioration; and an allocation-capacity adjustment unit that, in a case in which the amount of deterioration decrease is lower than or equal to a first specified amount, reduces a chargeable capacity of the second region by the amount of deterioration decrease.