Vehicle Battery Charging Control Around Software Updates
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Solution Overview
Problem
The interruption of charging operations for in-vehicle batteries during software updates can lead to reduced charging efficiency and state of health due to increased charging and discharging cycles.
Innovation Solution
A battery control device that acquires information on update operations and battery charge levels, determines whether to resume charging after the update, and adjusts based on thresholds and predicted charge levels to avoid overcharging and ensure vehicle activation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the charging operation is interrupted during the update operation, then the update operation can be executed, but the charging efficiency and state of health of the battery are reduced due to increased charging and discharging cycles
Solution Approach 1:
The determination unit performs start determination during the period from request for update operation to start of update operation, based on remaining charge amount and predicted remaining charge amount. This preliminary assessment allows the system to proactively decide whether to resume charging after update, preventing unnecessary charging cycles that would reduce battery health while ensuring charging efficiency is maintained when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the remaining charge amount and predicted remaining charge amount, using this feedback to make intelligent decisions about resuming charging. The determination unit compares actual remaining charge against thresholds and considers predicted values to optimize the balance between battery health preservation and charging efficiency, avoiding both overcharging and unnecessary charge cycles.
2Productivity
If the charging operation is resumed after the update operation, then the charging efficiency is improved, but the battery may enter an overcharged state which shortens battery life
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multiple threshold values (first threshold value for remaining charge amount, second threshold value for predicted remaining charge amount) to dynamically adjust charging decisions. By changing the parameters used for decision-making based on real-time battery state and predictions, the system optimizes charging resumption to improve efficiency while preventing overcharge conditions that would harm battery health.
Solution Approach 2:
The determination unit performs start determination before the update operation starts, assessing whether charging should be resumed based on current and predicted battery states. This preliminary action prevents the battery from entering overcharged states by making informed decisions about charging resumption timing, thereby protecting battery health while maintaining charging efficiency.
3Reliability
If the charging operation is not resumed after the update operation, then the battery life is protected, but the vehicle may not have sufficient charge for activation
Solution Approach 1:
The determination unit uses feedback from remaining charge amount and predicted remaining charge amount to make intelligent decisions about charging resumption. This feedback mechanism ensures that charging is resumed when necessary to maintain sufficient charge for vehicle activation, while avoiding unnecessary charging that would harm battery health, thus balancing battery protection with operational readiness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs multiple threshold parameters (first threshold for remaining charge, second threshold for predicted remaining charge) to dynamically adjust charging decisions. These parameter changes enable the system to accurately determine when charging resumption is necessary for vehicle activation while protecting battery health, ensuring both battery longevity and adequate charge levels for operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A battery control device includes: an acquisition unit that acquires predetermined information including information on an update operation, which is an operation related to program update of an in-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle, and information on the remaining charge amount of the target battery; an execution unit that executes the charging operation; and a determination unit that determines whether or not to execute the charging operation in the execution unit after end of the update operation. The execution unit stops the charging operation when the update operation is started. The determination unit performs start determination as to whether or not to start the charging operation after the end of the started update operation, based on at least the information on the remaining charge amount of the target battery, during a period from a request for the update operation to the start of the update operation.