Battery Cell Voltage Variation Analysis for Abnormality Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery diagnosis methods require a separate current sensor to detect voltage abnormalities, limiting their ability to diagnose sudden voltage drops in battery cells both during rest and charge/discharge states.

Innovation Solution

A battery diagnosis apparatus that calculates voltage variations of each battery cell without a current sensor, using a voltage variation calculation unit to determine abnormalities by comparing individual voltage variations to an average voltage variation, with threshold values set according to manufacturer specifications, allowing for detection during charge, discharge, and rest states.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a separate current sensor is used to detect voltage abnormalities in rest state, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoltage abnormality detection accuracyVSAvoidsensor quantity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the current sensing function from a separate current sensor and integrates it into the voltage measurement system. By calculating voltage variations during charge/discharge operations, the system derives current information indirectly through voltage measurements alone, eliminating the need for dedicated current sensors while maintaining diagnostic capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The voltage measurement unit is given multiple functions: it not only measures battery voltage for state of charge calculation but also detects current flow status and identifies voltage abnormalities by analyzing voltage variations during charge/discharge operations. This multi-functional approach replaces the need for separate current sensors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If voltage variation calculation is performed during charge/discharge operations, then diagnostic capability is improved, but measurement precision may deteriorate due to operational noise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediagnostic coverage across operational statesVSAvoidvoltage measurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary voltage measurements at the beginning of charge/discharge operations to establish baseline values. By comparing subsequent voltage variations against these pre-established baselines, the system can identify abnormalities even during dynamic operations, compensating for operational noise through differential measurement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors voltage variations during charge/discharge and provides feedback to the control unit. When voltage variation exceeds predetermined thresholds, the system generates abnormality signals that trigger diagnostic routines, creating a closed-loop feedback mechanism that maintains measurement reliability during dynamic operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3958006B1Battery diagnosis apparatus and method
Publication Date: 2024.05.29 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
  • EP3958006B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3958006B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3958006B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A battery diagnosis apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a voltage measurement unit for measuring the voltage of each battery cell during a preset period of time, a voltage variation calculation unit for calculating an individual voltage variation of each battery cell during the preset period of time, an average voltage variation calculation unit for calculating an average voltage variation of a plurality of battery cells during the preset period of time, and an abnormality detection unit for determining that a voltage abnormality has occurred in a corresponding battery cell when there is a battery cell having a difference between the individual voltage variation and the average voltage variation being greater than a threshold value.