Vehicle Battery Charge Control Device with Rewritable Nonvolatile Memory

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing charge control devices for vehicle batteries face challenges in efficiently controlling battery charge due to variations in state of charge (SOC) caused by driver behavior and use environment, leading to increased complexity and cost when attempting to implement common charge control programs across different vehicles.

Innovation Solution

A charge control device with a nonvolatile memory and communication circuit capable of rewriting data for battery charge control, allowing updates based on vehicle operating states without requiring additional communication tools or connectors, thus maintaining device scale and cost efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If additional dedicated communication circuits, connectors, and wires are installed to enable external rewriting of control programs and data, then the ability to rewrite battery charge control data is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverewritable capabilityVSAvoidsystem scale

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by enabling the existing communication circuit to serve dual purposes: its original function for battery charge control and an additional function for rewriting control programs and data. This eliminates the need for a separate dedicated communication circuit, connectors, and wires specifically for rewriting operations, thereby maintaining adaptability while avoiding increased device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the rewriting function with the existing communication circuit by allowing the same circuit to communicate with both the battery management system and the external rewriting device. This consolidation combines multiple functions into a single communication infrastructure, achieving rewriter capability without adding separate communication hardware

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If additional dedicated communication circuits, connectors, and wires are installed to enable external rewriting of control programs and data, then the ability to rewrite battery charge control data is improved, but the cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverewritable capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by enabling the existing communication circuit to serve dual purposes: its original function for battery charge control and an additional function for rewriting control programs and data. This eliminates the need for a separate dedicated communication circuit, connectors, and wires specifically for rewriting operations, thereby maintaining adaptability while avoiding increased device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the rewriting function with the existing communication circuit by allowing the same circuit to communicate with both the battery management system and the external rewriting device. This consolidation combines multiple functions into a single communication infrastructure, achieving rewriter capability without adding separate communication hardware

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS8106631B2Charge control device for batteries

Publication Date: 2012.01.31 DENSO CORP

AI summary

In a charge control device installable in a motor vehicle and designed to execute charge control for a battery based on an output power of a power generator, a nonvolatile memory stores therein data required to execute the charge control for the battery. A communication circuit is communicably connectable to first and second devices different from each other. The first device allows entrance of information required to rewrite the data stored in the nonvolatile memory. A rewriting unit rewrites the data stored in the nonvolatile memory based on the entered information only when the first device is communicably connected to the communication circuit.