Battery Cell Bypass Switching for In-Operation Voltage Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery monitoring systems primarily focus on overall battery state monitoring, lacking the ability to accurately measure individual battery cells or assemblies without influencing other cells or circuit technologies, which limits measurement accuracy and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A battery design that includes at least two battery-cell assemblies, each with a battery cell, a first switch, and a second switch, where an analysis unit controls the switches to decouple and bypass individual battery-cell assemblies for precise voltage measurements, allowing for independent monitoring and measurement of each assembly without affecting the overall battery operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a central battery management system monitors the entire battery grouping, then the monitoring coverage is comprehensive, but the measurement precision of individual battery cells is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The battery system is divided into multiple battery-cell assemblies, each equipped with independent switching devices (first switch and second switch) and control circuitry. This segmentation allows individual assemblies to be monitored and controlled separately while maintaining overall system monitoring coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement function is extracted from the central monitoring system and assigned to individual battery-cell assemblies. Each assembly has its own analysis unit and switching mechanism that can independently measure and control its voltage, enabling precise individual cell measurement without compromising comprehensive monitoring.
2Measurement precision
If individual battery cells are measured separately, then the measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The first and second switches in each battery-cell assembly serve multiple functions: they enable individual cell measurement, provide bypass capability for defective cells, and allow voltage equalization between cells. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated circuits for each function, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement circuitry, switching devices, and control units are integrated into compact modules at the battery-cell assembly level. This merging of functions into unified modules reduces overall system complexity compared to having separate independent systems for each function.
3Reliability
If battery-cell assemblies are decoupled for measurement, then the measurement reliability is improved, but the loss of time for reconnection occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The first and second switches are pre-configured in each battery-cell assembly, ready for immediate activation. When measurement is required, the analysis unit automatically triggers the switching sequence without manual intervention, minimizing the time loss associated with decoupling and reconnection operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic monitoring of battery-cell voltage, automatically triggering decoupling and measurement cycles at predetermined intervals. This periodic action allows the system to maintain measurement reliability while managing the time loss through systematic, scheduled operations rather than continuous or ad-hoc switching.
4Measurement precision
If switches are used to decouple battery-cell assemblies, then the measurement independence is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Each battery-cell assembly has locally integrated switching devices and control circuitry, allowing independent measurement and control without affecting other assemblies. This local quality approach ensures that manufacturing precision requirements are contained within individual assemblies rather than requiring high precision across the entire battery system.
Solution Approach 2:
The analysis unit serves as an intermediary between the switching devices and the measurement system, coordinating the switching operations and interpreting measurement data. This intermediary role helps manage the complexity of switch connection requirements by providing intelligent control and validation of switching sequences.
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
Enables accurate and reliable measurement of individual battery-cell assemblies while the battery is in operation, allowing for quasi-continuous monitoring, improved measurement precision, and reduced interference, even in high-series-connected battery configurations.
Implementation Method 1
control the first switch of a battery-cell assembly currently to be checked so that it opens and the second switch of this battery-cell assembly so that it closes, in order to electrically disconnect this battery-cell assembly from the respective other battery-cell assemblies of the battery and to bypass this battery-cell assembly
Implementation Method 2
record a first voltage value, which represents an electrical voltage that is present at the battery-cell assembly to be checked at the first point in time, and to record a second voltage value, which represents an electrical voltage that is present at the battery-cell assembly to be checked at a second predefined point in time
Implementation Method 3
the effect that a curve of the voltage that drops across the battery-cell assembly after electrical decoupling from the battery cell array is different depending on the respective boundary conditions affecting the battery-cell assembly, so that corresponding information with respect to the state of the decoupled battery-cell assembly can be determined on the basis of the respective voltage curves
Data Source
AI summary
A battery. The battery includes: a first battery-cell assembly and a second battery-cell assembly, which each have a battery cell, a first switch and a second switch; and at least one analysis unit. In each battery-cell assembly, the first switch is connected in series with the battery cell, and the second switch is connected in parallel with the series connection consisting of the battery cell and its associated first switch. The battery-cell assemblies are connected in series. The analysis unit is configured to control, at a first predefined point in time, the first switch so that it opens and the second switch so that it closes, to electrically disconnect the battery-cell assembly from each of the other battery-cell assemblies of the battery and to bypass the battery-cell assembly.