Battery Capacity Update Control for User-Friendly Degradation Changes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users of vehicles with battery-powered systems experience discomfort due to sudden changes in battery capacity when the degradation coefficient is updated, which is not addressed in existing technologies.

Innovation Solution

A control device that updates the degradation coefficient of the vehicle's battery, incorporating a notification process when the capacity increases and gradual updates when it decreases, using a server to manage the battery's estimated capacity through an over-the-air (OTA) system, thereby informing users of changes and reducing perceptible fluctuations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the degradation coefficient is updated to maintain accurate battery capacity estimation, then the measurement precision is improved, but the user experiences sudden changes in displayed capacity which causes discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery capacity estimation accuracyVSAvoiduser discomfort from sudden capacity change

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The notification method dynamically adapts based on the direction of capacity change. When capacity increases, immediate notification is provided; when capacity decreases, gradual notification is implemented without alerting the user, making the system responsive to different operational contexts

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of notification intensity based on the degradation coefficient update direction. For increasing capacity, full notification is given, while for decreasing capacity, the notification is softened or omitted, effectively managing user perception while maintaining estimation accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If the degradation coefficient is updated frequently to reflect current battery state, then the productivity is improved, but the process load on the control device increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery state update frequencyVSAvoidcontrol device process load

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The notification is performed periodically or event-driven based on significant capacity changes rather than continuous updates. This allows the system to maintain accurate capacity tracking while reducing the frequency of notification processing, thereby lowering the control device's process load

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Speed

If the degradation coefficient is updated instantly to provide current capacity information, then the speed is improved, but the user perceives abrupt changes which causes strange feelings

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedegradation coefficient update speedVSAvoiduser perception of abrupt capacity change

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The notification approach dynamically adjusts based on the nature of the capacity change. Instant updates are maintained for accuracy, but the notification method changes - providing immediate notice for capacity increases while using gradual or suppressed notification for capacity decreases, resolving the conflict between speed and user perception

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20250303923A1Control device

Publication Date: 2025.10.02 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

A server includes a processor that updates a degradation coefficient of a power storage device, and a communication unit. In a case where an estimated value of a capacity of the power storage device is increased by update of the degradation coefficient, the communication unit performs a notification process for notifying a user that the degradation coefficient is updated, and the processor updates the degradation coefficient. In a case where the estimated value is decreased by update of the degradation coefficient, the communication unit does not perform the notification process, and the processor updates the degradation coefficient by gradually changing the degradation coefficient.