Battery Pack Cell Isolation Using Fuse-Cut Defect Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery packs face challenges in effectively detecting and disconnecting defective battery cells to prevent risks such as explosions, as they may continue to be used within the pack, leading to recurring issues.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that include a fuse connected to the battery cell, a monitor to measure voltage, current, and temperature, and a controller to determine the state of charge and control a discharge switch to either turn on or off, allowing for the disconnection of defective cells by cutting the fuse when necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the battery pack continues to use defective battery cells, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates due to recurring defects and safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The battery pack is divided into independent battery cell units, each with its own fuse and monitoring system. This segmentation allows individual defective cells to be identified and disconnected without affecting the entire battery pack, thereby improving reliability while maintaining manageable system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
A fuse is introduced as an intermediary component between the battery cell and the battery pack circuitry. The fuse acts as a protective mediator that can be selectively cut to isolate defective cells, preventing safety issues while allowing the rest of the system to continue operating
2Reliability
If a discharge switch is added to disconnect defective cells, then the reliability improves by eliminating risk factors, but the device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring function and discharge control are merged into an integrated system where the monitor detects defects and the controller automatically activates the discharge switch. This combination reduces the need for separate complex control mechanisms while improving defect detection reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs automatic self-diagnosis and self-protection mechanisms where the monitor continuously checks battery cell status and the controller autonomously activates discharge switches for defective cells without requiring external intervention, thereby improving reliability while minimizing the need for complex manual control systems
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
This solution effectively eliminates risk factors by discharging defective battery cells, preventing explosions and allowing for easy identification and replacement of faulty cells, thereby enhancing safety and pack longevity.
Implementation Method 1
a monitor configured to measure at least one of voltage, current and temperature of the battery cell
Implementation Method 2
a discharge line including a discharge resistor having a first end connected in parallel to the first terminal of the battery cell
Implementation Method 3
a fuse having a first connected to a first terminal of the battery cell in series
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for detecting a defect of a battery pack may disconnect a battery cell at which a defect is detected inside a battery pack to remove a risk factor that may occur from the corresponding battery cell. Risk factors that may cause explosions can be eliminated by discharging the battery cell at which a defect is detected. In addition, the recurrence of the risk factor can be prevented in advance by disconnecting the battery cell at which the defect is detected from the battery pack.